Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

In western medical philosophy medicine and statistic have always had some binds with one another, to paradoxically both generalize patients and both specify with the numerical analysis making it easier. To develop which illness, population are divided by gender, then by age, and then by even more demographics, which groups all in effort to find out are more likely. Whether or not medication would be effective of the population, to be useful at the same time on a large enough size. With various sections each segment of the people undertakes unreliable measures showing medical commonalities of analysis and study. Womens' health issues particularly around the ages are one of these groupings likely. Womens' health issues are the most prominent in the aforementioned age group, counting among that is stress, believe it or not.

Tend to vary widely the triggers for stress from person to person, but that can be considered regardless, common, and demographic there are a couple of causes. In this age group, women can all bear on family life, professional careers, parental care and social pressures. To roles of cultural and expected social, women due to juggling all of these has never been easy on anyone, debate puts more stress on the emotional toll of the internal "family versus career", some believe about that. Than other female age groups, statistically speaking, particularly in recent years they are more prone to stress. In this age group, conditions such as depression and anxiety have also been noted as a possible outcrop of stress as womens' health issues. Not female specific, women in the ages between 25 and 40 are usually, however it is worth stating that the forms of mood disorder and anxiety that occur, such as postpartum depression. On female behavior, one of the factors believe between cultural perception and how it contrast and compares with drive and career to contribute to the emerging prevalence of this problem would be the delicate balance.

For example, among the corporate elite, crying and tears are often seen as weaknesses, so women to suppress natural emotional reactions are often make an effort striving to earn positions of power in the business world. To relieve a good amount of tension and stress in women, in moderation and when appropriate science and medicine both state that crying and the release of tears. Under the same situations, this is similar in theory to how "therapeutic" hitting objects is for men. Because it no longer has the strength and resiliency of youth, particularly skin care is also a major concern for the 25 to 40 age group particularly. Than adult skin to outside influence that it is a little recognized verity that teenage skin is much further resistant, as well as being more thin-skinned to current healing. As career or family concerns time begin also contributes to the lower level of skin care during this age to take more priority over appearances. Without investing time, there are various ways that a woman can maintain the overall health of their skin, ensuring that skin damage does not become a major concern later on in life.

A chin augmentation reshapes the chin by placing chin implants, or by using surgical manipulation to the jaw bone. This procedure is also known as mentoplasty. It can restore the balance of your face. A weak chin can make the appearance of normal nose as large. It may also give 'fleshy' appearance for the neck. The end result of the chin augmentation would give balanced structure for the face. To acquire the best facial balance, some patients prefer to have this surgery along with rhinoplasty.

Chin augmentation surgery is the best solution for both women and men, who are unhappy with the shape and size of the chin. By placing artificial implants, small chin can be improved. These implants are made of goretex or medical grade silicon is mainly used. This method promises improved results, well balanced and more pleasing facial look. Hence it helps you to feel better about your appearance and improves your self esteem.

This surgery can be performed in two methods. One can be performed by making an incision inside the mouth, which involves adjusting the chin bone and another method is inserting an implant. To insert an implant, incision is made underside of chin or in the mouth, in later conditions, surgery may leave a small scar which is negligible. It can also be done by cutting the lower jawbone and moving it forward. It is a technique, which uses the body's own tissue for acquiring the desired results.

Different types of materials will be used in chin augmentation. Silicon products are safe because the chemical reactions are very rare. Whenever you want an implant, you will have to choose shape, size and firmness. Your plastic surgeon can show you the sample pictures of faces after inserting the implants.

Semi-solid plastic implants, which are made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene or polyethylene, are more pliable than silicon and also reactions are very less. Inserting the implants may also depending on your age, the look you want, thickness of the skin and whether you are female or male.

After cheek or chin augmentation, you will be suggested to take liquid food for a week and you will be back to the work within a week. Depending up on the problem complexity, this procedure takes 1 to 3 hours to complete. If this surgery is combined with rhinoplasty, you can improve your overall facial appearance. For multiple surgeries, it may take 2 to 3 weeks for rest. A General anesthetic is recommended for this procedure.

Risk Factors:

The chin augmentation procedure involves certain risks. A significant rate of bruising, bleeding, numbness around the region of the chin, and facial nerve damage, are all the side effects of this procedure. So, while choosing the plastic surgeon, care should be taken, and also check the experience of the surgeon in dealing with such cases.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Sources and Physiologic Functions

Requirements and Sources: Pork, whole grains, and legumes are the richest sources of thiamine. Outer layers of seeds are particularly rich in this vitamin.

Populations at Risk: The populations most at risk of developing a thiamine deficiency are chronic alcoholics in Western countries and those with an over dependence on polished rice as a staple in undeveloped nations. In alcoholics it may be caused by decreased intake, reduced absorption, and impaired ability to use the absorbed vitamin. Thiamine is spared by fat, protein, sorbitol, and Vitamin C. High carbohydrate intake, parenteral glucose, pregnancy, lactation, high basal metabolic rate, and antibiotics will increase needs. Also, it is readily lost in persons consuming raw fish, tea, coffee, blueberries, red cabbage, and cooking with excess water and baking soda. Breast fed infants of thiamine deficient mothers are particularly at risk, as death from cardiac failure can result within a few hours, even though the mother appears healthy. Other risk factors include chronic colitis, fever, malignant disease, sprue, and thyrotoxicosis. Intestinal absorption of thiamine appears to be controlled and limited, and modest increases in the serum concentration were accompanied by active renal clearance.

Signs and Symptoms of Deficiency: Children present with aphonia, cardiomyopathy, and polyneuritis. Symptoms involving the heart include tachycardia, cardiomegaly, and cardiac failure. Neurological symptoms include mental confusion, anorexia, ataxia, nystagmus, and weakness of hands, calves, and feet as a result of degeneration of sensory and motor nerves. Thiamine deficiency in adults is called Beri-beri and is characterized by dry skin, irritability, disorderly thinking, and progressive paralysis. In chronic alcoholics, a syndrome of Wernicke's - Korsakoff"s Psychosis develops. Ataxia and Nystagmus (Wernicke's ) develop early and, if left untreated progresses to amnesia, confusion, and polyneuropathy ( Korsakoff's ). Complete recovery at this stage is seen in only 25% of the patients. Vomiting, diarrhea, edema, and weight loss are other non-specific symptoms.

Safety:

Due to relative increase in sympathetic activity, nervousness, sweating, tachycardia and tremors can be seen with excess thiamine. Edema and vascular hypotension occur as a result of capillary leakage. Allergies, fatty liver and herpes are common. Folates and thiamine cause seizures and excitation when administered in high dosage directly into the brain or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of experimental animals, but have rarely been reported to cause human neurotoxicity, although fatal reactions to i.v. thiamine are well known.

Biochemistry: The biologically active form of thiamine is TPP (thiamine pyrophosphate). It acts as a coenzyme in the oxidative decarboxylation at the pyruvate and the alfa-ketoglutarate steps in the energy producing Kreb's cycle and is particularly important in the tissues of the nervous system. It also acts as a coenzyme in the oxidative decarboxylation ( of alfa-keto acids and in the formation or degeneration of ketols ) by transketolase in the Pentose phosphate pathway, the intermediary products of which are used in the synthesis of ribonucleotides such as ATP & GTP, deoxyribonucleotides such as dATP & dGTP, and nucleic acids DNA & RNA. Thiamine is also essential for protein catabolism, acetyl choline synthesis, normal muscle tone in cardiac and GI tissues, and for normal growth and appetite.

In human the storage of thiamine is is in greatest concentrations in skeletal muscle, heart, brain, liver, and kidneys. The human stores about 25 to 30mg of thiamine. ThMP and free (unphosphorylated) thiamine is present in plasma, milk, cerebrospinal fluid, and just about all extracellular fluids. Unlike the highly phosphorylated forms of thiamine, ThMP and free thiamine are capable of crossing cell membranes.

Recommendations: RDA in mg

• Infants birth to 6 mos - 0.3mg


• Infants 6 mos to 1 yr - 0.4mg


• Children 1 yr to 3 yr - 0.7mg


• Children 4 yr to 6 yr - 0.9mg


• Children 7 yr to 10 yr - 1mg


• Adolescent males 11yr to 14 yr - 1.3mg


• Adolescent females 11 yr to 14 yr - 1.1mg


• Adolescent males 15 yr to 18 yr - 1.5mg


• Adolescent females 15 yr to 18 yr - 1.1mg


• Adult males 19 yr to 50 yr - 1.5mg


• Adult females 19 yr to 50 yr - 1.1mg


• Adult males 51 yr plus - 1.2mg


• Adult females 51 yr plus - 1.0mg


• Pregnant Women - 1.5mg


• Lactating Mothers - 1.6mg

Thiamine hydrochloride is the common supplemental form. Thiamine therapy for alcoholics may involve a single injection of 10-mg thiamine or 50 mg of oral fat-soluble thiamine propyl disulfide that permits efficient absorption in alcoholics. Erythrocyte transketolase activity is considered the most reliable index of the functional state of thiamine.

Thiamine B1

Food Source - Serving Size - Number of milligrams per serving

• Pork (lean arm braised) - 3.5 oz - 0.60mg


• Pork (bacon cured/pan fried) - 4.48oz - 0.88mg


• Navy beans (canned) - 1 cup - 0.37mg


• Pinto beans (canned) - 1 cup - 0.24mg


• Pinto beans (boiled) - 1 cup - 0.32mg

Literature:

A cross-sectional investigation of patients with congestive heart failure being treated with loop diuretic therapy showed that thiamine deficiency may occur in a substantial proportion of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and dietary inadequacy may contribute to increased risk. Men and nonwhite patients with CHF appeared most likely to have evidence of thiamine deficiency, although this reflects, in part, the gender composition of the patients recruited for the study. Patients with more severe CHF (as indicated by lower percentages of left ventricular ejection fractions) had greater biochemical evidence of thiamine deficiency. Another study found left ventricular ejection fraction to be adversely affected by thiamine deficiency and described that, when these patients were supplemented with thiamine intravenously, the ejection fraction improved significantly. Thus, nutritional assessment of thiamine status, including dietary intake, may be an important component of care for patients with CHF who are being treated with loop diuretic therapy.

Cognitive functioning

A study by Benton et. al demonstrated the association between improved thiamine status and improved performance on a range of measures of cognitive functioning in females. No such association was found in males. Although it was not possible to establish the reason for a beneficial response in females rather than males, there is evidence that females respond differently to dietary factors.

Alzheimer's disease:

Results of one study suggest that probable Alzheimer's Disease (pAD) is associated with a decrease in plasma thiamine levels. In another study, a 40-50% decrease of thiamine diphosphate (TDP) was found in patients with frontal lobe degeneration of the non-Alzheimer's type (FNAD). As TDP is an essential co-factor for oxidative metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis, and because low thiamine status (compared with other species) is a constant feature in humans, a nearly 50% decrease in cortical TDP content may contribute significantly to the clinical symptoms observed in FNAD. This study also provides a basis for a trial of thiamine to improve the cognitive status of the patients. A mild beneficial effect in patients with Alzheimer's disease was observed on supplementation with Fursultiamine (TTFD), a derivative of thiamine, at an oral dose of 100 mg/day in a 12-week open trial. Similar benefits were observed in another trial with high dose thiamine (3-8 g/d), while a 12 month study with 3 g/d of thiamine showed no apparent benefit in slowing the progression of dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Thus, weak and contradictory evidence suggests that vitamin B1 may be helpful for Alzheimer's disease.

Assessment of thiamine status

In several human studies during the past 10 years, thiamine status was assessed either by measuring thiamine pyrophosphate response alone or by using TPP response measures in conjunction of calculated estimates of thiamine intake from diet histories. Some investigators have combined estimates of thiamine intake with measures of thiamine status other than TPP response, such as erythrocyte TPP [18] or plasma TPP In several of these reports, poor thiamine status, as defined by TPP response, could not be related to less-than-adequate thiamine intake. Several authors have noted that valid TPP response measures depend on a kinetically normal enzyme. Hence, disease states, such as alcoholic encephalopathy, may affect enzyme-cofactor binding, and thus, TPP response. Rigorous statistical analysis of relationship between urinary thiamine excretion and TPP response seems to be lacking in the report generally cited as evidence of the validity of TPP response measures. In the ICNND report, categories of thiamine status appear to relate superficially to urinary thiamine excretion, but when there is no clear break-point in the curve for thiamine intake plotted against urinary excretion, it is difficult, in contrast to the case with urinary riboflavin excretion, to define deficiency. One author has demonstrated that in non-human species, pyruvate dehydrogenase appears to be a more sensitive indicator of tissue thiamine deficiency than is transketolase. A study by Gans et. al. raises questions about the usefulness of the TPP response as the sole indicator of marginal thiamine status. Thiamine status was measured in 137 incarcerated and 42 nonincarcerated adolescent males by use of both dietary intake data and a standard biochemical assay, thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) response. Although average daily thiamine intake of nonincarcerated subjects was significantly higher than that of incarcerated subjects, both groups appeared to be at minimal risk for marginal thiamine status. Comparison of TPP response values indicated that there was no significant difference between groups. However, approximately 24% of the total population appeared to have less than adequate RBC thiamine on the basis of current standards for TPP response. Neither dietary intake nor reported previous alcohol intake was correlated with TPP response. Thus, clinical standards of thiamine deficiency seem to lack firm definition. Perhaps a better, more valid metabolic measure, such as thiamine or TPP in plasma, should be investigated and adopted. Also, intake data as well as some appropriate measure of enzyme activity or function may be important values to assess to describe the thiamine status of a group more correctly.

Summary:

Thiamine is essential in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. It is also needed in the synthesis of ATP and GTP and nucleic acids DNA and RNA. It acts as a coenzyme in the energy producing Kreb's cycle and is particularly important in the tissues of the nervous system. Thiamine is also essential for acetylcholine synthesis, maintenance of normal tone of muscle in cardiac and GI tissues, and for normal growth and appetite.

A number of claims have been made about the beneficial effects of thiamine on numerous conditions. (Fibromyalgia, HIV Support, Pregnancy and postpartum support, Canker sores - mouth ulcers, and Minor injuries)

Evidence strongly suggests that patients with CHF may benefit from thiamine supplementation. Patients with CHF who are on loop diuretics are shown to have thiamine deficiency and patients with more severe CHF showed greater biochemical evidence of thiamine deficiency. Thiamine supplementation is shown to improve the left ventricular ejection fraction significantly.

Thiamine supplementation may improve cognitive functioning and has been shown to improve performance on a range of cognitive tests in females.

Populations who are prone to be deficient in this vitamin, like chronic alcoholics, patients with malabsorption syndromes, and those who consume high carbohydrates should receive supplementation. Pregnancy, lactation, high basal metabolic rate, and parenteral glucose therapy will increase the requirements of thiamine. Breast-fed infants of thiamine deficient mothers should receive adequate supplementation, as death from cardiac failure can result within hours, even though the mother appears normal.

Our recommendation for adults is 25 mg/d. This amount can be obtained from approximately 41 servings of Pork (lean arm braised), 28 servings of Pork (bacon cured/pan fried), and 80 servings of Pinto Beans (boiled). The RDA for adults is 1.5 mg/d, although a range of doses from 1-25 mg/d is usually consumed. Thiamine therapy for alcoholics may involve a single injection of 10-mg thiamine or 50 mg of oral fat-soluble thiamine propyl disulfide that permits efficient absorption in alcoholics. Wernicke's syndrome, which involves ataxia and nystagmus, develops early and, if left untreated, may progresses to Korsakoff's psychosis, the neurological manifestations of which are irreversible in 75% of the patients. Fatal reactions to high doses of I.V. thiamine have been reported.

Geographic tongue is a condition that is marked by irregular red patches on the surface of the organ and may sometimes vary in shade or appearance. It is a benign disorder that affects people all over the world. However, studies of this oral anomaly have shown that women are impacted by it to a much greater degree than men. In fact, over half the cases that are diagnosed in America each year occur in women. While this might be a clue to discovering the real underlying causes behind it, the question of why women are more prone to it remains. Many physicians believe that a woman's hormones play a huge part in the development of geographic tongue, and the recurrence of symptoms are in direct relation to hormonal surges that a woman experiences at different times of her life. Women who have already been diagnosed with this complaint are very likely to have a return of symptoms during a pregnancy or during the bodily changes that occur later in life when they are no longer able to have children.

Doctors have linked female hormones to geographic tongue because of the instances of it in both pregnant and menopausal women. The onset of puberty does not seem to be a factor, however, and most female children who have been diagnosed with it are infants or toddlers. That is what makes this condition so puzzling; if hormones are to blame for it, why does it not present with every hormonal condition? While more cases have been reported in pregnancy, where bodily changes are significant, there seems to be little link between geographic tongue and the menstrual cycle. It is not completely absent during this time, but fewer cases have been reported.

This may suggest that certain pregnancy hormones may trigger it, a case made even stronger when the condition often vanishes postpartum. If pregnancy hormones are a large contributor to geographic tongue, they are certainly not the only cause, however. Women who are entering the end of their child-bearing years have also reported moderate to severe cases as well, both new and returning. While the hormones triggered by both pregnancy and the change of life in women are different, the link between the two is the body's ability to reproduce. Women who believe they might have it or who are experiencing a spike in symptoms should consult their physician for a diagnosis and advice on how to manage them.

The first few weeks after delivery can be very new and scary for newborn babies, and of course, their proud parents. Special care needs to be given both to the mother and baby to ensure that they recover properly from the delivery experience. Swaddling and Kangaroo Mother Care are two different mothering practice choices commonly used and discussed among mothers and infant care experts. So, what are the differences between both choices and which should you practice?

Swaddling

Swaddling is a technique used to care for newborns by wrapping the baby snugly and tightly in cotton muslin cloth or blankets. While it may provide warmth and artificial comfort for the baby, enabling the baby to sleep for longer periods of time, it has multiple risks. The risks involved in swaddling are:

• Overheating of the baby when wrapped in multiple layers of cloth.


• Hip dysplasia can occur during infant development.


• Pressure on the lungs created by tight swaddling poses the risk of lung infection.

However, if your baby feels distressed due to the free movements of his arms and legs, swaddling is a good way to provide a cosy atmosphere and calm the baby down.

Kangaroo Mother Care

Kangaroo Mother Care or KMC is a mothering practice choice practiced worldwide today to provide natural healthcare to mothers and newborns. It is complementary to high tech neonataology, and is used to stabilize premature or underweight infants. Exclusive breastfeeding (instead of milk formulas) and skin to skin contact with the mother as a natural incubator are all incredibly simple and natural practices encouraged by KMC. KMC is effective because inherent in nature's design is the best system of physical and emotional healing that a mom can provide to her infant.

Breast milk is the best nutritional food you can ever provide for your baby. It contains important nutrients and immunization properties which helps strengthen the baby's immune system. Breastfeeding also allows the baby to develop a strong bond with you as a mom, while stabilizing your moods and increasing your rate of recovery from the delivery process. The multiple benefits of breastfeeding make it one of the most important post delivery practices for mothers and infants who lack other health support services. It is nature's best way of protecting both the mother and the infant. Accompanied by skin to skin contact between mother and baby, these two basic practices provide a conducive environment for newborns to develop when they are in an extremely vulnerable state.

The only reason some moms choose not to give KMC to their babies is due to a lack of time. Breastfeeding can be physically exhausting especially for modern mums with many other responsibilities and concerns. However, the benefits of KMC and exclusive breastfeeding make these mothering practices worthwhile choices which are highly rewarding for both mom and baby. It is the best thing you can do for your newborn child.

The hair loss industry is a growing business that has reached over billions of dollars a year in revenue. With that said, we can find so many products that all promises to do one thing. However, majority of all hair loss products do not really make the cut to deliver the results they were selling in their advertisements. And sadly the one that proved the least effective is the hair loss shampoo.

But we cannot denial that there are still some quality hair regrowth shampoos which have proven to work. The only difficult part is to identify them from the rest. Fortunately for you, I will talk about some of the best DHT blocker shampoos around and how they can benefit you. So if this is your ideal choice of product for treating your hair loss then read on.

First of all, it is important to know that a product will work differently for everyone. Some people may achieve better results when compared to other, as we all have different hair condition. So to understand the ingredients of each product and how they work will increase the chances of getting better results.

Pura d'or Premium Organic Shampoo

This product is getting a lot of reviews in all hair loss related forum lately. And if you check them out in Amazon, you will find a lot of positive feedbacks from customers who have used it. Through those feedbacks you can clearly see that it has proven to prevent premature hair loss related to DHT. It contain ingredients that help to increase the hair volume and also supports healthy hair growth, like He Shou wW (fo-ti), hibiscus oil, pygeum extract, pumpkin seed oil, green tea extract, zinc, soy isoflavones, beta sitosterols and aloe vera just to name a few. What I truly love about this brand is that despite of all the benefits it can achieved, it's a natural organic shampoo for hair loss treatment with no harsh chemicals.

Groganic DHT Growthick Shampoo

It is definitely the most affordable DHT blocker shampoo in the market, with the price of an 8oz bottle at just below $8. But don't be deceive by it value as this little bottle do produce amazing results. The specialty of this product is that it uses a rare natural herbal blends that is only fund in the Brazilian Amazon. This remedy blend is so promising that FBHA have regulated it for treating advance baldness.

So these are the best DHT shampoo that are currently found in the market. However, I would recommend using DHT blocker supplements like Provillus as part of the treatment for hair loss. This is because by just depending on using the shampoos might not be the best option.

Excessive hair loss is truly one of the worst nightmares that any person could have. It is important that everyone knows about ways to prevent it. As many say, an ounce of prevention is much greater in value than a pound of cure.

You should start adopting and practicing ways to prevent hair loss immediately even if there is no imminent problem. There are many ways on how you could prevent this from becoming a serious problem that could bog you.

Hair loss is inevitable and is a natural process that happens. On the average, people from all ages lose about a hundred strands each day. Such hair lost is totally and abruptly replaced. In many cases, new hair starts to grow even if the strands to be replaced are not yet falling off. There is nothing you could do to prevent this natural process.

However, there are certain guidelines that you should practice if you are aiming to prevent excessive loss. This is not natural and is usually caused by the tedious and damaging practices and products you apply to your hair.

Tips to prevent excessive hair loss

Here are some tips that could help you prevent excessive or unnatural hair loss. Take note that there are several practices that you might have thought off as proper hair care but in truth, are contributory to the problem.

1) Consult a dermatologist or a hair expert before deciding to use new hair styling and caring products that are released in the market. To prevent hair loss due to such products, make sure you properly read directions for use of such products and seek feedbacks and product reviews. Also ask experts about possible adverse effects of these products to prevent hair loss.

2) Watching your diet not only gives you proper weight management and nutrition replenishment benefits. It is found that eating foods rich in calcium, iron,vitamins and minerals would contribute enough in giving hair nutrition and thus help prevent excessive hair loss.

3) To prevent hair loss, try to avoid alternate styling that involve putting tension on the hair and scalp, like braids and ponytails.

4) Handle your hair properly especially when it is wet. It has been found that when wet, it is more fragile and vulnerable to falling off. To prevent hair loss after a bath, do not rub the hair briskly with a towel. Instead, blot the hair dry. This is a good and practical way to prevent hair loss.

5) Brushing the hair can be a contribution factor as well especially when you comb roughly with commonly used fine-toothed combs. Doing so would apply excessive pressure to the hair, making it more vulnerable to loss. So always brush your hair gently using wide-toothed combs and smooth-tipped hair brushes.

Overall, the best guideline to hair loss prevention would be to live a stress-free lifestyle. It seems impossible but learning to control and curtail stress would really help prevent hair loss because the hair, just like any other parts of the body is affected when blood and nutrition circulation is not optimal.

When I think of electricity and pain, a scene from "Return of the Jedi" tends to pop into my head, the one in which the evil Emperor is zapping Luke with lightning bolts from his finger tips. Having experienced the unpleasantness of an electrical shock more than once in my life, I can sympathize with poor Luke Skywalker as he writhes around on the ground as electrical bolts play up and down his body. It is not like he is merely feeling the tingle that results from sticking the tip of your tongue on a nine volt battery. Still, while electricity can be dangerous (especially in the hands of someone who has joined the dark side) that mild tingling sensation that you get when you touch your tongue to a nine volt battery can actually help alleviate pain.

By blocking pain signals from reaching your brain, low intensity electrical pulses can actually help with cases of chronic pain. Physicians have known about this since the time of the Ancient Greeks. While the Greeks did not have nine volt batteries, they did have electric eels. It was discovered that placing a painful part of the body in a bucket with an electric eel helped alleviate the pain. While no one was really sure how it worked, the eel bucket trick was used for centuries to help alleviate the pain from gout.

Today, scientists have a much better idea why this phenomenon occurs. Pain, it turns out, is actually "all in your head" just like your high school coach told you it was. Pain is actually a useful thing in most cases, triggering your brain that something is causing damage to you, triggering action such as removing your hand from a hot surface or doing your best to get out of Emperor Palpatine's line of fire. These pain impulses are actually electrical signals that are sent up the spinal column and then to the brain triggering a response in the nerves. While these pain signals can be seen as a beneficial way to keep us from getting our fingers burned off, they can also become the problem in the case of chronic pain.

In the case of chronic pain, such as lower back pain, these pain messages become constant to the point of are detrimental. Even though we already know all about the problem, our bodies continue to shoot us pain signals making life rather miserable. This is where electricity can come in handy. Since there are only a select number of messages that your brain can receive at any given time, it is possible to override the chronic pain signals by replacing it with some other sensation, in this case the tingling sensation of low pulse electricity. By applying electrodes to the area of chronic pain and then pulsing electricity through it, you can actually temporarily block out the chronic pain and find some relief.

Since the bucket of eels is not longer politically correct, medical researchers have come up with other devices which can help deliver these electrical signals. One such device is the TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator) device. This device is a portable battery operated device that a person can use to find temporary relief from chronic pain. One such device called the AuraWave has even been recently cleared by the FDA for non prescription use. If you cannot get your hands on some eels, or if you do not think you can convince the Emperor to use his powers for the good of pain relief, this TENS Device is certainly something that is worth checking out.

For decades women have struggled with the roles we juggle. We are moms, we are friends, we are co-workers and employees, we are daughters and sisters and we are partners/spouse. Somewhere along the line we were told or more importantly we believed that we needed to be perfect and succeed in all of these roles. Perhaps as it relates to our role of mother our angst to get it "right" goes back to the assertions made by psychiatry at its onset well over a century ago, that all troubles sprouting in a person can be traced back to Mother. If this isn't enough to make us fear every decision we make, we as women have even fallen to the absurdity of the "mommy wars" battling between breast and bottle, staying home or career, PTA or homeschooling, organic or whatever is on sale. In the end, we must admit to our self and each other that ultimately we all want the same things. We want a family with some type of cohesion, we want healthy kids, and we want to be able to enjoy our lives and continue to experience the good of life versus wondering if we are doing enough. Here are five strategies to help quell the anxiety that we might feel trying to be that Super Mom because she doesn't exist and she will be glad to hear that she is off the hook!

1. Decide what is important to you and to your family and use that as your barometer. There are a hundred and ten million different ways to raise a healthy and well adjusted child and run a home, not every way is right for you. Don't stress that your 7 year old isn't taking violin just because the neighbor kid who reads a level above your child is. Your child has mentioned an interest in art and,drawing; sign him/her up for that! Trying to plug your family or child into a square peg to attempt to obtain a possibly unrelated result is not going to make anyone happy.

2. Don't sweat the day to day, beds don't have to be made every day, floors are going to be muddy when it has been raining, and dishes can sit. You know your kids and spouse will be fine with tuna sandwiches and some chips for dinner. Why don't you throw in some raw baby carrots or slice up whatever fruit is in the house and have done with it! Just because dinner isn't gourmet and perfectly, perfect, doesn't mean that it didn't provide for your family.

3. Set limits and boundaries. Don't feel you have to explain why your grade school child gets to bed at 7:30 on a school night to a mother who allows her same aged child to stay up till 10:00. You know your child and you know that they need those hours of sleep. In the same breath, don't judge that family for having a more lax bedtime routine, again, that may work for their household.

4. Build on what you are good at naturally. Maybe you are not the person with nerves of steel to be a field trip chaperone on a bus with 60 loud and enthusiastic kids, but perhaps you are more comfortable collating worksheet handouts for your child's teacher from home. Teachers are immensely grateful for any additional help. Offer what is convenient for you. You will feel good about being involved and glad you didn't volunteer for something you dread!

5. Find like thinking friends/moms and use them as your sounding board. Nothing beats validation. When we are surrounded by people who can empathize, listen and offer healthy and solicited advice we feel that we are not alone in our trials as a mother. Find moms who have similar values, similar goals and seek them out when you feel you need the outlet.

Over all know that you are a work in progress. You have the luxury of learning from mistakes remember life does not come with an instruction manual. Learn to write your own manual making sure those instructions need to involve keeping your expectations realistic.

You are thrilled to learn that you will have another child. The happiness that your first child brought into your life is immeasurable and you are certain that the second child will bring as much happiness. But preparing for a second child is slightly different. There are extra responsibilities and things to consider when preparing for the birth of a second child. A large part is to help your older child understand that a sibling is on the way. This can lessen the anxiety for the entire family. Being aware of the changes involved with having a second child is the best way to prepare.

Having two children can be overwhelming to the most capable of parents. Although it may be a challenge, it is best to get organized prior to the birth of the second child. This can pose much more of a challenge that it was the first time around. Most parents with one child have time restrictions. Adding a newborn into the scenario will probably stretch your organized scheduled to the limit. Both meal and sleeping schedules will fluctuate, at least for the first eight weeks while you are trying to get your infant on a feeding and sleeping schedule.

A pleasant aspect of a second child is the parents increased knowledge and confidence in their abilities and knowledge of child rearing. The first time around, things such as breast feeding, changing diapers and handling illness seemed so hard and scary. Now things such as these will be like second nature to the seasoned parent.

Having and bringing home a newborn will affect a mother in several ways, both emotionally and physically. Increased exhaustion and anxiety is normal after having a child. These symptoms are typically called the "baby blues". Be sure to talk to your family and your medical doctor about this. Your doctor will make sure you have the "baby blues" and not postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a serious condition that requires medical intervention.

Bringing home a newborn will cause you to be physically sore and quite tired. This is particularly true if you had a cesarean delivery or a difficult birth. If you breast feed your child, the feeding sessions during the night can be especially tough. Some people hire a "doula" to help during the day so the mom can rest. A doula is specially trained to care for an infant and mother during the first few weeks of an infant's life.

It will seem as if you have no time for yourself the first months after a child is born. The seemingly endless, sleepless nights and tensions of the day can be overwhelming. Try to make "alone time" a priority. It is important to spend time alone with your partner. Be sure to have an occasional "date night" once things settle down.

As a parent, you will try to help your first child adjust to the role of a sibling. Your older child may experience many emotions, from excitement to jealousy to resentment. Younger toddlers may regress when the infant comes home. They may forget their potty training, suck their thumb, or want to drink from a bottle. Older toddlers and children may misbehave, throw tantrums, or just generally try to test your patience. Time has shown that these problems go away and a little preparation will help the older child adjust to his new life. A great way of doing this is to play up the role of the older child. This time is not a good time to introduce other major changes in the life of the older child. Try to include the child in the decision making. Letting him participate in the activities of the new baby will help with the adjustment period.

There are so many positive aspects of having two children in a family. Once the chaos of having a newborn has settled down, you and your family will start to enjoy the benefits of having two children to love.

Hoarding disorder is a compulsive psychological condition which causes the individual to feel that everything around them or that they see should be saved or rescued, and is classified as a form of obsessive compulsive personality disorder. There is another type of hoarding disorder that is caused by delusional issues, where the person is completely out of touch with the world as we see it. These are quite serious and debilitating conditions, and require the expert and long term care of both a medical and psychological expert. Dealing with the messes and nests of those with hoarding disorder is a very painful and horrifying experience for the person inflicted, making the recovery process excruciating. Clean up and monitoring are both extremely important.

To view the home of a person with hoarding disorder can be a difficult and often unsanitary thing to deal with as well. It is quite normal to see every corner, crevice, surface, and all floor space covered to the top with junk. Some hoarders are rather orderly with their presentation and storage of odds and ends, but this will eventually spill over into mayhem as well. It will become impossible for even the most meticulous hoarder to hide the disorder for too long, and any warning signs should be tended to right away. Again, this is not a condition of laziness or selfishness, this is a very real and serious mental condition which takes over easily and is difficult to overcome.

Hoarding disorder can be a dangerous and unsanitary condition to deal with as well, especially when litter, garbage, food, or animals are involved. Food hoarders are highly susceptible to invasions from bugs and wild animals, while animal hoarders are putting themselves and innocent living creatures at risk of ill health, starvation, over crowding, and death. Some victims of this disorder are a bit luckier in the obsession which chooses to take them over. Bibliomania is a form of hoarding disorder, for example, and because books are such a common and well loved thing to so many people, it can be considered normal for people to collect great numbers of them over the years. The absolute stock piling and storing of them until there is no room left in the cupboards, on the shelves, on the sofa, or along the walls on the floor is a great indication of an obsessive compulsive hoarding disorder.

When there seems to be no rhyme nor reason to the things that a person is hanging onto, the hoarding disorder that they suffer is usually classified as the delusional type. This type of condition knows no logic or order, the person is just unable to see what's around them in a common on proper context. The disorder of this nature is basically a result of nothing ever leaving the home.

It's very easy to make lovely hair bows. You can create any type of bow that you want which in any pattern or color. They can easy or may be difficult/complicated as you want. Hair bows make a nice addition to, even simple, ponytails. Here's how to make them:

You will need:

-    Ribbon (see below for amounts)
-    Velcro fastening or hair clip
-    Hot glue gun and glue sticks
-    Floral wire or any other thin wire
-    Fray check

Cut the ribbon. To make a baby bow, you need one foot of one inch wide ribbon. Use wider ribbon if you are making a bow for an older child or for an adult. A large bow of 5 inches wide can be made with 30 inches of ribbon while a 3 inch wide bow can be constructed with just 18 inches of ribbon.

Next, fasten the bow. Make a bow same you would when fastening a shoestring. For a more full appearance, attach several bows to one clip.

Now you need to get the bow ready for the clip. To begin, neatly trim the ribbon's ends. Make even the loops of the bow to matching size. Clip the ends of the ribbon. There are many ways to cut them:  straight, crinkly, zig zag or in a V-shape. Apply the fray check to prevent fraying at the ends of the ribbon. It is time to warm up your hot glue gun.

Take care not to burn yourself when using a hot glue gun; it has that name for a reason. Fasten a bow along the clip. Attach your bow, with a hot glue gun, to a small section of Velcro to create a baby size bow. You can paste the bow onto a difference of clips or barrettes procurable at most discount stores. When you're using a glue gun, take care not to touch the tip, since the metal gets hot and will burn your hand. Additionally, avoid using to much glue which will spill over the edges of the Velco or hair clip. Another thing you can do is to stitch a hair bow on top of an elastic tie, so that you can use the bow at the end of the braid.

If you would like to make a fancier bow, tie it with ribbon in two different colors or thread the ribbon through lace for a bow for something like a party dress. You could purchase many lengths of ribbon to match the size you've chosen. Bows can be made in any color, or pattern, to complement an outfit.

Lap band surgery is an adjustable gastric band type of weight-loss procedure. A prosthetic band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, which creates a small pouch that limits the amount of food the patient eats. If a lap band surgeon approves you for lap band surgery after an extensive consultation, you'll be required to undergo pre-op exams and lab tests before you're medically cleared for surgery. There are approximately seven to eight types of adjustable gastric bands on the market today.

If a person has a dependency on alcohol or drugs, then they won't be eligible for adjustable band surgery. And in general, gastric banding, including the Lap Band procedure and weight loss system is indicated for people for whom the Body Mass Index is above 40 or are 100 pounds (45 kg) or more over their estimated ideal weight (according to the 1983 Metropolitan Life Insurance Tables) or between 30 and 40 with co-morbidities (high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, and arthritis), which may improve with weight loss. In order to be considered one must have total comprehension of the risks and the benefits of the gastric band procedure and a willingness to comply with the substantial lifelong dietary restrictions that are required for long term success.

Those people who are eligible are between ages 18 and 55 years, although there are doctors who will work outside these ages, some may be as young as 12. The lap band surgery is usually not performed if one has an untreated glandular disease like hypothyroidism, where other measures may bring about a resolution.

How it works: the adjustable gastric band or Lap Band is an inflatable silicone prosthetic device which is placed around the top portion of the stomach using keyhole laparoscopic surgery. The gastric band is inflated and adjusted by way of a small access port placed just beneath the skin subcutaneously. Then radiopaque isotonic solution or saline is introduced into the band via a port. The bariatric surgeon uses a specialized needle to avoid damage to the port membrane. If the adjustable gastric band post-surgical patient is thinking about having a baby, the deflation of the band may be required prior to the planned conception.

The gastric dumping syndrome problems cannot happen in lap band surgeries because none of the intestines are removed or re-routed. Calcium supplements and Vitamin B12 injections are not usually required following gastric banding as they are with Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery and other weight loss surgeries. After surgery the patient should consider eating less, eating more slowly and chewing food more thoroughly. And during pregnancy, deflation should be considered if one is experiencing morning sickness. The lap band may remain deflated during pregnancy and once breast feeding or bottle-feeding is completed the band may gradually be re-inflated to help with postpartum weight loss if it's found to be necessary.

Some patients may find that before their first 'fill' they are still able to eat fairly large portions of food. The World Health Organization recommendation for monthly weight loss is approximately 1.1 to 2.2 pounds per week and the average gastric banded patient may possibly lose this amount, it varies from patient to patient.

One post-surgical complication that is a common occurrence for lap band patients is regurgitation of non-acidic swallowed food from the upper pouch, which is commonly known as productive burping. This is not normal. Some mechanical malfunctions that can occur are leakage from the port, cracking of the kink-resistant tubing or disruption of the tubing connection from the port to the band, port site pain and displacement of the port.

Occasionally, the narrow passage into the lower part of the stomach may become blocked by a large portion of food that hasn't been chewed. Some of the adjustable gastric band post-surgery digestive complications include nausea, vomiting, gastro-esophageal reflux, stoma obstruction, constipation, diarrhea, and abnormal stools.

Many factors can affect your total cost of the surgery, including which gastric or bariatric surgeon you decide on, where you choose to have the surgery performed, and what fees are included or not included. And please remember that lap band surgery or adjustable band surgery can have serious adverse effects and complications. Make sure if you're traveling out of the country for your surgery that you consider the travel time and related travel expenses for both the surgery and any necessary follow-up appointments.

The first 6 weeks after the birth of your new baby is difficult. This here sleep deprivation hits you like a subway train traveling 100 miles per hour. Survive the first six weeks and you can survive anything.

Hopefully by 6 weeks your baby starts to sleep a bit longer at night. For us, our children were formula fed, at 6 weeks they started sleeping 7-8 hours per night. I want to offer you up 5 tips for making it through the first 6 weeks as a new parent and how to not just survive this period, but how to thrive.

1. Be mentally prepared - Get mentally prepared and understand that it is going to be hard. But decide right now to take it in your stride and to push through no matter how difficult it will be.

2. Make good friends with caffeine - Although caffeine won't stop you from being tired, it makes you believe that you can survive the day. You are likely going to be so tired that 20 cups per day won't help you. But a warm cup of coffee or an energy drink will make you feel 10 times better.

3. Work as a team - Working as a team will make life easier for both of you. Alternate night feeds so that you both get a little bit of sleep and if she is breast feeding get her to express so that you can bottle feed at night time. Help with the house work, help with changing the nappies and give baby lots and lots of cuddles. Be a support for your partner and work together to help each other.

4. Understand that it won't always be this bad - The first 6 weeks are the hardest, but it gets easier after that. Once your baby starts sleeping through the night it becomes incredibly fun. You will stop being so sleep deprived and your baby will start giving you more love back. They will start smiling, laughing and loving your company.

5. Eat well and exercise - Eating well and exercising will keep your energy levels up even when you are tired. Lots of vegetables and fruit and avoid processed foods. For exercise go for walks, maybe even a casual jog. Take the pram and take your baby for a walk and let your spouse sleep in.

The first 6 weeks are far from hell, you will have a great time getting to know your new baby and getting lots of cuddles. Enjoy the first 6 weeks and do you best to get your baby sleeping through the night as soon as possible. It is the good nights sleep that will help you be the best present you can be.

Emotional Freedom Techniques has emerged from a growing field of science with quite profound research findings and results amongst its consumers.

The work of Dr Callahan and Gary Craig may be familiar to you. The scope of application ranges from applying emotional freedom techniques to illness to proactive use of the techniques to experience greater emotional vibrancy and life.

It is widely acknowledged that in spite of the advance of technology, the stressors of a modern society have taken its toll. Workplace stress has reached excessive proportions, and has played its part in an under performing global economy.

Whilst the average lifespan may have increased, so has the incidence of chronic disease, with heart disease claiming the number one spot.

Heart disease claims more lives than the top six cancers combined. Cancer, diabetes and respiratory disease are the other common chronic illnesses.

When you consider this, the actual illnesses are usually symptomatic of a cluster of emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual threads that define our lifestyle, which when out of harmony breed these illnesses.

Whilst it is well documented that excessive stress can lead to chronic and degenerative disease, there is still a stigma attached that prevents closer attention and care.

It is somewhat ironic that many place more value on their cars than their well-being. A car gets an MOT and Full Service yearly due to the wear and tear of travel and to ensure safety on the road.

However the human body and the human life embodied is arguably a more important vehicle. Yet many do not do the equivalent of car maintenance where their lives are concerned.

One of the biggest components of health that warrants more attention is in the area of the emotions, rather than just the mind. Unresolved emotions can be as damaging to health as unhealthy thoughts, yet this is an area that remains relatively neglected.

It is fascinating that scientists can now measure the frequency of a thought and an emotion. Emotional Freedom Techniques works with the human energy field and in particular where unresolved emotions disrupt the human energy field.

Scientists can show the difference in frequency between a diseased and health cell. The way Emotional Freedom Techniques work is by tapping on certain energy areas of the body known as meridians, whilst making certain statements in relation to the issue being worked on.

The results gathered in the study of emotional freedom techniques is such that Deepak Chopra MD declared that "EFT offers great healing benefits".

In many documented cases, therapy times have been reduced with profound physical healing as well.

Another colleague Eric Robins MD went one further when he said "Someday the medical profession will wake up and realise that unresolved emotional issues are the main cause of 85% of all illnesses. When they do, EFT will be one of their primary healing tools"

The research and case studies of results have gathered so much momentum that in the last two years there has been a World Tapping Summit.

The World Tapping Summit is an online event and a good place to receive educational content on this approach, and watch inspiring real life accounts. You decide whether this is worth exploring and adding to your life's tool kit.

If it's time for you to start losing weight, you have to know what foods you should be eating. More importantly, you must be aware of the worst possible choices for your diet. Otherwise, you will only be harming yourself. As long as you are enjoying these foods on a regular basis, gaining a flat belly will be nearly impossible. In order to get skinny, you really should know how to avoid the worst foods for weight loss.

For starters, you should always try to pass up refined grains, like pasta, crackers, cereal and bread. To get refined grains, bran and germ is removed in the milling process. In other words, all of the fiber, vitamin B and iron are taken out. The manufacturers then add iron and vitamins to the refined grains after they have been processed for into white bread, white rice and other popular selections for the grocery store. Rather than refined grains, you should be consuming nutritious whole grain food selections, like rolled oats, popcorn and whole-wheat flour.

A much more surprising food than refined grains for weight loss may be frozen yogurt. Sure, there are high levels of calcium. Yogurt also contains fewer calories than ice cream, but it's very rich in carbohydrates. Low-carb diets produce much quicker results than high-carb programs. Meanwhile, yogurt is low in important fat-fighting proteins, vitamins and minerals. In fact, more than half of the fat found in yogurt stems from heart disease-causing saturated fat. There's is also plenty of sugar to induce a high insulin response in your blood. As a direct result, your body will stop burning fat, and start storing fat cells all over your body. The disadvantages of frozen yogurt are not worth the potential for weight loss.

Many men and women enjoy kicking back with an ice cold beer. And in today's market, you can find a handful of low-carb brew choices. Sure, the beverages are lower in calories, but all alcohol encourages fattening cortisol in your system. If you simply must have your beer, always keep it in the fridge. Pour it into a mug before enjoying it too. This way you can let the foam settle before it goes down your throat. If you simply don't care for the taste of low-carb beer, you can always add a little lemon juice to your brew.

Dried fruit can be considered one of the most harmful foods for weight loss as well. After all, it contains much more sugar than any normal piece of fruit. Too much can easily be consumed, causing you to put on plenty of belly fat. At the same time, your blood sugar to go through the roof. In response, your body will make too much insulin. Checking the ingredients to confirm that no fattening sugar has been added to your dried fruit is advised. Doctors usually suggest eating no more than a half cup of dried fruit, four times throughout the day to get the most weight loss benefits. After all, portion control is vital when it comes to eating dried fruit to lose belly fat.

With the success rates of acupuncture in treating infertility so high it's a wonder why every women who is struggling wouldn't consider it. Acupuncture studies have proven acupuncture to increase IVF efficacy rates to 50% and for those who have tried everything, acupuncture has fulfilled the dreams of many once childless couples. Acupuncture has been used for fertility issues for thousands of years. The Emperor would employ acupuncturist to come to the palaces and ensure the wife and concubines produced healthy heirs. In the 21st Century we are seeing both an increase in fertility issues and women choosing to conceive later in life. Many couples who struggle to get pregnant eventually seek out professional help and are advised to employ fertility drugs or other Assisted Reproductive Technologies namely IVF and IUI. The question is what is acupuncture's role in helping a woman conceive?

When we learn the intricacies of the female reproductive system and understand the gentle cascade of rhythmic hormonal flows that must occur in perfect orchestration, we realize conception truly is a wonder. In this beautiful primal process it doesn't take something serious to throw it off. It can be that the hormones in the meat you are eating are altering your estrogen and testosterone levels. That in turn can begin to alter the levels and cycles of other hormones necessary for normal follicular, ovulatory and luteal cycles. Or it can be that the stress you are dealing with at work is altering pH levels of your cervical mucus and making it hostile to sperm. Or it can be that you are dealing with unknown food sensitivities that are creating a compromised immune system making it difficult for your body to support a pregnancy. There are a myriad of other possibilities. Acupuncturist who treat reproductive issues are trained to detect underlying issues in both the Western and Eastern Medical perspective.

Acupuncture understands how to detect even subtle imbalances. More importantly it knows how to address those imbalances so that the body is restored to homeostasis and conception and pregnancy can occur. In an example, by observing a woman with a pale complexion, puffiness of the face and complaints of tiredness and poor digestive health an acupuncturist may assess that the spleen qi is deficient which affects proper blood production and quality. This in turn can affect the quality and thickness of the endometrial lining which is needed for successful embryo implantation. An acupuncturist can detect how a yin imbalance in the body is not allowing for sufficient fertile cervical fluid which is needed for the proper transport of sperm to egg. Having an understanding and way to address subtle and not so subtle imbalances can make a tremendous difference in the outcome of natural conception or that which is aided by IVF.

Couples who are regularly treated with acupuncture find that their health often greatly improves. Because Acupuncture is a system of medicine that works to bring balance to the entire system there is an overall improvement on the physical, mental and emotional level. The stress that accompanies fertility issues can be quite taxing on couples. This anxiety and worry gets addressed and benefits greatly from acupuncture with its calming effect on the nervous system. With IVF treatments the health and thickness of the endometrial lining can be addressed and treated with acupuncture which in turn significantly increases (50%) the chance of proper implantation of the embryo. Acupuncture increases blood to the ovaries which improves their functioning and nourishes developing follicles. Acupuncture helps with implantation by reducing uterine spasming. Acupuncture prepares the body for conception and supports the body during pregnancy by treating morning sickness, excess edema and works to prevent possible miscarriage; and is used to aid in a healthy delivery and is a wonderful postpartum support.

In conclusion, acupuncture and an Acupuncturist's role in reproductive health is a vital one. An acupuncturist who treats fertility issues will teach you when your most fertile time is and give you diet and lifestyle advice. The acupuncture will be increasing blood flow to the ovaries, thickening the endometrial lining, addressing hormonal imbalances, healing PMS and giving the body a better foundation in which to have a healthy and thriving pregnancy.

It can be difficult to choose the right hair care products, but if you try to focus on the ingredients contained within the products, you can choose a hair care product which satisfies all your needs. Whether you need moisture to combat dryness or a protective coating to help with damage control, there are certain ingredients which seem to be better than others.

Coconut oil is a natural solid oil which has been used for centuries in the sub-continent of India. It is an excellent natural conditioner and moisturizer because it penetrates the hair shaft and optimizes moisturization. Coconut oil can be found in hair and beauty products because of its great conditioning properties and it is also brilliant for the skin.

Sunflower oil derives from the seeds of sunflowers and it is very rich in vitamins and fatty acids. Having a thick and creamy consistency, sunflower oil is also beneficial for making detangling and combing easier, adding luster and shine and beautifying hair of all textures.

Another product for hair care is aloe vera, which is known to be either a juice or gel and has often been used to combat hair loss and stimulating hair growth. Its texture allows this plant to work as a natural alternative to gel or curl defining products.

Even if it is limited in supply, because of the rough procedure of extraction, argan oil is believed to have multiple benefits for hair, reducing frizz and improving the condition of damaged hair. Like many natural oils, it is rich with essential fatty acids.

Shea butter originates from the shea tree nuts of West Africa and it is known to be a natural and creamy butter. It has many fantastic properties for the hair, such as luster, shine and seal and it is also a brilliant moisturizer for the skin, because once applied to the scalp, prevents flaking and dryness.

If you want to be the next celebrity in the world, than try to use only the products which are recommended for your hair type, so choosing the right hair care company means getting professional results.

While you might have heard of a confinement nanny, you may not be entirely sure of what they do. These are individuals who will come in and will help you during the period after you have had your child. They will do a number of tasks that will help you to ensure that the mother fully recovers and that both mother and child have all their needs met at the same time.

Typically, the confinement nanny will take care of the baby and feed and change them on a standard schedule. This will give the mother a chance to relax and start to heal up from the stress of childbirth. Along with this, the nanny will take the time to keep the clothing and locations where the infant sleeps both safe and warm as well.

As part of their training, this individual will take the time to monitor you and your baby and watch out for any signs of complications that you might be facing. If there is a medical concern, they will bring it your attention and ensure that you receive the best possible treatment from an approved doctor or hospital that you and your family agree on.

In some cases, you are going to find that these individuals will work to help ensure that you are following your doctor's orders at the same time. Many women find that trying to listen to the doctor can be very complicated and it will take some time for you to address all the issues you face, without the help of someone else being there. Because of that, this individual will sit down and ensure that all your needs are being met.

Keep in mind that during this process, the new mother will be able to help more with the infant as she is able to. The overall goal is to ensure a perfect bond between mother and child and this can take a little time to work up towards. However, the overall care of this individual will be placed on the confinement nanny until the doctor has determines the mother is physically capable of handling the child on their own. This helps to reduce anxiety and a considerable amount of stress in this process as well.

While many new mothers find the most benefit in these individuals, established parents can get a level of benefit from them as well. Not only are you receiving an additional level of help, but you are also having the chance to obtain new information and techniques that may have been learned to help you raise your child in a better manner.

Remember, you want to make the most of this confinement period as it will be vital for the health and wellbeing of you and your child. Make sure that you find the right confinement nanny to come into your home and take some of the stress out of your life by working with a professional individual.

In the current society, the number of women getting pregnant after 40 is increasing. The truth is ladies are still attending college and finding their place in the working society when in their 20s. By the point these women have the opportunity to find their Mr Perfect, after a string of unsuitable men, they will quickly be in their 30s.

With the biological clock ticking, it is common knowledge that mature mums, specifically those getting pregnant after 40 experience more fertility problems compared to their younger counterparts.

However, getting pregnant after 40 with normal, healthy pregnancies and no complications can be done. It is only that statistically, ladies who get pregnant after 40 encounter increase threat of fertility difficulties and complications and are therefore put through a battery of checks that tend to be non-compulsory for younger ladies.

For anybody who is in your 40s and trying to conceive, it is important to understand the considerations and options accessible to you so that you can better your experience and maternity success.

Supply of Ovum

The natural decrease in the production of ovum is the main reason ladies take more time to achieve success in getting pregnant after 40. During puberty, women have around 300,000 - 400,000 ovum. This amount decreases by 13,000 year on year. Through the late 30s, ladies may have less than 10% of the eggs that they had at puberty. Additionally there is an exponential decline in ovum supply during early 40s and mid 40s.

The production of eggs is really at its tail end when the woman gets to her 40s and consequently the odds of getting pregnant after 40 is very slim.

Studies have observed that women over 40 have a 40-50% chance of getting pregnant inside a year of trying, as oppose to a 75% chance of success for a lady in her 30s.

Quality of Eggs

The tail end supply of ovum is also generally flawed and genetically defective. This causes implantation problems and genetic abnormality. As a result, older ladies tend to experience miscarriages, have increased possibility of having a downs syndrome child or a baby with birth defect.

Women over age 35 are offered genetic amniocentesis or chorionic villus checks in the 3rd or fourth month of pregnancy. This requires extracting amniotic fluid from the sac for genetic testing. As it is an invasive examination, there exists a minimal (.5%) danger of miscarriage involved in this kind of analyze. Chorionic villus sampling will involve the removal of a little amount of placental tissue, that can then be examined for genetic abnormalities.

You will need to look at the risks and advantages of these kinds of checks with your gynaecologist at the beginning so you have enough time to make a knowledgeable option.

Possibility involving Miscarriages and Still Birth

For women getting pregnant after 40, preconception care is extremely crucial to minimize these risks. It is strongly advised that you and your partner get examined to make sure that there aren't any genetic flaws, that you have a healthy uterus and ovaries and that most of the sperms are normal. If you are undergoing IVF cure, doctors can also screen your embryo and select just the healthy ones.

Another element of pre-natal care is to boost your way of life and diet plans. This entails abstinence from alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and caffeine, frequent exercise plans and intake of a wholesome balanced diet plan.

Once you are expecting, you must attend regular ante-natal classes to make certain that all development is advancing adequately and that and exceptions can be addressed in early stages.

Problems at Birth

Getting pregnant after 40 means that it's likely you'll have any of the following:-

• Premature delivery
• Cesarean birth
• Premature detachment of the placenta resulting in hemorrhage
• Placenta previa
• Meconium-stained amniotic fluid
• Postpartum hemorrhage
• Malpresentations (breech or other positions apart from head down)
• Preeclampsia
• Gestational diabetes

You must review your unique conditions with your specialist and make well-informed decisions and plan of prevention or action early on.