Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

Over half a million teens become parents every year in America. Teen parents can range in age from as young as 12 years old to 19 years old. Teen pregnancy constitutes 20% of all unplanned pregnancy every year. And despite the massive campaigns carried out by the government and various health and social groups, more and more teenagers have become "unexpected" parents.

When teens become parents it is critical to their well-being that they find adequate resources to support their emotional, educational, parental development. The most important factor to consider is that you are now responsible for both your life and your child's life. Your awareness of this two-fold responsibility will improve the likelihood that you and your child will experience a better quality of life.

One barrier young parents face to improving their quality of life is not having access to the resources they need to support their emotional, physical, and mental growth and development.

Many teen parents experience feeling of shame and regret after they discover that they are pregnant. Some experience isolation from their friends and resentment for the loss of their teenage lifestyle. It is also very common for teen parents to feel afraid and alone. You must remember however that while your feelings are valid they may not be healthy for you or your baby.

Teenage mothers who don't get support from their former partners and family are less likely to finish their college education. Statistics also show that only 38% of teenage mothers are able to finish high school and only 2% graduate from college. Further, it can be predicted that a child born of a teenage mother is more likely to live poorer when they become adults and continue the same cycle.

However asking for support and researching resources can help teen parents turn these statistics around. Your parents are a great source of support. Your parents can give you advice on how to care for your baby during and after pregnancy. Your parents can also share some of the financial burden of becoming a teen parent by allowing you to continue living at home.

A high school guidance counselor can help teen parents process the feelings and stress that will arise during pregnancy and after the baby is born. In addition, there are several books that discuss best parenting practices. These books can provide teen parents with a wide range of solutions on how to discipline, feed, and raise a child.

The final point is that there are authoritative resources like HelpTeenParents that provide resources for teen fathers and mothers to get the information they need to build a better life for themselves and their children. Teens should be well informed about the outcomes of their actions and web resources can do a better job of helping teens to understand what to expect when they are expecting a baby.

Heartburn is considered as the most common complaint of pregnant women. The severity of the condition may vary from one individual to another, and some may experience symptoms of the condition while others do not. The condition is due to the pressure put on the stomach by the growing child inside the mother's womb, thus causing the lower esophageal sphincter to fail to function properly.

Aside from that, there are other reasons that can also trigger the condition, such as indigestion, relaxed esophageal sphincter or increased progesterone level in the body. However, heartburn during pregnancy can be easily controlled using some natural remedies and OTC medications, as well as prescription medications. Most pregnant opt for natural remedies, as it does not come with any side effects. These remedies may include the following:

* One of the most recommended home remedy that pregnant women can opt for when dealing with heartburn are dietary changes. Pregnant women should avoid the consumption of greasy or spicy foods, as these can aggravate heartburn conditions. Following a heartburn diet is highly recommended and this includes the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole grain products. These types of foods can be easily digestion or help improve the process of digestion. Consumption of smaller meals instead of larger ones is also advised to prevent indigestion.

* Consuming lots of water other fluids, such as fruit juices or cold milk, can also help provide relief against the symptoms of the condition. These types of fluids can help neutralize the gastric acids in the stomach, thus relieving heartburn conditions.

* Another effective remedy for the condition in pregnant women is to chew mint leaves, drink chamomile tea or asafetida tablets. These are helpful in improving digestion and in relieving the symptoms of condition during pregnancy.

* Drinking aloe vera juice at least three times a day can also help relieve the condition in pregnant women. Aloe vera juice can provide the stomach a soothing effect and reduce its acidity.

* Yogurt can provide the body with sufficient amount of probiotic cultures, which is effective in neutralizing the amount of acid in the stomach and in relieving heartburn symptoms in women.

* Drinking warm milk or water with honey is also helpful against the symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux during pregnancy.

* A few OTC antacids can also be opted for against the condition. However, before opting for any kind of medication, make sure that a health care professional is consulted first to make sure that it is safe for you.

* Aside from the remedies mentioned above, maintaining proper posture while sleeping, doing mild exercises and going for a walk after eating can also help prevent heartburn attacks from recurring.

These are just some of the remedies available for pregnant women against heartburn. In case the symptoms of the condition persists even after trying the remedies mentioned above, it would be best to consult a physician or a gynecologist for the proper diagnosis of the condition and to obtain relief against it. Take note that pregnant women should not experience such conditions during the course of pregnancy, as it may not be good for her. That is why it should be avoided as much as possible.

Are you trying to find the answers to control weight gain during pregnancy? It is possible to look great during pregnancy and quickly lose your baby weight after your child is born.

Weight gain is a good thing

Remember that for a healthy and safe baby and pregnancy, weight gain is natural and necessary. Our culture is so bent on weight loss that even pregnant women are sometimes mistakenly swayed to think that they shouldn't put on weight at all. This can be dangerous so you need to be informed on all matters relating to pregnancy.

Tips on how to control weight gain during pregnancy

Knowing what to do in advance will prevent pregnant mothers from putting on excess weight so prevention is key.

Here are some tips on how to manage your weight:

1. find and follow a healthy diet and exercise program


2. get a list of high-nutrition foods


3. know which foods to avoid


4. avoid fast food restaurants


5. learn how to eat sensibly at regular restaurants


6. resign yourself to eating low-fat only


7. eat moderately


8. manage cravings


9. eat only healthy snacks


10. weigh yourself regularly


11. be aware of your ideal weight for your height and build


12. be under a doctor's supervision

These are by no means all you need to know to safely control weight gain during pregnancy. You'll need details and creative ideas to help you. The answer?

Find a healthy eating and exercise program

You already know that eating healthily is vital, but do not overlook the importance of exercise. It's essential that you know what moderate exercise entails and that you get in the habit of getting physical exercise suitable for pregnancy.

Connect with a good eating and exercise program designed for pregnancy that will provide you with all the info you need to direct you. What do you do? Make it your goal to go online and find a good resource guide or website that comes highly recommended and rated with sound ideas, tips and techniques in knowing how to manage your weight during pregnancy.

The advantage of joining a program

You will be given ready-made diets and easy-to- follow daily exercises to keep you on track and healthy. This will positively take away any excuse to not do what it takes to keep well naturally, without any complications or accompanying medical conditions, and with the best happily-ever-after story: a safe delivery for both mother and child.

Best of all, you'll now know the steps to control weight gain during pregnancy.

No matter what sort of fertility problems you've been diagnosed with, like many couples, you may be considering IVF. Help from this highly technical procedure has been shown to increase the odds of pregnancy for a variety of fertility problems. Here are just a few ideas of how it can help you become pregnant sooner than you thought possible.

Female Factor Problems
Some of the most common female infertility problems include tubal blockage or removal, lack of quality eggs to fertilize, PCOS, and endometriosis. All of these problems severely limit your odds of getting pregnant naturally, and some may even totally preclude a natural pregnancy. Another problem that is becoming more common is simply maternal age, but if you're trying to conceive over the age of thirty-five, IVF can more than likely help out.

There are a couple of reasons that IVF can help bypass some of these issues. Many of them, such as PCOS and low quality eggs are actually solved in part by the medications that go along with IVF. You see, when you start a round of IVF, you'll be given several types of medications and some hormones that will increase the number of eggs that you produce as well as their quality, more often than not. This simply means that there are more eggs to become fertilized than you would naturally have.

IVF can also bypass tubal problems because it totally skips the tubes. Normally, an egg is fertilized in the fallopian tubes on its way to the uterus. So, if the fallopian tubes are blocked, the egg simply dissolves, unfertilized, or maybe ends up in a dangerous ectopic pregnancy. With IVF, though, the eggs are taken directly from the ovaries and inserted into the uterus as fertilized embryos, making the problem of tubal blockage practically disappear.

Male Factor Infertility
Infertility that is a problem with the male is common, to, especially issues with things like low sperm count and low motility. Sometimes this creates an issue of the sperm simply being unable to get to the egg, so IVF can definitely help with that. Basically, the eggs will be harvested, and then the male will donate sperm, either through the natural process of ejaculation or, if problems are more severe, through extraction. The sperm are washed to weed out the weaker ones, and then they are combined with the eggs to fertilize them. By the time the eggs are inserted into the womb, they are already embryos ready to grow into healthy babies.

If male factor infertility problems are very bad, there is an added procedure called ICSI that can help overcome these problems. During this delicate procedure, sperm are individually inserted into eggs, so there is no chance of eggs going unfertilized, even if sperm count is particularly low.

Unexplained Infertility
This is probably one of the most heartbreaking of infertility problems because no one knows just how to fix what can't be explained in the first place. However, IVF has very good success rates for couples who have infertility that just can't be pinned down. Sometimes in the process of IVF, you'll find out what the problem actually is. Other times, you'll simply overcome the problem without ever figuring out what its cause was!

* Her back starts to sway more. * The abdomen increases. * Changes occur in the pelvic area. * Posture changes happen. * The abdomen enlarges. * Changes occur in the pelvic area. * Posture changes happen also.

Many pregnant women suffer low-back pains the whole time they are pregnant, because of the above changes. Then others could have a hard time with alignment and balance. The chiropractic treatments can correct these problems and help the pregnant women have a more proper posture, which does not harm the body as much. A misaligned pelvic area could adversely affect the baby's growth in the womb.

Any professionally-educated chiropractor knows how to use certain procedures that are gentle and safe on women that are pregnant.

Women can also find the chiropractors who specialty is pre-natal treatments along with the peri-natal treatments too. A pregnant female should make sure that the chiropractic doctor she goes to has gotten this extra training for her and the baby's sake. These doctors know how to adjust the to make them less intense for the pregnant woman no matter which stage she is at. Chiropractors may also tell the pregnant woman to do some exercise and stretching routines to help her have a healthier and safer pregnancy.

Advantages of Having Pregnancy Chiropractic Treatments

Prior to the pregnant female going into labor, the chiropractic treatments helps her body in many ways. Some of the ways are:

* It makes the woman have a better pregnancy including making her healthier.
* It helps women take charge of the condition and/or symptoms they are having with their pregnancy.
* It even makes delivery go easier and quicker.
* It offers pain relief in the back, joints, or neck.
* It can even prevent a woman from having a c- section to give birth.

How this Impacts Labor

On top of the benefits that have already been mentioned, chiropractic treatments provide the women benefits in managing pain during their labor. If a woman wants to have a better delivery, she needs to have some chiropractic treatments, which will help her have it.

Labor Length

When anyone's body has to deal with a stressful event, the amount of balance it has and the capability of handling the stress, determines the impact on the body. A lot of the women, who need cesarean sections, have to have them because their body is unable to handle the stress of a normal delivery. This is mostly due to the pelvis not being aligned, which hampers the fetus moving in the birth canal properly. A pregnant woman's limited range in their motion negatively impacts the labor also.

The purpose of the chiropractic treatments is to fix the above mentioned conditions, which will lessen the labor time.

Position of the Fetus

The position of the fetus can also affect the length of labor. Most chiropractic adjustments correct the position of the pelvis and can help the fetus get in the correct position as a result. Experts on health also think going through chiropractic adjustments keeps the labor from affecting the back.

The stress and strife of modern life take a frightening toll upon the female body: far many more women struggle to conceive than in prior generations. Western medical science (allopathy) attempts to cure infertility, with only limited success. Synthetic hormones and other prescription drugs may prove effective, however not only are they expensive, they come with side effects detrimental if not outright dangerous to the health of the average woman. A far safer way to get pregnant fast is the use of holistic infertility treatments.

Herbalism - A Traditional Healing Modality

The most common holistic infertility treatment comes from the scientific discipline of herbalism. Herbalism as the modern treatment modality for infertility derives from natural remedies thousands of years old. Furthermore, herbal infertility treatments have been thoroughly researched in China.

Siberian Ginseng - A Way to Get Pregnant Naturally

Varieties of ginseng have been used by the Chinese to promote health and vitality; the most effective of these for the woman having difficulty conceiving is Siberian ginseng. Siberian ginseng is the root of the plant Eleutherococcus senticosis. Ginsengs generally strengthen the immune system and improve cognitive function (concentration, memory, and mood), however, unlike the more common Panax variety, Siberian ginseng lowers blood pressure. Additionally, it increases the libido, supports the health of the uterus, and aligns the female hormones into balance:

Cure Infertility With Chasteberry

A second herb often used in traditional Chinese medicine is chasteberry, the fruit of the chaste tree, a small shrub indigenous to Central Asia and the Mediterranean. Also known as monk's pepper or vitex, chasteberry grants numerous salutary effects for female health. These include the relief of menstrual dysphoria such as PMS, the heightened production of breast milk, and the increase of fertility: chasteberry increases the body's natural production of luteinizing hormone.

Beyond Herbs - The Mind / Body Connection

A final yet vital concern in holistic pregnancy is the relation between the mind and the body. Emotions affect biochemistry; stress, anxiety, worry, and fatigue tax the body. To conceive and carry a healthy baby while using natural infertility cures, a woman should care for her emotional health with such tools as meditation, hatha yoga, and aromatherapy. Finally, a proper diet will augment systemic health, and provide nutrition to improve the mother's health - and that of her child.

Once a couple is married, it is natural to expect they will have a baby or babies. Today, late marriages are the norm rather than an exception and this has affected conception. It is not a routine to get pregnant within a few months of being married. That is easy for those who marry young. However, due to changed lifestyles, even the younger couples may face delays in conceiving. While factors like stress, exercises, overall health and environment affect conception, food is just as important. The right diet will aid conception by boosting fertility. At the same time, couples planning to have children would do well to avoid alcohol, drugs and smoking and plan a diet to aid conception.

Before planning about how to get pregnant take care of the stress factor, relax, engage in some mind-body calming and rejuvenation techniques like yoga, modify the environment to be more calming and importantly, choose the right kinds of food to boost fertility. Here are a few:

• Eat only organic foods devoid of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and preservatives.


• Try to concentrate on eating whole grain foods instead of food made from refined flour.


• Eat food rich in zinc, folic acid and vitamin B group


• Take in as much as you can of organically grown vegetables and fruits every day.


• Take care to drink plenty of water to keep all the cells of your body sufficiently hydrated.


• Maintain blood sugar levels by eating small portions spread through the day.


• Foods containing caffeine affect fertility-reduce their intake.


• Eat foods rich in fiber and protein, balanced with carbohydrates and fats in the form of seeds and nuts.


• Selenium rich foods such as sunflower seeds and tuna are good anti-oxidants and aid male fertility.


• Oysters, pumpkin seeds and nuts are a source of zinc, essential for fertility and to ensure sperm is healthy.


• Vitamin B6 from beans, eggs and fish balances hormone levels in the body.


• Vitamin B12 from egg yolk, cheese and mutton helps increase sperm count and cellular reproduction.


• Vitamin C from fruits like oranges and from tomatoes is essential for sperm count and motility.


• Vitamin E from almonds and other nuts and oils helps sperm motility and retards ageing.


• Eat foods rich in iron and folic acid that help ovulation and enhance fertility. Try to eat fruit and vegetables that contain iron and folic acid rather than meats.


• Insulation in women is related to fertility and pregnancy. Maintain insulin levels the right way by proper diet and get pregnant easily.

For women to be fertile and get pregnant easily, it is essential to have the minimum body weight according to their height. Women planning to become pregnant should eat a diet that will maintain optimum weight aiding in conception. Too much or too little weight mars her chances of pregnancy. Eating the right foods in the right proportions boosts her fertility and helps her to get pregnant easily and naturally.

Most moms-to-be experience back pain during their pregnancies. From conception to delivery, having a baby creates changes in the body that leave the back muscles sore and the spine unstable. Given the dangers of medications to unborn babies, pregnant women are always looking for safe and effective pain management tools.

Causes of Back Pain in Pregnancy

There are two main causes of pregnancy back pain, and both involve postural changes. In early pregnancy, the hormone relaxin is released in the body to relax ligaments and joints in the pelvis. This will make room for the growing baby; it will also create pelvic instability. The pelvis is the seat of the spine, and therefore the spine will become unstable. This means it will be more difficult to keep your spine aligned. Unstable joints in the lower back may become hypermobile and cause irritation.

The second cause of back pain is the shifting of your center of gravity. As the baby grows, your center of gravity moves up from your hips to your stomach. It is difficult for back muscles to support the upper body's weight, especially since the abdominal muscles in the stomach, which usually work with the lower back muscles, are overstretched and weak. The abdominal muscles begin to stretch even in early pregnancy as the body anticipates the growing baby, especially in women with weak stomach muscles to begin with.

Safe Treatments for Pregnancy Back Pain

Now that you know the causes of back pain during pregnancy - unstable joints, spinal instability and strained back muscles - you can begin to consider what treatments are right for your pain. Most medications are off the table, since they could harm your baby. Tylenol is the one over-the-counter pain medication considered safe by the FDA for consumption during pregnancy. That said, no medication can be considered completely safe during pregnancy.

Some people think that natural, herbal supplements are safe to use at any time. The fact is that herbs are powerful and come with their own contraindications. Some herbs are known to be dangerous during pregnancy, while most others have not been studied in this context. It is generally best to avoid these until research is conducted to assess their safety.

If your back pain is associated with muscle strain, consider investing in a maternity support belt. These come in a number of designs and are relatively inexpensive. One of the highest-rated belts on Amazon.com sells for under $30.00. These belts wrap around the lower back and under the stomach, supporting your baby bump. They may also help with pelvic and spinal stability, since proper posture is easier to attain when the back and stomach are supported. They are adjustable for maximum comfort and to accommodate the various stages of your pregnancy. It is always a good idea to compare prices and read product reviews on sites like Amazon to make sure you are buying a quality product.

Many women experience sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction during pregnancy. These joints are located where the large hip bones meet the sacrum at the base of the spine. Due to the effects of relaxin discussed above, the joints become unstable and cause pain. A trochanter belt can be used to stabilize the joints. These belts are simpler and cheaper than maternity support belts, and may be of more benefit to women whose pain is attributed to the SI joints.

For some women, belts are not enough. Chiropractors often help pregnant women in a couple of different ways. First, they can help to keep the spine properly aligned throughout pregnancy. Second, chiropractors can help to restore normal joint range of motion through mobilization techniques.

There are a few simple things you can do yourself to limit back pain during your pregnancy. Make sure you take frequent breaks from standing. Avoid sleeping on your back. For tense, sore muscles, apply a heating pad to your lower back. Do this with caution; if your SI joints are inflamed, heat could exacerbate your pain.

It is the societal tendency to pop a pill whenever something hurts. While not recommended as a long-term treatment strategy for anyone, it is out of the question for pregnant women. There are a number of safe, effective treatments for back pain during pregnancy.

Have you found yourself overwhelmed at the enormous responsibility of being a mom? The daily list of things to do combined with the daunting task losing the baby weight.

If you feel this way, it is important to know you are not alone. Many of my newsletter subscribers share how they have successfully dealt with these issues and the common theme they share is that they all at some point and in some way asked for help. The good news is that their story of triumph can be yours as well.

Let's discuss the top 5 reasons new moms should ask for help.

Reason #1 - You'll Get More Sleep

It may seem impossible to get a full 8 hours of sleep when you have a newborn or toddler around the house however those extra hours can pay big dividends when it comes to your emotional stress level and your body's physical recovery after the delivery.

Reason #2 - Your Older Children Learn Responsibility

So often the arrival of a new baby causes older siblings to feel left out. These children don't want to trade places with the baby however hey do want to play a role in helping he newborn grown and develop. By giving your older children tasks around the home they can do, you will be well on your way to raising healthy, happy, responsible kids.

Reason #3 - You'll Get to See What Your Family is Capable of Doing

As mothers, so often we get so accustomed to doing everything ourselves, our health and our outside interests. Traditionally we do this because deep down we truly desire to be needed by our families. This was certainly true in my life and perhaps you may relate. By asking your family for help, you will truly get to see what they are truly capable of doing, not just for this week or this month but for the remainder of the year.

Reason #4 - Helps Battle Your Negative Thoughts

Sometimes the voice inside is not always the best voice in which to rely. By allowing others to help you, it is not long before you begin to realize that your friends, family and others truly care about you and whenever a negative or depressive thought comes to mind, it is beaten back by the force of your loved ones supporting and serving you in any way they can. It is more than okay to allow yourself to be cared for rather than you doing the caregiving.

Reason #5 - It Gives Your Family an Opportunity to Support You

In this article we have focused primarily on how you would benefit from asking for help but there are also side benefits for those providing the help. Service is the one way people can support you and show their love for you. Buying gifts for new moms is always difficult because nothing ever truly signifies your love and given that you have already received the best gift, nothing else could compare.

Helping out is the ultimate gift because it builds up the self-esteem, trust and love that can only experience when you simply ask for the help you need.

There could be several reasons for headaches during pregnancy because imbalances in the hormonal activity brings many changes in the body both physically and also internally. The first reason might be attributable to high blood pressure as this is quite common during pregnancy. Another reason could be withdrawal symptoms brought on due to a drop in caffeine content in the body. Headaches during pregnancy may be triggered due to low blood sugar content or due to exhaustion. Lifestyle associated problems might cause stress related headaches during pregnancy. It is also important to ensure that women drink lots of fluids while pregnant in order to avoid dehydration.

Migraines could be particularly agonizing and one of the best ways to avoid them is by having enough sleep and rest. Exercise proves helpful and expectant ladies can follow mild routines everyday to prevent headaches. Eating habits play an important role in preventing dehydration and fatigue. Pregnant ladies require additional nutrients and so a wholesome nutritious diet must be eaten everyday. For instantaneous relief from headaches, hot packs or cold packs might also prove to be very helpful.

Learning simple meditation procedures and key prenatal yoga exercises that could be performed while pregnant can even help in avoiding headache and excessive weariness. For immediate pain relief from a distressing migraine headache, you can have a cold shower. In the same way, cold compress or cold towel held to the head will effectively combat migraines during pregnancy. A shower will relax the muscles in your body and provide overall comfort. Drinking water is an excellent way to keep your body well hydrated at all times to avoid headache.

At times, migraine headache may be caused because of sinus infections. For sinus-related headaches during pregnancy, application of a warm compress should help. If you suffer from intermittent migraine problem, getting a good massage around the shoulders, neck, and back will prove to be helpful. This gives you instant relief from migraine headaches. If you happen to be totally stressed out, you could sit in a dark room and meditate. Do deep breathing exercises. It can help calm the nerves and provides relief from migraines. To remain in the pink of health during pregnancy, try and eat smaller portions at frequent intervals.

Headaches which occur during pregnancy could be prevented by avoiding foodstuff such as chocolate, yogurt, sour cream, peanuts, preserved meats and even alcohol. The pain could also be relieved through the use of heating pads which are available in all kinds of varieties these days. Be aware that taking painkiller tablet for migraine headache without consulting your doctor is a strict no while pregnant because it can cause side effects.

Occasionally pregnant women might suffer from blurry vision too, along with headaches. In such a scenario, it will be helpful to consult the physician. Also, expectant ladies should make special efforts to keep up blood sugar levels by taking frequent small meals. You can even get pain relief by applying ice packs at the base of your neck. Aromatherapy, with fragrance candles or using essential herbal oils might be a great way of relieving the pain of headaches. You can also try soaking your body in a hot water bath tub. A hot cup of tea is also recommended if you experience nagging migraine headache while you are pregnant.

Don't fall into old ways of thinking exercise is bad during your pregnancy. That's just not true. If anything, exercise is a good way to keep yourself healthy and prepare your body for your pregnancy. It's important to keep your body fit and healthy, and this is even more so the case during pregnancy.

Now that you are pregnant, you will want to pay attention to your body while exercising. Your current fitness level will determine your upcoming routine of exercise. Pregnancy has some guidelines that should be followed when it comes to exercise. If you weren't active before you got pregnant, you will want to start off slow and work your way up. If you exercised regularly then you can continue but within reason. You should always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program while you are pregnant.

If you are not pregnant but plan on getting pregnant, I would suggest starting an exercise routine as soon as possible. This will make it easier to exercise during your pregnancy. This doesn't mean women who have never exercised shouldn't begin while pregnant.

Your fitness goals change when you become pregnant. If your old exercise style was training for a marathon, that's about to change. You're preparing your body to deliver a baby not fit into a certain pair of jeans. You never want to put yourself or the baby under heavy strain. Start off with short intervals of exercise and gradually increase intensity.

I recommend a good warm up and stretch period. This can help reduce pain during and after exercise as well as decrease the risk of injury. The increased blood flow during warm ups will only help your exercise.

A simple warm up is always best. The exercise should be low impact like walking for 5-10 minutes at a nice steady pace. You can gradually increase your speed as well through the warm up. Your stretch period should include all areas of the body. Hold a stretch for at least 15 seconds. Don't stretch to the point of pain and don't allow yourself to bounce while stretching.

I often write about ways that couples can naturally chose their baby's gender.  The other day, someone asked me if I could create a list of the top things that a couple should do if they want to have a girl baby.  I'll do so in the following article.

First, Understand The Real Goal: I'm always surprised by how many people contact me and tell me that they think they have all kinds of time to chose their baby's gender.  The truth is, you only get one shot at this. Once the sperm fertilizes your egg, your baby's gender is set.  For life. If you want to conceive a girl baby, you must make certain that the sperm chromosome which gets to and fertilizes your egg first is an X sperm, not a Y.

The first way to go about this is to understand the different behaviors in these sperm chromosomes.  The girl sperm is very strong and lives for much longer.  It is also much more stable - which is good for you.  But, the boy sperm is much faster. So, to keep these guys from winning the race, you have to exploit their weakness to ensure they're never in the race the begin with.

Understanding The Role Of PH And Acidity In Getting A Girl Baby: If I had to tell you what I think is the most important thing to do in conceiving a girl, I'd tell you that it's vital to raise your PH as high as you can.  Why? Because the weak boy sperm will die off when your PH is high. 

You can raise your acidity in three ways.  You can go on an alkaline diet.  You can douche with specialty recipes.  Or, you can combine both of these methods if you don't mind being a bit diligent.

Of all of the tips that I give, this is probably the one that scares or intimates people the most.  It really doesn't have to be this way.  There are tools that can make this a bit easier. First, go to the health food store and get PH testing strips (which will test your saliva).  Find out how acidic you already are.  Then, there are food lists and douche recipes to help you with the rest.

Next, continue using the strips.  Don't just assume that you're ready or that what you are doing is working.  Test every couple of days to make sure that you are moving in the right direction.  This will also tell you when you've reached a level high enough to conceive a girl.

The Second Most Important Thing You Can Do To Conceive A Girl Baby: If I had to chose the next most important factor, I'd chose timing.  Again, the boy sperm are short lived.  So, you want to make them wait around as long as you can.  Conceive a full three days before ovulation and it's very likely that a good amount of the Y sperm will already be gone by the time your egg is ready.  (Your PH is going to be the next knock out punch.)

Another thing that you need to do is make sure that you are very accurate with this.  I am still surprised at how many people are using old fashioned methods to predict or guess at their ovulation.  Basal temperature and cervical mucus are written about a lot, but they require too much guess work for comfort.  Go with the most recent, most accurate tool that you can get your hands on.  I personally had great results with saliva ovulation predictors.

Shallow Intercourse Positions To Get A Girl: The final thing that I want to share with you is that you should use shallow positions when you have intercourse in an attempt to conceive.  Why? Because again, you're stacking the odds against the Y sperm.  You're giving them a long trip in terms of distance. 

And, by timing your intercourse correctly, you're giving them a long trip in terms of time. Making yourself more acidic will give them a harder, more hostile trip.

Recently, there's been a lot of press about what a woman eats and the gender or sex of the baby she ultimately conceives.  A recent study indicated that women who eat breakfast and consume more daily calories (about 2200) are more likely to conceive baby boys, while women who skipped breakfast and consumed less calories throughout the day were more likely to have a girl baby.

Although these studies were important in showing that there is a definite correlation that the foods you eat effect your baby's gender, this is really only the tip of the iceberg.  There are many variables in choosing the foods that help you have a baby girl.  This article will discuss which foods to eat and which foods to avoid - and why this method works in the first place.  

Why Foods Affect Your Conceiving A Girl: You may already know this, but when you want to conceive a daughter, the foods you eat can greatly affect your vaginal acidity and PH.  Why is this important? Because the sperm which produces a baby boy is much weaker and shorter lived than the sperm that produces a girl.  This is why you should conceive well before ovulation, so that you are giving the boy sperm a long time to wait, and you are ensuring that they have died off by the time you are most fertile and can easily get pregnant.

But, another effective way to complete this process is by making your vaginal PH a very high number. Boy sperm are going to be greatly compromised in an acidic environment.  So, just skipping breakfast is not enough to really do the trick.  You'll also need to eat a diet high in acidic foods and very low (or devoid of) alkaline foods.

Consuming Calcium And Magnesium And Avoiding Potassium Foods When Trying To Have A Girl: Old wives tales will tell you that, to get a daughter, you should load up your diet with foods that are high in calcium (milk, cheese, yogurt) and magnesium (beans, legumes, leafy green foods) while you avoid foods that are high in potassium ( bananas, etc.) It is also said that you should avoid alcohol and caffeine (coffee AND chocolate).  There is somewhat of a scientific base to this advice, but again, this is only one piece of the puzzle, which leads me to my next point.

Examples Of Acidic Foods. (The Foods That Will Help You Conceive A Girl): If you really want a female baby, you'll need to go on a high PH diet and avoid the foods that can make your system more alkaline.  Examples of highly acidic foods (which you will need to eat a lot of) are many fruits (plums, prunes, cranberries) as well as meats, corn, fish and whole grains. When you are on an acidic diet, it will feel very restrictive.  It can be a bit difficult, but just keep thinking about your daughter and know that it will be worth it.

Examples Of Alkaline Foods (You Must Avoid And Steer Clear Of These): Consuming high acid foods is not going to do you any good if you counteract all of your hard work by eating alkaline foods. You must avoid these. Examples are almost all vegetables (except corn, as noted above), orange juice (remember to take folic acid supplements to replace this), potatoes, spinach, and watermelon.

Another Important Step: Changing your diet can be an effective way to get the right body chemistry to have a girl, but there is a faster way.  You can combine douching with your diet changes.  I know douching can seem old fashioned, but you'll only be doing it for a short period of time and it makes the process happen much more quickly.

If you don't believe me, go out and get some PH testing strips.  Test your vaginal PH and test again after one day on an acidic diet.  Note the changes and the move upward.  Now, douche with a solution based on how acidic you naturally are.  Retest again.  I'd be willing to bet that your reading increased more after the douching than after the foods, right?

If you absolutely don't want to douche, you can change your body through foods, but you'll have to do a really good job with self control and you should monitor your results to make sure you've gone high enough to chase all of the boy sperm away when you try to conceive.

If you find that you can't get pregnant, there are some options available for you that can help you get pregnant. It may be frustrating when you are not getting pregnant. The good news is that there are options out that will help. Lets look at some of your options.

The first option you have if you can't get pregnant is by going to a doctor. You can go to a fertility specialist if you have been trying for over a year with no success. They will run some tests and determine what might be causing you not to get pregnant. It is also a good idea for your partner to get checked out too since it is possible that he can also contribute to the fact that you can't get pregnant.

Another option to help you get pregnant is by changing up your lifestyle. If you smoke or drink, you could quit. If you are overweight, you should lose a few pounds. If you are stressed too much, you should reduce some stress. If your eating habits are poor, you should start eating more natural and healthy foods. If you work around chemicals, maybe you could consider another position at your job. Changing up your lifestyle to be healthy and appropriate for trying to conceive can also help.

One last option to mention is actual fertility treatment. One approach to treating fertility is acupuncture. Acupuncture along with herbal medicine can help stimulate fertility. Acupuncture can improve ovarian and follicular function, increase blood flow to the endometrium, and also reduce stress. All of these are good for fertility. This is just one type of fertility treatment that can help when you can't get pregnant.

There are still many other options out there that can help those who can't get pregnant. Don't feel bad because you are having a hard time getting pregnant. Surprisingly, it is common to have problems getting pregnant. Fortunately, there are options to help in situations like these.

When my wife and I had our first baby, we were so elated we wanted another one. Unfortunately, after 4 months of trying to conceive, we were unsuccessful. Our tolerance for secondary infertility was very low; we immediately sought help from our obstetrician. She prescribed fertility pills for 6 months but with no results. We set on to find other alternative means.

We read about diet and cleaned up our act by eliminating processed food and junk food. We threw out our microwave oven. We eliminated all drugs and lotions. I ate raw oysters to increase my sperm count.

I made a call to all friends and relatives that we were in search of a therapeutic massage expert. Our nannie had an aunt who was a therapeutic massage expert and midwife who was reputed to have been the final ingredient that made many women pregnant. We sought her assistance, she had expertise in manually fixing uterus positions. Many infertility cases she says comes from the uterus being out of position. In our language, this expert is called a "hilot".

The "hilot" visited us for 3 Wednesdays in December 2002. The first session was scheduled immediately the day after the last drop of menstruation had stopped. Each session lasted only 10 minutes, the 2nd session left my wife sore as the "hilot" manually manipulated her uterus. The "hilot" told us on the 2nd Wednesday that my wife would still bleed this December 2002, but that she would surely be pregnant by January 2003.

January 18, we were so excited and took a test kit. Negative. Pffft... so much for "hilot" we thought. My wife said she will just begin a work out program. I had to go back and get a new sperm analysis. Sperm analysis comes out 300 million per ml. Whoa! I should be able to get any girl pregnant at this count, the lab technician said. Wife calls on my cell phone on January 25, 2003 and declares... "I'm pregnant!"

The hilot was absolutely correct, she called it, we are believers now. In fact, our lifestyle change and the hilot's caring was so good, my wife became unexpectedly pregnant again after just some 6 months after giving birth to our 2nd child. So we wound up with 2 additional children for our infertility fighting effort. We now have a total of 3 children.

Getting pregnant quickly takes a lot of effort. The first thing that you should do is start tracking your ovulation. You can purchase over the counter ovulation tests at your local pharmacy or grocery store. You should time your sexual intercourse to coincide with your ovulation window.

The second thing that you should do is reduce the stress that is in your life. Stress can cause you not to conceive so you need to relax and get enough sleep.

The third thing that you should do is start eating a balanced diet and get to a healthy weight. Overweight women have a harder time conceiving so you should try to lose a few pounds before trying to conceive if you are overweight.

The fourth thing that you should do is take folic acid supplements and prenatal vitamins. Folic acid and prenatal vitamins will help your baby develop properly; if you have these vitamins and minerals in your system before you conceive then you can help to reduce birth defects.

The fifth thing that you should do is stop drinking alcohol and smoking. Smoking and drinking during pregnancy can cause birth defects; you need to avoid exposing your unborn child to harmful chemicals and alcohol. Smoking cigarettes can make it harder for you to conceive and it has harmful effects on your own health.

The sixth thing that you should do is avoid being exposed to chemicals and toxins. You should eat and drink organic food products to keep your body as healthy as possible. You should avoid using a lot of household chemicals that have harsh fumes because they are bad for your health.

Conceiving a child quickly takes a lot of effort but these tips can help women increase their chances of conceiving quickly. If a year goes by and you are not pregnant then you should consult your gynecologist so that they can examine you and see if there is a medical issue that needs to be resolved.

For hundreds of years women have been long adorning themselves with fertility bracelets, jewelry and charms with the hope that the energy held within the stones increases their fertility. The many cultures of the world have long supported the idea that the natural powerful fertility energies held within stones and were made a part of their customs to adorn themselves in the hopes of getting pregnant. In celebration of their fertility and womanhood right of passage, they'd actually embellish themselves by selling the fertility stones into their garments.

Modern-day traditions support the belief that certain gemstones can assist women considered to be unable to have children to boost the odds that she would be able to get pregnant. Whether or not fertility jewelry holds the power to enhance your fertility can just be decided by the results you've got once you have put on an ovulation bracelet or fertility charm for quite a while.

Should you choose it to be your belief that the absolute most power fertility charms could have would be a good luck charm, many infertility bracelets are quite pretty to wear, and when it's your desire to get pregnant, what could be the harm. Furthermore a fertility bracelet has the advantage that every time you wear it you are re-inforcing the idea in your subconscious mind that you would like to conceive a child.

There isn't just one form of fertility stone, actually various cultures have their own unique customary native stone like the Rose Quartz, also known as the "love stone" considered to have much power to promote overall reproductive system health and wellbeing. Rhodonite is also believed to be an excellent fertility stone used to calm a woman's emotional behavior.

Chrysoprase is a kind of fertility stone thought to bring happiness, calm down her nerves and offer compassion, and Moonstone used for nurturing receptivity. To help with the woman's blood circulation, Bloodstone is believed to help aid overall health in boosting fertility by alleviating the body of blood clotting disorders.

The green garnet, Vessonite is thought to have the powerful energy to create an atmosphere for a stable pregnancy. Every one of the manifestation crystals within the Quartz family are a perfect choice when deciding which fertility stone in a bracelet that's best for you, because of its own natural capability to develop little "family clusters" on its own.

Whenever attempting to choose which fertility bracelet suits you, you should approach the final decision as if you would deciding on any other jewelry. Those specials stones that "speak" to you are most probably those that you truly need. Whether you choose to purchase some piece of fertile jewelry or actually make a fertility bracelet on your own, adorning yourself with all the fertile power from the stones of a fertility bracelet is simply yet another aid to realize your goals in getting pregnant.

If you are hoping to conceive, you might be wondering if there is a special diet to help you get pregnant. We have all read much about the impact of the foods we eat on our wellbeing and there are indeed certain foods to increase the chances of conception.

First of all, it is essential that you cut out any obviously unhealthy elements of your diet. For example, if you drink alcohol, then it is advisable to stop that altogether. It also goes without saying that you should stop smoking too.

With regard to your diet, sticking to the principles of a healthy diet is important, such as cutting out saturated fats, foods with additives, white sugars and over-processed carbohydrates and fizzy drinks. Generally, it is wise to consume foods which are as close to their natural state as possible.

A diet to help you get pregnant should ideally include the following 10 foods as these will increase the chances of conception:-

* Kelp-This is iodine-rich and good for ovarian function. It is nutrient rich and can be used in stews, casseroles and soups

* Broccoli-A well-known superfood. Great for general reproductive health. Helps regulate hormones

* Hemp Seeds-Good balance of essential fats as well as GLA. Good for skin and hormone health

* Fish-Great for overall female health. Very nutrient rich

* Wholegrains-Fiber-rich for a healthy digestive tract. Contains magnesium which is great for the reproductive system

* Avocados-Good source of Vitamin E which can help with PMS

* Brazil Nuts-3 a day will give you enough selenium, which is vital for reproductive health

* Aduki Beans-Nourishing and cleansing. Great for keeping weight in balance

* Rye Bread-Nutritious and easy to digest. If you eat bread-go for this type

* Nettle Tea-A good overall energiser and source of iron. Drink a couple of cups daily during your period

The average guinea pig pregnancy lasts from sixty to seventy days. Many experts suggest that the length of pregnancy is actually tied to litter size. Longer pregnancies frequently indicate smaller litters whereas shorter pregnancies commonly yield large litters. The average litter size is four puppies but the number can range from one to eight babies.

What a Pregnant Guinea Pig Needs

More Vitamin C! The average guinea pig needs about five milligrams of vitamin C per pound body weight. A pregnant piggy will need twice this amount. Great fresh food sources of vitamin C include red bell peppers, parsley, spinach, mustard greens, kale, and broccoli.

More Food and Veggies! This is a time when a mother needs more food and fresh vegetables in order to develop healthy babies. The extra calories, especially from just a little bit more sugar than usual (think fruits) will work wonders for preventing serious complications such as pregnancy toxemia. Consider adding alfalfa (both in pellet form and fresh) as this is higher in calories and calcium than timothy hay.

Extra Room! Mothers will grow tremendously in size as their litters develop. Many pregnant guinea pigs have been known to strongly resemble eggplants in fact! Overcrowding and jostling in a cage with other guinea pigs can frequently increase the stress of the expectant mother, which can lead to health complications. The mother does not need to be moved right away but once she begins to show signs of discomfort this is a good idea.

No stress! Pregnant mothers are very sensitive to stress during pregnancy. Unnecessary transport, illnesses, crowding, and unexpected change can all lead to miscarriages, premature births, and stillborn babies. Keep an eye on the pregnant mother and if illness of any kind is suspect seek veterinary assistance right away.

Don't Forget Playtime! Just because your piggy is pregnant doesn't mean she should get out and about, so don't forget daily playtime. Also, find sneaky ways to trick your guinea pig into moving more within her own cage. Keep the hut at one end, food at another, and water somewhere else. This will naturally maintain activity.

What She Doesn't Need

Excessive weight gain. Bigger is not better and obesity increases the chance of pregnancy complications like toxemia.

Problems to Watch Out For

Young Mothers - This is frequently a problem when purchasing guinea pigs from pet stores. All it takes is sexing one baby guinea pig incorrectly and placing him or her in the wrong cage. One of the biggest problems for young mothers is being simply too small to deliver safely. How small is too small? Anything under 500g. If this describes your situation be sure to contact an experienced guinea pig veterinarian to get advice. He or she can assist you in developing a nutritional plan that will keep the size of the mother and litter down without causing malnutrition. Make extra effort to add foods containing sugar.

Pregnancy Toxemia -Toxemia is caused by insufficient consumption of calories, which leads to the mother's body attempting to survive off its own stored energy and tissue. Toxemia is usually fatal. Toxemia is known to have multiple causes. The first is the inability to get enough nutrients to the mother and/or the developing babies. Sometimes this is caused by the mother's inability to eat due to the weight of the developing litter upon her stomach. Other times the weight of the litter will stop blood from flowing normally around the uterus due to compressed blood vessels - preventing nutrients and oxygen from reaching the fetuses, resulting in their death. Toxemia can also be brought on by stress or malnutrition. Signs of toxemia include listlessness, not eating, signs of fat loss, and sometimes cold extremities.

A Week Before Birth

Make sure the pregnant female is kept completely separate from all males starting a week before the expected birth. Mothers will be extremely fertile right after birth and pregnancy is almost guaranteed. This would be especially hard on the poor piggy's body so make sure this is avoided!

Make sure you have the emergency contact information for your veterinarian in the event you experience birth complications.

Have a separate shoebox put aside with warm cloths and a hot water bottle in case you have any abandoned babies or problems with terrified mothers. The extra warmth will be vital to keeping the babies alive.

Birth

Usually there are not any indications birth is eminent, it just happens. Luckily, there isn't anything that you need to do to prepare for the birth of the babies other than just being available in case of problems. A normal birth will result in each baby emerging covered in a fluid filled sack. The mother will reach down and break open the sack, and clean the baby. If the sack is not opened by the mother the baby will suffocate. If you see this happen, be prepared to break open the sack yourself and get the baby breathing. After the birth is over the mother will then eat the placenta - don't worry, this is normal.

Complications

Sometimes mothers will reject a baby and chase him or her away from the litter. In this case your only option is to raise the baby yourself or find a foster mother. In other cases you will see the mother develop an irrational fear of her own babies. Sometimes the problem can be resolved by separating the babies from the mother and reintroducing them gently one at a time. Otherwise the babies will have to be handfed or fostered.

Signs Something is Going Wrong - Call Your Vet

Birth typically takes less than thirty minutes. Anything longer is a sign that there is a problem and the life of the mother and babies could be at risk.

If birth appears to end but you can see there is still a baby or babies waiting to be born.

After Birth

Weight the mother and the babies. Continue to weight everyone daily. This will be your best early indicator if something is wrong. Sometimes certain babies don't get enough milk and they need more time alone with the mother. Other times the mother is unable to produce enough milk. If this is the case you will want to supplement the babies with additional food.

Does your metabolism slow down after pregnancy? Most women know that their body experience hormonal surges that affect the body's processes, including nutrient delivery, storage of fat, and energy processing. Typically, the metabolism also increases which is why most pregnant women always feel hungry almost all of the time.

After giving birth, these hormones fall drastically and would continue to do so in 4 to 5 months after childbirth. Different women have various reactions to the decline of hormone. Some enter a state of depression or postnatal depression while some adapt to their hormonal changes easily. Mood swings are linked to the decline of thyroid hormones, which also regulate the body's metabolism.

Reduced thyroid hormones affect how the body regulates energy from food. As it takes several months before the normal production of hormone returns, burning of calories while at rest will most probably slow down during this time. Symptoms of depression, onset by the decreased thyroid hormones, also have a huge effect on weight gain. Your body is also drained of stored nutrients after childbirth, which slows down the metabolism and prevents mothers from losing weight.

Losing weight after pregnancy

With hormonal changes, lost nutrients, and other physical changes that occur after pregnancy, it is not recommended to try to shed pounds immediately after pregnancy. At least not in the way to go on some extreme diet! The most important thing is to get sufficient nutrition and gain more healthy calories needed for breastfeeding. On a lighter note, breastfeeding can help you lose a little weight. You can start with light exercise and increase it as you go further. Take out the junk food out of your snacking and all these little steps will help you lose the weight. However, as mentioned above, women respond to changes differently so be observant of your body's reaction to such changes.

If you do not want to gain more pounds, it is best to consult a dietician for a weight loss program after childbirth. Reduce intake of empty calories but do not cut off healthy calories as it would only slow down your metabolism more. As much as possible, increase your daily activity. Start by taking your baby for morning walks, dancing him carefully to music, or stroll him or her to the park. You may always be worried and ask does your metabolism slow down after pregnancy. Whether it does or not, the main concern is to keep you and your baby healthy before, during, and after childbirth.