Signs & Symptoms of Stress, Anxiety & Depression

If you think that you may be suffering from stress, anxiety or depression check out these signs and symptoms and seek some professional help. Even if only one or two of these signs are familiar to you, you should read on and know what to look out for to avoid getting worse. It is a good idea to always surround yourself with friends and family and know how and where you can seek help. So without any further ado, here are some signs of depression that I have learned, from personal experience, to look out for:

Erratic Moods

If you are not properly medicated or otherwise treated for depression, you can become very irritated, moody and frustrated. Your moods may be erratic and it might even take you a few days to realize. it is highly likely that you have also been upsetting the people around you, such as your family and work colleagues, without even realizing it.

Fatigue or Restless Sleep

This is not necessarily a sign of depression, but more a contributing factor or aggravator of it. If your mind will not stop working at one million miles an hour, or your dreams are waking you up in a state of panic, then you should definitely seek some professional medical advice to help you to prevent things from getting worse. The answer may be as simple as changing your diet or getting some exercise so try this first before you outlay a lot of money on expensive medical appointments and medications.

Weight Gain or Weight Loss

Stress, anxiety and depression can affect people in different ways and for different reasons. Similarly, different people will exhibit different signs. In my experience, I notice that I tend to lose my appetite and significantly lose weight in the days leading up to a really depressing mood. And I do not have much weight to lose, so small changes in my weight can be quite significant. This is also despite the side effects of my prescription medication which increases my appetite. On the other hand, other people tend to comfort eat and gain weight before becoming depressed. In either case, changes in your weight, particularly if it is weight gain, can be a cause of stress, anxiety or depression in many people.

Withdrawal

A sudden withdrawal of contact with friends, family and work colleagues is obvious. However, if this occurs gradually over time, it is possible that no-one will notice until it is too late. Remember, it is possible for a person to be physically present in a social setting but emotionally or psychologically distant. Always make sure you are surrounded by people and if you cannot interact, then it is usually a good idea to spend time with your family.

Loss of Interest in Personal Presentation

This is possibly one of the most obvious signs to see when someone is experiencing trouble in their personal life. A person who is preoccupied with their troubling thoughts will often become lazy when it comes to applying make up, re-dying coloured hair or treating acne. In some cases, even failing to bathe can be obvious!

Memory Loss and Operating on Auto Pilot

This is one of the last signs that you might acknowledge, as everyone gets weighed down from time to time with the pressures of life. You should know for yourself once you have reached the point where nothing interests you, and you are simply doing what is required of you by everyone else, and nothing more. If your demeanor is not excitable and your stare is empty, if you have trouble engaging in conversation or making eye contact, then I strongly encourage you to find a family member to just be around. If you think you are becoming forgetful, often your memory is quite fine, it is just the case that you were not listening properly because you were caught up in your own thoughts.

Even if you are medicated for stress, anxiety or depression and are under the supervision of a medical professional, if any of these signs are familiar to you, it might be worthwhile requesting a second opinion to ensure that you have been prescribed the right medication for you. If, after reading this article, you have some concerns for someone close to you be careful and tactful in how you raise them. Be prepared to listen patiently, do not push for more information then the person is willing to give you initially, and make sure that they are aware that you are there to help if they need someone. Do not take an accusatory approach or make the person feel cornered or ashamed - they are probably feeling bad enough already.

C-Section Adhesions: What Every Woman Must Know

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.

Should Paid Maternity Leave Work Like Auto Insurance?

In 47 states, drivers are required, at minimum, to carry a compulsory auto liability policy. The rules and potential penalties vary by state. Homeowners insurance is not required by law. However, if you finance your home through a mortgage lender, the lender usually requires homeowners insurance. Five states require employees in the private sector to purchase short term disability insurance. Should this requirement be expanded?

The purpose of compulsory auto insurance policies is to protect the public from the high costs of injuries and property damage resulting from vehicular accidents. Most states establish a minimally acceptable level of coverage to guarantee medical and property costs will be met. The states put these requirements in place because it realizes many consumers will choose to roll the dice. They will opt out of coverage to save money, only to leave them exposed in the event of an accident.

State Insurance Mandates

Should more states require workers to purchase short term disability insurance as they require auto insurance, or as lenders require home owners insurance? Break down the reasons behind these rules to reveal arguments for and against.

With auto insurance there are often multi-car accidents. Often the accident results from an error on the part of one driver: speeding, running lights, driving while impaired. A requirement for all drivers to have coverage protects the innocent parties in accidents: passengers, and drivers operating safely.

In the home owners insurance market the lender requires coverage in order to protect their interests. If a homeowner puts makes a 20% down payment, the lender has a much greater exposure to loss than the homeowner in the event of a catastrophic loss; hence the requirement for coverage.

Paid Maternity Leave

Paid maternity leave gets plenty of negative attention in the U.S. Many European countries have laws mandating maternity leave pay and job protection benefits. Meanwhile the U.S. has no federal maternity pay law, but does provide unpaid job protected leave via the Family Medical Leave Act. Five states have mandated short term disability coverage, which creates six to eight weeks of partial income replacement for maternity leave.

Mandated short term disability insurance protects workers who miss work due to accident or illness. Pregnancy is the leading cause of short term disabilities - despite the fact that only half the population is biologically capable of delivering a baby. Working women of child bearing age clearly benefit from these mandates the most; they gain maternity pay and income security in case of complications.

Should more states join the fray and require workers to buy coverage so that more women can have maternity pay? Unlike the Auto Insurance example, an uninsured mother does not harm any innocent parties. And unlike the Homeowners Insurance example, she does not jeopardize a lender's interests.

Give Working Women the Choice

But her ability to cover expenses during her maternity leave may be greatly impaired if combined with an extended leave before and/or after delivery because of complications. A mandate in all fifty states would help avoid these difficult circumstances.

Or we could do a better job of letting employers know how voluntary short term disability can be offered at work, and purchased by employees to cover illnesses, accidents, and pregnancies as well. The option exists today. Women should know about the value, and ask their employer to provide them the option to pay for coverage themselves, and enroll before getting pregnant.

Maintain the Correct Pregnancy Sleeping Position With the Help of a Maternity Pillow

Regardless of what pregnancy sleeping position you adopt in the later stages of pregnancy, it is still difficult to get truly comfortable. Many pregnant women swear by the various designs of maternity pillows that are now widely available, although there may be some constraints due to the size of your bed and whether your partner is also able to fit in the bed when the full-length pillow is used.

Most pregnant moms confirm that the use of a proper maternity pillow 'feels like heaven' as somebody described it. If you do not have access to a proper pregnancy pillow, however, even an ordinary pillow propping up your abdomen will do wonders for your comfort.

There is a lot of discussion nowadays on what women should and shouldn't do when pregnant. Much of it is valid - the results of extensive research that can be backed up; some of it seems rather spurious. Rather than allowing pregnant women to become paranoid about what they are or they are not doing, pregnancy needs to be put into perspective. Long before the experts appeared on the scene women were having babies.

Advice from Healthcare Professionals

When you sleep on you left side during pregnancy, keep your legs bent slightly. For maximum comfort, place a maternity pillow in position to wedge your abdomen into the most comfortable position. Unless you have the benefit of a full-size maternity pillow, place a further pillow between your legs. Maternity pillows have been designed to relieve pressure on your hips, back and joints and provide optimal support for your growing abdomen. The reason this particular pregnancy sleeping position is advocated is because it facilitates circulation, encourages your kidneys to eliminate waste more effectively and encourages the digestive system to work better.

Basically, you cannot go far wrong if you heed what your own doctor advises whilst listening to your body as well. Generally, the pregnancy sleeping position advised as being the best for both mother and baby is to sleep on the left side because, sleeping in this position increases the flow of blood to the placenta, the uterus and the legs - thereby preventing your legs from swelling and preventing that dreadfully painful leg cramp from occurring. Furthermore, sleeping on your left keeps the weight of your pregnancy from compressing your liver which is a large organ on the right side of your body - an organ that is heavily suffused with blood and essential for ensuring healthy nutrients reach both you and your baby.

How to Overcome the Baby Blues After Giving Birth

After having a baby growing inside of a mother for 9 months, it can be quite overwhelming giving birth. After giving birth, approximately 50% of all mothers experience a form of mild depression, often referred to as the baby blues. Feeling emotional after a birth is completely natural for the mother and usually last anywhere from hours to at most a few days.

Typical Symptoms of the blues are having heightened emotions which are triggered for no reason in particular. Mothers will feel worried and potentially anxious, although they won't be able to pinpoint the reasons why.

Causes of mild depression after birth

The majority cause of these emotions is a change in the mothers hormones after the baby is born. Naturally, the mother's body has to adjust to giving birth and therefore there are biological changes that occur for the human body to adjust. As well as the biological causes, the emotional causes increase if the mother was anxious about the birth itself, or if the baby is born with health problems or complications. All of this results in additional stress on the mother and causes an increase in the chances of the baby blues.

How to support a mother experiencing the blues

A mother experiencing the blues will be very emotional and highly strung. The most important thing following a birth (particularly long, exerting births) is plenty of rest and some quite time to recover. This is seldom achieved as the mother is bombarded straight away with fending for her newborn as well as carrying on with day to day responsibilities. If possible, partners and extended families can help by sharing the immediate burden, giving the new mother time to recuperate and adjust to her post birth feelings.

Once mother and baby have been discharged from hospital, close friends and family can help her mood by being positive and providing plenty of reassurance. By reassuring the mother that the birth went well and that the blues are normal and a temporary phase, the mother can accept the emotional stress better, overcoming the blues as best as possible. The most powerful tool from all around a mother is empathy. The sharing of empathy will begin with hospital staff (in particular the mid wifes present during the birth) and then immediate family and friends.

If the blues continue and the mothers emotions seem to deteriorate she should consult her doctor and seek medical advice.

Pre and Post Natal Exercises for the Active Woman - 6 Key Moves

Exercise during and following pregnancy may seem like a foreign concept to you, but it is an essential item on any active woman's to-do list. During pregnancy, you may remain active with a doctor's consent; however, strenuous postnatal exercise is not recommended for 6 weeks following the birth. Even though your regular cardiovascular and strength routine will have to wait, there are gentle exercises you can do immediately following the birth.

Following are 6 exercises for prenatal and postnatal women. These exercises are recommended for women with no known contraindications, and should be followed according to your own body cues.

1. The Kegel- both pre and post natal

Muscles- Pelvic Floor

Lying on the floor with your feet out in front of you and your knees bent, just relax and let your body weight sink into the ground. Imagine you are urinating, and then stop the flow of urine. Simply engage in a small contraction of the sphincter, and then a relaxation. You can do this exercise as a progression- start lightly, build your way up, hold, then slowly release. You may do this sitting up in a chair, or in any position that is comfortable. Build your way up to 2 sets of 30 each day.

2. The Bridge- pre natal

Muscles- Gluteus Maximus

Lying on the floor with your feet in front of you hip distance, and your knees bent, squeeze your buttocks and slowly raise your hips up off the floor. You may keep your arms down by your sides. Keep your belly pointed toward the ceiling, not dropping to your side. Hold on top for 5-10 seconds, then release back down to the floor. 2 sets of 15

3. The Cat Stretch- pre natal

Muscles- Up: strengthens abdominals, Down: stretches lower back

On all fours, take your hands under your shoulders and your knees hip width apart. Start with a neutral spine, keeping your head in line with your spine. Slowly roll your spine up toward the ceiling like a cat stretching. Think of pulling your abdomen in toward your spine. Slowly release down past your starting point and gently arch your back. 2 sets of 15

4. Ball Crunches- pre natal

Muscles- Abdominals

With an exercise ball propped against a wall, lean back on your ball until your buttocks are about 6 inches from the floor. Feet are on the floor in front of you about hip width apart. With your hands across your chest, and your chin tucked, slowly curl up, imagining your abdomen curling forward into a C shape. Exhale as you roll forward, inhale as you roll back slowly. You do not need to curl up very far. 2 sets of 15

5. Pelvic Tilt- post natal

Muscles- Abdominals

With your back flat against the floor and your knees bent, take your legs hip width apart and drop your arms by your sides. Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, slowly roll your pelvis towards your shoulders, pressing your back deeper into the floor. Do not lift your hips up off the floor. Stabilize your abdominals as best as you can. Build up to 2 sets of 20

6. Belly Button to Floor- post natal

Muscles- Abdominals

With your back flat against the floor and your knees bent, take your legs hip width apart and drop your arms by your sides. Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, think about drawing your belly button down to the floor. Relax, and then repeat. As you are doing this exercise, think about the belly flattening and compressing. You belly button should be pulling itself right down against your spine. 2 sets of 20

How to Increase Your Pennsylvania Maternity Leave Pay

Pennsylvania does not have state mandated maternity leave pay - except perhaps for those who live near the border, or those who plan ahead and act at the right time. PA residents who cross the state border to work in New Jersey or New York have coverage, while the rest must plan ahead and purchase short term disability before getting pregnant.

Pennsylvania has long borders with both NJ and NY states. Both states have mandated short term disability insurance coverage that pays benefits for pregnancy and maternity leave. The key to these programs is that they cover people who work in the state, rather than those who live in the state. Pennsylvania residents who commute to either state are automatically enrolled in the programs - but there are limits.

The New Jersey plan replaces up to 2/3 of your income, capping out at $561 in 2010. So if you live in PA and commute to NJ you are covered! Too bad the Delaware River runs between the two states, limiting commuters to those near only a handful of bridges.

While the entire eastern and northern PA border meets NY and there are few natural commuting barriers, Pennsylvania residents who commute to New York don't get much of a benefit. The New York disability plan replaces up to 50% of income, but caps out at only $170 per week. This is more than 2/3 less than the New Jersey benefit. While better than no benefit at all, it still leaves many with a huge hole to fill during maternity leave.

Pennsylvania residents looking to increase their maternity leave income can purchase short term disability insurance before getting pregnant. When coverage begins prior to conception, short term disability covers your maternity leave. Your benefit for normal delivery may greatly exceed the premium you pay. Plus, you are covered in case of complications, accidents, and illnesses that cause you to miss work.

Active Babies and Exhausted Mothers

New born babies often sleep for hours. But, they do not sleep on schedule and mothers often do not get enough rest and are completely exhausted in caring for them.

Here are some tips for mothers of active babies to get adequate rest:

o Mothers do not have to be on "alert mode" all the time. When baby is asleep at different times of the day, take a short nap yourself when you are tired. Give yourself 30 to 40 minutes to nap. Set the alarm clock each time to wake you up before you fall into a deep sleep. Your energy level will definitely increase after a short nap.

o Train baby to feed at regular intervals for example every 3 to 4 hours after the previous feed. Wake him up to feed even if he is deeply asleep. This establishes a regular daytime feeding schedule for baby and gives you enough time to rest even if you catch up on some other work first. If you pick him up and feed him every time he awakes momentarily or for a short period, you will cause him to want to feed at short intervals and to take in small quantities each time.

o I used to give my baby his last feed at eleven pm each night without fail from the age of 3 months. From then on he slept through the night and had his next feed only at about 7am the next morning. I was able to have almost the same nightly sleeping hours as my baby after that.

o Mothers should exercise regularly. Start with gentle post natal exercises and move on to short walks, then longer ones and even swimming. These activities are good as mothers can take baby along with them.

o Ask your spouse to take charge of feeding baby at least one evening a week. Mother can then have an evening "off" and get a good night of sleep. Use ear plugs or sleep in another room if you are tempted to take over if baby cries. Be assured that your spouse is more than able to shoulder the responsibility and he will even enjoy bonding more closely with baby.

o Avoid stimulants and other food and medications that affect your ability to sleep from late afternoons if necessary. Examples are coffee, tea, alcohol, chocolates, and caffeinated beverages.

Be alert to anything that causes sleepless nights and unnecessary fatigue. Work towards getting sufficient rest and you will be able to care for baby the next day and the next and the next.

Enjoy parenting and motherhood.
Pat

Why Exercise During Pregnancy?

Most woman these days understand the importance of keeping healthy during their pregnancy, and the best way to achieve this is to eat a healthy diet and exercise. I know, the thought of exercise for many woman is not that appealing, however, it really makes a difference and is definitely worthwhile.

Need some convincing? Okay, let's talk about back pain. For those of you who haven't experienced child birth before, back pain is a common problem for expectant mothers, at times it can be unbearable. The extra weight you carry around takes a huge toll on your back and it definitely gets worse during child birth.

Guess what? Exercising helps relieve back pain! There are even women who claim to have no back pain because they exercised during their pregnancy.

How about weight gain? No I'm not talking about the extra weight you put on for your baby, I'm talking about excessive weight gain. You know, the weight that has nothing to do with baby! This is also common during pregnancy and again, it can be controlled by exercising. And as a bonus, because you've kept your body toned, strong and healthy, your body will return to it's pre-pregnancy weight a lot faster than if you don't exercise... now that's good news.

Stress! Yes, that's another problem pregnant women deal with. Worrying if your baby will be healthy, worrying if they'll have five fingers and five toes, worrying if you'll get to hospital on time, worry about who will be around to take you to hospital, worry about child birth and on and on it goes. You'll also need to deal with the midnight trips to the toilet and sleepless nights, all thanks to your pregnancy.

Guess what? Yes, you got it! Exercise helps reduce your stress levels and also helps you get a good nights sleep. Sorry, it doesn't help much with the toilet trips but two out of three ain't bad.

Are you beginning to understand the benefits of exercise? I hope so, I can't stress how much it will help you cope with the mental and physical demands of pregnancy. Exercising really is your key to a healthy, happy pregnancy and there's so many forms of exercise you can choose from. You'll easily find something that you will enjoy and will suit your situation. Give it a go, seriously.

Okay, now you've decided to exercise during your pregnancy, here's a few things to think about:

1/ Consult your doctor and discuss your intentions with him so he can give you the best advice directly related to you and your situation

2/ Avoid exercises or activities that have an increased risk of falling. eg; horse riding, cycling, roller blading, skiing

3/ After the 3rd/4th month avoid exercises or activities that involve lying on your back

4/ Always listen to your body, if it doesn't feel right, DON'T do it

5/ Don't over exercise! A good test is the talk test, you should still be able to carry on a conversation while exercising, if you're gasping for breath or can't talk, you need to stop or slow down

Here's a list of popular pregnancy exercises to get your started:

1/ Walking - walking is one of the best cardiovascular exercises and it's easy and safe to do. Almost anyone can do it with little to no effort, by that I mean no fees, you don't have to drive anywhere, no video or DVD is required, you can walk around your home, street or local area. Change your habits to include walking, walk the dog, walk your kids to school or pick them up, walk to the shop, you get the picture right?

2/ Swimming - this is highly recommended by many doctors and fitness experts as the best and safest activity for pregnant women. It exercises most muscle groups and gives you a good cardiovascular workout at the same time. The weightlessness you feel while swimming is wonderful and it's a refreshing and fun way to exercise.

3/ Pilates - this is one of the most popular forms of exercise for pregnant women in this day and age. Many women are doing it including celebrities. It's an exercise that combines flexibility and strength training and has huge benefits for your breathing, relaxation and preparation for child birth. It takes a lot of stress off your pelvis and back and many say it helps your baby get into the correct position for delivery.

4/ Yoga - very similar to Pilates, yoga focuses on stretching and helps maintain muscle tone and relaxation. Definitely worth consideration, it's known as an all over wellness exercise.

5/ Weight Training - you may think this is an odd exercise for pregnant women, funnily enough it's actually really popular. It strengthens and tones your muscles and prepares your body for child birth. It also helps you return to you pre-pregnancy body weight a lot faster.

So there's a few examples of exercises to do while pregnant! But the best advice I can give you is to find something you enjoy. The main aim is to DO SOMETHING! I wish you well with your pregnancy and please please please, strongly consider doing exercises during your pregnancy, it will make the world of difference.

Pregnancy Weight Loss - Losing That Baby Fat

Having a baby and giving birth are both wonderful life passages that women can experience. However, along with carrying a baby inside for some 40 plus weeks comes the not-so-nice feeling of pregnancy weight loss. The desire and challenge to lose those baby fat can be trying while coping to raise a newborn.

As part of being pregnant, a woman puts on weight as the fetus grows and her body readies itself for childbirth. Unfortunately, this extra weight doesn't vanish with the delivery of her baby. Like in any weight loss pursuit, there needs to be a conscious effort to lose baby fat.

Physically and emotionally, the mother can be at odds with taking care of her baby's needs and her own. Hormonal changes after giving birth can affect how she feels. Plus the stress that arises from baby's demands and sometimes even family pressure (like differing views in bringing up children, for example) can often take the toll on pregnancy weight loss.

Fortunately, there are methods to lose weight which are not difficult to focus on while tending to the baby. In this article, we look at a couple of simple ways that can help with pregnancy weight loss.

Breastfeed Your Baby

Whenever possible, breastfeeding a baby is always preferred as it provides the baby with natural immunity (from the colostrum in mother's milk) in addition to essential vitamins and nutrients. The good news is that breastfeeding can actually help in weight loss.

To produce breast milk for the baby, the average mother utilizes between 500 to 800 calories a day -- this is a great way to burn calories without doing much physical activity. After all, going to the gym is probably difficult in the first year after baby is born as the mother deals with many different responsibilities.

Breastfeeding is definitely a good start on losing baby fat. It augments well any additional steps that a mother may want to take to lose weight, e.g. making the effort to eat well and doing regular exercises.

Stay Relaxed and Realistic

There is a natural tendency to want to lose weight fast, baby fats or not. However, women should be mindful not to sabotage their pregnancy weight loss plan by doing irrational things such as emotional eating caused by anxiety over losing weight slowly.

After all, that extra weight was put on over some 9 months; so it might take a while to lose it all. When this relaxed view is taken, a planned approach to weight loss can then happen within realistic expectations. This avoids the frustration associated with not seeing fast results.

As a benchmark, medical experts suggest a loss of 2 pounds a week is reasonable. Assuming a woman gained 30 pounds during pregnancy and shed 14 after childbirth, she's got another 16 pounds to lose. So a rough gauge for that to happen is 8 weeks. Setting an expectation of roughly 3-4 months is probably fair and objective.

Take It Easy

It is understandable that a mother would want to look the way she did before she got pregnant, and she can't wait to restore her figure. But it is important to accept that weight loss takes time and a realistic approach is always better. Staying relaxed helps the woman set fair goals and take everything in her stride.

Low Deductible Or High Deductible - What is Best?

As a consumer, I am always trying to make ends meet. So I am concerned that I don't over-insure myself and my family. Some insurance is required by law, for example, car insurance. But do I need term life? Young families buy term life so that if something happens to one of the parents the children will be properly cared for and assured of a good college education. Do I need health insurance? Health insurance is only necessary if you get sick or injured, but we can never foretell that. So we do need health insurance.

One way to avoid becoming "insurance poor" is to take out health insurance with a high deductible. My advice is that we ask ourselves a question: "If I had a major medical catastrophe, how much money could I find to pay for it?"

If you have no problem finding $5,000 to pay the deductible in the case of a major catastrophe, then a $5,000 deductible is a good option. If you think you could only find $1,000 in a crisis, then $1,000 would be a reasonable deductible. People generally choose a deductible based on their ability to meet it.

Let's look at a hypothetical example of the variation in annual insurance premiums for a couple between the ages of 30-34 with two children under nine years (no maternity coverage):

$250 deductible - $1976 annual insurance premium

$500 - $1793

$1,000 - $1389

$2,500 - $1214

$5,000 - $ 965

$10,000 - $ 834

You will note that the savings between the $5,000 and the $10,000 deductibles are minimal. You only save $131 in annual premium but pay twice as much deductible. So it would be best not to go higher than the $5,000 deductible.

With the $5,000 deductible this family's monthly premium is $80. The difference in premium between the $250 deductible and the $5,000 deductible is $1,000. If you have no major medical problems in five years, you will have saved $5,000, which you would need to meet the deductible. And this is a very good plan.

Many folks think that going with a high deductible saves a lot of money. You do save, but sometimes not so much. Note the changes in annual premium for a 30-34 year old male based on various deductibles:

$250 deductible = $1,275 annual insurance premium

$500 = $1,120

$1,000 = $871

$2,500 = $772

$5,000 =$632

$10,000 = $498

The largest saving of $249 comes between the $500 and $1,000 deductible. Going from $1,000 to $2,500 saves only $99, and from $2,500 to $5,000 only saves $140. In fact, going from $1,000 to $5,000 saves only $239 per year even though you have added $4,000 to the deductible. So increasing the deductible does not produce great savings.

Up to the present time, with all companies, the $1,000 deductible seems to be the most cost-efficient.

Depression Definition and the Different Types

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the fourth leading cause of disability and is affecting about 121 million people from across the globe. It can affect persons of all races, ages, and genders.

Depression Definition

Depression refers to an array of abnormal variation in the mood of a person. It is a condition that involves the chemicals in the brain. Depression is more than just a feeling of being sad or blue. A person who is depressed usually shows feelings of guilt, loss of pleasure or interest, depressed mood, low self worth, loss of appetite, and low energy.

The Different Types of Depression

Here are the several types or forms of depressive disorder and their corresponding depression definition:

* Major depression disorder. Major depressive disorder is also called as major depression. This form of depression is characterized by a group of symptoms that intervene with an individual's study, sleep, work, activity, and relationship with others. This form of depression is disabling and usually affects the person's normal functioning.

* Dysthymic disorder. Dysthymic disorder, or otherwise known as dysthymia, is characterized by less severe symptoms that may not be disabling to a person but can prevent him or her from feeling well or functioning normally. This type of depression usually affects an individual for two years or more. People who are affected with this type of depression may also experience one or more episodes of major depression at some point of their lives.

* Psychotic depression. This is the type of depression that occurs together with a psychosis. A person with psychotic depression experiences delusions and hallucinations.

* Postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can be found in some women who just gave birth. This is common within a month after delivery, although not all women experience postpartum depression. Approximately 10-15% of women who just gave birth experience this type of depression.

* Seasonal affective disorder or SAD. From the term it self, this type of disorder only occurs in a certain season, usually during winter, when there is lesser sunlight. During summer and spring, the depression usually subsides. Usual treatment for this type of depression is light therapy. However, in some cases, psychotherapy and antidepressant medications are needed since not all people respond light therapy.

* Bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is previously termed as manic depression. This disorder is characterized by alternating periods of extremely elevated mood (mania) and depressed mood.

Knowing the types and the different depression definitions is not enough to stop depression. For you want to live a normal life again that is free from the harmful effects of depression, you should look for the right treatment which is 100% safe to use, fast acting, and of course, with permanent effects that can cure all these forms of depression listed above. Natural cures for depression are said to contain all these properties. Also, from the word natural, you don't have to worry about the side effects because you are sure that they are made from natural ingredients.

I'm Pregnant and I Don't Feel I Love Him Anymore

There's another question that goes often comes with this one and that is about the satisfaction many women feel in having given birth. It's like the child now fulfills all her love and sexual needs some even saying that the very act of holding a child in their arms and/or breast feeding the child gives them immense sexual pleasure so much so that some women even report the experience of an orgasm every time they feed their child.

So the first thing to know here is that what you are feeling is absolutely normal. Your body is surging with hormones as it adjusts to being pregnant and as it begins to prepare you, emotionally and physically, for the birth of your child and placing the care of another human being in your hands.

This also means that your instincts are on full alert. You may even find yourself becoming anxious not only about the baby and its well-being but also about your own well being. Suddenly you don't want to take the risks you might have once taken on the belief that if something happens to you what then becomes of your baby?

There are lots of hypotheses about why this happens but maybe after all it is just a quirky act of nature to ensure that this helpless child is taken care of to ensure its survival even though often the one who misses out most here is the woman's partner, the father of the child who can feel abandoned or unwanted now that the child is born. As far as nature is concerned the father has done his bit. It's now up to the mother to incubate this child and bring the pregnancy to full term.

Maybe this is as basic as you can get as this is truly about survival of the species.

So in accepting that the feelings you have are absolutely normal there are a few things you can and maybe even should do.

Firstly, and probably most importantly, if you find that your love is diminishing for your husband, or you even feel no love for him at all, you should not make any hasty decisions. Instead given that it is most likely just the hormones that are making you feel so give yourself some time to think rationally before making any long term decision that might impact negatively on all of you.

At the very least, wait until after your baby has been and then even for the postnatal stage to end. In the meanwhile enjoy what you and your partner have created together and share every aspect of this pregnancy together. Visit your doctor together, attend prenatal classes together and make all plans re setting up the baby's room and other decisions that will need to be made re the child's ongoing care after the birth together.

Mother's are often defined as the gate keepers to their child.

This means it's most often up to you to ensure you include the father in the pregnancy. Often, and especially so for first time dads, they can feel overwhelmed by the experience and very unsure of what to do. They therefore sometimes need a guiding hand to let them know that you are still the same person, only different. This means that it is also normal to continue all the pre pregnancy activities especially in your sexual relationship. Sometimes, dads and even mums feel scared about this as they are concerned that they might hurt the child. This is not so though if you are concerned speak to your doctor to relieve any fears you have.

So for now enjoy this beautiful time together and drop those thoughts of lost love. There will be time in the future to decide if this really is the case or just mother nature doing it's job after all.

Postnatal Depression - The Facts

According to research, postnatal depression occurs in as many as 10 to 15 mothers for every 100 women giving birth. Its symptoms are similar to depression in which a person may feel low mood and aversion to different activities which could last for two weeks. This is very common but sometimes, mothers don't recognize the symptoms and instead wait for the symptoms to disappear but this could be more difficult for them.

Every mother is at risk for having postnatal depression. It is different from "baby blues" which is not treated and is often shorter. Having unresolved issues from your own childhood and a family who had a history of depression could be a risk for having the illness due to genetic factors. Unresolved issues from childhood could be a cause of depression and since there's a history, there is a greater chance that the illness would be triggered and go back after giving birth. Having an under-active thyroid may also be a cause of depression. However, the real cause of having this illness is still unknown.

A mother may be diagnosed as having postnatal depression when she cries very frequent for small upsets or for no obvious reason at times, longs for sleep but feeling unsatisfied every time she wakes up, has difficulty in sleeping even when the baby is asleep and has a feeling that she is not a good mother but sometimes hates herself or her baby. She easily gets irritated, has no sexual drive, has a feeling that she will not be able to cope up with activities such as housework and feels anxious most of the time. She may also lose appetite, think of negative thoughts of her unresolved childhood issues and feel tired, angry or hopeless most of the time. In serious cases, she may have suicidal thoughts and psychotic symptoms which could be very alarming.

Postnatal depression can be treated in the same way as depression. Drug treatment using antidepressants, counseling and involving in social activities are the different ways in treating postnatal depression. Talking to a doctor, midwife, health visitor or somebody about the problem is a great help. However, self-help medications can also relieve postnatal depression symptoms. Mothers can try to get enough sleep, eat and exercise regularly, relax, ask other persons to help them in doing their housework and they should never be afraid to tell their partners and family members about how they feel and if they have unresolved childhood issues. A lot of people are always ready to help.

Remember, people can and do make recoveries from depression and go on to lead their best lives imaginable. Seek help.

How to Help Prevent Pregnancy Acne

Remember the nightmare back in puberty when you would wake up in the morning, go into the bathroom to brush your teeth and get ready for school and suddenly when you looked into the mirror you had a new zit or a bunch of new zits? Well if you didn't have that problem be grateful for you are one of the lucky few. Your skin may have cleared up since then but when you become pregnant that nightmare of acne may come creeping back due to the crazy hormone changes in your body. Relax, there are a few things you can do to help minimize the acne.

• Wash your face twice a day but make sure that you use a gentle cleanser. Using a cleanser that is not gentle can dry out your skin and make the acne worse.


• Always pat your skin dry after washing it instead of rubbing it so your skin does not become agitated.


• Moisturize your face after each wash but use oil-free moisturizers.


• You will probably want to wear some kind of cover-up makeup to hide the help the acne that you currently have. If so, use water-based makeup rather than oil-based. Always remember to wash your makeup off before going to bed so it doesn't settle into your pores over night.


• I know it is tempting to pop or squeeze your whiteheads but that will just aggravate your skin and worse it can lead to permanent scarring.


• Stay away from prescription products like Accutane while you are pregnant because the ingredients can be harmful to your baby.

While pregnancy acne is not pretty and not fun to experience it will only last during a few months of your pregnancy and the birth of your baby will make every zit worthwhile.

What Foods Can Help You Get Pregnant Naturally?

What foods can increase or decrease your chances of getting pregnant? Research on the subject indicates that some foods are better than others at promoting fertility, while other foods may indeed negatively affect your ability to get pregnant naturally.

For example, foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish oil and flaxseed) contribute positively to your efforts to conceive, because they reduce inflammatory conditions in the body and promote improved blood circulation. This means that more blood can potentially circulate to the reproductive organs, nourishing sperm, eggs and the uterine lining--all factors involved in conception.

On the other hand, some foods may have a "drying" action on fertile cervical mucus, decreasing the amount of mucus present during ovulation, which in turn can decrease the ability of sperm to swim toward the egg (since less mucus means less medium in which the sperm can travel).

Foods that have drying properties include alfalfa, aduki beans, and certain spices like cinnamon and cayenne pepper.

Further, other foods cause hormonal fluctuations that can disrupt your ability to conceive. Foods like soy for example, has a strong estogen-like effect on the body, and can function in ways similar to the birth-control pill. Not exactly what you want to be eating when you are trying to get pregnant!

Because some of the essential nutrients needed to optimize fertility are difficult to come by in our current industrialized food model (for example, fish are high in healthy omega-3 fats yet it is difficult to eat enough fish because they frequently contain high levels of heavy metals, mercury and unwanted contaminants) you may need to look at nutritional supplementation during the months leading up to your pregnancy preparation.

My top nutritional supplement recommendations for pregnancy preparation include:

1. An organic whole food based multivitamin with 800 mcg folic acid (works as a prenatal and dailiy multi).
2. Evening primrose oil (this can improve the fertilie cervical mucus quality) in the pre-ovulation phase.
3. Molecularly distilled omega-3 fish oil (1,000 mg of EPA + DHA per day in total).
4. Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10) for improved energy production and cell vitality--important qualities for sperm and egg!

Much can be done with diet alone, depending upon whether or not you eat organic, the soil quality of the food you eat, and so on. To err on the side of being cautious, I recommend you consider taking these key supplements to cover your bases when you are preparing to get pregnant.

Remember, food is medicine and your body relies on your choices to promote its most optimal health (for fertility or otherwise).

Coronary Heart Disease And Pregnancy - Preparing For Pregnancy

Coronary heart disease, is a narrowing of the coronary artery: a large blood vessel that supplies blood to the heart. This narrowing is caused by fatty deposits in the artery itself and is the leading cause of heart attacks in the developed world. Cardiac disease of all types is, indirectly, the leading cause of maternal death in the UK. The risk of developing coronary heart disease increases significantly with age beyond 35 years and more significantly still in those over 50 years.

Large scale social changes have led to the increase in the number of pregnant women who suffer with coronary heart disease. The age at which women are able to conceive and sustain a pregnancy has, on average, increased with many factors driving this, not least, increases in health care and fertility medicine. Career and financial pressures also mean women are delaying having their first child and fluidity of family structures also have contributed to older women wishing to conceive with their second or third partners/spouse.

Lifestyle changes have, without doubt, contributed to the rise in younger women developing coronary heart disease. The huge rise in obesity is an obvious starting point and, according to current statistics, the number of young women who smoke far exceeds the number of young men who partake in this unhealthy habit.

Working and leisure patterns have also played their part with more and more jobs being sedentary and desk based in their nature and women far less likely than men to take part in organised sports but increasingly likely to drink more alcohol than is recommended on a regular basis.

Should women with coronary heart disease risk pregnancy at all?
This is a rather vexing question. It is only in recent times that the number of women with coronary heart disease has reached any significant level. The greatest risk posed by embarking upon a pregnancy with coronary heart disease is the risk of heart attack particularly during labour. Other diseases and conditions associated with coronary heart disease such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes serve only to increase the risk to mother and child. It is also possible that some medications you are taking to control your heart condition may not be suitable for use during pregnancy. Stopping or changing them may further increase the risk of heart attack.

Pregnancy itself may worsen symptoms of coronary heart disease. This exacerbated form of the disease is known as acute coronary syndrome and is three to four times more common in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women of the same age. It is estimated that acute coronary syndrome affects one in every ten thousand pregnancies in the USA. The rates are assumed to be lower in the UK but large scale studies have yet to be conducted. This is likely the result of a host of factors common in pregnancy: mobility may become restricted in later stages, drug absorption may be affected particularly in mothers who suffer morning sickness and blood pressure may increase to dangerous levels.

Choosing to conceive if you have coronary heart disease is not a decision that should be taken lightly and certainly not without consultation with your doctor and cardiologist.

Risks of coronary heart disease during pregnancy
As already indicated, the greatest risk is that of heart attack. This could, of course be fatal or leave your baby starved of oxygen (hypoxia) which, in turn, can lead to permanent brain damage. The risk of heart attack is increased during labour and you may be advised to have a caesarian delivery.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a predisposing factor for coronary heart disease and a condition that develops in the last twenty weeks of pregnancy, pre-eclampsia can increase the risk of heart attack many-fold. Indeed, pre-eclampsia alone has the potential to be fatal. Pre-eclampsia superimposed on (chronic) hypertension has been seen to develop in as many as one quarter of women with pre-existing hypertension. Early detection is important to ensure a good outcome in this scenario so frequent and regular blood pressure monitoring is essential for pregnant women with hypertension and coronary heart disease.

Reducing the risks
Should you choose, on balance of risk, to try to conceive then you should prepare for pregnancy by taking folic acid supplements for at least three months before conception and throughout pregnancy, try to keep weight within a healthy range, eat a healthy and balanced diet, take exercise and avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco products - these are sensible steps for any woman wishing to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy but are especially important for women with coronary heart disease.

Consult with your cardiologist to establish which drugs will be safest for you during pregnancy. For those who are prescribed it Aspirin is, generally safe to use. It may be that your doctor will not change your medication so it is important to discuss the risk and rates of potential side effects for your baby if these drugs are generally not recommended during pregnancy. Discuss whether or not you should attempt to breast feed your baby. Do not stop taking medication you have been prescribed without consulting your cardiologist.

Birth choices for women with coronary heart disease are limited in the extreme and you should be under the care of a consultant obstetrician led (as opposed to midwife led) team. You should plan to give birth in a maternity unit within a hospital. Under no circumstances should you attempt a home birth or even birth at a birthing centre though, for most women with coronary heart disease vaginal delivery is possible. Wear medical alert jewellery and carry a medical alert card in case of an emergency and ensure those who you spend most time with are educated in how to properly conduct CPR.

A note to all women
Certain heart conditions, including but not limited to coronary heart disease, have symptoms not unlike those many women experience in pregnancy such as nausea, chest pain, indigestion like symptoms and breathlessness. For this reason, cardiac conditions in pregnant women often go undetected. If you are struck by a sudden breathlessness, pain in the centre of the chest especially pain radiating to the arm or jaw seek medical attention immediately.

5 Effective Techniques to Help You Get Pregnant Fast

When a woman got married and have been enjoying her life after marriage for a while, then, it's time for her to have a baby in order to complete the family, and of course, she would want to get pregnant fast. Unfortunately, some women have been trying so hard to get pregnant, but it's just not happening. If you are one of them, don't worry because in this article, there are some effective techniques to help you get pregnant fast, actually, much faster than you expected. Those techniques are as following :

More Exercise

Taking exercises is one of the techniques to help you get pregnant fast. So, what exercises should you take? Well, you could play some sports, such as, badminton, jogging, weight training, tennis, and anything that make you stand and move around all the time.

Why taking exercises can help you get pregnant? Because your bones can be stronger by doing these activities. Besides, these can keep you active and help your metabolism to run as quickly as possible.

More Vegetables

Having more leafy green vegetables is another technique to help you get pregnant fast because they are the best source of folic acid which is the most important nutrients to help preparing your body for having a healthy baby in the future. In addition, green vegetables can help you maintain a healthy weight since they are lower in calories. Being overweight or underweight is one of the problem that cause you not to get pregnant. However, if you are lucky enough to get pregnant but you are overweight, there is a high possibility that your baby could be at risk for birth defects. So, having more vegetables to maintain healthy weight can help you to avoid this condition.

Yoga Class

Taking a yoga class is another technique to help you get pregnant fast since it can help you get rid of your stress. I believe that you are fully aware that stress is not making any good effect to your body. So, it is considered to be very important for you to do something to lower your stress level, and taking a yoga class can help you with this problem because it teaches you about the deep breathing techniques which you are going to like it.

Regularly Check Up Your Body

It is a good idea to regularly check up your body, especially if you want to get pregnant fast. When you can't get pregnant, it means that there should be something going on in your body. So, performing body check up can help your body to be well prepared for your pregnancy in the near future.

Keep Tracking of Your Body

It is also a good idea for you to keep tracking everything about your body if you want to get pregnant fast. Then, what should you notice? Well, it is easy. Just make sure to keep tracking everything that is going on with your body, such as, menstrual cycle, body temperature, breast tenderness, mucus consistency, and other signs like these.

Just keep in mind that if you watch for all the changes in your body as mentioned, then, you will have more chances to get pregnant fast than those who don't.

Mutts - Advantages, Disadvantages and Why We Love Them!

Depending on where you live, there are a number of fascinating names for them. Here in the U.S. we refer to them as mutts, Heinz 57, Sooners, mongrels, hounds, and tykes. In Hawaii, they are known as Poi Dogs. Country folks in the South, call them feists or curs.

In Newfoundland you will hear the term a Cracky. In the Bahamas and nearby islands, they are called Potcakes. Jump over to South Africa and you will hear the people refer to them as a Pavement Special. Our Australian friends call theirs Bitzers.

No matter what they are called, for many dog owners, they are the only real dogs. To them, the more breeds in the mix, the better!

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of a mutt? Let's start with the advantages. The fact they are less likely to be stolen is a good one! There is often a lower incident of genetic defects, as there is a larger gene pool. It's a fact, the bigger the gene pool, the less likely the odds of combining two defective genes. That is a plus for many less discriminating, yet adoring dog lovers.

Additional advantages are mutts are less expensive to purchase. Let's face it; sometimes they are free for the taking! Usually, they are also less expensive in the upkeep department as they require few, to no visits to a groomer for a fancy hairdo.

It is also a fact, mutts tend to have a higher than average natural longevity compared to pedigrees. Cars are not counted in the equation! The reason for this as studies have shown, may be mutt mothers are normally excellent moms compared to their pedigreed cousins. It's true. Documentation in many countries show, they normally provide better care, as well as more and a higher quality of milk. Because of that, infant mortality in mutt litters is noticeably lower than with purebred-bred litters. Between a diluted gene pool, and quality postnatal care, it appears a mutt pup has the advantage a healthier start and possibly a longer life.

Finally, whenever you look into their eyes, there is the sense you did the right thing. They may not be the cutest, fluffiest, most handsome, or prettiest dog in the dog park, but they are forever grateful, that you saw their "inner beauty."

So, what are the disadvantages? The disadvantages are few. Granted, you won't find a mutt participating in the AKC/Eukanuba or Westminster Dog Show, even though Eukanuba doesn't seem to mind too much that mutts are customers. Nor, will you see them at most AKC events...although that is changing a little with their AKC Partners Program.

The only other disadvantages of owning a mutt are you will never really be sure how big they will get, or what their temperament will be. Not that there is any guarantee with a pedigreed dog! Nonetheless, responsible breeders do have a general idea of the likely size and temperament of the offspring of their mating pairs.

If sharing your life, love and home with a blue-blooded pedigree is imperative to you, than this article won't make a difference.

However, if you are less discerning about your image and want to share your life, love and home with a wonderful pet, consider adopting or rescuing a mutt. At a local shelter or rescue, the perfect companion and new best friend is anxiously waiting just for you. Save a mutt's life!

Hidden Signs of Bi Polar Disorder

Clare was addicted to the Home Shopping network. After she maxed out her remaining credit cards following her divorce, she then started ordering goods and charging them to her daughter's credit card. Her daughter Molly almost has a coronary when she saw her next bill. A frugal young woman, she was expecting only $42.97 for an online purchase she had made herself.

Instead, her card sat at $258.22 over its $5000 limit.

Thinking she was the victim of stolen identity, Molly went to call the police. At this point her mother, who had moved in with her after Molly's recent return to the province, confessed. There was a row, with tears on both sides, but the next day, Molly hugged her mother and said she knew Clare had been compensating for her husband's abandonment. Molly would pay off 70% of the monthly charges until the account was cleared, and her mother could chip in the other 30%, since there was no divorce settlement in Clare's favor.

That's when things took an ugly turn. Clare kept compulsively ordering from the shopping channel faster than Molly could pay her card down, until even her "back up" credit card was declined. More tears and rows followed, and a phone call with Molly's ex-stepfather revealed that bankruptcy caused by Clare's compulsive spending was the main issue in the divorce - not the stories Clare had told her daughter.

A Hard Step To Take

Mo finally had to ask her mother to leave and find a place of her own. She felt really wretched at this step, since she knew her mother's only option was to go on Social Assistance: But that was when things began to change for the better for both mother and daughter. An astute Social Assessment Worker noted much more about Clare than her financial problems, and convinced her to visit a doctor, who promptly referred her to a psychiatrist.

Clare was diagnosed with Bi Polar disorder. "The spending and the poor judgment was a big red flag, only we didn't see it," says Mo. "We didn't know what we were looking at. Brad and I just thought mom was dishonest and selfish, and had gone off the deep end over the divorce."

There are many misconceptions about Bi Polar disorder. Not everyone indulges in spending sprees like Clare. Instead, some show very poor judgment in sexual relationships instead; and what is dismissed with disgust as over-the-top, dangerous promiscuity can actually be an indicator of Bi Polar disorder.

Some exhibit neither symptom, and would be outraged at any suggestion that either may occur - but in the depressive phase, may be prone to self harm and suicidal thoughts.

The truth is, there are several types of Bi Polar disorder. There is even a type that exhibits no manic phase at all - just depressive. Auditory and visual hallucinations can be involved in Bi Polar disorder - particularly at times of stress. There is a seasonal type too, as well as a mild form where people truck along for years, with no more noticeable symptom than insomnia and rapid speech, punctuated by occasional depression.

Sometimes a severely traumatic event - like the bankruptcy Clare caused and her subsequent divorce - can flip someone with "mild" Bi Polar disorder into an out-of-control episode.

The important lesson to learn here is... no matter what you believe about natural remedies, even the best ones won't work, if you don't first proactively get a solid diagnosis. In fact, in some cases - especially a complex genetic psychological condition like Bi Polar disorder - playing guessing games with natural substances can do more harm than good.

If you suspect a loved one has Bi Polar disorder, see your medical professional for proper diagnosis.

Women's Nutritional Requirements

Numerous studies have confirmed a link between nutritional imbalances and serious illnesses. Strokes, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer have all been partly attributed to poor diets and nutritional deficiencies and/or excesses. Nutritional counseling and education plays a vital role in preventative, as well as proactive, women's nutritional healthcare.

Although both men and women experience health challenges, there are many symptoms and conditions that are more common - or even exclusive - to women. For instance, depression and osteoarthritis are more prevalent in women, while menopausal symptoms only affect women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading death-inducing disease in women is heart disease.

The differences between male and female needs develop, in part, due to hormonal shifts after puberty.

In order to gain knowledge of a woman's individual needs, her personal profile must be assessed: her age, lifestyle, predispositions, and genetic factors. However, the following are general guidelines that can apply to most women:

A Few Health Conditions Particular to Women
Underweight women with lower levels of body fat or estrogen, for instance, are at a risk of developing scoliosis. Taking vitamin B6, vitamin C, and tryptophan supplements can aid in preventing its onset. Premenopausal women may see their symptoms, including hot flashes, alleviated by reducing their consumption of caffeine, hot peppers, and sodium. Sodium also leads to retaining extra fluids and bloating before menstrual cycles, as well as conditions related to high blood pressure.

Knowing how to look for sodium in labels and the exact amount of sodium needed for someone's particular health profile may greatly reduce symptoms. The use of alternative health remedies, herbs, and natural diuretics, such as licorice, can also provide relief.

Calcium
During menopause, the decrease in estrogen levels often requires more calcium to offset loss of bone density. According to a report by The Institute for Medicine of the National Academies, postmenopausal women experience a decline of calcium absorption by an average rate of 0.21 percent/year.
The risk of developing osteoporosis is also significantly more prevalent in women than men. Calcium is essential to building bone density, which takes place until women's mid-20s. However, consuming high doses of vitamin C may negatively affect your health.

Studies have shown a link between taking high doses of vitamin C supplements and developing age-related cataracts, for example. The link is not associated with consumption of fruits and vegetables; rather, it is found to pertain to supplements alone, states the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The recommended daily intake for women under 50 is 1,000 milligrams and 1,500 milligrams for those 51 and older.

Folic Acid
The Public Health Service recommends consumption of folic acid to childbearing women to help reduce the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs). Adequate intake of folic acid can reduce the risk by as much as 50%-70%. Folic acid promotes heart health and offers protection from color cancer. The Institute of Medicine recommends daily folic acid intake of 400 milligrams daily for childbearing women who are not pregnant and 500 to 600 milligram doses for pregnant and breastfeeding women, respectively.

Iron
Iron is indispensable to women, more so than to men. Blood lost through menstruation can often lead to iron deficiency, which can lead to all sorts of antagonistic health-related symptoms: skin pallor, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and extreme fatigue, just to name a few. The Institute for Medicine of the National Academies recommends that the average woman of childbearing age consume 18 milligrams of iron a day - and even more if she is pregnant. (Men can get by with just 8 milligrams a day.)

Men usually get all the iron they need through food alone. But that's not so easy for women, whom statistically take in fewer calories and need more iron in the first place. A diet rich in meat, fish, and poultry can help provide iron. Other foods that are high in iron include beans, chard, spinach, and lentils. Vitamin C obtained from orange juice and broccoli can also increase absorption.

Vegetarian diets may need professional nutritional counseling to ensure proper amounts of iron and other vitamins are consumed.

Last Tip:
Women's health issues are, today, requiring increasing amounts of specialized attention and care. As advances in modern science continue, it is only fitting that we, the general public, become increasingly more aware of the changing nutritional needs of women. Yet, despite the accessibility of nutritional information today, one thing remains consistent: Many physical conditions have a direct correlation with dietary imbalances. Therefore, nutritional counseling is always instrumental in analyzing the nutritional requirements of women - now, and at every stage of life.

Swimming For Pregnancy Fitness? Uncover the Hidden Risks That No One Will Tell You!

When you think about pregnancy exercise there are a few things that immediately spring to mind as safe activities  for pregnancy. Ask any pregnant woman what she would consider a safe form of pregnancy exercise and she is likely to say Yoga, Pilates or Swimming as her top answers.

In fact, swimming is recommended by practically everyone in your professional care team and for good reason. Swimming during pregnancy has several benefits for your pregnant body that you won't get from any other form of pregnancy exercise.
 
It's greatest asset is that the near weightless environment of the water provides a safe place for you to work out large muscle groups and the cardiovascular system, with very little risk of injury.
 
Swimming during pregnancy also increases maternal aerobic capacity, which in plain English, means that your body will be able to transport oxygen more effectively to working muscles, increasing their performance and giving you better results from your pregnancy workout.

A lot of women also find swimming during pregnancy provides them with a sense of wellbeing as well as relieving morning sickness.

But there are a few things you need to know before you go diving in the pool that your professional care team WON'T tell you.

Breast isn't always best

Breast stroke is commonly thought of as the best stroke for pregnancy by a lot of people, as it is the gentlest of the swimming strokes. It also encourages good alignment in the torso as it works the chest while encouraging you to pull back your shoulders.However, if you do breaststroke properly, you will notice that as you lift your head to come out of the water and breathe, you create an overly extended arch in your lower back.

Now considering the lower back is already under a LOT of pressure from your pregnancy posture, the last thing you want to do is add to this and wind up with pregnancy back pain.

Breaststroke legs are not suitable for pregnancy. During your pregnancy you pelvic ligaments become very soft, and the joints can be easily overstreched by the backstroke kick. The pubic joint at the front may begin to separate in preparation for birth and injury can lead to Pubis Symphysis Disorder and Round Ligament Pain

Back stroke

Swimming on your back for any length of time after 16 weeks could prove to be very uncomfortable as the weight of the uterus puts pressure on the vena cava.

If you do experience any discomfort you should avoid this stroke completely.

Acid indigestion and reflux

It is best not to eat anything for 2 hours prior to swimming to avoid acid indigestion and gastric reflux, especially in the third trimester.

Tumble turns will also aggravate this.

Choose a chemical free pool where possible

There has been some recent press about the dangers of uptake of chloroform by pregnant women swimming in chlorinated pools. In tests, pools were found to have "relatively high" levels of the disinfectant by-products which have been linked to reproductive problems.

A one hour swim was found to give a chloroform dose 141 times higher than a 10 minute shower.

However further research needs to be done on this and until a wide-scale population study has been conducted this is not conclusive evidence against the use of chlorinated pools by pregnant women.

How to have a great, safe pregnancy swim workout.

Choose a stroke that won't put pressure on your pregnant body. Front Crawl is great for a higher intensity pregnancy workout.

If you need a resting stroke for intervals try using a snorkel with breast stroke arms so that you don't have to keep bobbing your head out of the water and putting pressure on your lower back, whilst using front crawl legs to propel you.

Have a light snack a couple of hours before you enter the pool.

If you have access to a chemical free pool in your area then use it.

Always shower and wash your hair immediately after leaving the pool to reduce uptake of chemicals into your bloodstream.

The Importance of a Prenatal Vitamin

Proper nutrition is essential for good health and disease prevention. During pregnancy it is particularly important that women ensure adequate intake of nutrients to support the growing baby and their own health. Yet, according to some research 20 to 30 percent of pregnant women have a vitamin and mineral deficiency, and without supplementation, roughly 75 percent of pregnant women would be deficient in at least one vitamin. Thus, taking a prenatal supplement makes good sense for both mother and baby.

Prenatal supplements are specially formulated with increased levels of certain nutrients that are required to support a healthy pregnancy and reduce the risk of deficiency syndromes in both mother and baby. These nutrients include folic acid, calcium, iron and zinc. Folic acid is particularly critical as studies show that it can reduce the risk of neural tube defects, including spina bifida by 70 percent.

Health care providers recommend women take a prenatal supplement with folic acid even before they conceive because neural tube defects originate within the first 28 days of conception, and many pregnancies are unplanned. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) and the Motherisk Program jointly released updated clinical guidelines in December 2007, based on new research about the benefits of folic acid supplementation for women planning to have children. Specifically, the clinical guidelines recommend that:

"Women with no personal health risks, planned pregnancy, and good compliance require a good diet of folate-rich foods and daily supplementation with a multivitamin with folic acid (0.4-1.0 mg) for at least two to three months before conception and throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period (4-6 weeks and as long as breastfeeding continues)."

Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children have also found that taking prenatal multivitamins fortified with folic acid can reduce the risk of three common childhood cancers: leukemia, brain tumours and neuroblastoma and can reduce the risk of a wide range of serious birth defects, including cardiovascular and limb defects, cleft palate, oral cleft, congenital hydrocephalus and urinary tract anomalies.

A prenatal supplement can also provide a big nutritional boost for women who suffer from nausea and vomiting due to morning sickness. Just recently femMED introduced Pregnancy + Ginger, the first prenatal supplement to contain a therapeutic amount of ginger root powder to help ease nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. In clinical research, ginger has been shown to be effective in reducing nausea without causing drowsiness. femMED Pregnancy + Ginger also contains slightly less iron than other prenatal supplements since iron can contribute to nausea.

According to Dr. Fay Weisberg who is an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Toronto.

"I am thrilled to finally see the inclusion of a safe anti-nauseate like ginger in a high quality prenatal," says Dr. Fay Weisberg, gynecology and infertility specialist. "Up to 80 percent of pregnant women experience some level of nausea and vomiting particularly in their first trimester; this natural remedy will be well received and a welcome relief to many."

Although a quality prenatal supplement will provide all the essential vitamins and minerals, they are not a substitute for a healthy diet. Pregnancy is a time when you need to take extra care in ensuring that are meeting your and your baby's nutritional demands.

Aerobics During Pregnancy

Everybody is in a position to benefit from working out, even people who are handicapped. The elderly will in addition present health improvements when executing low-impact workouts as will expectant women. Those who practice aerobics while pregnant will experience easier labor and child-birth.

There are also reports that show women who perform aerobic workouts reduce the chance of having to go through a cesarean section. They recuperate faster whether it is physical or from postnatal depression. These women will in addition shed the weight they acquired throughout pregnancy, quicker. Broadly, women will attest that they'd healthier pregnancy in comparison with other women.

Working out while pregnant doesn't signify that mums-to-be will continue the same pace or exercises they were doing before pregnancy. Since expectant mothers are essentially sustaining two lives in their bodies, they shouldn't be exerting too much energy when working out. Pregnant females are suggested to carry out aerobic working out for not more than 30 minutes. When exercising too vigorously, the system temperature of both mom and baby can rise which might cause problems with the baby.

To prevent hypothermia or excessive heat, exercises should be performed early in the morning when the conditions are cooler. Pregnant ladies need to drink loads of water and avoid exerting too much energy. Saunas and steam rooms ought to be avoided. Working out which make the abdomen a weakened should be steered clear of by all means, which includes jumping.

Moderate weight-lifting can also be practiced by pregnant women. This helps prepare them for carrying the baby after birth. Although, professionals will invariably advocate that before proceeding to any style of aerobic regime or program, the doctor's advice is very important. Other types of work out which could be performed throughout the first trimester will incorporate swimming, walking, and special aerobic courses designed for expectant women.

During the second and last trimester, the weight of the newborn child can have an effect on the woman's movements. Keeping balance is hard since the weight may cause strain to the joints. During this time, marching in place could replace the usual work out routine. Exercises which need a pregnant woman to bend forward, spin and perform rapid turning movements can cause them to lose balance and extend to injury.

A woman may like to try a prenatal water aerobics class if one is provided in the community. It offers many of the advantages as aerobics on land - physical exercise for your heart and body and the camaraderie of other pregnant moms without the strain on the joints, the chance of injury, or a fall.

Even though aerobics has many advantages, doctors might not recommend it to some pregnant mums in particular when they show signs of worsening hypertension. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) also warns expectant women against aerobic workouts that call for them to rest on their backs when they are around 20 weeks pregnant. In the main, if a pregnant woman is feeling distinct manifestations like pain, bleeding, rapid heartbeat or dizziness, workouts ought to be halted.

For more free tips and guidance on health, be sure to visit our internet website- internet health information for all kinds of health information.

Understanding Postpartum or Postnatal Depression

Postpartum or postnatal depression is mainly caused by hormonal changes brought about by the pregnancy. The onset of this type of depression can occur as late as 18 months after labor.

An estimated seventy percent of women experiences postpartum depression. Many of these cases are fairly mild and last only a few days, while others are more severe and can last much longer. The latter types will typically require medical treatment. It is believed that the more severe cases tend to affect women who have lower self-esteem, or women who have had prior history of depression, or single mothers who lack the necessary support from close ones.

The symptoms of postpartum depression are similar to most other types of depression. The symptoms include irritability, inability to focus, sleeping problems, headaches, feeling a sense of dread or sadness and a loss of interest in pretty much everything.

Postpartum depression is not easy to overcome. The depression feeds on itself, growing stronger as the woman's self-doubt grows. She believes that the way she is feeling isn't "right"; she may think that the "proper" feeling she should have is joy at her newborn, and may wonder why she isn't feeling that way. As a result, she begins to think she is a bad mother or a terrible person, and doesn't deserve to have a child. These feelings of guilt and self-doubt worsen the depression, and can make it difficult or impossible for the mother to bond with her newborn child.

It is important to note that such feelings are common. A newborn will no doubt lead to huge lifestyle changes, and no amount of preparation will seem enough to handle them. Lack of sleep, tiredness from taking care of the newborn, and general doubt whether you're being or will be a good mother or not all contribute to postpartum depression.

Consider depression as a kind of speed bump in your journey through life. In the grand scheme of things, it is but a temporary hurdle that you will overcome; it just seems extremely foreboding at the current moment. A newborn is a gift, and you may find it hard to believe that in your state of depression at the moment, but never give up trying to fight the depression.

If you are severely depressed after birth, then do consider seeking treatment. Remember that postpartum depression is fairly common, and does not reflect badly on your motherhood skills. Do not doubt yourself, and do not be ashamed to get professional medical help, or support from your loved ones.

Effective Ways to Relieve Sciatica Pain While Pregnant

Sciatica during pregnancy is a common complaint. Sciatica is described as sharp pain that runs along the large sciatic nerve from the back down the legs. Sciatica during pregnancy is an unpleasant, but treatable form of back pain.

Here's how to find relief.

Back pain is a common complaint during pregnancy. And it's quite expected since you're continuously gaining weight. You're also walking in a new and different way. On top of that, your hormones are relaxing the muscles and ligaments are loosening throughout your body. But you don't have to live with it for the duration of your pregnancy. Often, you can treat - or prevent - back pain during pregnancy with simple self-care strategies or complementary therapies.

Focus on good posture.

Your center of gravity shifts forward as your baby grows. Often, your body will attempt to compensate in some way to avoid falling forward, which can strain the muscles in your lower back -and this is what leads to back pain.. Tuck your buttocks under, pull your shoulders back and downward, and stand as straight and tall as you can.

Sit properly...and stand as little as possible.

If possible, sit with your feet elevated. Choose a chair with lumbar support. Your lower back should be supported with a small pillow. Change position often, and try not to stand for extended periods of time.

Stay active.

Low intensity exercise on a regular basis can keep your back strong and may actually prevent and/or relieve back pain. Try brisk walking, swimming or riding a stationary bike. Just make sure your doctor or health care provider is aware of, and approves of these activities

Try alternating heat and cold.

Applying heat to your back is helpful for treating tight muscles. Try soaking in a warm bathtub or apply a heating pad. Some pregnant women find relief by alternating ice packs with heat. Applying ice or a cold wrap is effective for inflammation.

Sleep on your side.

Sleep on your side, not your back. Make an investment in a full-body pillow. Place the pillow between your legs while sleeping, and if possible try keeping your knees bent while sleeping.

Consider complementary treatments.

When treating sciatica during pregnancy, the effectiveness of chiropractic care or acupuncture may not be clear. Some women find comfort and relief, while others may not. These methods done correctly are likely safe during pregnancy - as long as you're receiving proper prenatal care. Before attempting these methods its vital that you discuss your back pain with your health care provider. It's important to insure your back pain isn't caused by a separate underlying condition.

The good news is, there has been a recent breakthrough in the development of an extremely gentle yet effective technique of treating sciatica during pregnancy. Many pregnant women have received amazing and instant relief by learning and applying this gentle method. This gentle method utilizes "sciatic moves" as well as moves on the lower back to effectively relieve labor pain brought on by sciatica. So...if you find the tips above ineffective or not quite enough to relieve your pain, then learning this breakthrough method may be perfect for you. This amazing technique was developed by a doctor and is now available in a step-by-step guide.

A Look At Infertility Financial Assistance And Insurance

Infertility financial help is worth a look for couples who are facing infertility. Infertility treatments are costly and if you intended to go for the full course, there is a need to consider financial aid to fund the infertility treatments. You may be able to afford the cost of treatments or you might need financial assistance.

With infertility financial assistance, they help you to afford the costly treatments that you have chosen to get yourself conceived. There is a need to fully understand the various kinds of infertility financial assistance and the type of treatments it covered so as not to end up with the wrong type of coverage.

Majority will not be able to afford the type of treatment needed to get conceive but the choice is there for you to apply for a loan or through credit card if the approval for credit is given. Certain infertility clinic provide financial aid advisor to give you the support you require.

It is essential to do a bit of research on other infertility financial aid offers before coming to a decision as it is possible to find one good deal that suit you. You also might find financial aid companies through the facility you are using.

In vitro fertilization (IFV) refund program is one such infertility financial aid that merit discussing. With IFV refund program, you can afford a few IVF cycles to be carried out and it will refund you for the cycles that you found yourself unable to conceive within a certain time frame.

The couple has to be under a certain age and that come with a reduced fees to afford a certain number of cycles, minimum number of cycles that you have to go through before a refund, with the refund amount tag to seventy to hundred percent and only certain type of services are allowed. Therefore it is vital to choose the right type of infertility financial aid program.

There are always ways to get an unsecured loan to afford the infertility treatments and infertility drugs that you required. The cost of the drug can be upwards of thirty five percent of the whole cost and certain organization provide special loans that is designed to finance your IVF cycles.

With such infertility financial aid, there is a guarantee that if you cannot conceive after meeting the requirement, you can get a refund. Certain infertility procedures are covered under your health insurance policy. Irrespective of what you get for your infertility financial assistance, the ability to conceive is more important.

Besides infertility financial aid, there is infertility insurance to help you afford the cost of infertility treatments. Infertility insurance is godsend for couples who are unable to conceive and require going for infertility treatments but there are guidelines to meet before they are considered.

In vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination are two of the infertility treatments that assist the couple to conceive but they are costly. If the treatment requires more than one treatment, it can run into a hefty amount. Coupled with it, there is still the cost of medication. Couples need to consider the treatment carefully before getting the type of infertility insurance that suit you.

Adoption could be more costly than infertility treatments and most insurance companies will provide some form of infertility insurance together with your regular insurance coverage to cover certain infertility treatments. It is essential to look into your insurance policy to determine the kind of coverage that is provided for infertility insurance. Certain states legislate that it is necessary for all health insurance to have infertility insurance.

Aside from infertility insurance, you can consider making use of your credit cards to pay for infertility treatments but the credit limits must be high. Financial aid at the infertility clinic can provide the information on the kind of infertility insurance you can get.

Doing some form of research can go a long way to get the right type of infertility insurance and your regular insurance policy might provide some form of infertility insurance coverage. To get the right information on infertility insurance, it is best to consult your infertility specialist. They are there to assist couples to choose the right infertility insurance coverage that suit you.

Why Are Mothers Overwhelmed - Three of the Most Common Mistakes That Mothers Make

A client asked me recently, "What do you believe are the most common reasons that mothers are overwhelmed?" I thought about this great question and decided to share with you my response. I'm giving you my top three here. Enjoy!

Mothers are overwhelmed and over scheduled due to the variety of extra-curricular activities that they find themselves in this time of the school year as well as the regular obligations of work, home and volunteer commitments. Today, mothers are no longer multitasking but instead mega tasking.

If we follow the pattern backwards, it often points directly to the fact that moms never learn how to stop the "Mom-Me" rollercoaster. Here are some common mistakes made by mothers and another course of action they could be taking.

1. Mothers accept unrealistic workloads and allow guilt to drive them to create schedules that don't work. They fail to delegate family chores effectively and find themselves exhausted by trying to do it all, and then blame themselves when it doesn't work out.

Action: Mothers need to learn to delegate properly. The reason for delegating work is to get the family to help with the needs of the family. Delegated projects should always be appropriate to the ability of the child to whom it is given. If the mom is washing dishes after dinner, she has to learn to ask her spouse for help with other nighttime tasks such as bath, bed time or planning for the next day.

2. Mothers fail to create a family culture of support. Children often have chores and have no idea of the value their task has on family living. As a result, family members don't come to understand that everyone has a vital role of supporting the family. This teaches children that if one family member forgets their important family role then it impacts the entire family community.

Action: Mothers need to make sure that children understand not only what they are doing but why they are doing it. This builds the esteem of children and teaches them the importance of accountability. Parents need to explain to their children that active families need active family members to lighten the responsibilities to make time for these extra-curricular responsibilities. Often children have no idea of the "cost" of baseball practice on the family's schedule.

3. Mothers can be very picky, and rigid in family expectations, and seem to focus on wanting things done in one specific manner. This makes family members feel unappreciated, that nothing they do is right, that they can never please their mom, and hence, the desire to help dies.

Action: Mothers must be open to having things approached differently if they want help from the family. The process of involving the family to help is a process of give and take. Having a family meeting to discuss weekly task and allowing each family member to share their best alternatives for helping. Mothers must remember to praise those family members who are consistently helping out. Husbands and children love to hear that their contributions are making a difference.

In a nutshell, the happiest mothers are those who learn how to articulate their needs clearly, get help when needed and set realistic boundaries of what they can and can not do.

As a "coached mom ", the "Mother" has a deep understanding of the five essential strategies for personal self-care and these replace the old methods of "Mommy Martyrdom": In my book, Time for mom-Me: 5 Essential Strategies for A Mother's Self-Care, I discuss the following five tenets of self-care for moms. They are:

Finding Time
Creating a personal schedule that honors the mother's values, allowing the mother to set realistic boundaries and allow her to fully enjoy what she commits too.

Finding Meaning
In order for a mother to truly help someone else she must begin by helping herself. In order to truly be a wonderful contributor, you must help yourself first. Mothers who commit to a reduced life load find that they get more enjoyment out of life.

Finding Connection
Motherhood does not completely define us but enhances what already is. This involves understanding that while mothers create the lives of our children they must remember that it is their life too. When mothers establish viable supportive networks to assist them they recognize that they become stronger at parenting.

Finding Solutions
Anytime a mother wants to make a change in your life she must begin by raising her standards. She has to decide that she wants more out of her life. Next, a mother must understand she must change what she believes is possible and be willing to try new strategies. She must be open to learning from non-judgmental sources like "mom-coaches" about techniques, solutions and real strategies on creating ways to incorporate what she wants into her life.

Personal Growth
This strategy is aimed at helping mothers make shifts in their lives that leave them changed for the better. Personal growth is recognizing that mothers have the capacity to be more of who they are.

In short, mothers have to find time for the "Me" in Mom and learn the Five Essential Strategies for a Mother's Self-care.

Live fully,

Mia