Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

Nairobi apart from being the capital of Kenya is also the major center for economic and cultural activity for the country, as well as East Africa. As expected the Nairobi attracts a lot of tourists as the starting point for safaris and other travel throughout East Africa. Fortunately, the city has a large number of healthcare centers that provide medical services to the Kenyan population and the tourists visiting it. This article lists some of the best hospitals that can be trusted to serve you if you fall ill or have an accident in Nairobi.

The Nairobi Hospital is an up to date diagnostic and treatment center known throughout East Africa for its world class service to the public. The hospital was founded in 1954. It has an emergency center that delivers care on par with international standards. Other amenities at the hospital include highly a sophisticated diagnostic laboratory, a physical medicine center, ambulatory surgery and medical advisory services. The hospital runs a host of clinics throughout the week that cater to different medical needs. These include Family Health Clinic, Child Welfare Clinic, Clinic for the Elderly, Chemotherapy Center, Diabetes Clinic, Travel and Immunization Clinic, Breast Health Clinic and Chest Clinic. The Hospital is located on Argwings Kodhek Road, Nairobi.

The Kenyatta National Hospital at Nairobi was established in 1901 and called the Native Civil Hospital. It was renamed in honor of Jomo Kenyatta after the country gained independence from the British. Now it is the oldest and the largest hospital in the country. The hospital also serves as a National Referral and Teaching hospital.The hospital provides facilities for cancer treatment, physiotherapy, nutrition, public health, dentistry, dermatology, ophthalmology, pediatrics, obstetrics, orthopedics and surgery. The emergency department at the hospital offers services 24 hours a day.

The Aga Khan Health Services operates hospitals in various locations throughout Asia and Africa. This non-profit group dedicates itself to providing sophisticated and modern health services in developing countries. The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in Nairobi is part of this group and established in 1958. The Accident and Emergency Center at the hospital is functional 24 hours and is equipped to handle heart problems and trauma, as well as cases of malaria and infectious diseases. Other facilities at the hospital include an intensive care unit, maternity services, ambulance services, diagnostic laboratory, Lamaze classes, ear, nose and throat surgery, general surgery, oncology, orthopedics, urology, ophthalmology and gynecology. AKUH provides consistent and advanced care to its patients.

Karen Hospital at Langata Road, Nairobi was founded by Dr. Dan and Betty Gikonyo in alliance with their two close friends. Karen Hospital aims to revolutionize the level of healthcare services available in Kenya and Africa. It is a fully equipped hospital that furnishes comprehensive quality services which include gastroenterology, neurology, pediatrics, internal medicine and a chest clinic. It also delivers an HIV/AIDS treatment program, along with dental services, diabetes care, physiotherapy and nutritional advice. The emergency department at the hospital is operational round the clock.

The Mater Hospital was initiated by the Sisters of Mercy from Ireland and is dedicated to providing outstanding healthcare to the less privileged in Kenya. Established in 1962, Mater Hospital has an emergency unit that is recognized to be amongst the best throughout East and Central Africa. It has units specializing in treatment of industrial accidents, gunshot wounds, disaster care, tropical diseases, poisons, and more. The hospital has a host of other facilities featuring ambulance services, a 24 hour laboratory, an intensive care unit and sophisticated operating rooms.

The Coptic Hospital at Nairobi belongs to the Coptic Orthodox Church and aims to provide high quality medical care at affordable prices. The treatment facilities found at the hospital include maternity services, pediatric care, a diagnostic laboratory, 24 hour casualty and ambulance services. It also has special TB and HIV programs, dental clinic and facilities for minor and major laparoscopic procedure.

The five basic tips I am about to mention are the specific suggestions of the "March of Dimes" for you to adhere to, in order to have a healthier, happier baby. Of course, there are many details included in these basic instructions that must be paid closer attention to. Nonetheless, when seeking information on how to care for your infant, and of course your unborn child, "March of Dimes" is a great source to trust in for the safety of your infant and and the overall health of your child as he or she grows. You want to do the right thing in order to avoid any possible birth defects, low birth weight, malnutrition, disabilities and, most importantly, to reduce the risk of having a miscarriage.

The March of Dimes has a positive reputation for saving babies, and they (quite rightly, in my opinion) pride themselves on the provisions and care they make available to expecting mothers, women with infants, and special needs babies. I believe that it is very important to promote this (the March of Dimes) and many other programs like it. In this article I will briefly describe the latest, general recommendations that the March of Dimes has made available to their many donors as well as to the general public.

These five recommendations, essential for your baby's health, are not mentioned in this article, nor are they presented by the March of Dimes in order of importance. Each and every piece of advice that I am about to pass on to you is just as significant as the next. Each should be, by any mother who is breastfeeding, any expecting mother, or any woman trying to become pregnant should carefully digest. I will add some of my own insight to these basic guidelines as well.

Firstly, the March of Dimes instructs expecting mothers to get early and continuous pre-natal care. In my opinion, as much as prenatal care is important, having the right physician is very important. I recommend that if experience any uneasiness, or feel in any way hesitant with your current doctor - seek a second opinion at least, but most often, find another one. Follow your pre-natal care doctor's instructions. Be sure to make this top priority. Mostly, the March of Dimes suggests, that prenatal care is essential to preventing the risk of low birth weight.

Although these are basic and absolutely logical measures for any pregnant woman to take, this top five list of guidelines sent to me by the March of Dimes can not be over-emphasized. Believe it or not, some people really do not realize the full extent of the dangers of breaking these general rules of pregnancy, if you will. The second on the list is to eat nutritious foods! Yes, you do need to gain weight while you are pregnant - but if all you do, for instance, is eat extra amounts of fast foods. When you are not eating right while pregnant, you are getting the extra calories, but not the extra vitamins and minerals required from the calories consumed. Everything you eat goes straight to the baby too, therefore, if you are not getting enough vitamin C, the baby is also not getting enough vitamin C, and so on.

Next, it is very important that a pregnant woman does not smoke. In addition to increasing the risk of low birth weight, a woman who smokes while she is pregnant increases the risks of having a miscarriage. Many women who are smokers and are trying to become pregnant can miscarry right away. And, believe me, if a miscarriage happens (no matter when it happens) it is always very saddening, unfortunate and sometimes even tragic for the expecting parents.

Fourthly, the March of Dimes foundation wants you to know not to use drugs while pregnant. Taking drugs can cause birth defects, and even the death of your baby, often however, this piece of advice is misinterpreted. When professionals such as pre -natal doctors, OBGYN and other specialists say not to use drugs (while pregnant) they do not simply mean illegal, mind and / or mood altering chemicals. Prescription drugs, as well as drugs that are sold over the counter are often potentially dangerous for your baby - especially with frequent use.

As a matter of fact, (I will add) there have been many drugs previously approved by pre-natal physicians that have proven to cause severe birth defects. For example: the prescription drug called Paxil. If I were an expecting mother, I would avoid any and all medications possible, because sometimes science figures out the dangers after assessing the benefits of certain drugs. This is especially detrimental when considering the use of such drugs by women who are trying to become pregnant, expecting a baby, or caring for her infant. I feel very strongly about this subject. It must be extremely frightening to realize that your child has suffered any kind of birth defects, to have a miscarriage, or worse. Therefore, it is essential to do everything in your power to avoid any of the above problems.

Lastly, the March of Dimes emphasizes the rule of thumb for pregnant women that you should not drink while pregnant. The devastating effects of fetal alcohol syndrome or, FAS, have been widely recognized for a long time now. Fetal alcohol syndrome can develop in your baby even if you only drink a tiny bit while pregnant. As a matter of fact, I would recommend that if you are simply trying to become pregnant and are taking pregnancy tests on a regular basis you should still avoid alcohol as much as possible. In correlation with the fourth of these pregnancy guidelines, many over the counter drugs contain alcohol. These include medications for colds, for allergies, for sleep aids, and more which may contain some alcohol, as well as other active ingredients that can be harmful to your baby.

Find out what will be best for you and your baby - even if you are just trying to become pregnant. Often, a woman will not know that she is pregnant right away. It is virtually always at least a few weeks into her first trimester before a woman discovers her, quite happy condition. To have the happiest, healthiest baby you possibly can, seek information from foundations and sources such as the March of Dimes for the very best advice you can get. I would encourage you to expose anyone you know to whom this information is relevant as much of this kind of advice (as well as various resources they can check out on their own) as you can.

Many medical professionals and researchers are dedicated to bringing as many healthy babies into this world as possible, and continuing to reduce the number of birth defects that occur. In other words, your goals for your baby are also their goals for your baby. Thank you for seeking information to take care of your baby as soon as possible for the very best health benefits possible.

Discovering that you're pregnant with twins is exciting but also quite overwhelming. Because twin pregnancies carry additional risks and precautions, you likely have many questions.

What's different about a twin pregnancy?

The experience of a twin pregnancy can be very different for some women. In some cases, women who are pregnant with twins experience enhanced pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, or edema (swelling). A a woman who is pregnant with twins is at greater risk for some medical complications, such as preterm labor, preeclampsia, pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and gestational diabetes.
What are the signs of twin pregnancy?

While some women report drastic differences in a twin pregnancy, others report no differences from a singleton pregnancy. Some of the most common indicators of multiple births are weight gain, measuring large for gestational age, severe morning sickness, early detection of fetal movement, abnormally High Results on an AFP or Triple Screen Test, extreme fatigue and elevated HcG Levels.

How can I find out if I am having twins?

Ultrasound remains the most reliable way to detect and monitor a multiple pregnancy. The routine use of ultrasound in prenatal care has reduced the number of surprise appearances by twins in the delivery room; most multiples are discovered during the first half of pregnancy. If you have a hunch or suspect that you are carrying twins or more, discuss your feelings with your doctor.

Will I have to go on bed rest?

Bed rest is prescribed in multiple pregnancy as a preventative and precautionary tool. It can provide benefits for both mom and babies, prolonging a pregnancy in danger of preterm labor to a woman whose body is under stress. In 1992, a survey by the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs showed that 70 percent of women expecting multiple births experienced bed rest at some point in their pregnancy. However, times have changed and doctors have become less rigid about sentencing women to bed.

Can there be a hidden twin?

Nearly every pregnant woman considers the possibility that she may be carrying more than one baby. The only way to confirm a twin or multiple pregnancy is by visually identifying the multiple fetuses with ultrasound. If your doctor or caregiver can only see one baby, you're not having twins or multiples. There are some very rare exceptions. Ultrasound provides a picture of the womb, but sometimes the picture can be misleading or misinterpreted, particularly if performed very early in the pregnancy or by an incompetent technician. At twenty weeks, a second fetus would be clearly visible on ultrasound, and the likelihood that there is another baby hidden in the womb is extremely small.

What is vanishing twin syndrome?

Vanishing Twin Syndrome occurs when one of a set of twin fetuses apparently disappears from the womb during pregnancy, usually resulting in a normal singleton pregnancy. One of the fetuses in a twin pregnancy spontaneously aborts, usually during the first trimester; the fetal tissue is absorbed by the other twin, the placenta, or the mother, thus giving the appearance that the twin "vanished." In recent years, enhanced use of ultrasound early in pregnancy has increased the frequency of diagnosis of twin pregnancy. As a result, there has been a heightened awareness of vanishing twin syndrome.

How much weight will I gain?

Women are always worried about how much weight they will gain with any pregnancy, singleton or multiple. Now that you're having twins, the thought of extra weight gain seems scary. Generally, a healthy pregnancy requires that a woman gain 25 to 30 pounds during the nine month gestation period, depending on her body type. But that's for just one baby. Like everything about having multiples, more is required. Doctor recommendations vary, but most women tend to gain about 35 to 45 pounds during a twin pregnancy, with about 10 additional pounds for every additional baby in a higher order multiple pregnancy. However, this is just a guideline so be sure to speak to your doctor about what is appropriate for your body type.

What is the typical gestation for a twin pregnancy?

Generally, twins and other multiples are born earlier than singletons. Research from the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs (NOMOTC) indicates that about half of multiples are born before 36 weeks gestation. There's no way to know exactly when your babies will be born. In some cases, a premature birth can not be avoided. Some doctors feel that thirty-seven or thirty-eight weeks should be considered full-term for twins and will seek to prompt the delivery of the babies at that time.

Are my twins identical or fraternal?

This is one of the first things people want to know about a twin pregnancy. Here are some ways to discover is you're twins are identical or fraternal:

* If you're twins are the same gender, they are identical.
* If you're twins have been diagnosed with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTS), they are identical. TTS does not affect fraternal twins.
* If there is a single, shared placenta, it is more likely you're twins are identical.
* If you're twins have been identified as monoamnionic, they are identical. Only identical twins develop with a single, shared amnion.

If you think you are pregnant, it is a good idea to purchase and use a home pregnancy test. They are easy to use, easy to read, and very accurate. If you receive a positive result, make an appointment with your gynecologist. If he or she is not also an obstetrician, seek a recommendation for one.

Do your best to attend every scheduled visit with the obstetrician. If you miss an appointment, it is best to reschedule. Make sure you tell the doctor everything about your medical history, especially any issues that could affect your pregnancy and the health of your baby. You will undergo tests from time to time, but these are routine.

If something goes beyond routine, the doctor will explain why it is necessary. You are always free to seek a second opinion, but you should trust your doctor. If you are uncomfortable with your obstetrician, find another one, since this is a very intimate relationship, in which you need to feel secure. Your doctor will prescribe prenatal vitamins, which are specially formulated to insure that a pregnant woman and her baby receive the proper nutrients. Take your vitamins as directed. You might want to have a bite to eat before taking them, as they make some women feel nauseous when taken on an empty stomach.

Prenatal care is a very important part of your pregnancy. It allows your doctor to measure progress and make sure that your baby is developing properly and is healthy. You will see the obstetrician once per month at first, and once each week as you get closer to your due date. It is important to keep these appointments so your doctor knows what's going on. This way, if something isn't just right, your doctor can take action to help make sure you carry your baby to term and deliver a healthy baby. If you experience morning sickness, which many women do in the first three months of pregnancy, try eating a healthy snack before going to bed or nibbling on crackers when you wake up in the morning. Pregnancy is a very exciting time in life, but it also requires you to take very good care of yourself and ultimately your baby.

There are common pregnancy problems you must know:

Enhanced Blood Pressure: Usually at the time of pregnancy one develops high blood pressure. During this stage high blood pressure indicates that the pressure in blood vessels, especially arteries is considerably higher. Any women suffering from high blood pressure during pregnancy is conducive to pre-eclampsia, and it may seriously affect the body organs like liver, kidney and blood vessels. Under such circumstance it becomes important to control blood pressure during pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes: Another frequent pregnancy related problem is gestational diabetes. In such circumstances the pregnant women develops a high blood sugar content that dissipates only with the birth of the baby. In this connection it is advisable for pregnant women with gestational diabetes to have the blood sugar content checked annually.

Itchy skin: Prickly skin is one of the problems in early pregnancy. A woman who has conceived feels itchy especially around the breasts and expanding abdomen. The primary reason of scratchy skin is attributed to hormones. Usually when the pregnant women's skin expands across the stomach it stretches, resulting in drier and itchy skin. It is essential to take care of skin at the time of pregnancy.

Fever: Within the first quarter of pregnancy, a woman frequently experiences fever. Slight temperature is normal during the early stages of pregnancy and can happen at any period. However, higher temperature during pregnancy is definitely injurious as it can result in fetal death.

Weight Gain: Gaining body weight is one of the common pregnancy related problems. It happens because of enhanced blood circulation within the body.

Swelling: Other problems after pregnancy is swelling. This may occur in different parts of the body like hands, feet and face, etc. Swelling is attributed to increased intake of fluid during the pregnancy phase. If a pregnant woman consumes less water it helps.

Backache: Backache is also among pregnancy related problems. At the time of pregnancy, due to the production of numerous hormones and one of these hormones is called Relaxin. This hormone is a prime factor in softening the ligaments and pelvis so as to ensure that that the baby moves out through the pelvis smoothly. Backache results in numbness, hardening and soreness of the back.

Cough and Cold: One of the most usual problems during pregnancy is cough and cold. This is because of the reduced resistance level of the immunity system during pregnancy phase. In the event of cough and cold being of serious nature, the pregnant woman should ensure the fetus remains secure. This is important as pregnant women's persistent cough could result in miscarriage.

Other problems during pregnancy which are common are sleeping problem. Sleeping problems during pregnancy result due to lack of proper diet and exercise. To overcome such difficulties, the pregnant woman should exercise regularly backed by an appropriate level of protein intake. They should also ensure that stress and anxiety are avoided and maintain regular sleeping hours and rest frequently.

With these tips common pregnancy problems can be overcome to a great extent.

Do all of us agree that pregnancy is the most important stage in life for every woman? During recent years, the demand for a better lifestyle is getting higher. It has indirectly caused the cost of delivering a baby to be increased too. In general, childbirth involves certain health risks. It would be a wise step for women who are at the planning stage for pregnancy to obtain maternity health insurance coverage.

Is having this insurance coverage a MUST? Let's analyze all the costs incurred during pregnancy. Do you know how much a family needs to allocate to ensure a healthy birth of a baby? It costs at least USD 10,000. Isn't it costly? The expenses include:

o Fees for regular monthly checkups, ultrasound, prenatal care, obstetrician's consultation, etc.
o Delivery cost, surgery cost, hospital admission fee, etc
o Purchase of maternity clothes, healthcare products, baby products and so on.
o Additional costs when there are some complications during delivery, i.e. caesarean operation or premature delivery.

Especially during recession, it would definitely be a heavy burden to most of the families who don't have much savings. In order for all the mothers to maintain quality lifestyle, pregnancy health insurance is one of the best ways to take care of an unborn baby.

For "future" mothers who have plan on conceiving but haven't acquired any maternity health insurance at the moment, it is advisable for you to get a pregnancy health insurance plan. This coverage would definitely assist you to be physically, mentally and emotionally healthy before and after giving birth. You don't need to be stressful and worried about the high medical costs.

Last but not the least, you are reminded to check your health insurance policy carefully. Bear in mind that not all insurance providers cover maternity care in their health plans for women automatically. If the maternity care is not covered, you need to request the insurance provider to include this additional coverage.

Colorado health insurance policies are designed to provide health cover to individuals, self-employed, group of employees, the elderly and students. These policies are mainly intended to provide coverage to insured members in meeting their costs towards treatment, doctor visits, physician consultation, investigation, and operations besides the hospitalization costs.

If you are interested in an Individual policy, in Colorado you are subject to a medical review, and there is no guarantee that you will not be accepted. The insurance company may request your medical records from doctors and may exclude certain pre-existing medical conditions. They can also decline insuring you. Many plans will not cover maternity care, but you may be able to add it as a rider to the regular coverage. This will cost you more, but it's worth it. Without this coverage, the huge expenses involved in maternity care can really scare away expectant parents and the joy may soon turn into a burden. Coverage for pre-existing conditions vary and depend on what condition you have and what insurance you are looking for.

Group insurance policies are guaranteed and there is no medical review. A qualifying business has to be accepted by providing tax information and other documents requested. Acceptance of a group policy is contingent on qualifying as a business, and being able to provide the necessary tax and other documents requested by the carrier.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have been in effect Colorado since January 1st, 2004. This allows for a high deductible medical insurance policy with a special tax-deferred "Health Savings Account." Anthem, Rocky Mountain Health plans, Fortis and United Healthcare, are just some of the Carriers that offer HSA compatible policies and many more are expected in the coming year.

When deciding on PPOs or HMO remember the differences. In an HMO your primary care physician is the one who has to refer you to specialists or other doctors. PPOs allow you to see other physicians without a referral. But, the doctor you see must be listed in the PPO network. PPOs are more expensive than HMOs. They both have pluses and minuses.

Congratulations on your decision to have a baby. It is important that you are able to receive pre-natal healthcare and not be stressed about the costs of the birth. A normal no issues birth costs about $6000 not including pre-natal care. Complications such as a cesarean or premature will make the cost very much higher. Hopefully that does not happen but it can and that does not have to be a stressful issue.

The best way to take care of this is to be on an employer sponsored health insurance plan. All employer group plans cover maternity. Maternity benefits are not subject to any waiting period or pre-existing condition exclusions even if the person is already pregnant when she enrolls.

It is not necessary for both parents to be on an employer insurance plan. If the wife is working where the employees are offered the employer group insurance, then she should be enrolled on the insurance. If she is not enrolled then she should enroll during the open enrollment period for the insurance. You need to find out when that is and be sure to enroll. You only need to enroll yourself.

If the wife is not employed, her employer does not offer health insurance or she is not eligible for the employer's plan then she needs to check if the husband's employer offers group health insurance. This will be more expensive as the husband and the wife will have to be on the insurance. The husband would be on as the employee and the wife as the spouse. So, if the mother and/or father is employed the first place to check is if the employer has a group plan.

Florida Medicaid is an option for pregnant women. Qualifying for Medicaid is based on family income. For a pregnant woman the household income must be less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. A pregnant woman is counted as two persons when checking eligibility. For example if the woman is married than with no other children than the qualifying level would be based on the Federal Poverty Level for a three person family. To find more information on if you qualify for Medicaid in Florida you would need to contact your local Florida Medicaid office and meet with a counselor.

Florida has a program that offers insurance to pregnant women, CoverFlorida. CoverFlorida is a limited benefit plan. Maternity is covered as any other health condition. There is no special maternity benefit. The plan is available to pregnant women and they are not to a pre-existing condition limitation. It is not a free program and can be expensive. It is available to persons that have been uninsured for at least 6 months or have lost their employer group health insurance. This would be considered a last resort if the options above are not available. CoverFlorida changes often and so the best way to find information at the time you need it is to check online for CoverFlorida.

Maternity coverage is, in general, not offered on individual health insurance plans or the benefits are limited. Benefits may be available after the plan after it has been in effect for period of time, maybe 12 months and benefits might be stepped over time. For example, after 12 months on the plan, there might be $1000 of benefits, after 2 years, $2000 of benefits, after 3 years $3000 of benefits to the maximum plan benefit for maternity which might be $7000. If a person is already pregnant then individual health is not available to apply for by either the pregnant woman or the husband until after the baby is born. Insurance carriers have different underwriting guidelines for how long after the baby is born. If might be an option after the child's first well baby visit or after a period of time from birth such as 6 weeks.

Permanent international health insurance plans often include maternity benefits. International plans are available to US citizens that live, work, study or are otherwise outside of the US more than 6 months of the year. International insurance plans are available to non-US citizens worldwide including the US as long as they do not qualify for domestic US health insurance plans. Permanent international insurance can be worldwide coverage and include the US. The maternity benefits of these plans start after the plan has been in effect for 12 months. Plans are not approved if applied for while the person is pregnant. Underwriting is similar to US domestic individual health insurance plans. It is important to plan ahead as after a person is pregnant it is too late.

If you are considering having a family or having more children, then now is the time to make sure your pregnancy and the birth will be a happy family experience. For you to know that you can focus on the health of the mother and the child and not have financial issues creating stress takes planning and taking action in advance.

Many health insurance plans with maternity coverage come with unexpected holes. Group plans often come with hospital deductibles or co pays. Starting or growing a family is expensive enough without these extra bills. Hospital indemnity insurance is a great way to plug these holes. It pays a cash benefit directly to the insured for her normal labor and delivery, and may pay additional benefits in case of a hospitalization prior to delivery, due to delivery complications, for premature birth, and more.

As group health insurance premiums continue to spiral ever higher, employers look for ways to keep health insurance premiums in check. One of the favorite tricks is to introduce hospital deductibles and co-pays. The thought process works for the majority of employees. In a typical year 90% of employees or more will never step foot inside a hospital. Everybody enjoys slightly lower health insurance premiums, and only a handful of employees get stuck paying the hospital deductible or co-pay.

One group ends end feeling the pinch the most: couples planning a pregnancy. It's a normal step in many families' lifecycle. Even when mom and baby are perfectly healthy, a hospital stay comes as part of the package, and along with that comes a hefty deductible or co payment. Ouch!

But not every pregnancy goes as smoothly as hoped. Many pregnancies experience complications requiring mom to be hospitalized prior to her delivery, possibly adding to left over expenses. One out of eight babies is born premature, and may require a stay in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Many deductibles have individual limits, coupled with higher family limits. Just when you think you've satisfied your hospital deductible with mom's stay, your infant's stay bumps it even higher. And what if you have multiples confined to the NICU? Depending upon the policy, the extra costs can really add up.

Hospital Indemnity Insurance is a great way for couples planning a pregnancy to fill these holes, and rest easier at night. The programs pay a cash benefit directly to the insured for mom's hospital stay for her normal labor and delivery. Some programs pay a single lump sum per hospital admission, while others will also pay an additional benefit based upon the total days of hospital confinement. The benefit for normal delivery may greatly exceed the premium paid if timed well.

In addition, hospital indemnity insurance may also pay additional benefits if mom is confined to the hospital prior to delivery. Many policies will contain exclusions if you are re-admitted to the hospital for the same or similar condition within a specified number of days. A policy with a ninety-day exclusion might pay benefits for a hospitalization in during two different trimesters in addition to normal delivery.

Hospital indemnity coverage shines through when premature birth is taken into account. Your infant's hospitalization is often automatically covered during the first thirty days of birth. The extra benefit will really help out if you encounter some of the deductible scenarios noted above. In addition, multiple pregnancies often are delivered early. Pre term deliveries are most likely to result in a NICU stay. Your hospital indemnity policy may pay an additional benefit for each infant.

Make sure your coverage begins before getting pregnant.

With so many dissimilar kinds of health insurance plans and restrictions out there, it can be difficult locating the best insurance for you. However, this process is not despairing to be successful with a tiny research. There are a small proportion portions to facade for after deciding on health that prepares, and by account for them all you can generate a good decision for yourself and your family come seal health insurance.

The bulk noteworthy thing to facade for is coverage. More regularly than not, insurance will bind physician visits and fees. Your insurance ought also bind hospital expenses such as room and board in covering you are saved overnight or longer for observation or treatment. Good health protection ought also bind surgeries and any expenses connected with surgical treatment. Beyond these typical portions of coverage, wellbeing protection prepares can diverge greatly. To truly construe what coverage you would utilize and which plan would save you the bulk currency, you will deficiency to generate a items of portions that you want swathed in an insurance plan.

For instance, do you have glasses or contacts? Then you may be more interested in a plan that refuges vision - either compensating for your eye exam and/or to numerous extent compensating for your glasses or contacts. Though many population think that h. insurance refuges prescriptions, prescription coverage is presently an optional benefit. If you know that you regularly have prescription drugs to fill, locating insurance that offers prescription coverage may be a must. If you are a female and plan on having or want to have youngsters, maternity care or family planning services are also optional superiority that you may want to consider. Once you generate this must-have items of optional coverage, you can start staring for insurance(health) plans that give you the area to add these optional benefits.

Another portion you ought definitely examine is if your existing physicians or specialists are included in the health protection company's desired provider network or if you have the area to select any physician (often the covering simply with indemnity or traditional health insurance plans).

Lastly, examine price. After researching dissimilar coverage prepares and physician conditions, show higher deductibles and monthly premiums to pinpoint the best deal. Often, you can receive assembly rates through your employer, or you may pinpoint that artist organizations (for freelance artists) offer health care plans. By researching price, as well as other health insurance choices, you can generate the best picks for your family.

You will probably have an appointment for a checkup 4 to 6 weeks after delivery to make sure your body is healing without problems. If you had a cesarean birth, you may need to have your checkup sooner.

General Physical Examination

This part of the checkup includes:

• Measuring your weight. A woman usually returns to her prepregnancy weight about 6 months after delivery. The postpartum period is not a good time to diet. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet low in fat. For more information on weight loss after having a baby, talk to your health care professional, who can advise you on the best way to lose weight.


• Taking your blood pressure. During pregnancy, your blood pressure may increase. By the end of the sixth week after delivery, your blood pressure usually returns to its prepregnancy level.


• Examining your breasts. It is important to have your breasts checked for lumps and nipple problems. Your health care professional can show you how to check your breasts. Breast self-examination is important to do every month. If you are bottle-feeding, your breasts will usually return to their normal shape and size in 4 to 6 weeks. You still need to check your breasts regularly for any changes. If you are breastfeeding, your breasts still may be full and feel firm by the sixth week. Checking your breasts daily for lumps or plugged ducts can help prevent problems with discomfort or infection.


• Examining your abdominal incision. If you had a cesarean birth or your tubes were cut or tied, you have an incision. Your health care professional will check your incision to make sure healing is complete.

This part of the checkup is an internal examination to check the health of your ovaries, uterus (womb), cervix (opening into the womb) and vagina (birth canal). Your health care professional also will check your perineum (area around the birth canal) for healing. The first part is checking your perineum. Your health care professional will examine the areas around the vagina, urethra (opening of the bladder) and rectum for healing. The second part of the internal examination is checking your vagina and cervix. Your health care professional will use a speculum to allow a visual inspection of the vagina and cervix. The last part of the examination is checking your uterus and ovaries. Your health care professional will feel the shape and size of both. Vaginal bleeding, or lochia, usually stops in the first 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. Bleeding that begins one month after delivery is usually your period.

Questions and Answers

After the examinations, your health care professional will tell you if your body is healing properly after childbirth. This is a good time to ask questions. You may be wondering about returning to work, exercising, birth-control methods or general health concerns. Write your questions on paper and take them with you to your appointment. Review them with your health care professional.

For proper diagnosis or even to perform various types of surgeries, at times it gets important to admit people in hospitals. In some of the major cities in the US, like Pocatello (Idaho) and Idaho Falls (Idaho) you would find that most of the doctors are, in one way or the other, affiliated with one or more hospitals. Such healthcare facilities provide different types of services that mainly cover both inpatient and outpatient procedures and surgeries.

In almost all hospitals you would find that there are various types of services that are offered. Some of them are:

• Maternity: In most of the hospitals, in some of the major cities in the US, like Pocatello (Idaho) and Twin Falls (Idaho), you would find maternity care being provided. Such healthcare institutions have rooms that have all the necessary facilities for expectant mothers to give birth to their babies, nurse them, and also to recover from the delivery. For pre-mature babies you would also find newborn intensive care facilities.


• Surgery: Surgery facilities are one of the most common things which you would find in almost all hospitals. They have all the necessary equipments to perform any type of surgeries like transplants, dealing with broken bones, and also heart surgeries. Some hospitals employ full-time surgeons, whereas some have affiliated doctors to take care of surgeries. Some of the most common surgical services include nursing care, anesthesiology services, and rooms for both pre and post-operations.


• Emergency Care: You would notice in a number of major hospitals, availability of provisions for emergency care for a number of serious cases. There would be a number of emergency rooms where staffs help the patients to stabilize till they are good enough to be shifted to a room and finally released after proper treatments.


• Nursing: In any healthcare facility, you would find quite a number of nurses being employed. They have to work in various sections of a hospital and have to take care of the regular needs of those patients who stay in the rooms of the healthcare facility.

If you are looking for reliable hospitals - Pocatello (Idaho) and Hailey (Idaho) are some of the cities in the US where you can visit Bingham Memorial Hospital. They strive hard to improve the overall health status of the community. In case you want to know more about their numerous services, feel free to check out their official website.

Kaiser plans are available through Kaiser Medical Insurance, a leading HMO company that boasts over eight million members. Any quality plan includes coverage for several basic medical needs such as doctor appointments, maternity care, examinations such as physicals, hearing and vision tests, emergency care, hospitalizations and prescription drug coverage of some sort. Kaiser plans include these benefits and sometimes more in the variety of plan options they have available to applicants. Offering quality health insurance coverage at affordable prices, Kaiser health plans offer both individual and group plans.

Healthcare is something no family should be without. It only takes one serious illness or injury to throw a family's financial future in serious jeopardy. With adequate health insurance coverage, this does not have to happen and the family can weather medical problems with the focus on getting well instead of worries about paying for the medical bills incurred. Kaiser health plans not only provide quality, affordable health insurance policies, but they focus on the overall health and wellness of their customers. Kaiser health plans have worthy preventative medicine goals that work in tandem with gaining maintaining good health with exercise and nutrition.

While there are many, many health care insurance plans available, Kaiser health plans is committed to providing what consumers need in medical coverage at an affordable price. There is no need for ridiculously high premiums that cause families to struggle with paying for their health insurance coverage. By ensuring their health care plans are affordable, Kaiser health plans help families be able to obtain the insurance coverage they need to get healthy and stay healthy. Preventative health practices include coverage for wellness doctor visits and screenings for vision, hearing or physical issues on a periodic basis. These types of things help ensure optimal health and well being.

Preventative health is a strong point with many HMOs these days and Kaiser health plans are no exception. By helping people get better, learn how to stay well and thrive with good overall health, this reduces the overall medical costs for everyone, from the patients to the doctors to the health insurance companies such as Kaiser health plans. In order to better serve the public, Kaiser has set up their website so that applicants can visit it to learn plan overviews, quotes and even apply for health insurance coverage there. Optimized overall health is the key to healthier, happier lives and lower overall health care costs.

If you need assistance in locating this coverage, please visit our website at http://www.health-insurance-buyer.com and leave your contact information so we may respond to your request.

Maintaining a well balanced diet and staying on top of your nutrition during pregnancy is key to your health and the development of your baby. Whilst it is okay to have junk every so often, there are foods that you may usually indulge in that you should avoid for the safety of your little one. Here are 5 foods you should take care to avoid during pregnancy:

• Soft and blue veined cheeses, such as stilton and brie: Eating soft or blue veined cheeses during your pregnancy will increase your risk of contracting listeria. Listeria is a form of bacteria that can potentially be very harmful to your baby and listeriosis is a disease that may remain symptomless up until a few weeks after you have consumed a food product that may expose you to it. There is no risk of listeria from harder cheeses (such as cheddar) or from cheeses that appear to be 'soft' such as cottage cheese.


• Fish high in mercury, such as swordfish or marlin: You must avoid fish that is high in mercury such as swordfish or marlin during your pregnancy altogether. Consuming large levels of mercury whilst pregnant can hinder the development of your baby's nervous system. You should also reduce the amount of tuna you consume to 2 portions a week (i.e 2 small tuna steaks)


• Pate, including vegetable pate: Pate, including vegetable pate, may be a firm favourite at certain times of year (i.e Christmas!) but it is essential that you avoid it during your pregnancy. Pate is another food product that carries listeria and it is not due to the raw meat element, it is because of the way it is prepared and stored.


• Raw or partially cooked eggs: Raw or partially cooked eggs should be avoided as you and your baby have an increased risk of contracting salmonella. This includes soft cooked scrambled eggs, fried eggs with a soft yolk, soft boiled eggs, poached eggs and other ways of cooking eggs that will leave the yolk or white 'runny'.


• Raw shellfish: During your pregnancy you are at an increased risk of exposing yourself to illnesses such as food poisoning or salmonella, which will then be passed on to your baby. Eating raw shellfish (i.e oysters) exposes you and your baby to such harmful diseases. It is however safe to eat prawns, shrimp and other popular types of shellfish that are well cooked.

Remember to take extra care with your food when eating out and ensure the place you eat in has good food hygiene practices.

During pregnancy, labor pains are unbearable for many women, especially those enjoying luxurious lifestyles. The pregnant lady is between life and death at the time of delivery. Any untoward incidence can happen if proper care is not taken to manage the labor. Nowadays, lots of women experience pain throughout the nine months and more precisely at the time of child birth. Mostly, pains in the stomach, back, and legs happen frequently. The lifestyle of the lady contributes a lot to the frequent occurrence of the back pain and early labor.

Take Precautions
The doctor suggests you numerous recommendations and remedies for taking care of these discomforts during different pregnancy stages. It is always better to take precautions rather than painkiller pills during such circumstances. It is widely acknowledged that women that lead luxurious lifestyle experience more labor pains than those who adequately do a workout daily. So, make a habit to do small and less tiresome exercises on daily basis. Sometimes, the inexperienced nurses take these pains as true labor pains and create a much miserable conditions for both the child and the mother. Not every pain is an indication of the child birth and hence, you should carefully manage the pains with respect to the time and accordingly involve the hospital staff.

Understand and Evaluate Pains
The actual labor pain starts form the spine or back and spreads all around. The fake labor pain emerges from the abdomen and is irregular. It is of utmost importance to evaluate the pains during the pregnancy. There are several reasons that attribute to a difficult delivery of the child. The false labor is one of them. The untrained nurses and hospital staff misjudge the type of the pain and create unwarranted tense situations for the whole family. It is very crucial to evaluate the correlation between the type of pain and the pregnancy stage before coming to any conclusion.

Avoid These Factors For Easy Delivery
Some important factors that relate directly to a tiresome and difficult child birth are listed here;
1. If you feel constipation, then it can lead to troubles during the delivery of the child. So, you should take remedies for treatment of constipation.
2. The urinary bladder should be empty. If you feel like urinating then do so as often as you wish.
3. The size and position of the head of the child in the womb is also one of the factors that determine the level of pains that you will experience during the delivery.

In the condition of actual labor, you should walk slowly in the room. This is going to benefit you a lot in bearing the pain. This exercise facilitates the easy delivery of the child and considerably relieves you from the back pain.

In order to deliver the baby with minimal discomfort, it is advisable that every day of the pregnancy be managed carefully and enthusiastically.

It's dinner time. Everyone is seated at the table. The entrée this evening is grilled chicken, wild rice and delicious, fresh mixed veggies. You've been slaving in the kitchen for who knows how long to make sure dinner is delicious, healthy and pleasing to the eye. And your kids want nothing to do with it. Depending on your parenting style, there are a few ways the rest of the scenario plays out: bargaining, force-feeding, table dismissal or downright pleading with your kids so they'll get a little fat on their bones. Sound familiar?

If you're tired of the evening (or morning or afternoon) battle of the wills over what's on the table, perhaps it's time for a different approach. Anyone who has ever observed a child knows that they cooperate much better when they have a say in the matter. This is especially true with food. Children, like all humans, need to feel valued and most are eager to share their opinions when someone asks. So, rather than bearing the burden yourself, get some help from the kids and they'll be much more likely to devour what you prepare.

Make a menu
Making a menu is a really fun way for your kids to be involved in meal planning. This may be something that you do already, but involving your kids can turn a mundane task into a fun learning opportunity. Little kids, especially can use this as a fun craft time and create their own restaurant-style menu so they can visualize their choices and feel more involved. Sit down at the table together and brainstorm. What are your favorite meals? What are theirs? Maybe your kids love to eat squash but you rarely buy it or maybe they'd be more willing to eat corn if it was served with mashed potatoes instead of the rice that usually goes with it.

This will be a great time to research new recipes together and try out something new. Listening to each other is key so you'll know exactly what healthy foods they enjoy. This doesn't mean that you have to only eat what they want, but why not let them plan an entire meal once a week? If it's not as healthy as you want it to be, so what, that's what the rest of the week is for. A little give goes a long way.

Cook together
This requires some patience. Depending on the size of your offspring, their level of involvement can range from pouring some stuff into a bowl, to full preparation of a side dish. Not only does this give you some fun bonding time together, but they'll also be learning. This is a good time to practice reading and fractions. Not to mention the fact that cooking is an extremely valuable skill that all people should master before leaving the nest. Most kids take pride in things they've made and are eager to share it with others; food is no exception. Just prepare yourself before you start - this will probably not go as quickly or as cleanly as you would like. But it will all be worth it when they dig into their special dish and you don't have to nag about eating "just one more bite."

Grow your own
Not only do kids like to cook their own food, but they like to grow their own food. Nurturing a seed into a delicious, healthy vegetable provides a sense of pride and accomplishment. They'll be excited to see the whole cycle of seed to food. Not only that, but fresh produce usually tastes so much better than food that has been trucked in from hundreds of miles away. That boost in flavor alone might just whet your children's' appetite for more greens. If growing outside isn't possible, research indoor growing at the library together. Or take them grocery shopping and give them their own list of items to hunt for. This is a great time to teach them about smart shopping and staying within a budget. Learning opportunities abound when kids are included in household decisions.

Whether it's a short trip to the grocery store or a fun, menu-making craft at the table, getting kids involved in family meals is a snap. Not only will it be a learning opportunity for them but it can be a great stress-reducer for you when they eagerly eat the meal that they helped to prepare. They might not devour peas and onions just yet, but with time, I'm sure you'll notice a change in attitude at the family table.

It can be extremely difficult to obtain; to find out your options, you really need to speak with an experienced health insurance broker. It's not totally impossible to obtain, but there are some qualifications and restrictions that aren't understood by many insurance applicants.

Why is maternity leave difficult to obtain? If you happen to be the beneficiary of group health insurance that has maternity leave as one of the benefits, then you are in fairly good shape. However, if you are searching for individual insurance, you're well aware that maternity leave often isn't covered under common insurance plans. Again it is not totally impossible to get, you just need to be aware of the parameters of your coverage. Coverage for maternity leave is difficult to obtain, as many insurance companies would prefer to decline offering this kind of benefit on an individual basis as opposed to a group medical insurance situation.

Employers are required to treat pregnant women the same as other workers who can't perform their usual work for a period of time. For example, if the boss allows a worker medical leave for a broken arm or pneumonia, pregnant women must get leave under the same terms and conditions. Leave of this nature is protected under the auspices of a federal act, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Note that the federal act does two things. First, it requires certain employers to provide parenting, family and medical leave for qualified employees. Second, it sets the cap for unpaid medical leave at a maximum of twelve weeks for qualified employees. The key is being qualified. A person must be working at a company with 50 or more workers, and must have worked there for at least one year and at least 1,250 hours during the year before taking leave.

This kind of leave does apply equally to men or women and covers situations like birth or adoption, acquiring foster children, taking care of a seriously ill family member or dealing with a serious health situation. Those using FMLA leave provisions are not entitled to the same benefits while on leave; however, benefits acquired prior to the leave stay with the employee.

To find out how an individual may apply for maternity leave benefits, as well as the qualifications and requirements, contact your local insurance broker for information.

Week by week pregnancy information is necessary and such information helps the would-be mothers and her partner to cope with this exciting period of their life. There are many anxieties and issues a would-be mother confronts during the pregnancy cycle and a few weeks beyond that. If the women have week by week information related to all aspects of pregnancy, the pregnant woman and her family is aware about the various physical and emotional changes that are expected during the stipulated time frame.

Pregnancy Calculator Week By Week

The pregnancy calculation, for the above-mentioned purposes, is done such that the pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of LMP i.e. the Last Menstrual Period. Therefore, as per this calculation procedure, in the first two weeks of pregnancy, there actually is no pregnancy. The eggs do not fertilize till about two weeks and the baby is therefore actually expected within 38 weeks of fertilization.

Stages Of Pregnancy

The 40 weeks of pregnancy are divided into three stages viz., first trimester pregnancy, second trimester pregnancy and third trimester pregnancy. The first trimester includes weeks 1 to 12, the second section includes weeks 13 to 26 and the last trimester stretches form week 27 to the day of delivery, which is approximately around week 40. The maximum a pregnancy period could stretch is week 42.

All 3 sections of the pregnancy wheel are divided keeping in view the specific characteristics shared by the weeks. The first few weeks, for example are considered as extremely sensitive and therefore are marked as high-risk weeks. The second trimester charts out the baby's development in a spectacular way. The third trimester, besides continuing to provide information about the baby's development, also prominently includes the drastic changes the mother's body undergoes in an attempt to prepare for final pregnancy delivery.

Expected Pregnancy Due Date

There is no precise pregnancy calculator that can perhaps chart out the exact pregnancy due date. All that pregnancy due date calculators can do is possibly generate an expected date of delivery and in only very few instances is this pregnancy due date correct. There are various circumstantial factors affecting pregnancy birth and even the most learned of health care practitioners would not predict any specific date.

The Overall Structure Of Weekly Pregnancy Information

The ideal week-by-week pregnancy information or guide should cover the entire 40 weeks and each week should enumerate the minutest development the baby undergoes. The information further should include the changes mothers experience and the way their body transforms to give birth to a newborn. The 40 weeks of pregnancy further touch upon various pregnancy and childbirth related issues like, what kind of maternity clothes to buy, pregnancy exercise, baby shower favors, early pregnancy symptoms, how to get rid of stretch marks, etc. Concisely a good week-by-week pregnancy guide should encapsulate all that your pregnancy puts you through.

If you are working and you fall pregnant, the law protects you with some basic rights, these are that you should not be fired from your job just because you are pregnant, your job should be safe for when you want to return to work, you have the right to maternity pay and to have time off for ante natal care. If your employer fails to comply with these laws, you have the right to take legal action against them.

If you are fired from your job for being pregnant or having a baby, it is an unfair dismissal. You may experience other types of discrimination which are used to try and force you to leave your job, this includes changing your hours without consulting your first, being given work which is unsuitable for you, being unfairly judged in staff reports and not being allowed time off for ante natal appointments.

It is a mother's legal right to have time off for maternity leave. There is a basic statutory amount which is set by the government and some employers have their own company schemes which can differ and be more generous than the statutory amount.

Statutory maternity leave is set at 52 weeks. 26 weeks of this is Ordinary Maternity Leave and the other 26 is Additional Maternity leave. 39 weeks of maternity leave should be paid. Throughout this time the mother's job should be kept open and her contract of employment should continue despite the fact that she is not there. If you are pregnant, you need to inform your employer before the 15th week before the baby is due that you are pregnant and plan to take maternity leave. You should also inform your employer of the date in which you would like your maternity leave to start. Provided that you follow this procedure, you will be entitled to maternity leave regardless of how long you have worked for your employer or the amount of hours that you work.

If you fit certain specifications, for example you have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks before getting pregnant; you may be entitled to statutory maternity pay. Statutory maternity pay is set at 90% of your normal pay and is payable for six weeks. After this time it will be reduced to 瞿124.80 for the remainder of the maternity period up until 33 weeks. If you don't qualify for statutory maternity pay, you may be entitled to state maternity allowance.

Expecting fathers are also entitled to some paternity benefits. A father is entitled to two weeks statutory paternity leave providing that they inform their employer before the 15th week before their child is due.

Fathers will also be entitled to statutory paternity pay for the duration of their leave, this is set at 90% of their weekly earnings or 瞿124.80, whichever amount is lower. Fathers are not legally entitled to any time off for ante natal care, however individual employers may make exceptions for this.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, right? Every girl loves a little bling; especially now-a-days since women are getting some type of piercing done every day. One of the most popular piercings is the belly button ring. There are many women getting bling on their naval and it attracts the eye of many people so it is becoming a trend around the world.

Not only are the rates of belly button piercings going up but the rates of birth are as well. People are having more and more children each day. So where do pregnancy and naval rings connect? The fact that pregnant women are either getting their belly buttons pierced or they already are pierced. Could this be dangerous for mothers? Or worse, could it be harmful to their babies?

Many women who have their belly button pierced fear becoming pregnant someday. They wonder whether their fetus will be in any harm at all or if their own bodies will be in danger. Although people are scared of the dangers, it is normal to have a belly button piercing throughout a whole pregnancy. However, there are a few misconceptions of being a pregnant woman with a naval piercing.

Many women who wear belly button rings assume that when they become pregnant, they will have to remove their piercing when their belly starts to expand. Doctors say, though, that there are no valid medical reasons for a pregnant woman to remove her piercing. If a woman starts to feel uncomfortable later in the pregnancy they should know that it is okay to remove the jewelry as long as safety regulations are followed.

Research at the March of Dimes has found that if women get their belly button pierced while pregnant, it might not heal properly due to the constant change of shape in the belly. Another safety precaution to be aware of is the cleanliness of the needle being used. For example, if the needle is not sterile it could pass an infection into your body like HIV or Hepatitis B and it could be passed on to the fetus as well. If pregnant women do decide to get belly button rings, they are advised to double check with the person doing the belly button piercing that all tools being used are sterile and make sure that they are aware that the woman is pregnant.

There are a few risks of maternity piercings. The major one is infection. If the piercing is not taken care of the way it should be or if it is brand new, the risk of infection is much higher. Signs of infection include puss oozing from the piercing, skin being of a higher temperature around the piercing, swelling or redness. If you think you have an infection, call your doctor right away; don't wait until it's too late!

If discomfort becomes a problem during the pregnancy, maternity belly button rings are an option. These are made of a medical-grade plastic material. The plastics are flexible so they are great for women who have rapidly growing stomachs during their journey through pregnancy. If both the plastic and medal piercings are uncomfortable, remove the jewelry and wait until after the baby is born.

The most important thing about maternity belly button rings is yours and the baby's safety. That is always your number one priority, now that you are carrying a child and entering motherhood. If you don't feel right about getting a piercing done while pregnant or if you have some concerns, contact your doctor immediately. If you feel like you should know more, you have the right to. Ask your doctor anything and make sure that she will give you the straight facts and not her opinion. You want to know that your child will be in safety when entering the world of today's society. Find all the information today and don't be afraid to ask your doctor anything.