Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

As a child, if anyone had told me I'd be pregnant at 45, I would have told them they were nuts. I'd done the math. I knew that by the year 2000 I'd be 40 and much too old to really enjoy the millennium. Just thinking about that made me sad... after all, to a little kid, 40 is practically dead.

But becoming a first time mom at 46? Seriously?

And yet there I stood beside the bathroom sink, staring in disbelief at the white plastic wand and the little pink test strips shouting "positive". It was the summer of 2005 and I was 45 and pregnant!

It couldn't be! Two years before, the fertility doctor had told me that I probably had no viable eggs left.

So I tested again. Still positive.

For a woman who had never figured out whether she wanted children or not, pregnancy came not a moment too soon. Less than a year after my baby was born, the hot flashes started. Now, at age 52, I'm pretty much "done".

But I digress. How, you might ask, does a woman become pregnant at 45 without even trying? How is that even fair? I realize that plenty of women have moved mountains to try to conceive, spent months or years and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars just to get to that positive test result.

Well, I'd like to say that it was just dumb luck but that wouldn't help anyone, would it? Instead, as I thought back, I realized that everything I'd been doing for about 20 months prior had helped lead me to a successful pregnancy.

Here are the 4 basic steps I followed.

Step 1: Eliminating Stress

Everyone knows that a certain amount of stress keeps you on your toes. But too much of it can cause serious health problems. Stress depresses your immune system and ages you prematurely. It's been linked to depression, heart disease and even cancer. So it's no wonder that women under stress can have trouble conceiving.

I'd been under enormous career-related stress for almost 20 years. So, 20 months prior to becoming pregnant, I stepped away from my career and took some much-needed time off.

Step 2: Proper Nutrition

Even though my weight had never been an issue, my doctor was concerned that my cholesterol was high and getting higher. So I went to a nutritionist who made me keep a food diary. I had to stay away from too many sugars and fats and focus on eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.

This was way different from my usual junk food diet. "Comfort foods" had always been my way of dealing with stress!

Step 3: Exercise

Instead of the butt-kicking karate classes I'd been used to, I decided to go for something a little more relaxing and meditative. I began with yoga and pilates twice a week, and added a little cardio training to keep my heart healthy.

The health benefits of yoga are well documented. (There must be a reason why this ancient form of exercise and mediation has survived for so many centuries!) I found that my exercise regimen helped me feel balanced, flexible, and strong.

Step 4: Acupressure

Since I'd been having chronic headaches for a year or so, I decided to try shiatsu massage. My shiatsu specialist, Anna, was from Russia where she had also been a midwife (I learned this AFTER discovering I was pregnant!).

Anna explained that Shiatsu was a form of acupressure and worked much like acupuncture but without penetrating the skin.

According to experts, women who are trying to conceive "can benefit from acupuncture and herbs because of the potential effect of improved ovarian and follicular function. Additionally, acupuncture can increase blood flow to the endometrium, helping to facilitate a thick, rich lining."**

She said that by focusing on certain pressure points, she could help "unblock energy" in my body so that it would "flow" better. This would help with my headaches and my overall energy level and sense of well being.

Anna also encouraged me to loosen up and have more fun!

With that advice in mind, on a warm Summer night in June, my husband and I cracked open a bottle of white wine and settled in for a relaxing evening of carefree fun. I'm usually a worrier: If I can't find a big problem, I'll magnify a little one. But I decided I was going to let go of all that petty stuff, even if it was just for the evening.

And that, my friends, was the night I became pregnant with my precious little boy.

I realize that not everyone can duplicate everything I did. Even those who CAN won't be guaranteed they'll become pregnant. But I do hope my story will help and inspire women who believe that becoming pregnant at 45, or at any age, is beyond the realm of possibility.

**source of quote: http://www.americanpregnancy.org

If you are looking for tips for getting pregnant then there is also a chance you are starting to question whether you are actually fertile. Very few that question themselves actually end up being infertile but are simply not as fertile as they could be.

One way of increasing your fertility is to eat certain foods which contain antioxidants, calcium and various vitamins which all work as fertility enhancers. Here then is a short list of foods which can help.

Tea

Green tea and orange pekoe tea (just tea to most of us) both work really well as fertility enhancers because they contain high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants help us to keep our immune system healthy and research has revealed that females that drink tea on a regular basis have a greater chance of becoming pregnant.

Foods Containing High Levels of Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is a reproductive hormone regulator and can be found in tuna, bananas and roasted chicken breast just to name a few.

Foods Rich In Vitamin C

Vitamin C boosts the immune system which helps in aiding a healthy conception but research has also shown it increases fertility as well, especially in men. Vitamin C is found in fruits with citrus fruits being the best at increasing fertility.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is taken to prevent birth defects but needs to be taken before pregnancy and in the early stages. This is because folic acid helps the development of the babies neural tube which becomes the babies brain and spinal tube. Folic acid can be taken as a supplement or found in green leafy vegetables like spinach and in orange juice.

Water

Water is needed to grow a baby so it is good to get into the habit of consuming lots of water before even becoming pregnant. Try to drink at least 6 and 8 cups of water a day.

Are you confused about why you don't seem to be able to get pregnant? Are you searching for ways to get pregnant naturally? Are you, in fact, desperate to get pregnant? Are you worried that others are able to get pregnant when nothing is happening in that department for you?

Well you have come to the right place! If you want to get pregnant naturally, just read on and follow the simple guidelines.....I have listed below the top 4 tips for you to follow if you want to get pregnant naturally.

The list is by no means an exhaustive one and is presented purely as a guide for those who unfortunately are finding it difficult to conceive and really want to get pregnant naturally. There could be numerous reasons why you have not yet fallen pregnant. Don't despair and certainly don't immediately jump to the conclusion that there is something wrong with either you or your partner.

1. Staying Healthy and What about that Cup of Coffee?

Well we have to get this one out of the way first. It's pretty obvious that you need to get as healthy as possible prior to getting pregnant - then you need to stay as healthy as possible during your pregnancy. It is always prudent to ensure that you are keeping to a healthy and nutritious diet. Vitamin C is worth special consideration however. Taking some vitamin C supplements when you are trying to get pregnant would be a sensible move. Just don't overdo it since too much vitamin C could hinder the process of conception by causing the cervical fluid to dry up. Now we do not want that to happen.

So what about that cup of coffee?

This is an easy one. If you are really serious about having babies then stop drinking coffee whilst you are trying to get pregnant. Simple as that! I know it sounds a bit harsh, especially if you are hooked on your shot of coffee but it is sound advice. Unfortunately it is difficult to find definitive evidence one way or the other about the problems associated with drinking coffee and getting pregnant.

The debate goes on. However, there are many authoritative studies that claim drinking coffee whilst trying to get pregnant could delay the process in some women. On that basis there is enough evidence to support the view that the best way forward for any woman trying to get pregnant is to quit drinking coffee. Not a great sacrifice to have to make - is it?

2. Timing Is Everything - or Is It?

You will have heard about trying to "time" your sex to increase your chances of getting pregnant. You know, taking temperature measurements and predicting ovulation so as to have sex the week prior to ovulation. Also there is the one about the woman being "on top" during intercourse. There are loads more of these "old wives tales" and some will have more validity than others. All it seems to achieve is an element of confusion and even stress and anxiety. My advice is not to get "hung up" by all these theories and go with the old adage that the more sex the better!

The aim is to avoid stress so have as much sex as you can without causing stress to you or your partner. Be mindful of the fact that stress can be a detrimental health factor and there is evidence that it can decrease fertility - more on stress later. Therefore you and your partner need to put a bit of constructive thought into how you can keep the sex interesting and enjoyable. I'm sure I can leave you to sort that one out. However as soon as the sex becomes a chore for either of you the stress levels will become elevated and that is what we are trying to avoid

3. Sorry but We Need to Get a Bit Technical Now!

Let's talk lubricants and I'm not talking about car maintenance! Many of you will be using lubricants during intercourse and indeed I'm sure many will be thinking that by doing so it will help the process. Well, unfortunately this is not always the case.

Some over-the-counter lubricants are not conducive to getting pregnant and will, in some instances, damage the sperm. This must not happen. Make sure that when you purchase the lubricant you read the label carefully and ensure the product is specifically formulated and designed not to be harmful in any way to the sperm.

Whilst we have touched on the subject of the sperm we need to make a few things clear. You should be taking some simple but effective measures to nurture and protect the sperm! Make him wear boxers so as to keep everything nice and loose! You know what I mean. Make sure he takes showers and avoids hot baths from now on in. Actually you need to ensure he keeps heat away from his groin region so his MacBook resting on his lap is not recommended. We are trying everything possible to avoid instances where the sperm count could be lowered in any way at all.

4. Don't Get Stressed!

Easier said than done - I know! I am not one of those annoying people who glibly tell you not to get stressed or not to worry. Of course, from time to time we all get stressed out and there will often be anxiety and worry about not being able to get pregnant naturally again this month! All this is normal.

My advice is to minimize these stressful episodes as much as possible. Perhaps the best way to deal with these types of problems is to recognize and acknowledge that they do happen and are a normal part of life. Having recognized the problem you must set about a pro-active regime of coping with any of these issues as they arise. Take time out to relax, you could start by listening to more music, reading one of your favorite books again (a kind of comfort thing) or even watching an old film with your partner. In essence you need to set aside more time for yourself and your partner. It is often called - me time.

Any of these activities will help you to manage stress, anxiety and worry but it will only happen if you are positive in your approach. Don't let worry and anxiety creep up and hijack you!!!

I suspect you have done quite a bit of research on this topic of trying to get pregnant naturally. You will understand the tips I have given to you are not new or unique, you may have heard about them or seen them written down somewhere else. However they are a genuine offering to anyone unfortunate enough to have had problems getting pregnant. I understand your frustration and confusion, my wife and I have been there just like you. In your darker moments, when you think there is no chance that you will ever get pregnant, do not despair. We felt the same way, but we were lucky enough to discover help that actually worked for us and my wife was able to get pregnant naturally almost immediately.

There is much talk lately of whether eating certain foods can increase your chances of conceiving, but is it true?

Recently I've been reading about Harvard's research into the link between diet and fertility and it has shown that, yes, diet and exercise DO play a role in your chances to conceive.

So let's have a quick look at the overview of what foods are good to eat:

Carbs

Specifically the difference between good and bad carbohydrates can impact on your fertility significantly.

Bad carbs - White bread, potatoes and sugary drinks do disrupt the balance of hormones needed for reproduction.

Good carbs - Wholegrain pasta and breads that are rich in fiber can improve your chances of conception by balancing your blood-sugar and insuline levels (which in turn balance your hormones).

Fats

It is already well known that women who restrict fat from their diets altogether can have trouble ovulating or may even stop menstruating altogether. Fats carry building blocks of hormones and cell renewal.

That's not to say your should start gobbling down lots of fatty foods though. Bad fats such as Trans fats actually increase the likelihood of developing ovulatory infertility.

Stick with the good fats and oils, like olive oil and fish oil. (Particularly fats and oils high in Omega 3).

Protein

Again it depends on the type of protein eaten as to how it will affect your fertility. One of the most significant studies shows that eating plant proteins (such as beans and nuts which are an excellent source of protein, fiber and other nutrients) can significantly improve fertility.

It therefore makes good sense to include more plant proteins such as nuts and beans into your diet.

Milk and Ice Cream

Now for some good news! Eating one or more servings of full fat dairy (such as yoghurt, milk, cottage cheese and ice cream) can help improve fertility.

So ditch the low fat milk from the fridge and replace it with the full fat version. Women who consumed low-fat dairy products were more likely to have trouble conceive than those who at full fat dairy products.

Now you don't need to feel guilty about having that icecream sprinkled with nuts - it's good for your fertility!

Weight & Exercise

Keeping yourself within a healthy weight range (not too big and not too small - just right ..) will help improve your conception chances by balancing your hormones. While we have all heard of this before, it does make sense that keeping your weight under control will help guard against high blood sugar and keep your insulin levels in check.

Exercise also improves circulation, and since your blood carries your hormones, better circulation means that you have an increased chance of getting your hormones to the right place at the right time, and improving the elimination of toxic substances from your blood.

Another great benefit of exercise is that it increases the body's natural stress relievers which is very beneficial when you are trying to conceive!

Being pregnant is exciting and wonderful. There are however, very valid concerns regarding the taking of medications, vitamins and supplements, and even some foods.
If you are like a lot of people, you don't necessarily think about essential fatty acids, whether they are Omega 3 or Omega 6.

New studies are coming out and are out that identify Omega 3's and its components like DHA- docoahexaenoic acid, EPA-eicosapentoic acid, and ALA-alpha-linolenic acid.
There is also Linoleic acid usually called Omega 6 and is found in oils such as corn, safflower, cottonseed and sunflower.

The benefits of Omega 3's have been widely studied and discussed. The use of Omega 3 during pregnancy is of course between you and your doctor but it has been described as very beneficial both to the mother and to the unborn child.

In general Omega 3's helps to support brain health and functioning, improving the synaptic connections between hemispheres. Retinal health is supported by improving the central vision thus helping with Macular Degeneration.

What this means for pregnant women is that using Omega 3's can help them during their pregnancies and the development of their child (ren). They help to develop nervous systems and form the retina. This can reduce the risk of problems for the baby.

For the mother, the use of Omega 3 fatty acids reduces the risk of preeclampsia a condition that develops later in pregnancy and causes abnormal weight gain, water retention, and high blood pressure. It also reduces the occurrence of postpartum depression and the chances of pre-term labor. The improved health of the mother can be passed on to the child.

Future benefits include increased attention spans of the children, better vision, and advanced over-all development. When compared to kids whose mothers did not take Omega 3's, these children are often advanced by at least three months or more, in development.

Since brain function is improved and brain development is supported, it would follow that a child's learning would be improved. With improved learning comes advancing development. A baby whose mother took Omega 3's (under her doctor's supervision) has a chance at having less health problems and greater academic success.

As a child develops s/he can be given Omega 3 supplements to improve their health as well. Conditions such as colds, the Flu, Arthritis, and Eczema are also treated with Omega 3. It has been reported that it can treat such problems as ADHD and improve the child's over-all behavior.

If you are concerned about the possibility that your fish oil supplements might have contaminants, read the label and be sure the Omega 3 fatty acids have gone through the process of Molecular Distillation. This is a purifying process that removes toxins from the fish oil creating a pure supplement and one that is safer and has greater potency. If you are still concerned look for supplements made specifically for pregnant women.

If you have been struggling to get pregnant my first tip is this. Take some time out and get back to the basics. When you become overly consumed and try too hard your body can become a stress ball.

This will in no way help you to get pregnant. When you are tense you do not perform well and your body does not function properly.

Now it's easy for me to write an article and say do this and do that. There you are struggling, how do I know what you are going through? The truth is I do not, but as two adults we can agree if you are not in the best of health and relaxed you will reduce your chances of pregnancy. By the way this also applies to your partner. Healthy sperm is required.

Tip number 2 is getting back to the basics. You know eating good food not only makes you healthy but it also provides mental clarity. When there are chemical imbalances we can experience highs and lows.

Eating healthy helps your body to function properly. Eat fresh living foods such as fruit and vegetables, also eat some raw vegetables and have salads with spinach and avocado. Good fats, good food, means a happier less stressed out you.

Tip number 3 relates to timing. I you have been trying to get pregnant for a while you have probably read about this multiple times. Getting the timing right is all about being in tune with your body. If as mentioned you are stressed out and in poor health and overly consumed you will be jumping to conclusions rather that being in touch with the facts.

You by being aware of your body along with using various measurements such as temperature and so on can greatly improve your ability to know when you are ovulating.

Sex before ovulation is imperative and you need to do so at least once a day during this time frame. This will increase the sperm count giving you more opportunity to fertilize the egg. Do not use lubricants as this can destroy the little sperm. After sex relax, prop your hips up and stay lying down for a while.

Make sex enjoyable. You have a wonderful body that can bring a miraculous new life into this world. Just relax and let nature take its course do not work against it - work with it and you will be a happy healthier mommy. If you want help avoiding mistakes that can prevent pregnancy and a step by step guide to getting pregnant then select any of the following links. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Many women are affected by pregnancy acne, usually they have clear skin which is blemish free but when they are pregnant they find that they develop spots and pimples. If you have pregnancy acne and are looking for a way to combat it, then read this article to discover three ways to cure acne in pregnancy.

Many people believe that acne is mostly a problem suffered by teenagers. While this is true to some extent, it is also true that women suffer from acne more than men. This is because acne outbreaks can be caused by hormonal imbalances in the body. Women are more prone to these hormonal imbalances during menstruation and pregnancy.

Prescription drugs can be used to treat acne in pregnancy. Your doctor will be able to advise you about which drugs are suitable. If you acne is particularly bad he may refer you to a dermatologist who will be able to offer you specialist advice. It is important that any prescription drugs that you are taking do not have an adverse effect on your pregnancy.

If you do not want to take prescription drugs then there are some very good natural remedies which you can try. These come in herbal forms and can be either a topical, meaning that they are applied to the skin, or systemic, which means that they are consumed. Before taking any herbal remedies for acne during pregnancy you should consult your doctor first.

A great way to balance your hormones during pregnancy is by eating healthily. You should also try to reduce any stress in your life as much as possible as this can be a contributory factor in acne outbreaks. Try to drink plenty of water as this will help to flush the harmful toxins from your body which can contribute to blocking your skin pores. You should also try to take plenty of regular exercise and make sure that you get enough sleep.

Pregnancy is definitely a very strenuous process. Women get tired easily, they experience physical and emotional pains frequently due to hormonal changes in their body. In this regard, she absolutely needs to be pampered to keep up with the demands of pregnancy.

Pregnancy massage is one effective way to relieve all those pain and stress brought by being pregnant. It can be done during pregnancy, which is termed as prenatal massage; it can also be done after giving birth, and it is referred as postnatal pregnancy.

Before we proceed, what is pregnancy massage?

Pregnancy massage is a term used for all hands-on massage done to ease the pain of a pregnant woman and relieve her from all the stress she is experiencing in her pregnancy. It normally lasts for an hour.

Most often, practitioners use a massage table to accommodate the pregnant woman. In some cases, a special kind of pillow, or bolster is used to position a woman on her side. The most comfortable position for a pregnant woman is lying on her side.

There are a lot of benefits that pregnancy massage can give, and here are some of them:

o It helps lower anxiety.
o It decreases leg and back pain.
o It helps improve sleep.
o It decreases the level of the stress.
o It increases the levels of 'feel-good' hormone serotonin and dopamine.
o It decreases the level of cortisol, which is an indicator of stress.
o It relieves pain.
o It boosts the immune system.
o Finally, it improves the overall mood.

Let us find out the safe techniques on how to do pregnancy massage. There are at least 80 types of massage and 1,300 massage therapy programs in the United States. Here are some of these:

o One is deep-tissue massage. It consists of firm strokes that press deeply into the muscles.
o Second is the Swedish massage. It consists of long strokes applied into the muscles to achieve joint mobility.
o Shiatsu is another type of pregnancy massage. It consists of pressure tapping on acupressure points, which aids for the stimulation of the body's natural energy.

These techniques are adapted to suit the various stages of pregnancy. During pregnancy, blood clots are common because the blood volume increases to as high as 50%. That is why pregnancy massage is very important to be light with gentle stroke, so as not to dislodge blood clots.

Trying to lose weight during pregnancy is very common for a lot of women. Understanding what really happens during this time can help in making this endeavor easier. The weight gain during pregnancy is a compensatory mechanism of the body. This is to ensure that both you and your baby are well nourished through the increase of calorie intake.

After delivery, weight loss can be a little slow owing to the hormonal changes you go through. Most women wrongly opt for crash diets and heavy exercises which can affect the body in an adverse way. It is essential that you give time for your body to recover from the physical stress brought about by the pregnancy. Remember, you need to be healthy for your baby.

Prior to starting your weight loss regimen, it is of primary importance that you consult your physician. This way, you will know the right way of losing that pregnancy weight without harming your body as well as your baby. Strenuous exercises are generally no yet recommended until after 6 weeks of the post-partum period.

Weight gain during pregnancy is natural and healthy, but most women can't wait to return to their pre-pregnancy figures. New moms lose about 12 to 14 pounds after giving birth while they gain an average of 25 to 35 pounds throughout the pregnancy. This means that there are at least 12 to 21 pounds of excess weight that is to be lost post-pregnancy. It is important that you plan this and you need to be steady and slow in losing weight. Here are some tips you can use to get back in shape:

- Replace high-sugar, high calorie drinks such as juices and sodas with water. Drinking at least 10 to 12 glasses of water every day is highly recommended in helping in your detoxification.

- Avoid junk foods, instant foods, and those with high amounts of preservatives. Replace them with crackers or raw fruits which are healthy for you.

- Everyone knows that including high amounts of fiber in your diet helps while you are trying to reduce your weight. As a rule, you should consider including a serving of fiber with every meal, even snacks. In fact, I usually recommend you include your favorite type of green vegetable with meals, such as a salad or celery sticks.

- Make a record of your diet. A lot of people are unaware of the importance of starting a food journal. They only find out how much they have been eating after they start writing it. This can help you identify what food groups you commonly eat and identify what you are leaving out. This may be confusing at first but it will definitely pay off.

- Breastfeeding aids in weight reduction after pregnancy. Nursing babies requires about 1000 calories daily, so breastfeeding is one of the most effective methods to ensure that the extra body fat and water during pregnancy are passed on to your newborn.

- Exercise is one of the best ways for losing weight after pregnancy. It is essential that you go through slowly with your exercise schedule. Wait at least 6 weeks post-delivery. 10-minute routines should be started first and then adjusted when you feel much comfortable with it. Do only low-impact exercises such as swimming, yoga, or walking. Come up with a program you are comfortable with and have someone to share it with like a friend or family. Stop and seek help if you are feeling dizzy or short of breath.

Always keep in mind that losing weight after pregnancy must be a natural process which should not be rushed by adding unnecessary activities.

Do you know that calcium nutrient can aid in increasing your chances of getting pregnant and maintaining you pregnancy from premature births and neonatal deaths? Are you aware that most prenatal vitamins have not more than 20% of the RDA of calcium?

Studies have shown that most women both aspiring and pregnant ones, don't get enough calcium daily. Calcium nutrient in needed for strong bones and good teeth and also for muscle growth in the baby. The risk of not having enough calcium by non pregnant and pregnant women is one of the major factors that causes osteoporosis; a disease which speeds up loss of calcium and causes the bones to become weak and fragile, curved spines, loss of height and increases the incidence of bone fracture especially among women.

Calcium plays a vital role in preparing a woman for conception. It increases the chances of a woman getting pregnant and maintaining her pregnancy by providing the much needed strong bones and muscle growth which are needed for a healthy conception. Calcium also helps in maintaining the heart rhythm in mom and baby, lowers neonatal deaths and prevents premature births.

Taking the recommended amount of 1000-1200mg of calcium daily before and during pregnancy helps the body to store up the required amount needed to make milk for your baby when he or she is eventually born.

Calcium can be sourced from dairy foods like milk, yogurt, ice cream and cheese. Women who can't eat dairy products due to lactose intolerance or vegan diets can source their calcium nutrients from some good plant based sources like tofu, black eyed peas, baked beans collard greens and oranges. It is very important to note that while food and other supplements can be useful in getting enough calcium, it is important not to overdo it. Getting 2000mg/day or more can produce adverse effects such as kidney stones. which are dangerous to the overall health reproductive couples.

Further more, avoid calcium supplement that contains bone meal and dolomite as they may also contain toxic substances like lead, mercury and arsenic. Steer clear of chelated calcium as they cost more but offers no advantage compared with other calcium supplements.

Get enough vitamin D. Vitamin D helps the body absorb and use calcium. Your body naturally produces vitamin D from sunlight and this is another good reason to go out for a walk! Food sources of vitamin D include milk fortified with vitamin D, egg yolks, and dark-meat fish (such as salmon or herring.

Try and exercise regularly. Weight-bearing exercise, which can be as simple as walking, can help to build strong bones. Talk to your health care provider about exercise options that are safe and helpful during pregnancy.

While most multivitamins may not satisfy the body's calcium needs, they do supply the daily recommended amount of vitamin D.

Mothers-to-be and infants developing in the womb are often short-changed in the same essential nutrient. The nutrient is DHA, and the best source is fish oil. Here are the facts you need to know about fish oil and pregnancy.

DHA is short for docosahexaenoic acid, an essential fatty acid, abundant in the bodies of fatty fish. Unfortunately, most modern diets don't include much fatty fish, these wonderful natural sources of DHA.

DHA and EPA, which are the the most important of these oils, are called omega 3's -- for their chemical makeup. Omega 3 oils used to be common in many of the fish and wild game eaten by humans for many centuries. But modern farming methods, and especially modern factory farms that produce almost all of our beef, pork, chicken and all popular meats -- these produce meat that is severely depleted in omega 3's.

The omega 3 oils are called "essential fatty acids" because the body can't manufacture them. Like vitamins, the body can't make them on its own. That's why they are essential, either in our food or in food supplements. The body has the ability -- just barely -- to make omega 3's from the Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) in flaxseed and flaxseed oil. Unfortunately, the process is so inefficient that ALA is all but useless for this purpose. That's not to say that flaxseed isn't good food; it is, but completely inadequate as a source of EPA and DHA.

And DHA especially is vitally needed for mothers and babies, during pregnancy and afterward.

The developing baby's brain and eyes really need DHA. About 60 percent of the brain is fat, and DHA makes up about half of that. DHA is also concentrated in the retina of the eye, and clinical studies have shown much improved development of vision and cognitive function in babies whose mothers took DHA supplements.

DHA continues to be vital after the baby is born, both for the mother and baby. The developing baby's brain and eyes need it. Mothers need it, too: the omega 3's have been found to be beneficial for depression, including "postpartum depression" -- the depression that develops all too commonly in women after having a baby.

These are the most critical facts about omega 3's, especially DHA -- and everything you need to know about fish oil and pregnancy.

Finding out that you have a pregnant cat is very exciting, but it also requires quite a bit of responsibility. While you are waiting to greet your cat's babies into the world, follow these tips to ensure optimal health for mother her offspring.

1) Keep her indoors

Pregnant cats that are left outside are exposed to more danger and are more vulnerable because they are carrying offspring. Also, you never want to let your pregnant feline stay outside in bad weather just in case she goes into labor.

2) Give her the right food

Cats need more nutrients when they are pregnant, especially calcium and protein. Lack of calcium can lead to something known as milk fever or eclampsia; it is a serious, life threatening condition which can occur in late pregnancy or birth as a result of blood calcium levels becoming dangerously depleted.

3) Keep her comfortable

You will want to make your cat has a comfy nest or bed. There are several ways to do so, but a box filled with newspaper or towels usually does the trick. Be sure that the bed is ready at least two weeks before she gives birth. Also, keep it in a location that is familiar to her.

4) Keep other cats away

Pregnant cats need their privacy. If you have other cats in your home, figure out a way to keep them isolated from each other to avoid problems.

5) Keep a close eye on your cat

This is necessary even when your cat isn't pregnant, however, as said above, pregnant felines are more vulnerable. You will want to be present when she gives birth so you can assist her, or bring her to the vet if needed.

6) Take her in for check-ups

An initial vet visit is important to confirm the pregnancy and to test for complications. Regular check-ups are necessary to make sure the pregnancy is normal and the kittens are healthy. The vet can also answer questions for you, give you tips specific to your cat as well as give you information on what to expect at the birth.

7) Use non-clumping litter for her litter box

It is common for cats to give birth in their own litter box. This can be unsafe if the litter clumps because the mother may refuse to clean her newborns-possibly causing the babies to drown in their own fluid. Non-clumping litter will help to keep her and her offspring clean. You will want to try to avoid this situation all together so help your cat get familiar with a different birthing place.

Following all of these steps will keep you on the right track for providing your cat with a healthy pregnancy. Do some research into the topic of birthing so you're ready when the big day arrives. Remember to ask your veterinarian if you have any questions, or if something doesn't seem right to you during your cat's pregnancy.

When you decide that you are ready to get pregnant, you may not think that you can do it. There are a few simple ways that you can get your body to get pregnant.

Tip #1) Get Ready

When you are getting ready to have a baby, you may not know when it would be good to start preparing for it. The simple answer is right now, before you are pregnant so that you will be ready when the baby gets here.

Tip #2) Change Your Diet

If you are not eating the right things, you may have a hard time getting pregnant. There are many reasons that you may have trouble with getting pregnant with your diet. If you are eating right from the start, you may be able to get pregnant fast and easily.

Tip #3) Stop Your Bad Habits

If you smoke or drink, you will want to stop these now. This will help you to get pregnant faster and help with having a good and healthy pregnancy after that. This can be just what you may need to actually get pregnant.

Tip #4) Talk To Your Doctor

You may want to try and get pregnant, you will need to talk to your doctor so that he can give you advise on what to do to increase your chances of getting pregnant in the long run.

Take some time and get the things done that you need to, so that you are able to have that baby you always dreamed of.

One of the things that happens when you find out you are expecting is that you jump ahead and think about when the baby is born. The cries, the poop, the feeding and the expenses. It's natural and normal to think about what will happen when the baby arrives. What people don't realize at first is there is quite a while until that day comes and it's going to be just as challenging, stressful, and exciting and rewarding if you are able to enjoy it.

You never appreciate a woman until you have a baby with them and that is the truth. Pregnancy is hard and that's me speaking as a man. It's unbelievable what women go through and though some women love being pregnant, while others may not be too fond in all cases is definitely exhausting and wearisome. These are some helpful things to not only pass the time until that fateful day, but allows you to enjoy what you have now before it is changed forever.

You are going to constantly hear people joking to get your rest but in reality a nap now isn't going to affect you in months or even weeks when the baby arrives. It's important to do the things you want to do now because once that baby comes it may be a while before you are able, or even want to do it again.

Be practical and take mom's health and feelings into consideration but go to a concert or sports event. Go out for a nice relaxing dinner, or a movie. So instead of snoozing now before the baby comes, do the things you won't be able to with the new addition.

Months 4, 5, 6 are the best time to do everything. It's also the most recommended time to fly if you want to take a vacation. Plan ahead and try to keep things on the calendar to look forward to that takes the focus off just counting til the baby comes which may make time drag.

I know the baby shower is her thing, we're supposed to get lost until the end to pick up the gifts. A suggestion to make is to try to do it early because sometimes mom is on bed rest, sometimes babies come early. She doesn't want to have the baby before the shower and you want to have enough time to sort it all out and put it all together. She may wonder why you care when the shower is, but suggest it early and you may be her hero later on.

Try to take the classes that are offered. Whether it be Lamaze, a breast feeding class, or a general pregnancy class they are helpful and informative. It's not the answers to the questions you have going into the class, but the questions that you have when you leave and never thought of that make the class worth while. These classes are great because they get you and your partner talking about things you may have never even thought of. Be excited about the birth, take interest, ask questions and show her that what she is going through is important to you.

Again the best time to do this is months 4, 5, and 6 because they can be very uncomfortable for her as pregnancy goes on. Also try to visit the place you will deliver. It's helpful to take away some of the anxiety when you can picture where it's going to happen.

Inevitably you will be part of the daddy club when the baby arrives. What I mean is to start reading about being a dad, getting past the pregnancy and hear the first hand accounts of what's in store. Though some of the stories may be scary it's also unbelievably exciting about the things to come. Write down or talk about some of the things you did as a kid that you want to share with the new addition when the time is right.

Pregnancy can be taxing both on you and her. It's important that you know how she feels, and what she is going through. It's also crucial that she know you appreciate everything she is doing and that you are excited about the baby and will do whatever you can to help her.

Some of the ways to do this are to be creative and get her gifts. It doesn't have to be too luxurious or expensive because you do have a baby on the way, but rather special and sentimental.

For instance, at the 20 week date buy her a birthday cake, cut it in half and give it to her signifying she's half way there. Write a special note like "Thanks Mom" or "I'll see you soon". Maybe save the other half for when the baby is born.

Buy a ribbon and measure her belly every week so after the baby is here you can recall how big she was. She may not be too excited about it at the time but it's important that you embrace her look and weight gain. She may be self conscious about her increased weight but she needs to know you find her sexy, welcome her growth because it's good for the baby and that you don't see her any differently. If you're like me you may even grow a bigger belly yourself just so she isn't so self conscious.

Get cards every now and then, both from you as well as the baby thanking her for everything she is doing. It's just a few bucks but it will definitely show her you realize what she is going through. Give her a massage, do the extra work around the house so she can rest and feel better.

It's very important to be flexible and understanding because she may be all excited to go to dinner one minute and feeling sick as you pull into the restaurant. Arguing with a pregnant woman isn't a good idea because you won't win but by being understanding you will both be happier going home with takeout or something delivered.

Try to be knowledgeable and read about what's happening and also about what's next. Be prepared for what's to come in the next few weeks and starts to develop symptoms that she didn't have before. It will make both of you feel better if you can explain to her what's going on, why and how to deal with it. She will feel more secure and you will feel better about being active and having a clue.

Do things as soon as you can because you never know what the future holds or what you may be doing in a week. Get the carseat in, pack the hospital bag, hers and yours and prep the nursery. All these things are like having your generator ready during a storm. It's better to have it ready and not need it, than need it and not have it.

During pregnancy period, especially on late terms, hairs often make a woman glad. They become strong and shining. You just cannot believe that, while looking at comb, you can see no hairs on it. This happens due to your organism's satiation with vitamins, nutritive substances and favorable hormonal background. However, 3-4 months later you can see a reverse process: hairs fall out sometimes, suffer from fragility and look lifeless. Don't panic! Your hairs soon will gain beauty again, but you definitely should help them.
"Delicate" life of a hair

One loses about 60-80 hairs per day. At the same time new ones come to take their place. On average, a hair grows 1-1,5 cm per month. When a new hair is formed in a bulb, old one falls out.

What do we know about our hair?

- Female hairs live up to 10 years, while male ones only ... 3 years

- Blondes have most thick hair - about 140 thousands of hairs. Brunettes - 102 thousands, brown-haired women - 109, red - 88 thousands.

- Nationality, place of living influence thickness of hair. It is known, that natives of South have richer scalp, than natives of North.

- During day time hairs grow quicker, than during night.

- In spring-summer time hairs grow significantly more actively, than in autumn and winter.

- Speed of hair growth depends on age. The most active growth takes place between 15 and 30 years, any by 40 years speed of hair growth begins slowing down significantly.

Business-ladies are in danger!

Unfortunately, not all women can boast of wonderful chevelure in modern conditions of life. According to statistics, by 2010 year alopecia threatens to 70% of men and 10% of women in Europe.

First of all, business-ladies are in risk group. The matter is, that in strong women's blood there's an excess of male hormone testosterone, and it contributes to "business" pelade.

Why do hairs fall out?

When conditions of head skin and blood circulation are normal, there is no excessive falling out of hairs.

Sudden falling out can start because of:

- significant decrease of quantity of estrogens (female sexual hormones) after pregnancy, childbirth;

- taking of some contraceptive preparations, containing substances, increasing level of androgens in blood;

- bad blood circulation;

- lack of nutrition for hair roots;

- operations with usage of general anaesthetic, inflectional diseases of head skin;

- excessive greasiness;

- poor nutrition (lack of vitamins and microelements);

- stresses;

- chronic not getting enough sleep.

Young mother may have several reasons for hair loss: from hormonal ones to problems with sleep, you know, not every baby will sleep 5-6 hours per night since first months, especially if he is on free feeding and is put to breast upon request.

Recipes to keep your hair

In fact, you will not find such advices, like "you need to sleep at least 8 hours per day", or "forget about stresses and be always calm" here. We have to repeat again, that full-value sleep and soul balance are almost unique events for a young mother.

Another obstacle: constant lack of time for yourself. So try not to refuse from your relatives' help: it will be good, if someone of them takes care of a baby during 15-20 minutes, while you will take care of yourself.

One of our readers writes:

- Hairs started fall our strongly 4 months after childbirth. And during following 3 months I lost, probably, 30% of my hairs, they definitely became thin. If I had enough time for myself, I would not lose so much hair. However, when I got tired, during first time I always chose an opportunity to take a nap for another 30 minutes, than doing something useful. When I sounded alarm, I started using tried remedies for hair treatment, and process of falling out slowed down, I saw fewer hairs on my comb. And 2 months later I noticed that my hairs were back to normal again. Sometimes my husband helped me to steal moments for myself, sometimes it was my mother, and I'm very grateful to them for this.

It is important to note, that anyway, you should not panic, as falling out of hair stops on average in 4-6 months simultaneously with hormonal reconstruction of organism. But the question is about how much hair you can lose. While correct care you can prevent excessive hair loss, and renew damaged hair and head skin.

So, try one of following effective methods of struggle against hair loss:

1. Apply steamed out rye-bread on wet hair, rub in skin slightly and wrap up your head with a warm towel. 30 minutes later, massaging head skin and wiping hair, wash out bread and rinse with one of herbal extracts, for example, nettle or rosemary extract.

2. Rub egg yolk in moistened hair, massaging head skin, wrap up head warmly and in 30 minutes wash your hair the way you wash them with shampoo.

3. You can wash you hair with warm buttermilk, rubbing it carefully in head skin.

Wrap up head for 30 minutes, and then rinse with warm herbal extract or decoction carefully, according to following receipts:

- Prepare a decoction of honeysuckle stalks (6 table spoons for 1liter of water, boil 10 minutes, draw for 30 minutes, filter) and use for washing your hair, if you suffer from shedding, during 3 weeks every other day.

- In German folk-medicine they use extract of nasturtium leaves and small nettle for rubbing in head skin while hair shedding.

- If you suffer from itch while dandruff and hair shedding, then you should wash your hair with a strong decoction of equal parts of willow rind and burdock roots.

- Take 20 roots of calamus, 20 g of burdock root, 25 g of great nettle, 10 g of calendula flowers, boil everything in 1 liter of boiling water on slow fire during 5 minutes. Decoction should draw in warm place for 2 hours. After you filter it, use it for smearing your hair and slight massage, after washing your hair. Repeat the procedure 5-6 times during month.

- One of effective remedies against hair shedding is washing hair with calamus and burdock roots 3 times per week during month. To prepare it take 2 table spoons of both roots, add a couple of handfuls of hop cones, pour with 1 liter of boiling water, boil during 5 minutes, draw.

- Take 3 table spoons of nettle leaves and 3 table spoons of coltsfoot leaves, brew in 1 liter of boiling water and 1 hour later filter, wash your hair 3 times per week during month, massaging head skin.

- If you can stand garlic smell well, try to rub garlic juice, mixed with honey in proportion 1 : 2, in your head skin. Carry out this procedure every other day during month. With this procedure completed, rinse hair carefully with one of herbal decoctions with deodorant qualities, for example rosemary.

Here are some other receipts from our readers:

- Carry out a course of hair treatment, consisting of 10 procedures: once a week you need to do masks, containing: egg yolk, 6 drops of appropriate for you oils and 1 mL of vegetable oil. Jojoba or avocado oils are better. Camomile, rosemary, sage, lemon, ylang-ylang, clary, lavender - these are essential oils, most popular while hair shedding treatment. Jojoba oils are used while dandruff. If you have no jojoba oil, then you can replace it by some other one. You should spread this mixture on your hair evenly, cover head with a cap, leave for 40-90 minutes, and then you need to wash your hair.

- If you have no allergy on onion, then you can mix onion juice and honey in equal parts and rub in hair 30 minutes before you wash your head. Use hair conditioners for sure and comb hair very cautiously. You also can cut your hair shorter, so that to renew an intensive growth of stronger hair.

- Another "onion" receipt: add onion peel to an oak rind decoction. Boil during 5 minutes. This receipt is especially useful for greasy hair.

- Massage salt in head skin during 2-3 minutes, then wash hair with shampoo.

What are other ways to help to your hair?

- During post-natal period take polyvitamins for nursing mothers.

- Eat less salty, smoked and pickled food. It is easier to observe this recommendation for nursing mothers: this is one of the conditions of a diet for nursing women, to avoid baby's allergic reaction.

- Use hair-dryer seldom - hot air deprives hair of moisture and makes them fragile. You should better create a turban of a towel, and then allow your hair dry naturally.

- Change combs more often, micro-cracks on them - are niches for reproduction of microbes that damage head skin.

If you are having trouble conceiving and want to know how to get pregnant you should begin with trying the natural ways first. These ways have been winners for as long as man has walked the earth and chances are that you are doing something wrong. Obviously you do not know how to get pregnant fast.

Weak or inadequate sperm count is one of the reasons for couples failing to conceive. However, it does seem the easiest thing to do for most others. With no pun intended in many cases when it comes to getting pregnant in difficult situations a little 'push' by both partners can prove to go a very long way in their quest for knowledge on how to get pregnant. This is when the positions come in to the act. It is important for the male to deposit his sperm as close to the female cervix as possible to get her pregnant.

Getting pregnant has a lot to do with survival of the egg released during ovulation. When the ovary releases an egg it begins to travel down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. An egg typically survives for as little as 24 hours, though in some cases it does manage a few extra hours. Sperm has a tendency to last from 48 hours to almost a week in the body. So logic has it that the sperm must meet up with the egg before 24 hours of its release from the ovaries in order for the woman to get pregnant this one way of how to get pregnant fast.

A lot of people argue that positions do not play any role in getting pregnant faster. However, logic demands that the sperm be placed as close to the egg as possible to ensure greater success rates in getting pregnant, especially for couples having difficulty conceiving.

This leads us to advise avoiding positions that defy gravity. The best position is the missionary position. A couple is least likely to conceive, especially if they have experienced difficulty doing so, if they have s e x standing sitting or with the woman on top. It is best to limit the quantity of sperm that flows back out of the vagina to ensure greater chances of conceiving. So, if you want to know how to get pregnant faster and have experiencing trouble, try the missionary position until you succeed.

Last, but not the least - contraceptives. If the woman has been using hormonal contraceptives, she should stop as soon as she decides that she wants to conceive. Hormonal contraceptives will make a woman sterile for as much as 4 to 8 weeks after she stops taking the pill. Also, it is important to not use a perfumed contraceptive or use artificial lubricants as these are known to damage or kill the sperm. If a lubricant is required, the best place to get one is from the doctor's clinic.

A little research, a little trial and error and a lot of patience will help anyone learn how to get pregnant faster and naturally too without the help of any drugs or hormones.

Remember the nightmare back in puberty when you would wake up in the morning, go into the bathroom to brush your teeth and get ready for school and suddenly when you looked into the mirror you had a new zit or a bunch of new zits? Well if you didn't have that problem be grateful for you are one of the lucky few. Your skin may have cleared up since then but when you become pregnant that nightmare of acne may come creeping back due to the crazy hormone changes in your body. Relax, there are a few things you can do to help minimize the acne.

• Wash your face twice a day but make sure that you use a gentle cleanser. Using a cleanser that is not gentle can dry out your skin and make the acne worse.


• Always pat your skin dry after washing it instead of rubbing it so your skin does not become agitated.


• Moisturize your face after each wash but use oil-free moisturizers.


• You will probably want to wear some kind of cover-up makeup to hide the help the acne that you currently have. If so, use water-based makeup rather than oil-based. Always remember to wash your makeup off before going to bed so it doesn't settle into your pores over night.


• I know it is tempting to pop or squeeze your whiteheads but that will just aggravate your skin and worse it can lead to permanent scarring.


• Stay away from prescription products like Accutane while you are pregnant because the ingredients can be harmful to your baby.

While pregnancy acne is not pretty and not fun to experience it will only last during a few months of your pregnancy and the birth of your baby will make every zit worthwhile.

Exercise is very important generally but especially so when we are trying to conceive. Moderate exercises can increase fertility because it reduces stress and restores hormonal balance. Exercise also releases endorphins, which makes you feel good. Exercise is most important if you are obese, because obesity can cause insulin resistance which in turn inhibits ovulation. Exercising half an hour, three times a week can help improve fertility. This said, we should not over-exercise either, because this can hamper fertility instead of aid it.

There are many reasons why yoga is an ideal form of exercise for women who are trying to get pregnant:

1. It is a gentle form of exercise. Unlike rigorous exercises, you feel rejuvenated instead of exhausted after a good session.

2. Focussing on the breath can promote deep relaxation. Yoga reduces stress and anxiety by relaxing tight muscles and reducing the release cortisol, a stress-related hormone.

3. Yoga helps the body to detoxify and promotes general well-being. It triggers your body's own healing capacity.

4. Yoga increases blood supply to the reproductive organs. It strengthens the muscles in the reproductive area.

5. It can be done with your partner to strengthen your relationship.

6. Yoga can correct hormonal imbalance.

7. It promotes mental and emotional health. The quiet time to yourself will help you to control your negative thoughts and find deep inner peace. Yoga can even be a spiritual experience for some.

8. Certain yoga positions practised after sex may improve the chances of conception by keeping the sperm inside the vaginal canal for a longer time. Especially recommended is the "Legs Up On The Wall" pose. Basically, as the name of the poses suggests, lie down near the wall and put your legs up against it. Support your buttocks with some pillows if needed.

Although it is not impossible to learn yoga from books or videos, it is much more effective to join a class. This is because your instructor can correct your poses if necessary and this is especially beneficial for beginners.

Yoga DVD, especially the Prenatal yoga dvd, is certainly the best type of exercise for expecting mothers - the best method to fulfill the 30 minutes of exercise recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Prenatal yoga is a wonderful type of physical exercise as well as one of the greatest ways to prepare for the experience of labor. It is a safe exercise designed for all 3 trimesters of being pregnant.

The DVDs record the heart and soul of yoga that is adapted to needs of mothers-to-be. The routines on these types of digital video discs mix simple movements along with conscious breathing and will help train future mothers to become deeply in contact with their body and also the baby while pregnant. It offers gentle and helpful stretches and strengthening exercises, which usually calm the body and mind, while also toning up the body and keeping you fit, without risk. The evidence is apparent: if you start exercising regularly and gently while pregnant, you support yourself and your baby. Infants delivered to exercising mothers are much healthier, experience less fetal problems in the course of labor, and may actually attain neurobehavioral advantages because of their mom's exercise regimen whilst they are in utero.

Aside from that, the videos will help: improve and build endurance in the muscle tissues used in the course of childbirth; learn about deep breathing strategies to help you access full relaxation - a power tool you can use to replenish yourself in between contractions; know inhaling and exhaling and visualization strategies to secrete stress and control pain during labor; improves circulation delivering a lot more o2 to both you and your fetus; enhances healthy posture and alleviates lower back pain; build up your self-confidence and rely upon the innate intelligence of your body; interact with your changing body and your growing baby; and enjoy uninterrupted time to explore your feelings as you make the transition to motherhood.

During maternity, taking time for yourself can be quite a difficult task. Making use of these types of prenatal yoga DVDs will let you acquire the ability to chill if you want to-a skill you'll discover ideal for both pregnancy and motherhood. Not everyone is ready to go to prenatal yoga classes, and many prefer to perform yoga pregnancy exercises inside the comfort and ease of their own house. If you happen to belong to this classification, pregnancy yoga DVDs offer you a great alternative to prenatal yoga courses and a considerable amount of time or a costly fitness center membership isn't needed. There is an array of prenatal yoga DVDs readily available out there, hence regardless of whether you're looking for a energetic work-out or a mild stretching yoga routine, there ought to be something that meets your taste.

Prenatal yoga DVD is really ideal for women in all stages of pregnancy. In fact, yoga is an excellent form of physical exercise following your delivery, particularly as your time far from home is going to be limited. When your baby is napping, just play your prenatal DVD for a quick yoga class and you'll appreciate the benefits of a refreshed body, mind and spirit when your newborn awakes. It might actually be a fun activity to do with "daddy" since some dads earn compassion weight with their expecting spouses.

Vitamin D is related with pregnancy, because it helps to manage the amount of calcium minerals and phosphate in the body. When it comes to try in conceive, you will need the calcium supplements to maintain the bones and teeth healthy. In order to fight infections, vitamin D has been related to a lower life expectancy chance of several cancers, multiple sclerosis, and diabetic issues.

Regarding to getting pregnant, there is a close connection about vitamin D and fertility. When you are expecting or nursing a baby, uncommon amounts associated with vitamin D might have a disadvantageous relation to toddler development.

Lack of vitamin D can cause the baby to be born with rickets, or in early childhood, it can also cause to developing rickets. Rickets is a conditioning of the deformity bones, such as leading to ankle sprains. Pain as well as weakness is signs and symptoms of rickets, and also decreased progress.

Vitamin D sources

There are two sources of vitamin D; from sunshine and what we eat. In response to sunshine, the problem might occur during winter, because there is not enough sunshine as well as during spring. To acquire Vitamin D, you can depend on the food that contains Vitamin D.

There are some foods that you can consume daily, such as fish, mackerel and also sardines. Margarine is the best source of vitamin D and cereals too.

It is said that some experts are recommending to take a supplement that contains 10 micrograms of Vitamin D in pregnancy. Make sure to take a multivitamin that is designed for pregnancy. In case you are doubted about that, you can ask pharmacist advice.