Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

It is not rare to find that one does not perfectly fit into a new undergarment or outfit. This can be a frustrating event. This is especially frustrating considering that so many designs these days seem to require a perfect body. To name a few there are vests, waist cinchers, body control garments, long pants, short, panties, thongs, and the list goes on and on. Ann Chery shapewear, a Colombian manufacturer have come up with innovate designs that can assist you with this problem. With their ever improving designs and manufacturing process and state of the art fabric this renowned Colombian manufacturer can help you achieve that satisfying body that is sure to produce nothing but pride and a energized attitude to life.

These products are built to shape your body into a more pleasing figure. This magical transformation is achieved by ingenious designs that apply controlled pressure on pre-determined areas of your body, while embracing other areas with softer compression. In other words, Ann Chery shapewear does not function in the same manner as other models, where a constant compression is applied to large areas of your body. An immediate result of the technology is that your body will be molded and smoothed out naturally, along the body natural curves, yielding into a perfect into a perfect figure. Certainly not everyone is in possession of the perfect body, with Ann Chery shapewear; you can be as close as ever to having one.

As fashion trends get more sophisticated, it is not uncommon that new models are less forgiving and require an almost perfectly contoured body to wear them. Unfortunately, for most people, this is not always the case. The result is that many people can afford new models and are willing to wear them, but are only able to observe others wearing the latest fashions. This state of the art shapewear has targeted this population and have presented a real life solution, allowing everyone to enjoy the best and latest clothes available. In other words, there is no need to be left behind wanting and compromising with less than the ideal outfit for specific occasions. Instead of being left to having to wear oversized clothes or outdated fashion styles that you don't care for, Ann Chery shapewear provides you with a new found fashion freedom.

It is common for shapewear garment manufacturers to produce specialized models for particular needs, body shapes and outfit designs. Ann Chery as a front edge manufacturer has come out with dozens of models of multiple materials and multiple levels of comfort. Ann Chery shapewear for its part has risen to the occasion to meet this challenge, as they come in the form of bodysuits, corsets, brassieres, waist cinchers, postpartum garments, back support, garter belts, girdles, control slips, control briefs, body briefers, and control camisoles. These forms are commonly known in Spanish as fajas, fajas reductoras, fajas modeladoras and fajas moldeadoras, or simply put, faja.

Because the high quality of Ann Chery shapewear, they have accomplished a great degree of invisibility, effectively hiding seams and inner contours of the garment. Shapewear as an undergarment pieces, are meant to be invisible to the casual eye

You will find that Ann Chery shapewear fits comfortably under your clothes. Their shapewear products do not have very noticeable lines that would indicate its presence to the casual onlooker. Ann Chery shapewear is sure to please you with such great results.

Enhancement of the buttocks is most consistently done with a gluteal implant. Despite its predictable improvement in the size and shape of the buttocks, buttock implants are not without complications. Intramuscular implant placement makes recovery more uncomfortable and having to sit on the implant predisposes it to positional shifting and the formation of fluid collections and possible infection.

Because of these concerns, the alternative treatment of fat injections or free fat grafting has emerged. Fat grafting to the buttocks has numerous potential advantages such as the elimination of the need for a synthetic implant, the use of a patient's own body tissues, an easier recovery with few limitations, a simultaneous benefit of cosmetic enhancement of the donor site, and a very low risk of bleeding or infection. All of these advantages of free fat fat grafting is counterbalanced by one significant disadvantage....an unpredictability of after surgery shape and size. How much fat survives and is retained is widely variable. No plastic surgeon can guarantee or predict with 100% accuracy how much fat will survive on a consistent basis. I prefer to inject no more than about 300cc per buttock as I think much volume than that results in greater volume loss.

The burning question through the past several decades is...how to make fat grafting work better. The injection technique is, of course, important but is only half of the answer. How the fat is prepared after harvest in the operating room is the other half. Everyone agrees that concentration is very important after harvest. This is the mechanical process of removing the liquids from the more solid fat components. Whether this is done by a centrifuge or passing the fat aspirate through a strainer or sieve are two methods of which one has not been proven to be better than the other. Additives to the fat are theoretically appealing but there is no universal magical additive. Currently, I add platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to the concentrated fat prior to injection. Whether this aids fat survival is not proven but since it is a product of the patient, there is no risk in so doing. PRP is a concentrate of a patient's own blood done at the time of surgery. While there is no standardized amount of PRP to add to fat, I typically use 3cc of PRP per buttock graft site.

If a patient opts for buttock augmentation with fat injections, they must accept that the amount of fat that will survive is unpredictable. It may require more than one injection session to obtain the best result. Most fat grafting methods will not achieve the degree of volume enhancement that a gluteal implant will.

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? Headaches, depressions, anxiety, uncontrollable crying spells, fatigue, fluid retention, abdominal cramping, heart palpitations, weight gain, irritability, panic attacks, forgetfulness, migraines, backaches, decreased work or social performance, sleep problems, food cravings, breast tenderness, clumsiness, confusion . . . Sounds like a nightmare existence, doesn't it?

Are you one of the 40-80% of women for whom this scenario, or at least a portion of it, is everyday life for one to two weeks out of every month of their lives from puberty to menopause? What disorder could possibly result in these varied, and often dehabilitating, symptoms for so many women?

Premenstrual Syndrome! That's right! It's that old friend, PMS, the subject of so many jokes and putdowns. You know - that "catch-all" phrase that, according to "so-called comedians," covers all the "imaginary" problems that women "invent" as excuses to spend the day on the couch "watching TV and eating bonbons."

Let me assure you that, while it is true that doctors and researchers have not found a specific lab test that can identify PMS, this disorder is definitely neither "imaginary" nor is it "invented." Serious medical research has been going on for years to identify the definitions, diagnosis, causes, and cures for this disorder. Here are two of the resulting definitions:

1. Dr. Ellen Freeman of University of Pennsylvania Health System describes PMS as a "cluster of emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms that have a cyclic pattern related to the menstrual cycle, becoming severe in the week or two preceding menses and abating with menstruation."

2. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists defines PMS as "the cyclic occurrence of symptoms that are sufficiently sever to interfere with some aspects of life, and that appear with consistent and predictable relationship to the menses."

How do you know if you or a loved one has PMS, if there is no real test for it? Across the board, researchers and doctors agree that the identifying factor overall in this disorder is the fact that the symptoms stop once the menses begin or once a woman becomes pregnant.

You should know that doctors have identified two serious forms of PMS that have effects far beyond those of normal PMS symptoms:

1. "Postpartum Depression" is a severe depression that some women experience after giving birth. Women with this disorder suffer a severe let-down from the high pregnancy-levels of hormones, and, because of the disruption to their nervous systems, they may actually harm themselves or their babies.

2. "Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder" (PMDD) brings about serious and disabling depression, anxiety, tension, and angry irritability, intense mood changes in the week or two before the onset of menses, and women suffering from this disorder exhibit at least five of PMS's physical symptoms as well. Like regular PMS, PMDD symptoms disappear with menses.

You may have heard that doctors find it helpful for women to keep a daily diary of symptoms throughout the month when they are attempting to diagnose PMS. What should you look for when keeping a daily diary or considering the possibility that you or a loved one has PMS? Well, PMS carries over 150 possible symptoms that affect women in both the physical and the emotional realms in varying degrees.

Physically, symptoms can range from light, as in headache, fatigue, and slight abdominal swelling, to severe, as in migraines, severe cramping, and an inability to function normally. Emotionally, you may experience symptoms relating to anxiety (irritability, irrational crying, or emotional swings), depression (withdrawn, fearful, or altered libido), cravings (for sweets, dairy, or alcohol), and fluid retention (headache, breast tenderness, abdominal bloating, and weight gain).

I can tell you that although doctors still have not determined the exact cause of PMS, they agree that hormones and neuro-chemical changes within the brain are prime suspects. Estrogen hormones, for example, can contribute to increased brain activity, retention of salt, and drops in blood sugar, because it has a central neurological effect on the brain.

What do you do if you realize that you or a loved one suffers from some level of PMS? Obviously, if the symptoms are severe, you should seek your doctor's advice. Doctors today may prescribe either psychiatric (psychotropic drugs, tricyclics, tranquilizers, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), medical treatments (anti-estrogenic hormonal medications), or a combination of both for severe cases.

However, if you believe that your symptoms are manageable, or if they are intermittent, here are a few tips that might help you alleviate some symptoms.

- Eat six, small, high in complex carbohydrates, low in simple sugars meals at three-hour intervals to help keep energy levels and blood glucose levels steady. Complex carbohydrates are found in foods eaten in their natural states like oatmeal, cornmeal, barley, and wheat germ, or in foods like pastas, brown rice, root vegetables like potatoes, whole grain breads and cereals, etc.

- Reduce caffeine, alcohol, salt, fats, and simple sugars to help diminish fatigue, tension, depression and water retention bloating.

- Add calcium, controlled levels of B6, B complex, magnesium, and Vitamin E to help maintain normal moods and reduce fluid retention, cramps, and back pain.

- Exercise three times a week for at least 20-30 minutes to improve mood, blood circulation, sense of well-being, and alleviate the build-up of tension and stress.

- Learn to relax with deep breathing exercises, music, quiet time alone, or yoga, to decrease symptoms and help with coping. In addition, spend time with an understanding friend, get a solid 8 hours of sleep regularly, and keep track of the menstrual cycle on the calendar to prepare for the onslaught of symptoms to help yourself cope.

- Adjust your schedule around the menstrual cycle to avoid heavy decisions, stressful appointments or events, or even arguments during PMS to help both your PMS time and your relationships.

- Investigate the use of herbs. Much research is going on in the field of herbal remedies for PMS. Evening primrose oil, chaste tree berry, dong qui and other herbs may have an effect on PMS symptoms according to personal testimonies of women who have tried them.

For best results, I recommend a combination of all of these areas. A lifestyle including a balanced diet, proper amounts of necessary vitamins and minerals, plenty of healthy exercise, proper rest and relaxation, good mental attitudes, and appropriate herbs gives you the best defense against PMS symptoms. However, if all else fails, by all means, throw in a couple of bonbons. Women for centuries have insisted that chocolate is a miraculous cure-all!

Having a baby gives a woman a sense of fulfillment and enormous joy. At the same time, it has been seen that first-time mothers get overwhelmed by the changes that take place in their lives as well as their body, after the baby is born. More importantly sleep deprivation. Your baby will require many feedings a day which means less sleep for you.

BE CAREFUL! You should recognize the importance of sleep.

While some people may like to believe that they can train their bodies to not require as much sleep as they once did, this belief is false. Sleep is needed to regenerate certain parts of the body, especially the brain, so that it may continue to function optimally. After periods of extended wakefulness or reduced sleep neurons may begin to malfunction, visibly effecting a person's behavior.

According to a study conducted by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, people who sleep less than five hours per day are four to five times more likely to be involved in a sleep-related crash.

Super Mom will give you few tips on how to relax during those few first months:

"Sleep when the baby sleeps" sounds blissful in theory. In reality, not everyone could do that. For some people sleeping requires some sort of relaxations, low light, quiet environment,... etc.

Tips on how to sleep better:

1-Lie down, even if you can't sleep.

2-Have your husband or a relative do the night shift for you ( mother or mother- in-law)

3-Take turns: One option is to put the baby to bed at night after the 8 o'clock feeding and go to bed yourself. Your partner can use a bottle of expressed milk to feed the baby around 10. Afterward your partner can go to bed and you can get up for the 2 to 4 feeding. That way, each of you will have the opportunity to have an uninterrupted six-plus hours of sleep

4-Don't rely on coffee: Although gulping down a cup of coffee first thing in the morning can give you the jolt you need to be alert, overdoing it can mask your need for sleep, and may actually prevent you from falling asleep when you finally lie down.

5-Get help around the house: Every day there seems to be twice as much work and half as much time to complete it in. Try getting a housekeeper few times a week to help you around the house or at least few hours a week.

6-Organize visiting hours: Everybody wants to see the new baby, of course. And you, you conscientious person, will feel the need to make sure the house is clean and there's something to offer them when they come. Unless your family has moved in to take over such chores, ask visitors to hold off for a week or so, then have them come one or two at a time for a couple of days a week. Anyone who had kids will understand, and those who haven't will learn soon enough.

7-Keep the baby near by: Moms actually sleep better when the baby sleeps in a bassinet next to the parents' bed rather than in his or her own room down the hall. The idea is that the baby's within easy reach, the mother doesn't have to be aroused by the baby's screaming, and she doesn't have to get up, turn on the lights, and go down a hallway. That makes it easier to slide back into sleep after the feeding. Starting his second month he will start sleeping better during the night then you could move him to his own room.

Depression is a serious condition that impacts every aspect of a person's life. Depression is individualistic and is not the same for men and women. There are many factors that contribute to depression from sexual hormones to social pressures to how one responds to stress. Overall, depression is twice as common in women as compared to men. According to the National Mental Health Association one in eight women will experience clinical depression during their lifetime.
 
Common complaints of major depression include: feeling depressed; loss of interest or pleasure in activities they use to enjoy; feelings of guilt, hopelessness and worthlessness; suicidal thoughts or recurrent thoughts of death; sleep disturbances (sleep more or less); appetite and weight changes; difficulty concentrating; and, lack of energy and fatigue. Women, also, have a higher incidence of thyroid problems, and hypothyroidism can cause depression.
 
Women and men tend to cope with depression differently. Women ruminate. This includes crying to relieve emotional tension, trying to figure out why they are depressed, and talking to their friends about their depression. However rumination has been found to maintain depression and even make it worse. Women tend to talk and talk about their feelings to others until the anger and depression is drained off or they seek out professional help.
 
Men tend to bottle up their feelings. They distract themselves from their feelings of depression by keeping busy. They are raised with such social myths as , "big boys do not cry" or "do not show your feelings as the other kids will think you are a sissy."   

Men tend to let the angry and depressed feelings build over a long period of time until they either explode like Mt. Vesuvius or take some dramatic action to get rid of their feelings of anger/depression. Male depression is far more likely to be deadly, as seen in the recent headlines that sadly demonstrate this point in the recent case of the man in Virginia who killed his wife and one son before killing himself.
 
A major factor in the differences between how men and women express their depression is the way they are socialized in their roles. Most women in our country have been raised to be other-oriented. Throughout life, women advise their daughters to be good children, good wives, and good mothers. Such value-laden advice essentially says, "Your worth comes from what you do in relation to other people, and not from whom you are as a unique individual." This value is very different from one that says, "Create and pursue your own independent dreams, even if it means not marrying or having children."   

The cultural value for women is "Be-other-oriented and conform to expectations of others" in the traditional female acculturation, is it any wonder that women are diagnosed as depressed nearly twice as often as men. The typical man in this culture is raised to achievement-oriented, having been taught from childhood that worth is determined by accomplishment. It should be no surprise that men have high professional expectations and strives to achieve them, even at the risk of his family relationships. 

For as long as circumstances permit him to achieve, he can earn great rewards in the form of approval, financial success, professional status and so forth.   If this man is somehow blocked from achieving, the central focus of his life is lost. The significant point here is: our values can create rigidities in people that make them a candidate for depression if those values are challenged in some way.
 
Another impediment to men seeking help for depression is the strong stigma that men attach to professional care of any kind. Again, our roles in society are, also, a factor. Women are responsible for caring for a sick child or spouse more often than men. When they take time off from work, co-workers tend to understand, and forgive the imposition.  On the other hand, one study found that "male workers who took some time off were rated as less performing than those who did not."
 
Women tend to internalize emotional pain, saying to themselves that they must have done something to cause the problem, while men, tend to externalize emotional pain. They are more inclined to see others as obstacles that prevent them from reaching their goals and feel victimized. Men discharge their distress through action.   Hence the statistics, which show that women attempt suicide more often than men, yet males, actually kill themselves at a rate three to four times higher than females.
 
Women process their experiences with their friends, and are much more likely to tell a physician how they feel and cooperate in the prescribed treatment. As a result, women get better treatment for their depression. Admitting to being depressed is the ultimate shame for many men because depression carries, to many, a double stain--the stigma of mental illness and also the stigma of 'feminine' emotionality. Many men treat their depression with alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant. For someone who is all ready depressed, alcohol greatly enhances the depth of the depression. Several studies have shown that alcohol impairs the senses and clouds judgment, predisposing a person to impulsive suicide. Impairment from alcohol also masks inhibitions and allows people who have planned suicide the opportunity to initiate the act.
 
In conclusion, as a society, we must admit and accept the reality, and the normality of male depression.  We need to work harder to give men the same helping hand that many women get simply because women are more willing to acknowledge their depression and seek out professional help.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment that has a wide variety of uses. It's been around for thousands of years and has been used to treat individuals suffering from back pain and other forms of pain, to improve fertility, relieve stress, and for other purposes.

It works by inserting thin, sterile needles in certain points on the body, which practitioners believe helps to release positive energy, which in the process pushes out negative energy. Practitioners believe that a life force, called Qi, may become blocked due to trauma, stress, poor diet or lack of exercise, and may manifest in a variety of different ways. By unblocking this life energy, patients feel relief.

Anxiety and depression affect people around the world, and many seek treatment in a variety of forms from speaking with a therapist to prescription medication. Acupuncture has been helpful in addressing depression and anxiety, as it can be a good reliever of stress. It is intended to relax individuals throughout the treatment, which can have a positive effect on many individuals who are suffering from depression or anxiety.

Acupuncture has even been used to treat individuals with a pulled muscle or back pain. It's treated those with arthritis, headaches and migraines, whiplash, sciatica, fractures, muscle tears, bruises, etc. Before you seek acupuncture for any injury or emotional disorder such as anxiety, post-partum depression, etc. speak with your doctor. Individuals may enjoy varying degrees of success with acupuncture, but many have reported success with a variety of conditions including infertility.

The exact reasons for acupuncture's success are not fully understood, but studies have indicated that putting the thin needles used in acupuncture into certain points on the body helps with the production of endorphins. Scientists differ as to whether certain activities such as acupuncture help to release endorphins, as studies conducted use endorphin plasma levels and this may not be an accurate portrayal of endorphin plasma levels present in the central nervous system.

Nevertheless, the ancient treatment has been reported successful by many individuals who have given acupuncture a try. It continues to be used by athletes to treat certain injuries or pain, as well as many in the general public who are dealing with physical injuries or emotional issues such as stress and anxiety. Finding ways to manage and relieve stress can have a positive impact on several aspects of one's life, and acupuncture is one such means by which many achieve this goal.

One of the biggest side effects of a surgical birth are the C-Section adhesions you are left with.

Adhesions are filmy, sticky, tentacle like internal fibrous scar tissue structures that begin to grow immediately after surgery, these adhesion fibers are a way for the body to heal itself.

The unfortunate thing about adhesions that result from having a C-Section are that they can attach themselves to your organs such as your uterus, ovaries, intestines, bowels, and other organs. When this happens it can cause intense chronic pain, infertility or even bowel obstruction.

C-Section adhesions are not a problem for every woman; in fact I've had two c-sections myself and have never had a problem with adhesions. But they can and do become a problem for many people.

A good example of how adhesions can cause problems was when a family member of mine had his appendix removed when he was 13 years old. Strangely enough when he was 76 he had an obstructed bowel which the doctors told him was the result of adhesions that had entangled his intestines from the appendectomy he had at age 13.

The interesting thing about adhesions is that they continue to grow for several years after surgery.

Surgical adhesions can cause pain as well as blockages. Once they attach themselves to your organs they can grow like a vine choking a tree. They can even grow to a point where they have their own blood vessels and nerve endings. They can cause so many different pains in so many different ways that they are hard to diagnose.

Unfortunately, if you think that you have adhesions as a result of having a c-section, your OB/Gyn will often treat your pain as it relates to his expertise. For example, doctors will treat a pain in the gastro intestinal area as though there was a problem with your intestines and send you to a GI doctor. When the pain is asymptomatic or in multiple areas, they get stumped, this can lead to exploratory surgery where they don't even know what they are looking for.

So what can you do now if adhesions are causing your pain and discomfort?

Because adhesions are hard to detect with the usual CT Scan, MRI, or X-ray, medical personnel cannot get a good diagnosis and usually have to begin a series of healing by process of elimination, which can take a very long time.

- Post surgery massage therapy has also been advocated and claimed to work which makes sense to me just as moving around does for preventing the adhesions from sticking.

- Avoid C-Section Adhesions with Yoga Exercises. Yoga is ideal for just about anything connected to healing and achieving that overall feeling of peace, but it can also help relieve C-Section adhesions.

Yoga poses and stretches, like the forward bend, the cat/cow stretch, the cobra pose and side twists will strengthen and tone muscles and can keep your incision flexible while also keeping it from getting tight and uncomfortable.

- Stretching for C-Section Adhesion Pain Relief. Daily stretching is another way to soften adhesion fibers. Pelvic tilts are gentle but effective exercises that are excellent for stretching the areas of the adhesions that need the most attention.

Never stretch too rigorously. Take care to stretch gently and move slowly. If something hurts or doesn't feel right, don't do it.

Things that can help prevent adhesions from Occurring in the first place

First of all YOU must be your own best advocate with your doctor. If you are pregnant or are thinking about becoming pregnant, you owe it to yourself and your baby to educate yourself on childbirth and the possibility that a C-Section could occur.

Discuss everything with your doctor. Remember that you are in charge of and have responsibility for your own health. The doctor is there to assist YOU with your health goals, not the other way around.

- Inquire with your doctor about using adhesion blockers. This is barrier material that doctors can use to help reduce the effects of adhesions.

For example, use of a material called Seprafilm, an adhesion barrier, has been shown to reduce internal adhesions after open abdominal surgery. This is something you should talk to your doctor about.

- Closing up the peritoneum. This is a surgical technique that helps minimize tissue injury and contamination of the wound, but it's also been found to reduce adhesions.

On closing the peritoneum, a study in 2005 by Stanford University has found that women who have had the peritoneum closed as part of their first c-section delivery are as much as five times less likely to develop adhesions than those who had theirs left open as is the common practice today.

This is possibly why I have not had any issues myself with adhesions as my doctor closed the peritoneum. Personally, after discussing this with my doctor, I think this may be one of the most significant things you can insist upon to help your future health in the event you must have a c-section.

- The type of incision can make a difference. A report by Mathai M, Hofmeyr GJ of The Cochrane Collaborative states that using a Joel-Cohen incision, a specific type of incision used for C-Sections can result in "... less fever, pain and analgesic requirements; less blood loss; shorter duration of surgery and hospital stay. This is another factor to discuss with your doctor as part of your preparation plan.

- Prepare and Stay Positive. Your mental and spiritual outlook plays a major role in your ability to heal. For me personally, my first C-Section took a toll on my body and my mind. My postpartum depression was high and my pain was severe. I'm convinced that if I had been prepared for having a C-Section and understood the complications and what to expect, my outcome would have been much different.

My second c-section was much better. Two weeks tops on the full recovery compared to two months and more with my first. Most of that, I believe, is simply because I knew what to expect, so the mental stress was greatly reduced.

If you are a spiritual person, you too will likely be better off than someone who did not take the time to prepare physically and mentally.

My final thoughts for you are that in the event of a c-section delivery I have helped you understand the importance of preparation and discussion with your doctor so that your C-Section becomes the miraculous joyful event that it's meant to be.

Unexplained hair loss is becoming more common among women. Suddenly hair starts falling out for no reason, at an alarming rate-sometimes handfuls at a time. For many women, shock and panic set in as the dramatic increase in shedding continues. Some worry they may soon become completely bald.

Because routine lab work often comes back normal, the condition may be dismissed as "just a cosmetic problem" that one must learn to live with. Or, the person may be handed a one-size-fits-all prescription for a synthetic topical treatment that only deals with the symptom rather than the underlying issue.

It is important to understand that chronic excessive shedding is not normal, and will not occur when all is well. When the hair growth cycle shuts down, or stops functioning properly it is an indication that a physical or emotional imbalance exists. Telogen effluvium is the name for this condition.

A temporary increase in shedding may occur due to a minor, short-lived trigger such as infection, flu, high fever, new medication, change in diet, medical procedure, vaccination, shock or trauma, etc. If the body is otherwise healthy; and the triggering factor has been resolved or removed the hair growth cycle will spontaneously heal before any noticeable thinning occurs. Although this type of telogen effluvium is usually not cause for concern, it may be beneficial to pinpoint the trigger in order to avoid the possibility of future episodes.

When the condition is long-lasting and severe, causing an obvious decrease in volume there may be a deeper issue that must be determined and treated in order to restore normal thickness and optimal health.

Often there is more than one contributing factor. Chronic telogen effluvium occurs as a result of the body working overtime--expending extra energy in attempt to overcome the inner disturbance, imbalance or disorder. The hair growth cycle may shut down or become disrupted in order to compensate while the body deals with the difficult task of trying to re-establish balance.

Below is a list of common causes or contributing factors that can lead to chronic telogen effluvium. It's important to realize that if one of the following conditions exists, it does not necessarily imply that it is the single cause of the problem. Correcting all imbalances and improving overall health and well-being is the best line of defense.

THYROID IMBALANCE

Standard thyroid testing is often incomplete. Because even a slight imbalance can cause hair loss, thorough, highly sensitive lab work is advised-especially if thyroid symptoms exists. This should include testing for antibodies (Hashimotos thyroiditis).

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY

Common deficiencies that are associated with hair loss include protein, iron, zinc, magnesium, chromium, selenium, vitamin D, etc. These deficiencies are also often associated with the underlying disorder in which hair loss is the symptom of. Rather than supplementing or increasing dietary intake of one particular nutrient, it may be more beneficial to include a wide variety of nutrients through diet and supplementation in order to provide balance to the body.

MAL-ABSORBTION

Nutritional deficiencies are often caused by mal-absorption issues such as Celiac (gluten intolerance) or Chron's disease and other digestive disorders. In addition to increasing nourishment, success will depend on determining and treating the underlying mal-absorption condition accordingly.

CANDIDIASIS ALBICANS

Candidiasis albicans is a systemic fungal/yeast infection. This under-diagnosed condition can wreak havoc of the entire system. Symptoms include an over-all feeling of un-wellness, foggy thinking, lack of energy etc. Skin symptoms and hair loss are common. If Candidiasis albicans exists, healing the infection should produce notable improvements in hair and skin health and overall wellness.

SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION

Some experts believe that chronic low-level systemic inflammation is at the root of all health disorders. Anti-inflammatory diet can be very helpful for health of hair and the underlying related disorders.

AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER

Autoimmune disorders may make a person more susceptible to chronic telogen effluvium. To keep symptoms from manifesting, great efforts must be made to keep immune system balanced. Certain autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves's disease, Celiac, Chron's and lupus are commonly associated with hair loss.

HORMONAL CHANGES/ POSTPARTUM

It's not uncommon for telogen effluvium to occur in women approximately three months after delivering a baby. In normal cases the condition subsides within six to nine months, leaving the new mother with only a slight decrease in thickness and volume. If the shedding becomes severe and long-lasting it would indicate that other factors are involved. Extreme care and extra nourishment are necessary during the postpartum period.

UNHEALTHY LIFE STYLE

Anytime an unhealthy lifestyle is present it will be more difficult to re-establish healthy hair growth. The better condition the body is in physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, the easier it will be to heal the imbalances causing the excessive shedding. Although disruption of the hair growth cycle can be the first sign of a wide variety of health disorders, it can be last to recover. The body has a built-in healing system that works on the principals or priority. It will provide healing energy to the areas that are most essential before it will bother with hair growth. The best results are achieved when the entire system is treated holistically rather than concentrating only on the symptom of hair loss.

ALOPECIA AREATA

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that specifically targets follicles of the scalp causing bald patches. This is not a form of telogen effluvium but there are variations of alopecia areata that can mimic telogen effluvium such as diffuse alopecia areata or alopecia areata incognita. Severe forms of this autoimmune disorder can cause baldness on the scalp and all over the body but the follicles remain alive so there is always potential for regrowth.

My husband and I just became grandparents. It is a learning experience finding out what our roles are. My daughter and son-in-law live with us as well as my granddaughter. Finding out what your boundaries are is a balancing act. You have a mother who is super protective of her baby and wants the best care for her baby. This is good. Sometimes they sound so ridiculous, but you have to listen.

My rule of thumb has been to back off from the parents and the baby, letting them bond. There are brief times I want to hold her, but my daughter just rolls her eyes at me. I talk to the baby as if I was having a conversation and you can hear her saying she is crazy-although they do it too. I guess they are not used to me talking so infantile. They do not realize they do it too. I just ignore it.

The reason I am writing this article is for new grandparents out there who are learning to become grandparents. There are a few suggestions I have about becoming the best grandparent you can be.

繚 Do not overstep your welcome. Stay long enough to get a taste of your grandchild and let your child decide how much involvement they want you to have. As the child gets older, you may be spending more time with your grandchild.

繚 Show concern and take an interest in your grandchild. Ask how the doctor's visit went, but do not harp on it. Your child may tell you something or they may not want to discuss it with you. My daughter thinks I should already know how it went. She does not realize that I am truly interested in how to clear her clogged tear duct or how much she weighs or how long she is now. Again they may not want to discuss this with you. Give them their privacy and let them tell you in their own time. Maybe they want to discuss it with their spouse first. Maybe they feel it is something they are responsible for-when it is not and they are afraid of what you will think.

繚 Always ask if you can pick up their child. Maybe they are trying to get their child on a schedule or trying to break a habit from the baby being held all the time. Maybe they are getting ready to feed the baby. Maybe they want their husband to take a role in doing something with the baby-changing the baby's diaper, learning how to quiet a crying baby, having the baby learn a connection with their daddy.

繚 Do not assume anything. Maybe your child wants help, but they do not know how to ask you for their help. Let them figure it out. They may be embarrassed to know they need your help. They want to be as independent as possible.

繚 Do not give advice unless it is solicited. They are still trying to show their independence from you and they are making their own family unit and working on things on their own.

繚 When you listen to your co-workers tell how wonderful it is to be a grandparent, do not despair. Their grandchildren are older and their children use them as baby sitters and then your children may be at a different stage in their life-they may want your help and advice.

繚 Give this union between you and your grandchild a chance to grow. Do not rush it. The wait is worth it.

Why am I telling you this? I am trying to tell you we need to set boundaries between ourselves, our children, and our grandchild. It is important. I have seen grandparents rush in and take over the mother's roll and that is not giving your child respect. You are overstepping your boundaries. Now there are instances where you need to take over-the mother has postpartum depression/psychosis. The baby is really sick and the parents need respite. Use your best judgment and let your children tell you how much help they may or may not need. Let this early stage in the newborn's life be a sacred space. Your time will come. At least that is what I hear.

Cystic acne treatments do not have to be terrible or intimidating. Use this article to help you in attaining the m best decision to heal your cystic acne. While cystic acne is generally affiliated with adolescents, cystic acne can impact anybody. If at anytime you're uncertain about what to do, its best to consult a dermatologist.

As acne goes cystic acne is believed to be among the most fallacious types of acne to get. Acne is occasionally addressed as Modular acne and it acquires its name from the vesicles that build on the surface of skin once they start erupting.

Unless there are suitable cystic acne treatment, the appearing of cystic acne will result in pocked skin, which will leave a reminder on the skin. The impingement of this is that you will come across obvious pits on the skin. Its conceivable that without suitable cystic acne treatments you will find lasting scars on your skin.

Acne can be very distressful. Acne (including cystic acne) is a skin condition that bears witness at the teenage phases of an individuals life. The presence not exclusively impacts the physical visual aspect, but likewise subverts the confidence level of the individual. Acne, in essence means pustules that are bloated.

These pustules are typically constituted upon the surface of the skin. The activity is owed to the infection that kicks in upon the surface and is known as Acne. Cystic Acne is the most grievous class an acne infection. The flare-up is not solely the cruelest, but also the sorest. This form of acne addressed as cystic acne is a truly inflictive kind of the infection.

Affairs exasperate, as the contagion is not one that will be easily healed in the short term. A lot of time is required in order treat the cysts and in the meantime the process becomes awful if not addressed soon enough. Vesicles are not only puffed up, but likewise satiated with suppuration. This causes the blood-red color cysts that are obvious upon the skin surface exceedingly tormenting and inflictive. While the infection is for the most part viewed at the onrush of penetrate and is due to a hormonal alteration, the primary reason of the infection and its evolution is not genuinely specified. The miss of a particular explanation makes it even more arduous to care for this form of acne, as dieting and dandruff are 2 additional causes being investigated as the conceivable reasons. Acne deviates from person to person and though hormonal alteration and subsequent instabilities are found fault, you can't preclude the additional possible causes. Another reason summoned as potential causes for the onslaught of Acne include the accumulation of dust particles and dirt on the skin. This is a major cause of the contagion, because the pores become closed up, causing the skin surface to become very susceptible to infection.

There are tons of skincare pros and experts and even a count of physicians who are committed to the curing of Acne. Professionals are also investigating the hypothesis of the flare-up of acne such as Cystic Acne being ancestral and passed on down from generation to generation. Acne can evolve and erupt at any given time regardless of the age of the individual. Acne can strike males and females alike. The most common observation is that the persons touched by Acne are oftentimes adolescents. acne, that typically is detected in people above 30 years old is what is known as adult acne and is normally discovered in the adult females during the postpartum period. This sort of effusion in women is rather common due to extreme interchanges in the hormonal equilibrium that happen in the body. It is all crucial to bear in mind that the break out of acne is a impermanent stage that requires to be dealt with in time.

Many popular hair loss treatment options today based on the experienced traditional Chinese medicine such as hair restore advanced and shou wu pian contain the "active" ingredient polygonum multiflorum root. It can also be purchased as a standalone supplement in most herbal stores. But the question of whether or not it can effectively treat baldness in men and women with alopecia is still heavily debated. By taking a look at the scientific and traditional evidence available we are able to draw some conclusions as to its potential benefit for those suffering from hair loss, thinning hair and premature greying hair.

What is Polygonum multiflorum?

Polygonum multiflorum is one of the strongest blood tonics used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and is an ingredient in many tonic formulas. The Chinese refer to Polygonum multiflorum as "He Shou Wu" after a legend about a "Mr He." Mr He was an elderly man whose vitality was restored to him after living off of the root of Polygonum multiflorum for many months. Though Mr He's story is a legend, there is evidence that this root can help in a variety of health conditions associated with aging. 3 Written evidence of the use of He Shou Wu for medicinal purposes can be dated back to 730 AD. Today, Polygonum multiflorum is a common component of many effective TCM formulas and is considered one of the most important tonic herbs in TCM.

What is it used for?

Polygonum multiflorum is most commonly known for its restorative effects on greying hair, hair loss, alopecia and premature aging. It is thought to be helpful as an anti-aging herb due to its nourishing effect on the blood. In Traditional Chinese Medicine weak blood, or blood deficiency, refers to the lack of circulatory nutrients that are supposed to be feeding the tissues of the body. When certain areas of the body become malnourished due to weak blood, degradation and aging can occur. According to TCM Theory, Polygonum multiflorum improves the blood by tonifying the liver and kidney.

The most common indications of formulas that include Polygonum multiflorum as one of the major components include hair loss, lower back pain, weakness of the knee joint, generalised muscular weakness, hemiplegia and paraplegia, palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Polygonum multiflorum has been shown to have the following actions: anti-aging, immune system enhancer, hypocholesterolemic, laxative, blood sugar level regulator, hepatoprotective, and hematinic. (Reid, T. (2007) Essential Formula: How to achieve outstanding results for your patients using prepared Chinese Medicine. China Books & Periodicals; Australia)

Research Highlights

Similarly to finasteride (the active ingredient in Propecia and Proscar), studies have shown that when taken orally, it may be an effective anti-androgen by lowering dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the body by blocking 5 alpha-reductase enzymes.

In a study forty-eight 30-60 year old men (n=24) and women (n=24) with differing origins of hair loss (age-related, stress- and medication induced, and postpartum) received a standardised extract equivalent to 4g Polygonum multiflorum root twice daily. After 1 month of treatment, 91% of men and 87% of women reported symptomatic improvement. Additionally, none of the study participants reported any side effects during the treatment period.

Side Effects

Polygonum multiflorum is relatively safe to use. The common adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, and loose bowel movements. These side effects are more commonly experienced with the unprocessed herb (which has been traditionally used as a laxative). The gastrointestinal side effects are less common when the herb is processed.

Conclusions

Based on evidence from scientific studies and its wide use in Tradtional Chinese Medicine, Polygonum multiflorum may help in the reducing hair loss, hair thinning and reversing premature greying hair through its dihydrotestosterone (DHT) lowering and antioxidant activities.

There is a bit of controversy over what modern day confinement lady should be expected to do when they are hired to work for a new mother. It is a given that a confinement nanny will help with all aspects of care for the baby, but how far should they go to help the new mother? Should they be expected to do any or all of the following things?

• Cook meals for the entire family
• Wash laundry for the entire family
• Scrub floors
• Scrub bathrooms and the kitchen
• Clean up after meals and wash dishes
• Tend to older children in the family
• Pick up after the husband
• Serve guests that come into the home

For most of these items, a confinement nanny today would say absolutely no. The distinction needs to be made between a made or general hired help for the home and a confinement nanny. It's like hiring a nanny to help take care of older children. They are there for childcare, not to perform housework or to service the mother so she doesn't have to get up.

There are different types of hired help and a nanny hired specifically for the confinement period is different from all other types of help. This nanny is in charge of helping to care for the newborn, but not necessarily other children in the home. They are in charge of making sure the mother is comfortable, gets adequate amounts of rests, and is healing as she should. This doesn't necessarily mean that the nanny should cook meals for the entire family and do everyone's laundry.

The job of a confinement nanny should not mirror that of a maid hired to keep the house clean. There has to be a line where the duties of the confinement nanny are respected and lines are not crossed.

Communication is Key

Some confinement lady will step up and do these other household tasks, but they will usually want to be compensated for the extra effort. Others will only do a specific list of tasks that are commonly expected of a confinement nanny today. It doesn't matter what nannies may have done in the past. Things are a bit different today and communication right from the start is essential.

Before you contact an agency to hire a nanny, you should have a good idea of how much help will be needed, how long the services will be needed, and specifically what duties need to be covered. You can then communicate your needs clearly to a nanny service to see if they have someone who can accommodate all of those needs. If they don't, you will either have to use another service or hire more than one person to make sure everything is covered.

For instance, you may need to hire a confinement nanny to care for yourself and the new baby while hiring a part time nanny to care for other children in the home until you are on your feet enough to do that care for yourself. You may need a confinement nanny and a part time maid who comes in for the heavier scrubbing and picking up.

You have to be very clear about what you expect from your confinement nanny. She can then be very clear on how much of that expectation she is willing and able to live up to.

You have to be careful when cutting calories or tweaking your meals in order to lose weight during confinement. Healthy foods are more important than ever to your body while recovering from delivery. This is even truer if you are breastfeeding since your baby will be depending on your nutritious food choices to grow and thrive as well.

It's a little ironic that your baby needs you to eat so they can grow while you are trying not to eat so you can stop growing. A lot of things in life are ironic, but it doesn't get anymore ironic than this for many women battling postpartum baby weight.

The Calorie Game

In order to lose weight you have to cut calories to create a calorie deficit, but this is not healthy while you are breastfeeding. This is what confuses so many women in confinement. The ways that they would typically lose weight or control their weight in the past are suddenly advised against by their confinement nurses and doctors.

Your body will be different after having a baby, so you can't use the same old fad diets and restrictive calorie plans at this point in your life. If you have a nursing baby then you have to think more about their needs than your own desire to fit into your clothing again.

Rather than focusing on weight loss, you should focus on making healthy food choices. This will benefit both you and the new baby.

The Right Choices

The only way to help your baby grown while helping yourself to stop growing is to make better nutritional choices. You have to pick the broccoli over the French fries and the fish over the cheeseburger.

Try to consume your foods in as close to their natural state as possible. This means you would choose whole grain rice and boiled chicken breast over white refined rice with a heavy sauce and beef. You are thinking not only about the calories involved here, but also about the nutrients that these food sources will provide to your body.

You can start the process of getting rid of the baby weight just by making healthy choices and filling your body with nutritious foods. This may not seem like enough and you may feel desperate to get rid of that excess fat, but give it time and be patient. Once you recover fully you can kick up the effort and add exercise to the mix.

Creating Healthy Meals in a Pinch

The problem that many women in confinement face is the lack of time to cook healthy meals. It takes some effort to change from white refined foods to whole grains and to include more fresh fruits and veggies into your daily diet.

If you have a confinement nanny you will have a much easier time making time to cook healthy meals. Your nanny may even be able to help, depending on the contract you have with them. If this is a concern of yours, then you may want to ask about cooking services with your confinement nanny service when working out the terms and pricing for your care.

Another way to eat healthy during confinement is to cook in bulk. Make large portions of healthy food, portion it out into single servings, and then freeze them. You can now pull them out of the freezer and heat them up quickly.

A wonderful woman's oil!

Rosa damascena may relieve mood swings from hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and is one of the most helpful oils to use during labor and delivery.

Rose oil eases labor pains and relieves postpartum depression!

True Rose is good for the genito-urinary system and is known to have a balancing and regulating effect on the female hormones and the menstrual cycle.

Rose oil cleanses the uterus and may be helpful for relieving premenstrual tension (PMS), as well as menopausal symptoms.

Use Rose oil in dilution as an Aromatic Mist to purify your auric field or to clear the atmosphere of a room. Creates a lovely ambiance!

AROMATIC BIRTHING MIST: This is a favorite way of mine for using aromatic oils. You may use your aromatic mist as a facial toner to soothe your fevered brow during labor or as an all over body freshener, or as an air freshener for your birthing room. The amount of oil you use depends on the purpose of your aromatic mist.

To 4 ounces of pure water add your pure Rose essential oil, shake well and spray! You can allow the oils to synergize into the water briefly, or for 1-3 hours or longer as time permits.

1) Face - 8-10 drops

2) Body - 30-40 drops

3) Room and air freshener 80-100 drops

CAUTION: Please avoid during pregnancy due to its hormonal effect. If you do want to use Rose oil while you are pregnant please consult a qualified professional aromatherapist, as some can be especially beneficial in certain situations.

PLEASE NOTE: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use certified organic essential oils, or oils that have been tested and are pesticide free.

Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health. Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your physician regarding serious health concerns and do not attempt to self diagnose.

A positive lifestyle change is a great way for the average person to control their blood pressure. However, what about pregnant women with high blood pressure? Can having high blood pressure during pregnancy harm the unborn child?

Yes. High blood pressure can result in complications during pregnancy that can be dangerous to both the mother and fetus if left untreated. There are different ways pregnant women with high blood pressure can help control their condition and reduce the health risks to the fetus. That being said, not all pregnant women with hypertension put their baby and themselves in danger. Many have healthy pregnancies without complications.

How common is hypertension in pregnancy? In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that problems with high blood pressure occur in 6 - 8% of pregnancy, over 65% of which are in women experiencing pregnancy for the first time.

What are the negative effects of hypertension? The effects high blood pressure can have on a pregnancy may be mild or severe and could include:

o Damage to the kidneys and other organs in the mother

o Cause early delivery and low birth weight

o In serious cases, the mother can develop preeclampsia (toxaemia of pregnancy), a dangerous condition that can be fatal for both the mother and fetus.

What is preeclampsia? This is a condition that usually develops in the 6th month of pregnancy and occurs from a combination of high blood pressure and kidney problems that cause protein in the urine of the mother. Preeclampsia affects the placenta and can affect the kidney, liver and even the brain of the mother.

When it affects the brain, preeclampsia can cause seizures, a dangerous condition called eclampsica which is the second leading cause of maternal death in America. Preeclampsia can also cause complications with the fetus including premature birth, low birth weight and stillbirth.

Preeclamspsia can be treated, but cannot be cured until the mother delivers the baby. There is no known way to prevent the condition, but those who show signs can be effectively treated to reduce risks.

Who is at the most risk for developing preeclampsia?

o Women with a pre-existing condition of high blood pressure prior to pregnancy

o Women who had preeclampsia or hypertension during another pregnancy

o Women who are obese

o Women who are carrying more than one child

o Women who become pregnant before the age of 20 and after the age of 40.

o Women with kidney disease, lupus, diabetes, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis.

Tips for controlling high blood pressure before becoming pregnant and while you are pregnant -

o Healthy Lifestyle - Make sure your blood pressure is checked regularly, you are an ideal weight, and live a healthy active lifestyle.

o Educate yourself - Talk to your doctor about your hypertension and find out what you can do to help prevent and reduce complications during pregnancy.

o Medications - If you are taking medication to control your blood pressure, find out if they are safe to take during pregnancy. Don't assume that they are safe, or will be dangerous and stop taking them without first consulting your doctor.

o Engage in regular medical care - when you are pregnant make sure you attend all regular checkups.

o Avoid alcohol and tobacco - this can increase blood pressure and harm the fetus.

o Discuss all medications with your doctor - Do not take any over-the-counter medications (even if you have a cold) without first consulting your doctor. Cold and flu medication often contains decongestants that can increase blood pressure.

Remember, although hypertension can cause complications in pregnancy, many pregnant women with high blood pressure, and even those who develop preeclampsia, often have healthy happy pregnancies and give birth to healthy, happy babies.

Depression is one of the most well known and commonly seen psychiatric disorders. Although stress contributes to being afflicted by depression, the affects of stress is not depression. Neither is depression feeling blue or sad for few days. Depression is characterized by intense and relentless feelings of worthlessness or guilt, sadness, difficulties with attention and memory, inability to find pleasure or enjoy anything, aberrations in sleep and eating habits, fluctuation in energy levels and at its extreme recurrent suicidal tendencies. All of these or most of these signs persisting over more than two weeks would be sufficient for a diagnosis of depressive disorder. However depression is not a single entity, it is a group of disorders lumped together under the label of mood disorders. The primary and common symptom that characterizes these disorders is mood vacillations. There are three major types of depression: Major Depressive disorder, Dysthemia and Bipolar disorder.

Types of Depression:

Major depressive disorder also called clinical depression is characterized by all of the symptoms described above. The symptoms are present for at least two weeks with an intensity that debilitates the individuals normal day to day functioning. Individuals who suffer from this type of depression might have just one single episode or might have recurrent relapses through out their lives. Major depression is more common among females than males. The symptom patterns in males are set apart from typical female symptom pattern. Men are more likely to be violent and aggressive unlike the more passive, lethargic and subdued affect observed in females. Major depression can be treated with antidepressants and psychological therapy.

Dysthemia also called mild or chronic depression is characterized by a milder and longer lasting symptom pattern of the major depression. The symptoms could last for as long as two years and sometimes are interspersed with episodes of clinical depression. When Dysthemia occurs together with major depression a diagnosis of double depression is applied. Afflicted individuals or their near and dear ones might not recognize that the person is depressed as the symptoms are mild and last long enough to give the impression that it is a personality pattern rather than an illness. However Dysthemia can be formally diagnosed and treated with anti depression medication and therapy.

Bipolar Disorder as its name implies has a symptom pattern of dramatic mood oscillations from a depressed extreme to a manic extreme characterized by elation or euphoria. The moods swings can take place over a varied time frame moving from one mood to the other gradually over time or rapidly within a matter of minutes. The depression in bipolar disorder is characterized by the regular depression symptoms, however the manic cycle brings with it sleeplessness, restless hyper activity, euphoria, and some thought disorder symptoms like hallucinations, delusions and extreme rage leading to impaired day to day functioning and social life.

Other less common and milder forms of depression include atypical depression, post partum depression, seasonal affective disorder and substance induced depression. If you suspect you have depression and have the characteristic symptoms such as difficulty in sleeping or staying awake, increased or decreased appetite, inability to concentrate, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, extreme mood swings, substance abuse and suicidal tendencies seek medical help immediately.

Things get complicated after you bring a new baby home. Whatever your life consisted of before has to be trading for changing diapers, washing bottles, and worrying nonstop about the health and growth of your new baby. You stop listening to your own thoughts and start listening to baby monitors. Every aspect of your life changes during confinement.

This is supposed to be a super busy time of your life where you are praying for just an hour of solid sleep and the time to take a shower without the baby crying in the next room. For some women that is the way confinement is, but not for every woman. That may not be the way you are experiencing confinement and there should be no guilt or apologies for it.

Rather than being overwhelmed with responsibility you may be feeling a little bored. You may miss the adventure and spontaneous fun that you enjoyed routinely before getting pregnant. You may be thirsting for some of that adventure and spark in your life right now.

The baby is wonderful and you couldn't love them more, but you need something more. You need something to do during the confinement period. What could that possibly be?

First, you have to adjust your thinking. You aren't interested in finding just something to do. You are looking for something to do with your children, not by yourself. You want to bring some excitement into the health without disrupting their schedule or being irresponsible. How do you balance that during confinement?

Bring Some Relief

The first thing you have to do if you are feeling bored in confinement is bring a nanny into the picture. You need someone who can help you look after the baby so you have a little more free time to spend with yourself.

Nannies are often thought of as being there to care for the baby and make sure a new mother gets adequate rest to recover from the delivery of the baby. Yet, many nannies will take on more responsibilities and free up some time for a new mother if she wants to spend more time doing things for herself.

Just having someone there to talk to and to help care for the baby will help you find other things to do besides just changing diapers and washing bottles all day long.

Safe Activity

Next, think of things that you used to do before giving birth that you could safely do during confinement. Preferably, find things that could include your baby for bonding time.

For instance, if you like to scrapbook or have been thinking that a detailed baby scrapbook would be nice to have, that would be a good option for confinement. You don't have to physically get active to do this and you will have something very valuable to show for your time at the end of confinement.

You can also start working new hobbies into your life that include the baby. What about photography? Take pictures of the baby and go online to learn new techniques for better and better images.

You can also paint, draw, or write short stories. As you are cleared for more physical activity you can start working to lose the baby weight. You may want to learn to cook healthier foods so your breast milk is healthier or take the baby on long walks through every park close to your home.

How often a newborn baby needs to be fed depends on many factors, but the general rule is that a newborn should be fed at fairly regular intervals, several times a day and through the night, at least for the first few months. Many parents struggle with knowing how often their baby needs a bottle, how much they need to drink and how to tell when they have had enough.

The requirement of every baby will differ slightly and baby food products will usually state a recommended amount on the packaging, usually based on the weight of the baby. While these are a good guideline, most babies will not quite fit into these patterns, some babies will require less food, but more regular feeding, while others will feed much more than the recommended amount and may still appear hungry.

The weight of your baby is a good indication to go by, if your baby is getting enough food, they will gain weight steadily. If you are concerned that your baby is not feeding well or that they are not gaining weight, then you should talk to your health advisor about which steps, if any, need to be taken. Some babies simply do not fit into the average patterns but you should always make sure this is the case as sometimes a baby can be having difficulty with the type of formula they are drinking. In the case of breastfeeding, the mothers diet can affect the flavor of the breast milk and this could cause the baby to be less inclined to feed.

What Should I Care About My Thyroid?

Your thyroid is a bow-tie shaped endocrine gland located just below your larynx in your neck. It weighs less than one ounce and the hormones that it excretes are essential to every cell and organ in your body. The hormones that the thyroid produces help to keep body temperature regulated and make energy.

Grading Of Goiters (using the Kilpatrik scale). There are 5 grades of goiters. They are based on the ability to see the goiter or the ability to palpate it.

1. Grade 0 - The goiter is not visible with the next extended and it is not palpable.
2. Grade 1 - the goiter is not visible but it palpable.
3. Grade 2 - the goiter is visible when the next is extended and when you are swallowing.
4. Grade 3 - the goiter is visible in all positions.
5. Grade 4 - a large goiter

Who Gets Thyroid Disease? Risk Factors.

It is estimated that 10% of Americans have a thyroid disease. Many people do not know they have this disease. You may be one of them. The following are risk factors are thyroid disease.

o And women are 6 to 8 times more likely to it than men.
o Being over the age of 50
o A previous history of any autoimmune disease
o You have a family history of thyroid disease
o Any surgery in the neck area
o The risk of any autoimmune disease increases during pregnancy and for the first year postpartum.
o Smoking increases your risk.
o Excess (or deficiency) iodine intake
o Some medications, herbs, and drugs
o Some foods (broccoli, turnips, radishes and others)
o Radiation to the neck area (can include treatment for cancers or accidental exposure like to Chernobyl in 1986).

The Proper Way To Take Your Thyroid Medications

1. Always take your thyroid medications on an empty stomach.
2. You will take these pills for the rest of your life, so do not allow yourself to run out. Fill your prescription early.
3. Take it the same time every day.
4. Store your pills in the original bottle and keep it tightly closed.
5. Store your pills in a cooler place (less than 80 degree Fahrenheit).
6. Never store your pills in the bathroom or kitchen. Both areas are too damp and warm. The best place to store them is in your bedroom.
7. Keep your medications out of the reach of children.
8. Never take your pill with milk or soy milk.
9. Never try to take your pill without a liquid (water is probably best). Drink at least 8 oz. of fluid with your pill. These pills have a tendency to stick in your throat with insufficient fluid.
10. If you have trouble swallowing your pill you can crush it and eat with a very small amount of applesauce.
11. Another option if you have trouble swallowing your pill is to chew your pill. Thyroid pills have very little flavor.
12. Many other prescription medications interfere with the absorption of your thyroid medications. Always take your thyroid medication at least four hours either before or after any other prescription medication. (this includes multi-vitamin and minerals and pre-natal vitamins.)

Call Your Doctor If

If you are taking a thyroid medicine you should know when to call your doctor. It is important to know the signs/symptoms that are important.

Call your doctor if:

1. You develop confusion.
2. Your heart is beating too fast, too hard, or feels like it is skipping a beat.
3. You have shortness of breath
4. You feel that your blood sugar is too low (shakiness, tiredness, or sweating)
5. You lose weight without trying
6. You have diarrhea unrelieved by anti-diarrhea medication
7. You have nausea unrelieved by anti-nausea medication.

You may have heard red raspberry leaf recommended numerous times for pregnancy without ever knowing why. This herb has many benefits, making this a great herb for women whether they are pregnant or not.

Red raspberry leaf tones the uterus, which is one of the main reasons women are advised to consume it. Red raspberry leaves contain an alkaloid called fragrine. Fragrine tones the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus.

Why should a uterus be toned?

Imagine a bicep that never gets used. It's scrawny and unable to lift much. When you try to lifting more than a few pounds, it has to work harder and becomes easily exerted. It hurts and you feel sore for a while afterwards.

Now, imagine that you begin lifting weights to exercise this bicep and over time it gets stronger. You can steadily increase the amount of weight you can lift because the muscle has made is more adept at doing its job. In short, it's become easier for it to do what it was designed to do.

The uterus is a hollow organ with lots of muscles that stretch and contract. Keeping it well toned makes it easier for it to do its job - with less pain, too.

Preventing miscarriage and hemorrhage - Think of that scrawny arm holding up a weight it is not used to holding. The arm quickly drops because it isn't strong enough. A uterus that isn't toned is too relaxed to perform its main functions - carrying a baby to term and contracting after birth to prevent hemorrhage.

Easier and faster birth - Now imagine those arms pumping iron. They've become used to working out regularly and can now do many reps with ease. During pregnancy and labor, the uterus is constantly contracting. For a uterus that hasn't been properly toned through physical exercise and with herbs like red raspberry leaf, it is difficult to do all of those repetitions, making it less effective and prone to exertion.

Reducing labor and afterbirth pain - Now the baby is delivered and the uterus needs to return to its original size, which is much smaller than it's been for the last several months. It does this by contracting - the same kind of contracting that it did during labor. Yes, this hurts too, just like labor. However, if it's been toned, the contractions are more efficient and don't take as long to return the uterus to the size of a pear.

Drinking plenty of red raspberry leaf tea from the second trimester until after your baby is born will help tone your uterus and prepare it for delivery. It also helps keep postpartum and menstrual cramps under control. So drink up and get toned!