Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

While some expectant mothers fear of losing their figure with their pregnancy, others go into pregnancy with overweight. This situation can represent a health risk for both. Nevertheless, by procuring a healthy diet you can easily maintain a healthy weight and return to a great figure in 3 months.

Notwithstanding, it is utterly important for you to consult your pregnancy nutrition plan with your midwife or doctor. You might have a special condition that will require you to have a specific diet. In this article you won織t find any extreme weight loss measures, instead I will give you some easy tips to improve your diet. In fact, all pregnant ladies should follow these tips in order to procure the best nutrients for their babies. Here you have 5 pieces of advice on how to lose weight when pregnant, healthy and safely.

1. Eat healthy fats

There is a type of fat that everyone should be eating, but especially you! Polyunsaturated fatty acids. These are known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, however when you are pregnant it is even more important to include a natural source of fatty acids in your diet. An example of a fatty acid that will be great for you is DHA (or Docosahexaenoic acid). DHA is a type of fatty acid that helps the development of your baby織s brain and eyes. Additionally, good fats help you lose weight by maintaining a good level of fat burning hormones, reducing food cravings and making you feel fuller for longer.

You can find good fats in foods like organic eggs, butter and Wild salmon, Hemp and Chia seeds, pistachios, pecans, walnuts and Brazil nuts.

2. Drink enough water

Drinking enough water is especially important during pregnancy as it will help you avoid water retention and constipation. While it might seem like an obvious recommendation, drinking sufficient water is frequently ignored by many people. Still, water helps the body to metabolize stored fats by supplying the kidneys with enough water. Consequently, the liver織s fat burning function boosts. According to Isabel de los Rios, Nutritionist and Fitness Certificate Expert and author of the book "The Diet Solution Program", water brings great benefits to a weight loss plan. She sets as rule of thumb that everybody should drink at least 1 liter of water a day for every 65 pounds of weight, plus one extra glass every time you exercise or consume caffeine.

3. Fiber is your friend

Fiber is great for pregnant ladies. Once it is in your body it will start absorbing water. This will make you fill fuller, thus reducing your food cravings. Additionally, fiber helps you reduce and prevent high sugar levels, digestive problems and heart disease, it also helps you flush unwanted fats. Moreover, a high fiber diet early in pregnancy has been linked to reduce risks of preeclampsia. Furthermore, studies in pregnant woman suffering from diabetes reveal that fiber reduces the need of insulin shots.

Fiber is a complex carbohydrate that our body ca not digest nor absorb, it is not even considered a nutrient. Another characteristic of fiber is that it is divided into 2 types: soluble and insoluble. The first type will help you flush out unwanted fats by adhering to fatty molecules and taking them out of your organism, while insoluble fibers help you maintain a healthy digestive system by moving waste down and cleansing the colon. In short, fiber will not only make you fill fuller for longer, it will also help you clean your body from unwanted substances.

Fiber comes from plants exclusively, and you will find it in oats, barley, corn, green beans, lentils, oranges, apples with skin, bananas, strawberries, potatoes with skin, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. Naturally, eating them fresh is always better, but they are good even if they are dried. And try to make it a goal to consume around 20 to 25 grams a day. While increasing your dietary fiber in take, don織t forget to drink plenty of water with.

4. Sugar and artificial sweeteners

We all know that sugar must be avoided when trying to lose weight. Certainly, pregnancy makes you especially vulnerable to certain conditions that can be aggravated by sugar. Examples of this are tooth and gum decay, high blood sugar levels and obesity. Conditions such as diabetes need to be closely monitored during this time too.

Sugar is a processed ingredient that is present in almost all industrialized foods, even if it is not clearly labeled as sugar. Cane juice, corn syrup and corn starch are just some of the variation forms of sugar used in processed foods that should be avoided.

What modern society seem not to acknowledge is that popular 織diet織 or 織sugar free織 alternatives contain highly dangerous chemical ingredients such as chlorine. And even when not all sweeteners contain it in their final product, it has been used in its process.

The topic of artificial sweeteners is in deed a very controversial one. Most western doctors say it is safe for its use during pregnancy unless you have developed an allergy to any of its ingredients. Its use is also banned for patients suffering from Phenylketonuria, also known as PKU. In spite of this, many studies reinforce the notion that it is safe to use during pregnancy.

On the other hand, research performed before artificial sweeteners became popular do find a link between its use and an increased incidence in cancer, tumors, migraine, seizures, anxiety, depression and panic attacks. Additionally, artificial sweeteners have been found to be addictive. Furthermore, studies on its ingestion during pregnancy found evidence of abnormal behavior on animal and human offspring, for instance: hyperactivity, control inhibition and minimal brain damage in severe cases. Radical recent studies even conclude that artificial sweeteners do not help in long-term weight loss either.

When looking at medical studies many factors should be considered. Factors such as techniques used in the trial, extent of samples and financing of the study (directly or indirectly) could affect the veracity of their results. At the end of the day it is for you to decide. While I recognize the arguable benefit that artificial sweeteners bring to modern dieting, I personally try to stay away of sugar and avoid all products using artificial sweeteners. Especially since there are other natural choices that do not cause obesity, do not represent any health risk and taste even better. I use Agave honey instead, but Stevia and Maguey honey are also great choices. All these are natural, sweeter than sugar, contain zero calories and a very low glycemic index.

Why would I marinate my food in chlorine when there are better options? Companies may do so because at the moment is cheaper for them.

5. Do not forget good carbs

Most doctors will recommend you to stay away from low-carb diets while you are pregnant, even some months after labour. This is because low-carb diets can be very extreme and might turn unsafe for you both. Carbohydrates mix with fat molecules to produce energy, and not only you and your baby will need tons of this during her development, you also need it to burn stored fat. Another characteristic of carbohydrates is that there are two types: simple and complex. The first are natural sugars that are present in fruits, vegetables and honeys; complex carbs are fiber and starches; present in fibrous vegetables and grains.

While carbohydrates are needed to help you cope with the pregnancy and burn fat, it is also true that with a surplus of these in your body will produce too much insulin. Too much insulin will make your body store fat and will suppress the production of Glucagon and Human Growth Hormones that are responsible for burning fat, among other important functions.

Since you need carbohydrates to keep healthy and to burn fat, it is important to find the right balance between carbohydrate type and quantity specific for you. Carbohydrates are a tricky thing as not everybody absorbs them equally. For this reason, Isabel de los Rios recommends us to take a metabolic type test. Such test will tell you which type of carbohydrates are easier for your metabolic type to assimilate and in which quantities. Thus, increasing your body織s fat burning capability and avoiding risk of storing fat.

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is always harmful. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, average put on should be between 25 and 35 pounds. Underweight women can be a little liberal, while overweight women should not put on more than 20 pounds. Whatever may be your situation, you should be cautious of your diet during the nine-month period. Ensure that you and your developing baby get adequate quantities of all the required nutrients.

Detrimental Effects Of Excessive Weight Gain During Pregnancy

It's easy to add pounds during pregnancy. But, the focus is to prevent the gain of extra pounds that are not really necessary for the body. The following are the harmful effects of excessive heaviness:

Say "No" To Empty Calories

You are overweight and are advised to put on just 20 pounds during the entire nine-month period. That does not mean, you can munch on junk foods to quickly get those pounds. Remember, weight gain should be from nutritious food and not from foods containing empty calories. If you wish your baby to develop normally and not suffer from birth defects, it's inevitable to give proper nutrition to all her organs. And for that, you should give yourself that nutrition first.

The best way to increase average mass is to keep a check on the week by week gain. Take the help of doctor for preparing a diet plan. And forget about the age-old belief of eating for two. You only need to take 300 calories extra daily for a healthy pregnancy.

Weight Distribution In A Pregnant Woman

If you are curious to know where all the mass that you put on during pregnancy comes from, read on...

Therefore, the total weight gain comes around 25-30 pounds.

Therefore, now you know that excessive weight gain during pregnancy is useless!

Pregnancy can be compared to a roller coaster experience. You have to ride in it until the end regardless of how scared you are of the speed, curves, twists, and height. A pregnant woman may act strangely during this period in such a way that she irritates a lot of people. However, she deserves to be greatly understood and pampered since mood changes can affect the baby as well. If you are a "soon-to-be dad", you should get through the ups and downs of pregnancy, too.

Undergoing pregnancy is not an easy task to do because it involves a variety of emotional dilemmas. You cannot completely understand what your pregnant wife is truly feeling. You tried to fix the knotted emotions but still the intervention done was not worth it. Even if you performed all the household chores for her, she still complained. There are times that she frequently nags at you accusing you of something that you are not- an irresponsible husband and father. This may sound very heartbreaking that you want to leave her alone in the house and socialize with those people who are fun to be with.

But this should not be the case! You have to deal with the difficulties of being a future dad. Though quite intricate to comprehend, you should be patient enough to accompany her in this journey. Understanding the whole "pregnant thing" is not the absolute answer. Rather, offering a genuine emotional support is all that matters to calm her down. Your presence is definitely a key factor which makes her feel contented and secured. Control your temper and listen to what she is saying with proper eye contact. Show her the utmost love and affection by caressing her especially in bad times. You touch her belly and talk to the precious living being in her womb. The baby can hear your voice even if he is still inside.

If you want to become pregnant, you'll be very pleased to know that there are fertility superfoods that can help boost your odds when trying to conceive. If you are trying to become pregnant, it's so important to eat right regularly and to fill your diet with vitamin and nutrient rich foods. Having a healthy diet also prepares your body to welcome conception and have a healthy baby. While it's true that some people have no trouble conceiving even when on a junk food diet, if you are having trouble conceiving for some time now, you should want to do everything possible to ensure a healthy pregnancy. You'll be doing your own body and your baby a favor.

So if you want to become pregnant faster, here's a list of fertility foods that you should regularly eat:

1. Load up on foods rich in calcium as it helps to make strong bones.

2. Also fill your diet with raw and organic foods. Limit your intake of commercially available foods as they are laden with harmful additives and preservatives which can hamper your reproductive system to function optimally.

3. Tea is a wonderful fertility booster. Try orange pekoe and green tea. Countless research have shown that women who drink tea on a regular basis increase their chances of becoming pregnant.

4. Folic acid and vitamin B6 are also essential to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Nuts, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains are rich in vitamin B6. This important fertility vitamin helps regulate the reproductive hormones and folic acid helps prevent numerous infant defects.

5. Vitamin C boosts the immune system and plays a big role in ensuring a healthy pregnancy. Eat lots of fruits that are rich in this vitamin.

6. Water is one of the most essential fertility superfoods to consume. It helps your body eliminate all toxins the natural way, and helps maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Here is a list of foods to avoid if you are trying to get pregnant:

1. Processed foods; also referred to as junk food and sweets, contain increased amounts of refined flour and sugar. They are not beneficial at all and add nothing to contribute to conception, except for the wrong kind of weight gain. Give pregnancy a good start by avoiding these foods.

2. Avoid seafood containing mercury. Mercury has been linked with some serious birth defects like autism.

It's high time you face the facts - your baby will depend on you for nutrition, and al the foods you eat will largely determine whether or not you will have a healthy baby. Play it smart by learning how to become pregnant naturally.

When you're pregnant, you may find that it's hard to find a comfortable sleeping position. No matter if you're sleeping on your left or right side, your huge belly makes sleeping almost impossible. If you are at this stage in pregnancy, consider investing in a pregnancy pillow.

Pregnancy pillows are typically not too expensive. Depending on where you go to shop and the type of pillow that you buy, they can range from $40 to $200. While you can struggle to use regular pillows to help you find a comfortable position to sleep in, pregnancy pillows are designed for your unique shape. They offer support for your growing belly, and they help you side-sleep once you are too huge to sleep on your back.

But with all the pillows on the market, what is the best? If you are looking for the best pillow for pregnant women, check out the SnoozerPedic MD DreamWeaver Memory Foam pregnancy pillow.

This special pillow is made with temperature sensitive memory foam, which means that it responds to slight changes in your body temperature. So it becomes soft when you need it to be soft, and it stays firm when you need it to be firm. Memory foam actually conforms to your body, so you will get the support that you'll need with this unique pregnancy pillow.

The SnoozerPedic MD DreamWeaver pillow also has a candy-cane shape, designed to work with the natural curves of your pregnant body. The curved shape of the pillow's neck can easily cradle your head, neck, or shoulders, while the middle part of the pillow offers you back support and the bottom area of this pillow offers you a comfortable place to rest your legs. Because of the unique shape of this pregnancy pillow, you can also use it after pregnancy as a nursing pillow.

What makes the SnoozerPedic MD DreamWeaver the best pregnancy pillow is that it promotes the semi-fetal sleeping position, which is the recommended position for pregnant women to use. The semi-fetal position relieves pressure on the inferior vena cava (a major blood vessel in your body, which transports blood from your legs to your heart). When the inferior vena cava is compressed, it can cause leg cramps and dizziness. So sleeping in the semi-fetal position can actually prevent these annoying pregnancy symptoms.

Remember that memory foam is not for everyone. If this is the case, you may prefer to buy another type of maternity pillow.?

Many women assume that getting pregnant will be fairly easy once they start to try. Unfortunately, infertility is a growing problem. We read about women in their 30's and 40's who are unable to get pregnant, but infertility also affects women in their 20's as well. Doctor's immediately start to focus on drugs and expensive procedures to help these women conceive. Women who are unwilling to use drugs as a first step or who have been using drugs and technology and have been unsuccessful, should not give up. Fertility herbs are a time tested way to increase a woman's fertility and regulate ovulation and female hormones in order to conceive.

Fertility Herbs are not as concentrated as the chemical drugs proscribed by doctors. You should expect regular daily use to increase fertility gradually over a period of two to three months. In women older than thirty the time period may extend to six months or more.

FIRST STEPS

1) Healthy Habits: Before starting fertility herbs, women should make sure their habits are conducive to having a baby. Alcohol, cigarettes, and fatty foods are the first things that must go. Mild exercise helps get the blood flowing and can help reduce weight which may be stopping you from conceiving.

2) Physical Signs: Get to know your body. In order to use the correct herbs for infertility, it is helpful to have some idea of the problem you are trying to correct. Chart your temperatures to find out whether you ovulate, whether your luteal phase is too short, and which hormones could be a problem for you. There are many books that can help you start this easy process that I can recommend.

FERTILITY HERBS

The great thing about fertility herbs is that they help improve the overall health of your body at the same time as they naturally increase your ability to conceive. Some of the most common and helpful herbs and how to prepare them are listed below but there are many more that have been researched and combined to improve their effect on the reproductive system.

1) Red Clover Blossom:

This herb has a high vitamin content which is valuable to the uterus. It's high protein content benefits the whole body. It's also quite high in calcium & magnesium which relax the nervous system and help promote fertility. This herb contains nearly every trace mineral needed by the glands. Daily use can help balance hormonal functioning which is necessary for a successful pregnancy.

Preparation: Drink 1 or more cups of infusion in a tea daily for several months. If you can't gather your own clover flowers, you can buy the dried blossoms by the pound from a reputable source and add to your daily infusions.

2) Rasberry Leaf:

This is probably the most popular of all fertility herbs. It is a well known uterine tonic and is very high in calcium. It's fertility promoting effects are most useful when combined with Red Clover in a daily tea infusion.

3) Chasteberry or Vitex

Chasteberry is an amazing, and powerful, fertility herb that works with your body to regulate hormonal imbalances. Hormonal imbalances are believed to account for the majority of infertility cases world wide. This is a popular fertility herb in the East that has been taken for centuries. Vitex can help regulate your body's hormones which in turn will stabilize and regulate the reproductive system.

4) Dong Quai

Dong Quai is made up of Chinese blood building herbs. The way that Dong Quai works is by supporting the blood and promoting blood flow to the pelvis which can help with a wide array of fertility issues such irregular periods. Studies involving this herb have shown that the herb helps build a healthy uterine lining.

For best results, herbalists suggest using this herb in tincture form during the days between ovulation and menstruation only.

There are many more fertility herbs that can be used to increase fertility and your likelihood of getting pregnant. Please consult your doctor if you are also taking fertility drugs as the interaction of drugs and herbs can be dangerous. For more information about different herbs, combinations of herbs and fertility blends, please visit the website before for more information.

Getting pregnant is the easiest thing in the world. This is the basic instincts of all the women in the world. This is a very natural thing. All the women in the world want to get pregnant and start their own family. It may be the easiest thing for many couples but some couples are there who finds it very difficult. They do their all the efforts to make it easy and possible. Now a day's many couples are there who cannot get pregnant easily and naturally. There are several reasons for not becoming pregnant naturally.

In some cases, as when nature needs a boost a little push from you and your partner can go long way in getting pregnant. If you are living with the heartache of trying and trying to conceive without success, you need to change your lifestyle to accomplish your goal. There are some most valuable tips are given below which can help you in getting pregnant fast and naturally.

•Stop using birth control methods- when you decide to get pregnant, first you need to stop using all the birth control methods. Many couples think they can get pregnant immediately after quitting birth control methods but it's not true. You cannot get pregnant immediately after quitting birth control methods. Your body needs some time to normalize everything from internal side.

•Prepare your body to conceive naturally- you need to prepare your body that can conceive naturally without any medication or heartache. Start taking folic acid, minerals, vitamins, and full of protein which will help you in ovulating healthy eggs. Some foods are there which are specially prescribed for becoming pregnant such as beans, omega 3, iron and many more.

•Know the best time to have sex- you need to be educated about the best time to have sex that can help you in getting pregnant fast. Learn about how sperm can become more or less active. Plan it properly so that you can have sex just as you ovulate with the high quality sperm. Female orgasm can also help in conception if it is done with well-timed.

In this world of fast food, on demand TV, online instant bill pay and a pill that will take care of just about anything that ails you, does Lisa Olson's Pregnancy Miracle stand up to the hype? Are you going to be truly happy with the information in this book and will the methods perform to keep pace with your life that runs at break neck speed?

I am going to go over some of the highlights of Pregnancy Miracle that may or may not appeal to you including: Lisa Olson's 5 prong approach and why it is different from many others; The 3 months of counseling that you will receive and why this should be so important to you and how effective these methods actually are.

Effectiveness - The overall effectiveness of the methods in Pregnancy Miracle were successful 100% of the time when Lisa Olson first tested them. Of course, she tested them on herself and became pregnant twice after 14 years of trying... and at the age of 43 when most doctors would consider a woman "high risk"... and when most women would have given up.

Lisa Olson's initial testing of her methods that eventually became the book "Pregnancy Miracle" was on a group of 35 women aged 28 to 47 that were suffering from various issues that were keeping them from becoming pregnant including some suffering from what is vaguely referred to as "unexplained infertility" by modern medicine. Her results on her test group found that about 80% of her group of 35 participants became pregnant within three months... some sooner.

5 Prong Approach - The methods in Lisa Olson's Pregnancy Miracle are not simply a dietary regimen for you to follow or a list of foods for you to avoid. The "method" is actually a five pronged approach focused upon helping to correct the underlying issues that have kept you from becoming pregnant so far. It incorporates Traditional Chinese Medicine in a holistic way that has been used and proven extremely effective for centuries leading back through history.

The shear amount of information in this 240 page book should be enough to tell you that Lisa Olson didn't skimp on sharing all of her knowledge and years of extensive research with you. This is no pamphlet or condensed version of a book on how to get pregnant. This is the accumulation of some methods that are almost a lost science these days... methods that have been pushed aside by modern medicine. But are they effective? You bet they are. In fact, many of these same methods are beginning to be accepted once again and used, in part, by infertility clinics and specialists just within the last year or so.

So, if you're looking for a "simple" way to get pregnant easily this might not be for you. This is not a "pop a pill" cure for infertility. This is over 240 pages of information that will help you to become pregnant by actually fixing the underlying issues holistically. Is it effective? Yes. Is it powerful? Yes. Is it quick? In many cases the answer is yes, as you read above. But will it require you to do some things and make some changes? Yes.

3 Months of Counseling - Along with the helpful advice, tips and guidance in Lisa Olson's Pregnancy Miracle you will receive 3 months of counseling from the author herself. This means that if you have any questions, concerns or need any additional specific guidance related to your particular set of circumstances you will have access to Lisa Olson herself.

If you want to know what kind of success rate these methods have shown for couples with your particular problem you can find out directly from the one person who would know for sure. This should help you to move forward with a tremendous amount of confidence in knowing exactly what has worked for couples in your exact circumstances.

Overall, we have to admit that given the amount of information, the testing and found effectiveness of the methods in Lisa Olson's Pregnancy Miracle and the authors offer to give her personal one on one support we feel that this should be considered as a likely avenue that you should check out if you are suffering from infertility. Add to this the fact that many of these methods have been used for centuries and you should agree that Lisa Olson is on to something here with her book Pregnancy Miracle.

Pilates is a special method which involves mental and physical exercise for strengthening the abdominal section and the back. It focuses on stretching and breathing with certain principles to follow. Pilates during pregnancy is really beneficial as it tones your abdomen and pelvic floor.

The principles of pregnancy Pilates are Centering, Concentration, Control, Precision, Breath and Flow (CCCPBF). The blend of all these principles will improve the balance with such as ease that one would never actually realize it happening. Many pregnancy Pilates DVDs and books are available in the market now. You can learn the techniques by following the live demo by the experts on the DVDs.

Pilates during pregnancy will ensure that pregnancy and labour are comfortable. It will also help you tone your body into shape after pregnancy as well. Pilates are functionally Pre natal and Post natal. Not only will it ensure a comfortable delivery, it will also help you to get back into shape after the pregnancy.

Prenatal pilates will help a woman to relax and stay fit and calm during pregnancy. It also prepares the women towards motherhood. It is always advisable to start the prenatal Pilates once you become 14 weeks pregnant.

Before you start Pregnancy Pilates, there are few things which you might need to closely follow.

You can consider these as the Do's and Don'ts of Pilates:

· Consult a doctor and get an approval for practising Pilates.
· Pilates should be practiced under an instructor/expert and not alone or in seclusion.
· Do not strain yourself by overdoing it.
· Do not stretch too much, move within a limited range as ligaments tend too loosen during pregnancy.
· Avoid lying on your back during second and third semester.

You may join Pilates classes or get yourself a copy of pregnancy Pilates DVD for your Pilates home equipment collection. One thing which you'll always need to keep in mind is to follow the principles of Pilates and practice it within you range and not to stretch too much.

There are several sites which offer pregnancy Pilates DVD where you can see the live demo performed by various Pilates experts. These DVD's come with workouts for each phases of your pregnancy. The exercise performed in these pregnancy Pilates DVDs are performed by the experts themselves and some of the experts where pregnant while they filmed the exercise videos.

Pilates, as already mentioned earlier, focuses on breathing which helps in relaxation and also prove healthier to your baby as there is more intake of oxygen. It is believed to be a good form of exercise which helps in fitness even during the pregnancy. The nature of this exercise is very gentle and also there is no much need to stretch beyond your reach.

There are several types of stretch and toning exercise under Pilates. Some of them which prove to be beneficial during pregnancy are The Saw, Leg front pull, Spine twist, Side kick, Back strength etc. These exercises involve simple and slow stretching movements.

If you were practicing Pilates before pregnancy, you can modify your movements according to your existing needs and condition. Remember, do not rush or advance your level once you are pregnant. Do not overdo the movements which strain your abdomen as this might not be favorable to your unborn baby.

Pregnancy is arguably the biggest accomplishment that a woman can achieve in her lifetime. Women, want to get pregnant because this is heralds the start of a new chapter in their lives. Getting pregnant paves a way for having children and starting a family of your own. Pregnancy is indeed a celebration of womanhood. While some women get pregnant easily, others have a more difficult time. Thus, it is very important that regular check-ups with your doctor are done to help you identify if there is a problem.

With today's technology, you might think that pregnancy problems can be sorted easily. However, it can be a very complicated process. Some couples have looked after their health and lifestyle and have just the perfect timing. For some other couples, however, health and stress-related issues get in the way of the woman conceiving. While doctors can be very helpful with some of the ways related to a successful conception, there are ways and certain times that can increase your likelihood of becoming pregnant. Below are some tips that you may find useful or you will want to share with a friend:

• Break bad habits. Having a healthier lifestyle is crucial to getting pregnant. Smoking and drinking alcohol can cause serious reproductive health hazards thus decreasing your chances of conceiving. If you want to get pregnant easily, it is better to choose a healthier lifestyle. Stay away from your vices.

• Keep your mind and body healthy. Engage in various activities that can help your body become fitter and healthier. Also, eating healthy foods can help you achieve your plans of getting pregnant. Learning to do meditation can be helpful with any stress and keeping positive as well. Having a sound mind helps you relax from all the stress that you encounter in your social circles. Stress is a very big hindrance to becoming pregnant. Learn to give yourself much deserved breaks and time to relax by yourself, to relieve any anxiety and stress. A stress-free life will definitely help increase your chances.

• Foreplay is better than synthetic lubricants. Engage in foreplay with your partner as this allows your sexual act be more sensual and more invigorating. Your vagina has natural lubricants that can help the sperm perform more efficiently.

• Engage in sexual acts when you are at your most fertile. Knowing your menstrual cycle by heart is an important factor, because you will know when conception is most likely to be successful. You can calculate your most fertile time by knowing your average monthly period cycle and your ovulation time to determine this.

• Douching your vagina can have detrimental effects. The natural environment of your vagina is an excellent environment for your husband's or partner's sperm. Douching also affects your vagina's normal lubrication. Douching decreases your chances of getting pregnant.

If you follow the tips that are specific for your needs, together with your doctor's expert advice, you will increase your chances of conceiving. It is very important to have a healthy mind and body all the time, so that your reproductive system will not be affected negatively. Technology may have some other options to having a baby, but you can achieve it on your own. The result will be far more rewarding, and there will be less chance of complications or unexpected happenings, such as twins, etc. Both of you need to stay positive and clean up you act to have a healthy diet and lifestyle, then pregnancy will happen when the time is right. When the day comes you will look back and say it was all worth it.

Hormone deficiencies or imbalances between the various hormone levels are the principal cause or a key indicator leading to underlying causes of most infertility. Generally, you won't know whether your hormones are okay until your gynecologist orders blood tests when you begin infertility diagnosis.

What Are Hormones?

Hormones are chemicals produced by your own body, in your endocrine gland, and are carried through your blood to various parts of your body to control or regulate body functions. They can affect your metabolism, growth, immunity, reproduction and other functions. Effects are mostly physical, but some emotional responses also may be influenced. Hormones aren't good or bad, they are just there in your body, and have to be checked and treated if the levels are keeping you from becoming pregnant.

Hormone levels are measured by the lab where your blood and urine samples will be collected. They may be tested at multiple times during your cycle. The most important hormones affecting you fertility include:

- FSH - follicle-stimulating hormone - crucially important for development of follicles in the ovaries that lead to egg production
- hCG - human chorionic gonadotrophin - made after conception that stimulates production of progesterone (another hormone) needed to support pregnancy
- LH - luteinizing hormone - necessary to support the production of estrogen and progesterone and needed for release of ovulation-ready eggs
- Estrogen - supports the production of uterine lining which is needed for firm implanting of the fertilized egg

Male Hormones

For your partner, diagnosing infertility may simply be completed by a semen analysis ordered by a urologist. If the lab-collected sample shows semen that passes standards for quantity and quality, there is no further diagnosis required. He would be deemed fertile because he is able to deliver what he must supply for conception to occur.

If the analysis shows abnormalities, however, his blood will be tested for testosterone - the main male hormone - and also for levels of LH and FSH because they may affect sperm quantity and quality.

Hormone Functions and Timing

Knowing terminology of phases within your menstrual cycle can help you understand how your hormones function and interact. Menstrual cycle phases:

- Follicular - days 1 - 13 days (day one is the first day of menstrual flow)
- Ovulation - days 14 - 17
- Luteal - after ovulation, days 18 - 29

During the follicular phase, follides in your ovaries normally produce one mature egg. Doctors may treat low-FSH patients with an injection of Gonal-f to improve the likelihood of egg production. And the doctor can inject LH if you have low LH levels. Estradiol (another hormone) will also be monitored to prevent early ovulation. If it is too high, the doctor can inject Cetrotide to slow down ovulation until the egg is mature.

During ovulation, your LH should peak to ensure sufficient levels of estrogen and progesterone for fertilization to occur. During this phase, you should engage in frequent intercourse to increase your chances to fertilize the egg.

During the luteal phase, your progesterone level can be monitored to ensure the uterus will be ready to receive and implant the fertilized egg. If your progesterone is low, the doctor can prescribe medication to raise the level.

Summary

If your doctor finds hormone deficiencies or imbalances, they can usually be treated successfully by taking prescribed medication or getting hormone injections. You can usually expect to become pregnant without further treatment.

Gender selection is not a new concept; people have been trying to influence whether they have a boy baby or a girl baby for hundreds of years. Fortunately we now know a lot more about how our bodies work and for this reason we can influence our baby's gender or sex in many ways including what sexual position we use.

Why This Method of Getting Pregnant With a Boy Works

As you probably already know, it is the male or rather his sperm that is responsible for whether you have a boy or a girl baby. The Y chromosome sperm (boy sperm) is very fast and can reach the egg quickest in a race, but they don't live long and can often die within a day or two. The X chromosome sperm (girl sperm) live a lot longer (sometimes up to five days) and can reach the egg at any time, often once the boy sperm have already died off.

That means that timing is important in getting pregnant with a boy. The closer you can have sex to when you ovulate - when the egg is released - then the more chance you have of getting a boy baby.

Best Sexual Position to Conceive a Boy Baby

So now that you know that you have to have sex as close to ovulation as possible so that the Y sperm reaches the egg first there are also a number of sexual intercourse positions that can help improve your chances of getting a boy.

The most common is the rear entry position (often called the doggie position). This is where the woman is either in all fours position kneeling on the bed or floor and the man enters her from behind, or she is lying on her stomach with her legs kneeling on the bed or floor. This gives access to deep penetration and so the sperm is deposited right at the entrance to the cervix. Since they are not very strong, the Y sperm has a shorter distance to travel and will more likely reach the egg first and you will conceive a boy.

So a little birdie told me you're pregnant. Congratulations! Being pregnant is one of the most exciting things a woman can go through. It is amazing feeling life bloom inside of you, however, like anything it comes with a few downsides. One downside of being pregnant is constipation. Yes, I said it, constipation! I know no one wants to talk about their bowel movements, but what can I say- I'm feeling bold today!

There are a whole slew of things that can lead to pregnancy constipation including hormones and stress. Hormones and stress pretty much sums up a pregnant woman, doesn't it? Her hormones are free flowing making even little things seem stressful. Another thing that can lead to pregnancy constipation are prenatal vitamins. Yes, those nutrient rich pills are great for providing nutrients to your future little all star (even before pregnancy), but the iron in them can damper your digestive track. While I was pregnant I came across a few tips that helped get things moving "down under".

The first thing that can help pregnancy constipation is to exercise more. Yes, moving your body gets things "moving" in your intestines too. Don't go buck wild, but pregnancy yoga, swimming, or just walking around the block a few times a week can help relieve constipation.

Drinking more fluids is another way to get things moving "down under". Not drinking enough fluids can cause anyone to have constipation let alone a pregnant woman. Aiming for more than 10 cups of water (or none diuretic fluids) a day should help loosen up that knot in your stomach.

Also, eating more fiber can help pregnancy constipation. Fruit and vegetables can be a pregnant woman's best friend. Not only do they contain water which also helps constipation, they contain fiber. Fiber helps last nights dinner smoothly flow down and out. When I was really desperate I would chew some of those cherry or orange flavored prunes (I think the natural flavor is disgusting!) real fast and then swallow them with water. They seemed to help in combination with some of these other tips. Also, there are plenty of cereals and breads that are high in fiber. They usually have a big label on them saying they have fiber in them or say whole grain or bran.

Please talk to your doctor about any discomforts you may be experiencing. Your doctor may be able to suggest some things that can help relieve your pregnancy constipation. They can also give you the correct dosage for fiber supplements or possibly lower the iron content in your prenatal vitamins. One of my favorite fiber supplements is benefiber. The orange flavored chewable tablets are decent tasting and the regular powder kind mixes tastelessly into drinks.

Losing weight is hard enough - but it can be especially challenging after you've had a child. Even if you lost everything else (your mind, your sanity, and even a few precious pounds) you're still carrying around that unbelievably difficult to get rid of pooch- and it's driving you insane! Below are a few tips to help you kick start your weight loss. Try incorporating each one, one day at a time, and consciously practice them until they become habit.

o Begin with "intent." Don't be random about your weight loss plan - set a goal. Even if it's a small daily goal (no cookies today), know what it is and keep this awareness about you throughout the day. Repeat your goal out loud or in your head over and over until you're saying it without even realizing it. Repetition builds confidence and reinforcement.

o Pause before you eat a snack - reflect upon how you feel after you eat this snack. Close your eyes and picture the process you go through post-snack (regret? disgust? lethargy? your emotional reaction to eating?).

o Don't wait to cheat. If you're a notorious diet cheater, plan to cheat and get it out of the way immediately! I almost always cheat on the first day of a new diet - it spares me the heartache a week later after I've actually lost a pound or two. You've already created the expectation for yourself, now just fulfil it a little earlier than planned so you can file it away.

o Eat something healthy before you eat the snack. It's OK to eat the snack but you must eat the health food first (cucumber, fruit salad, yogurt, etc). Eventually, when you crave the snack food, you will almost immediately crave the healthy food as well. Eventually, you will be content just eating the health food and skipping the snack.

o If you're not already drinking 5-8 glasses of water a day you are doing yourself a great disservice. Not only will it leave your skin clear and glowing, but it will keep your stomach feeling full, fulfil that need to have something in your mouth, AND help properly process the food you consume. Place a different water bottle in every location where you spend time (bedroom, car, office, tv room) so that you're always reaching for it.

o Do something while you're doing nothing. Are you lying on the couch watching TV? Do some leg lifts (and be sure to always pull your stomach in when you do this to strengthen your core). Are you washing dishes? Stand on one leg and lift yourself up onto the ball of your foot to strengthen your calf muscles. Continue switching legs. Are you on the phone? Walk around your house, or up and down the stairs, or stand still while doing plies.

o Go for fake sugar. There are some really tasty sugar free drinks on the market as well as yummy sugar free snacks, like chocolate pudding and cookies. Try substituting ice cream for ice pops or buying natural frozen fruit bars. These foods will still fulfill your sugar cravings.

You don't need to attempt all of these at once to lose weight fast - habits take time to develop. Choose one or two that seem easy and try them for a week...then 2 weeks, then 3 weeks. Soon enough you will be doing them without thinking about it. Adopt a new habit when you are feeling confident and strong and ready to tackle the task at hand!

Congratulations you are going to be a mother, isn't that wonderful? There is no doubt it is! For a lot of women pregnancy it is a very happy period of life, but with all the happiness it is a very hard 9 months! All the future mothers suffer from head aches, back pains, swollen breasts and pregnancy nausea also known as morning sickness!

Morning sickness causes women the most suffer during the pregnancy, and despite it being called morning sickness it doesn't disappear on the morning but goes with you all day, making your life harder every day!

If you will ask a doctor for a cure, his answer might be "There is no cure for morning sickness". Well maybe he doesn't have a special pills or medicine but there are some very good remedies and techniques that will help you to get rid of the morning sickness!

Here some foods that may help you!

Lemon - this fruit is known by its' ability to decrease the sickness feeling in minutes! Try to eat lemon when it's cold, because it's better and you will feel immediately the relief!

Apples - the same thing, also recommended cold.

Drink only non caffeinated teas. Peppermint and ginger will be excellent for you!

Here are a couple of thing you can do to avoid nausea!

Sleep well - tiredness only increases the nausea feeling in the morning and through the day. Try to sleep at least 8 hours at night and take snaps through the day!

Try to avoid closed places because of the air! Fresh air will decrease the nausea feeling so every place you go open all the windows on turn on all the fans!

And the last tip:

Try a Chinese acupressure points technique - Chinese aucpressure technique is excellent way to get rid of morning sickness. It's based on tapping on specific points through your body called acupressure points. This method is 100% natural, very easy to apply everywhere and it will help you to get rid of pregnancy nausea overnight.

When trying to get pregnant it can be a challenging time. For the purpose of this article I am going to go through some basic tips to help improve your odds of pregnancy. Some of these you will know and maybe others you may have not considered.

The first thing you need to take care of is your health. Make sure you are eating right and you can also take supplements to make sure you get the nutritional balance you need to help you get pregnant. Folic acid is really important so make sure you are getting that in your diet.

Along with diet you need to exercise. Exercise not only improves your physical well being but it also improves your mental well being. Breathing and cardio exercises can be very beneficial for you.

When it comes to ovulation you will need to understand what is taking place with your body and observe changes as they occur. As for sex missionary position is said to be best and furthermore it improves your odds of conception if you both climax at the same time. To help predict ovulation you can also buy a predictor kit to help to accurately pinpoint the timing.

Okay ladies, you have done what you can do. Now there are ways that the men can improve their chances of getting you pregnant. If you are a drinker, smoker or taking any illegal drugs, these can lower your sperm count. There are supplements that you can use as well to increase your sperm count. Chemicals and toxins can kill sperm as well.

Just relax, don't ponder on having a baby. The less stress you put your body through, the better off you will be in trying to get pregnant.

To conclude eat healthy foods and take vitamins especially. It is wise to begin taking prenatal vitamins before you become pregnant. Less stress and worry as much as possible to make this a wonderful time for making a baby.

I have a few really good healthy information tips to share with you. Hi, my name is Karen Phoenix. Thanks to this information I went through my pregnancy complication free and I just recently gave birth to my gorgeous son.

Before I became pregnant I taught myself all about the right kind of nutrition to keep myself and my baby very healthy. It's been around 6 weeks since I gave birth and I am getting back to my pre-baby weight. Here are 4 of my best healthy pregnant diet tips that I learned.

1. Bad pregnancy cravings are unhealthy for you and your baby. Healthy pregnant diet tip #1 is about pregnancy cravings. Pregnancy food cravings are messages from your body telling you about deficiencies that your body is going through. Succumbing to these cravings can lead to unhealthy weight gain. Salty and sweet foods are the most common of the pregnancy cravings. Do yourself a favor and replace your unhealthy craving for something that your body is really deficient in.

2. Make Sure You Get Enough Omega 3 and Iron. Healthy pregnant diet tip #two is about two important supplements. Omega 3 fats is the one prenatal supplementation that will be working and helping your baby learn and grow long after his due date. Researchers have even found that infants who were born to mothers that had higher levels of DHA in their system had an advantage over babies who did not. You can get Omega 3's from eating beans, flax seed, walnuts, and wild fish (not farm raised).

Iron is very good because it is what makes your blood carry more oxygen through your body. Iron is something that most women are already deficient in. So you need to make sure that you are getting at least 30-50 mg every day. Your unborn child depends on you to get enough Iron to help him build his red blood cells. Foods that contain iron are: lentils, natural beef, beans, pumpkin seeds, and green veggies.

3. Sugar and Fake Sugars. Healthy pregnant diet tip #3 is about pregnancy and sugars. First lets talk about substitutes like aspartame, saccarhin and Splenda. None of these are healthy for you. They are all made using chemicals that are not natural or healthy for you or your baby.

If you are using raw sugar or Agave syrup, than you are doing good. If not, then you are using refined sugars. Refined sugar is bad for everyone, as it can cause tooth decay, gum disease, excess and rapid weight gain as well can reduce your bodies immunity. Keeping your blood sugars normal will also help to keep away of gestational diabetes.

4. Exercise During Pregnancy. Healthy pregnant diet tip #four is about the importance of exercise during pregnancy. Exercise is vital to your body and can help keep away many pregnancy symptoms like fatigue and mood swings. I know that when you are super tired, the last thing you think you can do is exercise...but trust me, once you get started, you will be glad you did.

Getting 4 or 5 days of exercise every week will greatly improve how good you sleep and can make you feel a lot better during the day. Exercising while you are pregnant is imperative to help get your blood flowing to your baby and is also an excellent stress reliever.

I hope that these healthy pregnancy diet tips will help you as much as they helped me.

Pregnancy is an exciting time full of hope and excitement. It can also be an overwhelmingly self-conscience time as well, as your body is pregnant does not mean you have to wear drab clothing and this is what maternity clothes works to prevent.

You can now breathe a little easier with the knowledge that you can find clothes that fit you appropriately through changing like it never has before! Maternity clothes are available for you to help you look and feel beautiful throughout your pregnancy. You can find a number of companies who produce garments for pregnant women that are not only comfortable but fashionable as well.

You will find that clothes that cater to the pregnant body are usually created in order to grow with the belly. For instance, when you purchase a shirt that is a maternity size take notice of a free-flowing front. Maternity jeans are also made with expanding belly lines. They are created in this way so that you do not have to buy new clothes every month or two throughout your pregnancy.

While you are pregnancy you want clothing that is not only practical but modern as well. Most maternity lines are aware that pregnant women want to stay up to date with the trends. That is why you will find a variety of clothing, for any occasion that will fit your needs. Anything from tops, shirts, skirts are available in trendy fashions of pregnant women. This type of clothing allows pregnant women to feel both comfortable and pretty.

Amazed at the variety of clothing options available? If you are on the market for a new pair of maternity pants you have a number of choices. Pants that sit below the belly, atop the belly, mid-belly are just a few samples of what is available for your consideration. It all depends on your personal preference.

The process of purchasing maternity attire may be a little overwhelming. Not only do you have a number of styles to choose from, but you may not know what your size is anymore. There is help for this. Some companies have placed a same size system in affect.

During pregnancy you will most likely be thinking of the time when you give birth. Well, there is the nursing period post pregnancy that you may be thinking of as well. Nursing tops and bras are available for you to purchase. These types of shirts and undergarments help make the nursing process easier and much more efficient.

Looking ahead toward your delivery and beyond you may want to consider nursing tops as well. Regular tops may be inconvenient for a nursing mother. Especially when out in public and may need more privacy, nursing tops may be more effective as opposed to regular tops.

Maternity clothes can also be helpful for you in the first few months after delivery. Although wishing yourself back into your regular size jeans may give you hope but normal women probably need a little time to ease themselves back into their normal jeans. In the meanwhile, your maternity wear can help you through this transition process.

The first trimester of the pregnancy is usually the hardest for it is when the phenomenon of morning sickness haunts the expectants; albeit not all of them experience it. Morning sickness is not a life threatening problem, but it is not considered a small problem either. For one thing, it can lead to dehydration due to too much vomiting. It's important that you recognize the warning signs of morning sickness so you can better prepare yourself for it and know when to call the doctor.

Morning sickness begins as early as four weeks into pregnancy and lasts for about three months. If your nausea and vomiting continues past this point, you're all green to call the doctor. Take note that morning sickness can increase in severity at anytime. Simply inform your doctor if the symptoms are worsening - and if the medications given to you do not work. After a full day that you keep vomiting everything that you're trying to take in, call the doctor as soon as you can.

Rarer cases of morning sickness are so severe that the pregnant woman is unable to be nourished at all. This can become, if not already is, hyperemesis gravidarum. The name means over (hyper), vomiting (emesis), and pregnant (gravidarum). This happens to about 0.3% of pregnant women. It is characterized by frequently occurring vomiting. The mother's health is at risk should it go untreated. The fetus' health and life is at risk if it is left untreated any longer. The fetus' health and life is at risk if it is left untreated any longer. Inform your doctor if your morning sickness has gotten worse, and on how many times you've vomited during the day. If you've vomited over three times in one day, that's a sign that your condition is getting worse, so you have to call your doctor immediately.

Vomiting can lead to dehydration. Dehydration happens when your body loses more fluids than you can replace. When you vomit excessively, you lose fluids faster than you gain them by drinking water. The human body displays signs that you're dehydrating. Feeling dizzy or about to faint is one of those signs, and you should call your doctor immediately. What makes you dizzy is the fact that your blood pressure is lowered due to the dehydration process. Also, if your urine is darker in color, or if you're urinating in small quantities, a phone call to the doctor would be appropriate.

Another instance that you should be calling the doctor is when you feel your eyes, skin, and mouth too dry. Headaches are common symptoms of dehydration. You'll also feel too tired, weak, and absent minded. When you're dehydrated, you won't have the strength to hang in there. The fact that you are noticing the symptoms makes you already dehydrated. This is a serious problem for expectant moms. It can lead to premature labor or other complications with your pregnancy. When dehydrated, try drinking plenty of water, say ten pints if possible.

Getting pregnant is as easy as changing your food habits! More and more researchers all over the world are finding out the value of foods in doubling your chances of conception! There are a number of foods that can help you conceive. Are they effective? YES they are! My sister tried them out and became the proud mother of baby sons a few months back!

Which foods help getting pregnant? We'll tell you:

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  Soy ahoy- use it as a thickener, a preservative or as a health food-soybean in any form is good for you. They nearly double the presence of fertility hormones in your body-so use them every day!


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  The right carbs- carbohydrates are not always bad news. In fact, slow release carbs like nuts, dried beans and whole grains are very important foods that help getting pregnant.


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  The right vitamin- you CANNOT avoid the roles of vitamins in getting pregnant. The most important vitamins to look out for are vitamin B6, zinc, folic acid and vitamin C. You know what I am talking about-load up on citrus fruits, spinach and leafy vegetables!


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  The right beverages- even beverages can be useful when you are looking for help getting pregnant. Just switch to green tea instead of loading up on coffee and soft drinks! Green tea is full of antioxidants that can increase your fertility up to 2 times! Modern research shows that women who take tea regularly have more of a chance getting pregnant than those who don't. Surely you don't want to be left behind!

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  Trans fats- they are not good for you, period! Trans fats double the risk of infertility in normal couples, so stay away from them! All the yummy snacks and soups can well possess substance lethal enough to stop you getting pregnant. Even if you increase the consumption of Trans fats by 2%, you chalk up an additional 73% chance of not conceiving at all! These should be studiously avoided when you need help getting pregnant.


• Red meat- did you know that even a single helping of beef per day can reduce your chances of getting pregnant? This is another simple everyday food that can stand in the way of you getting pregnant. Proteins from plant sources-for instance fruit, vegetables and beans provide protection against ovulatory infertility. Isn't the steak a small price to pay for your bundle of joy?


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  Soft drinks- these result in a sugar spike that can send your fertility haywire! So steer clear of these no good foods!

Bad diets are one of the major reasons behind unexplained fertility. I know. I made these changes to my diet a few months back and FELT the difference! Do yourself a favor and stay away from medicines, chemicals and surgical procedures. You can get pregnant in 3 months by following the diet tips above!