Health Insurance in Pennsylvania - AdultBasic As an Affordable Option

Like most U.S. states, Pennsylvania has certain provisions for it's residents who fall into lower income groups. One such provision focuses on offering affordable health insurance for individuals and families. In Pennsylvania there is a program known as AdultBasic for people who earn income below a prescribed level. This program focuses on providing health coverage at very little cost (there is a $35 monthly premium) to the applicant.

Originally started in 2002, the coverage insures most lower income people between the ages of 19 and 65 who meet certain eligibility criteria. It also covers against pre-existing conditions and is available to U.S. citizens who have resided in Pennsylvania 90 days prior to enrollment.

This medical insurance is comprehensive major medical coverage and is administered by various private insurance carriers throughout Pennsylvania (Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Keystone Health Plan East and First Priority to name a few). Some of the benefits covered by the plan which carry no additional cost are:

- Hospitalization (unlimited days)
- Physician Services (primary care and specialists)
- Emergency Services
- Diagnostic Testing (e.g. X-rays, mammograms and laboratory tests etc.)
- Maternity care
- Rehabilitation and skilled care (in lieu of extended hospitalization)

Other services which carry a small co-payment are:

- $ 5.00 co-pay for each visit to your family doctor
- $10.00 co-pay for each visit to a specialist
- $25.00 co-pay for each visit to an emergency room (waived if admitted to the hospital)

Another convenient aspect is the ability to apply online. To help guide you along with the process I recommend contacting a licensed local health insurance broker for further information.

How To Get Pregnant: Natural And Holistic Ways To Achieve Conception

In their haste to have a child, couples will needlessly rush to a doctor and straightaway take medications and treatments that supposedly help them achieve parenthood fast. This is stressful and expensive. It is always a better option to consider holistic remedies and natural ways to create conditions conducive to achieve conception.

Holistic ways focus on bringing about stability and balance in the body-mind-environment relationship. The body and mind should be in tune with each other and with the environment for a woman to be able to conceive. It is nature's way to prevent conception when the outside environment is not conducive and when the mother to be is under stress or suffers from anxiety. Address this issue first. Learn to relax, remove stress and stress creating conditions. Involve yourself in yoga, meditation, spending time in places that create harmony of body and mind and listening to soothing and calming music. Such a state of environment and mind instructs the brain to release the appropriate hormones that promote fertilization of the egg.

Heal the body through foods and herbs

For a woman to conceive, her body should be in a near perfect state of health, neither too fat nor too thin, all organs functioning to their best. A detox prior to planning for pregnancy will work wonders. It will reawaken appetite and revitalize the endocrine system. Cut out sugars, white flour, too much of oily and fried foods, caffeinated drinks, nicotine and sugar. Herbal infusions will further help in bringing about improvement of systemic functions. Plan a diet comprising fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals, nuts and lean meat like poultry and fish; foods rich in zinc, selenium, vitamin B, folic acid and iron help. Take small portions but eat at regular intervals through the day to maintain blood sugar.

Exercise regularly as this improves blood circulation and increases oxygen absorption.

If you have a high stress job, leave it for one that gives you more time and less stress. That goes for the man and the woman.

Some couples have reported that spiritual activities have helped them in their quest to become parents. You could both try this out. There is no harm, no side effects.

People tend to give less importance to water. Do not ignore it. Take more than 8 glasses of water a day to maintain the right balance of pH in your body and cell activity.

Now that you have taken care of these aspects you would gain by knowing about when you are likely to ovulate and having sexual intercourse in the days leading to ovulation. Sexual positions that permit deeper penetration will aid in achieving conception. A benefit is the fetus will be more healthy and post-natal complications are few in such holistic situations.

It is always to first try out natural and holistic ways and become pregnant the easy way.

Family Budget When Pregnant

Being a new parent is one of the best things in life and with this bundle of joy, there comes a whole bundle of bills such as legal fees, doctor visits, and nursery and so on. The beginning of being parents also means turning over a new leaf and you want the best for your new family.

When a baby comes along, there are so many things to worry about such as the basic need in life, health, childcare and education. Having children means sacrificing everything including eating at home, changing into a family car and the balance in your account is low.

Before committing anymore bills, consider your budget and change your will when your children are off to college. You can start by buying insurance for your child when you know that you are going to be a parent. In order to avoid over-spending list out on the things your family needs. Then, you will know where most of the money goes and how to save up bit by bit.

Plan years ahead about having children as health insurance with maternity care has only two years coverage. So, you would not want to have kids after those two years. Some employer provides a 20% of maternity benefits. With this the burden of cost will not be as bad.

The first thing to save up is not for college as there are other expenses such as emergency fund for half a year. Only after that plan how much money you need for your child's education and your retirement. The best way to save for a college fund is to reach at least 60% of the amount and this can be done by investing in stocks and so on.

Other than that, choose a guardian who will look after your children when you die. This is because that guardian will be managing the assets and you would not want someone who dislikes children raising them. Or worse come to worse is stranger raising your children. This should be put down in a will so that, your will is the law for your children.

You can also create a trust to hold your children's inheritance. Thus, you can let your children use this inheritance for what purposes and at what age can they use it. But, check with your state to see if it is allowed to give a large amount of money to a minority? Maybe at the age of 18 or an adult but it is sure that your children will get the inheritance if there was a law claiming that it is yours and is passed down to them.

Prenatal Genetic Counseling

Genetic counseling is a procedure whereby medical experts perform genetic tests and get a record of family history of disease. This is done to analyze the possibility of the mother passing any genetic disorder to the new baby. It is one of the very important step in pregnancy care. Genetic disorders are caused by a flaw in any of the parent's genes. Few of the genetic disorders that can be identified on the basis of tests are Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell, Tay-Sachs disease and spina bifida.

The main aim of genetic counseling is to educate the parents about the genetic disorder, provide counseling and psychological support, and also give important information on support groups and services. Your health care provider may suggest genetic counseling when either of the parents has somebody in the family with an inherited disease or birth defect. Genetic counseling is also recommended parents are over the age of 35, when a couple already has children with birth defects or genetic disorders, history of miscarriage or when a prenatal testing gives an abnormal result. Ideally the best time to get a genetic counseling is before getting pregnant especially if there is possibility of either of the first two risks. It is also sought by couples who consider it to be a part of pregnancy planning. This helps in deciding whether to start a family and warns you against any problems that may affect the new born infant. If the counselor feels the necessity of tests like carrier tests and screening tests, it may be performed. Carrier test checks for conditions such as Thalassemia which is a blood disorder primarily affecting those of the Mediterranean, African and Southern Asian descent.

Screening tests eliminates the need to perform intrusive diagnostic tests during pregnancy. Couples are also referred for genetic counseling during the pre pregnancy stage to alert them about the health problems due to exposure to teratogens such as harmful chemicals, heavy metals, radiations, drug, and alcohol/substance abuse. Some of the genetic screening tests performed during pregnancy are the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test which detects birth defects such as neural tube defect, spina bifida and anencephaly. Ultrasound tests are performed to check the possibility of spina bifida, heart defects, and malformations of the head, face, body, and limbs. Amniocentesis is used to detect genetic and developmental disorders. Sampling of Chorionic villus helps in detecting Down's syndrome.

The cost of such genetic counseling dissuades many couples from going for it. But there are many agencies that offer financial aid. Many health insurance policies cover the costs. Genetic counseling services are becoming popular in India and are available at around 40 centers spread all over the country. This service is usually obtainable from some reputed hospitals in cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. One should think about genetic counseling sessions in a positive way and as significant part of pregnancy care. This is part of the process of giving to your child the right environment to grow.

Babywise Book Review

On Becoming Babywise has proven to be successful in helping parents settle their babies, by offering a flexible, yet effective routine for parents with infants.

The Babywise book, written by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam provides a management plan to help babies synchronize feeding, playtime and night sleep cycles, thus giving your baby the best possible chance to distinguish night from day, and be able to sleep continually through the night moving from one sleep cycle to the next without fully waking.

The book not only provides a plan for parents to manage their babies feeding and sleeping schedules, but provides scenarios of when these schedules may not work, why, and problem solving to rectify the situation and get the schedule back on track. The first principle is for the mother to create a stable milk production, the book gives a guideline on how often you should be feeding in the early days, and when an infant can start sleeping through the night.

Schedules in the Babywise book are dependent on your baby's age, the schedule will change slightly as your baby gets older, with daytime naps decreasing, and daytime wakefulness increases.

The Babywise books are written in a series, with the first one On Becoming Babywise offering a flexible routine to establish feeding, wakefulness and night time sleeping. The second On Becoming Babywise II is parenting your pretoddler for ages 5 to 15 months and focuses highchair manners, waketime activities and baby sign language.

The Babywise books adapt as your child grows, the other books include:

On Becoming Childwise for 8 - 12 years, and On Becoming Teenwise for 13 - 19 years.

It is important for parents to be able to provide some structure in their childrens lives, and that structure should be flexible not rigid. The Babywise books offer a flexible and effective routine which parents can easily adopt.

10 Smart Feasible Ways to Finance IVF Costs Without Infertility Insurance or Going Broke

Although several insurance companies offer some sort of infertility insurance, many do not cover IVF because in vitro fertilization costs are so expensive and IVF success rates are not very high. Because of this, many couples need to come up with alternative financing methods to fund their infertility treatment. Here are 10 smart feasible ways to finance IVF costs without going broke in the process.

Mortgage Refinance or Second Mortgage

Both of these are an option if you own your home. You can decide on an amount to refinance or borrow after researching with your fertility doctors what the full in vitro fertilization price will be in your case. You would get the full amount at closing.

Get a Home Equity Line of Credit

If you own your home and have built some equity into it, this is another option. A HELOC is different from the above in that you chose a maximum amount that you may use for a line of credit and the lender will advance you up to that amount whenever you chose. You can draw on the HELOC to fund your fertility costs in certain ways, such as writing a check or using a credit card on the account.

Borrow Against Your 401K

Some 401K companies allow you to borrow money from your 401K. Speak to your employer to see if this is an option. When you borrow against your 401K, you don't have to pay taxes on the loan.

Infertility Clinic Financing

Many infertility clinics have financing available, usually with a set interest rate where you make monthly payments. Clinics usually let you plan your payments depending on what procedures you use.

Third Party Loans

Loans from third party lenders are also an option. In fact, there are even financial centers that specifically offer IVF funding programs. You can research online or ask your fertility doctor if they can refer you to such a center.

Find a Credit Card with a Low Interest Rate

If you have good credit and can get a card with a high revolving credit limit and a low interest rate, you could use this option.

Find a Fertility Clinic with a Shared Risk Program

With a shared risk program, you would pay in advance for a certain number of IVF cycles. If you do not achieve a pregnancy by the end of the cycles, you would get a partial or full refund, depending on your agreement with the fertility center.

Borrow from Family or Friends

If you have family or friends that would be willing to give you a loan to help pay for IVF, decide on an interest rate and put together an agreement in writing with a set repayment plan. Borrowing from family or friends would mean that you would have a much lower interest rate then if you used other financing methods, or even no interest rate at all, which means you would be spending less on your IVF treatment.

Use Your Tax Return Money

You can start preparing for IVF treatment by having more money withheld from your taxes. Then, when you file your taxes, you will have a bigger refund from your tax return and you can use it to pay a portion of your infertility treatments.

Get A Second Job

If you have a marketable skill or talent that you could turn into a side job, you can supplement your regular income, and start a nest egg with the extra income to use for IVF costs. There are plenty of free resources online on how to start a side business with relatively little cost. Or you could do something as simple as putting ads advertising your skills on Craigslist. Get a little creative and do a little brainstorming. You may be surprised with what you come up with. When there's a will, there's a way!

One thing to bear in mind with financing options is that you need to be able to manage the incurred debt with the additional costs of having a child. If this will be a problem with any of the options above, then that particular option is not right for you. You do not want to find yourself in financial ruin or ruin your credit rating.

I hope that these options, used alone or in combination with another option, have helped give you an idea of ways you could pay for your IVF costs.

Post-Traumatic Stress - A Soldier and His Wife's Story

Anyone who has suffered traumatic events has "stress." And, by expanding the terminology of PTSD, I think of all my EFT clients as having some form of "post-traumatic stress." And while military personnel have received the most attention in this regard, this is not exclusively a military problem. As an EFT practitioner, I work with the effects of past traumas with every client.

Traumatic events cause immediate disturbance in our energy system. The body downloads the trauma as in a cellular "jolt" or electrical shocks that ignite the sympathetic nervous system response. Without help with a release, this reflex will stay in the "on" position and cause a chain of aberrant emotional reactions, none of which involve inner peace or balance. As in postpartum depression, the severity of PTSD is dependent, to some extent, upon how much anxiety the person had before the traumatic event, perhaps explaining why some people are affected more than others. The more anxiety a person has internally, the less able they are to handle the overload.

This article is an example of how EFT rapidly and effectively helped one soldier and his wife, Nolan and Julia. They were already in the system for PSTD treatments but without the results they had hoped for. Julia took the initiative to find a better solution for their problems, off base. She had heard about how EFT was being used to help war veterans, and without even knowing where to begin, she Googled "EFT El Paso" and found my name.

In my opinion, this initial step of seeking help outside the base is, in itself, empowering. By removing one's self from the "cattle herd mentality" (Nolan's own words), it served to put some self-control back into their lives. Everyone has that choice. You can stay in one place and tread water, or you can find your own life preserver. In other words, "If what you're doing isn't working, do something else."

Nolan is a 35-year-old soldier, has been in the army for seven years, and had three combat deployments. Not long after returning from his third deployment to Iraq, Nolan checked himself into the William Beaumont Hospital for severe anxiety, having the feeling of wanting to "walk away from everything. " With thoughts of going AWOL from the army and his own family, he rationalized they would do better without him because he felt like a failure. He was admitted for "passive suicidal thoughts" and spent nine days on medications for insomnia, anxiety, depression, and art therapy to "express his emotions," all with no result. In fact, by his estimation, the anxiety medications "really, really freaked me out" by intensifying colors and lights. Nolan also said he lived his daily life like he was still deployed, always on alert. He couldn't get close to or trust anyone, including his wife, and expected her to leave him eventually. The thought of yet another deployment was overwhelming.

When Nolan and Julia came to my office, they had viewed a YouTube EFT demonstration, but never saw it used in person by an experienced practitioner. Nolan was quiet, inexpressive. After my grand EFT explanation, sat through his first tapping round only to say that it looked silly and was "just another bunch of crap." We addressed those beliefs next because it is strange looking and different from anything he'd been exposed to before. It is also a very important component during a treatment to express any internal resistance that stands in the way of the real healing work. After one tapping round of "this looks like a bunch of crap," he felt more relaxed, and it was easier to get through his prepared list of specific events. I had asked, during the initial phone consult for him, to prepare a list of bothersome memories to work on.

Even though he had been having problems falling asleep and staying asleep for more than an hour at a time, Nolan informed me that he had run out of his sleep medications two days prior. I knew once we chiseled away at the big chunks, sleep would follow, so we did not tap directly on his sleep problem.

Some of his main issues were as follows:

• The highest priority on the list was the recurrent image of his fellow soldier, an acquaintance, laying dead with his brain hanging out of his head.


• Because the next events happened serially, I asked for the first time each specific event (bothersome memory) happened.


• The first time he had to kick in a door in Iraq. (He was a door kicker).


• The sound of the first mortar fly-over.


• The sight and sound of the first mortar hit. (Loud noises made him agitated and angry.)


• Anger about feeling used, just following orders as a door kicker, and putting his life on the line. (Nobody cares). Note: see why later.


• The first visual memory of deplaning in Iraq, and the fear levels when he thinks of it now.

I thought it was a highly productive session, ending with Nolan feeling sleepy, a common physical relaxation response, and a good indication of issues being cleared.

On their ride home from my office, his wife noticed that his demeanor had changed and his face took on an appearance of complete relaxation, as if he had just returned from a well needed vacation.

Once we cleared out the current traumatic events, childhood issues came to the forefront. He had unresolved childhood issues involving his mother, who was indifferent and unavailable, and who had eventually abandoned her whole family, i.e., "she didn't care," just as the Army "didn't care" what happened to him. We addressed those issues at our second hour-long session. As it often happens, getting the worst memories out of the way allows similar issues to generalize away very quickly. After working on the issues about his mother, trust in his wife came back to balance.

After two sessions of EFT, Nolan feels he is completely over his PTSD and his life overall has improved tremendously. In his own words, here is his progress report.

"The image of my fellow soldier who was shot and killed in Iraq, that I couldn't get out of my head, was completely gone after about 10 minutes of EFT. It's been a couple of weeks since our first session, and if I do think of him now, it's when he was alive and healthy."

"I didn't like the fact of how I felt the army had just used me being a door kicker; I was just following orders and putting my life out there. I've gotten over that anger as well."

"El Paso used to disturb me because some of the areas look like Iraq, but now, it's just El Paso, and we didn't even cover that in our session, it's what put me in the hospital in the first place, I was always on alert-because of the visual reminder."

"I was on sleep medications and having a real hard time going to sleep and staying asleep, even while I was hospitalized. I stopped taking the medications altogether, and now I'm sleeping the whole night every night. It's really great sleeping better. I handle stress a lot better now, and I don't need any of my medications. I feel calmer, and haven't had any anxiety problems since."

*Note: Its important to note that by law I cannot and do not advise any of my clients to stop their medications, and always refer them to their medical doctors for supervision.

Nolan and Julia attended our EFT Level 1 workshop shortly after his second session. Although she went there to support Nolan, during that time Julia discovered the roots of her own issues, and why Nolan's issues pressed so many buttons inside of her. One of them was the look on his face when he was heavily medicated. As a gift to all our attendees, we offer them a free half hour session with me as a jump-start on their own Personal Peace Procedure.

Julia, having had a close look at her husband's PTSD symptoms, was reminded of the daily traumatic stresses she endured as a child living with a heroin addict mother. Nolan's facial expressions, under the influence of psychotropic drugs was, to her, eerily similar to her moms when she was high. Highly resilient naturally, she had been suppressing her past throughout their marriage until the drugged face of her husband pushed an old button.

This is Julia's own testimonial after her half hour private session.

"I now feel like I'm more "at one" with myself-more balanced, I don't feel so scattered. After the session, I went home and felt just like Nolan did when he left from his first session. I could see how relaxed he was, and for me, everything was just slower, like life just slowed down. I felt more content, and for the very first time in my whole world, I was able to start and finish a task. At first, I was very reluctant to say anything to anyone because it almost seemed too quick and too good to be true! I was able to feel content, focus in on one thing at a time and finish it. And it happened again the very next day. By the third day, I was on the phone to my dad and telling him I had actually started and finished five different projects around my house, and it was a really good feeling."

In my world, I consider myself a leader, and I can "fake it" by assigning other people on the teams that I'm on to make up for my weaknesses, so I don't appear so scattered. At home, my own family knows that I'm all over the place and for the first time ever, I know what balance feels like."

"Internally, I've always had quite a bit of anger, and I can say now, those levels are now down to about a 3, I might even say a 1 or a 2, and I feel very relaxed and excited for my day. Overall, I feel very relaxed. It's been great!"

"I've had really bad attention problems. I couldn't finish anything and felt scattered and always overwhelmed. When we were at the EFT class, I was able to see more clearly how just much discontent I've always felt. My attention problems were so bad that I could never sit down with my husband and watch a movie-but I watched one the other day-very unusual!"

"I have never been able to wake up my three kids after infant/toddler age. It's been a huge issue that I don't feel like I was ever aware of until my husband's PTSD showed up, and they started medicating him, which caused flashes of old memories seeing the drugged look on his face. Sleep faces remind me of my mother who was a heroin addict. My father who raised me was a pothead. I grew up hating sleep because it meant that I was alone and isolated."

"My oldest child is 13 years old, and I have never been able to go to her room and wake her up seeing her sleepy. Once my children got to that age I would yell at them from a distance "It's time to wake up!" If I didn't get immediate responses from them, and if they weren't lined up like soldiers at the top of the stairs at attention, then I was irritated, mad, and then yelling for having to wake them up myself. The hostility would surface, but I thought I was doing them a big favor by restraining my real anger. After my first session, I found the habit of standing at the top of the stairs to wake them still there, but the anger is completely gone."

"Before my first session and after the EFT workshop, I went all the way up the stairs just to test it. It took more time for me to get mad. With each step I could feel it building internally, I thought, "I'm going to see the sleep face" and a few seconds later I could feel the hostility build. After my private session, I told myself I'm going up there again, I did it, and I was fine. I was able to have a conversation with my daughter and had a zero intensity of anger. I was absolutely able to stand there and look at her groggy face! My daughter and I look just like my mother, it was unbelievable that I was able to stand there and have a conversation with her while she was waking up. Its sad to me that I used to get angry at my own daughter. In ten years I have never been able to see her wake up! This is huge progress! The only thing remaining is for me to get rid of the weird habit of going to the edge of the stairs."

"I never realized I hated looking at my kids sleeping-who says that? After this all unraveled with EFT I realized that my problems were very deep-I was really running from my mom's sleeping face, I've been running for years."

Specific events we worked on:

I was afraid mom wouldn't wake up.

I was alone when she nodded off.

I felt betrayed each time she got high.

Mom didn't love me.

Mom didn't see me.

Sleep means lazy.

Nolan and Julia now have EFT as a tool to handle the normal, ongoing stresses of life and to explore releasing long-held blocks to their happiness. They are part of a small but growing number of military PTSD victims who have taken the initiative to remove themselves from the rigidly conservative and ineffective approaches used by the Army.

The old guard has always resisted new approaches, and perhaps rightfully so since much that is "new" turns out to be of little use in the long run. Today's soldiers are in the unique position of purposely placing themselves in stressful situations. In many of these situations, they react to activities that are unnatural (freedom to kill humans and destroy property without corporal punishment). When they return home, they are expected to come back to "normal" and function "normally" again.

With almost 20 years of a track record in the treatment of stress-related conditions, EFT deserves more than a second look, it deserves to be recognized as a true "weapon" in the fight against PTSD. As essentially a self-help technique, it could be taught to soldiers and used in the field as needed. In the meantime, even though acceptance is slow and progress in treating PTSD conventionally even slower, EFT will forge ahead as a powerful treatment for those willing to move outside the "system" for their own sakes. As long as we're here, there will be help for anyone who seeks it.

Your Life As a Confinement Lady

If you are about to have your first baby, life as confinement lady may seem scary, depression, or even undesirable. Or, you could be like many other women who simply don't know what it will be like as a confinement lady. Put your fears to rest! While there are some struggles and obstacles that you will have to go through as a confinement lady and your life will definitely change, with the right nanny you will come out of it happier than ever.

Emotional Changes

A lot of the struggles that you will go through as a confinement lady come from the hormonal fluctuations and changes that occur after having a baby. You know your hormones spiked and went wild while you were pregnant, so it only makes sense that after you have the baby those hormone levels will need to normalize. This takes some time, which makes the confinement period a rather emotional time.

Some women breeze through the hormonal fluctuations as if they aren't occurring at all, while others have a lot of mood swings and some very emotional days. You never know what experience you will have until you are officially a confinement lady with that beautiful baby at home. Just realizing that your hormones will need to normalize and that your crazy emotional states or mood swings are attributed to that will help. You know you aren't going crazy and the hormones will die down eventually.

Lifestyle Changes

Some women imagine their life as a confinement lady as if they will become a shut-in who never gets out of the house. This is unrealistic, especially if you plan to hire a confinement nanny. As soon as your body heals from having the baby and you are feeling strong enough to move around a lot safely, there is no reason you shouldn't get out of the house.

In fact, getting out of the house and resuming at least some activities of your former lifestyle will help prevent or overcome postpartum depression!

It is much easier to have a life and start developing your new lifestyle as a mother if you hire a confinement nanny. They will make your life as a confinement lady much easier, since you have someone safe to care for your baby while you run out to the market, get some exercise, or visit friends.
There will be a lot that has to change as you work the new baby into your lifestyle, but you don't have to give up life altogether as a confinement lady.

The Baby

Having the baby in your home depending on you for every little need is the biggest change you will experience as a confinement lady. There is a lot of responsibility caring for a small baby, but there are also tender moments as you begin to bond with your baby and feel the overwhelming amount of love and pride that all mothers find with their babies.

Again, life as confinement lady will be a lot more comfortable and much easier if you have a confinement nanny helping you. They will share the responsibility of caring for your baby while giving you more opportunities to sleep, eat, get out of the house, and just spend bonding time with your new baby.

Life as a confinement lady will be different than life before the baby. It just isn't going to be as depressing and scary as many women believe going into it.

Getting Your Baby to Sleep Through the Night Easily and Safely

How many times have you gotten up during the night only to get up again an hour later because your baby won't stop crying? It's a common situation among new parents or those with babies aged 6 months or more - getting their babies to sleep through the night but finding it impossible to do so. And the bags and dark circles under your eyes when you look at the mirror in the morning do nothing to make the situation easier.

However, thanks to enterprising and innovative souls who understand that parents need enough rest as well, a new technique called controlled crying has been conceptualized. Also known as "camping out" in some countries, the technique was designed to help infants settle down to a regular routine, with as little stress and fuss as possible.

Controlled crying is where parents wait for their babies to settle down in specific time intervals. These time intervals increase gradually and during this time no rocking, no picking up or patting is allowed and significant results are usually seen in a matter of days. Camping out on the other hand, is when one or both parents stay in the room with the baby without picking them up, patting or rocking them and gradually distancing themselves at varying time intervals in a period of days or weeks until the baby is fully able to sleep on their own.

While there over a thousand and one tips for baby sleep that you can read online, like playing soothing music, regulating the room temperature or dimming the lights, most parents have been found to stick to the tried and tested cry it out method - that is, letting their babies cry themselves to sleep. However, concerns about babies being put through unnecessary stress and trauma that could scar them psychologically and physically, the technique has been found to be most effective in helping babies and parents sleep through the night.

While it may seem that letting babies cry themselves to sleep makes for bad parenting, studies conducted on children between the ages of 8-10 months show no significant negative or harmful effects on them and in fact, has even been found to be a good strategy to employ in managing postnatal depression. This is because the better baby sleeps at night the less anxious mothers feel and as such, tend to relax more, knowing that their baby is settling nicely, with the positive effects lasting until the baby reaches the age of 2 years old.

This controlled comforting technique is also evident in online step-by-step guides that are introduced online, guides which also include how to wean babies away from the bottle, dummies and all-night nappy changes. These guides will also teach you how to read the tone of your baby's cry so you can support them emotionally while they learn to sleep independently. With these guides, parents learn as well that babies who sleep well during the night are happier babies in the morning.

But then again, however successful or effective controlled comforting techniques are, it is still a matter subject to parents' discretion because even though the technique has been proven to be effective among infants aged seven months old and above, there is no proof that it is the same for babies six months old and below so the effects cannot be generalized. The only thing is that it is effective and will not have any long-term harmful effects on your child psychologically, emotionally or physically.

Pregnancy Pilates Poses: Helping You Through Hormonal Times (And Giving You An Excuse To Be Selfish)

The psychological benefits of exercising during pregnancy should not be underestimated. Carrying a child is both a profound and daunting experience for most new mothers. Many times it feels as though you have lost control of your body and this feeling can be bewildering at times. Thankfully using the Pilates method can at least help you feel like you're in control of your body. As the awareness of your body improves, using Pilates, you will feel as though you're back in the driver's seat.

The feel-good endorphins that are released during exercise played crucial role in keeping good spirits and giving you self-confidence. It really does feel good to keep active. With Pilates you can feel like you move more gracefully and freely during a time when your body's expanding. Also, Pilates will give you a good excuse for a little "me-time."

Losing coordination is one of the effects of the male hormone, testosterone, decreasing in your body. Testosterone plays a crucial role in your hand-eye coordination and the sense of your balance. To counter this Pilates can help you feel more balanced and coordinated in your movements. As your body grows you will not be able to move as well. Muscle memory will not make up for the changes going through your body. So you'll have to need learn new coordination skills.

To help out with the overuse of the upper part of our shoulders (the upper trapezius) here's an exercise called floating arms. Sitting down, put your left hand on your right shoulder making sure you can feel your collarbone. You're going to keep your collarbone still during the first part of the movement. You need to make sure that the upper part of your shoulder stays unengaged for as long as possible. This upper part of the shoulder is what you overwork. You need to visualize it staying soft and released. You need the lower trapezius muscle below the shoulder blades work.

• Breathe in and lengthen up to the spine letting your neck relax.


• Breathe out zipping up your abdominals and hollowing out your pelvic floor. Begin to raise your arms slowly, reaching wide out of your shoulder blades. Think of your hand leading your arm and your arm following as it floats upward.


• Have your Palm opened to the ceiling as your arm reaches shoulder level. Remember to keep your shoulder under your hand as still as possible and that your shoulder blades are dropping down into your back for as long as possible. Breathe in as you lower your arms to your side.


• Repeat this three times with each arm

Remember to keep a sense of openness within your upper body. Do not tense anything else while you're focused on this action. Also, do not allow your body to shift to the side while performing this, keeping it centered.

Foods to Avoid When Trying to Get Pregnant

Before you plan to get pregnant, it is necessary to bring some essential changes in your lifestyle and food habits. You need to consult your doctor to know exactly what foods you must avoid when you are trying to get pregnant and during the period of pregnancy.

You need to plan and prepare before you get pregnant. The couple needs to prepare themselves physically, emotionally and psychologically. The lifestyle needs to be changed in order to have a safe pregnancy.

A lot care and attention has to be given to what you eat as whatever you shall consume will be going in a direct or indirect manner to the baby before you conceive and while you are pregnant. So here you will know about what foods to avoid when trying to get pregnant and other such important things.

A baby's organs start forming about 17 days after you have conceived. Before a woman decides to get pregnant, it is essential that she meet a doctor and discuss her physical and emotional health with the doctor. The doctor might prescribe certain lifestyle changes and food habits before you become pregnant. Pregnancy is no child's play and must be handled with complete care and attention so that you have a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Some of the foods that must be totally avoided when you are trying to get pregnant are mentioned below.

Avoid soybeans and foods that contain soy. Estrogen that is present in soybeans can lead to a hormone imbalance which could in turn affect the production of egg and ovulation. Hence, it is important to decrease the use of soybeans few months before you are trying to get pregnant.

Stay away from frankfurters, bologna and lunch meats as they contain nitrates and nitrites that are not good for women who are trying to conceive. One must not consume peanut butter as well as spinach as they deplete the level of calcium in the body which is essential for the development of the baby.

Refrain from soda, sugary foods and drinks as it can lead to decrease in blood sugar that can in turn upset the level of reproductive hormones. Caffeine must be strictly avoided. Caffeine is present in coffee, tea, chocolate and many other products. Having caffeine may prevent you from getting pregnant.

Other than that, it can also cause miscarriage. One must strictly refrain from smoking, alcohol and drugs. Do not take Vitamins A, C and D in high quantity. Do not eat raw meat or meat that is undercooked. Similarly do not consume raw eggs or eggs that are undercooked. Soft cheese should also not be consumed.

Pregnant Pajamas

If you are looking for the best night's sleep possible during your pregnancy, shoot for purchasing a pair of pregnant pajamas. These pajamas are maternity wear designed specifically for sleeping. Ask any pregnant woman, and she will tell you how frustrating sleeping (or attempting to sleep) during the later stages of pregnancy can be. The last thing you want to deal with when you are making your eighth trek to the bathroom in the middle of the night is how uncomfortable your pregnant pajamas are. Invest in a few great pairs of pjs around your fifth month of pregnancy and during your ninth visit to the bathroom, you will be happy that you did.

When you are looking for maternity pajamas the first rule is never compromise your comfort for your style. This is the most important rule for all clothing, especially maternity clothing. If they are not comfortable you won't wear them and you definitely won't enjoy them. Make sure your pajamas fit properly so they won't aggravate anything during your pregnancy that is already bothering you. You need all the sleep you can get while you are pregnant so make comfort your first priority.

With that being said, nobody said you have to give up style to be comfortable. There are so many cute pregnant pajamas on the market. There are great maternity pajama sets with cute, comfortable pants, capris, and shorts which can be mixed and matched. It also looks chic and funky to buy separates in great patterns and colors to mix and match them. Finally, a great, black pair always looks sophisticated and classy for sleeping or lounging around the house.

When purchasing pregnancy pajamas, go with your pre-pregnancy size, making sure you avoid belts, bands, and any restriction around the tummy area. If you are making this purchase early on you can try maternity pajamas on with a small pillow to make sure they will fit in later months. If you get the right material, with enough stretch, you should be able to wear a nice pair throughout your entire pregnancy. If you invest in a pair of pajamas that also double as nursing pajamas, you will be able to wear them throughout the pregnancy and early stages of your infant's life. They can be purchased at department stores, local retailers, online retailers, or through maternity boutiques. They range in price from relatively cheap (about $20) to pricier designer or name brands (around $150).

If your clothes, especially your maternity pajamas, are ill-fitting, you will never be able to get comfortable, let alone get a good night's sleep. Invest in some pajamas made especially for pregnant women. Pregnancy is a time in which you should take the utmost care of yourself and your needs so take advantage of this time and invest a little bit of money so you can be as comfortable as you can possibly be. When your baby arrives, a good night's rest will go right out the window, so enjoy it while you can.

Are You Putting Your Unborn Baby's Health at Risk?

If you are like most expectant mothers you want to create, design, and decorate a special place for your new baby, a place that speaks from your heart, is safe, and comfortable.

However, your good intentions could be endangering your new born. What most new mom's don't know is that redecorating means exposing your unborn child to toxic chemicals through; brand new paint, new carpet, washable vinyl, wallpaper, new crib with synthetic mattress, new no iron sheets, new easy care synthetic clothing, disinfectants, scented baby lotions, powders, synthetic fiber stuffed animals, plastic rattles all of which are made with toxic chemicals and are potential health risks to your new baby's health.

Children and babies are more susceptible than adults to the adverse health affects of toxins because pound for pound since they are growing their little bodies are metabolizing faster than adults, they breath faster, their blood brain barrier that protects adults from toxins, is not yet fully developed, their detox system, the liver and kidneys are still developing which means that their bodies have a difficult time eliminating toxins so the toxins are stored in their fatty tissue.

Furthermore, babies and small children play and crawl on the floor and ground where many toxins are found. They put their hands and toys into their mouths which increases their exposure to toxic elements in the home. They don't know what is toxic and what is safe.

Think about it. At no other time in history have there been more toxic chemicals in our environment. The most toxic environments are indoors where humans spend 65% of their time. New mom's and babies are at greater risk of long term exposure to toxic chemicals in the home because they spend 95% of their time in the home. That is why it is important to start now protecting yourself and your newborn baby. The best place to start is in the nursery.

I'm going to start with the crib because in the beginning your baby spends 90% of the time in the crib thus being exposed to toxic chemicals for prolonged periods. Some chemicals used to make synthetic mattresses are phthalates and PBDE - flame retardants, polyurethane, foam, polyester, plastic, formaldehyde. They all emit dangerous toxins that your baby breathes in or absorbs through the skin when in the crib.

Some examples of the dangerous chemicals mentioned above and the adverse health risks:

* Phthalates. Studies show they have been linked to damage of the liver, kidney and lungs, harmful to the reproductive system, and developing testicles. They are absorbed through the skin and by inhalation. Phthalates are found in plastics, flooring, cosmetics, nail polish, perfume, hair spray, to name a few.

* PBDE, fire retardant, has been linked to brain development and thyroid problems in lab rats. PBDE is found in most furniture fabrics and woods, cabinets, beds and in children's pajamas.

* According to the EPA the health effects of formaldehyde include eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing, fatigue, skin rash, severe allergic reactions and may cause cancer. In asthma suffers formaldehyde has been known to cause asthma attacks. Formaldehyde is used in many stains and other synthetic materials.

However, don't worry there are many solutions for a safe crib. Look for mattresses made of natural cotton or wool. Find blankets, sheets, clothing, and toys that are made of natural or organic cottons and wools. When buying natural buy organic, when possible.

If you can't find a natural mattress for baby then use a piece of thick cotton material to put over the synthetic mattress and under the fitted sheet. Thus, the fitted sheet for baby's mattress will go over the thick cotton fabric and the mattress. If possible use organic cotton. If you can't find organic cotton wash the thick cotton cloth several times so that you can wash out any toxins and pesticides.

Furthermore, when buying the crib be sure to buy something with a safe non-toxic finish. Maple is said to be the least toxic wood. See if you can find a crib made of maple with a non-toxic finish.

Do not ever paint the room yourself. Breathing in the toxic fumes from the paint can harm your unborn child even if the paint is no or low VOC (volatile organic compounds).

Sanding and scraping the walls while your pregnant may expose you to lead dust which can be extremely dangerous to your unborn child since their brains and central nervous system aren't yet fully developed. In addition, your unborn child may store the lead in their fatty tissue because their liver and kidney's aren't yet fully developed and able to eliminate it. Even children under the age of 6 are vulnerable to lead poisoning because their organs aren't yet fully developed. Exposure to low levels of lead have produced adverse health affects like low IQ, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, stunted growth, attention deficit disorder (ADD), impaired hearing, and kidney damage. High levels of lead exposure have contributed to mental retardation, a coma and even death.

Get someone else to paint and sand the room for you. Make sure they use water based, low or no VOC (volatile organic compound) paint. Similarly, due to increased environmental regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency paint and stain companies have been forced to reduce the VOC's in their products. However, the VOC levels are still dangerous in conventional paints so make sure that you ask for low or no VOC paint or stain. Most paint companies now have a line of no or low VOC paints.

What are VOC's? For years conventional paints needed VOC's to perform. These VOC's are toxic and have contributed to indoor air pollution. Paints with high VOC's emit low levels of VOC's into the air for many years to come. Moreover, VOC's have been linked to nausea, cancer, damage to liver and kidney, headaches, nose and throat irritation to name a few. For more information go to the Environmental Protection Agency, at http://www.epa.gov.

Be sure that you finish painting at least one month before baby is born. To dry paint use a room space heater. By drying the paint you will help the paint to harden so it doesn't release toxins into the air.

Absolutely stay away from new carpet and flooring, keep what is already in your home. New carpet is among the most toxic material in your home, it is treated with many different chemicals. If you absolutely have to put down new flooring use pre-finished hardwood, re-claimed wood, natural linoleum, bamboo all with water based non-toxic finishes. The best finish is water based as it is less toxic than oil based finishes. When you are shopping ask the manufacture if the finish is water or oil based.

Toys are difficult because you want to give your child everything. However, most toys are made with plastics which can be toxic. The best bet is to do what Toucan Sam says, "Follow your nose." If the toy smells weird or toxic don't buy it. The best toys are wood or made of natural fibers like cotton or wool.

Diapers. Beware of disposable diapers. They are made of plastics and synthetic fibers. Some companies add unknown deodorizing chemicals that can be irritating to your baby's skin.

Common health problems linked to disposable diapers are diaper rash; chemical burns, noxious chemical and insecticide odors, and babies pull diapers apart and put them into their mouths and noses. The synthetic, plastic materials don't allow babies skin to breath and thus contribute to diaper rash. Because disposable diapers feel dryer than cloth to parents, many parents postpone changing the diaper longer which means the bacteria from the urine remains in contact with baby's delicate skin longer. This also contributes to increased cases of diaper rash.

Since disposable diapers don't breathe and provide proper circulation of air to baby's skin, ammonia from the bacterial breakdown of urine is unable to escape causing further irritation to your baby's delicate skin. In addition, disposable diapers that have been bleached are known to have dioxins. Studies show that dioxins can cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and immune system suppression. Moreover, once dioxins enter the body they are stored in the fatty tissue where they stay, because they aren't able to breakdown and dissolve in fats, they are a "rock solid" stable chemical according to the World Health Organization.

On the other hand diapers made from natural materials breathe and give proper circulation to baby's skin and parents change them more often so they contribute to your baby's health and comfort. Furthermore, the natural fabric is soft and comfortable against baby's fragile skin.

Avoid toxic nail polish, perfumes, hair spray and deodorant while pregnant. I would avoid them altogether even after your pregnant, but particularly while you are pregnant. Conventional nail polishes and perfumes contain phthalates that can be absorbed by inhaling, through the skin, and ingested when they contaminate food. Phthalates are banned from nail polish in Europe. Phthalates have been linked to liver and kidney damage, damage of the lungs and the reproductive system, especially the developing testes.

Stay away from conventional hair sprays, hair gels and deodorants they contain toxic chemicals that can harm your baby. A rule of thumb I follow is if it smells toxic it probably is. Avoid it.

Steer clear of conventional cleaning and laundry products all have toxic chemicals. The most toxic conventional household cleaning products are: air fresheners, stain removers for clothing, anything that says anti bacterial, as it contains pesticides which are intended to be toxic and kill, chlorine bleach, ammonia and anything that smells toxic and strong. Again "follow your nose" and if it smells toxic, it probably is.

Simple solutions:

Instead of air freshener open a window or find where the odor is coming from and eliminate the source. Put a few drops (about 5 to 10) of pure, organic essential oil in a spray bottle of distilled water and use it as air freshener. Another trick for freshening air is put a few drops of essential oil on a light bulb that is going to be turned on. For stains on clothing, use clear liquid non-toxic soap on the stain as soon as you notice it. Simply poor the soap right on the stain, rub it in and put it into the laundry basket until laundry time. Most times the stain comes right out when you wash it. Stains become stains when they stay on the fabric untreated not because you aren't using toxic stain remover.

To rid your home of bacteria and viruses use simple warm water and soap, if it is good enough for hospitals to kill germs it is good enough for your home. Instead of chlorine bleach try non-chlorine bleach it works great without the toxic odor.

Many people say to me, ya, ya but families have been using toxic chemicals in their homes to clean for generations and they are fine. I say to them that it might seem like they are fine, but that doesn't explain why asthma in children has increased 40% since the 80's and it is being linked to environmental toxins and dioxins. There has been a rise in non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (a type of cancer that is unpredictable), and it can be linked to toxins in the environment.

Moreover, there has been a measured increase in the presence of pesticides in human blood. Remember this is dangerous because pesticides are created to kill anything living which includes plants, animals and humans. Every 2 to 5 years levels of PBDE's, fire retardants in humans have been doubling. In North America the levels are 40 times higher than on other continents. As mentioned above PBDE's are linked to brain and thyroid problems in lab rats and are stored in fatty tissue. Furthermore, babies are being born with toxins already in their bodies and each generation is more toxic than the previous generation.

It isn't necessary to use toxic chemicals in your home when there are healthy safe alternatives, especially in a home with a baby and children. Your health is all you have and protecting yourself and your new born from toxic chemicals in your home is an added layer of health insurance as well as added peace of mind.

"Think and go green,"

TheGreenQueen

Early Pregnancy Symptoms - Guide For Future Mums

Pregnancy is a way to complete the life of a woman and it would be anticipated to see that very first sign of pregnancy. If you have been sexually active and experiencing symptoms such as a missed period, breast tenderness, nausea and vomiting, and tiredness, it is important to take a pregnancy test.

Probably one of the most alarming early symptoms of pregnancy is when you have missed your period. This possible sign of pregnancy is frequently what causes women to look for much more facts regarding the other pregnancy symptoms. You can miss your period if you are affected by polycystic ovary syndrome. In this case, the menstrual periods come following several months. In case you miss your period and usually do not have any of the above stated issues check other pregnancy signs to understand other pregnancy symptoms.

Your breasts may also give you a clue that you might really be pregnant. As early as two to three weeks following conception, hormonal changes happen which makes your breasts feeling swollen, tender to touch, or sensitive. Your breasts may possibly look fuller and heavier.

Nausea when pregnant is also known as morning sickness. Nausea takes place due to the fact the potential of feeling using the sense of smell and taste of a pregnant woman gets enhanced and she can sense the urge of vomiting even with just the smell of her favourite perfume and some other foods. You will find situations that you encounter this symptom and believed that it is one of the early pregnancy symptoms. However, it may also occur due to food poisoning.

Pregnancy brings tremendous sense of tiredness. If you have a tendency to sense fatigue and dizziness with any other symptom, you should consult your health care provider. According to experts, tiredness is actually a typical early pregnancy symptom. Along with exhaustion, you could really feel exhausted at any time of the day and even accompanied by nausea. Even though pregnant women may possibly experience this without the feeling of nausea, this pregnancy symptom is also recognized as 'morning sickness'.

It really is essential to keep in mind that not all women will encounter every single of those signs and symptoms of pregnancy in the exact same degree. Even the same lady can experience various kinds of signs and symptoms in subsequent pregnancy than she had in her previous pregnancies. Remember when in doubt, be sure to consult your doctor and research about other early signs of pregnancy.

Overcome Infertility - How to Treat Infertility With Minerals - Copper

As we mentioned in previous articles, infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse. It effects over 5 million couples alone in the U. S. and many times more in the world. Because of unawareness of treatments, only 10% seek help from professional specialists. We have spent most of the time in this series discussing the conventional and Chinese medicine in treating fertility. I believe, it is the best time to change the subject by discussing how Minerals--Copper effects fertility.

1. Immunity
Copper is vital in maintaining the production of antibodies and white blood cells as well as antioxidant enzymes, thereby increasing the immune system in fighting against infection and inflammation and preventing the immune abnormal function of antibody antigen production.

2. Enzyme production
Low levels of copper may alter enzyme systems in regulating the reproductive function in offspring production, leading to decreasing of the chance of fertility caused by sexual libido and low quality sperm production.

3. Nervous symptoms
Since our brain requires certain amount of copper in transmitting information. Deficiency of copper increases the risk of stress, resulting in over production of certain hormones ( adrenaline and serotonin), leading to nervous tension including emotional and physical stress.

4. Anaemia
Although zinc is important for the reproductive health, overdose of zinc may cause copper deficiency, leading to low red blood count and decreasing the blood function in oxygen absorption, thus increasing the risk of blood and nutrients deficiency, causing irregular ovulation in women and lower quality of sperm in men.

II. Side effects and risks
1. Over dose of copper is toxic and may cause unexplained infertility
2. Intake of copper supplements may increase the levels of gastric acids.
3. Over dose of copper for prolong period of time may cause liver and kidney diseases.

Medical Assistant Degree - Go That Extra Mile

The degree of a medical assistant can be achieved after taking the medical assistance course. A number of medical assistance certificate courses are available and you should base your decision on which type of course do you want to take. The courses can be on a full time basis as well as on a part time basis; also it can be a masters degree in nursing. This article will provide you basic information about the different medical assistant degree courses that are available. If this article will be sufficient to arouse your interest in the subject, then you should continue with your research about the different courses from the official websites and other resources.

• Most institutes offer full time degree courses in all the four branches of medical assistant courses, namely the adult, child, mental health and learning disabilities. The time span of these degree courses is usually about three years, which also include practical practice of the course. The time span of the medical assistant degree courses is more than that of similar certificate courses because in degree courses the students are given an extensive training about different aspects of the treatment. For instance, the student has to learn how to assist the doctor in an operation room or how to take medical records from a burn injury patient. The course also focuses on developing communication skills through medical terms. Besides that the students are also trained with observational skills and caring for the patient. An introduction to maternity care is also given to the adult medical assistance course students.

50% of the program is dedicated to provide practical experience to the students in healthcare units. These practical experiences are of immense value to students as it prepares the student with the realities of the hospital life.

• Apart from the full time medical assistance degree courses, some institutions also offer part time degree courses. These part time degree courses are specially designed for students who are working professionals themselves, most of the time healthcare professionals. The part time degree courses are also available in all the above four branches of nursing and completing the part time course usually takes 4 years. Before admitting to a part time degree course in a medical college, you should be sure that you have the motivation for carrying out such a long duration course all the while maintaining your professional life.

There are several universities offering both part time courses in medical assistant and also full time courses. These courses are an ideal way to start your career in healthcare, which has proven itself to be largely a recession proof sector. With the increasing demand for trained medical professionals, you can command a considerable salary if you have a degree backing your intention to work as a nurse in the hospital or the clinic. However, one important point to consider before enrolling in any medical assistance course is to check the accreditation of the institution offering the course. The fee structure and the finance plans available with the fee structure are also critical points to consider.

Help - I Am Overweight and Pregnant!

What if you are a woman with a weight problem? Suppose your Body Mass Index indicates you to be moderately obese or worse. What course of action should you take? You would like to drop some weight both for you and the baby but aren't sure how dieting will affect your pregnancy.

First off see a doctor. Any action you take to lose weight should be discussed with a physician, either your own, if you have one or call the local hospital to inquire about a doctor or a nearby free clinic where you could talk to a health professional for free. If you have no doctor and the hospital can't assign you to one or you can't afford one, ask for the Director of Social Work at the hospital whose job it is to point out alternative services. 

Don't be surprised if the doctor you talk to recommends you gain weight. It is a function of pregnancy and shouldn't be short-circuited by an unreasonable diet. Eat as well as you can.  Use healthy foods to fill you up. It isn't uncommon for overweight women to drop some weight in the first trimester due to morning sickness. But as with all pregnancies, the mother will gain weight just from the fetal development. It is common for women to drop more weight right after birth than they accumulated during pregnancy.

As far as exercise goes, swimming and walking are excellent for both mother and baby. Each can be done at your own pace and both of them encourage healthy circulation and can be done by anyone. 

If you have no insurance, then see Medicaid. They can't deny you service because pregnancy is specifically covered under Medicaid. One advantage that you will get with Medicaid is that once you are on it, they extend it to the baby for its first year of life.

Two of the things you must stay away from as a expectant mother are alcohol and caffeine. Eat lots of protein, calcium and high-nutrient food such as whole grains. Drink lots of water and eat lots of small meals, up to 5 or 6 a day. Remember you are eating for two however you must eat smart. Eliminate non-natural processed food as much as possible. It is critical that as an expectant mother you make the right food choices. Being pregnant changes your metabolism. Sometimes expectant mothers will actually lose weight because their metabolism changes so much.

Two things you should consider as an expectant mother is taking pre natal vitamins and eating lots of green food. Green foods such as spinach, lettuce or broccoli are excellent sources of folic acid. 

Being overweight and pregnant can be tough but the thing is that whether overweight or not, an expectant mother should gain weight. It isn't a good idea to try to lose weight during pregnancy.   

Eat good foods, get some exercise and your body will do the rest. Just don't get caught up in the whole I am eating for two so I can eat whatever I want. 

During & After Pregnancy, Take Care of Yourself With Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a type of ancient Chinese medicine. It has been used for thousands of years, and works with over 2,000 pressure points and energy meridians in your body. As you probably know, acupuncture uses disposable needles as thin as a strand of hair placed just below the skin to stimulate these points on your body. Treatments are usually painless. At worst, patients have reported tingling, heaviness, or a slight burning sensation where certain needles are positioned.

What is great for pregnant women is that acupuncture provides assistance with a myriad of conditions associated with pregnancy without drugs. Pregnant women need to work with a highly skilled practitioner, since stimulating certain points on the body can hasten labor by ripening the cervix.

A study by Harvard University figured that over 5 million Americans visit acupuncturists every year. The National Institute of Health supports this claim, saying that a growing number of doctors and dentists refer people to acupuncturists for prevention as well as treatment.

Acupuncture is a common treatment for headaches, allergies, arthritis, digestion problems, and relief from the side effects of chemotherapy. At every stage of pregnancy and beyond, acupuncture has time-honored and scientifically-proven benefits--not just for you but for your baby. Valerie Hobbs, director of the Southwest Acupuncture College, says that babies can be influenced by "maternal toxins" while in the womb. These toxins can lead to higher fevers, frequent childhood illnesses, and a tendency towards skin irritations. Hobbs says, "Regular balancing treatments throughout pregnancy enhance the health of the mother, preventing complications and influence the development of the baby."

FIRST TRIMESTER: MORNING SICKNESS, NAUSEA, BLEEDING, & MIGRAINES

It is controversial if traditional acupuncture can cause fetal movement, early contractions, and spontaneous abortion in the first trimester. However, a well-known acupuncture study was conducted in the UK on about 600 women who were in the first trimester. No adverse reactions were found. Women in the study reported less fatigue, migraines, bloating, and bleeding. Also, the women reported less frequent and less severe bouts of nausea.

To error on the side of caution, you should only trust a nationally-certified and experienced acupuncturist. California is the only state not requiring acupuncturists to be nationally-certified. Again, it's especially important for pregnant women to work only with very experienced practitioners. Although not essential, acupuncturists with a certificate in Chinese herbology is even better, as their understanding of the entire Chinese medicine system will be superior. You can also have "ear acupuncture" (versus "body acupuncture") or acupressure (without needles) done in the first trimester to reduce any risk of complication.

SECOND TRIMESTER: HEARTBURN, HEMORRHOIDS, & STRESS

In addition to heartburn, hemorrhoids, and stress, Hobbs says that second-trimester acupuncture can also reduce edema, high blood pressure, and excessive weight gain. If you are experiencing any of these more serious problems, consult with your regular doctor as well.

THIRD TRIMESTER: BACK AND PELVIC GIRDLE PAIN

The third trimester is universally considered the safest time to undergo acupuncture treatments. Benefits during this stage include relief from: sciatica, back pain, carpal tunnel, and pelvic girdle pain. Acupuncture has actually been found to be better at reducing back pain, which effects ¾ of third trimester women, than massage, heat, and exercise, according to the Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.

According to BBC News, one in three pregnant women are affected by pelvic girdle pain in the third trimester. In a British study of 386 pregnant women, they were broken up into three groups. One group did a standard at-home exercise routine; the next group did exercise and acupuncture; the final group did a specialized exercise regimen. The expectant moms undergoing acupuncture reported the least pain. Dr. Graham Archard, vice-chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, says, "Pregnant women should be avoiding drugs, so acupuncture, which releases the bodies painkillers, should be of benefit."

IN LABOR: REDUCE PAIN, INCREASE ENERGY

Not only is acupuncture effective at inducing labor with overdue babies, but is can help reposition a breech presentation. Using a form of acupuncture called moxabustion has been shown to have a significant effect on turning breech presentations into head-first births, as reported by the Journal of American Medical Association. Additionally, acupuncture during labor can reduce pain and increase energy and vitality. It has also helped women with extensive bleeding after delivery stop the flow.

POST-PARTUM: RECUPERATING, PREVENTING DEPRESSION

Whether your delivery was by vaginal birth or C-section, acupuncture can bring pain relief. If you are concerned about postpartum depression, Hobbs says, "We theoretically prevent serious postpartum depression from occurring by addressing the normal recuperative cycle in the woman." As acupuncture can help bring your entire self back into balance, feelings of depression and stress will naturally be reduced. It's also been demonstrated that pregnant women receiving acupuncture have a lower rate of postpartum depression.

Shoshana Bennett, Ph.D.

Author, Postpartum Depression for Dummies

SOURCES:

http://www.pregnancytoday.com/reference/articles/acupuncture.htm

http://www.webmd.com/news/20000706/acupuncture-pregnancy-lower-back-pain

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2844/acupuncture_and_pregnancy.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4358509.stm

http://www.pregnancytoday.com/articles/pregnancy/acupuncture-1241

A Mother Discovers the Power of Her Placenta Through Placenta Encapsulation

I started my placenta research in August 2008 when I found I was pregnant with my second child. I was mostly interested in finding new ways to increase my breastmilk supply because I struggled the first time around. Unusual holistic healing traditions interest me greatly so I began to study the uses for placenta around the world. I was most interested in the dehydration and encapsulation method called placenta encapsulation which seemed the most modern and un-invasive way to benefit from the placenta.

Two women, who I met through a natural mothers' group offered me the chance to experiment with their placentas in attempt to make my first capsules. One of the mothers had suffered severely from post-natal depression after the birth of her first child and felt she would try anything to avoid those symptoms from returning. The encapsulations were a total success, and, both women couldn't recommend it enough. They said they felt happier, more in control, had a plentiful milk supply, bled less and never felt overwhelmed or anxious.

I gave birth to my son on 21st March 2009, at home in water and used my placenta in many ways. Within minutes if its' birth, I placed a small piece of the raw placenta inside my lip (on my gums) and allowed the hormones and nutrients to be absorbed into my body immediately. This was done to stop post-natal bleeding. When the placenta detaches from the uterine wall it leaves a large bleeding wound that takes time and much nutrients and hormones to heal. The placenta is packed with rich growth factors called cytokines that stimulate cell mitosis or cell division, the making of new cells, essential when healing the body and for repair and regeneration of damaged tissue. However after birth new mothers are depleted of the normal levels of growth factors in their body and need extra help to heal their torn body.

One hour after birth my mother blended a raw placenta smoothie made with organic berry fruits and about a palm sized piece of raw placenta. Within 10 hours my milk had 'come-in' and my bleeding had nearly stopped. My midwife was amazed at these results and astounded with the amount of energy I had after birth. I encapsulated the remains of my placenta which I took 1-3 times a day for about 4 months. I called them my "happy pills".

I became inspired by this lost tradition. I began to research the uses for the placenta in history and found that many midwives all around the world used the placenta for different healing purposes during pregnancy, birth and post-natal. According to a book called Jacques Gelis in History of Childbirth: Fertility, Pregnancy and Birth in Early Modern Europe, by Jacques Gelis, there were 'placenta apothecaries' in the 1700's who used human placenta powder to assist midwives with difficult births; it seemed to help repel the baby or placenta if labour had slowed or halted. In some cultures the placenta was placed directly onto the newborn to allow the healing heat energy to be absorbed into the newborn. The placenta can also be used this way to cure very bad skin conditions such as dermatitis, writes Cornelia Enning in Placenta: The Gift of Life.

The Western world began to lose recognition of the placenta in the mid 1800's when male doctors took over and interrupted natural birthing traditions. Once Gynaecology and Obstetrics were invented, birthing women were strapped to tables, put to sleep with ether cones and babies ripped from their wombs. Any ancient placenta healing methods were lost. Midwives were burned at the stake for being 'witches', changing birth forever. Male doctors found the placenta repulsive and thought if the mother ate her placenta she was likely to eat her own baby. Even farmers began to remove the placenta from their animals before the new mother had a chance to ingest it. The placenta became non-existent and is still today regularly wasted, sent for incineration by the hospitals.

I like to encourage women to use the placenta the way nature intends it - after birth to heal the body and bring fresh nutrients to the mother and her baby through breast milk.

What bewilders me the most is that most UK ante-natal classes and birth preparation workshops focus so much attention on the baby after birth. But what about the new mother? Everything is sore and tender, including our emotions? Birth can be very traumatic, both emotionally and physically and new mothers do not expect to feel so depleted after birth. Expecting mothers are warned of slight baby blues but are not made aware of the actual physical consequence birth has on the body. I find it sad that so many negative symptoms are referred to as 'normal' for women to suffer from after birth. With low energy, no sleep, low iron levels, irregular hormones and fewer female family members nearby to assist a new, healing mother, it's no wonder 1 in 10 women in this country suffer from post-natal depression. I feel determined to promoting the use of the placenta to put an end to this unnecessary post-birth misery. I believe the placenta is what nature gave us to heal, a new mother's personal healing gift from her baby.

I am passionate about the benefits of the placenta. I truly believe the placenta holds the key to a quicker, more natural post-birth recovery. Our clients are regular mums who have said they don't think their post-birth experience would have been as positive if it wasn't for their placenta capsules. My aim is simply to inform women that placenta encapsulation is a possibility, as most people aren't even aware it exists.

The Gift of Life, Cornelia Enning Birth: The surprising History of how we are born, Tina Cassidy History of Childbirth: Fertility, Pregnancy and Birth in Early Modern Europe, Jacques Gelis (this book has an entire chapter dedicated to the Placenta)

An Empowered Pregnancy - Pregnancy Journals Can Help Create One

Pregnancy can be a time of great wonderment and excitement. Some days fly by and you wonder how you will get it all done. Other days can't come to an end fast enough. Regardless of the way any particular day feels, each day brings with it a new thought, a new feeling, and new experiences. Are you keeping track of them?

Between prenatal appointments, on any given day, questions may arise. They come without warning and some days they come often and with fire. When you arrive at your next appointment you want to be ready to get your questions answered. Are you are you writing them down?

Over 4 million women give birth each year. Before giving birth, they each go into labor with some sort of plan; an idea, a concept, or a vision, of how they want their labor and birth to be. Do you have a vision for your pregnancy and birth? Have you made it plain?

I have spoken to many women about the feelings they have when their pregnancy has come to an end and they realize many of their experiences may fade into faint memories. They may have a few pictures, however, the depth of the emotions, and the small yet important details of the experiences, are often lost.

Many women have burning questions, yet they arrive to their next prenatal appointment only to realize they don't remember. Or they lack the confidence to ask the pertinent questions.

Many women have ideas about how they want their pregnancy and birth to go, yet they never make it plain and as the days pass by, and labor ensues, they often find themselves in a rapid whirlwind of activity with little resemblance of their original idea.

This is where pen and paper can come in handy. If you have not done so already, I encourage you to purchase a pregnancy journal; nothing fancy, a small note book that can easily fit in your purse or pocket. Take the advice of Pam England, author of Birthing From Within when she says: "Beware: Stay away from pretty journals! They might inhibit you form being spontaneous, messy, wild, and free." Regardless of the journal you decide to use, keep it with you at all times and be prepared to write. There are many benefits to writing down your ideas, your visions, your questions, and your experiences.

Don't be afraid to stop for a moment of reflection when a movement from the baby brings up a certain emotion. Don't hesitate to keep track of your feelings of joy as well as feeling of despair or fear. Write them all down as you do so, you will be able to work through them, ultimately moving to a place of faith and confidence.

Use your journal when you have a question or concern. Writing the question down and using your journal during your next prenatal appointment will give you more confidence to ask a question during what may seem to be a rushed appointment.

Write out the vision you have for your pregnancy and birth experience. How do you see yourself birthing your baby? Where will you birth? Who will be there? Paint a picture with words and make it plain. Draw an actual picture if you would like and make it real. As you read, as you grow, as you learn, your vision may change. Change it in your journal too.

Use your journal to embrace the different feelings, the different questions, the different visions that you have. In addition to that, reserve some time to write with careless abandonment. Write FREELY!! Don't worry about punctuation or grammar. Allow your free writing to guide you to places of faith, fear, excitement, and frustration. Through writing, you can move to a place of trust, in your body, in your pregnancy, in your baby, and in your birth. If you begin to keep track of your experiences and write them down you will be able to use the power of the pen and paper to successfully help you create the Empowered Pregnancy you deserve.

Manikins For Training Nursing Skills

Advanced delivery and maternal and neonatal emergency simulator is a comprehensive education system, which consists of a delivery maternal manikin and a normal newborn, according to the basic requirement of obstetrics, providing a complete birth experience and emergency skills operation. Simulator features includes automatic delivery system, fetus and placental expulsion, prenatal cervix examination and postpartum episiotomy, prenatal gravid and fetus and postpartum maternal and neonatal care, removable stomach cover, multiple fetal heart sounds auscultation and CPR operation etc.

The model is made of imported PVC material. The stomach wall is injection - molded. Perineum is made of sponge emulsion material, features soft texture, good flexibility, realistic operation, reasonable structure and durability. It is one of the ideal teaching aids for clinical obstetrics practice training.

Product Features:

1. Advanced delivery maternal manikin can practice maternal care

2. Life size maternity, soft and removable stomach cover can be replaced for a auscultation stomach cover and c-section stomach cover

3. Maternal tracheal intubation

4. Automatic birthing system to simulate the entire birthing process. This model can simulate normal delivery process via occiput right interior position; demonstrate engagement - descent - flexion - inner rotation - extension - reset and external rotation -- fetal shoulder expulsion etc. This model can also simulate difficult labor and midwifery course. Simulate normal and abnormal fetal position (head birth and breech delivery).

5. Can carry out multiple fetal heart sound auscultation

6. Provides prenatal cervix examination; simulate 6 stages of cervical dilation

7. Can measure fetal head descent and cervical dilation

8. Simulate normal placenta location, multiple placenta locations and placenta chips residue

9. Vulval incision and suturing modules can be inserted into perineum to practice perineotomy,suturing and wound nursing after perineotomy

10. Postpartum uterine bleeding and fundal massage

11. Venous injection on maternal arm, drug treatment and liquid infusion

12. Maternal carotid artery pulse

13. Maternal blood pressure measurement

14. Maternal CPR

15. Articulating normal birthing baby with umbilical cord and normal placenta, life size. Can practice umbilical cord legation and placental expulsion

16. Neonatal transfusion simulator, providing newborn baby nursing, tracheal intubation, venous injection

Cough Syrup Fertility Miracle - Can Cough Syrup Help You to Get Pregnant?

If you have been struggling to get pregnant, or if you are just starting to try for your first baby there may be a secret ingredient to help increase your chances of conceiving. What is this surprising fertility miracle? Believe it or not; cough syrup. Fertility experts are not all in agreement but there is some scientific evidence that proves cough medicine may actually help women conceive. But there are a few things you need to know about cough syrup and pregnancy.

The key ingredient you want to be on the lookout for when choosing a cough medicine for fertility purposes is guaifenesin. This ingredient can help you get pregnant by thinning your cervical fluid. This allows the sperm to pass through your cervix to the egg more easily.

Why does guaifenesin work so well? It is a common ingredient in cough medicine or other expectorants that relieve congestion by thinning and liquefying mucus in your lungs. It actually does this on all mucous membranes in your body so it can thin your cervical fluid too. Make sure you pick a cough medicine with guaifenesin as its only active ingredient.

You must be tracking your ovulation for it to help. If you are not producing much cervical fluid when you are ovulating then guaifenesin may be what you need to conceive. The key to this is tracking your ovulation and checking your cervical fluid; that is the only way to know when the appropriate time to take the guaifenesin. Of course some women just take the cough medicine throughout their entire ovulation period but it tends to work best on women who produce some quantity of cervical fluid.

If you choose to try using cough syrup to help you get pregnant be sure guaifenesin is the only active ingredient. It bears repeating because a cough medicine with an antihistamine can actually decrease cervical fluid. So again, choose the right cough syrup. Fertility chances can decrease if you choose the wrong one. Take two teaspoons three times per day while you are ovulating.

Pain In Early Pregnancy: When Should You Really Worry?

Experiencing pain in the first trimester of pregnancy can be frightening yet a normal part of pregnancy. For the most part, there are simple explanations for these aches and twinges. Despite these early pains, most women go on to have a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Understanding the normal pains of a healthy pregnancy versus the symptoms of miscarriage will help get you through the uncertain weeks of first trimester.

Rounding Ligament Pain

Low abdominal cramping is the most common complaint from pregnant women in the first trimester. The cramping feeling is the result of rounding ligament pain.

Throughout your pregnancy, your uterus will grow from about the size of an orange to the size of a basketball. The ligaments that surround and support the uterus are called the round ligaments and their job is to support that transformation.

The pain feels like quick, sharp pains and can be centralized on either side of the abdomen or in the middle. Moving quickly from sitting to a standing position, laughing and even coughing can bring on rounding ligament pain.

A doctor cannot perform a test to confirm the reason for the cramping, but can rule out other causes of your pain. Your doctor may recommend some stretches, and taking it easy is always a good idea when you are experiencing a lot of rounding ligament pain.

Taking an acetaminophen form of aspirin when the cramping is particularly painful will help take the edge off. Check with your doctor before taking any medication when pregnant.

Ectopic Pregnancy

The symptoms of ectopic pregnancy begin around the sixth week of pregnancy. According to the March of Dimes, approximately 2 percent of all pregnancies are ectopic.

This condition refers to a fertilized egg attaching itself incorrectly somewhere on its trip to the uterus; most likely the Fallopian tube. The pain that is experienced with ectopic pregnancy is a consistent, sharp pain. It is usually located on one side of the abdomen but can be centered. The pain is often accompanied by spotting.

Ectopic pregnancy cannot result in a baby and can be a danger to the mother. Your doctor can rule out rounding ligament pain and identify an ectopic pregnancy through a pelvic exam and an ultrasound.

If you suspect an ectopic pregnancy, contact your doctor immediately or go to a hospital emergency room.

When Pain Is A Warning Sign

Just as not all pain in pregnancy signifies danger to you or your baby, some pain experienced in early pregnancy is not benign. The fact is that one in five pregnancies end in a miscarriage.

Although you may only be in the first trimester, the cramping and pain you feel can actually be contractions. If the pain starts out relatively mildly but increases and is accompanied by other symptoms, you may be experiencing a miscarriage.

Signs of miscarriage include sharp and persistent cramping in the lower abdomen, light spotting to heavy bleeding and passing tissue. Any of these symptoms warrant a call or a visit to your doctor.

If you have any questions or concerns about pain at anytime in your pregnancy, do not hesitate to contact your doctor. If your pain is sharp, consistent, and accompanied by any other symptoms go to your local emergency room.

Naturopathy - Help Getting Pregnant With Endometriosis and Painful Ovulation

What is "Naturopathy", and how can it help with getting pregnant faster if you are suffering with endometriosis and painful ovulation? When you are suffering from infertility and searching for answers that your doctor and "modern medicine" can't give you, the answer to that one question could be the turning point in your struggle to get pregnant.

First, let's define this new buzzword everyone is using, "Naturopathy." It simply means using nature's medicines and your body's built-in healing abilities instead of synthetic concoctions from the drug companies. Many people think Naturopathy is just a snake-oil mumbo-jumbo term people use to dress up some crazy concoction they want to sell you, when in fact, a lot of the research for many of the drugs developed by the major pharmaceutical companies start with nature's own herbs and medicines.

In their quest to "improve" on nature, many times the results of the drug company's efforts produce synthetic drugs with potentially dangerous side effects. Naturopathy is the practice of using nature's own remedies in their natural form, the way they have been used for thousands of years, in conjunction with the body's own amazing healing powers.

Naturopathy can be extremely effective for treating infertility or trouble or problems conceiving and getting pregnant because it focuses on curing the illness or problem instead of just relieving or masking the symptoms. Of course there can be specific medical problems or issues that cause infertility, but in a huge majority of cases it is just an imbalance of the reproductive system that prevents getting pregnant. Naturopathy combines nature's remedies with a healthy lifestyle to help return your reproductive functions to their normal balance.

Sometimes it only takes one small thing to throw your reproductive system out of wack. Endometriosis is not a small thing, and it can certainly cause infertility problems. Especially when its effects have painful results, like painful ovulation, menstrual cycles, or even painful intercourse. Naturopathic treatment methods for endometriosis focus on returning balance to your reproductive system so that endometrial cell growth is confined to the uterus, where it is supposed to be, not on the ovaries or other internal pelvic areas.

As simple as it sounds, the first step in naturopathic treatment is balancing a healthy lifestyle. This means a healthy diet; yes there are foods you should and shouldn't eat to promote your reproductive functions, plenty of exercise; proper exercise causes your body to function as it should, with no functions "taking a break" because they're not needed, and stress reduction: a documented and accepted contributor to infertility. Even though this seems simplistic, you only have to take a look at your own lifestyle to see how easy it is for any one, or all, of these factors to be out of balance.

Naturopathic medicine is an accepted medical method, and is a licensed practice in many states, and should only be used in conjunction with consultation with your regular doctor. It isn't a method where you can say, "Oh I need more zinc in my system" or "I just need to cut-out caffeine", it should be a complete program developed for you by a Naturopathic Practioner directed specifically at balancing your reproductive system to correct your trouble or problems conceiving, or trying to get pregnant faster. A naturopathic treatment program can greatly increase your chances to get pregnant.

Overcome Infertility - How Vitamin E Helps to Treat Infertility

As we mentioned in previous articles, infertility is defined as inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse. It affects over 5 million couples alone in the U. S. and many times more in the world. Because of unawareness of treatments, only 10% seeks help from professional specialist. Nutritional supplements play an important in treating all kinds of disease, in this article, we will discuss how vitamin E effects fertility.

1. Antioxidant
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, it helps to improve the immune system in regulating the cell duplication and minimize the risk of cell oxidation. Deficiency of vitamin E may increase the risk of irregular cell growth, leading to fibroids, endometrial adhesion and implants as well as tumor in the reproductive organ in women and increasing the risk of oxidative sperm in men.

2. Hormone production
It also plays an vital role in balancing the production of sex hormones by regulating the function of glands. Deficiency of vitamin E causes decreasing of testosterone, leading to lower sperm count that interferes with fertility.

3. Egg quality
Researcher found that deficiency of vitamin E causes poor egg quality, resulting in increasing the risk of birth defect and miscarriage.

4. Sexual lubrication
It is said that vitamin E helps to increase the production of lubrication in the vagina, thereby decreasing the pain caused by penis penetration during sexual intercourse, resulting in increasing the chance of fertility for some women.

5. Blood flow
It is said that vitamin E also helps to improve the heart function in providing nutrients and oxygen for our body cells and regulating the blood flow to the body, resulting in lessening the risk of blood stagnation in the abdomen, thus increasing the chance of fertility.

The Signs and Symptoms of Post Natal Depression

So what are the signs and symptoms of Post Natal Depression?

After many years of trying for a baby what a blow it was to find that after the birth of my beautiful daughter I felt utterly useless, had no energy and I was constantly questioning the purpose of life.

I had imagined that this would be the most ecstatic time of my life when everything I had yearned for such a long time (the arrival of my first child) had finally come to pass.

How wrong can you be? Instead I felt desperation and totally unable to cope on my own. My family kept rotas to keep me company and, as they though, sane!

The doctor kept telling me I had post natal depression but I was in denial and insisted something far more serious was wrong with me. For the sake of my family, and my beautiful baby, I eventually entered into a counselling program and started a course of antidepressants. I honestly thought I would never be "normal" again but I'm pleased to say that a full recovery ensued and I also went on to have another gorgeous daughter.

If you are reading this article and can relate to my experience please don't delay like I did. Go to your GP who can tell you if you have post natal depression and seek the treatment that is best for you.

If you think you could be suffering from post natal depression your symptoms could be some or all of the following:

Crying - This can be for no reason at all, over silly little things and can even be most of the time.

Low Mood - You find it difficult to show an interest in anything and you take little or no pleasure in your loved ones or surroundings.

Feelings of Guilt - You feel you are a burden on others and feel particularly guilty that you are a bad mother.

Eating - This can be either over-eating or an inability to eat.

Aches and Pains This can be problems with your eye sight, pain in your abdomen, even headaches and in particular worrying that something very serious is wrong with you.

No interest in sex.

These are only a few of many possible symptoms but do remember this can happen to anybody. Even the bubbly and chirpy Stacey Solomon who won our hearts on the X Factor and became "queen of the jungle" became a victim to this very cruel form of depression.