Physical Therapy Exercise

When we are in pain of any type, or other problems take place with the body, such as decreased range of motion, the first and most critical thing to accomplish is to assess via the use of a physician or other health care professional why that pain is taking place. This is often done using MRI or X-ray to find the problem and other means by which to correct it.

Determining a way to deal with the pain and the underlying causative factor is imperative. If your pain is due to the aging process or to an accident, or even from simple stressing of muscle groups, treating your injury or disease process may involve the use of another type of health care provider who is a motion specialist.

Physical therapy providers are well-versed in helping you to get the best range of motion that you can and to minimize the pain that you are feeling. It is their task to assist you in learning how to work with your injury, to strengthen the muscle groups and to alleviate the pain so far as possible.

Professional physical therapists are health care providers who have a degree from physical therapy schools. They are experts in the human body, having learned how to help you get the best range of motion and the least amount of pain. This is done by prescribing physical therapy exercises for you which will help you to get back to optimal health.

Additionally they are often involved in helping you to get a better gait and will assist you in training to walk or to work with any restrictions that you may have.

It is quite likely that you will be given special exercises to help you to accomplish the best and most full movement of your body, while lowering the pain. Not only exercises are prescribed in most cases, but also other types of therapy.

These treatments may include a combination of therapeutic massage, special exercises, hot and cold treatment, and even treatment with TENS units to help you to decrease the pain that you are feeling while improving your overall fitness and getting your muscles and joints back into shape.

Our bodies may not always work the way that we hope they will. In some cases, learning how to work with limitations that we have and how to accomplish the tasks which are necessary with those limitations is difficult.

The trained physical therapy professional can help you to get the most out of your body despite your physical limitations and to help you to use your muscles most effectively.

Pregnant At 40 - A Dream Fulfilled With The Help Of A Powerful Natural Pregnancy Program!

Are you planning to get pregnant at 40 and concerned you may have left it too late?

Many women just like you are facing this challenge and want to know what they can do to make it happen. The good news is women are making this dream come true by taking the path of natural pregnancy methods and treatment.

This is the safest way at this age to conceive, as modern fertility treatments can prove to invasive for many women. And the standard IVF procedures do not always work. In fact you may be surprised to know that the success rate of pregnancy through IVF is not that high. Not everyone can afford these kinds of treatments as they usually run into the tens of thousands.

One issue many women over 35 encounter is an irregular menstrual cycle which can make ovulation almost impossible. This can be down to age and the natural and most effective treatment for this is acupuncture. The Chinese believe the body is made up of energy pathways and points and if they are manipulated blockages can be cleared boosting fertility very quickly. Rich, oxygenated blood, which is essential for nourishing the ovaries and reproductive eggs flows easily and fertilization of the egg highly possible A woman begins to have regular periods again accelerating her chances of getting pregnant.

Some women are reluctant to try acupuncture because they see it as an alternative treatment. Did you know that modern fertility clinics are considering adding acupuncture to their treatment base as they are aware how successful it is in helping women with ovulation problems? So before you discount this ancient and cost-effective method of reversing infertility be assured they are helping women of all ages and infertility issues get pregnant.

Women are born with their reproductive eggs unlike men who can replenish their sperm every 3 months. When you are planning to get pregnant at 40 you may not be aware that your eggs will be the same age as you. This does not always mean that the quality and quantity will prevent you from conceiving as it only takes one egg to make a baby. What you can do is take steps to ensure the quality of your eggs is the best they can be and this may require some changes to your lifestyle.

A healthy diet is essential for a HEALTHY conception and you would be amazed how many nutritionists have watched women become pregnant very quickly once they have stopped eating processed and other non-nutritional foods. A simple blood test is all that is needed to determine if there is a deficiency in a woman's diet. Once corrected health and fertility are usually restored.

It is recommended that when trying to conceive you should add the following vitamins and minerals to enhance fertility and protect the unborn baby from genetic issues.

Folic acid is essential and will not only boost fertility but help prevent spina bifida (a malformation of a baby's spine).

Essential fatty acids, which are found in fish such as salmon and tuna, can help treat PCOS (ovarian cysts) and prevent premature birth.

Royal jelly is a super-food, rich in protein eaten by the Queen bee, which allows her to lay large numbers of eggs daily. It eradicates menstrual problems leaving a woman free to ovulate.

Alkaline foods such as nuts, vegetables, legumes and grains will give you more energy and make you feel a lot younger which is always a bonus. The fruits that are alkaline consist of bananas, peaches, grapes figs and apples. They will correct the pH levels within the vagina (cervical mucus) making it a healthier environment for conception and implantation.

A deficiency in Zinc can cause chromosome changes, as it is an important part of genetic material. This can affect the quality of a woman's eggs and can cause defects. Women wanting to get pregnant at 40 need to be sure they take the correct measure of the mineral zinc.

The right levels taken of Selenium can prevent birth defects and miscarriages.

Vitamins B-complex C and E aid fertility in both men and women. B6 can be taken separately and used to treat a luteal phase defect. The luteal phase is the time from ovulation to menstruation, which ideally should be 1 to 16 days long. If it is shorter than 10 days a woman cannot sustain a new pregnancy and the result is often miscarriage. It is important to know the value of supplements and how they can help heal infertility issues.

Along with a good diet and acupuncture Chinese herbal remedies are often administered. If you are going to purchase the herbs recommended check with your doctor that they could be taken alongside any medication you are taking. It would pay to consult a herbalist as women with certain medical conditions may not be able to use herbs.

The herbs listed below are used frequently to help women trying to get pregnant at 40 do so successfully.

Dong Quai is a blood purifier and aids circulation. It restores a woman's menstrual cycle back to normal and regulates her hormones. It also helps women with endometriosis and menopausal problems.

Chaste Tree Berry (Vitex) is used as a PMS supplement but it is known to promote ovulation. Licorice helps women who have irregular periods and low estrogen levels, which can cause hot flashes, headaches, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Low estrogen level can prevent ovulation.

Evening Primrose Oil improves the quality of a woman's cervical mucus, which has the important role of protecting the sperm and projecting it quickly through the uterus, into the fallopian tubes where it can fertilize the egg and hopefully result in pregnancy.

Siberian Ginseng promotes health and vitally while regulating a woman's reproductive hormones. If the delicate balance of these hormones comes undone it can shut down her entire reproductive system.

Black Cohosh is administered for an inflamed uterus and to help restore menstruation.

Flax Seed Oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids and can help with infertility, PMS and irregular periods.

Red Raspberry Leaf is a uterine tonic, which when administered helps carry a fetus to term. This is especially good for women who suffer from recurring miscarriages.

Each herb has a specific role in aiding fertility and conception and should be administered only as recommended. These are powerful herbs and used alongside acupuncture and acupressure to restore a woman's fertility so she is able to conceive. They are particularly good for women wanting to get pregnant at 40 as they can help promote fertility and improve the health of the reproductive system in general.

Chinese medicine treats the infertility issue as a whole and is aware the problem can be caused by poor lifestyle choices. The term mind, body and soul is often scoffed at by the western world because it is misunderstood. If a woman is infertile it can be for a number of reasons and not always physical. It is only now that STRESS is being recognized as a cause of infertility and can over time manifest into a physical problem. Natural pregnancy programs today are aware that in treating infertility every aspect of a woman's life needs to be considered. Drugs given by conventional fertility clinics do not cure the problem permanently and in some cases can magnify the original problem.

Put your trust in methods that have been in practice for thousands of years and like many women you could become pregnant at the age of 40 fast and in the best health of your life.

125 C Plans and Infertility Options

Paying for any type of medical treatment can be separated into three basic options.

o Healthcare plans usually offered by your employer or professional organization.

o From your own savings or other private arrangement such as a bank loan.

o Grants and other programs offered by some patient advocacy groups and clinics.

Unfortunately, with many healthcare plans limiting coverage the second option is often the only option for many couples wanting to conceive their own child. Couples will pull funds from many sources to cover out of pocket expenses in treating their infertility as well as attempt to gain coverage through their health insurance coverage. The most common out of pocket solutions are cash reserves, home equity lines of credit, secured or unsecured loans, and retirement savings plans. Section 125( c) medical savings plans, employer sponsored savings plans, are a type of hybrid of these two funding sources.

Even though flexible medical spending accounts are limited in what types of treatments the account can be used to pay for and amount of money that can pass through them in a single year, they are excellent venues to pay for some medical expenses. Health savings accounts have two big benefits.

o Pre tax dollars set aside

o Non taxable withdraws

Even though these are many slightly different programs which your employer may offer the idea behind them is basically the same. Employees can set aside a limited amount of pre tax dollars from their paychecks into a savings account, and then use those funds to reimburse yourself once you have paid out of pocket for medical care. Each plan has limitations on the amount that you can set aside, what constitutes a reimbursable medical expense, and the time frame (usually these need to be used annually).

The IRS has defined what is allowed to be reimbursed from these accounts, and some to most fertility treatments do qualify. Exactly what is allowed for reimbursement depends upon the type of account. The rules for these accounts and eligibility are complex and should be discussed with your Human Resources or Benefits department. Speak with your Financial Advisor or Accountant to make sure you understand all of the possible tax implications of using the health care flexible spending account.

Of all of the ways to personally fund infertility treatment Section 125 ( c) plans offer the most benefits with the least restrictions and penalties. Why dip into your cash reserve and risk your financial well being, or whittle away at your retirement when other options have not been exhausted. Ask your Infertility Consultant to point you to a financial expert if you don't already have one. Often just reducing the stress that finances put on infertility treatment can help increase your chances of success.

Pregnancy And Depression - How To Guard Mothers Against Depression During Pregnancy

Pregnancy and depression are closely linked to one another. Depression during pregnancy is difficult to avoid due to various hormonal and other changes taking place in a woman's body. Depression can be dangerous to the health of both the fetus and the mother. Pregnancy marks a time when women tend to undergo extreme highs and lows of emotion. The emotions of pregnant women tend to be highly varying, moving from the feelings of extreme elation to that of depression. Keeping the negative effects of the depression during pregnancy in mind, medical professionals alert expecting mothers from being gripped by depression.

What Causes Depression During Pregnancy?

The medical experts have been closely studying the relation between pregnancy and depression and how to keep pregnant women at safe distance from worries, anxieties, negative feelings etc. Becoming pregnant gives rise to a variety of feelings, but there are also those hormonal changes, which are inevitable during pregnancy. These hormonal changes result in drastic mood swings from happiness to the extreme grief to anger. Medications and several birth control pills taken prior to pregnancy interfere with ovulation and tend to generate bio-chemic alterations in a women's body, thereby contributing to increased levels of depression during pregnancy. Most women find strive to find ways in which depression can be eradicated during pregnancy.

Depression in pregnancy results from the hormonal secretion in the mother's body which is required to support the development of baby. There are several external factors which lead pregnant women to feel depressed. other These factors can be the levels of stress arising from health matters, finances required to support the pregnancy treatment and the baby after delivery, other kids, relationship with the spouse and other family members, previous experience of infertility etc. The symptoms of depression during pregnancy is marked by an frequently feeling low, helpless, neglected and insecure about how her loved ones feel about her. Women tend to be tearful, short tempered and feel irritated. Expecting mothers are found to travel between highs and lows of moods and their energy levels are directed in response to the changes in mood. Women in pregnancy and depression can also feel extremely restless and feel like hurting their babies, even themselves. Risks of suicides also happen to increase among women during this phase.

Medications Helpful To Reduce Depression During Pregnancy

There are several drugs are available to reduce the chances of being caught by depression during pregnancy. There are anti-depressant drugs such as Valium, Xanax, Prozac, and similar drugs of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) family of drugs that can be taken before pregnancy to avoid depression. These medications are known to influence the neurotransmitters of the brain and change some particular signals.

These drugs have been shown to lead patient's brain to function in different manner to oppose depression and affect mood changes. There are negative side effects of these drugs that are perceived through adverse effect on the growth of fetus in terms of breathing problems, malformation of cardiac organs and many more. Therefore, look for natural remedies through proper nutrition and meditation, and take adequate rests to weaken the connection between your pregnancy and depression.

Health Insurance for Pregnant Women and Expectant Moms

Since pregnancy is considered to be one of the most complex stages in womanhood, each woman who is under this stage is advised to purchase a health insurance. There are actually a lot of things that can go wrong during the period of pregnancy. The health of the expectant mother and her baby can be put at risk if the right medical services are not sought. Because of this, a health insurance should be around to prepare pregnant women for the unexpected. It is also advisable for them to receive checkups periodically in order for them to have a guarantee that the pregnancy is properly progressing, thereby immediately detecting problems with the unborn child, if ever there are any. With a good coverage around, they do not need to worry about the amount that they need to spend for all of these.

The good thing about pregnancy insurance is that anyone can purchase it at the planning stage for pregnancy. One can even purchase it during that period when she is already expecting. If you are thinking of buying a pregnancy insurance, then you have to bear in mind that there are a lot of insurance providers out there that offer customized packages so you need not worry about finding that which will suit your needs. Once you have chosen the perfect coverage for you, you will no longer be extremely burdened about all the medical expenses linked to pregnancy and childbirth.

If you want to save a substantial amount from purchasing the health insurance, then it is advisable for you to obtain it before you ever become pregnant. The monthly premiums for this are known to be lower when compared to those that are obtained by already pregnant women. It is also important for you to take note of the fact that there are insurance providers out there that view pregnancy as a preexisting condition. This makes them ask for higher premiums for maternity coverage. If you can afford the pregnancy health insurance, then you should make it a point to purchase one. This will allow you to enjoy financial protection while waiting for your baby to come out.

Pregnancy is indeed a complex and sensitive stage. Aside from the health risks that are linked to it, you may also incur a lot of expenses including fees for regular check-ups, ultrasound, healthcare products, obstetrician's consultation service, surgical fee, hospital admission and delivery costs. If you do not want to be burdened financially, then a pregnancy health insurance is perfect for you. Just make sure that you pick the best one out of the many pregnancy health insurance policies that are offered by different insurance providers.

If you are in search of low cost health insurance for pregnant women, then you should consider trying out the many federally funded programs that offer healthcare coverage for people with low income. Medicaid is one of them and this allows you to enroll in a plan even if you are already pregnant. Another good program is the CHIP. There are states that offer specialized programs for healthcare and you have to determine if your state offers one.

It is also advisable for you to familiarize yourself about each of your best choices. Shop around for the best health insurance coverage for pregnant women by visiting the internet so you can start gathering relevant information from reliable sources online. All it takes is for you to search online the leading and the most reputable health insurance companies at present and try to deal with their agents. Make sure that you get quotes from them so you can easily compare their prices and the kind of pregnancy health insurance policies that they offer. This will allow you to pick the most ideal policy for you.

Who Needs Traditional Chinese Medicine?

When you hear the term "traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)," what comes to mind? For many people, this is an unnerving term because it implies something nontraditional and separate from the modern medicine that most people are so accustomed to working with. Yet, there is a growing following behind traditional Chinese medicine and many of the people who believe in it may surprise you.

TCM is typically lumped into the very vague category of "alternative medicine" by people who are not familiar with it. This is the category where you find some rather questionable practices, but there are also some well respected art forms in this category such as acupuncture. Just as acupuncture is now being used in medical plans along with modern medicine, traditional Chinese medicine is now being used in the same way.

You don't have to think of TCM as just another alternative to standard medical treatment. Most people who give it a chance find that it can work hand in hand with the medical advice they are given by their very modern doctors. There are many medical professionals who actually believe in many of the products and strategies employed by Chinese medicine.

So, who needs TCM? Is this something that you could use to enrich your own life and enhance your own medical care? Let's take a look at a few common uses for traditional Chinese medicine to see how it could benefit you and your family.

Menstrual & Postnatal Comfort

Many women find Bak Foong pills to be essential in controlling hormones and relieving the discomforts often experienced during a menstrual cycle. These pills are also extremely useful for nourishing and reviving the body after having a baby. They are powerful because they can help regulate the hormones and build up the immune system, which helps women on a monthly basis as well as after bringing new life into the world.

The only catch here is these pills should not be taken while a woman is menstruating. It should be taken before and after to help with the discomforts common at particular periods of the menstrual cycle.

Encouraging Health

While many people turn to TCM to heal different diseases or bring relief from constant pain, others embrace this form of medicine as a way to enhance their overall health and well being. Products that use the nest of the swifflet bird are often embraced as a way to encourage a strong immune system and prevent illness.

In traditional times, the most privileged Chinese citizens would consumer the Swifflet bird's nest to protect their bodies, but today most people can find products containing authentic birds nest in pill form.

Making Healthy Changes

Acupuncture is quite popular today and continues to be worked into modern medical plans for pain and other medical issues. Many people also seek out independent traditional Chinese medicine practitioners so they can use acupuncture to help them lose weight, stop smoking, and make other healthy changes in their life.

There are also a variety of pill form products that may help with these healthy lifestyle changes. TCM also makes use of nutritional changes and herbal products which can help make lifestyle changes like these a bit easier to handle.

What should stand out here is the wide variety of uses for traditional Chinese medicine. Practically everyone has a reason to use this valuable form of medicine to enrich their lives.

How to Deal With Unplanned Pregnancy

You are eager to pursue the things you always wanted to do while you are growing up. You want to own a home, have your own career, marry a good man, raise a family, or manage your own business. Then a bomb dropped in front of you. You are pregnant.

Unplanned pregnancies are no longer uncommon. A lot of women are currently in a dilemma, wondering how they would manage the situation they are in.

Know, though, that the world does not end and that there are plenty of things you can do to go through it. Here are some of them:

Come up with a decision. What do you want to do? Do you want to keep the baby after birth or give him or her up for adoption? Both are actually very hard to do, as each carries its own benefits and disadvantages. It would help if you can imagine how your life would be if you choose each of the options you have. Which one of them you would feel happier?

Seek professional help. You are young, and the pregnancy is unplanned. It is normal for you to be very confused on what to do. The problem is confusion can lead to very bad decisions later-things you may only regret later on. That is why it is always recommended to talk to a professional such as therapist or a counselor, especially someone who specializes in unplanned pregnancies.

Join support groups. There are hundreds of girls out there who are going through what you are experiencing today. By participating in support groups, both offline and online, you will find that you are not alone in your issues and challenges. You can also get plenty of pointers from those who have raised great families despite their young age.

Tell yourself that things are not over. Unplanned pregnancy does not have to spell the end of your dreams, though you may place some of them on hold. You may want to utilize the various subliminal messages or affirmations to remind you of that. When you are feeling really down and so alone, remind yourself that

The pregnancy is not the end of my dreams.
I can still continue dreaming even if I am pregnant.
I can still be my own person despite the pregnancy.

See it as a blessing. When it feels like you are throwing so many things out of your life, it is hard to consider pregnancy as a blessing. However, in the long run, you'll realize that it is. Moreover, by rewiring the way your mind thinks, by being more positive, any unplanned pregnancy becomes a more beautiful journey.

Every day as soon as you wake up or whenever you want to remember, tell yourself that "This baby is a blessing to me" or "I have to cherish this precious gift in my life."

Take things one step at a time. You'll be less stressed, depressed, and anxious if you don't think a lot about what the future holds. Instead, live every moment of your life.

Basic Advantages and Disadvantages About Short Term Disability Insurance

According to the Social Security Administration, 3 from the 10 workers out there have a pretty good chance of becoming disabled at some point. If you might be one of those individuals, would you be prepared to support the financial percussions that might appear in this kind of situation? Unless you have other financial sources that you can use to pay your mortgage or other monthly financial obligations, it probably be good idea to purchase short-term disability insurance.

The injuries which are work related are usually being covered under worker's compensation. Of course, as you might have guessed already, off-duty injuries are not. It may very well pay a percentage of your monthly income or a rate which will have to be paid on a weekly basis. Employers might offer short-term disability insurance from 6 weeks to 2 years, with a restriction of how much you are able to receive in a certain period of time. For you to be eligible, you will have to be working for a particular period of time. Employer group coverage might even be offered to you free at costs.

If by any chance, your employer will not offer you any coverage, or you just simply want to buy some additional coverage, you might consider buying individual short-term disability insurance. Unlike employer coverage, individual insurance coverage will be limited depending on your health. Beside this, individual insurance coverage is usually in many situations more expensive. Individual coverage too just like employer coverage normally will offer you coverage up to 2 years. With this type of insurance you are able to determine the percentage of your own monthly income which you might want to reimburse.

As you might noticed by now there are advantages and disadvantages when it comes to short-term disability insurance and you are the only one who can know which is the right decision to make.

Tips For the Young Mom

Who wouldn't want to see a baby in the house?

However pregnancy may really mean great responsibilities and women who are in the right age experience lots of inconveniences associated with it so it will probably bring more pain if the expectant mother is actually a young mom.

How can a young mother deal effectively with the responsibilities that are expected of her? Here are some of the tips that can surely help a young mother deal with her task effectively and still enjoy a great and fulfilling life.

• Get the best tips from the people who raised you. The best pieces of advices will surely be coming from the people who truly care for you and your baby's welfare and for sure these are also the people who would always lend a helping hand at times when you need one.

• It would be best for young pregnant women to use a maternity belly band or a pregnancy belly band during pregnancy in order to be assured of safety. Maternity bands can support the typically weak pelvic area of the young mother and this can allow pregnant women to move comfortably without the thought of losing the baby.

• Make it a point to have a regular check-up with your doctor. Teenage pregnancy is often classified as high-risk so it wouldn't be smart to risk your life and your baby's life by not following the advice from your obstetrician.

• Start prioritizing things in the most ideal manner. There are lots of complications associated with young parenthood so it would be ideal to face things in a matured way and set the less important things aside. There is no better person to attend to your baby's need other than your hands-on care.

• Take care of yourself. There are still lots of opportunities that lie ahead of you. You are still young and for sure you need care as much as your baby needs your attention. Live a healthy life and choose the people you deal with. You really need to be smart in order to find enough reasons to look forward to a brighter future with your family.

Young mothers who got pregnant early in life surely have taken a big leap form being an ordinary girl to a young mother who has to handle lots of responsibilities. Don't let young age affect the good life that you need to enjoy. Young mothers can still be the best especially when they can gain the maturity that mothers of ideal ages usually possess.

Free NHS Treatment for Pregnant Women

Good health is essential, most especially during pregnancy. In this regard, dental care for pregnant women is highly recommended, as well. This will prevent the expecting moms from acquiring gum diseases which usually results from hormonal imbalance. The good news is that, pregnant women in UK are entitled to free NHS dental treatments as prescribed.

In order to avail of these costless dental services including routine check-ups, you need to be pregnant during the time of treatment, or begin the course of therapy within 12 months after giving birth. Application of a Maternity Certificate (MATB1) or a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MatEx) will be necessary. This will ensure your eligibility for acceptance of this type of health benefit. You can obtain these forms from the doctors, midwives and health visitors. Your attending practitioner needs to sign, as well. This is to confirm all the information that you have filled-up.

If you are scheduled for treatment after your baby is born, you will be asked to present the infant's birth certificate for further proof. You are entitled to this free NHS dental care, only if you have recently delivered in the last 12 months. In cases of unfortunate loss of pregnancy, women may still avail of this NHS treatment without any charge. Additional requirements such as the stillbirth certificate will be requested, for your compliance.

After completion of the certificates and other requisites, you are ready to avail of the necessary NHS dental care free of charge. Dentists are expected to start the course of treatment, during the second trimester of gestation. The first and the later part of the third trimester is usually avoided for precautionary measures. An intensive medical assessment is done to check if it is safe to expose the pregnant woman to a particular dental procedure. If the condition of the patient is unfavorable, the doctor will opt to postpone any elective dental intervention, after the woman gives birth.

Routine check-ups with your dentist should not be skipped. Regular periodontal exams are very essential during this time. Proper dental care will prevent gum diseases and other illnesses which may increase pregnancy risks. It is highly recommended to stick with you dentist appointments as much as possible. With the NHS dental benefits, you do not have to worry about the cost that these treatments would entail. This is a great advantage that you should take, to promote health and wellness for you and your baby.

The Use of Reflexology in Pregnancy

When you hear the word reflexology, what comes into your mind? Most people merely think of it as a form of massage that only brings relaxation. To understand the exact nature of reflexology therapy in more depth, you would probably need to read a whole book. However, just to give you a general insight, reflexology is far more than just a massage. It is a technique known worldwide, which uses a compression-rubbing technique to massage areas called reflex points. These reflex points are linked to, and can influence energy to specific corresponding places in the body. Very often this energy flow becomes blocked or slows down and when this happens reflexology can clear, strengthen and remedy this problem.

Reflexology will bring about not only relaxation but also relief from stress, pain and various ailments. In addition, it helps by stimulating the different systems in the body particularly the digestive and nervous system. It is a holistic approach that induces balance both in mind and body. Some of the ailments that reflexology can heal are migraines, chronic headaches, sleep disorders, PMS, digestive disorders, back pains, and ailments that involve the respiratory system.

A little known benefit of reflexology therapy is during pregnancy, and in particular as a part of pre-natal care. Safe reflexology treatment may be given from pre-conception, during pregnancy and even after childbirth. This shows you how gentle and non-evasive reflexology can be. Some midwives around the world use reflexology and they report that it is highly effective.

Reflexology can also help couples who would like to conceive. Treating both parents-to-be will help them relax and reduce stress, which unfortunately is a common problem for couples when trying to conceive. It will also help them sort out any health issues at the same time, and will eventually help them to their best state of health for conception. Due to its balancing effect, couples can maintain manageable stress levels and aid proper sleep.

For mothers-to-be reflexology can bring about a huge relief especially during moments of back pain due to extra weight and posture. Reflexology can help aid discomforts such as high blood pressure, mood swings, fatigue, sleeplessness, morning sickness, back pains, constipation, pubic pain, heartburn, and leg cramps.

After the delivery, a reflexologist can help the body's shape return back to normal. Adjusting to normal life again after giving birth can cause much stress, and this therapy can also help here too. In the post-natal period, mother, father and baby can all gain benefit from this treatment. A weekly reflexology session is recommended, and you can even hold your baby and breastfeed while having the treatment. Mothers should know that reflexology can help with lactation difficulties, and it can cure mastitis or tenderness of the breasts.

Reflexology is safe and excellent for new born babies. The baby's body has reflex points too, although you have to be extra gentle when touching them. Ask your therapist for their advice; maybe they will show you the proper way to do it, especially if it is something easy. For babies ailments such as constipation, distress, and a colicky tummy can be improved.

If you plan to carry out any reflexology on your baby yourself, do make sure that your baby is always relaxed, warm and comfortable before carrying out any form of touch or massage, and be careful never to overdo it. Remember this is also good bonding time, so look into your babies eyes and talk to them. This is quality time. Do not underestimate the power of reflexology for you both. Be happy and relaxed and your baby will be too. There is much evidence that any regular massage of your baby will improve their immune system and ensure normal growth levels.

Acupuncture Relieves Common Pregnancy Discomforts

Acupuncture is a natural, safe and effective way to relieve common pregnancy discomforts by rebalancing the various systems in the body.

A short explanation of how acupuncture works: the surface of the human body is a map of its internal functioning. The meridian channels that run up and down the body are connected by acupuncture points. Pain means that chi is blocked along these channels. Acupuncture is a method used to clear the flow and create opening.

Acupuncture has been found to be especially useful in treating these common pregnancy complaints:

• Pain (e.g. lower back)


• Nausea


• Insomnia


• Headache


• Skin problems (e.g. eczema)


• Digestive problems (e.g. constipation)


• Sciatica

Here are a few pressure points that are useful for relieving some common pregnancy discomfort that you can try at home:

• Apex of the head - massaging the top of the head in an uplifting motion lifts the chi and helps hold the pregnancy. It also treats hemorrhoids and prolapsed organs.


• Point at two fingers above the wrist (P6) - applying pressure to this point help alleviate nausea because it helps to hold the stomach chi down.


• Outside of leg - using a foam roller to massage and release the muscles can help ease sciatica.

There are a number of pressure points that are contraindicated during pregnancy - they are the same points that are used to induce labor, so make sure yourself, your loved one (who has the good intention of giving you a massage!) or your massage therapist do not stimulate these points. Most of these points when stimulated move too much "chi", and therefore are not suitable for pregnancy. Points to avoid during pregnancy:

• Points on sacrum - stimulation may be too opening and can cause baby to descend


• Point between the thumb and forefinger - it's used to treat headache, and courses the chi through the body which can be too stimulating


• Point located four fingers above the ankle - this point connects to the uterus and is used to increase contractions


• Points in the shoulder area around the trapezia - these points are considered downbearing and very opening, and can also be used during labor

Always go to a licensed acupuncturist (LAc) who has a degree from an accredited school and a license from your state. Most education programs do not provide specialized trainings on pregnancy, so ask if the acupuncturist has treated pregnant clients before, or if s/he has received any post-grad training on prenatal care.

Maternity Coverage in Health Insurance

Maternity benefits used to be automatically included with every new policy issued. If you get benefits from an employer, maternity benefits are still going to be automatically covered. However the individual and family market has changed over the last ten years to better serve the market place. Now many individual and family medical insurance plans do not include maternity benefits at all. You will not be able to get those benefits at all with most plans. If you do want maternity coverage there may be some few plans available that will offer an option for coverage at an extra cost.

The problem is in the expense for the benefit. This benefit is only important for women of child-bearing age. When the benefit was included automatically on everyone's policy, the costs were also included in everyone's premium whether or not they needed the benefit. The few plans that started offering maternity benefits as an option rider to a medical insurance plan cost much less for people who did not want the extra coverage that they did not need. As a result, everyone bought the plans without the benefits to save money each month. That caused the plans with automatic coverage to go out of business. By the time the other plans came back into the market they stopped offering the maternity benefit altogether and the cost was much lower.

Even without the benefits for pre natal and giving birth, any complications for the mother will be covered under the regular insurance plan. The only thing that will not be covered is the regular delivery costs and pre natal care like ultra sonic imaging. It is not as though the expecting mother will not have coverage during her pregnancy. If she gets injured or sick during the pregnancy, she will get all those expenses covered just like she always would.

Another thing people need to be aware of concerning getting coverage once you are pregnant is that typically you will be declined new coverage once you are already pregnant. Coverage will be available as soon as the child is delivered, but neither the expectant husband or wife will be eligible for new coverage until after the baby is born. This does not mean that you are sick, it is just a rule that most all insurance companies follow.

Most of the information provided here is for the individual and family market. If you or your spouse has a job that provides benefits, maternity will be covered even if you are already pregnant when you get the new policy. Benefits for pregnancy are very important and you need to be aware of how the insurance plans cover the different situations. Call your local insurance agent to determine if there are solutions for you, or work with your physician to make payment plans that are affordable to you.

5 Foods You Should Not Eat During Pregnancy

Maintaining a well balanced diet and staying on top of your nutrition during pregnancy is key to your health and the development of your baby. Whilst it is okay to have junk every so often, there are foods that you may usually indulge in that you should avoid for the safety of your little one. Here are 5 foods you should take care to avoid during pregnancy:

• Soft and blue veined cheeses, such as stilton and brie: Eating soft or blue veined cheeses during your pregnancy will increase your risk of contracting listeria. Listeria is a form of bacteria that can potentially be very harmful to your baby and listeriosis is a disease that may remain symptomless up until a few weeks after you have consumed a food product that may expose you to it. There is no risk of listeria from harder cheeses (such as cheddar) or from cheeses that appear to be 'soft' such as cottage cheese.


• Fish high in mercury, such as swordfish or marlin: You must avoid fish that is high in mercury such as swordfish or marlin during your pregnancy altogether. Consuming large levels of mercury whilst pregnant can hinder the development of your baby's nervous system. You should also reduce the amount of tuna you consume to 2 portions a week (i.e 2 small tuna steaks)


• Pate, including vegetable pate: Pate, including vegetable pate, may be a firm favourite at certain times of year (i.e Christmas!) but it is essential that you avoid it during your pregnancy. Pate is another food product that carries listeria and it is not due to the raw meat element, it is because of the way it is prepared and stored.


• Raw or partially cooked eggs: Raw or partially cooked eggs should be avoided as you and your baby have an increased risk of contracting salmonella. This includes soft cooked scrambled eggs, fried eggs with a soft yolk, soft boiled eggs, poached eggs and other ways of cooking eggs that will leave the yolk or white 'runny'.


• Raw shellfish: During your pregnancy you are at an increased risk of exposing yourself to illnesses such as food poisoning or salmonella, which will then be passed on to your baby. Eating raw shellfish (i.e oysters) exposes you and your baby to such harmful diseases. It is however safe to eat prawns, shrimp and other popular types of shellfish that are well cooked.

Remember to take extra care with your food when eating out and ensure the place you eat in has good food hygiene practices.

The First Trimester of Pregnancy - A Time of Caution

The first trimester is the most critical moment of pregnancy since the mother should take all necessary precautions to be able to ensure safe growth of the baby. During this time, developments of essential body parts happen that pregnant mothers should know what food to eat and what activities to take. Whatever changes that will take place during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy will be permanent. Whatever the beginning is will be carried throughout the end.

It may be said however that the early pregnancy stages should be treated with care, it does not mean that the next few weeks of being pregnant should not be considered essential too. The point of saying this is that the essentials of your baby's growth like the placenta and the fingers and the vital organs happen to initiate during this term. There are a lot of good things that you could expect from the first trimester of your pregnancy. Knowing these expectations can give you track of what is going to happen and what will you to adapt to the event or change.

Here is an account of the week by week changes of your baby during the first few weeks of your pregnancy. For the week 1 of your pregnancy, the health care provider will count forty weeks from the first date of your last menstruation. This means that your pregnancy period kicked off even when you aren't pregnant yet. The second week is the week of fertilization. This time the sperm and egg unite to create a zygote. The zygote then travels from the fallopian tube to the uterus.

Pregnancy stages include the third week as important part of the whole pregnancy when the zygote turns into a blastocyst and nourishes itself in the placenta. Moreover, the embryonic period begins at week 4. the baby's heart and the circulatory system forms. At week five, your baby reaches the size of the tip of the pen. His can be very exciting since the mother can now hear the baby's heart beating her. Week six marks the forming of the passageways like the mouth and the inner ear and the formation of the digestive and respiratory tracts.

The pregnancy's first trimester still continues with the appearance of the umbilical chord in the seventh week. The arms will look like a tiny paddle that indicates the baby's movement. On week eight, The baby's fingers and toes form. The baby is an inch long in the ninth week. Your baby's head will be tucked down unto the chest as it looks half the size of the body.

Neurons multiply in week ten and it could be possible that baby's sex can be apparent. Determining the gender of the baby is one of the highlights of pregnancy. Other mothers, however, will still have to wait for the next pregnancy stages because babies might not have positioned themselves to be easily seen by the practitioner. On the last part of the initial trimester, baby's finger nails and toe nails appear.

Taking care of your baby all through out the pregnancy is a must for mothers who want to ensure the baby's physical, mental and emotional stability.

The first trimester is the most critical moment of pregnancy since the mother should take all necessary precautions to ensure the safe growth and development of the baby. During this time your baby starts to develop critical body systems. To ensure their proper growth, pregnant mothers should know what foods to eat and what activities to avoid.

Help! Why Am I Not Able to Get Pregnant?

After having spent a good part of one's life attempting to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, it seems a cruel trick by Mother Nature when an individual or couple discovers that they are unable to conceive.

There are many reasons why a couple may be unable to get pregnant; some are simple fixes, while others are more complex and may lead to the need for medical assistance.

The Timing Is Off

The average woman with a normal menstrual cycle is only fertile for a few days out of each month, in the period around ovulation. This occurs roughly two weeks after the end of menstruation, but can be earlier or later than this.

In order to pinpoint the time of ovulation, it is vital to keep a chart of BBTs, or Basal Body Temperatures. It may take two to three months to be able to anticipate the correct time of ovulation. Over-the-counter Ovulation Predictor Kits can also aid in determining ovulation.

Diet Dilemmas

Some foods can cause a couple to have difficulty conceiving. Caffeine and alcohol are the most common culprits, as is an excess of body weight. Women who are over- or underweight have a tendency to have more difficulty conceiving than those who are of a healthy weight.

Check your BMI (body mass index) and attempt to fall within what is considered a healthy range. Smoking tobacco and the use of illegal drugs can also inhibit fertility.

The Stress Test

Nothing is more infuriating than hearing someone say, "Just relax and you'll get pregnant," but for some, that is true. Occasionally the hormones triggered by the stress of trying to get pregnant can affect the ability to conceive.

Taking some time off from "the baby dance" can provide much needed relief that can sometimes lead to a much wanted pregnancy.

What Do Autoimmune Disease and Maternity Pay Share in Common?

Autoimmune disease and maternity leave pay share much in common. Autoimmunity is the leading cause of more than 100 chronic illnesses. These illnesses strike women 75% of the time. And of course pregnancy strikes women 100% of the time. For women who work and rely on their incomes, both conditions can cause a major disruption in family finances when worked is missed.

Autoimmune disease is the fourth leading cause of disability among women. There are approximately 30 million women living in the U.S. who may suffer from degenerate diseases such as arthritis, graves disease, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.

Pregnancy a Disability

Somewhat surprising for many people, pregnancy is the leading cause of disability among women. Even during a perfectly healthy pregnancy, the average recovery period after vaginal delivery is six-week, and eight weeks for a c-section delivery. Twenty five percent of pregnancies will experience one or more complications, requiring mom to miss time from work prior to delivery. After childbirth postpartum disorders such as bleeding and depression are quite common.

So what does this all have to do with maternity leave pay? Short term disability insurance is the common thread. When bought before conception, short term disability insurance will cover mom's maternity leave for a perfectly healthy pregnancy. It replaces up to two-thirds of income. It pays a six-week benefit for vaginal birth, and an eight week benefit for c-section delivery, less the elimination period. Plus, complications of pregnancy will be handled the same as any other covered sickness.

Autoimmunity Flairs Periodically

Autoimmune disease is unplanned. Nobody wants to spend a lifetime dealing with a chronic debilitating disease. But the impact to quality of life can't be avoided. And lost income may occur anytime the disease flairs. Many of these chronic conditions result in short periods of pain and discomfort, followed by periods of remission - allowing work and income to resume.

Pregnancy is often planned. Couples try to get pregnant. Many couples spend thousands of dollars trying to conceive. Short term disability insurance pays a benefit for normal pregnancy that may greatly exceed the premium paid in advance of childbirth. It allows women to purchase coverage that creates maternity leave pay. Disabilities resulting from an autoimmune disorder will also be covered at no additional cost.

Short Term Disability Fits Best

Because of the intermittent nature of flareups from chronic disorders, short term disability is a far better fit than long term disability or social security disability. If your condition flares and you miss three weeks of work, your short term disability policy will replace your income for two weeks if you have a one week elimination period. Long term disability and social security disability pay nothing. The elimination period for these programs is far too long.

Neither creates maternity leave income. Again the elimination period is far too long to cover most pregnancies. In a normal pregnancy, mom is able to return to work within six to eight weeks. Most long term plans have a three month elimination period. Social security begins paying after six months. Short term disability creates maternity income, and protects women in case of autoimmune disease.

Postpartum Stretch Marks - How to Treat & Prevent Stretch Marks Post Pregnancy Naturally?

Stretch marks are white or red colored parallel fine lines that are formed on the thighs, hips, breast arms, etc. Medically they are known as striae. They are formed due to over stretching of the skin. Pregnancy and striae go hand in hand. But with some simple precautions and home remedies you can avoid or at least minimize these unwanted lines on your body. Here are some tips to get rid of the postpartum stretch marks.

How to treat & prevent postpartum stretch marks naturally?

· Massage: It is utmost helpful in preventing stretch marks. Actually these marks occur when the skin is expanded beyond its elasticity. Gently rubbing the vulnerable areas with natural elements that compensate the lost collagen (natural protein that forms new skin tissues) makes our skin more elastic. This reduces the chances of having these red colored wrinkles on your belly or the breasts.

For the massage you can apply one among the items given below:

- Olive Oil

- Almond Oil

- Vitamin E

- Aloe Vera Gel

- Cocoa Butter

- Shea Butter

- Wheat Germ Oil

- Jojoba Extracts

· Stay hydrated: You must have at least 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. This would keep the body hydrated and maintain the smoothness of the skin.

· Bathe with hot water: It opens the pores of the skin and allows it to breath. It helps in avoiding many other health issues as well.

· Castor oil: Apply a thick layer of castor oil on the areas like upper arms, buttocks, lower belly, etc. and cover it with a plastic sheet. Now mildly heat it with hot water bottle or a heating pad for 25 to 45 minutes. It allows the oil to seep into the skin and develop the necessary collagen and elastin.

· Eat a balanced diet: Have diet that is rich in zinc, vitamin A, C & E, proteins etc. It would help the body repair the damaged skin tissue and form new ones.

· Use stretch mark creams: You may choose to massage the required areas with one of the most effective anti stretch marks cream called Captiva. It comprise of all the above mentioned ingredients and some patented peptides. If this ointment is used regularly for the nine months of pregnancy, you would surely have little or no stretch marks. Captiva is also effective in removing the postpartum stretch marks.

Physiotherapy - Questions for New Patients to Ask

Physiotherapy, also often called physical therapy, can help you heal after an accident makes it hard to move. This type of treatment can also assist you in managing disorders that you have had from birth, which means you may be able to move a little easier, with a little less pain than usual. No matter why you have to go to physical therapy, there are a few questions you should ask before you schedule an appointment. Finding out certain facts ahead of time can save you time.

One thing to check is that your insurance is accepted. Otherwise, you may have to pay out of pocket for your physiotherapy appointment. Most doctors list this fact on their website, but since this can change so often, it is best to call the office to confirm. You should also ask whether the office files the claim for you, which is a convenience that many practices now provide since filling out the paperwork on your own can be confusing and time-consuming.

Another insurance-related question to ask is what your co-pay is, though the front office staff may not be aware of this off the top of their heads. Luckily, you can contact your provider or check your coverage on the website to find out information like co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles so you make sure to bring the right amount with you.

New patients always need to fill out a lot of forms at any doctor's appointment. This is why you are encouraged to arrive early to your visit, as it may get pushed back a little if you do not allow sufficient time for the paperwork. Since it asks about allergies, past treatment, and insurance information, there is usually no way to get started with the physiotherapy care before you fill out the proper forms. If you know you will be in a hurry on the day of the visit, find out if you can fill out the paperwork days before the appointment, such as by downloading it online, printing it out, and bringing it with you.

Finally, ask what you should wear to your physiotherapy visit. In most cases, you should wear loose fitting, comfortable clothes that you can work out in. However, you should take into account what body parts will be involved in the exercises. For example, if your arm is the only part being rehabilitated, then you probably do not need to think much about your shoes, while tennis shoes are best if your legs will be the focus. To be sure, simply ask the office staff before you come in. If you cannot get in touch with anyone, just use common sense and think about what you would feel most comfortable in.

To avoid having to get your visit rescheduled, you should ask these things well in advance of your appointment. Otherwise, you may have to pay more than you expect, or you might be uncomfortable the whole time. Most physiotherapy practitioners should be happy to provide the answers you need over the phone or website.

A Crisis Pregnancy Centre Provides Counselling for Women Facing an Unexpected Pregnancy

It is very important for every woman to maintain her health so that she can stay happy, strong and thriving. Women experience a variety of changes during their lifetimes, and this means they must pay careful attention to their health during these times. If women are pregnant, then she should do whatever it takes to stay healthy. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to stay healthy and thriving while pregnant. Pregnancies can be much unexpected to some women, and this leaves them panicking and unsure of what to do. There is a lot that women must do to stay healthy while pregnant, but not every women knows the steps to take. Fortunately, there are a couple of different services available to help pregnant women maintain their health.

A crisis pregnancy centre is a valuable tool for a woman who is facing an unexpected pregnancy. These centres are non profit organizations that help women find alternatives to abortion. Many women who face unexpected pregnancies get abortions because they are unsure of their options.

Crisis pregnancy centres provide options and information to pregnant women. These organizations are typically run by Christian groups or churches that are pro-life. The services provided by crisis pregnancy centres vary from centre to centre, but some common services are financial assistance, adoption programs and child rearing resources. Most crisis pregnancy centres do not provide medical services, but they typically offer referrals to obstetricians and other health care services. A few crisis pregnancy centres do provide minor medical services such as pregnancy tests and sonograms. Some crisis pregnancy centres provide free sonograms because they believe this dissuades expectant mothers from choosing to have an abortion.

Pregnancy counselling is provided at crisis pregnancy centres, but counselling can also be provided through other resources. Many women choose pregnancy counselling due to an unwanted pregnancy, but services are also available to pregnant women who are suffering from stress and psychological issues. Pregnancy counselling provides psychological health services to pregnant women. Some of these services include introducing women to alternatives to abortion and giving them information on staying healthy while pregnant. Counselling centres provide non biased, medically accurate information to pregnant women in order to help them achieve the best prenatal health possible. Pregnancy counselling centres provide information such as the names of local doctors and hospitals in case a pregnant woman faces an emergency. Some pregnancy counselling centres also provide resources for postnatal care; these resources include treatment for postpartum depression and other psychiatric disorders that come after the birth of a child.

Women can very easily face an unexpected pregnancy, and it is natural for them to feel worried, scared and confused. Fortunately, these great resources are available to every pregnant woman. Whether a woman wants to have an abortion or explore other options, these resources are available to guide them to a choice that is healthy, safe and medically sound. Every pregnant woman should take advantage of these services in order to maintain the best health imaginable.

New Moms, Sleep Well!

Having a baby gives a woman a sense of fulfillment and enormous joy. At the same time, it has been seen that first-time mothers get overwhelmed by the changes that take place in their lives as well as their body, after the baby is born. More importantly sleep deprivation. Your baby will require many feedings a day which means less sleep for you.

BE CAREFUL! You should recognize the importance of sleep.

While some people may like to believe that they can train their bodies to not require as much sleep as they once did, this belief is false. Sleep is needed to regenerate certain parts of the body, especially the brain, so that it may continue to function optimally. After periods of extended wakefulness or reduced sleep neurons may begin to malfunction, visibly effecting a person's behavior.

According to a study conducted by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, people who sleep less than five hours per day are four to five times more likely to be involved in a sleep-related crash.

Super Mom will give you few tips on how to relax during those few first months:

"Sleep when the baby sleeps" sounds blissful in theory. In reality, not everyone could do that. For some people sleeping requires some sort of relaxations, low light, quiet environment,... etc.

Tips on how to sleep better:

1-Lie down, even if you can't sleep.

2-Have your husband or a relative do the night shift for you ( mother or mother- in-law)

3-Take turns: One option is to put the baby to bed at night after the 8 o'clock feeding and go to bed yourself. Your partner can use a bottle of expressed milk to feed the baby around 10. Afterward your partner can go to bed and you can get up for the 2 to 4 feeding. That way, each of you will have the opportunity to have an uninterrupted six-plus hours of sleep

4-Don't rely on coffee: Although gulping down a cup of coffee first thing in the morning can give you the jolt you need to be alert, overdoing it can mask your need for sleep, and may actually prevent you from falling asleep when you finally lie down.

5-Get help around the house: Every day there seems to be twice as much work and half as much time to complete it in. Try getting a housekeeper few times a week to help you around the house or at least few hours a week.

6-Organize visiting hours: Everybody wants to see the new baby, of course. And you, you conscientious person, will feel the need to make sure the house is clean and there's something to offer them when they come. Unless your family has moved in to take over such chores, ask visitors to hold off for a week or so, then have them come one or two at a time for a couple of days a week. Anyone who had kids will understand, and those who haven't will learn soon enough.

7-Keep the baby near by: Moms actually sleep better when the baby sleeps in a bassinet next to the parents' bed rather than in his or her own room down the hall. The idea is that the baby's within easy reach, the mother doesn't have to be aroused by the baby's screaming, and she doesn't have to get up, turn on the lights, and go down a hallway. That makes it easier to slide back into sleep after the feeding. Starting his second month he will start sleeping better during the night then you could move him to his own room.

Vaginal Gas After Childbirth Due to Poor Postpartum Care

During childbirth, the vaginal muscles undergo tremendous stress, getting stretched and pulled to allow your baby to slip out smoothly, on account of which the vagina tears. However, the doctor stitches it up and the wound takes a little over a week or so to heal.

During the initial weeks after childbirth, the vaginal muscles are loose and weakened. Air slips in easily and gets trapped in there. Whenever you happen to move about, especially forwards, wherein your lower abdomen gets pressed, the trapped air pushes itself out with a low noise that can be clearly heard by people sitting near you, causing great embarrassment, as you are unable to control it.

Trapped vaginal air feels more like air bubbles inside you and can come out when you least expect it. It is extremely frustrating to feel that there is nothing you can do to control it. They usually tend to sort itself out on its own, after your vaginal muscle heal and gets back its old elasticity, within a few weeks or so after childbirth. However, vaginal air can be prevented if adequate care is taken by a new mother during the postpartum period.

In India, a new mother in ancient times had to undergo the traditional postpartum confinement period that lasted for 40 days, wherein she was put through a special diet to enhance lactation, had hot oil massages, baths and a long period of rest and sleep. During this time, a new mother was confined to her room with her baby, spending the duration of postpartum nursing her baby and strengthening the mother-baby bond. A new mother was kept happy and well looked after by a horde of loving relatives, which is so important for alleviating postnatal depression and anxiety.

Expert advice from elderly women of the household about dealing with several postpartum issues like contractions, blood clots, sore vagina, bowel movements, painful breastfeeding, hair loss, stretch marks and vaginal air, were adhered to and proper methods were used to tackle them. The methods were tried and tested and withstood the test of time, as the women then, rarely suffered from postpartum issues and continued to lead a long healthy life despite having borne several children.

Fast forward to the present era where a new mother quickly gets back to her old routine after childbirth, as if eager to prove her ability to meet the demands and challenges of motherhood, resulting in postnatal issues, especially vaginal gas, after childbirth. Her body is denied proper rest and sleep that it deserves and has to pay for neglect and lackadaisical attitude. It cannot be stressed enough that a new mother must take preventive measures to prevent vaginal gas and harmoniously balance her five body elements such as earth, water, fire, air and ether.

You can know more about the preventive measures that are needed to prevent vaginal gas through my blog http://yourkidandyou.blogspot.in/ and a host of other postnatal problems faced by a new mother, and their simple remedies.

Good Positions Help to Get Pregnant Fast

If you are having trouble conceiving and want to know how to get pregnant you should begin with trying the natural ways first. These ways have been winners for as long as man has walked the earth and chances are that you are doing something wrong. Obviously you do not know how to get pregnant fast.

Weak or inadequate sperm count is one of the reasons for couples failing to conceive. However, it does seem the easiest thing to do for most others. With no pun intended in many cases when it comes to getting pregnant in difficult situations a little 'push' by both partners can prove to go a very long way in their quest for knowledge on how to get pregnant. This is when the positions come in to the act. It is important for the male to deposit his sperm as close to the female cervix as possible to get her pregnant.

Getting pregnant has a lot to do with survival of the egg released during ovulation. When the ovary releases an egg it begins to travel down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. An egg typically survives for as little as 24 hours, though in some cases it does manage a few extra hours. Sperm has a tendency to last from 48 hours to almost a week in the body. So logic has it that the sperm must meet up with the egg before 24 hours of its release from the ovaries in order for the woman to get pregnant this one way of how to get pregnant fast.

A lot of people argue that positions do not play any role in getting pregnant faster. However, logic demands that the sperm be placed as close to the egg as possible to ensure greater success rates in getting pregnant, especially for couples having difficulty conceiving.

This leads us to advise avoiding positions that defy gravity. The best position is the missionary position. A couple is least likely to conceive, especially if they have experienced difficulty doing so, if they have s e x standing sitting or with the woman on top. It is best to limit the quantity of sperm that flows back out of the vagina to ensure greater chances of conceiving. So, if you want to know how to get pregnant faster and have experiencing trouble, try the missionary position until you succeed.

Last, but not the least - contraceptives. If the woman has been using hormonal contraceptives, she should stop as soon as she decides that she wants to conceive. Hormonal contraceptives will make a woman sterile for as much as 4 to 8 weeks after she stops taking the pill. Also, it is important to not use a perfumed contraceptive or use artificial lubricants as these are known to damage or kill the sperm. If a lubricant is required, the best place to get one is from the doctor's clinic.

A little research, a little trial and error and a lot of patience will help anyone learn how to get pregnant faster and naturally too without the help of any drugs or hormones.

Postpartum Thyroiditis Symptoms

Exactly what are the Symptoms?

Thyroiditis serves as a generic expression which defines "inflammation of the thyroid gland", therefore, postpartum thyroiditis is thyroiditis that comes about in females following the delivery of a newborn baby. Thyroiditis symptoms can cause both thyrotoxicosis (very high thyroid gland hormone levels in the bloodstream) and also hypothyroidism (very low thyroid hormone levels in the blood). When it comes to postpartum thyroiditis, thyrotoxicosis starts initially followed by hypothyroidism.

What's causing thyroiditis symptoms?

The precise explanation isn't understood but it is considered to be an autoimmune condition similar to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In fact, both of these diseases can't be distinguished from one another in relation to pathology specimens. Just like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, postpartum thyroiditis is concerning the development of anti-thyroid (anti-thyroid peroxidise, anti-thymoglobulin) antibodies. The women having positive antithyroid antibodies have a much greater risk of developing postpartum symptoms than women that do not have positive antibodies. It is believed that females who develop postpartum thyroiditis have an underlying asymptomatic autoimmune thyroiditis that flares up within the postpartum period when there are variances in the immune system function.

So how common is thyroiditis?

Within the United states, postpartum thyroiditis happens in around 5-10% of women. Often the number of cases is certainly elevated in certain high risk populations (see below).

Who's going to be in danger of getting thyroiditis symptoms?

Practically any women with:

• Autoimmune disorders (for instance Type 1, or juvenile onset, Diabetes Mellitus

• Positive anti-thyroid antibodies (risk fits with antibody levels, the larger the antibody number the higher the associated risk)

• Background of prior thyroid problems

• History of earlier thyroiditis (20% of ladies have recurrence of thyroiditis symptoms with future pregnancy)

• Family history of thyroid dysfunction

What is the clinical course of thyroiditis?

The conventional description of postpartum thyroiditis comprises of thyrotoxicosis followed by hypothyroidism. Not all ladies exhibit evidence connected with going through both phases; in the region of 1/3 of individuals will manifest both stages, whilst a third of people are going to have just a thyrotoxic or hypothyroid phase. The thyrotoxic phase shows up 1-4 months following birth of a child, may last for 1-3 months and is particularly related to symptoms like panic and anxiety, insomnia issues, palpitations (fast heart rate), weakness, weight reduction, and also one becoming easily irritated. Because these indications in many cases are attributed to being postpartum and the emotional stress of having a new baby, the thyrotoxic cycle of post-partum thyroiditis often is missed. It's much more common for women to display indications in the hypothyroid stage, that almost always occurs four to eight months after delivery and can last as much as nine to twelve months. Regular Thyroiditis indications and symptoms incorporate weariness, putting on weight, bowel problems, dry skin, depression symptoms and poor physical exercise tolerance. A lot of women will have return of their thyroid function to normal inside of twelve to eighteen months from the beginning of indicators. However, approximately 20% of those that go into a hypothyroid phase will remain hypothyroid.

How is thyroiditis dealt with?

Treatment plans is dependent on the phase of thyroiditis symptoms and degree of indicators that sufferers display. Most women presenting with thyrotoxicosis may be treated with beta blockers to lower palpitations as well as reduce shakes and tremors. As signs or symptoms get better, the prescription medication is tapered off simply because the thyrotoxic stage is transient. Antithyroid medicines usually are not helpful for the thyrotoxic stage because the thyroid just isn't overactive. The hypothyroid phase is generally helped by thyroid hormone substitute. If the hypothyroidism is slight, and the patient has few, if any, symptoms, absolutely no treatments could be appropriate. If, perhaps thyroid hormone therapy is actually begun, treatment plan have to be ongoing for approximately 6-12 months and then tapered to find out if thyroid hormone is necessary in the long term. It will always be critical to strive to stop thyroid hormone following postpartum thyroiditis Symptoms, considering that eighty percent of patients will probably attain standard thyroid performance and not need chronic therapy treatment.

Providing Comforts to Your Post Natal Dogs

Just like the other members of the families of the fox. When dogs give birth to the young ones, they give birth to numerous puppies which are expected to grow and form a pack, this is only possible if the dogs grow up together, but man has been known to separate this numerous puppies from their brothers and sisters, hence it is the responsibility of the owner to be able to provide comfort to this animals.

But those dogs which are not taken up by man and trained tend to exhibit bad behavior which is irritating to man such as barking all the time restlessly.

In earlier years, man used to allow the dogs to stay outside with them as they worked with them when they perform their daily activities. This was very vital for these animals since they would be able to enjoy the companionship provided by man

Because of these, at the end of the day the animals would have enjoyed the companionship hence when it's time for sleeping, they could be able to sleep comfortably.

But things have changed this days, people just leave their dog outside without even playing with it or if it is doing work, they do not do any work beside them since most of the work that they do nowadays is done in the office, hence the dogs end up feeling lonely and neglected which is not good for them, in fact during the evening when people are home from work, they do not take time to spend with their dogs since they are tired with office work making the dogs to feel lonely.

Another unfair thing man also does to the animals, since he/she is tired after work, they do not take time to spend with the animals and they end up leaving them outside since they don't want to be disturbed.

But if the dog owners learn to spend time with the animals, the dogs will never feel so lonely, they in fact need that short time to know that there is somebody who cares for them and provides them companionship.

For anyone reading this article and thinks of getting a dog to keep either for security or a pet, ignoring it all the time and not spending time with it proves you are very cruel and you feel less for the animal.

What You Should Learn About Preeclampsia During Pregnancy

What is preeclampsia? It is a syndrome that occurs in pregnant women who are hypertensive, that is, those who have high blood pressure. They get swollen legs and a considerable amount of protein spillage into their urine. They may even get convulsions, particularly in the second part of the pregnancy.

Preeclampsia is also known as pregnancy-induced hypertension or toxemia. It is more common in women who are pregnant for the first time and those pregnant by a new husband. However, a second or third pregnancy does not guarantee a preeclampsia-free term. According to a study in Aberdeen, Scotland, almost 1 in 150 women who has had a normal blood pressure during their first pregnancy can get preeclampsia during their second.

The risk is heightened for those who have previously experienced high blood pressure and women who also suffered from preeclampsia before the third trimester.

A family history of diabetes is also cause for concern; women whose sisters, mothers, aunts or grandmothers got preeclampsia should also be careful. Moreover, the possibility of getting preeclampsia increases relative to the woman's age; the older she is, the higher the risk, particularly if the woman is over 40. However, early pregnancies are just as at risk as late ones. Teenage mothers--girls younger than 18--are not exempt.

Other significant factors that may complicate a pregnancy and induce preeclampsia are ovarian cysts, lupus and arthritis. Women who do not have or have never had the aforementioned illnesses should not be so complacent. If symptoms of preeclampsia start manifesting, they should consult their doctor straightaway.

While pregnant women feel all sorts of sensations that are common for their delicate situation, there are certain occurrences that may point to preeclampsia. All these symptoms should never be ignored:

- Frequent dizziness and drowsiness.

- Getting massive headaches.

- Unbearable nausea.

- Hearing incessant buzzing or ringing.

- Throwing up blood.

- Frequent and prolonged vomiting.

- Getting impossibly swollen feet and hands.

- Seldom urinating or not at all.

- Having blood mixed in the urine.

- Irregular, rapid heartbeat.

- Having a high fever.

- Getting blurred or double vision.

- Sudden loss of vision.

It is important to be on the guard because the exact causes of preeclampsia is largely unknown. It does not have one easily identifiable cause, and there is not one test that diagnoses the problem.

When women go to the doctor, the first thing their doctor will do is to take their blood pressure. A large rise is indicative of preeclampsia. Urine tests are performed to measure the protein in the urine. A blood test may also be done. If the woman is exhibiting signs of preeclampsia, the doctor will want to conduct checkups at least once every week, if not every day.

What preeclampsia does is to hinder blood going to the placenta, which is what provides air and food to the baby. Less blood in the placenta means less air and food for the baby, thus a low weight for the newborn.

A good advice to keep in mind for pregnant women is to control their blood pressure. When one is not pregnant, the way to do this is to cut down on her salt intake. If one is however pregnant, the body will need the salt to aid in the flow of fluids. Doctors may recommend aspirin and calcium for preeclampsia prevention or tell women to lie on their left side while taking rest.

If preeclampsia does occur in one pregnancy, it does not entirely spell doom for the mother and child. Women can still deliver babies with perfect health but it is rare. So all these precautions are advisable and will prove that mothers know best if they do heed both the warnings and preventive measures.

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Tips to Help Get Pregnant After 30

After the age of thirty, getting pregnant can become difficult for many couples. This is mainly due to the fact that, as the human body ages, fertility drops off, and the older one gets the harder it becomes to conceive. Therefore, here are a few tips to help get pregnant after 30.

This hold true for any woman trying to conceive but, it is most important for older women, and that is taking care of your body. If your body is not, in top physical condition then, this is where you will need to begin. You can greatly increase your bodies' fertility if you get it into its best physical condition possible.

If you are over weight or under weight, start on a diet that will bring your body into the weight range it should be in. Make sure the diet is one that will supply your body with all the foods rich in nutritional value that a body requires to be healthy. The healthier your body is the more fertile it will be so, consider seeing your doctor and have them put you on a diet that will be healthy for you, and help you get your weight where it belongs. (They can also let you know what not to eat or drink to help increase your fertility levels.)

Exercise is important as well and can also help you get your weight under control. I have heard many say that when a woman is trying to get pregnant they should take it easy and relax. This is bad advice because the stronger your body is, the better all the organ in the body function, this includes the reproductive system. Another thing exercise can do for you, if you are planning on a natural child birth, is make labor and delivery easier on you.

The best position to use during intercourse to help get pregnant has not been scientifically proven but, many believe that the missionary position is the best. This is because it provides for the deepest penetration and places the sperm closest to the cervix. Again, there is no scientific evidence that suggests one position is better than another.

Having sex only during the ovulation cycle so the man's sperm is not depleted when the woman is ovulating, is another thing I have heard many say and it is not true. Think of it as supply and demand, the greater the demand the more supply the body will produce, and this is a fact. You are much better off having sex daily because this will get the man's reproductive system to produce more sperm as well as higher quality of sperm. The important thing here is to keep it fun and interesting, if it becomes a chore or mundane it will adversely affect your chances to conceive, and causes stress when it does not happen.

There are many more tips to help get pregnant after 30 however, these are ones that you can start with before, and while trying to conceive. It is also worth mentioning that the better shape both of you, man and woman, is in, the greater your chances of achieving your goal will be. If you are in excellent physical condition, older than thirty, and have been trying for more than six months without success, you should seek help from a fertility specialist to ensure there is no infertility issue.

19 Facts About Depression At Midlife - Tips, Strategies, And Info-Bites

When we age, we produce less of two important mood stabilizing hormones, serotonin and dopamine. So, depression is a risk factor for both men and women as we get older. Yet twice as many women compared to men suffer from depression, which leads some to believe there is a link between the female sex hormones and depression.

1. Memory loss at midlife may not be related to aging, but depression. Depression affects our ability to concentrate and remember things. Our mind instead is caught in a cycle of self blame, guilt, or hopelessness,

2. Of the studies that differentiate between major depression and minor depression, an increase in minor depression (ie. non-clinical) is reported, rather than an increase in major depressive episodes,

3. Major depression is characterized by feeling sad or tearful all, or most of the time. Other symptoms include losing interest in regular activities and engaging in day to day life.

4. Those that seem to be at risk of suffering from major depression during menopause are those that have suffered major depression at some other time in their lives. This can include postnatal depression, severe depression associated with PMS, or any other type of clinical depression.

5. Some of the symptoms of perimenopause are also the symptoms of depression, so it's important to consider the whole picture. These common symptoms include tiredness, weight gain, insomnia, difficulties in concentration, memory loss, and a loss of interest in sex.

6. Depression is usually treated with psychological treatments and medication. The psychological treatments include cognitive behaviour therapy which looks at the negative ways we think; and Interpersonal therapy, to improve relationships.

7. Antidepressant medication covers a range including SSRI's, SNRI's, MAOI's, and others. Each class has a lot of individual medications within it, and people may tolerate one well, but have side effects on others. Finding an antidepressant medication appropriate to the individual can be a trial and error endeavor.

8. Some anti-depressants - prozac and others in the category of Selective Serotonin Re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI's) - may cause cardiovascular problems in some people after long term use.

9. If you're taking hormone replacement therapy, too high a dose of estrogen or androgen hormones can lead to side effects like headaches and anxiety. Synthetic progesterone treatments are also often associated with depression.

10. Caffeine and sugar, in excess, may have a negative impact on recurring depression.

11. Estrogen boosts the levels of serotonin and acetylcholine, which are neurohormones that make people feel good, and are part of a normal memory.

12. Deficiencies of the B vitamins biotin, folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, have been linked with depression, as have vitamin C deficiencies.

13. Vitamin B6 is important because of it's role in making the monoamine neurotransmitters, which help stabilize moods.

14. Minerals linked to depression include deficiencies of calcium, copper, and magnesium.

15. St Johns Wort has been found to be as effective as prozac in treating mild to moderate depression.

16. Anecdotally, 5HTP has been found to help some people with depression who also suffer from weight problems and insomnia.

17. Our brain needs a small supply of good qualify fats every day. This is because nerve fibers are coated with a fatty sheath called myelin. Good sources of healthy fats include non-hydrogenated olive oil, sesame oil, and fish oil. Deficiencies of the omega 6 fatty acids may play a role in depression.

18. Depression is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.

19. Depression can increase the risk of more heart problems in people with coronary heart disease.

Sleepless Nights of Pregnancy

Sleepless nights are one of the joys of pregnancy! Between tossing and turning to find a comfortable position for your pump; being kicked ferociously by the baby who has slept all day but must now wake up and make his/her presence known; and the bazillion trips to the loo because you know your bladder is simply going to burst...only to have three drops in the end; is it any wonder we have PND (postnatal depression) and the like? It is not just sleep deprivation from a new baby, but the cumulative effects of months without a decent nights sleep.

Although there is no guarantee of a solution, below are a few basic suggestions which may help a bit:

1) Do you have a bedtime routine? If not then slight alterations such as bathing/showering, reading or listening to soothing music may help to signal your body that it is time to wind down. The same things we try on our children can be used effectively on us.

2) Pillows...Placing large or numerous pillows under our legs, our backs and/or our bumps can help us to find a more comfortable position to sleep. It may also help by relieving the almost overwhelming pressure on our bladders or nerves in our backs or legs.

3) Sleeping on your side...is often most comfortable and safest for you and the baby. This is because lying on our backs causes the major blood vessels carrying blood to and from our legs to be compressed.

4) Sleeping in a semi-upright position...may help especially if you suffer from heartburn or have difficulty breathing. This positions prevents food from irritating the esophogus and takes some pressure off the diaphragm.

5) A cup of tea or hot chocolate...before retiring may help you to relax and sleep better. Although you should read the labels carefully to make certain they are appropriate for use in pregnancy, herbal teas such as chamomile are wonderful.

6) Exercising several hours before bed...can help you to rest better. Of course, walking, swimming and yoga are best in pregnancy. And always be certain to exercise at least two to three hours before bedtime as exercising immediately before releases endorphins which may make it more difficult to sleep.

6) Heavy blinds and/or ear plugs...because light and sounds which may not bother us at other times can be difficult to overcome when returning to bed after the third or tenth trip of the night to the loo.

Of course there is no magic solution as medications prescribed to assist and induce sleep are not recommended for use in pregnant women. But don't forget one perk of being pregnant is the excuse for an afternoon nap...to catch up on that lost sleep. You will need it soon.

Dealing With Pregnancy and Discrimination in the Workplace

You've found out that you are expecting, and along with the joy and anticipation that comes along with this news you are also wondering how you are going to break it to your boss. While you may be tickled pink at the arrival of a baby, your boss may be less enthusiastic about the news. Unfortunately, some bosses regard pregnancy as a liability and they do not want expecting mothers and new mothers to be on their staff. In fact, some women are shocked to find that they were suddenly let go from a position they had for years because they became pregnant.

If you feel that you were unjustly fired from a job due to your pregnancy, or your boss told you they just couldn't handle the liability or maternity leave, you need to know about your legal rights as an expecting mom. Even though you may have the nicest boss in the world, it is still important to be prepared incase you are suddenly faced with a case of pregnancy discrimination. In the year 2006 alone, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 4,901 pregnancy discrimination charges.

Talk With Your Boss Immediately As soon as you have confirmed your pregnancy it is important to have a frank discussion with your boss at once. It is understandable if you do not want the rest of your office to know about the pregnancy right away, but you should still talk with your boss. Let your boss know when your due date is, determine how many weeks of maternity leave you can expect, and how many sick days you are allowed.

At this first meeting with your boss, be honest with your boss if you are concerned about keeping your job. Your boss may either reassure your position, or confirm your fears; either way you will honestly know how your boss feels so that you can take the steps you need to in order to ensure that you have employment and security for you and your baby.

Know Your Rights Pregnancy discrimination is defined as discrimination that occurs when expecting mothers are fired from a job, or face discrimination because of their pregnancy or decision to become pregnant. Example of pregnancy discrimination include: being dismissed from a position once the employer is aware of the pregnancy, being dismissed upon returning after maternity leave, having one's pay deducted because of the pregnancy, or not being hired for a position because of a pregnancy.

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1978. According to this piece of legislature, employers must provide insurance, paid leave, and support to expecting mothers that they are able to give to other employees who are on medical leave or disability. This means that pregnant employees are to be given the same treatment as any other employer who is dealing with a temporary disability. For example, if an employer is able to offer an injured employee light work, than the employer should also be able to offer light work to expectant mothers in their latter trimesters.

According to this act, expectant mothers must be able to work as long as they can perform their job duties, and an employer cannot stop an employee from returning to work after taking maternity leave. Single parents need to be aware that pregnancy benefits cannot only be offered to married employees; the same benefits need to be provided to single parents as well.

Some states and programs have expanded on the original Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and it is vital that you are aware of your legal rights in your State before you speak with your boss about your pregnancy.

What To Do If You Are Facing Pregnancy Discrimination in the US If you think that your employer is discriminating against you because of your pregnancy, you will need to contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (EEOC). They can be contacted either through their website, mail, fax, or their toll free number at 1-800-669-400. Gather all the information that you can, and try to remember specific dates of incidences, or things that your employer said, before you talk with the EEOC. You should also let your boss know in a polite but firm tone that you are aware of your rights.

Key Documents for International Travel

If you don't have a passport, you can appear in person at any of more than 5,000 U.S. courthouses and post offices that are specifically authorized to accept passport applications. If in doubt, call the general access number at the courthouse or post office in question and ask if that location is approved for passport applications. If you need your passport urgently (if you plan to travel abroad within the next two weeks), you can contact any of the thirteen U.S. passport agencies that accept applications by appointment. As of 2005, these offices were located in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Norwalk, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC. You will need to call the passport agency in advance and you may be asked to provide proof of the urgent need for the passport, such as a ticket showing travel within fourteen days.

If you were born in the U.S., you should bring an official certified copy of your birth certificate. If you do not have one, you can request a copy from the agency that records births and vital statistics in your state of birth, usually for a small fee.

If for some reason you cannot obtain a copy of your birth certificate, you will need a letter of no record issued by your state of birth with your name, date of birth and a statement showing the years that were searched for your birth record and the fact that there is no birth certificate on file for you. Along with this, you need to bring as many different proofs of birth as possible, including baptismal services, hospital birth records, census records, early school records, or even your doctor's record of postnatal care. You can also use a notarized affidavit of birth signed by an older blood relative who has personal knowledge of your birth, though this will carry less weight than an official document.

If you were born outside the U.S., you will need a copy of the consular report of birth abroad or certification of birth, your naturalization certificate, or your citizenship certificate as proof of your U.S. citizenship.

You will also need to provide proof of your identity - a valid driver's license, a government or military ID card, or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship. If these are not available, you should bring other signature documents such as a Social Security card or credit card, along with a person who can vouch for you who does have valid ID. Finally, bring two identical 2" x 2" photographs taken within the past six months, color or black and white, front view, full face.

You should plan at least 90 days wait time to receive your passport. State officials say 6 weeks but you should plan longer. Expedited service (two weeks' turnaround) may be available but can cost as much as $60 extra. If you plan to travel abroad a lot, you should request a larger, 48-page passport for no extra charge.

What Are the Risks of Anxiety During Pregnancy?

Many women believe that pregnancy is the key to ultimate happiness; bringing a newborn child into the world is simply incomparable. This is in fact the same reason why a newborn is called a bundle of joy. However, contrary to what most people think, pregnancy is not all about happiness and excitement.

Likewise, the danger of bearing a child is not limited to physical attributes but may even be more dangerous on the emotional and mental levels. As pregnant women are delicate and susceptible to aggravation, anxiety finds its way to change how a woman thinks and things may turn ugly if getting rid of anxiety during pregnancy is not dealt with seriously.

Postpartum depression, a clinical term for postnatal depression, is said to arise from anxiety within the nine months of carrying a child. It strikes the most after giving birth but as opposed to what experts believed a few years back, it starts to build up as the hormonal changes happens inside the body. Affecting 10 percent of the population, this is a serious thing especially if it leads to the death of the mother or the baby or both. There are recorded cases of suicide right after giving birth not because of heavy problems but solely due to the feeling of anxiety, depression and confusion, all in one. Some reported cases also show mothers killing their babies intentionally although the thought would turn horrible for them as soon as their hormone levels normalized. Without proper attention, anxiety in pregnant women could turn tragic.