Does Your Group Health Plan Cover Pregnancy for Your Adult Child?

Many parents were extremely happy when the health-care overhaul allowed their adult children to be covered under their health plans until their child reaches the age of 26. This includes if they're married, living on their own and financially independent.

With an estimated 2.8 million women ages 15 through 25 getting pregnant annually, this expanded coverage window means that more adult children will likely become pregnant while on mom and dad's plan.

Some parents have been in for a shock when they find out that this coverage does not include their daughter's pregnancy.

A big misconception

Under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, employers offering group health plans to 15 or more employees must provide maternity benefits for employees and their spouses.

However, they are not required to extend this benefit for those employee's dependents.

What must be covered by some plans

New plans and plans that have lost their "grandfathered" status have a different set of rules they must abide by.

While the pregnancy and delivery itself are not covered, by law certain preventative health benefits must be offered to young pregnant women covered under their parent's plan.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force stipulates that a range of screenings for pregnant women - including those for anemia, hepatitis B and Rh incompatibility - must be covered.

Additionally, effective this month these plans must also provide an annual well-woman visit, screening for gestational diabetes and breast-feeding support, supplies and counseling.

The future

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires that health insurance plans sold to individuals and small businesses provide a minimum package of services in 10 categories called "essential health benefits." These include hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, ambulatory care, and prescription drugs.

As a result, starting in 2014, maternity and newborn care must be offered by all health plans in the individual and small-group markets.

This law will also apply to any plans sold through the state-based health insurance exchanges that should be up and running then.

Who does the new law not apply to?

Because health benefits at large companies are typically more comprehensive than those at small companies or individual plans, large group plans are exempt from the requirement to provide the essential health benefits, now or in 2014.

Women's health advocates are hoping that large companies will offer these essential health benefits, including maternity and newborn care voluntarily.

Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will not be establishing a national standard. Rather, they have decided to allow each state to choose from a set of plans to serve as the benchmark plan in their state. Whatever benefits that plan covers in the 10 categories will be deemed the essential benefits for plans in the state.

This may or may not include maternity and newborn care.

Break Up Blues - 5 Strategies to Get Over Depression Over a Break Up

Most people experience a break up at some point in their lives. The feelings of sadness and loss can be very significant and effect many areas of life and functioning. Sometimes, symptoms persist and can become full blown depression. Lingering sadness, anxiety, lethargy, loss of joy in activities, changes in sleep and eating habits - these can be symptoms of depression that should be addressed. It is very important to take good care of yourself during this difficult time. Here are 5 strategies to help you get over the depression of a break up:

1. Eat well and healthy. Steer clear of junk foods and processed sugars, and eat mostly fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. If you have trouble with your appetite, try carrying around healthy snack foods to eat throughout the day. If the opposite is true and you overeat, try limiting your intake to meals, and be sure you aren't eating while distracted, like in front of the TV. Set a time to stop eating in the evening.

2. Try taking supplements. It is always advisable to consult your health care provider before trying new supplements. A food based multivitamin is a good start, as well as calcium if you need additional calcium, and fish oil. Fish oil has many physical benefits including the promotion of healthy brain function. L-theanine is a good anti-anxiety natural supplement, and 5 HTP (hydroxytryptophan) is a helpful natural antidepressant that increases serotonin, a mood regulating brain neurotransmitter.

3. Exercise regularly. Consult your physician to determine the appropriate level of physical activity for you, then adopt a regular cardiovascular-focused plan. This type of exercise releases endorphins into the body through the sustained elevation of heart rate. Try working up to 45 minutes 5 times a week. Not only will you feel better emotionally, but your physical health and body image will improve.

4. See a counselor to talk things out. Spend time with friends and family who can be supportive as well. A professional ear can be valuable and the feedback very beneficial. It may be helpful to have someone to help you sort out what went wrong in your relationship and how to avoid repeating future negative patterns in relationships.

5. Practice self care on a daily basis. Make a list of small things you enjoy dong and cross one off every day when you've completed it. Make new lists once old ones are exhausted.

Genetic Enhancement, Autonomy, and Society

Prenatal and postnatal genetic enhancement may ultimately result in a post-human society. These techniques remain in the science fiction realm for the foreseeable future, but a consideration of their implications is critically important for our ability to successfully manage their impact.

What might be good concerning genetic enhancement and what might be not so good? In the early going there would be questions of distributive justice. As the procedures would be costly in the initial period of availability, the rich would get richer. One solution could involve government subsidies for those who are economically disadvantaged.

As a taxpayer, I'd resist such use of my contributions to federal coffers. Possibly the government could subsidize a select number of procedures for the entire population, and a lottery would determine the lucky families. At least, this would be a more equitable use of these new technologies.

I'll level the playing field and create a scenario in which any family can afford genetic enhancement. Is the autonomy of the enhanced child affected? On one view, as this child is the one actually born, she can have no complaints regarding autonomy, at least with respect to her enhanced genetic sequence. She's alive, and this is only a bad thing in the extremely unlikely circumstance that her life is not worth living.

Similar views have been propounded by Robertson in his discussion of early IVF techniques: "Since offspring would have had no alternative route to a healthy birth, embryo transfer... would not harm offspring, and therefore could not be banned on that basis."1

The child's autonomy would be affected by parents who attempt to limit their offspring's choices. But a child's autonomy is never that of an adult. A child's choices are always limited. A proportion of parents who choose genetic enhancement will be smart parents who have upgraded their child's opportunities and provide the space for their child to make her own choices (within the boundaries of being a child). Another group of parents will attempt to force choices upon their child. I assert this would occur regardless of the availability of genetic enhancement.

Such genetic manipulation could provide great value. I would have enjoyed being able to run faster and jump higher. What if we could be able to breathe underwater? Such an enhancement would be greatly appreciated by many. What if we could read a 400-page book in an hour? I'd like to be able to do that, too.

But considering how much progress has been achieved in the last 50 years regarding the treatment of cancer (literally zero), such genetic breakthroughs are at least 100 years away. Regardless, a forward-thinking society would have its ethical constructs in place in advance of the technology.

1 Robertson JA: The new reproduction. Southern Cal Law Rev 59:987-1000, 1986

Herniated Disc During Pregnancy

Back pain is a common occurrence during pregnancy. The weight gain, shift in your center of gravity and loosening of your ligaments caused by hormones all contribute to pain throughout the lower back and pelvis. Some women may find that their pain is caused by a bulging or herniated disc.

Disc problems are common. Many people over the age of twenty would show some signs of disc degeneration if they received spinal imaging tests, and nearly everyone in the elderly population has degenerated discs. With its commonness, it may seem that almost everyone should be suffering from chronic pain, but degenerated discs usually aren't symptomatic. They can occur or become symptomatic during pregnancy due to the extra pressure exerted on the lower back by a growing baby.

Disc Anatomy

Spinal discs sit between vertebrae and absorb shock. They are composed of a tough exterior and a gel-filled center, a construction that allows them to have a cushioning effect. Through age, spinal misalignment, uneven forces from poor posture, improper body mechanics or injury, the exterior of a disc can degrade. The fluid inside can be pushed to the weakest side of the disc, causing a bulging disc. If the exterior of the disc cracks and internal fluids leak out, the disc is herniated.

If the bulge or the leaking fluid don't cause changes in spinal mechanics or interfere with nerves, then the disc degeneration will be asymptomatic. With the addition of a growing baby, the bulge or herniation can increase and cause symptoms to arise.

The most common symptom of a herniated disc is nerve pain. In the lower back, sciatica can occur when the sciatic nerve, running from the lumbar spine to the foot on each side of the body, becomes impinged or irritated by disc material. Sciatica causes pain to radiate from the lower back down the buttock and into the leg. The pain is sharp and generally shoots down the nerve path.

Treatments

Pregnant women can still use some conventional pain treatment methods like heat and certain medications, but it is important to find something that addresses the problem directly.

Poor posture can exacerbate pressure on a damaged disc. Taking prenatal Pilates classes can help you maintain alignment and strengthen muscles around the spine that help support discs.

Chiropractic care may help alleviate pain from a herniated disc if it is caused by an alignment issue. By aligning the spinal and sacroiliac joints, a chiropractor can relieve pressure off discs and the sciatic nerve.

Acupuncture and acupressure are two types of pain management that are generally safe during pregnancy. Both interfere with pain sensations, acupuncture with the use of tiny needles and acupressure with applied pressure to specific points of the body. These therapies may work by targeting nerve clusters, releasing endorphins and/or unblocking energy meridians throughout the body (this latter explanation is the one supported by thousands of years of traditional Chinese medical practice). When seeking out a practitioner, be sure to find one well-versed in working with pregnant women. There are some pressure points believed to induce labor, which should be avoided unless that is the goal. Also, practitioners should be careful to avoid triggering muscle spasms, since the uterus is a muscle.

After delivery, the pain from your disc may subside since there will be less pressure on the lower back. It is still a good idea to pursue core strengthening exercises to provide support to the healing disc. If herniated disc pain continues well after labor, consider seeking inversion treatments that aim to expand interdiscal space and rehydrate damaged discs.

A herniated disc during pregnancy can cause lower back, buttock and leg pain. There are a number of options for safely managing pain while pregnant.

Myth: Pregnant Women Can't Find Health Insurance

Nearly every new health insurance policy written will have a "preexisting conditions" exclusion for any medical condition an individual currently has. Pregnancy would fall into this group. While it may be nearly impossible to find a standard insurance plan to cover the upcoming delivery, there are some options that are available.

Most states offer low-cost, affordable health insurance for individuals and/or their children (and this includes children within the womb in many cases!). In Indiana, we have a program called Hoosier Healthwise designed directly for low income families. Pregnant women can be eligible for full coverage or pregnancy coverage depending upon the family's income and assets. If you live in any other state, check with your state's government website.

Don't forget to check with an employer. You may be able to land a job that will provide health benefits before your baby is due. Most will have some sort of probation period, principally 30-90 days before you become eligible for benefits. And, be sure to inquire about any pre-existing conditions clause if you haven't had coverage in the past 12 months.

Do you belong to any trade associations or have any hobbies (cycling, homeschooling, small business, etc.)? Don't overlook these as an option. By pooling resources, many associations have been able to successfully arrange benefits for their members. It may be worth a look.

As a last resort, you may think about some type of point of service health program. These programs do not provide insurance "protection" but reduce the cost of health care services if the individual chooses to utilize the services of a provider in their network. Since they are not insurance products, they may not include an exclusion for maternity. Discounts range from 20-60%. While this option will not pay entirely for the delivery, it may be a cost effective non-insurance solution.

Finding a way to pay for this life-changing event can be difficult, but it's not impossible. Thinking outside the box is an important first step.

The Most Effective Herbal Treatment For Infertility

Infertility problems today are raging. A lot of couples today seek medical attention but to no extent. They have given so much time and effort, not to mention the expense, but still they couldn't find the best herbal treatment for infertility problem. Still there are a few medical practitioners who advice their patients to try the use of herbal medicine that these couples don't know the most effective treatment for the disorder.

Herbal medicine is the study or use of medicinal herbs to prevent or treat diseases or to promote health and healing. It may be a drug or preparation that is made from plant or plants that is used for treatment or promotion of health. Moringa Oleifera is considered as the most effective herbal treatment for infertility.

Moringa Oleifera is also called ben oil tree, horseradish tree, drumstick tree or sahijan is a short, slender, perennial tree about twenty five to thirty feet tall. It is also called "The Multi-Purpose Wonder" because of it usefulness. Every part of the tree can be used either for a dish to taste better or other things or a lot of nameless benefits.

Moringa Olfeira contains nutritional values such as:

Vitamin C - is the safest and most effective nutrient for the body. Not only that it helps the maximum absorption of Vitamins A, D, E and K but it is also an effective cure for the common colds and helps improve the immune system. The benefits of vitamin C also include the protection against cardiovascular diseases, prenatal health problems and eye disease. It is also promotes healthy skin.

Vitamin A - is also called retinol and a fat soluble vitamin and helps your eyes adjust to light and keeps your body's mucous membranes moist. Vitamin A also has antioxidant properties which help neutralize free radicals in the body that cause tissue and cellular damage.

Calcium - is good for your bones and teeth. Most people do not have or fail to include Calcium in their diet which results to Calcium insufficiency. It is important to include calcium in the diet because it helps to strengthen the bones and teeth. In addition, Calcium plays a great role in the sperm motility.

Potassium - helps neutralize fluid and electrolyte balance in the cell. It helps prevent high blood pressure, promotes regular contraction, regulates transfer of nutrients to the different cells in the body and maintains the water balance in the body tissues and cells.

Protein - is essential to the structure and function of all living cells and viruses.

The Moringa Olfeira leaf contain 7 times the Vitamin C in oranges, 4 times the Vitamin A in carrots, 4 times the Calcium in milk, 3 times the potassium in banana and 2 times the protein in yoghurt. All of which significantly help a man or a woman's fertility level. You not only can achieve a well and sound healthy body but you can also treat your infertility problem with this herb.

Career in Payroll Management

Payroll management requires specially trained people to handle the work. If currently available data can be relied upon, it is a field that is expected to grow by almost thirty percent in the next five years. Such growth gives rise to a number of career opportunities. There is a constant requirement of qualified personnel in companies that cater to the back office needs of various small and midsize enterprises by offering payroll management services.

They require competitive individuals who are able to maintain professional business relationships. Customer service and problem resolution are part of the job. Other desirable attributes are excellent soft skills in phone etiquette, presentation and networking skills together with qualifications in accounting, payroll fundamentals, management and support systems.

Employment Levels

There are managers, supervisors and clerks working at their respective levels in payroll management. They work as a team and execute payroll management functions to ensure that employees receive their paycheck at the right time. They ensure compliance under the various provisions of the law in force, relating to taxes, insurance, sick pay and maternity pay.

The duties and responsibilities involved in payroll management are to key in and process a company's payrolls and employee changes. Preparation of weekly reports for production stats, and change of status forms are made on a regular basis. It is not an easy task, taking into account the different levels of employees having different pay.

Required Qualifications

Payroll administration skills for lower level employment can be acquired through a combination of on-the-job-experience and informal training. Most employers prefer a high school diploma. Computer skills are highly desirable. People with a professional certification have a much greater chance of employment and a higher salary.
Training Courses

The American Payroll Association provides comprehensive training through a three-course instructor led learning series. This training program is offered at colleges and universities all over USA with a certificate awarded on completion.

The first course, called Primary Payroll Skills, covers those needing detailed basic knowledge of preparing payrolls and related calculating and applications. The second course titled Essential Payroll Skills provides advanced training on federal payroll law and regulatory compliance. The course on Advanced Payroll Skills is for those who wish to gain advanced knowledge and application skills on payrolls, essential for functioning at supervisory or managerial positions. Completion of these courses provides a proper foundation for successfully clearing the FPC or CPP, which are certification examinations in payroll management.

Certifications

The American Payroll Association provides professional certification credentials in payroll management. The certification is valuable because it helps the individual demonstrate their payroll expertise and get promotions in order to advance in their careers.
For payroll beginners, the certification credential is the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC). For FPC, you are required to have thorough knowledge of terminology and concepts related to payrolls. The other related knowledge areas would relate to accounting principles, classification of pay and customer service.
For those who have managed to gain some experience in payroll administration, there is the advanced certification credential called Certified Payroll Professional (CPP). The examination for this covers different employee categories, statutory benefits and implications related to taxation. The examinee would also require an in depth understanding of penal provisions for non-compliance of statutory obligations and errors related thereto. Questions about management and support systems for payrolls are also given.
Earnings

At lower levels, the average annual earnings of payroll clerks per 2004 statistics were between $28,000-$32,000. For professionals engaged in supervisory/managerial positions, the salaries are much higher.

Choose the Right Private Medical Insurance For You and Your Family

A For-Profit Enterprise In The United States
Except for seniors that qualify for Medicare, or the poorest of Americans that have access to Medicaid, people in the United States purchase health care coverage from private, for-profit companies.

Up until recently, Americans could simply choose not to purchase health care coverage. This is changing with the recent passage of the "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" by the U.S. Congress. Starting in 2014, most Americans will have to be covered by a health care plan purchased from the private health care insurance market.

Health Insurance Is A Good Idea...How To Start
Irrespective of whether medical coverage is mandated by law or not, it is a smart choice to have it and to make sure that you purchase the right plan for you and your family.

Making the right choice when purchasing a private medical insurance plan depends upon three sets of information for you to assess before making a decision.

The first one is easy - are you offered health care coverage through your employer? More on this below.

Next is for you to make a thorough assessment of your current and near-term medical care needs.

After understanding the coverage you and your family need, you should know the parts of health care insurance that will add up to be costs taken directly out of your pocket when you and your family receive care.

This article will take each of these considerations in turn.

Plans Offered Through Your Employer Can Be Your Best Bet
Is health care coverage offered as an employee benefit where you work? If so, then you usually do not need to look any further for the right medical plan for you and your family.

You will almost always get the best deal in healthcare coverage that meets your medical needs by assessing and choosing from among the plan options offered from your employer. Individual premiums and other out-of-pocket expenses for the members of an employer plan are determined based on the group, not each individual member.

Because the group represents a better risk for the insurer, each individual member benefits through lower out-of-pocket costs for receiving medical care. An easy mistake to make with this option is missing the deadline set by your company for open enrollment each year. Pay attention to the due dates for making your choice of plan, or you may have to wait a year to get coverage that is offered by your employer.

Employer Plan Or Not, Make The Right Choice For You
Irrespective of whether you have access to health care coverage through your job, or if you must purchase it directly from the individual health insurance market, making the right choice for you and your family begins with a good understanding of your medical care needs - and this includes forecasting probable needs.

For example, a young, healthy, 20-something year old single man doesn't have the same forecast of health care needs as a 40-something husband and father of young children.

The single fellow may simply need to forecast that there is a slight chance he could be in a car accident resulting in serious bodily injuries - for which he would want to be insured against major financial loss. The husband and father of young children might forecast the possibility of another child on the way or that his young children will need both routine and illness care from a physician.

While maternity or well child care is not important to the single man with no plans of marrying in the next year, it is very important to the man whose wife could be pregnant before the year is up. An individual or family's anticipated medical needs determine which plans are not a good fit.

Not Understanding Your Out-Of-Pocket Costs Is Expensive
Once you understand where you will buy coverage, i.e. through your employer or directly from the individual market - and your medical needs are forecast - the next task to prepare for making the best coverage purchase is to know the terms used in health care plans that describe your out-of-pocket costs for receiving care.

Knowing these terms will help you know what you can expect to pay directly and what the insurance plan will cover. This way, you can balance your forecast of medical needs against your direct cost in order to make the best financial choice for medical care. These terms are covered next.

Health Insurance Terms You Should Know
The premium is what you pay for the insurance coverage. This is calculated as a yearly charge but, especially in the case of an employer plan, can be paid in monthly increments.

You will most likely pay a higher premium for a comprehensive plan that covers items like maternity care or well child doctor visits. However, compare the premium you pay each month (or that is deducted from your paycheck) with your remaining out-of-pocket costs. A good rule of thumb is that the more comprehensive plans will charge a higher premium but your costs for expected services during the year are more predictable.

Co-payment is a fixed amount, e.g. $15, that you pay out-of-pocket for a specific medical service like a doctor visit; your plan pays the rest of the cost. A co-payment is usually associated with a health care plan that requires you to use a network of doctors and other health care providers where the plan has prearranged fees.

The catch is that you have to use a doctor in the network to take advantage of paying only the fixed co-payment charge. However, if you need predictable health care expenses, this should not be a problem.

Co-insurance is a percentage of the medical services you receive, e.g. 20%, that you pay out of pocket; your plan paying the remaining 80% in this example.

You usually have more choice of doctors or other health care providers with this type of arrangement, but you can end up paying much more out of pocket if you seek medical care often. Your yearly costs with this type of plan are less predictable when compared to a comprehensive managed care option.

Another financial term you need to consider is out-of-pocket maximum. This is the most your plan will require you to pay directly for medical services in a given year.

A deductable is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your plan will start paying anything for medical services you receive.

Pay attention to the lifetime maximum. After reaching this amount, your plan will no longer pay anything for medical services you may need.

Summing It Up All Up
In summary, choose health care coverage through your employer if it's offered as a benefit; forecast the health care services needed by you and your family; and know the basic terms of the health insurance business to choose the best plan at the best out-of-pocket cost for you.

Long Distance Parenting

It was 27th June, 2006. My six-month old daughter was in a sling as I held my crying four-year old son at the security line at Los Angeles International Airport. I was trying hard not to cry; to be the re-assuring adult. But I was losing the battle. In the end, I had to walk past the security line and he could not follow. The final words I heard that day were...I'm never going to see you again, Mommy.

Of course over the past two and a half years that has proven simply not to be true. We speak everyday on the phone and visit two to three times a year, including 8 to 10 weeks each summer. We actually have a close mother-son relationship despite being separated by over 5,000 miles for most of the year. You see I am one of a growing number of non-custodial mothers.

You may be like many other people I meet. The moment you read those words you may have automatically judged me. Slag. Bad mother. How could she leave her own child for a man? I have heard them all. I have also heard the silence that speaks volumes more. I realise that by writing my story I am opening myself and family up to even more of it.

But I believe that I have reached a point where I am strong enough to handle it. I hope that after hearing my story one or two of you may even understand the complex modern issues of separation, re-marriage and international immigration that forces an increasing number of very loving mothers to face these difficult choices. But most of all I hope to offer hope if only to a single mum who may be facing the very real pain of those choices and feel alone in her plight.

So how does it happen? How does a mum end up on the other side of the world and leave her child behind? For me, it began eight years ago. I had divorced my husband after fourteen years of mental abuse. I admit it; I was vulnerable and on the rebound. I became involved too quickly with someone and before I knew it we shared the bond of a child. This article isn't about the what-if's that every person on the face of this earth has. It is about making the best of the place where you find yourself.

Having stayed for 14 years in a bad marriage for the sake of my older children, I realised that this was not an option. All I will say about my former partner is that while I could not live with him, he was and is a very loving father to our son. So when my son was two-years old, I moved out.

From the beginning, we negotiated a shared custody agreement; 50/50. When we first separated, I moved to an apartment just blocks from my former partner's home. We would alternate nights. One night at the Mama house and the next at the Papa house...as we called them. Being young, our son readily accepted the arrangement as normal...for him. Then about a year later we moved to another town in Los Angeles county. Daily exchanges were no longer convenient so instead we switched to a ¾ split; three days with Mama and four with Papa...and the reverse the following week. It might seem unusual...and I admit at times it could feel really difficult. But we kept coming back to the simple truth: our son needed both his mommy and his daddy, even if we could not live in the same house.

Then just before my son turned three, I meet my now husband in a chat room online. I had pretty much sworn off men; I had my career and my kids. I had male friends and casual relationships, but did not think I would ever re-marry. But by the time that he left in February 2005 after a five week visit, both of us knew that this was something more than friendship. We discussed marriage.

Since he had no children of his own I felt that it was only fair that we have one together. Of course at almost 40, I was not sure how easy that would be. I actually consulted my midwife who said that it would probably take a year to eighteen months of serious trying for us to conceive. So you can imagine my surprise, when I discovered we were pregnant in June 2005, after only three visits together.

But we still lived in different countries and trust me international relationships and immigration are not easy. During my pregnancy, I was unable to travel due to complications. Paul visited us twice, but he had work obligations. He missed so much; all my ante-natal appointments, the ultra-sound when we found out it was the little girl we both wanted, the first kick, and even his child's birth. Since I had two previous caesareans, we planned on a scheduled third. His ticket was purchased for a week before she was supposed to be born. But on the 3rd January, I went into labour...four weeks early. That experience alone is another article.

But the point is that as a society, we have assigned some magical value to motherhood. As a mother, who has nurtured and fed my children, I understand that to a degree. But the truth is that the same sword which mystifies motherhood by default denigrates fatherhood. Is parenthood for a man any less valuable because he cannot feel the child grow within his body? Or nurture his child at his breast? The truth is that for men like my husband and my former partner fatherhood is every bit as important as motherhood is to me. For the sake of our children, we need to recognise and encourage this type of fathering.

After our daughter's birth, we began the US immigration process. We knew from our research that we would likely face a six to nine month separation while the application was processed. But since I was not working at the time, my husband kissed his two-month old daughter good-bye at the same LAX. And for the next four months I was a single mother again.

What we were not prepared for was that a new law had come into effect just days before we filed our application. And as only bureaucracy can, they had failed to consider how to deal with this change. So the whole system came to a full stop. To make things worse, once you file your paperwork, the applicant is no longer free to visit the US. So my husband was watching his only child grow up on a webcam and I was alone and cried myself to sleep almost every night. Post-natal depression and our situation meant that I was not the kind of mother I wanted to be to any of my children.

So after weeks and weeks of talking and thinking about it, we decided that it would be best for us to move to London with Paul. But from the beginning I knew that there was no way that my former partner would let me bring our son with me. I knew too that it would not even be fair to ask him to let his only child go. As I said I might not get along with him as partner, but I know how much he loves his child; every bit as much as I do. So instead we sat down and negotiated once again a shared custody agreement.

In the end we agreed based on the common goal that we always shared of giving our son both a mommy and daddy. I have unlimited phone and Internet access; this means that we speak on the phone almost every single day. As for physical visitation, if my son is not in school I have the right to have him. This means that usually I get him for two to three weeks at Christmas and about 8 to 10 weeks or so during the summer.

But what may seem odd to other people is that it also means that we share the spring holidays. The pictures are of our unusual family at Magic Kingdom in 2007 and Disney World in Orlando in 2008. The funniest time was when my husband and ex ran off to ride a roller coaster; leaving me sitting in the shade with a two and six year old. The look on the older lady next to us was priceless when my son innocently asked...Mommy, how much longer til our daddies come back?

Is our unusual family what I think is ideal? No, I wish that all my children could have been raised in the loving and secure marriage that I know share with my husband. If you look at the happiness and confidence of my daughter when she runs screaming to her daddy every night as he comes in from work, you would understand too.

But that does not mean that children whose parents cannot live together do not still deserve two parents who love them and work together in their best interest...even when it hurts like hell to do so. As the world shrinks due to the Internet, more and more families are having to face these complex issues and balance the best interests of everyone. With a lot of work, communication and always putting the needs of others above our own, we can find solutions that will work in the best interest of the child...and that is what it is all about...the innocent children.

So if you ever run into a mum like me who has made some really hurtful and difficult choices, if she trusts you enough to bare her soul and open herself up to you, I hope that even if you can't understand her unique situation you will remember other difficult choices that you may have faced, paths you had to take and at the very least offer her your empathy.

And if you are a mum who like me has had to make choices that no mother ever wants to, then take heart; you are still a good mum. You may face difficulties and there may be days when you feel down, but know that you can make this work out for your child...and you will.

Palmers Stretch Mark Cream Is a Very Popular Beauty Product

Palmers stretch mark cream is a very popular beauty product. It is also common among expectant and postnatal mothers. Being an anti-stretch mark cream, Palmer has won the hearts of ladies all over the world. It is possibly the most loved product in regard to the removal of skin dermal scarring. Have you ever bought this cream? It's essentially ingredient is cocoa butter and that is why most of you know it. Palmer has a soft balmy feel, enticing scent and offers easy application.

While some creams are too expensive, this one is cheap and effective. As some of you may know, anti-stretch mark balms should do a little more than keep the skin moisturized. Fortunately, you will not be disappointed in Palmer's stretch mark cream. It has what it takes to reduce all types of skin silvery stripes that often form on the belly skin during and after pregnancy. Reducing means fading the marks so that they can become less visible to the eye.

For that to happen, the creams one uses must penetrate the skin so that it can reach the dermis layer. This is usually the central layer that become scarred when a woman loses weight quickly or when her belly stretches during pregnancy. Now you may be wondering how Palmers stretch mark cream works. It has an ingredient called shea butter, known to facilitate penetration of the balm itself. Shea butter added to the cocoa butter enhances the soft texture of the skin.

These two types of butters are not the only ingredients to expect. Palmers has essential additives such as hydrolyzed elastin and collagen, which are both essential elements of your skin. The combination of the two really does something to improve the appearance of your skin. The fact the two are dermatologically tested means that you can actually use the products without fear. There are other countless users of the product worldwide who are happy about it.

This cocoa butter balm is clinically secure and its job is to prevent further development of stretch marks. Even so, your patience is necessary, especially if you are looking to eliminate already established blemishes. You have to allow the item work gradually rather than expect it to give you accurate results right away. Women that have used this product before show mixed emotions.

For instance, some are so happy and satisfied with it while others are partly positive about it. See, everyone's skin is different plus the fact that a few ladies' scarring is genetic. Such ladies always have a bigger share whether they are expecting babies or not. There are some ladies who claim that this product simply fades the color of the blemishes and ends the itchy feeling.

Whatever their claims about Palmers may be, the fact is it contains cocoa butter, a unanimously acceptable anti stretch mark ingredient. Besides, even the owners of the product do not give any guarantee that it would work for all ladies. However, it cautions that irregular use of Palmers stretch mark cream is not okay. It shows your skin is not getting consistent attention.

Have a Beautiful Pregnancy - You Can Look and Feel Great During Pregnancy

Do you want to have a beautiful pregnancy? Of course you do, I mean, what woman does not want to look and feel her best all the time? But it is just so darn hard to feel pretty during pregnancy. Your body is blowing up at an unprecedented rate, your feet are swollen, you have heartburn, the list goes on and on. You are better off just putting on a pair of sweats and lying on the couch all day, right?

No way! Pregnancy is such a wonderful time in your life you should enjoy it and look and feel great during pregnancy. It is possible to have a fit, stylish, and all around pretty pregnancy. You deserve to have a beautiful pregnancy so do what it takes to feel good about your baby bump.

So many pregnant women kind of "let themselves go" during pregnancy. They maybe pamper themselves a little too much, maybe give in to their food cravings too much. They put on a lot more baby weight than necessary and go through pregnancy feeling fat and unhappy with how they look. Even worse they struggle, maybe for years, after pregnancy to lose their baby weight.

Do not let this happen to you! It isn't that hard to take care of yourself when pregnant. By following a few basic guidelines you can look and feel beautiful, and dare I say, even a little sexy while you are pregnant.

Get some some stylish maternity clothes: Why not pamper yourself a little during pregnancy, you deserve it. Get some stylish maternity clothes. When you dress nice you will feel good about yourself and it will lead to you taking better care of yourself. You do not need to spend an arm and a leg. Many of the major department stores offer great looking maternity clothes at reasonable prices.

Do not eat for two: Many women gibe into the "eating for two" excuse during pregnancy and use it as an excuse to over-indulge or give into their food cravings. Yes, you need to provide your growing baby with nourishment but you are not eating for two adults. You only need to take in about 300 extra calories per day to provide the baby with proper nourishment. Eat healthy during pregnancy.

Stay active during pregnancy: Many women think that they need to "take it easy" on themselves during pregnancy. This simply is not true. It is not only safe, but recommended to exercise during pregnancy. Unless you are under special instruction from your doctor to go easy during pregnancy you should be staying active and even following a special exercise program for expecting mothers. Staying fit during pregnancy has many health benefits for both mommy and baby and will help you to get back to pre-pregnancy safe much more quickly after baby comes.

So there you have it. Having a beautiful pregnancy is as easy as one, two, three. Follow these three easy steps and you will find yourself feeling wonderful during pregnancy and lose your baby weight quickly after the delivery.

Simple Steps To Help You Get Pregnant

As days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months the challenge of trying to get pregnant can become frustrating and emotional. The idea that it would be easy changes dramatically.

In our younger years we were told to not to have sex so as to avoid pregnancy and at that stage in your life while connecting the dots it seemed simple - just have sex and you will get pregnant.

So what can you do to get pregnant? If you have been trying for a while it is time to wipe the slate clean and start over. Forget all that you have gone through and start form scratch.

Take a little break and take your mind of it. In actual fact if there are support groups in your area you could discuss your challenge with others, as they say "a problem shared is a problem halved"

This may give you some new ideas that you never thought of or you may realize that you were doing something which was reducing your ability to get pregnant. Actually once you have done this and talked it over - then take a break because at this point it will be easier for you to relax since you now have a new plan of action.

In order for conception to take place you need a healthy sperm and a healthy egg. Both of you need to be eating healthy and exercising while avoiding foods that contain additives such as MSG and certain artificial colorings. Drink plenty of water and add supplements to your diet to get the nutritional balance you need.

Take some time out during the day to do some deep breathing exercises. While having sex do not use lubricants. After sex relax and stay lying down with your hips slightly elevated.

Observe changes that occur with your body in order to predict ovulation correctly. Do not have too much sex as this will reduce sperm count. Keep your sexual activity as close to ovulation as possible.

To conclude don't try too hard as this will lead to stress and don't be afraid to talk to people as relationship is the essence of life and you may just be missing a simple step that could make all the difference.

Nurses and Unions - Changing Times

Since the days of Florence Nightingale, the profession of nursing has been viewed as a career consisting of self sacrificing individuals who, with caring and compassion have devoted their lives to easing the pain and suffering of those in need. Such noble and honorable individuals would surely never strike for what ever reason, right? Wrong! So, what has happened over the centuries to the profession of nursing?

To begin to understand what has taken place in the arena of nursing, one needs to understand what the nurses of today are faced with in the hospital settings. First, many nurses are required to care for more patients than they can handle safely. This is to say that a patient care load of seven on a medical surgical unit can go up to eleven during the afternoon and midnight shift.

Depending on the acuity (level of care needed) of the clients, the nurse may not be able to safely attend to all of the clients needs, and need to forego certain aspects of care just to be able to get the majority of their responsibilities completed by the next shift. This situation of patient overload can result in very serious health consequences for the patient and ultimately, death.

The direct consequence of patient neglect for the nurse involved would usually entail a law suite being filed by the family naming the nurse and the hospital as well. Patient overload is just one of the many reasons that nurses have sought to form a coalition and be represented by their own organizations. Another reason for nurses to organize is due to the policy of pulling nurses to other floors where the patient acuity care process requires specific knowledge to be able to practice safely as a nurse. An example would be a maternity floor nurse being pulled to a medical surgical floor and being assigned a patient load consisting of newly admitted pre-operative patients and others that require suctioning and vent care.

The maternity floor nurse would not only be unsafe to work on the medical surgical floor, but could also put patient's lives in jeopardy due to her inexperience. So, what is that nurse supposed to do if they decide to decline being pulled to another floor? Many nurses feel that they may be reprimanded by the shift supervisor and perhaps written up for insubordination. But are they not in fact, declining for a valid reason? Also, shouldn't quality patient care be the utmost priority as well as patient safety? The answer to both of these questions is of course a resounding, YES!

However, many nurses are faced with these dilemmas day in and day out. They leave at the end of the day feeling as if they haven't been able to give proper nursing care. They would be correct. It is an unsafe practice to float nurses that are unfamiliar with a particular floor to work there. The fact is, that it is done on a regular basis. Would this be a sufficient reason to strike? Many nurses think so. The list could go on and on. How safe would you feel with a nurse caring for a loved one who was on the sixteenth hour of a double shift? Not very, right? Approximately 60% of nurse in practice are providing care in hospitals (Work-Place issues, 2005)

In 1946, the American Nurses Association's House of Delegates unanimously approved a resolution that opened the doors to nurses to engage in collective bargaining. Then about thirty years later the legal precedent that determined that state nursing associations are qualified under labor law to be labor organizations is the 1979 Sierra Vista decision. The important consequence that affected nurse was that they were free to organize themselves and not be organized by existing unions. Currently, it is the American Nurses Association that is in the forefront of establishing coalitions and bargaining for nurses nation.

How to Get Insurance When You're Pregnant

Are You Pregnant Without Health Insurance?

Millions of Americans lack medical insurance today. Many people do have a health plan, but find that normal maternity care is not covered under their plan. At the same time, we all know that high quality health care is very important to assure a healthy pregnancy for the mother and child. We also know that the costs of health care are high, and they are rising all the time. This leaves many pregnant women in a tough situation.

It is a lot easier to handle maternity care if you have a good health plan. However, do not let the lack of current medical coverage deter you from getting the help you need.

• Is there a good way to get insurance, after you are already pregnant?


• If you cannot get health insurance while pregnant, can you find ways to afford good quality maternity care?

Group Health Insurance

A pregnant woman, or her spouse, may still be able to get a job that will provide group medical benefits. This may not be easy, and some employers do have a waiting period before group health insurance benefits will start. This solution will not work for everybody, but it is an option to consider.

If you lack a group health plan, because you run a small business, this may be the right time to consider covering yourself and your employees!

Individual Health Insurance

As far as I know, private health insurers will not accept a pregnant applicant. Some will not even cover anybody in the family if the mother is pregnant. You should probably not waste time trying to get a private health plan while a family member is pregnant.

State And Federal Health Plans

CHIPS is the federal and state health plan for children of families with low to moderate incomes. Medicaid covers poor people with very few assets. These two programs may provide benefits for pregnant women who can qualify! You should find the CHIPS or Medicaid program in your state to see if you qualify for benefits.

Your own state, or county, may also have low cost clinics or other health plans with sliding scale fees. Search for this help in your area. Your choice of a doctor or hospital may be limited, but at least you will have access to professional maternity care.

Payment Plans For Maternity Care

If you lack health benefits, but have a decent income, you may try to find a doctor and hospital that will offer you a payment plan. You can pay off the costs of good maternity care the same way that you would pay off any other debt. This can be a good way for people with a decent income, and good credit, to make sure that they get access to good maternity care.

As a test, I did an Internet search in my own area for "maternity payment plans", and I saw several results. You can still find doctors and hospitals that are willing to work with people that lack a medical plan. There are even private credit companies that specialize in this type of financing.

Pregnant Without Medical Insurance?

If you lack good insurance, it is important to figure out how you can handle the expense of a healthy pregnancy as quickly as you can. It is a lot easier to be covered when you are pregnant, but you can still find a lot of help out there.

Early Sign Of Pregnancy - Begin A Safe Journey

Pregnancy week by week calendars can help you learn about the early signs of pregnancy. Your pregnancy journal can be a nice record of your pregnancy and your various experiences.

Awareness of early signs of pregnancy or early pregnancy symptoms is vital to ensure proper care of mom-to-be right from the time of conception until the birth of the baby. If you are trying to have a baby, make it a point to observe any change in your body 10 to 12 days after your last period. Any sort of change could be an early sign of pregnancy. Most of the pregnancies are lost during the first few days. Therefore, it is important to recognize the symptoms of conception, confirm it through tests, and follow the medical advice to avoid miscarriages. In fact, a woman requires due care throughout her pregnancy period.

Some Early Signs Of Pregnancy

If you feel nausea in the morning, or smell of foods and beverages like tea, coffee, colas etc. makes you vomit, it could well be signifying conception. Another early signs include missing your periods, brownish or pinkish vaginal discharge prior to or on the due date of menses, and tenderness or swelling in breasts. Tenderness or swelling of breasts can be felt as early as within hours of conception.

The moment you feel any of the above symptoms, you must not waste time in getting yourself examined for confirmation of pregnancy. Once it is confirmed that you are pregnant, you must take due medical advice and begin preparations for the joyous but complicated journey ahead.

Coping With Pregnancy

The thought and experience of carrying a baby in your womb makes you feel unique and complete. Nevertheless, those nine months can sometimes seem to be extremely tiresome and prolonged. The nausea, pain, breathlessness, sleepless nights, there is so much to endure. It is therefore wise to adopt measures to put up with this. One excellent and established means of soothing your mind and body is to keep a pregnancy journal. In this journal, you can document the symptoms, emotions, and anxieties you feel right from the early sign of pregnancy until the time you deliver the baby. You can pen down the pains and joys you go through during the period. Not only does this help you relieve your mind, but also provides reference points for other woman in your circle who might be having babies later.

Keep A Track Of Your Baby's Growth

Medical science generally describes the growth of the baby on weekly basis. Most of the pregnancy calendars and guides provide details of baby's shape, features, and motions during various stages of pregnancy by dividing the total period or term into 40 weeks.

From the early sign of pregnancy until the moment you go into labor, you should try to match your symptoms and baby's movements with those mentioned in the pregnancy week-by-week calendars. If you find anything abnormal in baby's growth, rush to the obstetrician.

Virtual Yoga Training

Virtual Yoga training, this is one of the newer training options out there. No longer do you need to find a studio close to your home with a schedule that works for you and your family, purchase generic DVDs or subscribe to an online yoga site.

A personalized yoga program especially for you can be created, it can be made to meet your needs taking into consideration any existing injuries, conditions, desires and time restraints by a registered yoga teacher. These personalized yoga programs includes an initial consultation (online, over the phone or in person if desired), a program including descriptions & photographs, sometimes video make by included, as well as online consulting for any questions or concerns while you are using this program via phone, Skype, Facebook, twitter or email is available.

This virtual option enables you can choose a yoga instructor based on their qualifications and specialties instead of their location because all contact can be online and at your convenience thanks to the internet.

This is a great way to experience yoga in the privacy of your own home on your own time but still do a program that is tailored just for you. Experience all the numerous and far reaching benefits from yoga that you can imagine. From decreasing stress to increasing your metabolism. From relieving back pain to raising your energy level. You can feel rejuvenated everyday.

Yoga teachers always do their best to accommodate all their students, but depending on the size of the class sometimes you just can't get the personalized attention you need or the personal guidance that you desire. Your goals, needs, current fitness level, conditions, injuries and lifestyle will be taken into consideration when creating your program. This will keep you motivated, challenged and meeting your goals.

Yoga should be a vital part of a balanced fitness program. It gives a complete mind & body work-out, using your own body weight in a non-competitive setting. There are alternatives to customize each pose for every age, ability, comfort level, condition or injury. Yoga is an amazing compliment to other activities like running, weight training and rowing.

A program can be make for any age, level and ability which includes seniors, kids, prenatal, postnatal, plus sized, or anyone else. Some other specialties are yoga for fertility, yoga for depression, yoga for cancer survivors, yoga for runners, yoga for cyclists, yoga for golf, yoga for spinal cord injury and more.

Paid Maternity Leave in the US And Europe

The European Union is debating passage of a bill that would create uniform paid maternity leave benefits across all countries in the union. The bill provides for twenty weeks of maternity leave at full pay, plus two weeks of full pay for fathers. Contrast this initiative with how the U.S. handles paid maternity leave benefits: the issue is left up to each state. And only five states have chosen to put a program in place, and it's done as an afterthought.

Paid maternity leave in many European countries is set up as a specific policy: the programs directly address maternity issues in terms of pay replacement, length of paid leave, and even throws in paid parental leave as well. In the U.S. five states have mandated short term disability that just so happens to cover normal pregnancy in addition to covering accidents and illnesses. And each state has varying rules for how the programs replace income, and for how long. Of course there are no mandates in forty five other states. Women have to plan ahead and purchase a private policy, if offered by her employer.

Five States With Paid Leave

The five states with inadvertent paid maternity leave are California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Each of these states has mandatory short term disability for people who work in the state for private employers. The programs are intended to help workers who become disabled temporarily due to an accident or illness. Normal labor and delivery is considered a covered illness and creates maternity pay for women giving birth. Also any time missed due to complications may also be covered.

But even in these states the coverage is lacking. Some states limit the income replacement to 55%, while another cap benefits at $170 per week. That is 17% income replacement for a woman earning $52,000 per year - not an outrageous salary.

Every Working Woman Should Have the Option

Virtually every U.S. family could have a paid maternity leave, or a higher level of income replacement during maternity leave and no legislation needs to be passed. Employers with three or more benefit eligible employees can make a voluntary short term disability option available to workers. Women could pay the premiums themselves and enjoy maternity leave pay, and security in case of complications.

Employers Have a Simple Solution

But most employers don't make this option available. And there simply is no excuse. There is no direct cost to the employers as the employees pay the premiums themselves. The only requirement is for employers to make employees aware of the options, provide education about the value - provided free of charge by the insurance carrier - and forward deducted premiums once a month to the insurer.

Can you believe that is all that stands between U.S. families and paid maternity leave? It sounds pretty hard to believe to me. There needs to be greater awareness. Awareness of the need to begin coverage before getting pregnant, and awareness of how easily employers can make maternity leave pay available. Article by article, blog post by blog post there is one voice trying to help our families and employers at the same time.

President Reduces Self Employed Maternity Income With Stroke of Pen

President Obama wiped out maternity leave income for thousands of self employed women with the stroke of a pen - only he didn't know it. And neither did anyone else, except for maybe this writer. In April, 2011 President Obama signed legislation repealing a controversial segment of the year old Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Under the terms of this law, all businesses would have been required to issue a 1099 statement to all vendors of goods and services during the year which total more than $600.

Unknown to almost everybody in the world - except those lucky few reading this article - the repeal hurt self employed women needing maternity leave income. Allow me to connect the dots: short term disability insurance creates maternity leave income, coverage is available to groups offering voluntary benefits, 1099 workers can comprise a group, but the legislation inadvertently winnowed the population of 1099 workers.

Short Term Disability Insurance Creates Maternity Leave Pay

Short term disability insurance helps women create maternity leave pay. It replaces a portion of income for injuries and illnesses that cause you to miss work. Normal delivery after a normal pregnancy is a covered illness. Vaginal delivery pays a six week benefit, and a c-section delivery pays an eight week benefit - less the elimination period. The benefit for normal delivery may greatly exceed the premium paid, plus the policy covers mom in case of missed time due to complications prior to delivery, and postpartum disorders which may extend the time needed to recover.

Only Available Through Groups

Women planning a pregnancy can buy a short term disability policy and expect to receive a benefit when everything goes according to plan: get pregnant, have a healthy pregnancy, delivery a happy and healthy baby. In addition there are four other ways the policy may pay a benefit: pregnancy complications, postpartum disorders, accidents, and illnesses. It's a great deal for any women planning to get pregnant.

It's not such a great deal for the insurance carrier. The insurer stands to lose a significant sum on a planned event. Insurance is meant to protect against the unexpected. So these policies are only sold through group as voluntary employee benefits. Employees pay the premium through a payroll deduction.

1099 Workers Help Form a Group

Many self employed women need short term disability coverage for the reasons listed above. But they find it difficult to find coverage because they are not part of an employer group - or so they think. Some insurers who issue short term disability will include 1099 workers as part of the group definition. Many self employed women already get paid as 1099 workers. Others may not, but pay vendors and other providers during the course of the year. A "self employed" women issuing two or more 1099 statements may qualify as a group

Fewer Small Groups after Repeal

The greater number of 1099 statements that are issued, the great the number of employer groups qualified to offer coverage there might be. Had the legislation remained in effect, there might have been an explosion in 1099 statements, and a corresponding growth in 1099 based groups that might be able to purchase short term disability insurance as a voluntary employee benefit program. Alas, the repeal reduced paperwork requirements for many; but dashed the hope for maternity leave income for others.

Meanwhile, a little publicity surrounding 1099 worker relationships may help a few self employed people find coverage they qualified for already - but they just didn't know how insurers define groups. Now they do.

Post-natal Massage Therapy

Some pregnant mums have it easy. Yet others have to go through many hours of labour.

But one thing's for sure. After the delivery process, many are just plain tired. In addition, having to breastfeed and nurse a newborn several times a night can be exhausting.

The new mum today does not have much time to rest and relax during her confinement period at home. She needs to get back to work pretty quickly and that means, facing added pressure to lose weight so that she can fit back to her office wear.

Post-natal massage therapy may just be the solution to her needs. Here are 6 top benefits of post-natal massage therapy:

1. Relaxation

2. Stress Relief

3. Relieves aches on shoulders or neck

4. Hasten the reduction of fluid retention

5. Help uterus to shrink to original size

6. Reduce cellulite and help to tone up the body.

In many parts of Asia, many women before delivery would in fact, prebook sessions with an Indonesian massage therapist for post-natal massage. The treatment is a traditional one which has been handed down several generations and even practiced today. This treatment involves the use of a massage oil applied to the stomach and a tummy wrap (bengkung), essentially a cotton cloth of several metres. The bengkung is used to wrap the body so as to push up the uterus, clear water retention, wind, spasm, shrinks the tummy and helps to reduce weight. Post-natal massage is usually done in the privacy of one's own home.

For a mother that has delivered her baby naturally, it is generally pretty safe to go for a post-natal massage. For those that delivered by caesarian, be sure to consult your professional massage therapist or your doctor first. Most in fact, would recommend that you wait a few more weeks before proceeding with a post-natal massage.

Post-natal massage provides a sense of continuing comfort for the new mother. The aim of this massage is to give nurturing and emotional support as well as alleviate the muscle strain of labor and childbirth. Some post natal massage therapies also come with a detoxification ritual that rids the midriff of post birth bagginess.

In some instances, post-natal massage can bring about a much shapelier silhouette, compared to the one just before pregnancy!

Fertility Vitamins That Help You Get Pregnant

While trying to conceive, there are many options to make it happen. There are actually fertility vitamins that can be taken to help speed up conception. Using these vitamins and herbs will cause you no side effects and be non-invasive as compared to other techniques of conception. These vitamins are also less expensive.

Studies have proved that using vitamins, herbs or other natural means are safer and much more effective in helping the pregnancy happen. If necessary, they can also be used in addition to any medical treatments that may have already been started.

There are several supplements for women to try. A good multivitamin is a good start. Iron is important to prevent anemia. Anemia can prevent fertility. However, a low dose should be used, such as 10-20mg per day. Vitamin C, 500-1500mg per day will protect the cells and boost the immune system. Vitamin E in 400-800i.u. per day is possible to increase the quality of the egg. It can definitely increase fertility. Co-enzyme-Q10 is also known to increase egg quality, and it belongs in the important list of fertility vitamins. Folic Acid may not contribute to fertility, however, can prevent birth defects and will protect the heart. Paba at 400mg per day can increase the estrogen to induce fertility.

Women not only need supplements to become pregnant. Men should be taking them, too. One of these is Vitamin C, which helps protect against damage to the sperm, and can actually increase the sperm count. Vitamin E increases sperm potency. Zinc, 15-60mg per day could not only raise the sperm count, but help the sexual function, also. A zinc deficiency can actually lower the sperm count. This supplement is very important. Other supplements for the man to consider is Vitamin B-12 and B-complex supplement, selenium, co-enzyme-Q10, L-Carnitine, a good multi-vitamin, especially with Vitamin A, and L-Arginine.

Before taking any vitamin supplements or herbs, it is still best to consult with your doctor first to be sure that they are safe for your individual needs.

Modify Your Beauty Routines for a Healthy Pregnancy

Most pregnant women, once discovering that they will give birth to a little bundle of joy after nine months, start following pregnancy advice and tips religiously. This could range from avoiding alcohol to opting for a healthy pregnancy diet, which is loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, many pregnant women are unaware of the fact that hidden factors, such as harmful chemicals present in beauty products can interfere with a healthy pregnancy. Andrew Healy, obstetrician, Baystate Medical Center opined that since any material that is touched by the skin could get absorbed into the bloodstream and cross the placenta, women should exercise caution in this regard, during pregnancy.

Can hairspray and nail polish interfere with healthy pregnancy?

While few studies indicated that phthalates (present in many cosmetic products including hairspray and nail polish) could have a drastic impact on health pregnancy, FDA stated that these studies are not enough to establish the fact that phthalates can cause health hazards in humans. Judith Hellman, Professor, Mount Sinai School of Medicine says that for a healthy pregnancy, you can apply a small amount of hairspray and avoid breathing in the fumes.

Are tanning products and sun blocks safe?

While some think that using sunscreen can interfere with a safe pregnancy, experts opine that it is too early to draw such a conclusion. Dayna Salasche, who is associated with Northwestern University, says that wearing sunscreen, in fact, contributes to a healthy pregnancy. Salasche comments that pregnancy makes the skin even more sensitive and using a sunscreen can protect the skin from burning. As far as tanning products are concerned, experts agree that their role in healthy pregnancy is still not clear. However, to be on the safe side, avoid using a tanner regularly, or if you must, use it only occasionally.

Usage of acne medications

Many women, after discovering the first signs of pregnancy, realize that their face has become filled up with acne. Studies suggest that development of acne worsens during this phase because of constant hormonal fluctuations. Experts opine that if you are looking forward to a healthy pregnancy; avoid using creams that contain benzoyl peroxide, retinol or salicylic acid. Jeanie Leddon, Dermatologist says that for dealing with acne problems, while being pregnant, you can opt for topical medications containing clindamycin or azelaic acid. For good pregnancy care, you can consider using glycolic peels as well.

Avoid dyeing your hair during pregnancy

Though studies are yet to prove the impact of hair dye on women who are pregnant, experts recommends avoiding dyeing the hair, for a safe pregnancy. Jeannette Graf, dermatologist says that dyes may contain various types of ingredients, which could be dangerous. Therefore, if you are looking forward to good pregnancy care, avoid including them in your beauty regimen. If you want to highlight your hair, avoid applying anything to your scalp. Leddon provides the pregnancy advice that for a safe pregnancy, avoid any type of hair treatment during the first trimester pregnancy, since chances of miscarriage are maximum during this phase.

Musli Benefits for Mens Health - Improve Lovemaking Performance

Safed Musli, popularly known as Musli is a strong herbal aphrodisiac, widely used by men to overcome physical and sexual weakness. The roots of this plant contain saponin and different alkaloids that makes it useful as a powerful sex tonic. The presence of a high percentage of glycosides in this plant helps in curing impotency in men. The roots of this plant have been used for centuries in various Ayurvedic and Unani medicines in India and its subcontinent.

Blended with other valuable herbs like Ashwagandha and saffron, Safed Musli is marketed under several brand names. Musli Strong is the most efficient among them. Use of Safed Musli does not produce any side effects and is much effective than Vi-ag-ra along with other health benefits.

This aphrodisiac property of Safed Musli is responsible for its high demand in the global markets especially in the Gulf countries. This demand has driven for a vast cultivation of the plant leading to a high price of the Safed Musli supplements.

Musli benefits

Musli has been the nature's precious gift to mankind that helps in improving the general debility in both men and women. It acts as a powerful health tonic and improves stamina and vitality of the body.

1. Safed Musli is a renowned aphrodisiac that boosts the libido and helps in achieving new heights in lovemaking.

2. It alleviates all sorts of anxiety and stress and helps in building up confidence during lovemaking.

3. It helps in sustaining penile erection to provide more pleasure and enjoyment during lovemaking.

4. It efficiently treats other sexual disorders like premature ejaculation and low sperm count.

5. The various ingredients in the roots of Safed Musli help in revitalizing the endocrine and the reproductive system of the body.

6. As a powerful health tonic, it boosts the body immunity system and reduces fatigue.

7. In combating mental stress and depression, this herb plays a very important role.

8. Musli also improves the insulin activities in the body that helps in treating all sorts of diabetes.

9. It helps in enhancing the levels of good cholesterol and checks the body weight.

10. This herb strengthens and increases the volume of the muscles, which is helpful for the bodybuilders.

11. Musli has anti-inflammatory properties and so is also used in treating various forms of arthritis.

12. In case of jaundice, this herb helps in enhancing the liver functions.

13. In women, this herb helps in reducing the frigidity, vaginal dryness and enhances the sexual desire. It also helps in treating various pre-natal and post natal problems.

Pregnancy and Money - Finance Essentials For Professional Women

Many professional women fear the prospect of becoming pregnant due to financial pressures. It's not uncommon in the modern world to find women who are the highest income earners in their household which begs the question: how can you afford to have a baby and maintain your lifestyle? The answer to this question will depend on your individual circumstances, however no matter what those circumstances are, this is definitely an area that can be worked through if you're prepared to spend some time planning ahead for your pregnancy and beyond.

For those finance professionals out there, I encourage you to resist the urge to jump ahead and build yourself a discounted cash flow model about pregnancy! Before we jump to specific financials, there are some key questions you will want to ask yourself:

1. What pregnancy-related costs will you be up for? There will certainly be a number of appointments that you need to attend with various medical practitioners such for ultra-sounds as well as phased check-ups with your doctor. The costs of these medical visits will vary for each specialist and will also depend on whether you choose to give birth in a public or private hospital. You may also want to consider the possible cost of IVF (in-vitro fertilization) services.

2. What items will you need to purchase for your baby? The best place to start with this question is to ask other first-time mothers about their experiences. Some of the most common essentials include:

• Baby wraps


• Bath products


• Bottles


• Bibs


• Change table


• Clothes


• Cot


• Diapers


• Dummy


• Nappy rash cream


• Pram

Baby stores will also give you plenty of ideas however it might help to come up with your own shortlist and approximate budget before you spend your life savings on baby products! For more budget conscious women, it can certainly help to be open minded about using pre-loved items that friends and family may pass on to you.

3. How long do you plan to stay at home? While some of you may love the idea of staying at home for your baby's first year, other professional women will be itching to get back into the workforce. Whatever your preference, it's important to develop a plan for staying at home or returning to work. You may want to consider the following:

• How much paid and unpaid maternity leave does your company offer?


• Where will your income come from during your time off?


• Will financial support be available from a spouse or partner?


• Does your employer offer flexible working arrangements (part-time, job share)


• Do you have any other sources of income outside of your job? Some examples may include income from the sale of assets or stocks or even drawing down on your home mortgage. You may even want to explore options for generating an income from home.

Now that you've covered off on some of the finance basics in preparation for pregnancy, it's time to pull out your notepad and calculator or your Excel spreadsheet. You will want to start two versions of your household budget:

• Version 1: your current household budget including all sources of income and your current expenses.


• Version 2: an extended version of your household budget that excludes the income from your job and includes your new baby-related expenses.

It is advisable to set up your budget by month over a one year period. This way, you will be able to capture expenses that occur in one particular month of the year, such as various insurance premiums and you will also be able to work out the number of months that you can afford to stay at home.

If you'd like to take this further and you've got a bit of financial modeling experience under your belt, why not develop your own pregnancy cash flow model to compare the results of various stay-at-home or return-to-work scenarios? If you're not a numbers person, why not ask a colleague to help you out or make an appointment to see your accountant and ask them to run the scenarios for you.

Developing a robust budget can help you to plan for the financial aspect of your pregnancy and can also help you to manage your general household finances. Now that you know how to get your finances under control during your pregnancy, you can focus your attention on becoming pregnant and embracing motherhood as it is guaranteed to be one of the most rewarding stages of your life.

Coping With A Breakup While Pregnant - 3 Tips To Cope With Breakup And Win Him Back

Learning ways of coping with a breakup while pregnant will help you to gain control of your emotional and physical health during this time - when you also have to care for the life of your child. So here are 3 advice that will bring peace to your feelings towards your ex-boyfriend and help you cope with the break-up.

Advice #1: Agree with the breakup... for now...

The easiest thing to do now is agree with the break-up. I understand this may not be what your mind is telling you to do, but doing so will do you more good than harm. Here's why:

1. It is easier to go with the flow than to fight against the current. Since your ex is firm about his decision in breaking up with you, reserve and share your energy with your baby. Being in your stomach,your baby needs your support to gain good nutrition for growth. Your mood also affects how your baby grows.


2. Agreeing with the break up will come as a shock to your boyfriend. One of the reasons your ex decided to breakup with you is because he is afraid that he needs to cope with your mood swings and bring up a new born child. It is a huge responsibility for a guy and your partner probably isn't ready. By agreeing with the break-up, you are showing him that you are able to cope on your own. He will be pleasantly surprised and relieved - which gives him the time to reconsider things between the both of you.

Advice #2: Take care of yours and your baby's health

Learning how to cope with a breakup while pregnant also involves taking care of yours and the baby's health. Your baby is probably only a few weeks or months old and you have to mind your emotional feelings and prevent yourself from physical harm - to ensure that your baby grows with good health.

Also, our self esteem takes a plunge during a relationship break-up. Thus, a quick way to regain your composure, is to look in the mirror and ask yourself 'Is this the person I want to be? Do I want my own skin, weight and look to suffer even more?' You will hear yourself thinking 'I want to be happy. I expect my life to be better. I want my to win my partner back. But...' Once you reach this point, stop thinking about the issue.

The key is to focus on what you want instead of what is stopping you from having what you want. It will help you increase your emotional and general happiness.

Also, your breasts will grow bigger during pregnancy. Use it to tempt the man you love back into a relationship with you but don't have sex too soon. Having sex with him too fast will take away the attraction prematurely. Try talking to him. Make him commit. You're in control.

Advice #3: Get the support, love and comfort from the people who loves you

We all find our own ways to cope with a romantic relationship breakup. While withdrawing from social interaction for a period of time can do you good, do your best to accept your friends' suggestions to meet up and hang out once in awhile. Start doing light exercise with your friends to stay healthy.

In the beginning, just take small steps out of your comfort zone, and even have your friends come to your house if you like. True friends will be sensitive to your needs and put in the effort to be there for you - All you need to do is ask.

Being a single pregnant mom is common. However, the power lies in your hands; for coping with a break up while pregnant and also getting your ex boyfriend back.

DHA (Omega-3) Role in Promoting Health

The Health Benefits of DHA

Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid found throughout the body. It is a major structural fat in the brain and retina accounting for up to 97% of the omega-3 fats in the brain and up to 93% of the omega-3 fats in the retina. It is also a key component of the heart. Numerous studies confirm that everyone, from infants to adults, benefits from an adequate supply of DHA.

DHA omega-3 is naturally found throughout the body and is most abundant in the brain, eyes and heart. DHA is critical for healthy brain and eye development and function and has been shown to support heart health from infancy through adulthood.

DHA serves as a primary building block for the brain and the eye. Just as calcium is essential for building strong bones, DHA ensures that the cells in the brain, retina, heart, and other parts of the nervous system develop and function properly.

DHA plays an important role in the following:

• Memory function
• Brain and central nervous system development and function
• Psychomotor development (such as eye-hand coordination)
• Visual development and function
• Heart health
• Nerve signal transmission

Understanding the Role that Each Omega-3 Plays: Today, more and more food products claim to be a good source of omega-3s, but not all omega-3s are created equal. There are three major omega-3 fatty acids: DHA, EPA and ALA. Each one plays a distinct role in the body.

The Benefits of DHA Throughout the Lifecycle

Docosahexaenoic acid, DHA, is an omega-3 fatty acid that is found throughout the body. More specifically, it is a major structural fat in the brain and eyes and a key component of the heart. Numerous studies confirm that everyone, from infants to adults, benefits from an adequate supply of DHA.

• Maternal Health
• Infant Development
• Beyond Infancy
• Adult Health

The Importance of DHA in maternal Well-Being

DHA is a major structural fatty acid in the brain and retina, and is naturally found in breast milk. It is important for a mother to consume adequate amounts of DHA during pregnancy and while nursing to support her well-being and the health of her infant.

• DHA supplementation during pregnancy was shown to increase the length of gestation by about six days helping mothers carry to a healthy or full term.
• Increasing dietary intake of DHA during pregnancy and postpartum may help to support a mother's emotional well-being.
• Maternal DHA supplementation resulted in mental development advantages in children including improved psychomotor development (such as eye-hand coordination) at 2.5 years of age and improved attention skills at 5 years of age.
• A study using a statistical model of risk-benefit, designed by Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, estimated that increasing maternal DHA intake by 100mg/day increases child IQ by 0.13 points.

DHA in Infant Development
• DHA is important for healthy visual and mental development throughout infancy. Studies with both preterm and term infants suggest that adequate DHA nutrition, provided through either breastmilk or DHA-fortified formula, is associated with optimal mental and visual development and function.
• Major brain growth occurs during the second trimester of pregnancy and throughout the first two years of life. During these times, the infant has the greatest need for DHA.
• Developing infants cannot efficiently produce their own DHA.
• DHA and ARA supplemented infant formula was shown to be a good source of these nutrients for formula-fed babies and has been recommended for inclusion in infant formulas by several scientific bodies worldwide.

DHA Beyond Infancy

• DHA is important for ongoing brain growth and development in children. It is also important for brain, eye and heart function throughout life. The body will continue to turn over DHA throughout the lifecycle and it is important to replenish the stores of DHA in our bodies. While the body can convert DHA from its precursor fatty acids, this process is inefficient and varies from person to person. It is therefore important for children (and adults) to obtain adequate amounts of DHA directly from their diet.

• During the early childhood years (ages 2 and 6) the brain and eyes experience significant growth. In fact, between birth and 5 years of age, the human brain increases approximately 3.5-fold in mass and DHA content increases from 1 gram to approximately 4.5 grams. Due to the major growth during this time and because DHA represents up to 97% of the omega-3 fatty acids in the brain and up to 93% of the omega-3 fatty acids in the retina, the brain and eyes have significant requirements for preformed DHA.

DHA in Adult Health

• DHA is important for ongoing brain, eye and heart health. It is also important for brain, eye and heart function throughout life. Throughout our lifecycle, the body will continue to turnover DHA and it is important to replenish the stores of DHA in our bodies. While the body can convert DHA from its precursor fatty acids, this process is inefficient. It is therefore important for adults to obtain adequate amounts of DHA in their diets.

Brain and Eye Health

• DHA is the predominant omega-3 fatty acid in the brain and eyes and is necessary for the optimal structure and function of nerve cells in the brain and eyes. In the brain, DHA is especially concentrated in the region responsible for complex thinking skills.
• A recently published large, randomized, placebo-controlled nutritional study in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association has demonstrated the benefits of algal DHA in improving memory in older adults. This study found that the cognitive improvement demonstrated by the DHA supplemented group was equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone more than three years younger.* No study using a fish oil source of DHA has found this significant benefit.
• A scientific review on DHA stressed the significant role that DHA plays in the maintenance of normal neurological function.
• There is preliminary research exploring the possible role of DHA in neurological function. Promising results from animal model and human-cell model studies suggest DHA may play a role in reducing the risk of certain neurological diseases. Additional research in humans is needed to evaluate the effect of DHA supplementation on preventing or treating these neurological disorders. Further research is also needed to determine the exact mechanism of action. A Japanese animal-model study found that DHA supplementation reduced the increase in number of reference and working memory errors and increased the antioxidative defenses suggesting DHA as a possible agent for ameliorating learning deficiencies due to Alzheimer's.
• The results of a human-cell model study showed that DHA intake may lower the accumulation of a protein that is associated with brain aging and Alzheimer's disease.
• An animal-model study showed that DHA may protect against the accumulation of a protein believed to be linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Cardioprotective Effects of DHA

• DHA is also a key component of the cardiovascular system. In the past 25 years, there have been over 4,500 studies of the cardiovascular effects of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as DHA.
• Although the exact relationship between DHA and the cardiovascular system is still being studied, observational and intervention studies support an association between DHA and good cardiovascular health.
• Based on the current body of research, several scientific bodies have made recommendations regarding the intake of omega-3 fatty acids and good cardiovascular health.

Controlling Blood Lipids

• Controlling blood lipids (total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol), high density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol)) and triglycerides is important for reducing the risk of developing heart disease.
• One of the cardioprotective effects of DHA appears to be helping to normalize certain blood lipids. Three independent research studies in subjects with normal blood lipids have demonstrated a statistically significant drop (14-26 percent) in triglycerides and a trend toward higher HDL levels over baseline lipid levels after supplementation with high doses of DHA (more than 1.5g DHA/day) for 2-15 weeks. A fourth study showed similar blood lipid changes in the DHA group compared to the placebo group.

Controlling Blood Pressure

Controlling blood pressure is also important for maintaining cardiovascular health. One study found that DHA had modest blood pressure lowering effects in mildly hyperlipidemic men. Multiple human trials report small reductions in blood pressure with intake of omega-3 fatty acid.

• 5 to 6 mmHg in systolic pressure and 3 to 5 mmHg in diastolic pressure
- Dose: 3-6 grams of n-3 fatty acids (EPA plus DHA) over 6 weeks. DHA may have greater benefits than EPA

Cancer prevention

• Epidemiological studies have shown a reduced risk of developing breast, colon, or prostate cancer. DHA and EPA inhibited growth and metastasis of breast cancer cells in animal study. DHA directly suppressed arachidonic acidinduced colon cancer cell growth
Dietary Sources of DHA: Dietary sources of DHA include:
• Algae - Certain algae are natural sources of DHA. And while most people believe that fish produce their own DHA, in fact, it's the algae they feed on that make them a rich source of DHA.
• Seafood/Fatty fish,Walnuts, Wheat germ oil,Flaxeed oil/canola oil, Fish liver oils
• Organ meat such as liver,Small amounts are found in egg yolks are the good sourses of DHA.

Other Vegetable Sources
Grams/100 g edible portion
• Flaxseed 22.8g
• Walnuts 3.3 - 6.8g
• Soybeans (roasted) 1.5g
• Soybeans (raw) 3.2g
• Oats (germ) 1.4g
• Seaweed (spirulina) 0.8g
(Adapted from: Kris-Etherton et al. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the food chain in the US. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71:180S).

Recommendations: For Infants & Children

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infant milk formula should provide at least 2.7% of total kilocalories in the form of linoleic acid.
• Of note, human milk provides 3.5% to as high as 12% of total kilocalories in the form of linoleic acid depending on the fat composition of the maternal diet.

For Infants and Children
0-6 months 0.5 g/day of n-3 PUFA
7-12 months 0.5 g/day of n-3 PUFA
1-3 yrs 0.7 g/day of a-linolenic acid
4-8 yrs 0.9 g/day of a -linolenic acid

Boys
9-13 yrs 1.2 g/day of a -linolenic acid
14-18 yrs 1.6 g/day o a-linolenic acid

Girls
9-13 yrs 1.0 g/day of a -linolenic acid
14-18 yrs 1.1 g/day of a -linolenic acid
Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine (FNBIOM,2001)

Recommendations: For Adults

• Requirements for EFAs are 1 to 2% of dietary calories for adults.
• Recommended 0.2% to 1% of total calories should be provided by omega-3 fatty acids.

For Adults

Men
19- >70 yrs 1.6 g/day of a-linolenic acid
17 g/day of linoleic acid

Women
19- >70 yrs 1.1 g/day of a-linolenic acid
12 g/day of linoleic acid
Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine (FNBIOM,2001)

Options for Hair Loss

Losing one's hair can have a major emotional impact and cause much anguish in the long run. Studies indicate that perceptions of bald or balding men compared to men that have hair is that they are less physically attractive, less assertive, less successful and older. Although hair loss in women is not as common as it is in men, it can also result in the same perceptions of less attractive, less successful and older.

Abnormal hair loss is called alopecia. There are many different types of alopecia, including androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata and postpartum alopecia. Androgenic alopecia is the result of genetics, age and hormonal changes. In men it is known as male pattern baldness which usually progressed to the familiar horseshoe-shaped hair. In women it shows up as a generalized thinning over the entire crown area.

Alopecia areata is characterized by the sudden falling out of hair in round patches or baldness in spots. It can occur on the scalp or anywhere else on the body. It is an autoimmune disease that causes the affected hair follicles to be mistakenly attacked by a person's own immune system. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total hair loss.

Postpartum alopecia is the temporary hair loss that women can experience at the conclusion of a pregnancy. Usually the growth cycle of the hair will return within one year after the baby is born.

There are many different options for people suffering from hair loss today. One is medication. A popular topical medication is Minoxidil, which is sold over the counter. Minoxidil is applied to the scalp twice a day and can be effective for some. There is also prescription medication for men that may be more effective than Minoxidil. But many prescription medications have side effects such as weight gain and loss of sexual function.

The second option is hair transplant surgery. Transplants, also known as hair plugs, are the most common permanent hair replacement technique. In the procedure, a small section of hair is removed from an area where there is a lot of hair. The entire hair follicle, papilla and bulb is removed and transplanted to the new location. Typical costs for this type of surgery ranges from $8,000-$20,000 and up.

The third option is to use wigs, toupees, hair weaving, hair extensions or hair integrations. Wigs and toupees can be custom designed using either human hair or synthetic hair. They have come a long way and can create a very natural looking style. Hair weaving involves sewing pieces of human or synthetic hair into the natural hair to create a fuller, long hair style look. Hair extensions are similar to hair weaving since you are attaching human or synthetic hair to the natural hair. Except hair extensions are attached by one of several different methods using adhesives, locs, links or clips. Hair integrations are custom designed nets with hair attached or even man-made skin with hair attached that are attached, typically using medical grade adhesives directly to the scalp to create a fuller hair style.

There can be complications to hair weaving, hair extensions and hair integrations. If they are not attached properly, by a trained hair stylist, the hair loss situation of the client can become worse, resulting in permanent hair loss with the extension hair pulling the natural hair out. Always consult with a professionally trained hair stylist that has experience with hair loss situations.

In short, hair loss may have a major emotional impact on many people. But as technology advances there are many more options for men and women suffering from hair loss.

Doula Marketing Secrets - How to Effectively Market Your Doula Practice

Are you a doula? If so, you recognize the importance of getting clients. Would you like to get more clients, faster than ever before... and have more satisfied clients at the same time? It's not hard, if you know a few secrets.

The most important secret to getting more clients for your doula practice is to use your website effectively. You should realize that people are using the web more and more to get the information they need. That means that when your prospects go looking for doula services, they fire up their favorite search engine and see what they can find. The question is: will they find you?

Its easier than ever to be found in the search engines. You merely have to apply a few proven principles and a basic knowledge of keyword research and search engine optimization.

One common mistake is gearing the website to the doula or child birth professional, perhaps without realizing it. Understand that your average prospect is not going to have anywhere near the level of knowledge that you do on the subject of pregnancy and child birth. Therefore, resist the temptation to "show off" your knowledge and instead, speak to the specific cares and concerns of the expectant parents.

When designing your website, invest a little time in studying the most popular and effective websites, and model them. These tend to be simple, cleanly designed, with white backgrounds. Make it easy to find what the prospects want to learn from your website.