Group Medical, Health, and Accident Insurance

These types of insurance are common. They can include hospitalization, medical and dental care, surgical benefits, maternity care, and beyond this, major medical insurance, for the individual and his family.

Employee benefit plans that require part payment by the employee should be examined carefully to see if they provide worthwhile benefits for the employee at comparatively low cost.

In general, however, this type of insurance carries the same advantage as many other employee insurance plans; being group rather than individual, it is usually cheaper than the individual policy and does not require a physical examination.

Moreover, it can either be fully paid for by the employer (to whom it is a tax-deductible expense) or partly paid for by him and contributed to by the employee.

The inclusion of these types of insurance coverage in the compensation package can be of substantial value to the employee. If the benefits were not available through his company, he would have to arrange for them on his own. To the extent the cost is borne by his employer, it does not have to be paid for by him. The savings he thus enjoys are therefore equivalent to a tax-free raise in pay. These days, it is rare for employers to pay for more than the employee's premium on health insurance. With the costs of health insurance rising, some employers pay only part of the employee's premium. It is common for employees to pay the cost of insuring spouses and children under the company's insurance plan.

A Tax Saving Opportunity: Cafeteria Plans: Fortunately, these out-of-pocket costs can be paid for with pretax dollars if the employer offers a Section 125 Cafeteria Plan. Depending on the plan, premiums, deductibles and co-payments can be set aside at the beginning of the year to be paid out of pretax salary dollars. Employees who are offered such plans would do well to seize the opportunity to take advantage of this tax savings.

Cafeteria plans may also be known as premium-only plans or flexible spending plans, depending on their complexity. Simple plans, known as premium-only plans, allow employees to use before-tax dollars for plan contributions such as their share of medical plan premiums. Flexible spending plans allow employees to select from a "menu" of benefits. They can choose those most meaningful to their needs and pay for them with before-tax dollars. These include such choices as dependent care expenses, insurance deductibles, coinsurance payments and eye care (exams, glasses).

Health Spending Accounts (HSAs): A tax-advantaged way to pay for health insurance deductibles and premiums has been introduced. It established Health Spending Accounts (HSAs) that were created as part of the Medicare Prescription & Modernization Act in 2003. They offer employers, the self-employed and individuals the opportunity to purchase high deductible health plans (lower premiums for all concerned) and allow the insured to establish a Health Savings Account in which they can save and invest 100 percent of the plan's annual deductible up to $5,150 for a family. (For a single person it is up to $2,600.) Employer matches to these accounts are also allowed, but the combined contributions cannot exceed the maximums allowed. Money in HSAs can be distributed tax-free for "qualified medical expenses" that are not covered by the health plan (deductibles, co-pays, excess fees). They can also be used to reimburse the insured for premiums paid on qualified long-term care insurance policies. The health insurance plans that qualify for this program must have at least a $2,000 annual deductible and annual out-of-pocket expenses of no more than $10,000 for families. For individuals the deductible must be at least $1,000 with out-of-pocket expenses of no more than $5,000. Premiums are fully deductible for employees. Contributions made by employers are not included in the employee's income, nor are they subject to social security taxes. If some funds in the HSAs remain unused during any given year, they can be left to accumulate tax-free until needed in subsequent years, or may be withdrawn tax-free due to a disability, death or upon reaching the age for Medicare eligibility. A beneficiary can be named for HSAs in the event of the death of the account holder. If a spouse, it passes tax-free. If a nonspouse, the account is included in their taxable income for the year.

X-Ray and Pregnancy

The use of X-rays is very common to determine problems in the human body. X-rays have their pros and cons. In this article, we will look at their effects on an unborn child -effects during a pregnancy. Generally, it is believed that having an X-ray during a pregnancy is very harmful to a fetus. This is true to a certain extent.

Simply put, exposures of over 10 rads (absorbed radiation measurement units) to an unborn child could be very harmful and can increase the chances of eye and learning disabilities.

Understanding Rad

One rad is equal to 1000 millirads. An estimated exposure through a chest X-ray is 60 millirads and for an abdominal X-ray, it is 290 millirads. To produce an adverse affect on an unborn child, 10,000 millirads are required. Now you must have understood how many rads are required to affect a fetus and whether X-rays are harmful during a pregnancy.

Unless it is recommended by an expert or physician, then there is no need to worry about it as the amount of radiation your baby will receive is well within the safe zone.

Extra Care

In every laboratory, radiologic technologists are properly trained for quality patient care. These are the people who conduct examinations. The radiologic technologists are supposed to ask you whether opr not you are pregnant., If for some reason they do not ask, you should tell them that you are a pregnant or expecting pregnancy so that they will know to take special precautions.

X-rays Alternatives

An ultrasound could be the best replacement of an X-ray. In addition, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can also be used after the first trimester of your pregnancy.

Sleep Strategies That Work

There are times in every parent's life when sleep deprivation becomes a problem and it's pretty much accepted that for the first six months or so, it'll be a way of life.

But, babies and toddlers need sleep and you might be surprised how much! The most common problems are when they can't settle themselves to sleep (perhaps it takes hours for them to drift off, or they can only sleep if you're cuddling them, or if they're in your bed), or when they can't sleep through the night without waking.

But bear in mind that your behaviour influences your child's actions and you hold the key to improving sleep behaviour you just need to learn how to use it. It might take a while; I'm often surprised how quickly problems can be turned around, but don't worry if it doesn't happen in a week. Be consistent and you will succeed.

Safe & successful sleep techniques

Try swaddling

Young babies often wake themselves by flinging their arms and legs about, and swaddling them tightly enough so they are comfortable but can't move their limbs too much can help prevent night waking.

Lay a square blanket so the corner points upwards. Fold the corner down and lay your baby so her head is resting on the top edge of the blanket. Bring one of the side corners over her body and tuck it under, then fold the bottom corner up over her feet and legs and then wrap the other side of the blanket over tightly, leaving her room to be comfortable.

The eau de mummy method

The scent of you can help your baby relax into sleep. Putting something like an old T-shirt near (but not actually in) the cot can help her drift off while you're in another room.

Gradual withdrawal

This is a really effective technique for getting your older baby or child to settle herself to sleep. It's especially useful for toddlers who aren't used to sleeping in their own bed, or who need to be physically close to get to sleep.

Every night, tuck her up in her own bed or cot, say good night, but then stay in the room. This doesn't mean you continue to talk, touch or play with her, you just provide a comforting presence. Don't even make eye contact.

As the days continue, gradually move further away from your child, until you're able to move away from the bed and right out of the room altogether.

Rapid return

This is a 'tough love' approach for toddlers but works well when there are chronic sleep problems, especially when these involve aggression or tantrums. It's the night-time equivalent to 'time out', and you need to be really, really strong and clear about what's going to happen. It's hard to implement, but it's worth it. You can start using the gradual withdrawal method if that's easier.

The rapid return technique means you tuck your toddler into her bed, turn out the light, say good night and leave the room. If she gets out of bed, take them back gently and straight away, without speaking and without losing your temper (which is very difficult when it's the 20th time that night). Repeat this process promptly and assertively as often as needed, until she eventually falls asleep.

It can be exhausting, so wherever possible, try to enrol the help of your partner and swap shifts, but make sure you're in complete agreement about what to do, so as to avoid sending confused messages to your little one.

Incentives, praise and reward

However you decide to tackle your child's sleep problem, some bargaining will probably be required in the early stages. It's okay to negotiate a deal that promises a treat the next day, but don't make a habit of it. If your child has met the goal you set, whether that's sleeping through the night or staying in her own bed, lavish her with praise. Then set new goals and this should help her form a link between being good, and being in your good books.

Stickers rarely fail as a means of showing children how well they're doing. If your child is old enough to grasp the concept of a night-time fairy, then tell her that the fairy will be waiting to see how well she goes to sleep, and then the fairy will add a sticker to her chart.

Seeking Employers That Offer Company Health Insurance

When people are looking for a new job, applying for one that offers good benefits is at the top of the list. Families need an employer with health insurance, and if they are forced to go without, may find themselves in a situation that will be extremely hard financially on the family later. Should there be an accident of some kind and someone in the family is hospitalized, this could wipe out a family completely. This is why it is important to make sure that there is a good benefits package offered in the way of company health insurance.

Having good enough insurance to take care of anything unexpected is a good feeling. Knowing that should one of your children get injured and need to go to the hospital, it is covered. Many times families can be strapped just by trying to make the co payments that are required. If someone is having medical issues and it is ongoing, the co payments alone can be enough to make it difficult on them.

There are many times that someone will need a medial procedure performed but their medical coverage does not pay for it. This alone can cause hardship on a family. If there is an ongoing medical issue that requires someone to be seen often by their doctor, or by many doctors, the co pays can be an issue.

Sometimes, while applying for work, someone may be offered a position with a business, but because the salary is not what they expected, will turn it down. Before making a decision like this, find out what the benefits are. If you have a nice package offered, you can consider that your salary is actually greater because you will not have to pay for your own coverage. Having a coverage plan offered by a company is a huge benefit and one that needs to be considered carefully before a decision is made.

If people are considering a new job and do not have children, it is important to remember that you may want them in the future. Good medical coverage will be very important when that time comes. There will be maternity care, delivery and child health care that will be needed for years to come. This will be a huge expense, so give it some thought.

Many people who do not have coverage will utilize the emergency rooms when they become ill. This is why the emergency rooms are always so full and it takes so long to be seen. Often people will wait until they are very ill, or their child is really sick before they actually go into the emergency room to get proper care.

In some cases, people have actually died before they could seek medical care. Often, they will wait til the last minute, or not go to a doctor at all because they cannot afford it. By the time they do, if they do, many times it is too late and they will die from whatever illness they were dealing with.

Covering the family for unforeseen medical issues is the responsibility of the parent. Although some companies do not offer company health insurance as part of their packages, many of them do. Seeking out these companies would be a good idea as having your family covered in every way will be a tremendous amount of stress and worry off of you.

Postpartum Depression And Its Symptoms

Postpartum - postnatal depression

What should be a joyous and happy time for a new mother can turn into a battle of depression. Depression in new mothers tend to make them feel afraid, sad, anxious or angry after childbirth. This is a common symptom found in new mothers and in a mild form is known as Postpartum blues, although it is more commonly known to us as the "baby blues".

The symptoms of postpartum blues usually go away after a few days in most cases. It is said that around 10% of new mothers will experience the symptoms of postpartum blues for longer and in a more intense way. This is known as postpartum depression. It lasts longer than postpartum blues and is quite a bit more intense. It usually occurs within three months after childbirth or up to twelve months later. Often depressive mothers will require treatment or counseling to overcome postpartum depression as it is a serious condition.

Symptoms Of Postpartum Depression

New mothers might experience feelings of negativity towards their baby and lose interest in their son or daughter.
You might find yourself worrying that you are going to hurt your baby all the time.
Drastic or sudden weight and appetite changes.
Lack of motivation and loss of pleasure.
Sleep patterns change, some people might sleep more than usual, some might sleep less than usual.
Flirting with suicide, thoughts of suicide and the like.
Guilty feelings and feelings of worthlessness.

In the early stages of postpartum depression it can look like normal baby blues. They actually share many of the same symptoms, which are crying a lot, mood swings, insomnia, sadness and irritability. If you are suffering from postpartum depression theses symptoms will last much longer and if untreated they will only become worse. Anxiety is prominent in postpartum, if you are a sufferer you might worry about your baby's health in excess and become obsessive.

A new mother suffering from postpartum depression will usually start to show symptoms soon after childbirth. These symptoms will develop gradually in the new mother over a period of several months and will be hard to notice at first. Sometimes postpartum can develop suddenly as well and in some women the first symptoms can only appear months after they have given birth to their child. If a new mother has a depressive episode within five to eight months after childbirth, postpartum depression could be considered as a reason for the for it.

Raw Food Diet - Can it Enhance Pregnancy For Overweight Americans?

Infertility affects over 10% of American couples and 5% of the population. It is increasing at an alarming rate especially for overweight people. Although conventional medication has done its best, but for some reason, 10% of infertile couples are diagnosed with an unexplained cause of infertility. It means that the couple is found to be healthy with no structural problems, but conventional medicine has failed to find the causes of infertility, even with its modern technology. In traditional Chinese medicine, infertility is viewed as some tiny micro changes that cannot be detected by conventional medicine's modern technology that interfere with the natural process of pregnancy. In fact, traditional Chinese medicine views overweight infertility is caused by the typical American diet which is high in saturated and trans-fat, refined products, artificial ingredients, etc.. leading to excessive yang, dampness and phlegm(fat) accumulating in the body, thus affecting the chance of artificial insemination and natural conception.

Raw food diet is yin pathogen and cool in nature (please avoid any raw foods with dampness, you can check them in any Chinese food classification site on the Internet). It helps:

1. To Increase function of Spleen and stomach in food absorption
As raw food enters the stomach, it cools down the stomach's heat and is divided into qi and materials. Qi is absorbed by the spleen, it reduces the excessive yang slowly, as the spleen has been damaged by overheat of the typical American diet. The materials are cool in nature, it slows down the stomach's metabolism, leading to weight loss, increasing the stomach function in secreting turbid, and promoting the spleen's function in fluid absorption.

2. To decrease dampness and heat
According to traditional Chinese medicine, overweight Americans are overweight due to the typical American diet which contributes to dampness accumulation in the body's organ as a result of the kidney's abnormal function in fluid distribution and transportation, leading to dampness descending to the abdominal region that distorts the normal conception. As the abundance of dampness, it generates heat that negatively affects the immune system in fighting against bacteria and virus invasion, forming free radicals, and abnormal immune allergenic reactions to harmful materials.

3. To increase blood formation and transportation
As the spleen no longer functions normally in qi distribution due to yang and dampness nature of the typical American diet, it causes liver qi stagnation which reduces the function of blood formation and storing as well as decreasing the heart in blood circulation.

4. To increase blood to the abdomen
As the excessive yang and dampness slowly decreases, it increases the kidney's function in regulating the blood flow to the uterus for promoting natural conception during the menstrual cycle as a result of the qi and blood are no longer being stagnated.

Raw food diet cannot cure the excessive yang and dampness overnight, but at least it reduces them, thus increasing the chance of hormones, leading to fertility. Sometime along the road, the yin and yang will become harmonized.

If you are pregnant by eating raw, it means that your body has provided at least a suitable environment for conception. You should replace your raw food diet with steamed or boiled foods, because your baby needs to be warmed by blood and nutrients transported to the uterus. Intake of raw foods may increase the risk of cool uterus, leading to miscarriage.

Male Contraception - An Overview

There is no dearth of men all over the world looking for different methods of contraception. Contraception is mainly used to avoid unwanted pregnancies, although some forms can also help in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Without the use of an effective form of contraception, there is a high risk of unwanted pregnancies. Here are your options.

Condoms:
Amongst the most commonly used form of contraception in men, condoms work as barrier devices which prevent the semen from entering the vagina. In addition, condoms also provide protection against a range of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea. There is a wide variety of condoms to choose from in this day and age, and this choice comes in the form of textured and flavored condoms. Using condoms does not provide 100% protection.

The Withdrawal Method:
This method is also commonly referred to as the 'pull out' method, or 'coitus interruptus'. This is where you would withdraw your penis just before you ejaculate, thereby ejaculating outside your partner's body. This method does not offer 100% protection against unwanted pregnancies either.

Vasectomy:
This is looked upon as a permanent male contraception method, as it works in ensuring that no sperms get to the ejaculate. This procedure is generally chosen by men who feel they've had their share of children. The procedure does not take very long, and involves the 'vas deferens' from both testicles being cut, clamped, or sealed in some other manner.

Natural Solutions:
Men in some cultures use solutions derived from nature to serve as contraceptive measures. Extract from 'Neem' (Azadirachta indica) is said to work as an effective contraceptive for men, and its use in Asian cultures is quite common. Lab tests on mice have shown that Neem oil can be used as an alternative to vasectomy. Seeds from the papaya fruit (Carica papaya) have also been used by many Asian cultures as a means to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Lab tests with monkeys have shown that papaya seeds work in eliminating sperms from the ejaculate.

Alternatives Being Developed:
Various male contraception methods continue to be developed, and many of these aim to work along the lines of commonly available contraceptives for women. Men, by the looks of it, will soon have the option to avail of alternatives like pills, gels, patches, and injections. Newer alternatives which are still being tested include the use of calcium channel blockers like nifedipine; adjudin, which is a non-toxic form of ionidamine; as well as phenoxybenzamine.

Realize that what might seem like the best form of male contraception for someone might not necessary find favor with someone else. Besides, the all important factor of whether the solution sought is permanent or temporary will also have a bearing on the method that you choose.

What's important though is that you use some form of contraception whilst engaging in sex. And when this involves an unknown partner, you should take particular care to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases as well.

Pregnancy - Sleep on Side Helps Optimize Your Baby's Health

When you are pregnant your body goes through a series of changes, often making it impossible for you to feel comfortable in bed. This is obviously going to affect your overall sleep patterns, making it more and more difficult to cope. Obstetricians are now advising the pregnant women to think 'SOS' when it comes to getting more comfortable in bed: its good advice but, basically, no more dramatic than, in pregnancy, 'sleep on side'. This is great if you are having trouble sleeping due to pressure from your growing abdomen. However, even better, is their advice to sleep on the left side as it is much better for both you and baby.

When it comes to your developing baby you obviously want to do the best you can and, sleeping on your left side will provide your baby with more nutrients. As a result of extensive research it has been found that if you sleep on your left side during pregnancy the blood flow to the placenta will increase, thereby increasing the amount of nutrients available.

You also need to consider your own comfort as well and quality sleep is valuable to your overall well-being during your pregnancy: while sleeping on your left side bend your legs and place a pillow between your legs for maximum comfort. Remember, in pregnancy, sleep on side is the best advice and, even better, try sleeping on the left side.

Avoid Sleeping on Tummy

Apart from the obvious difficulties of the physical changes making sleeping on your tummy rather difficult, you need to focus on the health of your developing baby get all the nutrients it needs. There is always the possibility that your growing uterus could press down, with the weight it is carrying, directly onto the veins returning to the heart, effectively reducing the amount of blood circulating around your body. You also need to consider comfort - not just for you, but for the baby as well. So, while sleeping on your tummy is not a definite no-no, as your pregnancy progresses you are hardly likely to want to sleep on your tummy - mainly because there are more comfortable positions to sleep in.

Maternity Pillows

Following the mantra, in pregnancy, 'sleep on side' will certainly make you more comfortable, especially if you use a maternity pillow to prop you up. The value of a maternity pillow during pregnancy cannot be stressed enough. These special pillows are designed to help keep pregnant mothers comfortable and in the proper sleeping position. It is a pleasure to sleep with one of these big comfy pillows cradling your body and keeping you in the sleep position that is best for you and your baby.

Are You Fighting the Baby Blues?

The entry into motherhood is one of the most amazing and happiest life-changing experiences, but it can also be a stressful and challenging one. While it is common and typical for new moms to feel anxious about the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead of them and their newborn infants, excessive worrying and feelings of anxiety are detrimental and can greatly jeopardize the intimate relationship between a mother and her baby.

According to a research study, postpartum depression (PPD) - also known as post-natal depression or more commonly, severe baby blues - affects as high as 13% of all mothers. This is due to a sharp decrease in estrogen, progesterone and thyroid hormones following the birth of a child. Recognizing the symptoms and understanding the various steps to take to overcome the blues can help you be on your way to develop a close-knit connection with your baby.

"I'm pretty sure I don't love my baby."

Sufferers of postpartum depression often feel that they are missing a bond or connection with their newborn. Have you ever felt the desire to hurt yourself or your baby? Or do you harbor suicidal thoughts and become increasingly isolated and lonely? If you've answered "yes" to these questions, you may have postpartum depression.

Most notable cues of postpartum depression include having difficulty sleeping, recurrent sadness, loss of appetite and interest in life, feelings of fatigue, hopelessness, frustration and guilt. Sometimes, these symptoms may develop into something even more serious, as sufferers constantly find themselves getting frantic or paranoid over the smallest things.

Take the first step

First and most importantly, remember that you are not alone. If you realized that you are suffering from severe bouts of baby blues, start by taking concrete steps to combat and treat your depression. Leaving the condition untreated and hoping that the situation will improve is not going to help and will eventually worsen it further.

1. Get support

Your spouse, family and friends are concerned of your well-being. Do not feel ashamed to confide and seek support from your loved ones - especially the baby's father. Tell him exactly what you are feeling, and allow him to play a key role in helping you through this period of depression.

External support resources and services are always around to help you cope. Seek out a postpartum depression support group. Although it may seem difficult to share your story with strangers when you first met them, you will soon find that many moms are experiencing the same feelings, negativity and issues you do. Use the support of a close community of empathetic moms to work together in achieving common goals.

2. Ask for assistance

It is almost impossible to accomplish everything by yourself, because chances are, you will eventually be burnt out by a seemingly never-ending workload. If you are unable to cope with the accumulated pile of unwashed laundry and greasy dishes because you need to tend to the 24/7 demands of your newborn, asking for additional help from your spouse, mom, or even your best friend will help to ease your burden.

Always try to allocate some time a day for yourself. Energize yourself by doing the things that relaxes your mind such as listening to your favorite music or watching your favorite TV program. Get some me-time by heading out with your friends or simply be by yourself. A refreshed 'you' will naturally be able to handle your stress in a healthier manner.

3. Dismiss the myths of motherhood

If you are a new mom, you might have heard (and believed) tales of how you will instantly bond with your newborn, that you will feel constant 'gooey' love for your baby, and it is no sweat to lose the baby weight after pregnancy - all these amongst many other myths.

It is time to break away from these fictional myths! Bonding isn't always instantaneous. Like any relationships, the bond develops over time. Do not fret if you take longer than other moms - it will eventually come as you get to know your baby and s/he get to know you. It is also normal to occasionally feel tense, tired and annoyed by your baby's constant cries. You are not a bad mom. Do not let anyone judge you as one. You know you love your baby and you simply need a break from your baby from time to time.

4. Seek professional help

If your PPD symptoms are not alleviated in these healing options, it is important that you seek some form of psychological treatment from a professional therapist. Effective medical forms of PPD treatment include antidepressants, hormone therapy, psychotherapy and counseling.

The sooner you begin your treatment, the quicker you're able to experience a full recovery. Babies of postpartum depressed moms tend to be less attached to their mothers and lag behind in developmental milestones. Take the first step today to help yourself and your baby.

Outsourcing CPAs: Frequently Asked Questions

Why do businesses resort to outsourcing accounting functions?

Most businesses resort to outsourcing CPA functions of in-house accounting services for the following reasons:

• Top employee resigns and key accounting jobs are neglected.


• Outsourcing CPA functions lessens, if not removes, recruitment and training costs


• Employee commits a serious offense against company rules and regulations like fraudulence, dishonesty or fund embezzlement, which culminates to his/her termination


• To increase transaction volumes that staff are unable to accomplish on time


• Acknowledgment that outsourcing CPAs can bring favorable results such as speed up management of payables as well as the collection of receivables, and upgrade the level of vendor financing among others


• Immediate need for administrative or fiscal management of business processes [such as] assist projects, provisions for maternity leave, coverage for military service and illnesses, business reorganization or relocation prospects

If there is already an in-house bookkeeper, why is there still a need for outsourcing CPA functions?

Bookkeepers see to it that accounting records of pertinent monetary transactions are regularly updated. However, when companies begin outsourcing CPAs, they can improve their current cashflow and create a sturdy database for all their accounting records. In effect, the service provider assumes a proactive role in the operations of the entire process, including accounts payable or accounts receivable. What's more, CPA outsourcing firms provide bookkeeping services that are half the rate charged by in-house bookkeepers - yet just as, if not even more, efficient.

Will outsourcing CPA functions obliterate my need for a company accountant?

Of course not. Company CPAs provide services that are altogether different. Sub-contractor company CPA functions involve business advisory, preparation of financial statements as well as federal and state tax returns, and compiling and submission of necessary reporting documents like those required by the bank. Financial planning, structuring and management should rest on the shoulders of in-house accountants. However, when you resort to outsourcing CPA functions to a third party service provider, you will be able to get things done on a daily basis. Outsourcing CPA work goes beyond advising and preparing financial statements or income tax returns. CPA service providers overseas see to it that core accounting functions are attended to and solidify the company's CPA foundations. They do all the dirty accounting work, which can be time-consuming and can distract the management from attending to more pressing matters. Rest assured, outsourcing CPA functions is an answer to companies' heavy-weight back office accounting problems and not just minor ones.

Supposing I do not have costly financial and administrative procedures, should outsourcing CPAs still work for me?

Cost is not the only reason businesses opt for outsourcing CPA functions. One other consideration would be to reduce the complexity of their present accounting records. They are in need of a viable CPA method that can work better for their respective companies, regardless of size and social standing. The fact is, though some business processes are not costly, they are either too complicated to help the company gain advantage or the management is not aware of its own business processes due to other pressing concerns. Rather than spending time on the process, they could utilize these spare moments in planning for and developing the business to satisfy consumer needs. Besides, financial and administrative tasks are always the priority which is why they usually do not get done well or punctually. Tasks like payroll processing need a sufficient amount of knowledge and accuracy. Thus, they are usually the first process that management identifies as compatible to outsourcing.

Will I still retain control of my CPA processes if I outsource them?

For certain, you will. Outsourcing CPA processes actually boosts up your business prospects and guides you properly in making decisions. You can delegate all the necessary information to us service providers by outsourcing CPA functions to offshore providers and in so doing, you increase your level of control. Take for instance if you outsource your accounts payable service. This can help your company select directly the vendors to be paid, or permit you to institute policies on the selection process. Outsourcing accounting work of this nature can prevent any unauthorized disbursements. Moreover, a weekly or biweekly system of payments to vendors may be established, but with fully equipped accommodations on receiving goods COD.

If my company data is highly confidential, is it still viable to proceed with outsourcing CPA functions?

Fear not when outsourcing CPA work. You can guarantee that all data are considered confidential by accounting service providers. Whether the client says so explicitly or not, offshore outsourced accounting firms treat their clients' data with respect and value. Their computerized accounting systems, as well as necessary backup data are much secured and we store all hard data copies with utmost caution. Outsourcing CPA functions actually increases your data security, giving you the confidentiality you need.

If I prefer to retain my company's financial data on my existing accounting system, then does it dispense the need for outsourcing?

Certainly not. CPA outsourcing will always be a viable alternative for your company. The only necessary condition is for your site to have a high-speed internet connection, so we can efficiently operate your accounting system at a distance. This is more practical on your part as you would be spared from unending investments on new hardware and software to back up your existing accounting system or upgrade or convert your current data. Secondly, it is also a viable alternative to allow the CPA service provider to "host" your accounting system remotely from their service site. You can relocate your hardware to where the provider company is located. The third cost-efficient option is to utilize an internet-based accounting package readily available on the World Wide Web.

What if I only want to seek for counsel and advise regarding how I and my staff should run our accounting processes - not necessarily turn over the accounting?

Outsourced CPA service providers are hands-on. Their primary aim is to do the work for you instead of merely advising you and your staff. Yet if you feel that consulting about rather than outsourcing CPA functions is what your company needs, we can do this for you too. However, in general, accounting service providers feel that this will only add more costs to your company. In addition, improvement and solutions for your accounting will only be limited. As they have the goal of giving you the best and affordable way to utilize your CPAs, outsourcing firms would always give the same advice: outsource and not just consult.

If I outsource CPA work, will I not increase my exposure to dishonest and fraudulent acts?

It is certainly true that there is a widespread case of employee dishonesty and fraud nowadays and almost every employer in the world has been a victim. However, these may be the result of weak internal control and lenient recruiting and supervision on the part of management, which instead facilitates the flow of dishonest and fraudulent acts. If you outsource your pertinent CPA functions to third party service providers, the employees they hire are on a contractual basis and each of them is commissioned to sign a "terms of employment" document, which makes dishonest and fraudulent acts subject to instant termination.

Procedures are also properly documented when outsourcing CPA functions to third party service providers. These providers operate on a team-based environment in an office open enough to make any act of dishonesty and fraudulence difficult to hide.

Another attractive thing about outsourcing CPA work to service providers abroad is that their processes are designed to effectively impose internal controls that aim to minimize the possibility of dishonesty and fraudulence and increase the chances of discovering them - no matter how small. There are also insurance programs that enable these CPA service providers to underwrite losses in the unfortunate occurrence of one. Although the existence of dishonesty and fraud cannot exactly be prevented from occurring, it is highly recognized that outsourcing accounting functions answers a big chunk of this workforce problem.

Foods That Help You Get Pregnant - A Look at Aphrodisiacs

There are foods to keep one active, to stay healthy and to get nutrients. But have you ever wondered what foods help you get pregnant? There are foods that serve that purpose. Such foods are known as 'aphrodisiacs'.

The word 'aphrodisiac' has been derived from the name of the Greek god of sensuality and love, Aphrodite. What exactly do these aphrodisiacs do? They induce the Aphrodite within us!! Sounds weird? Well I meant to say that aphrodisiacs are foods that induce eroticism among people. The role of aphrodisiacs is phenomenal in child birth and the sex life of a person. And reading this article would for sure help you get an idea about what foods help you get pregnant.

Getting in detail about this topic, we can see that there is a huge variety of aphrodisiacs in the world. They vary from nuts to fruits to vegetables and herbs. The influence of aphrodisiacs in the sexual performance of people has not been proven with concrete evidence as far as Western medicine is concerned. But traditional medicinal practices like the Chinese medicine and Ayurveda believe that certain fruits and vegetables have the ability to make people erotic.

One of the theories that explain the functioning of aphrodisiacs says that it is the shape of the vegetables that enables this. Check it out for yourself and you would find that most of the aphrodisiac foods have a strong resemblance to either of the sex organs of the human body. Bananas, asparagus, radish and Moringa oleifera, which is commonly known as drumstick are considered to be aphrodisiacs (Do you get the connection?). Some of the Indian spiritual practices advise a person to not eat drumsticks as it is capable of making him feel erotic.

Other foods that are considered to be aphrodisiacs include caviar, oyster, alcohol, vanilla, truffles and ginseng. While all other items induce sexual desire, alcohol gives a person a sense of freeness making him/her shed inhibitions to indulge freely in the act.

Aphrodisiacs can be actually used in two ways: they can be either ingested or applied to the body depending on the aphrodisiac itself. Apart from the ones mentioned above there are other food items too that can do this impeccably (or they are believed so). Important among them are saffron, dark chocolate, almonds, celery, pomegranate, peach, gingko nut and spices.

Many people have tried out using aphrodisiacs to make their sex life interesting and have achieved satisfying results including childbirth. However there are certain things that can hinder the effectiveness of aphrodisiacs. Some people may be allergic to certain vegetables. Some people may be suffering from some problematic medical conditions. All these factors affect the influence of aphrodisiacs on the human body. Eating healthy food and staying fit can help overcome these kinds of problems. Overall, being aware about what foods help you get pregnant will surely help you in many ways than one.

Hence, it can be easily concluded that aphrodisiacs can for sure spice up the sexual life of a person. So I guess you now know what to do if your partner does not seem to show interest in enjoying carnal pleasure or if there is a delay in your being in the family way. You would have got an idea of what foods help you get pregnant, by now.

Health Insurance Maternity Coverage Prepares You Financially For the Future

Having health insurance maternity benefits is a serious concern for pregnant women. It is not the only concern a mom-to-be has, however. While it is important to know you have the right benefits to cover the expenses of the delivery of the baby, there are expenses that come after the birth that are important, too.

It is wise to think ahead about what is required for raising a healthy baby. Your child will need a series of vaccines, checkups and well visits, and a pediatrician on call in times of sickness or in the event of an emergency. Typically if the mother has health insurance maternity benefits, her coverage plan already includes coverage for the baby after he/she is born.

A key consideration concerning health coverage is that insurance companies are very strict about pre-existing conditions. The time to obtain maternity coverage is before you get pregnant, not after. Planning ahead is very important so that you can rest assured you and your baby will have the best care without having to worry about who is footing the bill.

Some maternity coverage plans have a deductible. If you do not already have the deductible saved up when you become pregnant, start a savings account early so you won't be strapped for funds at delivery time.

You will have other expenses when the baby is born for things like clothing, diapers, food, daycare, doctor visits, formula, strollers, toys, playpens, and so forth. Those expenses add up in a hurry.

If you normally work and don't have disability benefits to cover you during your pregnancy leave, it will be even more difficult to cover just normal living expenses, not even considering deductibles and baby expenses.

Early and professional prenatal care is essential for every mother so her baby has the opportunity to come into the world as healthy as possible. Health insurance maternity benefits should be at the top of your list before you become pregnant so you can enjoy this joyous time without having to worry about money and insurance coverage.

3 Tips To A Blissful And Enjoyable Confinement

Now that you have gone through the arduous 40 weeks of pregnancy journey and the formidable task of delivering your baby, it is finally time to bring home your bundle of joy!

For most first time parents, this is a period of anticipation and excitement, but it can also be a time of uncertainty and stress. Many women start experiencing a sense of desperation now that they no longer have the support from the nurses in the hospital and will be all alone with her baby. It does not help that you have to deal with the excruciating pain from the episotomy wound (and for some, the caesarean wound) and the pain from the breast engorgement, which makes it almost impossible to sit up and walk properly, not to mention to care for a newborn.

The following tips will help you get through this seemingly darkness period of your life while maintaining your sanity and health.

Tip #1: Get help!

Do not be embarrassed to ask for help. Rally those around you to help in one way or another. Ask your mother, mother-in-law, father, father-in-law, aunties etc. Do not underestimate the importance of family support. One of my friends came down with chicken pox 2 weeks after giving birth and her father took over as the main caregiver for her newborn. If you do not have any reliable and experienced people to help you out, consider getting a confinement lady. An experienced confinement lady is an expert when dealing with newborn and can be an invaluable source of advice and help for new mom.

Tip #2: Get enough rest!

No amount of books you read or pre-natal classes you attend can prepare you for the exhaustion, frustration and even desperation of being a new parent. The sleep deprivation is horrific. I can still remember the 3-hourly feed that my eldest son insisted on till he is almost 6 months old! Do not underestimate the strain pregnancy placed on your body. You need plenty of rest during the confinement period to let your body to recover from the sheer exhaustion of childbirth so that you can be strong enough to take care of your newborn. A sleep deprived mom is a tired, emotional unstable, agitated and ill-tempered mom.

A confinement lady can help to take over the caring over the newborn so that you can get plenty of rest. Most mothers let their newborn sleeps with the confinement lady in the first few weeks so that she can take over the night feeds. This allows the mother to have sufficient rest at night. There will also be someone to help with other children and ensure that things are taken care of around your home until you are able to care for everything on your own again.

Tip #3: Eat well!

Having a nutritional diet after delivery is crucial in helping you regain your health and prepare you for breastfeeding. Do not dismiss the benefits of confinement meals. Chinese herbs commonly found in confinement soup such as Chinese angelica root (dang gui) and ginseng, are used as a tonic to nourish the blood and to improve uterine function. Ginger, black and white peppers are also liberally added to some soups and confinement dishes to eliminate "wind" from the body. Dried red dates and wolfberries are added to confinement tea to nourish the blood and to eliminate fatigue. An experienced confinement lady will be able to prepare delectable and nutritious confinement meals for you to ensure that you regain your health without gaining extra pounds!

You may want to check out http://www.confinementladysg.com for your confinement needs.

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How to Lose Weight When Pregnant - 5 Quick Tips for Healthy Weight Loss During Pregnancy

While some expectant mothers fear of losing their figure with their pregnancy, others go into pregnancy with overweight. This situation can represent a health risk for both. Nevertheless, by procuring a healthy diet you can easily maintain a healthy weight and return to a great figure in 3 months.

Notwithstanding, it is utterly important for you to consult your pregnancy nutrition plan with your midwife or doctor. You might have a special condition that will require you to have a specific diet. In this article you won織t find any extreme weight loss measures, instead I will give you some easy tips to improve your diet. In fact, all pregnant ladies should follow these tips in order to procure the best nutrients for their babies. Here you have 5 pieces of advice on how to lose weight when pregnant, healthy and safely.

1. Eat healthy fats

There is a type of fat that everyone should be eating, but especially you! Polyunsaturated fatty acids. These are known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, however when you are pregnant it is even more important to include a natural source of fatty acids in your diet. An example of a fatty acid that will be great for you is DHA (or Docosahexaenoic acid). DHA is a type of fatty acid that helps the development of your baby織s brain and eyes. Additionally, good fats help you lose weight by maintaining a good level of fat burning hormones, reducing food cravings and making you feel fuller for longer.

You can find good fats in foods like organic eggs, butter and Wild salmon, Hemp and Chia seeds, pistachios, pecans, walnuts and Brazil nuts.

2. Drink enough water

Drinking enough water is especially important during pregnancy as it will help you avoid water retention and constipation. While it might seem like an obvious recommendation, drinking sufficient water is frequently ignored by many people. Still, water helps the body to metabolize stored fats by supplying the kidneys with enough water. Consequently, the liver織s fat burning function boosts. According to Isabel de los Rios, Nutritionist and Fitness Certificate Expert and author of the book "The Diet Solution Program", water brings great benefits to a weight loss plan. She sets as rule of thumb that everybody should drink at least 1 liter of water a day for every 65 pounds of weight, plus one extra glass every time you exercise or consume caffeine.

3. Fiber is your friend

Fiber is great for pregnant ladies. Once it is in your body it will start absorbing water. This will make you fill fuller, thus reducing your food cravings. Additionally, fiber helps you reduce and prevent high sugar levels, digestive problems and heart disease, it also helps you flush unwanted fats. Moreover, a high fiber diet early in pregnancy has been linked to reduce risks of preeclampsia. Furthermore, studies in pregnant woman suffering from diabetes reveal that fiber reduces the need of insulin shots.

Fiber is a complex carbohydrate that our body ca not digest nor absorb, it is not even considered a nutrient. Another characteristic of fiber is that it is divided into 2 types: soluble and insoluble. The first type will help you flush out unwanted fats by adhering to fatty molecules and taking them out of your organism, while insoluble fibers help you maintain a healthy digestive system by moving waste down and cleansing the colon. In short, fiber will not only make you fill fuller for longer, it will also help you clean your body from unwanted substances.

Fiber comes from plants exclusively, and you will find it in oats, barley, corn, green beans, lentils, oranges, apples with skin, bananas, strawberries, potatoes with skin, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. Naturally, eating them fresh is always better, but they are good even if they are dried. And try to make it a goal to consume around 20 to 25 grams a day. While increasing your dietary fiber in take, don織t forget to drink plenty of water with.

4. Sugar and artificial sweeteners

We all know that sugar must be avoided when trying to lose weight. Certainly, pregnancy makes you especially vulnerable to certain conditions that can be aggravated by sugar. Examples of this are tooth and gum decay, high blood sugar levels and obesity. Conditions such as diabetes need to be closely monitored during this time too.

Sugar is a processed ingredient that is present in almost all industrialized foods, even if it is not clearly labeled as sugar. Cane juice, corn syrup and corn starch are just some of the variation forms of sugar used in processed foods that should be avoided.

What modern society seem not to acknowledge is that popular 織diet織 or 織sugar free織 alternatives contain highly dangerous chemical ingredients such as chlorine. And even when not all sweeteners contain it in their final product, it has been used in its process.

The topic of artificial sweeteners is in deed a very controversial one. Most western doctors say it is safe for its use during pregnancy unless you have developed an allergy to any of its ingredients. Its use is also banned for patients suffering from Phenylketonuria, also known as PKU. In spite of this, many studies reinforce the notion that it is safe to use during pregnancy.

On the other hand, research performed before artificial sweeteners became popular do find a link between its use and an increased incidence in cancer, tumors, migraine, seizures, anxiety, depression and panic attacks. Additionally, artificial sweeteners have been found to be addictive. Furthermore, studies on its ingestion during pregnancy found evidence of abnormal behavior on animal and human offspring, for instance: hyperactivity, control inhibition and minimal brain damage in severe cases. Radical recent studies even conclude that artificial sweeteners do not help in long-term weight loss either.

When looking at medical studies many factors should be considered. Factors such as techniques used in the trial, extent of samples and financing of the study (directly or indirectly) could affect the veracity of their results. At the end of the day it is for you to decide. While I recognize the arguable benefit that artificial sweeteners bring to modern dieting, I personally try to stay away of sugar and avoid all products using artificial sweeteners. Especially since there are other natural choices that do not cause obesity, do not represent any health risk and taste even better. I use Agave honey instead, but Stevia and Maguey honey are also great choices. All these are natural, sweeter than sugar, contain zero calories and a very low glycemic index.

Why would I marinate my food in chlorine when there are better options? Companies may do so because at the moment is cheaper for them.

5. Do not forget good carbs

Most doctors will recommend you to stay away from low-carb diets while you are pregnant, even some months after labour. This is because low-carb diets can be very extreme and might turn unsafe for you both. Carbohydrates mix with fat molecules to produce energy, and not only you and your baby will need tons of this during her development, you also need it to burn stored fat. Another characteristic of carbohydrates is that there are two types: simple and complex. The first are natural sugars that are present in fruits, vegetables and honeys; complex carbs are fiber and starches; present in fibrous vegetables and grains.

While carbohydrates are needed to help you cope with the pregnancy and burn fat, it is also true that with a surplus of these in your body will produce too much insulin. Too much insulin will make your body store fat and will suppress the production of Glucagon and Human Growth Hormones that are responsible for burning fat, among other important functions.

Since you need carbohydrates to keep healthy and to burn fat, it is important to find the right balance between carbohydrate type and quantity specific for you. Carbohydrates are a tricky thing as not everybody absorbs them equally. For this reason, Isabel de los Rios recommends us to take a metabolic type test. Such test will tell you which type of carbohydrates are easier for your metabolic type to assimilate and in which quantities. Thus, increasing your body織s fat burning capability and avoiding risk of storing fat.

How to Find the Best Insurance For Babies

Your health insurance needs are yet another aspect of life that will change once you discover you are having a baby. You may find yourself wondering where to find the best insurance for babies. Perhaps you are unsure whether your current health insurance is appropriate for a growing family. The guide below discusses what you need once you have a baby, and how to get the insurance for babies that work for their parents too.

Coverage Needs for Babies

Coverage that worked well when it was just you, or you and your spouse, may very prove insufficient when you factor in the new demands of pre-natal care, labor and delivery, the first two years of well-baby visits, and any complications that arise along the way. Maternity care and delivery coverage are two key issues to look into when deciding on health insurance for a growing family. Policies vary widely in terms of deductibles, co-payments and coverage. So spending a little extra time to find the best insurance for your situation can end up saving you a lot of money.

Preventative Care for Babies

Once the little bundle arrives, it's important to recognize that preventative care is the key to safeguarding the health of babies. It is crucial to make sure your insurance covers all the well-baby visits, vaccinations, and school physicals that your child will experience as he or she grows. Though we don't like to think about it, insurance for babies should include coverage for ambulance rides and emergency room visits as well.

Top Rated Providers for Family Coverage

When it comes to ensuring the healthiest possible environment for your baby, the best insurance is one that offers the most benefits for the whole family. In ranking the top commercial health insurance plans, the National Committee for Quality Assurance offers a good starting place to assess the best plan for your family.

In 2009, the top five contenders were:

One- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HMO/POS), Massachusetts and Maine

Two- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England (HMO/POS), New Hampshire

Three- Tufts Associated Health Maintenance Organization (HMO/POS), Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island

Four- Grand Valley Health Plan (HMO), Michigan

Five- Capital Health Plan (HMO), Florida

Importance of Breast Feeding for Your Baby

Why breastfeeding is important? What does WHO say?

WHO & UNICEF recommends that a baby should be exclusively breast fed for 6 months. After six months, safe & proper additional foods and liquids should complement breast feeding to meet the nutritional needs of a young child up to the age of two years.

Why breast milk is best?

• Breast milk is Mother Nature's gift to the baby! There are more than 200 constituents of breast milk known to science.


• About 80 percent of live cells in breast milk are made of macrophages that kill bacteria and viruses


• Breast milk is sterile and free from pollutants


• Breast milk in the first few days called Colostrum. This is called Liquid Gold for the baby. Colostrum contains antibodies to protect the newborn against disease, as well as being lower in fat and higher in protein than ordinary milk.

Who can Breastfeed?

Any woman who has given birth will have the ability to breastfeed. It is very rare to see some physical problem for the mother preventing her from breast feeding. Size of breasts does not have any effect the amount of breast milk production. Even with inverted nipples, women will be able to breast feed with some help. Amount of breast milk production will increase as your baby continues to suckle. Even mothers who have had Caesarean Section, Breech baby and twin babies can also breast feed comfortably with sufficient milk.

What are the benefits for the baby?

• Nature has designed the breast milk in such a way that it has the perfect combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrate, and fluids that newborn babies require. The composition of the breast milk changes as per the baby's requirement so that baby gathers maximum nutrition. No formula milk can ever substitute breast milk in this manner


• Breast milk is packed with antibodies which help the baby fight against infections. Hence the baby is has less chances of ear infection, diarrhoea & respiratory infections. Breast fed babies will have much less visits to the doctors for illnesses.


• Hormones released during breast feeding will increase bonding between the mother and the baby. This leads to the fulfillment of the baby's emotional and physical needs.


• Breast milk also has long term health benefits. It reduces the chance of child hood obesity; high blood pressure; high cholesterol level; eczema; type 2diabetes; leukaemia; asthma in later life.

What are the benefits for the mother?

• Breast feeding is free and easily available.


• Breast feeding stimulates the secretion of beneficial hormones called, prolactin and oxytocin. Pro- lactin ( pro lactation) Helps the mother to relax and facilitates bonding towards the baby. Oxytocin causes uterus/ womb contraction and reduces bleeding and anemia. Thus, breast feeding helps the uterus to come back to the pre pregnancy size and decrease the chance of post delivery bleeding risk and anemia


• Breast-feeding uses up about 500 extra calories per day. So, it is easier to lose weight after giving birth if you are breast-feeding.


• Breast feeding reduces the risk of pre menopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, Osteoporosis (less breakage of bones ) and postnatal depression


• It is very convenient and no hassle of sterilizing/ boiling the bottles. There is no preparation time needed.

How to ensure adequate breast milk?

Take pre-natal vitamins, specifically vitamin D supplement is recommended for all breast-feeding women and for breast-fed babies. Iron and Calcium supplements are also beneficial. Please consult your doctor.

Increase protein intake in the diet - include Dals, Milk and Eggs daily in your diet.

Begin breast feeding within the first hour of birth. Breast feed on demand. This will help regulate the fat content in the milk.

Eat lot of fresh fruits to get vitamins and micronutrients.

Ensure adequate intake of fluids including water and milk. Breast feeding can make you thirsty.

What are the steps of breast feeding?

Hold the baby's whole body close with the nose at the level of the nipple - " nose to the nipple". Let the baby's head tip back a little to allow baby's upper lip to brush against the nipple - this helps baby to open mouth wide. When baby's mouth is wide open, the chin is able to touch the breast and with the head tipped back the tongue can reach out and grab as much as breast as possible. Once chin is touching and nose is clear with mouth wide open encircling the nipple, baby starts to suckle and cheeks appear full and rounded as baby feeds. After baby has been fed, hold them upright on your shoulder to wind (burp). Breast fed babies have less problems with wind over bottle fed babies.

Please watch for the following signs to make sure your baby is feeding well:

• The baby's chin is firmly touching the breast.


• The baby has a big mouthful of breast.


• The baby's cheeks are rounded throughout sucking.


• Breastfeeding is not painful to the mother - although the initial sucks are strong with mild discomfort.


• There is rhythmic sucking and swallowing, with occasional pauses. There will be cycles of short sucks and also long, deep drawing sucks.


• The baby looks satisfied at the end of the feed and comes off the breast on his own.

Reliable indicators of baby getting enough milk

You will notice that the baby gains weight adequately and regains birth weight by 2wks. The other way to monitor weight gain is that the baby gains 500gms or more per month or 125gms/wk. The baby should pass light coloured urine about 6 times or more times a day by 4 days of age if the baby is exclusively breast fed. Please monitor the wet nappies.

Diet during breast feeding

The mother should try to eat a balanced diet. Foods that can be used liberally in the diet are fresh fruits and vegetables, soup of vegetables, milk, curd/Lassi, sprouted moong/ channa, fermented products like Idli, Dhokla, Dosa etc and egg white. Include lot of iron and protein rich food in the diet. The food items which are good sources of iron and protein for vegetarians include Legumes (Dhals), Milk, Paneer, Spinach and other green leafy vegetables, Anar ( Pomegranate), Banana and black grapes. Orange juice and Amla have plenty of Vitamin C which is important for Iron absorption in the body. Handful of nuts for snacking is a good idea for making the diet iron and protein rich for vegetarians.

Natural Galactogogues

Natural galactogogues are foods that increase breast milk production. Indian cuisine has plenty of such food items which are used in everyday cooking. Some examples are Methi seeds (Fenugreek), Garlic, Saunf (Fennel seeds), jeera water, oats and Brewer's Yeast.

Common problems during breast feeding

Full breasts with discomfort and pain - It may happen 3-4 days after delivery, breast are full, hot and hard to touch

Management - Baby needs to be well attached and breast fed frequently. You can express the milk if required. Simple pain killers like Paracetamol may help if the pain is intense.

Breast engorgement - This happens in blocked milk duct. Breast appears swollen, skin looks shiny and red. This may be accompanied with pain in breast but pain may not be as severe as mastitis. You may also notice mild fever.

Management - Feed the baby frequently, apply warm compress or take bath with warm water. Try simple & safe pain killers.

Mastitis - hard swelling in the breast with redness and severe pain. In this condition mother will have fever too

Management - take rest, Breast feed the baby frequently, apply warm compress, take simple analgesics. You may need to be treated with antibiotics. Contact your doctor.

Sore or fissured nipples - Pain when baby suckles. This is due to excess suction on the nipples

Management - If you develop sore nipples, check the position of the baby. Make sure the baby has adequate amount of breast tissue, areola and the nipple in the mouth. Improve the baby's attachment. You can try some soothing creams.

Working women & breast feeding

• Avail all possible leave at your credit including unpaid leave


• If possible, take your baby to work, make use of the cr癡che if available


• Do not start other feeds before you really need to.


• Don't think "I will have to go back to work in 12wks, so I might as well bottle feed straight away". This is the most common mistake the mothers do. Even if you can brest feed for a short period of time, it does provide significant benefits to the baby. The baby will have received some amount of valuable antibodies during this time.


• Continue to breast feed even at night, in the early morning, and at any other time that you are at home.


• Express as much breast milk as you can before you go back to work, into a very clean jar, even 1 cup (200ml) can give the baby 3 feeds/day of 60-70ml each.


• Cover the milk and keep in the coolest place that you can find in the house or in the refrigerator


• Expressed breast milk stays in good condition for 8-10hrs even in a hot climate and up-to 24hrs in the refrigerator


• Breast feed your baby after you've expressed the milk, so the baby will get the breast milk that you can't express including some hind milk.


• Don't boil or reheat your own breast milk


• It is absolutely not necessary to bottle feed at all, even very small babies can feed from a cup if you decide to use a formula


• Breastfeeding should begin within an hour of birth


• Breastfeeding should be "on demand", as often as the child wants day and night


• Bottles or pacifiers should be avoided.

Dos and Don'ts For Bleeding During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very crucial condition in a woman's life. That is why utmost care is especially needed for her to conceive healthily.

The most usual question of a pregnant woman is, "Is it normal to bleed during my pregnancy?"

Well, most experts convey that bleeding during pregnancy does not pertain to a menstruation that a woman naturally experience. According to medical experts, menstruation is not possible during pregnancy; because menstruation refers to the shedding of the uterus lining, which will not permit ovulation.
However, light-blood spotting is often mistaken as a menstruation.

Bleeding pregnancy is one risk a woman must be most prudent about. About 20 to 30 % pregnancies are characterized by this vaginal bleeding. It is most likely to occur during the first trimester or first three months of pregnancy.

Caution must be taken when vaginal bleeding continues until the second trimester of pregnancy. It is already an abnormal characteristic of a pregnant woman. This requires a medical help to stop the bleeding so that the pregnancy can be continued under healthy condition.

Emergency occurs when at the 28th week after pregnancy, bleeding still persists. It is usually characterized by mild to severe abdominal pains, and hemorrhage; the latter is the common cause of death of mothers in the United States. About 4% of mothers' deaths are due to hemorrhage.

It is important for all women to know how to treat bleeding during pregnancy; whether it is a home-care or hospital care treatment.

A bleeding expectant mother should take note of the following cautions as a personal remedy to her dangerous condition:
- Avoid lifting and all strenuous activities.
- Avoid having a sexual intercourse, douching, and tampons.
- Get an adequate rest and sleep.
- Relax and free yourself from stress.
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

If in case, there occurred severe vaginal bleeding, do not hesitate to seek for medical remedy; because this is an aggravated condition that needs immediate attention from medical professional.

In the event that bleeding pregnancy cannot be remedied anymore, a bleeding expectant mother must be prepared for its possible outcomes, which include implantation bleeding and miscarriage.

Any woman should be prepared to handle those pregnancy risks. It is her responsibility to be aware of the dos and don'ts of her current condition.

People around her, loved ones, especially her husband must be ready to lend support, both emotionally and mentally.

Only the Physically and Mentally Strong Survive

This is really true. The only way to survive is to be strong physically and mentally. Are you strong enough to get yourself out of a jam? Is your physical and mental fitness enough? Or are you weak in one or both areas?

In ancient times it was mostly physical, kill or be killed. You had to hunt for food you and you had to work extremely hard.

Today we don't live as physical as we should, we take it easy, we eat way to much.

Stress is a killer. We work to many hours. We are on all types of medication. We have so many physical and mental diseases we can't count.

We have brought these things on ourselves. We are softer physically and mentally. We are taught nowadays to stay in school go to college so you can get a great job.

Work with your head not your back. What do you think is killing us the physical labor or the non-physical labor? The way I see it, it's the white collar workers that wind up highly stressed, overweight and diseased.

Not that this doesn't happen to physical laborers, it does, but not as nearly as much as the man who gets no exercise except to get out of his chair for lunch or to go to the bathroom.

Look around most of the sick, fat and weak are living a sit down lifestyle. We were never as sick as we are now and with all the advancements in science and everyone eating better food and taking better care of themselves and we are still getting more and more diseases. Men and women are looking older and sicker and it seems that it will only get worse.

So to survive in this high pressure world of work, bad nutrition, physical and mental stress we need to be no our A game, we need to care a little more about out health and fitness.

We need to eat right, exercise and find ways to keep stress low.

Because Only The Strong Survive!

Try this quick 10 minute workout:

Jump Rope for 1 minute then drop down into a pushup position and just hold the position for 1 minute. Then repeat back and forth for 10 minutes.

Toughness Builds Winners

Skin Care Products For the Pregnant Woman

Taking care of your skin is especially hard when you're pregnant. The hormonal changes in your body can cause excessive dryness and rashes. Here are some of the best skin care products that are made specifically with mothers-to-be in mind.

Basq Skin Care: Stretch Mark Cream

Stretch marks are one of the biggest skin care problems for pregnant women. Basq Skin Care's stretch mark cream prevents and helps repair stretch marks. Darutoside and Algisium C, two of the main ingredients in this product, are clinically proven to strengthen skin and promote resilience. The cream also contains Shea and Jojoba butters for a rich, creamy texture that feels great on your skin, and the various oils allow the cream to absorb deeply into the dermis where the damage occurs. All Basq products are skin allergy and irritancy free.

Mambino Organics: Scar Repair

Acne tends to pop up more often throughout your body when you're pregnant, which can lead to scarring. Made with Rosehip, Helichrysum and Vitamin E, this cream helps smooth out and fade acne as well as cesarean scar tissue.

Mambino Belly Butter

Another pregnancy skin care product from Mambino Organics, this cream contains a luxurious blend of nutrients and organic botanicals that gives your skin renewed elasticity and hydration, while alleviating itchiness and dryness. The mango and cocoa butter helps soften and moisturize and the calendula infused oil regenerates torn tissue. You can continue to use this product even after childbirth to keep your skin looking great and help you during your post-partum rebound.

Mario Badescu: Block Cream

This cream helps tackle the problem of melasma, or the so called "pregnancy mask". This is when the skin pigmentation in areas around your eyes and sometimes your cheeks and lower lip becomes darker. Melasma is a problem especially with fair-skinned women and it is caused by hormonal changes that make pregnant women's skin more susceptible to discoloration due to sunlight. Badescu's Block Cream is a daily moisturizer that provides sun protection for delicate skin, and is especially made for women who are pregnant. 

Beaute De Maman: Face and Body Cream

As mentioned, acne and other skin blemishes are a side-effect of the hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy. This body cream provides special antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory protection to fight acne and blemishes caused by these  hormonal changes. It has natural botanical extracts for a gentle drying effect.

The Best Diet Plan For Teenage Pregnancy!

The importance of teenage pregnancy diet plans cannot be underestimated. A number of diet plans are designed especially for teenagers. Whether it's a boy or a girl, teenagers have certain specific nutritional requirements. Few mothers are very strict about what their kids eat. While it is OK to not allow them to eat junk food, but at the same time make sure that they are not missing out on the healthy stuff. Mothers obviously know what is best for their children and teenagers are no exception.

A balanced diet is must for pregnant women. It is important for the mother as well as the baby. The diet should contain all the essential nutrients in the required amount. A good diet decrease the risk of complications associated with child birth. The child is more likely to be healthy and it also has a good effect on mother's health. The mother should understand the importance of a good diet and she should also know about the complications that she and her child might have to face in case she doesn't eat well. She should know the advantages of a nutritious diet. It is important so that it doesn't come as a shock to her at a later stage.

What should you do in case your teenage daughter is expecting a baby? The dietary requirements can be very different here. As a teenager, the mother has to pay attention to her own dietary needs. In addition to that she also needs to take care of her growing baby. Striking a perfect balance between the two is not very easy. Equal importance should be given to both, the child's health and the mother's health.

The easiest option would be to consult a nutritionist. You can come to know about the different diet plans and then choose the one which meets your requirements best. You can talk to your nutritionist when in doubt. That will help you to make the correct decision for the nutritionists specialize in making specific diet plans for people, depending on their situation.

In case a doctor or nutritionist is not available, you can always browse the internet. You can find about various teenage pregnancy diet plans on the net. Teenage pregnancy can be quite troublesome if you do not take proper care. Make sure that your diet is balanced and not too small in quantity.

A good diet is required so keep the mother active and healthy. Lack of nutrition can result in tiredness and weakness. You can get various diet plans on the net but check them with other websites too before you start following them. This is to ensure that they are not misleading.

Lactose Intolerance And Pregnancy: How To Deal

Health care providers typically motivate pregnant women to drink milk for the reason that it is a great source of calcium, which is necessary for the child's growth. Pregnant and breastfeeding women need between 1200 and 1500 mg of calcium every day. The baby needs ample calcium in order to build healthy bones and teeth. If the child's calcium needs are unmet, it could result to diminished maternal bone density.

Nevertheless, many women are not able to tolerate milk simply because they are lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance is the incapacity to digest lactose or the sugar found in milk. With the aid of the enzyme lactase, lactose is further broken down into glucose and galactose. Lactose intolerance happens when there is a lack of lactase and when symptoms come about that correlate to the stated condition.

Approximately 30 to 50 million people in America are lactose intolerant and it is most typical among African Americans, Native Americans, and Asians. Premature infants born in between the 28th and 32nd week of gestation, are at higher risk because lactase levels only develop throughout the third trimester of pregnancy. The symptoms of lactose intolerance may vary in severity. Typical indicators involve diarrhea, nausea, cramps, gas and bloating. They usually start 30 minutes to 2 hours soon after ingesting foods made up of lactose. The discomforts of lactose intolerance may hinder a woman from ingesting milk, but there are methods to get the necessary calcium in the body.

Instead of consuming a glass of milk in one sitting, try to consume small ounces of milk at intervals. Two to 4 ounces of milk for every single interval may be much less likely to trigger signs and symptoms. It is also a good idea to consume milk during meal times to slow the digestive process. That can lessen the likelihood of signs and symptoms to arise. Ingesting various non-dairy foods that are high in calcium may also be useful in meeting the suggested calcium requirement. Foods that consist of calcium include broccoli, salmon, oranges, almonds, soy-milk and sardines. It may also be beneficial if you choose breads and juices that are calcium-fortified. Women who cannot drink milk may be astonished that they can tolerate hard cheeses like cheddar and Swiss. That is due to the fact that the processing of that dairy product changes its lactose content. Some women may additionally be able to tolerate eating yogurt. Although it has high lactose content, the bacterial cultures utilized in producing it generates some of the enzyme lactase, which is essential for appropriate digestion.

Aside from choosing calcium rich meals, it is also necessary to possess sufficient Vitamin D in the body because without having it, calcium can not be absorbed by the bones. Resources of Vitamin D include eggs and liver. Sunlight is also a great supply of Vitamin D. It is uncommon for pregnant females to believe that they are not acquiring ample calcium from their diet. Talk to your health care provider to determine whether vitamin supplements are necessary. Pregnancy entails that a woman must pay attention to the vitamins that she is getting in. After all, the baby's growth and progress would primarily rely on the vitamins that they get while inside their mom's womb.

The Benefits of Using Contract Employees Instead of Hiring Full-Time

Companies who are willing to hire contract employees instead of full-time employees can reap many benefits, especially if the desired employment term has a defined end. With the rapid-fire pace a growing business must run at, the quick and easy hiring process for a contract employee, along with the other benefits associated with contract workers, can greatly outweigh any perks you might get from a full-time employee depending on your situation.

Offers Your Company Flexibility

Hiring contract employees is great for companies that need to be flexible, especially during economic downturns and business growth. Your business's plans are constantly changing, and it may not be practical to hire a full time employee to spearhead an experimental division or project. Costs are already high when your business is growing, so hiring contract labor ends up being less of a gamble than hiring a full-time employee.

Short Term

There are a wide variety of instances when businesses, especially growing businesses, need very badly for a short term employee to come in. You could have a situation where an employee will be absent for a few weeks or months, such as with maternity/paternity leave, vacation, or extended illness, and need someone to fill in for that short period. You could have a project that needs immediate attention, and the short turn-around on hiring a contract employee will ensure that the project gets done without having to figure out what you would do with a full-time employee after the project is finished. Contractors are also great for filling seasonal demand, especially when your product enjoys seasonal popularity.

Minimum Resources

Contract employees are a great way of minimizing the resources you would need for a full-time employee. The staffing service you use to find your contracted worker will have already vetted the candidate for your position, meaning your company will not need to spend time and resources to find the right person. Contractors are usually proficient in their field or require little training, so your company will not have to spend time and resources on the extensive training that a full-time employee would need. In addition, if your business is the kind that can be done remotely, you can have your contracted employee supply their own office space and supplies instead of having to supply them yourself.

Save on Benefits Packages

When you have a contract employee, you do not have to worry about providing the standard benefits package. This can result in major savings for your company. You do not have to provide them with any form of insurance, vacation pay, sick leave pay, or retirement plans. Many staffing companies actually provide these things to their contract employees, so it's a win-win situation for both the contractors and employers.

Save on Termination

When you already have a contract employee end date specified from the start, you don't have to worry about offering or paying severance packages or unemployment benefits. The more frequently you terminate full-time employees, the higher your unemployment payments will be, so ending a contract assignment is a better option than having to fire a full-time employee whose services you can no longer use. A staffing agency can then put the contract employee back to work at another client.

Pregnancy Exercise Video To Avoid Pregnancy Weight Gain

A common myth with pregnancy is that you can eat whatever you want and gain as much weight as you please. The problem with too much pregnancy weight gain is that you become extremely uncomfortable in the pregnancy weeks and it can cause health problems for you and the baby.

In the first trimester you should try to either remain at your current weight or if you are overweight, you may want to try to shed a few pounds. Once you move into your second and third trimester, it is recommended to gain only about a pound per week. To keep yourself from gaining more than you need to, it is important to include an exercise routine in your schedule. If you aren't sure where to begin, the best help you can get is using a pregnancy exercise video.

Not only will exercise help you maintain your weight, but it will keep you muscles strong enough to support the weight you gain, it will help you with your balance (which will change during pregnancy), it will strengthen certain muscles that can alleviate pain, and it will prepare you for an easier labor and delivery. Many women find it very difficult to exercise in the first trimester due to fatigue and nausea. And later in pregnancy certain exercises put too much strain on your body.

To make it easier to continue exercise daily without harming your body, take advantage of using a pregnancy exercise video. In using a video for pregnancy exercise, you are instructed by a professional who is very knowledgeable about the needs of expectant women and you can remain in the comfort of your home.

When I was pregnant I would go to the tennis courts with my husband, but the problem was that there was no bathroom around. With the pressure that the uterus places on a pregnant woman's bladder, we would often have to cut the game short so I could get home and use the restroom. So this is why I really like the idea of the pregnancy exercise video. You can get a great work out in while having everything you might need be accessible.

If you are really bid on exercise, you may find that the pregnancy exercise video seems too easy. For the purpose of helping you through the pregnancy and preparing you for the stress of labor and delivery, the video is definitely effective. The video is meant for focusing on the pregnant woman's body, which needs more care than a non-pregnant woman's body.

So if you find that the video tape doesn't quite challenge you enough, you can add extra exercise afterward, but make sure that you aren't overdoing it. Be sure to talk with your doctor or midwife about what type of exercise is appropriate so that you aren't harming yourself.

So if you are looking to help your body prepare for pregnancy, get through pregnancy, or even recover from pregnancy, you should definitely look into getting a pregnancy exercise video. It's exactly what your body needs.

Easing Postpartum Depression Naturally

Giving birth is one of the most beautiful processes of life and evolution, yet for some new mothers there is a catch. Feelings of sadness or anger after childbirth create a true struggle in the lives of many women, and may occur within 2 days of birth as pregnancy hormones suddenly drop and the new mother comes to the realization that there is now a new baby in need of constant attention. Following delivery, approximately 80% of first time mothers experience a decrease in mood sometimes referred to as the "postpartum blues," while 13% of new mothers experience a major depressive episode within a few weeks after childbirth known as postpartum depression (Wisner et al., 2002). For some women the understanding that hormones and fatigue are the driving factors in this process is important, but many mothers feel guilty about having these symptoms, thinking they are not good mothers or not "cut out" for motherhood. If you are a new mother, remember you are not alone as hundreds of thousands of women in the United States each year experience postpartum depression. Women with a previous history of depression are at a particularly high risk for depression (Wisner et al., 2002). Additional risk factors include conflict with the baby's father, stressful life events and child care stresses. As more women seek drug-free treatment for pregnancy related conditions, the ancient Chinese healing art of acupuncture can support, nurture and ease the transition into motherhood while supporting the overall lifestyle of the new mother.

Postpartum is one of the most critical times for a woman to receive regular preventative care from a Chinese medical practitioner. Acupuncturists can often offset years of "suboptimal" lifestyle and stress in the first few weeks postpartum, as well as intercept abnormalities in lochial flow to rectify years of menstrual irregularities and prevent them from occurring. Acupuncture works on the normal recuperative cycle of a woman to counteract the effects of postpartum depression. In addition to restoring a mother's energy levels after the stress of birth and alleviating depression and anxiety, acupuncturecan be used postpartum to relieve backache, perineal or other kinds of pain.

It is important to lay out some solutions for new mothers to consider as we move into this phase of life that can greatly improve symptoms related to postpartum.

Nutrition
Once a baby is born it is common for the new mother to focus so much on the health of the newborn that she forgets how important it is to nourish herself. Remember, the nutrients the mother gets are translated to the baby through breast milk. Therefore it is extremely important for the mother to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in sugar and caffeine. Some babies will not like the taste of breast milk or may have
changes in their digestion after the mother eats certain foods which are important to be aware of. Even if a new mother is not breast feeding, her diet can greatly reduce mood swings as the physical body is strong and full of nutrients.

Exercise
Who has time to exercise? We hear this so frequently in our clinic, but exercise for a new mother can be as simple as taking a daily walk with your newborn in a stroller. Fresh air and movement are unparalleled in their ability to regulate mood. Other ways of exercising with a newborn are home exercises such as yoga poses, push ups and stomach crunches. These can be done throughout the day in 30 second intervals which will keep a new mother from having to carve out time to do them. Holding a pose, 20 push ups or 25 stomach crunches 15 times in a day is a total of 7 minutes and 30 seconds of exercise which can have incredible benefits to postpartum depression.

Supplements/Herbal Therapy
Taking supplements or herbal therapies is an all natural way to gently support mood and calm the mind. While some herbal therapies will affect the taste of a woman's breast milk, an experienced herbalist should be able to create a formula which will benefit both the mother and the baby. Important supplements to consider include:
- Multivitamin: a good quality vitamin is essential
- B-Complex: B vitamins are essential for boosting mood, but they are assimilated by the body as a complex, so taking one specific B vitamin is not very effective.
- Flax Seed Oil: most babies dislike the taste of their mother's breast milk if they are taking fish oil pills so substituting flax or borage oil can be a simple solution.
- 5-HTP: commonly used supplement for depression that is converted to serotonin with the help of B vitamins

Acupuncture/Massage
These therapies are extremely supportive and nurturing to a new mother's overall lifestyle. It is very important for new parents to make time for supportive lifestyle activities that can bridge the gap through difficult periods. Acupuncture balances out Heart and Liver deficiencies which become prevalent after childbirth along with balancing the constitutional pattern of the individual mother.

Rest/Time with your partner
New mothers need sleep for physical and mental recovery. This is easier said than done with a newborn that needs to feed every 2 hours, but consider your support group and don't be afraid to leave your baby for periods of time. Family members, doulas and friends may be able to help offering a new mother time with her partner, times to nap uninterrupted or time to rejuvenate for a few hours.

Postpartum Bleeding - Control It Naturally With Provestra

Why Does Postpartum Bleeding Occur?

When it comes to postpartum bleeding, many people do not know how to control it or why it occurs. Postpartum bleeding is a normal process during which the human body cleanses itself after pregnancy. According to Mayoclinic.com, postpartum bleeding is the heaviest immediately after delivery. After a few days, it should let up. If you experience heaving bleeding, you may have done too much. Relaxing with your feet elevated usually slows the bleeding. However, if you feel like your bleeding is becoming bothersome, and you have seen a doctor to rule out other medical problems, there are herbal remedies that can help.

What Happens When Postpartum Bleeding Becomes a Problem?

With each of my four children, I bled for over seven weeks. I thought this was normal, but I soon found out that my prolonged bleeding was because of a hormone imbalance. After the delivery of my fourth child, I received an extra bag of Pitocin. This was a great help. My immediate bleeding was lighter. Pitocin helps contract the uterus, shrinking it back to normal. Breastfeeding also helps, but I still experienced prolonged bleeding along with moodiness and low sex drive. I chalked it up to being a mother of a newborn and lack of sleep. However, after taking an herbal remedy, I felt like myself after a few days.

With each consecutive child, postpartum bleeding becomes worse and it is not uncommon to experience postpartum hemorrhaging. I was fully prepared for this, but thankfully I did not hemorrhage. I did turn to a homeopathic doctor after several weeks of continuous bleeding. I discovered that prolonged postpartum bleeding occurs because of hormonal imbalances. Usually, low progesterone and high levels of estrogen are the culprits. Along with bleeding, hormonal imbalances can also cause a low sex drive, moodiness, and postpartum depression.Natural herbal remedies that are found in herbal remedies such as Provestra can help balance hormones, restore sex drive and stop continuous bleeding.

How to Control Postpartum Bleeding and Balance Hormones Naturally

There are many herbal remedies that work to balance hormones and control bleeding. However, there is one herbal remedy that balances hormones, restores sex drive, wards off postpartum depression and controls heavy bleeding. Provestra is a natural product that incorporates herbs such as:

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  Black Cohosh- helps with bleeding and vaginal dryness


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  Red Raspberry- naturally balances estrogen, tones the uterus and helps PMS symptoms

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  Vitamin C- Aides in the creation of sex hormones, reduces heavy periods, decreases vaginal dryness, helps control postpartum hot flashes

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  B- Complex Vitamins-(Includes B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, B-6, and B-12.)-All maintain a healthy sex drive and synthesis of sex hormones while balancing hormone levels


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  Calcium Carbonate- reduces risk of osteoporosis, helps with the normal clotting of blood, induces uterine muscle contraction for hearty ORGASMS!


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  Iron- Regulates heavy menstrual periods

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  Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C)- If your diet lacks the daily recommended vegetable intake, you may benefit from this herb. Naturally balances estrogen. Estrogen overload is the leading cause of loss of interest in sex!
  
  


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  Ginseng- Aphrodisiac that is proven to increase mood, physical performance, concentration, fight depression, lower glucose levels

Besides balancing hormones and controlling heaving bleeding naturally, Provestra also is a great female libido booster and multivitamin. Of course there are many other natural remedies available. Taking any of these herbs will help. Contact your local homeopath and/or natural health store. Both may be able to point you in the right direction and help you feel like your normal self soon. After all, your new family's happiness depends on your well being.

Taking Off the Baby Weight: Nutrition Guidelines for Women in Confinement

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

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

The Calorie Game

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

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

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

The Right Choices

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

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

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

Creating Healthy Meals in a Pinch

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

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

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