Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

Let's face it shopping for funky newborn baby clothing is so much fun! And every new mummy wants their new offspring in super cool threads.

Well... there is no shortage of choice, there are literally thousands of shops and online stores that sell newborn baby clothing.

Finding the best shops and stores that you like, suit your taste, quality standards and budget is the hard part.

The good news is our team have spend hours trawling around hundreds of these shops and stores and have established a list of favourites that we recommend, trying to meet all the above requirements.

As well as finding funky newborn baby clothing we have also established an 'essentials' items kit that must be on every new mums list of 'must haves'. These are the extra comfortable, practical newborn baby clothing items for optimum newborn sleep and days at home.

The newborn baby clothing we have found is certainly a little bit funky, a little bit cute, quality is good, prices are affordable, and they are definitely a little bit cool!

The newborn 'essentials' clothing kit on our favourites list includes things like, singlets, socks, hat, bodysuits, wraps and more. With this 'essentials' newborn baby clothing kit you also receive a newborn 'essential items' free baby samples bag, that includes things like, a soother, milk/food storage cup, disposable change mat, baby wipes, breast pads, creams and more - free.

All favourites on our list cover baby boy clothes and baby girl clothes.

Having a newborn baby is such an exciting time, it can also be quite a challenging time, expending all your time and energy. As well as providing newborn baby clothing information and places which is so much fun. We also provide essential free information to assist all the beautiful new mummy's out there. Just about every baby subject is covered, such as breastfeeding, postnatal depression, newborn sleep, crying baby information, baby weeks and stages, newborn care and generally baby information, and if its not we will help find the answer for you!

Depression can be more than just being sad. Depression Symptoms. It is a medical illness that involves the Mind and Body. It can affect the way you behave, and cause you physical and emotional problems. It can also make you feel as if living is no longer worthy. Depression usually requires long term treatment, much like high blood pressure

Some of Depression symptoms include:

* Loss of Interest
* Feeling down
* Hopeless
* Sleeping Problems
* Trouble concentrating
* Doubltful
* Unusual weight loss/gain
* Restlessness
* Easily aggrivated
* Feeling weak or with fatigue
* Thoughts of suicide
* Unusual headaches or back pains

Some other types of depression are Monopolar depression and dysthymic disorder, Bipolar disorder - which alters mood level with increased mental and physical activity, Manic disorder, which is characterized by abnormally elevated moods, or unrealistic optimism.

Depression can also start by something. For example...

Some causes of depression can be Reactive Depression, Endogenous Depression, from a physical disease, an Unsound lifestyle, Postnatal depression, and Seasonal affective disorder. You can get more information related to this at [http://myhealthenhancement.com/a/depression-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-options]

Some natural treatments for depression can range from slowing down a stressful life of too many activities, getting good nutrition and plenty of rest, physical exercise and meditation. Some supplements of vitamins and antioxidants and aminoacids can be helpful too.

Some stimulants like coffee and teas may help against depressive feelings, as long as they are taken in moderate amounts. If you are a heavy user of these stimulants, you should cut down on your consumption.

There's also nutritional products marketed to help against depressive symptoms. They contain ingredients that the brain uses as building blocks for neurotransmitters. They also contain vitamins and minerals that the brain uses as tools to produce neurotransmitters, especially with vitamin B6

People's food intake has a different range of nutrients. Some of these nutrients provide the elements what a human body needs. One of those elements is energy that makes the body able to produce outputs. It also provides essential components for growth and maintenance of the body.

Macronutrients like fats, carbohydrates and proteins require a person a relatively good amount of intake of these nutrients. These macronutrients provide energy and building blocks responsible for the growth of the body and maintaining it healthy. Vitamins and minerals that belong to micronutrients though require only a minimal intake of the same, but they are classified essential for they play a great role as they are to keep the body healthy.

As anticipated in food nutrition, most people are expected to eat foods containing all the nutrients that are essential for a healthy lifestyle. An adequate understanding concerning nutrients and their implications to everyone's health is also necessary for the benefit of proper nutrients intake. Undeniably, not every single person has to take all of these nutrients for it will depend on the need of the individual body's intake. These nutrients have specific functions to the body. Pregnant women for instance are strongly recommended to have a large amount of folic acid supplement to avoid having instances of babies' deformity.

Below are the nutrients with their implications they affect to everyone's health:

Macronutrients

Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are coming from starchy foods such as: rice, bread, potatoes, pasta, and cereals. These are also found in starchy vegetable, milk, sugar, and preserves like fruit jams. As mentioned above, it provides energy to the body. Adequate intakes of carbohydrates will help keep the body reserve energy. On the contrary, too much intake of it will cause serious problems in health. That is why it is advised that a person should monitor his/her carbohydrates intake to avoid unfavorable and undesired results.

Protein. This nutrient provides Amino Acids which is responsible for building blocks that a human body can not make alone. It is essential for growth development of the body. Without protein, a human body will not be as strong as what is it expected. This nutrient can either be found in a lot of food sources such as fish, meat, eggs, dairy foods, and cereal products such as soya products, bread, pulses and nuts. Or through supplements like food supplements which only focus on providing protein to a person's body.

Fat. This is found in dairy foods, oily fish, biscuits, pastry products, meat products, crisps and chocolate. Interestingly, it plays a vital role basically in providing and maintaining healthy skin and hair and insulation of body organs against events that introduce shock. As people perceived it, fat is somewhat destruction for their diet but on the contrary, it provides more energy source and it maintains body temperature. Without fat, the ability of the body to digest foods will be impossible. When this nutrient is consumed properly and not too much, it will give a good impact to everyone's health.

Micronutrients

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin). This is found in meats, whole grains, fruit, nuts, fortified breakfast cereals and vegetables. Vitamin B1 (thiamin) is essential for it is responsible for releasing energy coming from the carbohydrates. Moreover its active involvement with the nervous system and heart is needed. Hence, without this nutrient, a human body will not be able to function well and will be unable to meet what is expected from the body. With this, unreleased energy from carbohydrates will translate into undesired results to the body.

Vitamin B2(Riboflavin). This nutrient can be enjoyed from eating green vegetables, mushrooms, fortified breakfast cereals, legumes, liver, milk, rice and eggs. Its main function is being responsible for discharging energy coming from macronutrients such as carbohydrate, protein and fat. Another function it does is its involvement with iron's transport and metabolism. It is also in charge of the skins' and body linings' normal structure and functions.

Vitamin B3(Niacin). Wheat and maize, eggs, meat, dairy products and yeast intake is the natural way to enjoy this nutrient. Vitamin B3 is necessary for healthy nervous system, brain function and sex hormones. Functions and benefits it gives to the body include being a great help in detoxifying or removing body toxins that normally cause harm to the body. It helps to have a good digestion and producing healthy skins. Vitamin B3 also can increase blood circulation and decrease cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine). Good food source of Vitamin B6 includes brewer's yeast, Oats, Wheat, Sardines, Beef, Mackerel, Free range eggs, Poultry, Bananas, Avocado, Cabbage, Brown rice, Dried fruit and Molasses. Vitamin B6 boosts immune system and helps relieve muscle cramps, vomiting and morning sickness. It is best also in helping with skin and nervous disorders and it contains anti-ageing components. Moreover, this vitamin protects against the rootless attack of cancer. Lack of Vitamin B6 intake will deprive the body from having enough Vitamin B12 absorption.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)To get this vitamin, one should have an intake of the following foods: Liver, Cheese, free range eggs, Kidney, Beef, Oily fish, Milk, Fortified cereals, Lamb and Pork. Keeping the nervous system healthy and making red blood cells are what Vitamin B12 is working on. It is one of the most important vitamins among the B-group insomuch that people who are strict vegetarians are recommended to have supplements from this vitamin. Its scope of functions are into protecting against anemia, increasing energy, being a good element for growth and increasing appetite most especially to children. It is likewise significant for brain functions improvement and in keeping healthy nervous system. The vitamin may also protect against cancer and soothe menstruation plus it fights against postnatal depression.

Folate/ Folic acid. Good food source of Folic acid are as follows: Liver, Peanuts, Almonds, Citrus fruits, Carrots, Green leafy vegetables, Apricots, Cantaloupe melons, Avocados, Beans, Beetroot, Broccoli, and free range eggs. It is part of vitamin B-complex and one of the most neglected vitamins for intake. This is somehow a substitute for Vitamin C supplement. However, a person is required to have a large amount of intake of folic acid to keep up with what Vitamin C can do to the body. Folic Acid is needed for involvement in formation of healthy red blood cells. This will help also for the development in unborn babies' nervous system and prevention against "spina bifida" (a bony defect in the spinal column). Just like the aforementioned, this also looks after for definite types of cancer probabilities. Folic Acid is also into helping digestion improvement and appetite enhancing.

Vitamin C. Good food sources for Vitamin C are Blackcurrants, broccoli, green peppers, kiwi fruits, Brussels sprouts, lemons, oranges, strawberries, cabbage and all other types of fruits with the similar or the same components from the mentioned fruits containing Vitamin C. And other types of vegetables which contain Vitamin C.This vitamin serves as an antioxidant (the substance that prevents damage to the body) and an important element for having body tissues organize and operate normally. It greatly helps the body during its absorption of iron from non-meat intakes. It also helps in healing process of any wounds caused by any types of physical damage. Vitamin C also is into protecting against cancer. Considering the fact that the vitamin does the prevention and fights infection, an individual can highly expect protection against the risk of having heart disease, deadly diabetes and arthritis. Vitamin C also helps overcome male's infertility.

As women get older and closer to menopause, they experience a variety of symptoms in their bodies - symptoms that can make life unpleasant and sometimes downright difficult.

These symptoms include; heavy periods, forgetfulness, fatigue, insomnia, headaches as well as symptoms like bloating associated with menstruation.

There are a number of herbs that can help make life a whole lot easier for women who are experiencing peri-menopause as well as women with symptoms of PMS. Three of these herbs are Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus castus) and Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis).

Black cohosh has been used for menopausal symptoms as well as menstrual cramping, headaches, water retention, lessened or absence of menstrual bleeding and uterine/bladder prolapse. Since black chohosh is anti-spasmodic, it tones the female reproductive tract.

However, it is also good for toning and sedating the nervous system. Many women have emotional ups and downs associated with their cycle, so black cohosh is especially useful for problems such as nervous irritability and depression. The herb also helps aching muscles and chilliness associated with the menstrual cycle for the peri-menopausal woman.

Black cohosh should not be used on its own. It is best used in a formula along with other herbs that support the female reproductive tract.

Chaste Tree is another excellent herb good for a variety of female reproductive concerns. These include uterine fibroids, endometriosis, chronic menstrual cramps, heavy bleeding, mid-cycle spotting and irregular cycles which are due to a deficiency of the corpus luteum. Chaste tree can also help with other hormonally related symptoms, such as acne, breast tenderness, fibrocystic breasts and pre-menstrual symptoms including water retention, headaches and depression.

Chaste Tree is useful for younger women as well as it has been used traditionally to treat infertility and prevent miscarriage, as well as to alleviate post-partum depression. It has been used traditionally to relive muscle spasms and pain.

Dong Quai is often used in many women's formulas. It is a warming female tonic as it enriches the blood, promotes blood circulation as well as regulating and normalizing menstruation and the menstrual cycle. Dong Quai is also a mild laxative, an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic.

Dong Quai can be used for PMS, cramps, menopausal-related symptoms, anemia, bleeding of the uterus due to stagnation as well as chronic pelvic infections. In Chinese medicine, Dong Quai is seen as a herb that 'dissolves stuckness,' which means it reduces blood clots, fibroids and other masses.

Dong quai is useful for gynecological complaints when there is pain with spasms, chills, dryness of skin and constipation due to dryness. Dong Quai is often considered the female version of ginseng and it helps women feel good.

Women who take Black Cohosh and Dong Quai should be aware that these herbs should not be consumed during pregnancy and nursing.

Post partum depression is also called postnatal depression; it is a form of depression that can affect mothers after they have given birth to their child. Studies have shown that mothers that use omega-3 supplements before, during, and after their pregnancy are less likely to suffer from post partum depression.

The human body cannot produce EPA and DHA on its own. EPA and DHA are the two essential fatty acids that our body needs. The best sources to get these omega-3 fatty acids are without a doubt from fatty fish and omega-3 supplements.

Experts and doctors recommend against pregnant mothers eating a lot of fatty fish because they can be contaminated and cause poisoning. Using omega-3 supplements is a smarter alternative when you can find high quality products that have undergone molecular distillation to ensure pharmaceutical grade purity.

Researchers believe that postpartum depression happens because the mother's EPA and DHA levels are too low. Many are unaware of the fact that they are deficient in EPA and DHA fats, which can lead to a host of health problems, not to mention depression, anxiety and other mental ailments.

The human brain is made up of 60% fat, which just shows you how important these essential fats are. Studies have shown that over 90% of people are deficient in these omega-3 fats. When the mother is pregnant, the baby is relying on the omega-3 fats of the mother.

This means that the mothers omega-3 supplies are constantly dwindling and need to be refilled. After each pregnancy mothers have less and less of DHA and EPA. Experts all around the world recommend that everyone, including pregnant mothers supplement daily with the high-quality fish oil supplement.

The key lies in finding the best fish oil that can help you avoid post partum depression altogether. Always look for a product that has been molecularly distilled, and uses the best fish available today.

There are three fish you want to look for in particular. They are salmon, tuna and hoki. A recent clinical trial showed that when you blend tuna and hoki together, they form a synergistic effect that makes the product two and a half times more beneficial to pregnant mothers.

Stress reduction terms are not something that is easy to understand at first because they are not usually topics of conversation. However, many people do want to know what they mean. Here are some terms that you might want to know and their definitions:

1. Stress
It is one psychological aspect of a person that will affect the physical aspect of the person. There are a lot of factors that may cause stress and you may want to know what specific aspects of your like affects you.

2. Stress reduction
Stress reduction is the way that people may want to develop when they want to counter the effects of stress in their bodies.

3. Stress impacts
There are many impacts of stress in the body. The impacts of stress do not only affect the physical but also the mental state of the body. Not only that but there are a lot of things or diseases stress can go out and cause. This is why you should not underestimate the things that stress can do.

4. How to deal with stress
There are two main schools of thought when you want to deal with stress. One is to go out and eliminate the things that cause the stress and the other is to build your resistance to stress.

5. Therapy measures
Therapy measures are the ways where in a person tries to cope with stress. Some of the important examples here are art therapy or dance therapy. The focus of this practice is not to learn the craft per se but to be relaxed while doing the things like dance or art. Through these activities, stress can be relieved.

These are five terms that are pertinent to stress reduction. Through these 5 things, you can be able to go out and know about the different things about stress and stress reduction.

Anxiety and depression are very common today, depression affects 40% of the population every year with 20% developing clinical depression - low mood with sleep difficulties, changes in appetite, hopelessness, pessimism and sometimes thoughts of suicide. Last year alone 36 million prescriptions for antidepressants were handed out.

Anxiety is now such a universal problem that it is costing the UK more than £5 billion per year causing much suffering to the affected individual.

Conventional treatment offered for these conditions are mostly psychotherapy and drug treatment.

Drug treatment for anxiety consists mainly of beta-blockers and sedatives:

• 
  Beta-blockers reduce autonomic symptoms like palpitations and tremor and reduce the heart rate but do not affect psychological symptoms such as worry, tension and fear or non-autonomic function such as muscle tension.


• 
  Sedatives (mostly benzodiazepines, eg diazepam, better known as valium) are licensed for short-term relief of severe anxiety, but do cause dependence with severe withdrawal symptoms. Side effects may include drowsiness, confusion, ataxia, increase in aggression, depression, impaired motor function and learning, suppressed REM (rapid eye movement - the important dream phase) sleep, amnesia, dizziness and nausea.

Natural alternatives for the treatment of anxiety and depression include St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), an unlicensed herbal product, and 5 HTP (5 Hydroxytryptophan), an amino acid and precursor to serotonin.

Both the natural as well as the conventional depression remedies work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, also known as 5 hydroxytrytamine. Higher brain serotonin levels lead to mood elevation.

St John's Wort can cause inducting of drug metabolising enzymes and a number of important interactions with conventional drugs have been identified for both St John's Wort and 5 HTP.

Both herbal and conventional antidepressants can lead to serotonin toxicity, a potentially life threatening syndrome. They also do not address the underlying issue, but rely on a constant supply of serotonin increasing substances, which increases the risk of side effects and is also costly.

Homeopathy treats anxiety and depression from a completely different angle trying to address the deeper causes of the disease origin. Rather than artificially increasing serotonin levels in the brain, it addresses the underlying problem, having caused the central imbalance within you. It can be very successful in addressing both anxiety and depression, making you long term independent of drug (herbal or conventional) treatment.

By taking a very detailed history, which will discuss not only your present symptoms, but also your medical history, family history, personality, preferences, dislikes, fears, dreams, any specific causes (never well since...) and modalities (what makes you better or worse) A homeopathic doctor will be able to find the right remedies to treat your central disturbance, which has caused your "disease". These medicines will naturally return you to a state of well being by changing the energy in your body. Not only your depression/anxiety will be addressed, but all other aspects of your body and mind. Treating your central disturbance will affect all parts of your body and both mental as well as physical symptoms will improve. Improvement can sometimes be fast and dramatic, but usually is gradual over time. Occasionally there can be an aggravation of some physical symptoms, but you should feel more energy, vitality and optimism.

A medically qualified homeopathic doctor will integrate homeopathic treatment with your present medications and work together with your GP, if needed.

Homeopathy is also completely safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding, making it a side effect free alternative in ante and postnatal depression.

Since ancient times, people have been using safed musli for treating male impotence and other sexual weakness like PE, low libido, low sperm count in males. It is a medicinal plant mostly found in north and western parts of India. Safed musli unlike other drugs available in the market is an ayurvedic herbal treatment with no known side effects and can be taken with out prescription. This herb contains 25 different types of alkaloids, vitamins and minerals which can improve sex drive, endurance, stamina and mental clarity for better sexual relationships and over all health.

Sexual weakness or male impotency is not just the problem of sexual parts not functioning properly, in fact it may be related to many other issues and ailment in the body. Diseases like diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, obesity and lack of stamina may also promote sexual dysfunctions. It works well for all round health and even helps in curing and controlling diabetes and asthma, it also improves immunity system immensely for overall sound health which consequently treats sexual weaknesses too.

Safed musli treats problem of male impotence as it is an ayurvedic aphrodisiac, it works towards hormonal balance by improving functioning of adrenal gland and promoting production of testosterone, a vital hormone to improve sexual desire and performance. Increased production of this hormone promotes endurance and improves blood flow to genitals which eventually brings harder, stronger and longer erections. In ayurveda, it has been referred as 'Divya Aushadh' which means divine medicine for its curative properties not only for male impotence but improvement in overall health for curing other sexual weakness in males.

Safed musli contains carbohydrates, fiber, alkaloids, saponins and proteins which makes it a natural medicine for improving immune system, blood flow to all parts of the body, essential amino acid supplementation, curing fatigue, stamina and vigor. The tuber roots of the plant of safed musli are used to make a tonic to treat all types of weakness and male impotency since ancient times. It works as great energy booster and works well for increasing sperm counts and low libido, it is also very helpful in alleviating the signs of fatigue due to lack of stamina or asthmatic conditions.

Apart from treating male impotency safed musli also treats other male problems like premature ejaculation. It improves endurance for better and longer lovemaking performance and also reduces the recovery time after an orgasm which improves frequency of erections for more satisfying sex. It also improves intensity of orgasm and works well for rejuvenating reproductive system. Safed musli cures male weakness like low libido. It works well for mental health and condition to fight back stress and depression by improving levels of testosterone in the body to keep the attitude upbeat.

Apart from treating male impotency and male weakness safed musli is a great ayurvedic herbal treatment for improving milk quantity in lactating mothers. It is also beneficial in natal and post natal conditions and improves good cholesterol to control fat in the body.

Musli Strong is a peerless herbal formulation with highest quality potent Safed Musli Extract. So if you want to achieve a new height in your relationship, Musli Strong is what you need. Enjoy the intimacy and gratification in your relationship and be an ideal lover.

During pregnancy the requirement of calcium increases. Around 200 mg/day of calcium is taken up by the baby to develop properly. When the baby is born, about 20-30 g of calcium is found naturally in its skeleton. Later on during breastfeeding, about 1200 mg of calcium should be consumed by the mother to ensure proper growth of her baby.

Sufficient calcium intake and pregnancy are therefore related to each other. Many kinds of birth defects, abnormalities and miscarriages occur as a result of calcium deficiency in the mother. Women are advised by their doctors to obtain optimal levels of calcium from their everyday diet and to be on the safe side they should add at least one calcium supplement product to their everyday diet.

The importance of calcium intake and pregnancy can also be established by the fact that the rate of calcium loss through urine is the highest during pregnancy. To ensure proper absorption of calcium by the blood stream, vitamin D or multi-vitamin tablets should also be consumed. In addition to these, a calcium-rich diet, regular exercise and good-quality calcium supplements help to ensure healthy pregnancies.

Because of urinary calcium excretion, pregnant women are at high risk of developing kidney stones. Extra care should be taken in the context of diet and other factors during pregnancy. Avoid too much protein-rich foods coming from animal sources, and try to drink milk regularly.

In addition to this, also try to avoid soft drinks, too much sugar and salt, coffee, tea, tobacco and alcohol. All these things are not only dangerous for the baby but also increase the rate of calcium loss.

Hypertension and depression are two of the most common symptoms seen in pregnant women. These again are caused due to severe calcium and other minerals' deficiency. Heavy medication and inactivity also contribute to calcium loss and interfere in other processes. Similarly, high levels of phosphorus in the blood and high level of parathyroid hormone are dangerous for health.

To ensure a healthy pregnancy and long-term health after delivery, try to find the highest quality calcium supplements available out there. The best ones are those which have been made by mixing a calcium salt with sources of some other minerals and vitamins. These nutrients include magnesium, potassium, vitamin D, vitamin K2 and sodium.

The importance of sufficient calcium intake and pregnancy cannot be overemphasized. Try to eat a balanced diet and don't sit idle for long durations of time.

Are you feeling depressed? Is it brought about by too much worry, or maybe fear and sadness?

Usually, people tend to be depressed. There are a lot of reasons why people become depress; it can be because of too much worry fear, sadness, discouragement, despair, or hopelessness. Severe depression can ruin your daily life and even the way you handle your relationship with loved ones and family.

So do not let depression ruin your life. Some people tend to neglect the feeling of depression. Others thought that there are no solutions or medication for depression. You are definitely wrong, you should not neglect too much depression and there are plenty of ways to treat depression.

There are some doctors out there you prescribed medications such as Anti-Depressants and Sleeping Tablets just to treat postnatal depression. But there are caring doctors who don’t. These medications are actually the last resort for depression and insomnia, which are already severe and the problem is not being treated with other medications.

People who were prescribed with such medications will have higher risks of having other illnesses or complications that can be harmful to their health. This is why some people are afraid of using prescribed medications and rather switches on to the natural ways of treating depression.

So if you are afraid to use prescribed medications, it is alright, since there are other alternatives that you can use to treat your depression.

When one is depressed, usually this person does not want to mingle with others and refer to be alone. Loneliness is one of the causes of depression, so locking yourself to your room is not the solution. It is better to join groups. Go out and keep yourself busy. You can join at your church, mingle and help out; this can help you be relieved from depression.

Another cause of depression is being worried about something or being sad, so in order to be relieved you have to talk things out. You can do this with your trusted friend, with your loved ones. In sharing your problem with someone you trust can help you out in relieving yourself from depression.

Exercise is another way that you should do that can help you be relieved from depression. In order for you to boosts your self-esteem and to relaxed your mind, you have to give at least 30 minutes of your free time each day doing jogging, walking, running, swimming, dancing, and so on. But in choosing the activities that you can do each day, choose the one or few that can make you enjoy and have fun.

Using herbal remedy can also aid you with your depression. This herbal remedy can effectively and naturally treat your depression, since it is made with all natural formulation; you won’t be worried with having side effects. But be an alert and informed buyer; make sure to research about the product before using it.

Eliza Maledevic Ayson
http://www.primeherbal.com/Relagen/

Postpartum depression is a much more common problem than once thought with as many as 15% of new mothers suffering from symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder (also known as "Manic" Depression) to schizophrenia. Most cases of Postpartum depression are from new mothers, but it can affect a woman after any pregnancy, usually within three months after child birth.

Doctors don't really know what causes this type of disorder. There have have been many studies done and there are a few theories as to possible causes, but no hard facts, as of yet. Below are some of the theories resulting from many different studies done on this condition.

Some studies show that it could be caused by a sudden, dramatic change in the level of a woman's hormones. This is a distinct possibility considering that the body is taken from having such a large amount of hormones to literally being "brought back to reality" with her hormones returning to a normal level. This occurs very suddenly over the twenty four hour period following childbirth. This is similar to the mood changes a woman experiences when suffering from Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS).

Other studies disagree. They tend to believe that it has something to do with the dramatic changes in the person's life by the stress of suddenly entering into motherhood. This is another possibility to consider as each person will react differently to different situations and different forms of stress.

Another study done shows that there are changes in thyroid hormones that bring about changes in women such as mood swings, anger, sadness and insomnia. This can be detected with blood tests and resolved by giving the patient medication to help get their hormone level back to normal.

Others say that the condition is brought on by the sudden shock of having all of the enormous responsibility that goes with having a child. Suddenly being responsible for the life of another human being is difficult for some women to grasp.

Another part of the difficulty is lack of sleep brought on by late night feedings and irregular sleep patterns, long periods of the baby crying and trying everything that they can think of to get the child to stop, without any results. This can bring on terrible feelings of guilt and thoughts of themselves as being a bad mother. This can lead to the mother feeling overwhelmed and helpless.

Another potential "trigger" to postpartum depression could be the amount of weight gain. This is a very sensitive topic for many women. Their self esteem could suffer from this, especially if they have a spouse or significant other that is not very supportive. They may have had high hopes of their body immediately returning to normal after giving birth, but may be faced with the reality that, for some, they're overweight for the first time in their life.

These are all just theories of course and will be until medical science can establish the truth, based on facts.

If you or anyone that you know is suffering from what you think may be postpartum depression, please seek medical attention as soon as possible. There may be treatments that your doctor can offer that will be helpful to get you or your loved one through this rough time in your life.

A lot of our members have requested some guidance on how to answer this question, because it's a question that a great many women struggle to answer with conviction.

Of course, there is no infallible litmus test. How boring life would be if there were! So this article is not intended to give you any sort of checklist that leads you to an easy answer. I'll leave such contrivances to the teenage magazines.

What I aim to do is provide you with some food-for-thought that will help you, if you are at all unsure, to make up your mind about what love means to you, and whether you are in love or not. And, even if you already know that you are in love, I'll try to provide some guidance and support if you want to make your love-life more meaningful and rewarding.

Quite possibly, love is one of the most over-used and abused words in the English language. In spite of the considerable efforts of our most accomplished poets and writers to capture the beauty of the word, its high currency is commonly devalued to the point of worthlessness. Here in England, for example, you can find yourself addressed as "Love" or "My love" by a shop assistant who has never before laid eyes upon you as you make a trivial purchase at a store.

In part, I think this devaluation is because we tend not to distinguish very well between different types of love, even though making a distinction can be very useful indeed.

I remember that someone once told me that Eskimos have 20 different words for snow, whereas we - even in England where we talk about the weather all of the time - have only one. I don't know whether that information is true, but it makes sense to me because it must surely be useful for Eskimos to be able to communicate with precision about something that affects their daily lives so significantly. After all, a sentence like "that dry fluffy type of snow that makes hardly a sound until your foot has sunk into it to a depth of about 8cm at which point you hear a slight double-crunching noise" would become a bit tedious after a while!

But I'm not going to propose that we invent new words for the different types of love: I'm hoping that we can make do with four simple qualifiers that make the important

distinctions very clear. I'll tell you what they are, and then I'll show you how useful they can be.

Four types of love:

• Childish Love


• Parental Love


• Infatuated


• In Love

And it's no coincidence that you can HAVE the first two types of love, but you can only BE the third and fourth.

I'm not going to waste time talking about how a parent displays or feels love for a child or vice versa because I've never known a woman who doesn't instinctively understand the basic notion of a beautiful child/parent relationship. This article is primarily about adult-to-adult relationships where sexual interactions may occur, in other words relationships where "couples" have strong feelings for one another. But you will see in a moment that ALL FOUR types of love are relevant within exactly that adult-to-adult scope.

Most couples, when asked, would say that they love each other. At least, they would say that to you and, at least initially, they would say that to me.

But, if you probe with a little more subtlety, and a bit more persistently, you will often unearth buckets of frustration, resentment, mistrust, insecurity, jealousy, and sometimes fear.

• "I wish he wouldn't notice other women."


• "I wish I knew what he was thinking."


• "I don't know how long this is going to last."


• "I wish she was different."


• "He scares me when he's been out drinking."

None of these buckets fit well within the concept of love that all those poets have attempted to capture on paper for us aspire to.
When a woman says "Of course I love him - he's my husband!", what does she mean? Would a person who was really "in love" ever say such a thing?

You will have your own answers to those questions, but here's a clue to why our four distinctions can prove to be so useful.
Suppose a woman said "Of course I love him - he's my son!"

Do you see a very significant difference? Most women absorb an uncritical, unconditional responsibility to "love" their children from the moment of their birth. (Post-natal depression issues aside, because it's a whole different subject and not relevant for our purposes today.)

Now, I'm not denying for a moment that there are some women who accept a similar responsibility for their husbands once the bond of marriage is in place, but I can't think of many poets who have burned the midnight oil in capturing the emotions they are feeling at the time.

Let's take a closer look at what we might call "childish love".

Childish love

I put it to you that each of these words or phrases would be far more acceptable in describing a child than used within the context of an adult-to-adult bond.

Needy, selfish, dependent, immature, demanding, irresponsible, possessive and jealous, approval-seeking, moody, impulsive, scared of being alone, scared of rejection,

often testing boundaries, feeling inferior, feeling powerless, sulky, loyal, reverent.

I'm not saying that none of these words or phrases should ever apply at all in an adult relationship, but I do think it's clear that an excess of any or several of them can be the cause of a lot of tension, anxiety, conflict, and misery. Which means that it's worth reflecting on the nature or your relationship if you can identify with many of them in the relationship you have with your current partner.

Now let's look at the next type of love.

Parental love

Non-sexual, very responsible, serious, dependable, predictable, mature, occasionally resentful, selfless, reliable, risk-averse, stoic, protective, authoritative, superior, judgemental - perhaps even prejudiced at times, controlling.

Again, these are warning-bells if you can see a few of them becoming the most applicable adjectives you could use to describe your adult relationship.
Now let's deal with the third of our types of love.

Infatuated

I want to mention this almost in passing, because - delightful though it can be when you're in it - either the bubble bursts or the infatuation evolves into some other sort of love over time. Exactly what sort of love it evolves into is of course very critical to whether you achieve the fulfilment of truly being in love.

Here are some pretty exciting words and phrases that can apply to infatuated love.

Heady, illogical, passionate, butterflies-in-the-stomach, can act in foolish ways, highly motivated to be with the object of desire, spontaneous, wild, adventurous, caring, considerate, having strong sexual attraction, blind to faults, optimistic.

Feeling infatuated is usually a call to action. If you are feeling infatuated with someone then do something about it! It's simply not something you can ignore. So, even if you're married and infatuated with someone else it's important to address the situation and take action, because keeping those powerful feelings secretly bottled-up will have a very damaging effect on your relationship. I'm not saying that the right approach is always to follow your heart, because infatuations can often be based on very questionable foundations, but it is important to find a resolution somehow that leaves your integrity intact.

Infatuation is intoxicating, and it is often evocative of those dreamy days of teenage romances. But it can give you a nasty hangover too if you avoid dealing with the complications of an adult reality.

Although Albert Einstein was clearly one of the greatest minds in history, even he had to admit defeat on this point.

"How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love?"

Albert Einstein

So let's leave infatuation there, and move on to some words and phrases that are commonly applicable in the real deal.

In love

Independent, responsible, decisive, reliable, trustworthy, mature, trusting, truthful, empowered to do the right thing, vulnerable and courageous, feels free to flow with heart's desires, both selfless and selfish, spontaneous and thoughtful, sexually motivated, caring, considerate, wild, passionate, adventurous, adorable.

These characteristics are highly desirable in adult relationships, and if you relate strongly to many of them then you're almost certainly in a pretty good place right now.

Putting them all together

Most women, when reading through the sections above, will find that words and phrases from more than one "type" of love strike a chord with them. Although it can be very hard to admit that the dynamics of your current relationship are based on more than one type of love, the admission itself can be an enormously positive first step to migrating your relationship towards your ideal.

With this in mind, you might want to carry out a simple exercise to get some insights that will help you answer whether you are really in love or not.

How in love are you?

Look at the way I've described the characteristics of the different types of love we've considered in this article and then try to assess the proportions of each of the categories of Childish Love, Parental Love, and In Love so that you have a total of 100%. I've omitted Infatuated Love from this exercise because it - more than any other type of love - is likely to be a phase that matures into one of the other three. If you're in it right now, then my guess is that you're unlikely to be worrying too much about answering any of the questions I've put to you in this article!

So, for example, you might decide to put 30% in Childish Love, 50% in Parental Love, and 20% in In Love. This openness and honesty with yourself is a great starting point for improving the quality of the love that you feel and receive. We'll take a look at just how to do that in a moment.

First, it's important to recognise that falling in love is tricky when you don't like yourself very much, so building and maintaining healthy levels of self-esteem is critical to the success of any adult-to-adult relationship. This self-esteem is not just about believing that you are worthy of being loved by another person, it's also about having or developing the skills to foster good relationships. It's only when you have the skills to do well that you can genuinely and legitimately respect yourself and your approach.

Now, let's take a more detailed look at what to do if your "In Love" score is not as high as you would like. There are some great tips coming up that will help you to fall head-over-heels with your current partner, or someone new if that's the right thing for you.

If you have lots of Childish Love in you:

Quite simply - try to ditch it! Your partner is NOT your parent.

If you think that you've been applying any Childish Love to an adult-to-adult relationship, then now's a very good time to make a firm commitment to stop. You're not a child anymore, and it's time to grow up, hold your head up high, and strive to reach your full potential as a sexually mature, responsible, loving woman of worth.

If you have lots of Parental Love in you:

Channel it! You are NOT his mother, you're his lover!

And of course the same goes if you're in a lesbian relationship too. If you think you've been applying Parental Love to an adult-to-adult relationship, then you're not

channeling your maternal instincts very effectively. If your partner is feeling vulnerable and needs support from you, then by all means give it wholeheartedly, but do

not fall into the common trap of mothering your partner by taking over responsibility for an issue that does not belong to you. Encourage your partner to step up to the

mark and behave as a sexually-mature, responsible, loving person of worth.

Again, it's best to check which of these were specifically recommended to you based on your own results in The Ultimate Self-esteem Test.

If you have a high In Love score:

Cherish it! But NEVER try to possess it.

Remember, being in love is a beautiful thing. An awesome thing. But if you live in fear that it may disappear one day, and your fear drives you to attempt to "cage" your loved one, then your love will surely die eventually. In many ways, love is like a butterfly: fragile and beautiful when it is free to choose where to go and what to do. But placing a butterfly in a tiny cage so that you could stop it from flying away from you in order for you to enjoy it more would be a terrible thing. That butterfly's beauty would soon be destroyed, and it would sadly die.

If your loving feelings towards your partner ever begin to fade, try to remember all those characteristics I listed in the In Love section above, and emulate them whenever you can. They will help you to do well and let your love shine out and brighten your world.

Are you experiencing anxiety and depression? Have you ever thought that the cause may be the fact that you are a perfectionist in an imperfect world? Here are some suggestions to help you let go of perfection and start enjoying life again.

1. Lower your expectations of yourself and others.

Realise that you may be stressing yourself needlessly into anxiety and depression by holding yourself up to a high benchmark that you may not be able to meet. You may also be judging other people as guilty of not meeting your high ideals. People are going to act according to their values, not according to your standards.

You have the power to lower that benchmark yourself by simply noticing where you think you or another person "should" be different and just decide to allow whatever is, to be exactly as it is right now.

2. Decide to let go of the way things should have been.

If you are depressed, you may be angry or sad that something did not turn out the way you would have wanted it.

Just realise that you may still be holding on to the way things "should have been" rather than letting go and moving on. If they could have been that way, they would have been. Acceptance is the key to progressing in life. You can do that right now by giving up perfection for acceptance and health. Just try it now and see how you feel.

3. Challenge your thinking.

If you are anxious and depressed, maybe it's time to ask yourself who said you need to walk with fear everyday as your companion? You can choose to have faith by your side each day instead, if you so choose but you have to make that a conscious choice.

Are you constantly worried about someone or maybe you are worried that something bad is going to happen?

All that is happening is that you are living in a possible future where you are resisting whatever may or may not happen and frightening yourself in the process.

Bring your focus back to the present moment and just realise "right here, right now, all is well as it is". Be willing to accept, rather than resist, whatever may or may not happen in the future, when it occurs, to save yourself needless worry.

Trust that you will be able to deal with whatever happens, if and when it does.

Anxiety and depression can be alleviated if we choose to start believing that everything happens for a good reason in our lives to help us grow in some way. Just putting the above suggestions into practice will help you feel lighter and begin shifting your life for the better.

There are few signs of stress that we can detect early. Today, I would like to talk about three signs of stress.

First signs of stress - you easily get angry

When you easily get angry (when most of the time you don't), that is one of the early signs you are stressed. Most of the time, you will be angry about things that are so trivial and should not think about at all. You get mad when things go wrong. You get mad when someone accidentally collides with you, softly.

Second signs of stress - you unable to focus on your work

When you should be doing your work, you are thinking of something else. Like what makes you angry, sad or any negative feelings. This is often caused by inability for you to focus on the present and that means your productivity will also be lower.

Third signs of stress - you will focus your energy on your problem more

When you are stressed, most of your energy will be used to think about your problem. Why is that? Because it is our natural tendency to do so. When you focus on your problem, you can only do one thing: aggravating your stress. I believe that you should not focus on your problem more when there's a lot of things you can focus on and one of it is your goal.

So that's three signs of stress you can easily detect. I hope you will do something when you see yourself getting into the state of stress and bye for now.

Postpartum - postnatal depression

What should be a joyous and happy time for a new mother can turn into a battle of depression. Depression in new mothers tend to make them feel afraid, sad, anxious or angry after childbirth. This is a common symptom found in new mothers and in a mild form is known as Postpartum blues, although it is more commonly known to us as the "baby blues".

The symptoms of postpartum blues usually go away after a few days in most cases. It is said that around 10% of new mothers will experience the symptoms of postpartum blues for longer and in a more intense way. This is known as postpartum depression. It lasts longer than postpartum blues and is quite a bit more intense. It usually occurs within three months after childbirth or up to twelve months later. Often depressive mothers will require treatment or counseling to overcome postpartum depression as it is a serious condition.

Symptoms Of Postpartum Depression

New mothers might experience feelings of negativity towards their baby and lose interest in their son or daughter.
You might find yourself worrying that you are going to hurt your baby all the time.
Drastic or sudden weight and appetite changes.
Lack of motivation and loss of pleasure.
Sleep patterns change, some people might sleep more than usual, some might sleep less than usual.
Flirting with suicide, thoughts of suicide and the like.
Guilty feelings and feelings of worthlessness.

In the early stages of postpartum depression it can look like normal baby blues. They actually share many of the same symptoms, which are crying a lot, mood swings, insomnia, sadness and irritability. If you are suffering from postpartum depression theses symptoms will last much longer and if untreated they will only become worse. Anxiety is prominent in postpartum, if you are a sufferer you might worry about your baby's health in excess and become obsessive.

A new mother suffering from postpartum depression will usually start to show symptoms soon after childbirth. These symptoms will develop gradually in the new mother over a period of several months and will be hard to notice at first. Sometimes postpartum can develop suddenly as well and in some women the first symptoms can only appear months after they have given birth to their child. If a new mother has a depressive episode within five to eight months after childbirth, postpartum depression could be considered as a reason for the for it.

Being a parent signifies adjusting to many changes. The newest member of your family is cute and adorable but your responsibilities will increase significantly after the birth of a child. Staying happy and positive could be difficult.

Many ladies suffer from postnatal depression after the birth. Changing hormone levels, fatigue and confusion will all contribute to sadness and depression.

The birth of a child is an amazing and exciting moment. Yet, it may turn out to be more difficult than what you had expected it to be. Here are several simple and efficient tips to stay happy and to counter postnatal depression.

What is Postnatal Depression and When Does it Occur?
Sadness and depression after the birth of a child appears about three months after birth and could last for some time.

What causes postnatal depression? Changes in hormone levels are the number one culprit. The female body undergoes many modifications. Hormone levels change once again after birth, which could affect mood and sentiments.

After birth, the body goes back to its 'regular' functioning. The levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease sharply. Prolactin increases, which leads to a sentiment of uneasiness and anxiety.

Apart from physical changes, many new moms could feel sad because of the changes taking place in their lives. A baby means responsibilities. It also signifies staying away from work for some time and getting used to a new lifestyle.

All these reasons for sadness and depression could be overcome in several simple and effective ways. Having some personal time and trying to relax will both play a major role.

Take the Time to Relax

After the birth of your child, sleep may be the last thing on your mind. You probably no longer remember what it feels like to just stay in bed and get up at midday on Saturday.

In order to be happy, you need to relax and get your batteries recharged. Try to discuss this problem with your husband or partner. Make a schedule that gives both of you the chance to sleep and to have some personal time.

You can also rely on the help of your dearest friends and relatives. Take several hours away from parental duty and enjoy a favorite spa treatment. Pampering yourself will affect your mood and will make parenthood a happier stage of your life.

Sports and Activities

A simple walk in the park can do miracles in terms of improving your mood and making you feel happy. Get your little one ready and enjoy the stroll together.

Yoga classes have also been designed for moms and babies. Such courses serve two important purposes. They encourage physical activity. At the same time, they help mom and baby bond and create a wonderful connection.

Talk to Friends and Your Partner

Your dearest people will help you combat depression and feelings of sadness.

Talk to your girlfriends and let them know what worries and concerns you have. Getting it all out will serve as an emotional relief and will make you feel better.

Get your partner involved. Talk to him. He knows how you feel and he loves you. This period could be challenging for both of you but working on difficulties together will make your relationship stronger.

You should also think about intimacy. Feeling tired and having the baby nearby will certainly make thoughts of sex vanish in the air. Try to have some alone time with your partner or your husband. It will make you feel good and it will get the two of you connected on a whole new level.

Despite all the advances we've made in understanding and accepting anxiety and other conditions of mental illness, there remains some stigma. Movies play a large part in supporting the stigma of mental illness by depicting sufferers as maniacal killers and masochists. Common expressions used in jokes and everyday language include psycho, lunatic and crazy which merely help to reinforce the stereotype.

What exactly is the stigma of mental illness?

It's a negative reaction that society adopts against a person or group of people who appear different from ourselves. Before mental illness was so well understood as it is today, people with anxiety or panic were avoided out of fear. Unfortunately, that still occurs today.

People who are unfamiliar with anxiety and panic feel uncomfortable when they are around people with these conditions because they are unsure how to respond to them. In some cases, it's not so much fear as it is disbelief that the individuals can't just stop responding as they do to events in their lives. Why can't they just "get over it" and move on?

Such attitudes have a detrimental effect on people with anxiety and panic. It can worsen the condition or make recovery far more difficult than it needs to be. It's important, therefore, to learn about these conditions. In the meantime, sufferers need help coping with anxiety and the stigma of mental illness.

Coping with anxiety and the stigma of mental illness

It's not enough for the sufferer to comprehend anxiety and the stigma of mental illness. The rest of society needs to do the same so that these conditions no longer induce fear, avoidance and disbelief.

Be selective of who you tell

One way for the families to cope with anxiety and the stigma of mental illness is to choose who you will tell about your suffering family members. You decide just how much you want those select few people to know. It's best to share only with people you know relatively well so you can modify your information accordingly.

Talk with people who understand

There are many people who are coping with anxiety and the stigma of mental illness either because of their own condition or that of someone they know or love. Often, other problems are involved, such as depression and substance abuse. Seek out such people who you can share with and learn from, as well as for moral support.

Surround yourself with supportive family members, friends and others

Maintain as many normal activities as possible will ward off the negative results of social isolation often caused by the stigma. People who close themselves off from society can suffer depression and burnout. Stay active, participate in pastimes you've always enjoyed or try new ones. An excellent way to surround yourself with people who are coping with anxiety and the stigma of mental illness is to join a local volunteer organization. Ones that focus on mental illness issues might be best for your particular situation.

Encourage the sufferer for working on recovery

There will be times when people will feel their struggle is in vain. That's where you can help by praising their efforts without patronizing them. Realize that finding the right treatment can be difficult. There will be setbacks as they break free from their condition. Show your support by helping them to feel good about themselves and their progress.

Coping with anxiety and the stigma of mental illness can be difficult and wearing on the sufferer as well as the supporters. By learning about anxiety and stigma, you can help significantly in their recovery.

Are you living with a depressed woman? Or do you know any woman who is depressed? By the time you finish reading this, you would know several ways on how to help her. Pretty sure you would want to help an important woman in your life who is suffering from depression right? Depression happens to both men and women but it is more common in women.

This is partly due to hormonal factors, especially when having premenstrual syndrome, postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and perimenopausal depression. It is a serious matter and should not be taken for granted. A depressed woman will have disrupted daily activities and relationships with others, and these could be detrimental for her health. A depressed woman would show several symptoms including:

• Always feeling guilty, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Women with depression could not shake off such thoughts from their minds.


• Constantly criticizing herself. They always think that what they do is not enough, or that they don't do anything right.


• Having changes in appetite or weight. A woman with depression will either increase food consumption or will lose her appetite. She may also have significant changes in weight, at least 5% every month.


• Developing insomnia (difficulty or inability to sleep) or hypersomnia (getting too much sleep).


• Always feeling tired and fatigued even if she do not necessarily perform exhausting physical tasks.


• Having difficulty thinking and making decisions.


• Being restless and irritable. Depressed women will get irritated even in the simplest things.


• Diminished interest in pleasurable activities. Depressed people slowly lose motivation to do things that they would normally enjoy.


• Withdrawal from everyone or from anything.

How can you help a depressed woman in dealing with such trial in life? Here are some tips you could use to help her:

• First, encourage her to go to a professional. Explain to her that you are noticing several attitude changes that may indicate something. You must remember, however, that in doing this, do not be pushy and demanding. Being harsh on her will only make matters worse.


• Next, be informed about what depression is and be patient. You'll know that depression will make a woman act a lot different from her usual self, and it is not because she wants to. You have to understand that.


• Third, do not give up on her. Even if a depressed woman would seem to not acknowledge or appreciate all your assistance and understanding, these will help her unconsciously. When you give up, this means that her social support system will slowly disintegrate. Depressed people should have a support system, or else, they will feel isolated and this would worsen the case.


• Fourth, guide her in doing some lifestyle changes like eating healthy and exercising regularly.


• Fifth, encourage her to have supplements such as Homeopathic remedies. Homeopathic remedies only contain natural herbs like St. John's wort and Passion flower, making them free from side effects. Moreover, homeopathic remedies will nourish nervous system, support a more positive and motivated attitude, and promote general well being.

Depression will affect a woman's life, but with early diagnosis, intervention, and help from surrounding people, it will be easily cured.

It is not a major medical condition. MYTH

Depression is a common, serious medical condition that can disrupt daily functioning.
At the extreme, people with depression may harm themselves. Brain imaging research shows that the brains of people with depression function differently than those of non depressed people. In depressed people, brain areas that regulate mood, behavior, thinking, appetite and sleep function abnormally.

Most depressed people do not seek medical help. FACT

Only 39 per cent of people with severe depression see a mental health professional. Many depressed patients remain undiagnosed or under treated. Some cases of depression are tough to treat. But the vast majority of cases are highly treatable with antidepressants and talk therapy. The earlier treatment begins, the more effective it is.

If ancestry had depression, you will get it eventually. MYTH

You are three times more likely to develop depression if your parents suffered depression, but it is not inevitable. Scientists believe the risk of developing depression results from a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.

Depression causes physical pain. FACT

Depression causes emotional symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and hopelessness. But it can also cause physical symptoms such as chest pain, queasy or nauseated sensations, dizziness or light headedness, chest pain, sleep problems, exhaustion, and changes in weight and appetite.

Only emotionally troubled become depressed. MYTH

Depression affects people from all walks of life, not just people with previous emotional troubles. Depression can strike after the loss of a loved one, trauma, or other stressful situations like the loss of a job.

Depression is most common in elderly people. MYTH

People assume elderly to suffer from depression the most. In fact, middle-aged men and women (years 40-59) have the highest rates of depression. Depression is not a normal part of aging. However, ill health, medication side effects, social isolation, and financial troubles can trigger depression in elderly people.

The most common question that pregnant women ask me is "My obstetrician says that it is very dangerous for me to take vitamin A while I'm pregnant. As an expert in nutrition, what is your opinion?"

No doubt, there is a lot of fear and confusion on this topic. So let's get right down to the truth of the matter. As usual, the truth is to be found in the middle of two opposite points of view. One point of view is that pregnant women should avoid taking any vitamin A. The other point of view is that pregnant women do not need to be concerned at all with their vitamin A consumption because the risks are minimal.

So let's clarify the issue so you can make the most informed choice for yourself and your baby:

In 1995, the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine published a study that showed strong evidence that approximately 1.7% of pregnant women in the U.S. consuming greater than 10,000 International Units (IUs) of vitamin A (retinol) per day during the first 7 weeks of their pregnancy gave birth to children afflicted with some form of birth defect. This was one out of every 57 women. This created a wave of fear in obstetricians and their pregnant patients that continues to this day.

The good news about this study is that it alerted doctors to strongly caution their pregnant patients that consuming over 10,000 IUs of vitamin A per day for the first 7 weeks of her pregnancy can be risky. To my way of thinking this should also hold true for women of childbearing age who are actively trying to become pregnant. Women who are given very high dosages of vitamin A for acne treatments should avoid becoming pregnant until their blood levels of vitamin A are well within the normal range.

The bad news about the effects the NEJM vitamin A study is that it made far too many obstetricians and obstetrical nurses overly cautious, even paranoid, about women taking anyform of vitamin A, even supplements containing beta-carotene. Obviously no pregnant woman wants to put her developing baby at risk, so when their obstetrician tells them to avoid taking all vitamin A they listen.

The other side of the truth is that developing babies need somevitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency can cause fetal and infant growth retardation. It is well known that plant scientists have been trying to perfect modified strains of rice to contain beta-carotene (orange in color) for third world countries. Why? To help prevent the large amount of infants born blind every year because their mother's bodies did not have enough vitamin A to donate an adequate amount to their developing eyes!

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 250,000 and 500,000 children are born blind every year. WHO also estimates that 13.8 million children have some degree of visual loss related to vitamin A deficiency.

Carotenes and carotenoids are natural pigments that give colored fruits and vegetables their bright colors. Carrots are a good example because their orange color is reflective of an abundance of carotenoids and carotenes. There are over 600 carotenoids/carotenes and less than 50 seem to be able to be converted into vitamin A. This conversion is essential, however, because the human vision is dependent upon these pigments.

The conversion of carotenes to vitamin A depends upon a number of factors including adequate zinc, vitamin C, protein status, bile salts, pancreatic enzymes and optimal thyroid gland health. So women with inadequate levels of these necessary co-factors have more difficulty converting high pigment foods into vitamin A.

One International Unit (IU) of vitamin A (retinol) does not equal one IU of beta-carotene because only between 40%-60% of beta-carotene is absorbed and converted into vitamin A. Also, the absorption of beta-carotene is self-limiting. This means that beyond a healthy level, the more you take the less you absorb. Beta-carotene taken in supplement form absorbs better than beta-carotene from foods. Betacarotene is safe and necessary.

On average, a healthy daily intake of vitamin A for pregnant women is approx. 4000 IUs. This means that if you have been told by your obstetrician to avoid taking all vitamin A and you are receiving less than about 8000 IUs of carotenes from your prenatal vitamin and your diet combined, there is increased risk that your child may suffer some degree of visual loss or growth retardation. The risk of pregnant women receiving too little vitamin A is just as unacceptable as too much vitamin A.

As previously stated, the truth tends to be found right in the middle of the two opposite points of view. Too much vitamin A brings a small but significant risk of birth defects. Too little vitamin A brings a risk of visual loss or growth retardation.

So what do you do when you become pregnant?

Here are some guidelines:

(1) To be on the safe side, it is best to avoid prenatal vitamins that contain any of the retinol form of vitamin A.

(2) Try to make sure that your daily intake of vitamin A does not exceed 6000 IUs during the first 2 months of your pregnancy.

(3) Avoid eating foods very high in the retinol form of vitamin A on a daily basis, especially beef liver (43,900 IUs/3.5 oz serving) and calves liver (22,500 IUs/3.5 oz. serving).

(4) Make sure that your prenatal vitamin contains at least 3500 IUs of betacarotene.

(5) Try to obtain 4000-5000 IUs of carotenes and carotenoids from your diet. You can do this by eating lots of colored vegetables like carrots and green leafy vegetables.

(6) Eat brightly colored fruits.

(7) If you cannot eat enough colored vegetables, find a good tasting vegetable powder that can provide you with 4000-5000 IUs of these essential precursors to vitamin A.

(8) Do your best to take this middle ground and try not to worry.