目前分類:postnatal care (168)

瀏覽方式: 標題列表 簡短摘要


Give an edge to you career by joining the fleet of nurse practitioners. Enjoy a highly rewarding career in healthcare where the responsibilities are similar to a doctor. Becoming a nurse practitioner does not require extensive training and education like physicians, but they are equally liable as a physician for patient care.

The main difference between a registered nurse and a nurse practitioner is that latter has completed master's degree and thus can write out scripts for medications whereas registered nurse cannot. Places where there is no availability of a physician or where patients require skilled and experienced care, nurse practitioners are in high demand.

Many hospitals hire their own fleet of practitioners as they are less expensive than physicians. Because of this reason, there is great opportunity for nurses in many hospitals and different healthcare settings. Furthermore, patients can get immediate care through a nurse practitioner as they do not have to wait for their primary care physician's appointment to get evaluated.

A nurse practitioner is able to evaluate and provide treatment for multiple branches of medicine. They can prescribe treatment for psychiatric patients as well as for general medicine. A practitioner can be consulted for physical exam, well-child visits, vaccination shots, etc. They assist physicians in minor surgeries and emergency procedures.

They provide can provide pre- and postnatal care. Like an internist, they can be consulted for any health problem whether chronic or acute. A practitioner conducts thorough physical exams and writes script for medications and/or for physical or occupational therapies.

These kind of nurses are in high demand in all patient care settings, e.g., hospitals, urgent clinics, emergency rooms, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, hospice care, etc. Their contribution to patient's recovery is crucial because of their vast experience as a registered nurse and extensive personal skills of counseling patients.

Since they are readily available and have concern for patient's recovery, patient receives focused, patient-oriented care by a nurse practitioner. If you want to become a practitioner, you have to become a registered nurse first. Therefore, you will need to do bachelor's program followed by a Master's of Science degree in Nursing.

This is a two-year program which includes treatment and patient care management. Study courses which are offered through this program are anatomy, medicolegal issues, diagnosis and treatment of common diseases, and pharmacology. After completion of this program, a registered nurse becomes a nurse practitioner who is now capable of counseling patient, doing their physical examination, and writing prescriptions.

Like physicians, practitioners also have specialization. For this, you have to select your choice of specialization during your master's program. There are different specialization fields available to choose from like gynecology, pediatrics, family practice, psychiatry, pulmonary, nephrology, neurology, obstetrics, podiatry, etc. Selection of specialty allows your master's program to be oriented to the specialty of your choice.

Even newly graduates residents have to work and assist physicians and experienced nurse practitioners in various medical settings in order to gain practical experience. After completion of your master's degree, you can take up license nurse practitioner exam. In addition, there are many great opportunities after becoming a nurse practitioner, which you can grab and further advance your career.

You can also apply and take up national certifications and accreditation tests to outshine your presence in the healthcare field. Since physicians have shown their reluctance to provide primary care to patients, nurse practitioners have been extremely beneficial not only in providing primary care to the patients, but also in providing focused, patient-oriented care.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Cellulite refers to the appearance of bumps and dimples on the skin. Most women call this kind of skin texture as "cottage cheese." It is commonly seen on thighs and buttocks and most skin care experts believe that it is caused by poor skin elasticity. Fat cells often become too hefty for fiber compartments that hold the skin, causing them to bulge and develop uneven fat layers underneath.

Do not be so bothered if you have cellulite as almost 90 percent of women have the same kind of skin texture. While there are different products that you can use to help yourself get rid of cellulite, it is still wise to know what are causing the skin to become lumpy. Knowing the causes of cellulite will help you not just how you will address it but also prevent having it.

In contrast to popular belief, all individuals can have cellulite, both thin and overweight. In fact, a lot of slim people have this kind of skin appearance. Cellulite is all about skin elasticity and fat cells. Genes can greatly help you know if you will have cellulite. Even girls who are as young as age 14 can exhibit signs of lumpy or dimpled skin. If you wish to determine how much cellulite your skin can have, you can look at your parents, especially your mother.

Since cellulite is primarily a problem of women, a lot of doctors believe that it can be caused by the degree of estrogen in female. Several postnatal women or those who are taking birth control products develop cellulite because the waste system of the body cannot get rid of the heavy estrogen flow in the body. Another cause of cellulite is about how you live your life. Having poor diet can cause you to have bad fluid retention and circulation.

Cellulite can also develop following a traumatic injury once the circulatory system of the body has been agitated. Another cause is aging. As a person ages, cellulite is being promoted by the body as the layer of the skin becomes thinner. Normally, the contents of deep skin layer are restructured over time.

Overall, the causes of cellulite involve metabolism physiology changes, hormonal factors, dieting, heredity, connective tissue structure alteration and slight inflammatory alterations. If you wish to get rid of cellulite, consult your doctor for effective anti-cellulite creams and treatment options you may consider undertaking.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


When your wife has postpartum depression (PPD), which affects about 1 in 7 women after childbirth, you might feel confused, annoyed, scared, sad, worried or any combination of these. My husband certainly did. You might be thinking, "Why can't she just be happy? What's wrong with her? Aren't new moms supposed to be happy now that the baby's finally here? What's going on?"

Remember that PPD is a biochemical disorder which is no one's fault - not yours or hers. Although you can't fix it like you can a broken cabinet or leaky faucet, it's your job to support her as she recovers. Warning signs of PPD include anxiety, lack of energy, frequent crying, inability to sleep at night even when the baby's sleeping, low self-esteem, guilt feelings, appetite problems, irritability or anger, overwhelmed feelings, forgetfulness, decreased sex drive, and hopelessness. The normal Baby Blues should be gone by two weeks postpartum, so if she's still feeling weepy, she needs help. Or, if the symptoms are more severe than the mild Baby Blues even during the first two weeks, don't wait - get her help right away. You or she should call a healthcare practitioner you trust and ask for a referral to a therapist who specializes in postpartum depression.

Here are some pointers that will help you to help her and your relationship: (Excerpts from Beyond the Blues: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression by Bennett and Indman)

Just being there with her is doing a great deal.

Letting her know you support her is often all she'll need. Ask her what words she needs to hear for reassurance, and say those words to her often. Things like, "We'll get through this. I'm here for you. I love you very much. You're a great mom. The baby loves you. You'll get yourself back. The PPD is temporary. I'm sorry you're suffering - that must feel awful. This isn't your fault."

Share at-home responsibilities.

Even a non-depressed new mom can't realistically be expected to cook dinner and clean house. She may be guilt-tripping herself about not measuring up to her own expectations and worrying that you'll also be disappointed with her. Remind her that parenting your child(ren) and taking care of your home is also your job, not just hers. Your relationship will emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.

Let her sleep at night.

She needs at least 5 hour of uninterrupted sleep per night to receive a full sleep cycle and restore her biorhythms (Chapter 11 of Postpartum Depression For Dummies* explains in detail how splitting the night can work even if she's breastfeeding or you need to leave the house early for work.) If you want your wife back quicker, be on duty for this time without disturbing her. Many dads have expressed how much closer they are to their children because of nighttime caretaking. If you can't be up at night taking care of your baby, hire someone who can take your place. A temporary baby nurse will be worth her weight in gold.

Get the support you need so you can be there for her.

Often a husband becomes depressed during or after his wife's depression. You can help protect yourself by getting your own support from friends, family, or professionals. Regular exercise or other stress-relieving activity is important, so you can remain the solid support for your wife. Provide a stand-in support person for her while you're gone. o Don't take it personally. Irritability is common with PPD. Don't allow yourself to become a verbal punching bag. It's not healthy for anyone concerned. She feels guilty after saying hurtful things to you and it's not good for her. If you feel you didn't deserve to be snapped at, calmly explain that to her. (Excerpts from Postpartum Depression For Dummies by Bennett)

Back her up in her decision- making.

If your wife needs to see various practitioners, take medication, join a PPD support group, stop breastfeeding, or whatever else, she needs to know you're behind her 100 percent. You can certainly participate in the decision-making process, but the decisions themselves are ultimately hers. It can be helpful for you to accompany her to a therapy or doctor's appointment so you can ask any questions you may have regarding her treatment. As a therapist, I find the partner's attendance useful and I encourage it at least once. My client is always relieved to know that her husband is getting support and now understands more about her situation and the illness. o Don't mention how much her care costs. She's already feeling guilty about what she's costing the family, both emotionally and financially. Without your wife's mental health in tact, nothing else matters. During PPD recovery, couples may use up savings and take out loans - consider it an investment in launching your new family in a healthy way. Be open to doing (and spending) whatever it takes to get her the right, specialized help, not just whoever is covered by the insurance plan.

Practice the work/life balance.

You've probably read your employee handbook about your company's work/life balance program. Now's the time to make it work for you. Tell your manager what's going on at home, that you need to leave work every evening on time, and that you can't take expended business trips for the foreseeable future. You may see this practice as career suicide, but it isn't. Many of my clients' husbands have taken parental leave, and have made the effort to be at home on time every night during this difficult period. Federal law provides husbands job-protected time off from work following the birth of a baby or to care for a seriously ill spouse. If you're a domestic partner, it depends on the state in which you live whether or not you'll be covered. If necessary, go ahead and move off the corporate fast track to help your partner recover. Your physical presence to her is more important than the next promotion, and years from now, when you look back on your life, you'll never regret having chosen family over work. I hear over and over from my clients that they don't care about the big house (with the big mortgage). They just want their husbands at home. So, if you're thinking that it's for her and your kids that you're working long hours, traveling, and so forth, you may want to ask her what she thinks - you many be surprised.

Maintain intimacy.

As you and your wife walk the road to recovery, it's important to maintain intimacy, even if it's (for now) void of any sexual activity. You may be rolling your eyes with the thought of "just cuddling." After all, what's the point of cuddling if it doesn't lead to anything? But for her, just being close to you and being held by you is comforting and healing. She may also have some physical healing to do following the birth process. Remember not to take her lack of interest in sex personally. This isn't a rejection of you - it's mainly about hormones, brain chemicals, and life changes. If you're the one returning from work at the end of the day, make sure you greet your wife first, before you greet any other member of the family (including the furry, four-legged ones). The relationship with her is the most important one and without it, no other little person would be there (see Chapter 15 for other sex and intimacy issues). Refer to the first bullet for ideas of what to say to your wife that will truly help her.

There are also some clear no-no's to avoid. Here are a few: DO NOT say:

"Think about everything you have to feel happy about." She already knows everything she has to feel happy about. One of the reasons she feels so guilty is that she's depressed despite these things.

"Just relax." This suggestion usually produces the opposite effect! She's already frustrated at not being able to relax in spite of all the coping mechanisms that have worked in the past. Anxiety produces hormones that can cause physical reactions such as increased heart rate, shakiness, and muscle tension. This is not something she can just will away.

"Snap out of it." If she could, she would have already. She wouldn't wish this on anyone. She can't snap out of PPD any easier than she can snap out of the flu. Be patient, non-judgmental, and upbeat. With the right kind of professional help along with your consistent and loving support, your wife will recover and your marriage will likely be stronger than ever.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Best Pregnancy Books
There are many pregnancy books on the market and below you will find some of my favorites along with links to access them for purchase.

As any pregnant mom will tell you these guides are designed to be there for reassurance that everything is OK and YOUR pregnancy is on track. If you are interested in understanding how your unborn child is developing each week or you want to know what is actually happening with the changes in YOUR own body than these books can be excellent resources along the way.

Read these reviews of the best pregnancy books around and choose a guide or two that will go with you on your journey from conception through labor and eventually the welcome birthing event!

What to Expect When You're Expecting, 4th edition by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel

A perennial New York Times bestseller and one of USA Today's 25 most influential books. It's read by more than 90% of pregnant women who read a pregnancy book. Featuring a new look, a fresh perspective, and a friendlier-than-ever voice. Filled with up-to-date information reflecting not only what's new in pregnancy, but what's relevant to pregnant women. Detailed week-by-week fetal development section in the monthly chapters, an expanded chapter on pre-conception, and a brand new one on carrying multiples. Overflowing with tips, helpful hints, and humor (a pregnant woman's best friend), this new edition is more accessible and easier to use than ever before.

New Active Birth by Janet Balaskas

A pregnancy book that enables you to have the active birth you want. With this book, you can learn to develop all your body's resources to deal with the instinctive experience of childbirth. Fully updated and extended with new information - including Water Birth and Recovery After Birth. It offers prenatal and postnatal exercises with step by step photographs. It presents a detailed section covering every aspect of Active Birth at home and in the hospital.

Birth Stories by Katrina O'Brien

Share other women's birth stories with this pregnancy book that tells you like it is. From natural birth at home to unexpected birth in the outdoors to planned Caesareans, these touchingly personal and funny tales illustrate how the method of arrival is less important than the love the child finds when it finally arrives.

The Mother of All Pregnancy Books: The Ultimate Guide to Conception, Birth and Everything In Between by Ann Douglas

The ultimate guide to conception, birth, and everything in between. Unlike all those other bossy, tell-you-what-to-do titles, this funny, entertaining guide presents parents with all the facts on such hot topics as pain relief during labor, episiotomy, and circumcision, and empowers them to make informed personal choices. It's packed with tools you won't find anywhere else, including:

Up the Duff by Kaz Cooke

This pregnancy bible gives you the low-down on pregnancy and birth. Lots of factual information about the babies growth, what to expect etc. Absolutely hilarious.

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy by Mayo Clinic

Would-be mothers looking for precise, accurate information from a reputable source will appreciate this pregnancy guide from the celebrated Mayo Clinic. week by week accounts of the baby's development, entries on how pregnancy can be affected by dozens of previous health conditions (such as HIV and diabetes), self-care tips for side effects like nausea and back pain, sidebars that explain the difference between identical and fraternal twins, etc. charts that indicate how to handle "troublesome signs and symptoms" during each three-week period. Another stellar feature is the book's even-handed series of "decision guides," which help parents make those hard (and even guilt-inducing) choices about breastfeeding, circumcision and whether or not to go back to work.

Your Pregnancy Bible by Dr Anne Deans

This pregnancy book gives practical and reassuring advice during pregnancy. Written by a team of specialists, filled with everything parents need to know about the optimum environment for a developing baby and safeguarding the mother. The book contains special fold-out sections on each of the trimesters and the birth process, week-by-week images of the developing baby, sympathetically illustrated chapters dealing with all aspects of pre-natal care, labor preparation, delivery experiences and care of the newborn, as well as comprehensive reference sections on medical treatments and procedures in both pregnancy and the post-natal period.

Conception, Pregnancy and Birth by Dr Miriam Stoppard

A comprehensive pregnancy guide to everything from conception to birth. Widely accepted as the definitive guide to pregnancy and childbirth. Stunning photography and information covers the latest developments in pregnancy and birth, from up-to-date research on how your stress levels can affect your unborn baby to developments in delivering your baby. Miriam Stoppard, MD is one of today's most popular medical personalities and has published over 40 titles.

Feeding the Bump by Lisa Neal

A pregnancy book that clearly outlines pregnancy nutrition. Divided chronologically into pre-conception, first, second and third trimesters and postpartum/breast-feeding. Provides women with all the information they need about their own and their unborn child's nutritional requirements and the best way to fulfill them. Tried and true remedies for common complaints such as morning sickness and heartburn, along with more than 100 easy-to-follow and absolutely delicious recipes. This is a must-have resource for all women wanting to maximize their unborn child's health, and their own, through what they eat.

Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth by Jenny McCarthy

McCarthy applies her in-your-face manner and blue humor to the subject of pregnancy and childbirth in this little piece of fun. She recounts her journey to motherhood with utter abandon; discussing topics that those other books tend to treat too gently, such as enemas, pubic hair growth, and sex in the ninth month. Women who find these topics too embarrassing to bring up now have a place to read about them in a frank and open discussion. Like a gossipy girlfriend, McCarthy brings you in and makes you laugh; there's a certain comfort in knowing that even a sex symbol gets stretch marks and balloons to 200 pounds during pregnancy.

Bonding with Your Bump by Dr Miriam Stoppard

A guide-book about falling in love with your baby before birth. Presents advice and guidance on how to fall in love with your baby before birth. Building that special relationship with your baby starts before birth. Forming a close, early bond can make a real difference to your baby's wellbeing, your feelings as a parent and in creating a loving environment for when baby arrives. up-to-the-minute research with enlightened and compassionate wisdom explains why mother-baby bonding is so vital. Learn to understand and cherish your unborn baby. This book guides you through this extraordinary time: from hearing your baby's heartbeat for the first time, to the first magical days post birth.

The Pregnancy Bible: Your Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Early Parenthood Editors: Joanne Stone MD, Keith Eddleman MD

The Pregnancy Bible covers the complete sequence of fetal development in utero week by week. Full color photography with many life-size photos which are reproduced from state-of-the-art ultrasound images. Written in an easy-to-understand style that will especially appeal to first-time parents.With 300,000 copies sold, it is the most attractive and complete guide to this important event in parents' lives. Includes authoritative information about the latest developments affecting the well-being of an expectant mother and her baby. Specifically, these include:


  • New CDC recommendations about mercury and fish

  • Update on nuchal translucency screening

  • Update on screening for genetic disorders

  • Updated information about loss rates after amniocentesis

  • New information about 3D/4D ultrasound

  • Recent trends in cesarean delivery "on demand"

  • Update on Downs syndrome screening.

The Natural Way to a Better Pregnancy by Naish & Roberts

An easy-to-follow pregnancy guide to pre-conception health. Did you know that the food you eat, the environment you live in and the lifestyle you lead in the months before you conceive a child can have a profound effect on the wellbeing of your baby? Preconception health care, as outlined in this book, can prevent miscarriage, premature and stillbirths, congenital abnormalities and has a better than 80 per cent success rate in the treatment of infertility. Did you know that by following its simple principles, you can actively help ensure your baby will be content and alert, won't suffer from colic, feeding problems or other common ailments, and will be less likely to suffer from allergies, asthma or behavioral problems? Complete, easy-to-follow guide to preconception health for BOTH prospective parents. Written by a Naturopath, herbalist, hypnotherapist and bestselling author who runs Australia's only clinic dedicated to helping people conceive happy, healthy babies naturally.

The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger

One of the most celebrated British authors on the sociological and anthropological aspects of birth, breast feeding, and early parenthood. This book guides readers seeking a woman-centered birth experience through the newly researched alternatives now available. five major sections: Early Weeks, Physical and Emotional Changes, Anticipating the Birth, the Experience of Birth, and You and Your Newborn, Candid information about what mothers need to know, ranging from ways to navigate the technical landscape of hospital births to making the personal choices of a water home birth. Encourages readers to construct a birth plan, make their own space, and choose an effective birth companion. With revised appendices and 300 updated photographs, drawings, and diagrams, this guide is a valuable resource for all.

The Working Woman's Pregnancy Book by Marjorie Greenfield

Dr. Marjorie Greenfield draws from her experiences as an obstetrician and working mom and from more than a hundred interviews with mothers ranging from factory workers to high-powered attorneys, to create a unique resource for working women. This up-to-date guide addresses all the subjects you would expect to find in an authoritative book on pregnancy plus issues of special concern to the 60 to 80 percent of women who hold jobs during their pregnancies:


  • Is my workplace safe for my developing baby?

  • When should I tell my employer that I am expecting?

  • How can I handle the discomforts of pregnancy when I need to work?

  • What laws will protect me when I take medical leave?

The 100 Healthiest Foods to Eat During Pregnancy: The Surprising Unbiased Truth about Foods You Should be Eating During Pregnancy but Probably Aren't by Jonny Bowden PH.D. C.N.S., Allison Tannis MS

Eat the best foods for your baby's development! Nutrition is never more critical than during pregnancy. What you choose to put on your plate affects you and your baby's health not just in utero but for years to come. Backed up by the latest nutritional research, this guide debunks pregnancy food myths and uncovers a number of surprising food choices that are superfoods for expectant mothers. This one-of-a-kind nutrition reference guide is also packed with helpful quick-reference charts and sidebars, highlighting healthy (but no less delicious!) substitutes for commonly craved foods like ice cream and potato chips. You'll also discover the most up-to-date research regarding pregnancy dilemmas, such as how to get more omega-3s from fish in your diet while avoiding mercury. Its pregnancy nutrition made easy!

Babycare Before Birth by Zita West

A pregnancy book that shares the wisdom of a fertility expert and midwife. Bringing together fascinating new research that shows during pregnancy a woman can make a dramatic difference to her unborn baby's health, well-being, development, and all-round future potential by making small adjustments to her diet and lifestyle, this amazing book explains how to give your baby the best possible start in life.

What to Expect: Eating Well When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

Provides moms-to-be with a realistic approach to navigating healthily and deliciously through the nine months of pregnancy-at home, in the office, over the holidays, in restaurants. Thorough chapters are devoted to nutrition, weight gain, food safety, the postpartum diet, and how to eat when trying to conceive again. 150 contemporary, tasty, and healthy recipes that feed mom and baby well, take little time to prepare, and are gentle on queasy tummies. Comes with a light, reader-friendly tone while delivering the most up-to-date information.

What to Expect Before You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

In the same fresh, contemporary voice that has made the 4th edition of What to Expect When You're Expecting so successful, Murkoff explains the whys and wherefores of getting your body ready for pregnancy, including pregnancy prep for both moms and dads to be. Filled with information on exercise, diet, pinpointing ovulation, lifestyle, workplace, and insurance changes you'll want to consider, and how to keep your relationship strong when you're focused on baby making all the time. There are tips for older couples; when to look for help from a fertility specialist--including the latest on fertility drugs and procedures--plus a complete fertility planner.

Eating for Pregnancy: The Essential Nutrition Guide and Cookbook for Today's Mothers-to-Be by Catherine Jones, Rose Ann Hudson

A volume that combines both recipes and nutritional advice aimed specifically at the mother-to-be. Balancing optimum and unnecessary weight gain with the required dietary needs for a healthy lifestyle. Addresses the requirements of diabetic, vegetarian and vegan diets. A chapter is dedicated to the vegetarian diet. Each section contains recommended pantry items for the recipes. Makes full use of convenience and semi-prepared ingredients to provide simple yet flavorful dishes. Advice on vitamins, health hazards and goals. Each recipe is preceded with the nutritional goal for baby and mother-to-be and followed by tips for cooking, storage, health, special diets as well as complete meal ideas, variations and the approximate nutritional content.

The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition, & Other Holistic Choices by Aviva Jill Romm M.D.

Reading this book is like having your own personal herbalist and midwife at your side. One of the first books to explore botanical medicine and pregnancy. Follows the woman's journey from conception to birth, focusing on natural health. Describes herbs that can promote and maintain a healthy pregnancy (along with those you should avoid during your term) and the basics of a healthy diet, with an emphasis on natural foods. Complete guide for the woman who envisions a safe pregnancy without technological intervention, as nature intended.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Common complaints for new mothers include lower back strain, shoulder and neck and arm pain, and headaches. The good news is that all of these conditions are preventable. The aim of this article is to help you to understand the cause of these symptoms and how to prevent them. Following are some tips on posture and correct lifting techniques, along with some preventative exercises.

It is important to remember that all exercises should be absolutely pain free. If you experience any pain while attempting them stop immediately. The chances are that you need some treatment so do not attempt the exercise again until you have sought medical advice.

Injury Prevention

The time you are most susceptible to back injury in particular, is in the weeks following the birth. The abdominal and pelvic muscles and ligaments are stretched and weak, dramatically reducing the core stability that protects your back as you repeatedly bend to lift your babies and toddlers, and go about your normal household chores.

The first thing you need to learn is how to contract your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles before you lift your child, and keep them contracted as you lift and while you are carrying them. Strengthening these muscles will protect your back and reduce the incidence of bladder problems.

The Exercises

You can do these standing, sitting or lying down, or even as you walk. You will probably remember the pelvic floor exercises from post natal care at hospital. These are the muscles which prevent the flow of urine. Squeeze these muscles now so that you can feel the contraction internally. Try and hold them in contraction for as long as possible. It is not uncommon for you to have difficulty feeling this contraction soon after birth, but it is very important that you keep trying. At first they may feel very weak and you may only be able to hold the contraction for a few seconds. Work up to holding for a full minute, this may take several weeks to accomplish. Practice the exercise several times a day.

The next stage is to begin to increase your awareness of the interaction between the internal pelvic floor muscles and the abdominal muscles. Again contract internally and keeping those muscles tight, move your focus to the area between your pubic bone and navel. Slowly contract this area until you feel your naval sink towards your spine and your waist get smaller. This is called "bracing".

In the weeks and months following the birth it is absolutely essential that you practice this exercise several times a day. I suggest you try to build to 10 in a row. These are the muscles that you should contract before you attempt any activity which requires bending or lifting.

A major cause of back pain is incorrect lifting techniques of your baby.
Next time you go to lift your baby out of the cot, notice your posture; if your feet are close together you will be forced to lean over more to reach the baby, your arms will be stretched away from your body, and as you lift your wriggling infant, you will put enormous strain on your back. Take time to notice if you are twisting from the hips too - this will cause pain in the muscle between your hip and ribs. Notice your head and neck, there should be no tilting or rotating of your head as this will lead to neck pain and headaches.

Correct lifting techniques

Taking the baby from the cot

Before you attempt to lift your infant from the cot, spread your legs and feet wide, with hips and knees slightly flexed, as though you are sitting astride a horse. Have your thighs leaning against the edge of the cot. Brace your abdominal muscles as above, and lower your self by bending your legs so that you are closer to the baby. As you take hold of him, draw him closer to you without lifting him, until your arms are close to your trunk. Now make sure the abdominal muscles are braced, and gently lift and draw the baby to your body, using your legs not your back to straighten up.

Lifting toddlers

Always bend at the knee, get down to their level, brace abdominals, and draw the child in close to your body, then lift with your legs. Lifting toddlers in and out of cars usually requires some incredible contortions. You can reduce the risk of injury by keeping your legs bent, back straight and your head, arms hips and feet all pointing in the same direction. Try and keep the child's body as close to yours as possible and manoeuvre yourself as close to the child seat as possible before placing them in it.

Neck and Arm Pain

You may have experienced a strange discomfort, ranging from a toothache like pain in your arm, to tingling, numbness or weakness. This can come from a combination of poor lifting techniques, and your posture while breast feeding.

Once again, notice your posture while you are feeding the baby. Tension in your neck and shoulders may be from supporting the weight of the infant, and a tend to tilt your head as you watch it suckle. This distorted position is going to lead to muscle strain. Nerve impingement may arise from muscle and connective tissue placing pressure on the nerve, or from mal-alignment of the skeleton, and this can give rise to the arm pain and other symptoms I have mentioned. If you do have any of these symptoms, then you should seek treatment to avoid more serious injury.

To prevent these injuries, you need to experiment with the way you support the infant. Try placing them on an extra pillow so that you are not supporting their weight, and once they are settled, avoid prolonged tilting and rotation of your neck.

Exercises for upper back and shoulder tension
First, take a look at your posture. Stand in front of a mirror, try to stand as you would normally. Ideally your shoulders should be relaxed and not elevated. The rounded tops of your arm (humerus) should be sitting level and not forward of your collar bone. Your palms should facing the side of your thigh, with your thumbs approximately in line with the seam of your pants or skirt.

Its very rare that I see this ideal posture, so lets assume that you are perfectly normal and could do with some help in this department!

Shoulder Rolls

Stay in front of the mirror.

1. Bring your shoulders up towards your ears, as high as you can. Remember this
should be pain free.

2. Next squeeze your shoulder blades back as though you are trying to get them to
touch.

3. The next step is vital; relax your shoulders and imagine your shoulder blades
gradually sliding down your ribs. Let gravity do the work. Watch the top of your shoulders in the mirror, you should see that they are totally relaxed. Don't be tempted to use these muscles to push the shoulders down.

4. Once the shoulder blades are relaxed into place, imagine that you are now going to take them as far apart as possible, look in the mirror again. The movement must come from the shoulder blades, not from the arms, and again, the upper shoulders must be relaxed and not lifting. As you separate the shoulder blades, arch your mid to upper back, imagine lifting this section of your spine back and up, until you feel a good stretch between the shoulder blades. If you like you can hold this position for 30 secs.

That completes one full shoulder roll, now you can start over again, repeat a minimum of six repetitions several times a day.

Posture Correction Exercise for the Neck and Shoulders

This involves the first three steps of the shoulder rolls.

1. Once again raise your shoulders towards your ears.

2. Squeeze shoulder blades back, and relax.

3. Allow the shoulder blades to slide down the ribs into a resting position. This time, keep them in that position, that is, don't let your shoulder roll forward.

Now you will probably feel like your neck is hanging forward, so let it relax back onto its new center of gravity. You will also feel like you are sticking your chest out. This is probably because the pectoral muscles are tight. Check that you are not sticking your tummy out, if you are, relax your pelvis and spine. This should reduce the any tension in your back, and to some extent, your chest. It will take a while for this new posture to feel normal. What you should feel is reduced tension in your neck and upper shoulder, while the muscles between your shoulder blades should be gently contracted. This too will feel unnatural for a while, as these muscles are unused to working for a living!

When you should seek advice

I believe in the old adage that prevention is better than cure. This information is designed to help you to maintain a pain free status. If you are already in pain or discomfort then you may need to seek treatment. Most people put up with pain for too long, in the belief it will go away. In reality, the longer you have had pain, the longer it will take to resolve. As a rough guide, if pain persists, worsens or recurs after 3 days then it is advisable to seek treatment, to prevent the condition from becoming chronic. Remember that pain killers treat the symptoms not the cause of pain. Persistent symptoms need to be investigated. Most muscular pain is easily remedied by remedial massage, but it is a good idea to speak to your doctor first.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Physiotherapists, the Athletic Therapist, and Their Differences

In the healthcare profession, there are many specialties and expertise. In the field of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular science, physiotherapists are considered as one of the highly skilled technicians in this area. Physiotherapy, otherwise known as physical therapy, specializes in the study of the musculoskeletal system. Disorders found in the muscles, bones, joints, and other parts of the body that causes physical disabilities and movements are the main focus of physiotherapy.

There are many types of physical therapy, and athletic therapy is definitely one of them. While most physiotherapists focus on a wide variety of clients, from post-surgery patients to individuals with lifelong disabilities, athletic therapists mainly specialize in the evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of people who suffer from sports related injuries. The bulk of an athletic therapist's list of clients is mostly individuals with a rather active lifestyle, as well as professional athletes.

Unlike physiotherapists that employ a wide range of treatments depending on what is appropriate for their patients, athletic physical therapists normally have targeted treatment programs specially developed for specific types of injuries that were sustained from various activities, whether it's sports related, occupation related, injuries incurred in an accident, while doing recreational activities, or even injuries acquired while doing day-to-day stuff.

Even if it's just an ankle sprain that has rendered you unable to walk properly, an athletic physiotherapist can make you an accurate treatment program to help your ankle recover quickly and healthily. He may even provide you with some tips to minimize the risk of that injury from happening again. But don't get me wrong, general physical therapists can treat such types of injuries as well. It's just that these types of injuries are the main cuisine of sports therapists, so to speak.

One major difference between a physiotherapist and an athletic therapist is the fact that sports therapy is mainly based on a sports medicine standard of treatment and rehabilitation, unlike physiotherapy where the study of neurological and cardiovascular rehabilitation are key factors. However, physiotherapists and athletic therapists often work hand in hand, along with other healthcare professionals, to achieve a mutual goal, which is to get the best results and the speedy and healthy recovery of the patient, or client.

As far as education is concerned, physiotherapy is normally a general practice as it covers a variety of healthcare aspects such as geriatrics, pediatrics, cardiac and respiratory care, as well as musculoskeletal and neurological injuries. It is upon graduation that most physiotherapists tend to go on their separate ways as they pick and choose the specialties they one to focus on. Only then will they be able to develop their sports therapy skills through various professional development courses and experiences.

If you were to venture into the field of athletic therapy, the scope of your practice would include the immediate care, rehabilitation and reconditioning of musculoskeletal injuries. But you don't just treat injuries; you are responsible as well for the prevention of such injuries, especially when it comes to your highly active clients. Keep in mind that a person does not have to be a professional athlete to incur sports related injuries.

Whether you are a general physiotherapy practitioner or one of the hardworking sports or athletic physiotherapists, what's important is that you do your work and you do it well in order to help others get back to their old selves, or in order to inspire them to restore confidence in themselves.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


There is a quote that I absolutely love: "Depression is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that you have been strong for too long." Unfortunately, it is anonymous because I would love to give credit where credit is due especially when it is great credit like in this case.

It conveys the message that, despite the depression (and maybe even because of it), we are indeed strong; we have no reason to be ashamed because there is nothing wrong with us and our body simply needs our attention.

Our body needs attention because for too long (depression is the result of extended periods of unrelieved stress), we have pushed it beyond its limits and then we pushed it some more. After all, no one wakes up one morning and decides: "Awesome! From now on, I think I will be depressed!" We build our way up to depression. And no matter what the underlying cause (or causes) for the depression, it takes time to get there. The exceptions to that are depression due to chemical imbalances in the brain and depression experienced by individuals who are taking certain medications that are creating the symptoms of depression. In these particular cases, depression just is.

Today, we hear a lot about people being depressed due to the financial pressures everyone is feeling, the overall state of the economy and the fear of what tomorrow will bring. It could also be the result of some traumatic life event such as the death of a loved one or going through divorce or dealing with job loss or extended illness (among others).

In all these circumstances, we have a tendency to suppress our feelings, to try to put on a brave face, to continue to place others' needs before our own, to attempt to go on as if nothing was wrong, and then beating ourselves up when we failed to do everything ourselves. So is it any wonder that after pushing ourselves and our body way beyond our limits for so long your body finally says: "enough; I can't do this anymore"? At this point we no longer have a choice and we are forced to stop and reevaluate our situation.

I am a firm believer in that you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. (Ok, I am also the first one to admit that I didn't always feel this way. I had to learn it the hard way). I am also a firm believer in the fact that our bodies were created with the power to heal themselves but we have to allow them to do just that by giving them what they need to do it.

So today, take the time to ask your body what it needs from you and then take a moment to stop and listen to the answer. Is it some time away from work? Is it a walk out in nature? Is it some quiet time for reflection? Maybe a massage? A good healthy meal? A great book? A fun get-together with friends? Some sleep maybe? Or maybe today it simply needs a little acknowledgment from you for everything it does for you every day?

And when you have your answer, go out and do it. Then see and feel how much stronger and happier you will feel. Go on! What are you waiting for?

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


A woman goes through great physical and emotional stress during the birthing process. Much attention is given to the pain during labor, that some females don't expect postpartum pain to cause too much discomfort. Females usually complain of the discomfort due to vaginal tearing or an episiotomy. An episiotomy is an incision that is performed by the doctor to facilitate passage of the baby. Though the incision may be small in size, it may result in too much discomfort since the perineum is an extremely tender region. The pain may intervene with a new mother's normal activities, and even maternal and child bonding. In order to promote comfort and therapy through this time, right here are some suggestions:

1. Apply cold therapy after delivery. Ice packs are necessary during the first 24 hours after giving birth simply because it could reduce perineal edema. It also lessens pain and encourages healing. Be certain that you wrap the ice pack with a towel before applying, in order to avoid thermal injury.

2. Administer hot therapy 24 hours after delivery. Cold therapy throughout this time is no longer therapeutic. In order to promote healing, circulation to the area must be increased. Hot pack applications promote increased flow therefore promoting comfort and healing. Again, make sure it is lined with a thin towel to stop occurrence of burns.

3. Do Kegel's exercises. Most women find that if they perform perineal exercises three to four times a day greatly relieves their discomfort. The exercise requires that you contract and relax the muscle groups of the perineum as if interrupting the flow of urine. When you contract the muscle groups surrounding the vagina, you need to hold it for roughly 3 seconds before you relax. This ought to be repeated ten times every interval.

4. Sit down correctly to stop further stretching. Squeeze your buttocks together as you sit down. If you feel that uncomfortable, you can use a doughnut-shaped cushion to relieve the pressure.

5. Use witch hazel preparations. Though it is normally utilized to provide comfort for hemorrhoids, it additionally relieves perineal pain due to its soothing effects. The pads can be tucked between the perineum and sanitary pads to promote comfort.

6. Squirt warm water over the perineum during urination. Females may find urinating after giving birth to be really painful. By squirting warm water over the perineum, it greatly lessens the burning sensation thus promoting relief.

7. Stay well hydrated. That can promote proper bowel function in order to avoid straining during a bowel movement. Straining will only aggravate the problem simply because it can stretch the episiotomy scar. Adding fiber rich foods to your diet regime may additionally be helpful.

8. Perineal hygiene is really important. In order for your incision or wound to heal faster,it is best to stay clean to steer clear of postpartum infections. If you notice that your pain has intensified, or if it has become swollen with pus-like discharges, notify your medical doctor right away. These are signs of infection and your doctor may prescribe treatments necessary to fight off infection.

9. Ask your medical doctor as to what medicines it is possible to take to relieve pain. Most health professionals may prescribe topical medications in the form of gels or sprays. Be certain that you know how to correctly apply it in order to obtain pain relief.

A woman may go through various discomforts even after giving birth of her baby, but with good care, the road to recovery will not be long. If you were able to surpass the challenges of labor and delivery, then surely you will be able to manage this stage as well.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Aromatherapy means "therapy or treatment through aromas." It is invaluable in helping us overcome stresses. A harmonious complement to your current healthcare, Aromatherapy utilizes essential oils, which are extracted from flowers, plants, and trees, and the healing properties, such as antiviral, antibacterial, antibiotic, sedative, and digestive, within the oils are then used in a safe way to assist your health. Aromatherapy creates gentle, positive changes within the health of your body.

This ancient form of healthcare is safe for everyone, including pregnant and postpartum mothers on bedrest. It requires no challenging movement to inhale the aroma or to apply an aromatherapy blend. In fact, the marriage of soothing touch combined with the essential oils helps to promote a feel-good energy within the mother and baby as a type of self-love and self-nurturing.

The oils may be experienced through inhalation and/or topically (combined with a variety of base oils, such as canola, olive, or almond). The added base oil helps to transport the essential oil into the bloodstream, where it can "work its magic."

Essential oil preparations can also be utilized as a massage cream application, foot and body bath, perfume, compress, mouthwash and air diffusion.

As an aromatherapy spray, the pleasant, uplifting aroma will positively affect the atmosphere of the bedrest room; this provides further support as frustration and upset can be common responses to being in the same environment for extended periods of time.

Because there are countless therapeutic properties to each essential oil, aromatherapy is suitable to assist the variety of reasons why you are on bedrest. For instance, essential oil of sweet orange assists digestion and promotes positive attitude and mood; this oil would be helpful for a mother who may be experiencing morning sickness, nausea, loss of appetite or any other form of digestive upset, along with possible emotional upsets. An aromatherapy blend can be created for you that can be inhaled, apply on the stomach area of your body, or all over the body.

A positive shift in emotions supports a healthier pregnancy and mommy and baby bonding experience.

Now offered in hospitals throughout the world, aromatherapy is considered a complementary and alternative approach to healthcare. It may be used by itself or in partnership with other healthcare options. Aromatherapy can be used throughout pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, postnatal, and beyond. I recommend consulting with a certified aromatherapist to have products specially created for your specific health concerns.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Midwifery brings to mind old-fashioned home-attended births, but today certified nurse midwife training opens a door to a mixed bag of birthing options for women and comprises a variety of occupational choices for nurse midwives. Some of the employment options include:


  • Independent childbirth and well-woman care.

  • Healthcare team practice.

  • Hospital associated practice.

  • Birthing centers.

  • Health departments.

First, let's look at the training for how to become a nurse midwife. This role of nurse midwife is a master role in nursing, so it requires study and practice for certification beyond an RN or a BSN. It's important to find the right fit and location for this very demanding nurse-midwife program.

When training to be a midwife, there are many of the same requirements as becoming a master's-level nurse of any kind. However, beyond general nursing practices, the focus of certified nurse midwife training will be on women's care through labor and birth, as well as prenatal and postnatal care. In addition, there will be classes in pharmacology, and women's health across the lifespan.

On any given day, a nurse midwife might conduct a gynecologic exam, prescribe drugs, measure a uterus, check a newborn, deliver a baby, and perform an episiotomy.

Some training programs are online, and may allow a student to enter the nurse midwife program with a bachelor's degree in another area of study. In these programs, there will still be some demanding science prerequisites needed before applying.

Many schools require up to a year of experience in a labor and delivery setting. Some prospective students take this first step by becoming doulas. A doula is a trained companion hired by the client to coach her through a birth without pain medication. The doula attends labors and deliveries but does not perform any functions except encouragement. A nurse considering certified nurse midwife training might follow this track for a year to be sure.

Babies come at all hours of day and night, so it helps to know ahead if your energy level is up for this demanding vocation. The student will also have an extensive practicum before completing a graduate degree in this field. Practicum is based experientially on attending at least forty births along with all the other visits leading up to and following those births.

Additional gynecologic visits, and peri/post-menopausal care is also required as part of the practicum. Practicing these skills under supervision can take as long as two years.

The American Midwifery Certification Board provides guidelines for certification and requires re certification every five years, requiring proof of continuing education credit. Certification exams are administered regularly in a computer-based format at testing centers around the country. Exam cost is about $500, so it's important to be prepared both academically and financially for the certification exam.

Of all the nursing professions, pursuing certified nurse midwife training accesses the widest array of nursing care skills from birth to death to include regular exercise of basic surgical procedures. Choosing midwifery as a nursing vocation carries with it both monetary and spiritual rewards far beyond other nursing choices.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


A babymoon is the period of time parents spend with their recently born child, bonding and getting to know their baby. Your babymoon is an important occasion where you and baby are getting to know each other on the outside. It is also a time of rest and recovery for the parents.

Somewhere along the way we seem to have lost the art of mothering a new mother. The perception appears to be that you need to be a supermum and back on your feet looking after your family within a week or two after the birth of your baby. Yet in other cultures, a new mother (whether it is her first or fourth child) is looked after by family and friends and her only job is to eat, rest and feed the baby for anywhere up to 40 days. She doesn't have to cook or clean, just enjoy those first precious weeks with her child. So what can you do to give yourself a much deserved babymoon?

PLAN AHEAD
Make a plan for your babymoon. Discuss with your partner or support people how you are going to get enough rest, how you will feed the family, who can support you with breastfeeding or looking after older siblings, what is your plan for visitors? I can guarantee it will make a difference. Put as much thought into your babymoon as you do for your birth plan or in decorating baby's room.

BUILD A VILLAGE
Start to build your village of support. New mothers aren't meant to go it alone. Look for friends and family who will come over and pop on a load of washing, bring you a meal, grab a few groceries for you or take an older child to the park for an hour. A few people contributing an hour of support here and there adds up to a well rested mumma. You don't want someone who is going to come over and expect a cup of tea and biscuits while they cuddle your baby. There will be plenty of time for everyone to meet your new family member after your babymoon. You may even want to consider not having visitors for the first week or two, limiting visits to 15 minutes or only having one visitor at a time. It is okay to cocoon your little family for a while!

HIRE A POSTNATAL DOULA
A postnatal doula is someone trained in the care and support of the mother and her family during that time of transition. She will make sure you are rested, have nutritious food on hand and can help you with breastfeeding or be on the lookout for signs of postnatal depression. Don't ever let cost get in the way of you getting the care you need. Ask family and friends to contribute instead of babyshower gifts or speak to your postnatal doula about a payment plan. Most are happy to work something out.

HAVE A LIST
Make a list of jobs or errands people can help you with to send out with your birth announcement or beforehand. Many friends are willing to help but don't know how or feel awkward asking. There is a great post on Gloria Lemay's blog called "After the birth, what a family needs" Use it as a starting point for your own list http://www.glorialemay.com/blog/?p=34

CONSIDER PLACENTOPHAGY
The practice of consuming your placenta has been around for centuries and is beginning to become better known. The benefits include:
• Increased breastmilk supply
• Reduced postnatal depression/baby blues
• Increased energy
• Reduced lochia
• Decrease in mum's stress levels

There are many ways to consume your placenta such as a fruit smoothie, disguised in chocolate truffles or encapsulated. Encapsulation is often seen as the most palatable option for many and has the added bonus of increasing the shelf life. If you don't want to practice placentophagia, perhaps you could honour this amazing organ by planting it under a special tree for your child.

Your babymoon is such a short, wondrous time best spent getting to know your newborn, recovering from birth and gently easing into your new family dynamic. By putting a little thought and planning into your babymoon you are well on your way to eliminating feeling stressed, overwhelmed or isolated after your baby's birth. If you can, spend the first few weeks of your baby's life at home focusing on absolutely nothing but bonding with your child and adjusting to your new family. Plan for plenty of skin-on-skin contact, cuddles and sleep - all the really magical things about having a newborn and getting to know each other

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Prenatal care has an ancient history, a knowledge that hardly has been appreciated or recognized in our culture. The common practice of prenatal care is impacted by the socioeconomic and cultural factors governing each family.

We have to consider proper care for those women who do not have family support. We can not ignore a pregnant woman, why? Remember how we see a pregnant woman in our culture. Mothers considered being two people, one need to nurture the other all the time.

We Iranian do talk about viar or craving for certain type of food. There are many narratives in relation to accommodation of the food that a pregnant woman craves. Lack of that provision believes to be a sin. We believe that some fruits and nuts have direct impact on the baby's beauty, intelligence, brain capacity, length, gender, and hair quality.  Don't we say that apple makes the baby cute or grapes help the new mother to have breast milk?

We have this custom back home, when a pregnant woman walks down the street, she can many times be offered food with certain type of spices or taste. Why do we do that?  I guess not every one in those old days like today could afford good food. Pregnant women were known as needy of extra nutrition.  Elders usually believe that a pregnant woman should be around good, loving, and kind people. Baby in the womb is taught to pick up those positive traits from people around the mother.

For sure there are some superstitious believes that influence our prenatal care. Many times our culturally flourished attitudes create challenges and obstacles for pregnant women.

Today, in the Western cultures there are large scales of research that confirm most of what we know just by the old anecdotes. Now the point is not to boast our ego, we have enough of that; the point is that we should uncover the logic behind what has been passed down to us by our ancestors. What is well-known is that the psychological caring for a pregnant woman do involves many societal resources. It is believed that a pregnant woman should not be distressed because the baby will be impacted.

Another old practice in our Iranian communities is the unrecognized yet, culturally required home-care for a new mother up to forty days. Who does this home-care? Usually parents of the new mother get involved. This timing is believed to be crucial for a new mother to stay on her own feet in order to care for the baby on her own.

Forty days is a time to heal from inside out. This time period is also believed to be crucial for baby development. The postnatal care of mother is another traditionally implicit area. If there are no parents, there is always someone who would come forward and offer help for the mother and the baby.

I guess many embassies in Iran have the everyday interaction with older Iranian generation who apply for visa to go and visit a pregnant daughter living somewhere out of Iran. Being there for a pregnant daughter is absolute important for many Iranian families. Mothers are believed to be on the edge to the so called paradise. To challenge this notion, we may ask whether mothers are not being bribed with the promises of heaven for the hard work they do. Prenatal and postnatal care in our Iranian culture covers every aspect of holding, caring, protecting, connecting, and attaching to the baby.

The point again is not to say that everything we do is the best way, however since there is already existing practice for prenatal and postnatal care, why not illuminating this perception through the lens of science?  Maybe this is something for future research. I hope I am clear: I do not state that we Iranian definitely and hundred present care for our pregnant women. Numbers of abused pregnant women by abusive husbands are too many. The cruelty against Iranian women through the history, pregnant or not, is too complex.

The number of pregnant women having been hanged, raped, or executed in the prisons of our home country are also too many. With all the respect to all those pregnant women who died with their unborn children, this article tries to highlight the importance of care for our pregnant women.

I guess my point is to not to generalize at all. Why not embrace the positive and dismiss the rest?

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Babies apparently need to stay inside the mother's womb for an average of 9 months or about 37 weeks. But due to some reasons, expected mothers especially pregnant teenagers would give birth before time. Based on studies, infants who were born prior to 37 weeks pregnancy or premature babies are usually at risk to variety of medical problems at the same time has greater possibility to the die in the initial year of life. It is because many of their organs are still in the developing stage and not yet ready for the environment outside the womb. This is also the reason why incubators are very essential to preterm birth babies.

The said medical equipment has the capacity to maintain the same warmth, humidity as with the atmosphere inside the mother's womb. It also helps in maintaining the right amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen content at the same time allows enter of food and administration of medicines, which are all essential in the growth of newborn babies' organs until they become mature enough to adapt the environment outside the womb or the postnatal survival. Lastly, neonatal incubator is designed to limit the exposure of premature babies to germs that might cause infection. But recently, a traditional birth attendant and herbalist from Kenya named Alice Sibour was featured in CNN because of its invented ways of caring newborn babies. One thing in her clinic that caught attention to many people her own version of incubator, which is based on report helps premature babies of Mathare slum. The neonatal medical equipment that Sibour did basically needs pillows to serve as mattress, blankets to wrap the baby, two small containers of hot water to be placed underneath the bed, a mosquito net to cover the entire bed.

Sibour's home-produced medical equipment for neonatal incubation is probably the best solution in order for preterm birth children survive especially if they are living in countries wherein access to healthcare service is very limited, just like in Kenya. But if this medical equipment for incubation will be carefully inspected, many health specialists for sure will have doubt about its capability to control contamination. In the first place, mosquito net is not enough to trap all airborne particles that would cause infection. The said device also lacks the ability to maintain oxygenation that is par with the mother's womb. Moreover, it is already stated that the purpose of incubating a premature baby is to provide the same amount of heat that they acquire while inside the mother's womb. The said warmth is very essential for the development of their organs. With that two small containers of hot water placed underneath the bed, its capacity to provide heat greater than the core body temperature (37.5 degrees Celsius) is obviously questionable.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Often referred as "baby blues", Postpartum Depression (PPD) is experienced in some degrees by more than 50 percent of women giving birth. This type of depression can last for some time, which may vary between a few weeks to a few months.

Causes behind Postpartum Depression

The body of women goes through immense hormonal changes after pregnancy and child birth and this is one of the biggest reasons behind postpartum depression. Other reason behind postpartum depression in a new mother is lack of proper sleep, as the baby is always crying and hence requires non-stop attention.

What You Can Notice During Postpartum Depression?

The period of Postpartum Depression is characterized by rapid changes in hormones of a female body. The progesterone and the estrogen levels fall dramatically within 48 hours and these gonadal steroids are very much involved in causing the depression in women.

If you are suffering from postpartum depression, you may experience difficulty in sleeping, lack the desire of eating, feel hopeless and depressed all the time. There are many ways with which you can deal your postpartum depression, but beware that the symptoms of this depression state come and go for some time.

How to Deal With Postpartum Depression Symptoms?

Sleep As Much As Possible

The first and foremost way to deal with your postpartum depression symptoms is to get sleep as much you can. This may be difficult for you, especially if you are breastfeeding throughout the whole night. Due to this, your sleep may get interrupted for every two to three hours. The best way to cope with this is to breastfeed your baby lying in your bed so that you can get some rest while breastfeeding. It is ideal for you to take naps during the daytime, as every bit of rest results in rejuvenating and energising your body.

Nourish Your Body with Proper Food

Since you just gave birth and you are breastfeeding your baby, you need to nourish your body with good and proper foods. You should have snacks all throughout the day. Always have some vegetables in your diet especially a few carrots, as they keep you energised. Remember that a poor appetite leads to increase of depression and fatigue in your body.

Stay With Family and Friends

Again, you should always be in the midst of good friends and your family. This is because having people around you can contribute in changing your mood. You get the much needed outlet to express your feelings and thoughts. This automatically reduces the chances of you getting depressed. It is recommended that in an event of postpartum depression, you keep yourself surrounded with things helping you to feel good.

Such goods things may be candles lit in your bedroom, have some soft music being played or have pictures containing happy memories of your life. These things can boost you with happy energy and make you feel good.

Apart from these, postpartum depression can also be dealt by doing significant amount of exercise, as it increases your metabolism rate. This improves the frame of your mind and health. You can also go for a walk to 10 minutes in the morning, as it can help both your body and mind.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Chiang Mai Ram Hospital

This is the premium private hospital in Chiang Mai, and with the price range to match: but then again, you get what you pay for, though the Ram is not necessarily where you might want to have your check-up or physician appointment if you are a backpacker traveling on a limited budget. The Ram has comprehensive departments: Obstetrics/Gynecology, neurosurgery, pediatrician, dentistry, and all the specialists you would expect to find at any modern hospital. Indeed, Thai doctors tend to come with much better bedside manners and as a rule are friendlier than their western counterparts thanks to the emphasis on hospitality in Thai culture as well as the Ram's direction as part of the service sector. The staff speak fairly fluent English, usually give prompt, helpful service, and the hospital as a whole is one of the most reputable in the country (overseas patients who come to Thailand for cheaper medical expenses and operations are common). The Chiang Mai Ram is located in the Old City area, near the Central Kad Suan Kaew shopping mall, and boasts a roof that has been built to accommodate emergency helicopter landing. All reputable hotels in the city often have a contract with the Ram and default to them for ambulances and emergencies.

Rajavej Hospital

Located opposite a hotel, the Rajavej Hospital includes highly specialized service clinics, including liver disease clinic, hemorrhoids clinic, digestive system disease, diabetes/thyroid and cholesterol clinic, dermatology, geriatric clinic and a menopause clinic. Their service centers range from cancer to endoscopy, and they have surgeons who specialize in orthopedic surgery, oncology, and plastic surgery. Price range is somewhat less likely to traumatize your wallet, but the Rajavej Hospital's lobby and waiting area is also considerably less glamorous to look at then the Ram's.

McCormick Hospital

The McCormick Hospital is one of the few institutions in Chiang Mai and Thailand in general that are run under the umbrella of the Church of Christ, and as such is a Catholic hospital. Being considerably smaller than the Chiang Mai Ram, it accordingly offers rather fewer facilities and department, but the accommodation and nursing fees are also much cheaper, catering to more budget-conscious patients. General health check-ups, cancer check-ups, prenatal and postnatal care, cardiac care unit, and intensive care units are available. The McCormick is located in Wat Ket, on Kaeonawarat Road, close to the Dara Academy.

Lanna Hospital

The Lanna Hospital has been certified with ISO 9000. It offers 180 in-patient beds, and distinguishes itself by hiring staff who not only speak English but also Mandarin and Japanese in addition to, of course, Thai. While like others it offers general care across various health categories (cardiac care, back pain, Obstetrics/Gynecology, et cetera), it specializes in handling emergency cases. It is located on Chnag Klan Road, in the city center, and is one of the hospitals closest to the Night Market area.

All the hospitals listed adhere to ISO standards and are staffed by internationally trained doctors and nurses, many of which graduated from Ivy League schools and top medical universities of England and Switzerland. Combine this with the superior hospitality, cultural disposition toward friendliness, and the relatively low costs, and Chiang Mai easily proves one of the most attractive destinations for medical tourism.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


With so many changes occurring in a woman's body during and after pregnancy, it is common to find that hormones can be out of balance. Quite a bit of strain is put on the body following ovulation and conception, and right on through pregnancy and delivery. Of course there are the outward physical changes, as the body accommodates the growing child and finally ushers it out into the world, but there are also effects that are not as immediately, outwardly observable. These can cause physical discomfort, and even contribute to mental and spiritual effects - such as postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression affects around 15% of new mothers - that means an unfortunately high likelihood that a woman who has recently given birth may find herself suffering from the condition. If left untreated, it can be severe, going as far as to include suicidal thoughts and neglect or even physical harm to the child. It is important to monitor both mother and child after birth to safeguard their health and well-being. If any severe or persistent changes for the worse are noticed in behavior or mood, it is a good idea to enlist the help of a health care practitioner.

Often, the impulse is to treat the symptoms of postpartum depression. "The mother is feeling depressed, so of course we should give her anti-depressants," the thinking goes. The trouble with this approach, however, is that it does not really address the underlying causes of the condition. One such factor can be hormone imbalance.

During and after pregnancy and childbirth, a mother's hormones can been thrown out of balance. The body is normally capable of re-balancing on its own, but where this is not happening, there are natural nutritional and hormonal remedies that can be used to gently restore balance. Whatever course of action you choose, the most important thing is to get help with any symptoms of postpartum depression as soon as you notice them.

It sometimes takes months for the body to return to normal and begin the ovulation cycle again. Helping the body through this period can ease the stresses - physical, mental and emotional. While most cases of postpartum depression can be treated quickly and easily, there are some times when it can be a very dangerous condition. Keeping a close watch on mother and child to ensure both are happy and healthy is an important part of welcoming the newest family member. The key is to be aware of any persistent symptoms and seek help in treating them early - it is always best to enlist the help of an expert.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Chiropractic care for pregnant women is often questioned by many whether it is safe or not. The good news is yes, chiropractic care throughout pregnancy is perfectly safe if handled by a professional. In fact, there are many benefits that pregnant women can get from chiropractic care.

As the baby inside the womb develops and grows, a lot of physiological and endocrinological changes happen to the body including a growing abdomen and an increase in a woman's back curve. Her pelvis also changes and all of these can lead to misaligned spine or joints.

Chiropractic can help establish pelvic balance and alignment to help the body adjust to all of the changes. If the spine is aligned, delivery will be easier for the mother.

Chiropractors undergo extensive training including handling pregnant women properly. Some even take specific interests such as prenatal and postnatal care.

In fact, most chiropractors know how to work with women who are pregnant or still trying to conceive. They know how to adjust the pressure appropriate for pregnant women and how to use the right techniques that are safe for them. They can also teach the right exercises and stretches that can be done by pregnant women on their own time.

Pregnant women can maintain a healthy pregnancy if they undergo chiropractic care. They can also learn how to control the symptoms of nausea. They may also have reduced time for labor and delivery.

As their body changes, chiropractic can relive the back, joint or neck pain that a pregnant woman feels. Chiropractic care can also lessen a pregnant woman's chance of undergoing a potential C-section delivery.

The Doctor's Advice Regarding Chiropractic Care

Since chiropractic care helps develop the pelvic balance, a lot of doctors recommend undergoing chiropractic care as early as possible during pregnancy. This way, there will be less stress in the pelvic area giving a healthy environment to the baby which in turn allows the baby to position properly before delivery.

A baby is usually positioned breech during the early part of the pregnancy but as the baby grows more and more, he will find it harder to position properly when he is already 37 weeks or more. Chiropractic care early on the pregnancy balances the pelvis and gives greater chance for the baby to move into the proper position. If the baby is positioned correctly, the mother has lesser chances of suffering difficult labor.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Almost every woman on earth has cellulite including celebrities and supermodels.  Getting to know about cellulite is a wise thing to do, but before removing cellulite, it is necessary to know the causes of cellulite. These causes will help you to prevent and diminish cellulite from your life. Cellulite is not a disease, it is a health disorder that is has multiple symptoms. To remove cellulite, you need to adopt more than one method for its treatment.

All you need to know about cellulite

Cellulite is appearance of unattractive bumps on the skin especially in the thigh, leg and buttock areas. The texture can be referred as "cottage cheese". Poor elasticity is the main cause of cellulite as the experts put it. Fat cells bulge too an extent that it becomes impossible for the fibre compartments that hold the skin. These compartments enlarge to form uneven layers or dimples of fat beneath the skin. So what is the reason behind incapability of the body to hold these fat cells? Or what causes cellulite?

Cellulite causes

It is a common misconception among majority of the population that cellulite is caused due to fatness or obesity. However, this is not true as cellulite can be observed in slim women too. Cellulite can be related to skin elasticity and fat cells. The type of cellulite you develop is determined by your genes. Even girls of 14 years of age show symptoms of cellulite. If you wish to know the type of cellulite you will posses, you can predict by looking at your mother. As cellulite is more observed in case of women than men, doctors believe that high levels of estrogen - a female hormone is the cause of cellulite.

Many women on birth control pills or at postnatal stage develop cellulite in them as the body's waste structure cannot eliminate the large amount of estrogen flow in the body. Lifestyle can also be responsible for cellulite. Poor diet, meaning; consumption of toxic foods cause fluid retention and bad circulation in the body. This increases your chances of developing cellulite. Women leading sedentary lifestyles are also prone to have cellulite as it causes hardening of connective tissue that eventually leads to dimpling in the dermis.

If you are at post adolescent age between 25 to 35 years, you are likely to have cellulite due to aging. This is because aging causes thinness of subcutaneous fat layer in the skin. The contents from the subcutaneous fat layer are bifurcated over time with unfavourable results. Disturbance of circulatory system after a severe injury can also cause cellulite. The following paragraph explains the causes of cellulite, which will help you to mange and prevent cellulite.

How does cellulite develop?

Heredity and genes determine the formation of cellulite. Lack of water intake does not allow the harmful to flush from the body. Mixture of fat, toxic waste and water cause formation of cellulite. So it is recommended to drink plenty of water to drain out all the toxins and diminish cellulite. Poor diet, smoking, medication, poor lifestyles and crash diets are also other causes of cellulite. So what causes is known to you now, so you can take the necessary precautions to take care of your cellulite.  

Related Articles:

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Just like the other members of the families of the fox. When dogs give birth to the young ones, they give birth to numerous puppies which are expected to grow and form a pack, this is only possible if the dogs grow up together, but man has been known to separate this numerous puppies from their brothers and sisters, hence it is the responsibility of the owner to be able to provide comfort to this animals.

But those dogs which are not taken up by man and trained tend to exhibit bad behavior which is irritating to man such as barking all the time restlessly.

In earlier years, man used to allow the dogs to stay outside with them as they worked with them when they perform their daily activities. This was very vital for these animals since they would be able to enjoy the companionship provided by man

Because of these, at the end of the day the animals would have enjoyed the companionship hence when it's time for sleeping, they could be able to sleep comfortably.

But things have changed this days, people just leave their dog outside without even playing with it or if it is doing work, they do not do any work beside them since most of the work that they do nowadays is done in the office, hence the dogs end up feeling lonely and neglected which is not good for them, in fact during the evening when people are home from work, they do not take time to spend with their dogs since they are tired with office work making the dogs to feel lonely.

Another unfair thing man also does to the animals, since he/she is tired after work, they do not take time to spend with the animals and they end up leaving them outside since they don't want to be disturbed.

But if the dog owners learn to spend time with the animals, the dogs will never feel so lonely, they in fact need that short time to know that there is somebody who cares for them and provides them companionship.

For anyone reading this article and thinks of getting a dog to keep either for security or a pet, ignoring it all the time and not spending time with it proves you are very cruel and you feel less for the animal.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Looking for Christmas gift ideas for mom could be a bit difficult, most especially if the recipient is a young mom. Well, of course, you could not just buy a typical gift items for moms like cooking gadgets and other stuff because young moms may have different interests and taste considering that she is still a teen despite the fact that she is already a mom. Well, worry no more because this article aims to help you with this kind of dilemma. Here are the top 5 Christmas presents for mom in her teens:

1. Necklace to celebrate motherhood - If you have a friend who is a young mom then for sure you understand how hard it is for her to cope up with the changes in her lifestyle so you could help her a little by giving a present for mom that is still appropriate for her age. The fact that she is already a mom does not automatically mean that she should forget about her likes and dislikes. Most teenagers love accessories so a young mom would definitely appreciate a necklace to celebrate motherhood. It would b a great idea to come up with a necklace with pictures of her and the baby. She will definitely use this all the time.

2. Home spa gift set - This young mommy is surely having difficult time adjusting to the new lifestyle. Now she stays up until wee hours not because she is partying with friends but because she tries so hard to keep the baby asleep. It would be nice and sweet of you if you will give her a home spa gift set that she could use to relax once in a while.?

3. Book about motherhood - She certainly needs lots of tips about raising a kid and taking care of a baby so a book about motherhood is indeed one of the best Christmas gift ideas for mom that you could offer.?

4. Scrapbook - Most young and first time moms love to keep scrapbook to record different "firsts" of the baby - first time talking, walking and so many others.?

5. Post natal exercise videos - You should understand that it is hard for most women to look in the mirror and see excess fat in the body. One of the main goals of young moms after giving birth is to go back to her original weight before pregnancy. You will be able to support her with this goal by giving her some postnatal exercise DVD videos. This way, she will be able to lose weight and exercise even if she is at home taking care of the baby.?

These are five examples of Christmas gift ideas for mom that you could give to any young/teenage mom that you know.

Maternity Care 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()