Things You Should Know Before Purchasing Individual Or Family Health Insurance

Why Should I Review My Individual or Family Health Insurance Plan?

The bottom line as in all insurance plans is to protect you and or your family from devastating expense should there be an illness or accident requiring medical expense. Many consumers are able to obtain health insurance through employer sponsored group plans and in many instances this may be the best route. However not all employer plans are ideal and as such many are
to comprehensive for your entire family making the premiums much higher. Unless the employer covers the entire cost for you and your family you actually be paying a higher premium than you could obtain buying individual health insurance on your own. In other words suppose that you have a fully comprehensive corporate sponsored health plan that is fully funded by your employer.

If you then chose to add a family member to that same health insurance plan your employer may not cover any of the cost for those members and in turn you may be grossly overpaying for family health insurance, and should at least do some shopping and compare plans from outside of the corporate sponsored plan to see if you could obtain sufficient coverage for your family for less.
Additionally self employed workers should consider an individual health insurance plans or a family health insurance plan. In recent months many people have lost their jobs, and experienced transitions in the workforce causing many to lose their employer sponsored health insurance leaving both them and their families without crucial coverage. Many cannot afford at the exorbitant cost of a COBRA plan they are offered when the leave an employer and may go unprotected for a few or many months while seeking employment. Most insurance companies now offer Short Term Medical Insurance also know as Temporary Insurance as an alternative to COBRA these plans can be purchase from 1 to 12 months to cover the in between employment transition time.
 
How Can I Determine What I Want in a Health Insurance Plan?
 
There are a few variables to consider when determining what plan will work best to suit your needs. You must determine what features are important and how comprehensive you want your plan to be. Would you prefer a plan that includes co-pays for doctor visits and medications? Would you prefer a plan that pays everything from day one, or a plan that has coverage for a major medical expense but offers low premiums and tax advantages. Let's break this down a little further.
  
Fully Comprehensive Plans - These plans usually have a choice of deductibles once they are met the insurer will cover the first dollar of all medical expenses these plans are usually considered the Cadillac and will have the most protection for you and your family from day one but will also be reflected in the premium cost.
 
Co-Pay Insurance Plans - A insurance plan that will pay just a fixed amount of the cost of prescriptions drugs and Doctor Office visits. Some insurance carriers provide a discounted co-pay plan that limits the plan to two Dr office visits per year.

Coinsurance Plans/ Major Medical Insurance - This is a middle of the road plan that typically has a higher deductible of your choice ranging from $1000-$5000  that requires you to pay for all medical expenses until the deductible is met then pay 20% of all treatment and the insurer pay 80%. These plans are only a good choice for those who prefer to exchange a lower premium for covering more of the initial cost of routine medical expenses (co-pays, Dr. Visits) and just want the coverage for any major medical issues or accidents.
 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA's) - This plan is like a self managed insurance that offers low premiums combined with high deductibles, the insurer pays 100% of expenses after the deductible is met . The insurer sets up a tax sheltered savings account for you where the money can grow tax deferred to use for covering your deductible. The account comes with a debit card to use for office visits and prescriptions. This plan goes with you wherever you go and is owned by you. The premium savings can be huge but it is important to contribute to the plan consistently in order to cover your deductible in the event of a major medical expense. These plans are gaining popularity with self employed and even corporations as an alternative to high insurance cost. The benefits are one deductible per family per year, low premiums, tax savings, and more control over insurance expenditures.
 
Keep in mind that insurance companies will combine different features of the plans above to offer different ranges of premiums. Most plans will allow for you to choose a coinsurance amount from 0 to 50% where you choose the portion of all medical expenses you will pay after you pay the deductible. Other options are deductibles themselves which range anywhere from $500 to $5000 dollars before the insurance coverage kicks in. Many rider options may be available as well such as a maternity rider, dental, life insurance and the Health Savings Account also offers an Indemnity rider should you have a major medical expense before you have accumulated enough cash in the HSA to cover the deductible.
 
Where Should I Purchase Health Insurance?
 
Most any reputable Licensed Agent can help you, most people research rates and options online these days and can run a spreadsheet from most agents' website. You can usually choose what features you want on the plan such as deductibles, co-pays, coinsurance, and plan type this will help you narrow down the options presented to you then work backwards from there.
Regardless of what any agent may tell you the rates are set by the carriers.
 
You will find the same rates with the same providers everywhere and in fact when you apply online you are actually going direct to the carrier. You should stick with carriers that have a high Rating with A.M. Best or Standard and Poors which rate Insurance companies on the financial strength and ability to pay claims. Avoid companies that offer plans with rates that seem to low compared to other health plans, plans that accept you even if you have serious preexisting conditions or major illnesses, plans that claim to not be regulated by the state and plans that avoid calling the plan insurance. Most importantly do your homework and speak with an agent if you are unsure what plan suits you best.

Pregnancy Pillows Help Your Get Your Rest

Expecting a baby is an exciting time in someone's life, but pregnancy can also be uncomfortable as well as cause back pain and sleeping problems.

Some sleeping problems associated with pregnancy are due to just having to sleep in an unfamiliar position. Doctors now recommend pregnant women sleep on their left sides to ensure proper oxygenation of the fetus. If you're a back sleeper this can cause major issues when trying to find a comfortable position.

Expectant mothers have tried many methods to find a comfortable side sleeping position most of the time using multiple pillows to support them and their growing bellies. The problem with the multiple pillow theory is the unfortunate reality that pillows slide and won't stay in the proper place to give you support.

Pregnancy pillows solve that problem. For many a maternity or pregnancy pillow is a great choice to support and cradle them comfortably in a side sleeping position during their pregnancy.

Pregnancy pillows come in many shapes, many shaped as full body pillows in a "J" shape or "C" shape. They also can be wedges or doughnuts. These pillows also help reduce the aches and pains associated with pregnancy.

Pregnant women have more aches and pains as the pregnancy progresses. More weight and pressure are put on the lower back and pelvic area sometimes causing anything from back pain to leg aches. These annoying aches and pains make it hard to rest comfortably without the proper support.

A maternity pillow can help alleviate the leg aches and back aches associated with the added weight of pregnancy and the increased pressure on the back and pelvis. They are a great gift for a baby shower as well, later stages of pregnancy increase the aches and an expectant mother will appreciate the gift of a pregnancy pillow in their last few months and weeks of pregnancy.

Effective Tips To Help You Get Pregnant

Are you trying to get pregnant? For some women this can be a difficult journey. At times it can even become frustrating. Trust me the last thing you want to do is get really stressed out as this will not help your cause.

To begin with - that bundle of joy that you want to have so desperately is going to need a good home for nine months. So your first goal is to take care of yourself. Good health is imperative. Let's start with the obvious and work our way down.

In terms of diet you will want to start eating good healthy fresh foods. I call these foods living foods. Eat lots of good fruit and vegetables. Prepare and eat fruit first thing in the morning. When you are preparing meals and cutting vegetables up, put a plate aside for yourself and put some of your raw cut veggies on it.

This way you can nibble on some raw food as you prepare dinner. Eat lots of leafy greens. Cut out caffeine and alcohol. By no means do any drugs. Drink lots of water maybe eight glasses a day. Get in some exercise even if it is just a brisk walk for 30 minutes.

Add vitamins especially B9 and increase your intake of folic acid. In your vaginal area do not use any lubricants during sex as this can kill of sperm. In terms of sexual positions missionary is deemed to be the most effective.

After sex relax. Try and pop your hips up. This can help the sperm on its trip to the egg. Don't just jump out of bed lie there for at least five minutes.

Always engage in sex before ovulation not after. In terms of predicting ovulation you can use an ovulation predictor kit. Secondly you can monitor your body temperature. You will notice a rise in temperature of about .4 degrees during ovulation.

In terms of cervical fluid when you are most fertile your cervical fluid will look like raw egg whites. If you're comfortable with your own body you can check this throughout the month.

Last but not least if all else fails you will need to consult with a doctor.

Post and Pre Natal Depression: What You Should Know

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting things for any woman to experience. But it is also among the toughest challenges that a woman can go through. Most pregnant women go under a lot of stress during their pregnancy.

If left unmanaged, stress may cause different health problems. And, one of these problems is depression. Women may either develop prenatal depression or post partum depression.

Prenatal depression is a type of depression that women develop during their pregnancy, while post partum depression is a type of depression that happens after giving birth to a child. Post and prenatal depression have similar symptoms. These symptoms are classified into two groups that include emotional symptoms and physical symptoms.

Among the emotional symptoms of postnatal and prenatal depression include anxiety, irritation, sadness and hopelessness. A woman suffering from depression may also tend to isolate herself from other people including her newborn baby or husband.

Post partum and prenatal depression also have physical symptoms, which include lack of focus and chronic fatigue. A woman who develops depression during pregnancy and after giving birth may also develop sleeping and eating disorder. When depressed, a woman may either lose her appetite or eat more than she used to. She may also have trouble going to sleep or she may tend to oversleep.

Now, there are a lot of things that you can do to avoid depression during and after pregnancy. First of all, you need to have an ideal diet. This means that you need to have a balanced meal, which also means that you need to eat vegetables, seafood and meat. You must also stay away from coffee while you're pregnant and after giving birth. During your pregnancy, you may drink tea as an alternative to coffee.

Another way to avoid or deal with depression is by exercising. Many studies proved that by exercising, a person's body produces dopamine and serotonin, which can help you feel good. It can also help regulate the flow of blood and oxygen that helps in absorbing and distributing nutrition to the whole body.

Now, there are still other ways to deal with depression and one such way is by learning how to meditate. This activity is very ideal because not only can it regulate your sleeping and eating habits, it can also help you bring harmony and balance to your mind, body and soul.

Addiction to Chocolate When You Are Pregnant - Is it Healthy?

Chocolate is not only delicious, but also worthwhile. Indeed, while it is regularly eaten for pleasure, there are potential beneficial health effects of eating chocolate. Even, today, some 50% of women reportedly claim to prefer it to sex even though this response may depend on the attributes of the interviewer. However, can mother pregnant consume it continuously?

Basically, chocolate is safe to consume by everyone including a pregnant mother. However, it is better for her not to consume it too much because it can reduce her consumption of nutrient food that she really needs. Besides, chocolate includes high caloric food that causes overweight.

Actually, what you should alert for is not the chocolate, but other compound substances like sweetener that can cause your body to be fat. Besides, chocolate also contains quite high caffeine standard. A piece of cake contains 10 milligram caffeine. Of course, it is not sufficient for you to eat a piece of chocolate, right?

On the contrary, some doctors suggest a pregnant mother to limit her consumption of caffeine not more than 200 milligram per day. However, some literature state that chocolate is safe to consume by a pregnant mother.

A research mentions that consuming it can help her to reduce the risk for her to get the pregnancy poisoning. But, mainly, consuming it can arouse pleasant and happy feeling to her.

The most important thing for her is choosing dark chocolate that contains more chocolate than other compound substances. Besides, dark chocolate is not too sweet, so she does not need to worry about her weight.

The Pregnant Traveler - Safety Tips and Immunization Schedule

Air travel while pregnant or with a small infant, as well as going overseas and having a baby in a developing country, have their share of medical risks for mother and child.

Many parts of the world are prone to diseases such as encephalitis, typhoid, yellow fever, and malaria, all very damaging to the mother and the unborn child. Extra caution must be taken to avoid hepatitis.

Women with a history of thrombophlebitis, (blood clot and vascular inflammation of the great vessels of the legs), sickle cell trait and severe anemia should probably avoid flying during pregnancy.
Air travel with newborns up to 6 weeks should also be avoided because alveoli (air sacules in the lungs) are not completely functional yet. Infants are prone to pain with the collapse of the Eustachian tube with air pressure changes.

Airlines vary in their rules regarding pregnant patients, but none of them willingly do it past 36 weeks' gestation. Most organizations, such as the U.S. military, recommend return to the U.S. by 32 weeks

If a pregnant woman can avoid traveling in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, that is best. The first trimester is the time of fetal formation (organogenesis) and no medicines can be declared as having no effect on the formation.

Safe Air Travel

Below are recommended suggestions to make air travel more comfortable for the pregnant or nursing mother:

1. Where it is unavoidable, oxygen should be ordered in advance for severe forms of sickle cell and anemia.
2. Aisle seats at the bulkhead should be requested ahead of time. Exit rows give you more room as well, but the airline might decline you if they believe you would be unable to help in the event of an emergency landing.
3. Pregnant women should walk every half hour during flight, flexing and extending ankles.
4. Drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration.
5. Breastfeed or give the baby a bottle during take-off and landing. Consider giving the child Benadryl or a decongestant to help with breathing and to calm the child down.

Health and Safety Measures for the Pregnant Traveler

1.Coincide travel and a move overseas to a safe immunization schedule. Here is a list of immunizations and when they should given:

o Diphtheria and tetanus vaccine can be given after the first trimester.

o Polio vaccination can be given in the second trimester if the patient has never been immunized because there is a tendency for pregnant patients to get polio. Oral polio is no longer recommended in the U.S. because of gastrointestinal transmission of the virus to immune-compromised patients. They should be dosed at 0 and 30 days prior to travel.

o Hepatitis B & A vaccinations may be given in the second trimester.

o Pulmonary influenza vaccine should be given to a pregnant traveler prone to chronic respiratory disease.

o Measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations should NOT be given in pregnancy. Wait until after the the birth to travel.

o Yellow fever should NOT be given to a pregnant woman unless travel to an endemic area is ABSOLUTELY unavoidable. In this case, immunize in the second trimester. If at all possible travel in those areas should be avoided until after delivery. Breastfeeding, however, is not contraindicated. Yellow fever vaccination is generally NOT recommended in children under 2 years because of complications of encephalitis.

o Typhoid (oral vaccine) is not generally given to pregnant patients because of feverish reactions with adverse effects. It is not recommended unless the risk of typhoid in a MUST-travel area is unavoidable. Babies' vaccine should be able to be given.

o Japanese encephalitis vaccine is not recommended in pregnancy at all. Avoiding travel in infected areas should be considered.

o Malaria-endemic areas require personal protective measures since no prophylaxis is 100% effective. So, stay indoors between dusk and dawn. If you have to go out, wear light-colored clothing with long sleeves, pantlegs, shoes and socks.

o To further avoid malaria, Permethrin-impregnated bed nets and electrical citronella coils should be used. Chloroquine and Progauonil have been used for decades by the British with no documented birth defects. First trimester is still a concern for any medications. Mefloquine has been given in the second trimester with no adverse effects. Breastfeeding mothers should take anti-malarials. Doxycyline should not be used in pregnancy except in a mother with acute malaria. Graying of teeth of the baby is the only known problem. Apparently graying of the bone also takes place but causes no proneness to fracture.

2. Be fiscally prudent by purchasing international health and travel insurance. Get a list of approved participating local doctors and clinics from your insurance company prior to your trip. Ensure that your travel insurance significantly covers medical evacuation should that be needed. Check ahead of time where you will be evacuated to, and research medical conditions in that country.

Prenatal Depression - Beating the Baby Blues Before Birth

Postnatal depression is relatively common, when a new mother finds herself miserable and unhappy following the birth of her baby, often due to raging hormones. Usually the depression lifts within a few days, weeks or months, although in some cases professional help is needed.

"The more we discuss it the more it encourages others to seek help. Depression is still taboo, not really accepted, but there isn't a need for the guilt, the isolation. Just tell someone."

Occasionally, however, expectant mothers start to feel depressed before the baby is born, a feeling made much worse as pregnancy is a time in a woman's life when the whole world expects her to feel happy, cheerful and excited. While it may sound bizarre, depression during pregnancy is much more common than you might think, affecting an estimated 10 - 20 percent of all future moms.

Why We Get Prenatal Depression

Many women experience the usual mood swings during pregnancy, often brought on by hormones. Problems with partners, which often are combined with worries about money, can exacerbate the situation. However, there are some factors which may make you more prone to prenatal depression than other people. They include:

* Problems with the pregnancy. In an ideal world, we get pregnant easily, soar through a fantastic pregnancy and deliver the perfect child in two pushes. Sadly, that's often not the case. If you suffer from nasty morning sickness or something more serious, such as potential problems with your unborn baby, you can easily begin to feel unwell, unhappy and frightened.

* General stress. Many of us have stressful lives, which normally we cope with fairly well. But when we have the added burden of pregnancy - and the thought that soon we'll have responsibility for someone else's life as well, then things can build up fast.

* Problems with your partner. Any type of difficulty with your partner, be it husband, boyfriend or girlfriend, can make you experience anxiety over becoming a parent, whether it's the first time or the fifth.

* Past history of abuse. Women with a history of abuse, sexually or otherwise, may have mixed feelings about their pregnancy. They may, subconsciously or consciously, not want to bring a baby into such as cruel world. Also, the feelings that your body is "out of control" may being back feelings you had in the past of feeling utterly helpless.

* History of problems getting pregnant. If you had IVF or just had difficulties conceiving, you may feel undue pressure on you to feel completely overjoyed now that you're finally pregnant. Sometimes that pressure becomes too much and backfires, making you feel miserable.

* Feelings of lack of control. Women who regulate their lives with military-like precision sometimes feel that pregnancy is something they cannot control, and therefore something to be feared.

* History of depression. If you or a close family member suffers from depression or has in the past, you have a greater chance of being depressed during your pregnancy.

Symptoms of Prenatal Depression

Many of the symptoms women who have the baby blues - before their child is born - experience are similar to those who experience depression in general. Keep in mind, however, that everyone feels depressed from time to time, and having some depressed times during your pregnancy does not mean you are suffering from prenatal depression. Saying that, some symptoms include:

* Crying

* Undue anxiety

* Sleep problems which are not due to frequent urination

* Unending or deep feelings of fatigue

* Appetite disturbance

* Loss of enjoyment of regular activities which you previously enjoyed

* Poor fetal attachment

What to Do About It

If you feel that you or someone you know may be suffering from prenatal depression, the best thing to do is to talk about it. Sharing your feelings and realizing that you are not the only person in the universe not to feel 100 percent elated about being pregnant is the first step. You may be surprised about how common your feelings are, and sometimes sharing your fears is all you need.

Other ways to combat depression involve taking good care of yourself. That will mean eating right, sleeping right, doing gentle exercise regularly and allowing yourself time to get pampered and focus solely on you. Some women also like to try acupuncture or other alternative therapies that are safe for pregnant women.

In some cases, you may need to get help from a trained medical professional. Cognitive behavioral therapy often works well, as does group therapy. Some women benefit from sessions where they learn to meditate and relax. For others, medication is required.

Case Study

"Jenny Knight" (not her real name) tried to get pregnant for years due to severe endometriosis, and when she did, she felt elated. But that elation quickly gave way to depression. "Everything would upset me. I didn't feel so much depressed as much as very moody. It didn't make sense as I was enjoying my work again and life was moving on, so I didn't know why I was feeling so low," she says.

Very quickly, Jenny's feelings of moodiness began to get replaced by intense feelings of fear. She began to worry that she would miscarry and lose the baby, and became obsessed with a nagging feeling of potential loss. That feeling was exacerbated when her army husband, George, went on a tour of duty abroad for six months.

"I started having the feeling that now that I had been given the baby inside me, that something bad would happen to him instead," she says. "It just didn't make sense. Here I was with the thing that I wanted most in the world after all these infertility treatments, and I was feeling anxious, very scared, and I could see that a lot of how I felt was irrational, it certainly wasn't normal."

Jenny wanted to tell her husband how she felt, but that fact he was far away made it difficult. She also felt he would find her attitude "disloyal". So she finally broke down and told her doctor the truth. "I couldn't cope with the lies anymore, I didn't like lying to both sets of families, my husband and friends. I just felt it was all a farce, and that really broke me rather than the final thought of the baby."

When her son Gerry was born, he didn't initially cry and Jenny was positive he had died. But once she realized he was okay things slowly began to get better. She saw a counselor for ten weeks and slowly began to bond with her baby. "Eventually I found a book bout prenatal depression written with case histories. It made me realize I wasn't the only one in the world, and that I wasn't on my own," she says.

"The more we discuss it the more it encourages others to seek help. Depression is still taboo, not really accepted, but there isn't a need for the guilt, the isolation. Just tell someone."

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care an appropriate health care provider.

3 Signs of Stress

There are few signs of stress that we can detect early. Today, I would like to talk about three signs of stress.

First signs of stress - you easily get angry

When you easily get angry (when most of the time you don't), that is one of the early signs you are stressed. Most of the time, you will be angry about things that are so trivial and should not think about at all. You get mad when things go wrong. You get mad when someone accidentally collides with you, softly.

Second signs of stress - you unable to focus on your work

When you should be doing your work, you are thinking of something else. Like what makes you angry, sad or any negative feelings. This is often caused by inability for you to focus on the present and that means your productivity will also be lower.

Third signs of stress - you will focus your energy on your problem more

When you are stressed, most of your energy will be used to think about your problem. Why is that? Because it is our natural tendency to do so. When you focus on your problem, you can only do one thing: aggravating your stress. I believe that you should not focus on your problem more when there's a lot of things you can focus on and one of it is your goal.

So that's three signs of stress you can easily detect. I hope you will do something when you see yourself getting into the state of stress and bye for now.

8 Strategies Every PT Should Use to Protect Practice Revenue

Focus on a Complete Solution, not Just Software

Typically, PTs begin a technology initiative by calling a list of selected vendors. Usually, their first question is, "Do you offer scheduling or documentation?" This leads to a discussion about the features and before you know it, the process becomes a scavenger hunt. To find a comprehensive solution, ask questions like, "How can you help me manage my practice?" or "What can you do to help me reduce my claim denials?" Asking these types of questions will focus the search on real practice solutions.

Identify and Leverage Growth Opportunities

Physician referrals are one of the keys to success in private practice. Here are a few steps to help make you a more attractive option to referring physicians:

• Market your niche - When marketing yourself to physicians, hone in on your area of expertise, such as sports medicine or knee rehabilitation.

• Communicate with referring physicians - Keep the lines of communication open by leveraging electronic communication. This demonstrates your responsiveness and professionalism to the physician.

• Get online - Many patients research their therapy options online on evenings and weekends. Having a website for your practice and even a patient portal gives you an edge over the competition.

Reduce Appointment No-shows and Cancellations

The ultimate solution to the no-shows problem requires a practice-wide commitment. In today's busy world, people need constant reminders. Everyone organizes their personal calendar in their own way. Some prefer a reminder letter while others respond best to phone messages and many prefer electronic reminders via text or email. A multi-channel reminder program can work wonders in lowering your no-show rate.

Deliver all Authorized Care

When a patient receives an authorization for a set number of visits and you fail to complete those visits, the patient loses out on care and you lose out on revenue. Having a comprehensive patient compliance program in place is essential to your success. A crucial component of that program is the multi-channel reminder program discussed above.

Once you have the patient there, it's important to make sure you get paid for the care you deliver. The most efficient way of keeping track of authorized visits is to use a system that can automatically track the number of remaining authorized visits and deducts each visit against the correct authorization.

Incorporate Technology at the Point of Care

In recent years, electronic medical record (EMR) systems have been proven to help physical therapy providers enhance care, rather than hinder the interaction with the patient. For example, automated documentation prompts users for measures during an evaluation so they can focus more on the patient without having to remember the next steps in the documentation process.

Having a physical therapy EMR that prompts users for specific measures at the point of care can actually help providers work faster, raise the quality of care, collect more revenue and eliminate the human errors that can easily occur during documentation.

Avoid the Payer Reimbursement Downward Trend

Politics, budget shortfalls and skyrocketing healthcare costs are all driving public and private payers to take an aim at providers. In addition to focusing your management attention and resources on ways to increase payer reimbursement, here are a couple of ways you can make improvements in your practice:

• Make co-pay collection automatic - Incorporate a system that automatically reminds front desk staff to collect patient co-pays so they don't fall through the cracks.

• Speed up Physical Therapy Documentation - Use an EMR system for documentation to help dramatically speed up the documentation process, improve accuracy, decrease the time it takes to submit claims and receive payer reimbursement.

Understand the Difference Between Billing and Revenue

Many physical therapists tend to look at billing as the "moneymaker" of the practice and build their office technology around whatever comes with the system. However, even the best billing system can only submit the claims for the work you've done. The real revenue comes from building a solid referral network, retaining patients, reducing appointment no-shows, accurately capturing and coding every treatment you provide and increasing staff productivity. All this can be accomplished with a physical therapy management solution in place.

Don't let Paper and Cumbersome Process Take over Your Practice

Many private practice owners don't realize the cost involved with paper processes. Consider all the costs associated with paper documentation - the time it takes to manually document, the human errors that result in claim denials, filing time, the floor space needed to store files and the cost of paper and files. It all adds up to a fortune! This can all be prevented with electronic documentation.

To thrive in today's challenging environment, physical therapy providers need to respond to both what payers are doing, and what they can do to drive efficiency in their practice. The challenge is you don't have many chances to get it right. Today, many practices and hospitals rely on innovative technology. There are many resources available in the market. However, going with a physical therapy EMR will be the best option for an all-encompassing practice management solution.

Individual Health Insurance TX - Find The Best Health Plan In Texas

Finding a individual health insurance plan in TX is not that difficult. There are many companies that focus on selling health insurance plans to Texans. This article will describe some of your options and what you should look for when buying or getting a quote for an insurance policy in TX.

There are different types of health plans offered in Texas. You can buy a membership into a PPO (preferred provider organization) or HMO (health maintenance organization) plan from most major insurance carriers. Some major carriers in TX are Celtic, Blue Cross Blue Shield, AETNA, UNI CARE, and United Healthcare.

When deciding between a PPO and a HMO you need to look at which plan will provide the most bang for the buck. For example, do you want to specify which doctor to see? If so then you might want to consider a PPO. Most HMO's have one office in your area where you will have to use their doctors. PPO's usually have many doctors to select from, although your normal doctor might not be on their list.

When selecting a heath plan make sure you know how much the deductible will be for each member on the plan and the total out of pocket expense you will have to pay. Also make sure you know how much the coinsurance is for routine visits and other doctor related procedures. Also, make sure if you need maternity coverage that the plan will pay for it as well. Some plans do not include maternity.

Finding the right plan for you takes research. Take your time and make sure you check several quote services for the lowest plan that meets your coverage needs.

Essential Items to Help You Stay Comfortable While Pregnant

As your unborn baby develops and your body begins to grow, remaining comfortable on a day to day basis can become quite a challenge. There are certain essential items and items of clothing that can help you stay comfortable during your pregnancy. I have a few recommendations based on my own experiences that expectant mothers should find helpful.

Comfortable maternity clothes that fit loosely and do not restrict movement or mobility are a must. Skirts and dresses that do not bind are somewhat easy to find in maternity shops and at most major chain and department stores. You do not need to go crazy and buy a closet full of new outfits, but having a few loose fitting, dependable maternity outfits to wear when you are craving comfort is a plus. Some women use maternity belts for support while pregnant, but I prefer maternity tights. Maternity tights provide support, look somewhat fashionable if that is important to you, and can keep you warmer during the Fall and Winter months.

Comfortable shoes are at the top of my list for must have items as well. Forget heels or any shoes that are not flat and cushiony. Getting around is difficult enough and ill fitting or high heeled shoes can lead to major discomfort and even dangerous consequences such as falling down while pregnant.

Your breasts are likely to increase by one cup size or more so be prepared to go bra shopping once or twice while pregnant. Finding a good bra that fits well and is comfortable can be tough, but the staff in maternity stores or bra shops can be helpful.

Heartburn and acne are somewhat common during pregnancy and both can cause you some discomfort. Heartburn is easily remedied with Rolaids and the like, but speak with your doctor before taking anything while pregnant. The acne is often the result of hormonal changes, not dirt, so don't overdo it with the acne treatments and talk to your doctor before using any acne remedy, even the over the counter or all natural ones.

My final recommendation for staying comfortable while pregnant is more pillows. Getting a good night's sleep is next to impossible if you can't get comfortable. With a growing baby and expanding belly, sleeping poorly is not uncommon. The large body pillows are great for snuggling up to or even just having an extra pillow or two can make a huge difference.

When you're pregnant, staying comfortable is important, but it becomes more difficult as your delivery date approaches. With just a few simple, moderately priced items available just about anywhere, you can make your pregnancy a lot more comfortable.

Added Support - The Best Pregnancy Pillow

When you're pregnant, you may find that it's hard to find a comfortable sleeping position. No matter if you're sleeping on your left or right side, your huge belly makes sleeping almost impossible. If you are at this stage in pregnancy, consider investing in a pregnancy pillow.

Pregnancy pillows are typically not too expensive. Depending on where you go to shop and the type of pillow that you buy, they can range from $40 to $200. While you can struggle to use regular pillows to help you find a comfortable position to sleep in, pregnancy pillows are designed for your unique shape. They offer support for your growing belly, and they help you side-sleep once you are too huge to sleep on your back.

But with all the pillows on the market, what is the best? If you are looking for the best pillow for pregnant women, check out the SnoozerPedic MD DreamWeaver Memory Foam pregnancy pillow.

This special pillow is made with temperature sensitive memory foam, which means that it responds to slight changes in your body temperature. So it becomes soft when you need it to be soft, and it stays firm when you need it to be firm. Memory foam actually conforms to your body, so you will get the support that you'll need with this unique pregnancy pillow.

The SnoozerPedic MD DreamWeaver pillow also has a candy-cane shape, designed to work with the natural curves of your pregnant body. The curved shape of the pillow's neck can easily cradle your head, neck, or shoulders, while the middle part of the pillow offers you back support and the bottom area of this pillow offers you a comfortable place to rest your legs. Because of the unique shape of this pregnancy pillow, you can also use it after pregnancy as a nursing pillow.

What makes the SnoozerPedic MD DreamWeaver the best pregnancy pillow is that it promotes the semi-fetal sleeping position, which is the recommended position for pregnant women to use. The semi-fetal position relieves pressure on the inferior vena cava (a major blood vessel in your body, which transports blood from your legs to your heart). When the inferior vena cava is compressed, it can cause leg cramps and dizziness. So sleeping in the semi-fetal position can actually prevent these annoying pregnancy symptoms.

Remember that memory foam is not for everyone. If this is the case, you may prefer to buy another type of maternity pillow.?

Alabama Leave Differences From FMLA

All Alabama leave laws cover only public sector employees - private sector employees are covered under the FMLA and gain no additional benefits from the state of Alabama. Qualified public sector employees include both "classified service" and "unclassified service" state employees, with a number of exclusions:

• Officers elected by a vote of the people


• Officers and employees of the Legislature


• Officers, attendants and employees of the circuit courts, clerks of county jury boards, and deputy circuit solicitors


• Members of boards and commissions, whether appointed or self-perpetuating


• Heads of departments required by law to be appointed by the Governor or by boards or commissions with the Governor's approval


• All officers and employees of the state's institutions of higher learning, teacher training institutions and normal schools


• All officers and employees of all educational, eleemosynary and correctional institutions which are governed by boards of trusties


• Secondary agricultural schools and vocational school


• All inmate help in all charitable, penal and correctional institutions


• All commissioned and warrant officers and enlisted men of the National Guard and Naval Militia of the state, in their respective military and naval grades


• The Governor's private secretary, and those employees of the Governor's office paid exclusively out of the Governor's emergency or contingent funds


• The employees of the State Docks Department engaged in railroad service and subject to the provisions of an Act of Congress known as the Railway Labor Act.

Compared to the FMLA, Alabama allows more flexibility when using sick leave. Employees eligible for sick leave may earn four hours of leave for every two weeks of service, up to 150 days. Employees may use sick leave upon the death of, or to care for, an ill member of his/her immediate family. An employee may also take sick leave if the person is not an immediate family member but the employee has "unusually strong personal ties with that person". If approved, permanent employees may also receive advanced sick leave if the employee is out of sick leave and the need for it arises. All of these benefits have no counterparts in the FMLA and are exclusive to Alabama leave law.

Alabama leave laws state that all pregnant female employees must work until they are disabled as a result of the pregnancy and must return to work as soon as they are no longer disabled. The FMLA grants additional benefits, allowing its 12 workweeks of unpaid leave to be used "for the birth and care of a newborn child".

Alabama offers its qualifying employees bereavement leave (up to three days per occurrence if all accrued sick leave is exhausted), donated leave (employees can donate leave to other employees equal or lower in pay grade who require catastrophic sick leave or maternity leave), leave without pay (for up to one year, with the option of being called back if the employee's attendance "is necessary to the efficient conduct of the business of the state"), mandatory annual leave / leave without pay (employees may be required to use accrued leave if they cannot work for a number of reasons), and education leave (permanent employees may receive full or partial pay if their coursework is directly related to the improvement of the employee's "performance of their current job"). All of these types of leave are exclusive to Alabama and have no counterparts in the FMLA.

Alabama also grants 21 days of paid leave to active service members on all days they participate in military training, pertaining to the Alabama National Guard, Alabama Naval Militia, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve and the Coast Guard Reserve. This leave is also exclusive to Alabama - the FMLA only grants leave to employees with direct family in the military who have sustained a serious injury or illness.

DHA Prenatal - Information on the Safest and Best Supplement

DHA prenatal supplements have been proven to be of paramount importance for women during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that DHA is very important for the early development and growth of the fetus. It is also important for the mother, and deficiencies can be damaging.

About 30% of the brain is composed of DHA. This is why the proper formation of the brain during fetal development is due to using a DHA prenatal supplement. But DHA is also found in the foundational material of the eyes, so it is important for that too. As well as many other areas of the body.

Prenatal DHA supplements can also guard against possible pregnancy problems. This includes preventing miscarriage, stillborn and preterm.

A baby draws on its mother's supply of DHA and therefore her DHA levels lower dramatically. If she fails to supply both herself and her child with DHA then it is a very likely that she will have post natal depression.

But it's not just about preventing drawbacks, prenatal DHA supplements bring many benefits too. Your child may have better hand-eye coordination and is more likely to have an IQ of 115 or over if you use a fish oil dietary supplement.

However, not all fish based oils will bring you these benefits. Some are sub-standard and won't be effective as others. They might also not be as safe.

Eating too much fish during pregnancy may result in mercury poisoning. To avoid this condition but to still supply you and your child with DHA, you can take a molecularly distilled supplement.

This process purifies and concentrates the fish oil before it is encapsulated. This makes it safe to consume by removing all kinds of harmful chemicals.

These include mercury, lead, PCBs and arsenic.

That's why the best and safest DHA prenatal supplement is one which has undergone molecular distillation. It will bring you the most benefits to your health.

Other things you need to know are the correct ratio of fatty acids and also the freshness of the fish oil. These will also contribute to a better supplement.

Umbrella Companies: A Tax Guide

Every penny counts in this day and age, and getting the most out of your earnings as a contractor is now more important than ever. Joining an umbrella rather than an agency payroll can offer a number of benefits and help you save money in the long run.

Tax efficiency.

Administrative assistance in dealing with taxation issues can save a lot worry for the contractor. An Umbrella Company can give you the assistance you need, leaving you free to pursue your professional talents, and help to avoid some late nights too.

Joining an umbrella payroll can also help you make the most out of reclaiming on-the-job expenses which may be difficult or even impossible if you are engaged as an agency employee instead.

As contractor accountants Umbrella Companies can make sure that you are meeting all the right tax obligations and will arrange for tax contributions to be taken out of your pay and handed straight over to HMRC.

Moving on to an umbrella payroll can give you the benefits of acting as part of a limited company without the responsibilities, administration costs or extra hassle. As specialist contractor accountants Umbrella companies can also help you to deal with smoothing out any problems with IR35 legislation.

If you choose to operate under an umbrella you will still need to pay income tax, Employee and Employers National Insurance contributions, under the PAYE system. However your Umbrella Company should be able to help you get tax relief on some of your expenses and legally save money on your taxes in the long run.

There are other benefits of working for an Umbrella Company too, such as holiday, maternity, paternity and sick pay based on your rate of earning, helping you to deal with both the planned and the unexpected. However, you will not always qualify for these payments, so you should check with the company of your choice.

To join an Umbrella Company you will usually have to pay a small regular fee through periods of work. Costs will very from company to company.

Working as a contractor can be very rewarding, giving you more autonomy to choose when you work and who you work for, as well as offering more flexible working hours. An Umbrella Company can give you the assistance and support that you need to help you through some of the more difficult issues of self-employment and allow you to focus on what you do best as a contractor.

8 Options For Tubal Reversal Funding

Why would a woman and her partner be looking for tubal reversal funding? Most women who have a tubal ligation performed consider it to be a final form of sterilization. They don't plan to ever have any additional children, so they have their tubes tied in an effort to prevent that from happening.

However, some women later regret the decision because their life circumstances change or they simply change their mind. In these cases, these women might decide to have a reversal surgery done. As with any medical procedure that isn't covered under insurance, a woman must budget to have this procedure completed. This is where the question of tubal reversal funding comes into play.

There are only a few doctors throughout the United States who do tubal reversal surgeries on anything like a consistent schedule meaning every week. These reversals are typically a lot more affordable than having in vitro fertilization done, for instance.

With in vitro, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10,000-$12,000 per cycle. That's the average and many times a cycle can cost lots more. In other words, if the woman doesn't get pregnant during the initial cycle of in vitro fertilization, then she would have to pay for additional cycles. Plus, she could only be successful in the months that she has IVF done.

On the other hand, the surgery to untie her tubes would give a woman the ability to get pregnant in any month that she decides to try. This is a permanent reversal, so there would be no need for extra hormone injections or paying additional funds to continue trying to conceive every time you want to try. And on average you will try and try again.

Most insurance providers do not cover tubal reversal surgery because it is an elective procedure. However, a very few will cover it or parts of it (this is option #1).

Therefore, it's important to first check with your insurance provider to see if you have any out of network coverage. Some insurance companies may pay a portion of the surgery or some of the necessary preparations while others will not pay one penny of it. Because it is not considered to be a necessity, many insurance providers will simply decline the claim. Know which before your surgery.

Tubal reversal funding is really a personal choice. While you can expect to pay less than $7000 for the procedure with the top notch surgeon in the country, that is still a substantial amount of money for many people.

One thing you can do is to speak with your surgeon's office to find out what options are available through them when it comes to financing the procedure. Many times, they will have payment plans available (option #2).

Also there are the tried and true methods of just opening a savings account to save for your operation (option #3), putting the surgery on a credit card (option #4), using your income tax refund if large enough (option #5), or taking out some type of loan for the surgery (option #6). One other form of tubal reversal funding is a specific medical loan which some companies provide (option #7 as it varies from commonly thought of loans and most people don't even know medical loans exist).

One more option for financing your operation is finding and applying for a grant (option #8). Most of the organizations providing such grants are faith based which means you will most likely need to adhere to some specific guidelines.

So while insurance probably won't cover your surgery leaving you to come up with some other form of tubal reversal funding, there are several options available. The 8 options above range from the immediate of the credit card to the midterm of getting a loan, medical or otherwise, to the long term of saving for the surgery. Which you choose is up to you and your situation.

Psychosis - 5 Triggers That Can Cause a Psychotic Disorder and How to Prevent Them

People, who are in danger to develop a psychotic disorder or what is also called Psychosis, should avoid from getting close to danger situations that can cause it. Here are 5 situations that can cause a Psychosis Disorder:

1) War

This is the No. 1 stress maker. If you are in a war zone, try to get out of it as fast as you can or to go to a calmer area. A war and its sites can cause psychosis to people who are mentally sensitive, or went through psychosis in their past.

2) Rape

One of the most significant situations that can cause people a psychotic disorder is obtaining sexual relationships without approval of both sides. There many cases of psychosis that are being reported after such relationships.

3) Stress

A large quantity of stress in a given time period, can cause people a psychotic disorder. It is then be wise to try to be calm as much as you can.

4) Divorce or separations

A very stressful situation can be a divorce or a separation from your loved one. It can also trigger a psychotic disorder in some of the cases.

5) Death

A death of a loved one or even "just" a friend or someone you care for, can obviously cause a psychotic disorder if you are in a risk group.

In order to prevent those triggers from causing a psychotic disorder, one should turn to receive a treatment as early and close as possible to the incidents described previously. If someone shows signs of any delusions or paranoia, he should turn to get treatment without any further delay.

Tips to Minimize the Chances of Hair Loss Happening to You

Hair loss, or going bald, is one of the greatest fears of both men and women alike. It's no wonder then that the hair loss treatment industry is flourishing. The most often asked question is - Is it possible to prevent hair loss from happening?

Before answering that question, lets take a look at the possible causes of hair loss. They include:

(a) Genetic (it runs in the family);

(b) Hormonal changes (such as after delivering a baby. The medical term is postpartum hair loss);

(c) Medication for ailments not related to hair loss;

(d) Poor diet (consuming nutritionally deficient food)

(e) Stress (in this globalised dog-eat-dog environment, most people's stress level is at an all-time high)

(f) Health problems (such as a malfunctioning thyroid, high fever, general anesthesia, etc)

Tips to minimise the chances of suffering hair loss:

(a) Eating a balanced and healthy diet, and stay away from junk food as much as possible. Eating healthy is not only good for your hair but also for other bodily functions.

(b) Treat your hair with respect, and wash it as often as necessary. Some people wash their hair only once every few days because they have heard that washing it daily can cause hair loss. Well, feedbacks from doctors and hair specialists made it clear that it is only a myth - meaning a daily wash will not cause hair loss. Some doctors recommend using baby shampoo, and make sure to lather it gently.

(c) Don't ever rub your hair vigorously with a towel when it is wet. The recommended advice from hair experts is to let your wet hair to "air dry" - so try to put that favourite hair dryer of yours away as much as possible. What if circumstances do not permit and a hair dryer is deemed necessary? Well, in that case, use the dryer on a low heat setting.

(d) When it comes to styling your hair, do it when it is damp or dry. Don't style your hair when its wet because the hair may stretched and eventually break.

(e) If you have itchy hands which loves to tease your hair, make a conscious effort to stop this habit. Teasing your hair can damage it.

(f) If you are very much into using chemicals for things such as straightening or coloring, the advice is try not to use them as often as you possibly can. If you do use them, apply them with care and always follow the instructions on the product label to the T.

5 Effective Steps to Prevent Back Pain During Pregnancy

A very common complain in women is back pain during pregnancy. If you have history of back pain, then the risk elevates. But still there are many ways to prevent it.

1. Take Care Of Yourself

• While sleeping use pillows for support between your legs.


• When getting out of bed, roll onto one side, push yourself up to a sitting position and then slowly stand up.


• Avoid carrying heavy things and babies.


• Get help with housework for a few months.


• Adjust the position of your computer screen and mouse if necessary.


• Make yourself comfortable while driving by adjusting seat and the rear view mirror.

2. Exercise

Pelvic floor exercises, lower abdominal exercises and stretching can help to reduce the back pain during pregnancy. These will also lead to easier labor, delivery and recovery after childbirth. Walking, cycling and swimming are also safe during pregnancy.

But if you find any discomfort or abnormal changes during exercises, stop immediately and consult your doctor.

3. Eat Healthy

• It will keep you from gaining extra weight and hence help your back.


• It wards off general illness and actually helps in back pain during pregnancy.


• Drink plenty of water to keep your kidneys in good health.

4. Follow Recommended Postures

Lifting

While lifting anything, hold it close to your body; bend your knees rather than back and try not to twist.

Walking

Pelvis position is important. While sitting, standing or walking consider your pelvis as a bowl full of liquid and take care to hold the liquid within the bowl.

Standing

If you have to stand for a long time keep shifting your weight from one foot to the other.

Sitting

Don't sit in low, deep chairs; choose an upright and firm chair to sit. Place your feet on the ground or on a foot stool. Never sit with your legs crossed at the knees.

Sleeping

Sleep on your side, not your back, keeping knees bent. Place a pillow between your knees and under your abdomen.

5. Do Special Shopping

Shoes

These should be comfortable and flat, with adequate straps to prevent your feet from slipping about and twisting.

Maternity Bra

Get some well-fitting supportive maternity bra with wide straps and adequately sized cups, to avoid extra strain on your shoulders and rib cage.

Support Belt

A support belt or a maternity pant with a low, supportive waistband will take some weight off your tummy muscles and back.

Pillows

Support your back on chairs, car seat and bed.

These minor ways of care can greatly help you to prevent back pain during pregnancy.

Tips For Safe and Comfortable Car Travel While Pregnant

Pregnant women should avoid car travel as much as possible. However, this is not always possible to stay without travel for nine months because there are emergencies and other reasons that would necessitate car travel.

If you do not take precautions, car travel while pregnant could be unhealthy and uncomfortable, but there are several tips that will make it both healthy and comfortable. You should take snacks with you. This will help ensure that you are well nourished and it will help prevent having to buy food on the way. Such food may not be nutritious or safe enough. Having a nutritious diet while traveling will help with problems such as morning sickness, problems related to blood sugar, and feeling faint.

You should take as many stretch breaks as you can - the recommended interval is one hour. You should therefore consider this when planning your journey. Taking stretch breaks will help you prevent soreness, blood clots, and stiffness.

You should always be prepared for the birth, especially if you are more than seven months pregnant. You should not wait until you are nine months pregnant because the baby can come earlier. Always carry your prenatal records and your insurance card.

You should drink plenty of fluids while travelling since travelling causes dehydration. You should note that being thirsty is not the only sign that your body needs to be hydrated and so you should drink water or other fluids regularly.

Make sure you dress appropriately because you will not always have control of the temperature in the car. You should wear many layers since you will be warm when you need to be and you can remove some to be cool if you need to be. Many women think that seatbelts put too much pressure on the stomach.

While there is some pressure on the stomach, studies have shown that failing to put a seatbelt on is more dangerous. On top of this, the law does not exempt you from wearing a seatbelt just because you are pregnant.

There are no laws or reasons that prevent you from driving while pregnant. You should consider the size of your bump since it might be uncomfortably close to the steering. However, it is always better to have someone with you, especially in the latter stages of pregnancy. When driving alone, make sure you have a mobile phone.

Many pregnant women are of the opinion that airbags are unsafe for the baby. The truth is that failing to have airbags is more dangerous. However, you should move the seat back from the dash or the steering wheel. If your car has an adjustable steering wheel, tilt it in such a way that it is away from your stomach. You should put a pillow in the small of the back if you are having backaches, you should push the seat backward to have space to move your feet, and you should consider having crystallized ginger that you can suck on if you are suffering from morning sickness.

If you are having a difficult pregnancy, seek advice from your doctor on how to travel in a car.

The Do's and Dont's of Pregnancy

With so many people giving their opinion on what to do and what not to do during pregnancy, it becomes hard to determine what is fact and what is fiction. Below is a list of some of the more important factors to consider in regards to pregnancy do's and dont's.

Food during pregnancy

Certain foods need to be avoided during pregnancy. Listeria, which is caused by uncooked meats, some seafood, unpasterized milk and soft cheeses, can cause birth defects, miscarriages and stillbirth.

Cat litter

Toxoplasmosis, is a disease which is contracted by contact with cat feces. It is spread by a parasite which can lead to miscarriages, stillbirth and birth defects.

Smoking

Smoking during pregnancy is definitely a no no. It has been linked to a low birth weight, miscarriage and premature birth in many different studies. Second hand smoke poses the same dangers during pregnancy, and should be avoided at all costs.

Caffeine

Some studies on caffeine during pregnancy have led to the conclusion that the two do not mix well together, as caffeine may increase the possibility of miscarriage and low birth weight. On the other hand, other studies have shown no link between the two. Obviously an excessive amount of caffeine is a bad idea regardless of pregnancy. An excessive amount of caffeine is generally regarded as over 300 milligrams per day. If you stay well clear of this figure, caffeine during pregnancy is less likely to cause problems.

Safety around the house

There are many hazards around the house for pregnant women, but almost all can be easily avoided. If you still insist on doing all the house work yourself, try to stay clear of aerosol cans, industrial strength cleaners and fumes from paint, solvents and strippers. All of the above have been linked to birth defects and other pregnancy complications. It also pays to take it a little easier around certain parts of the house such as stair cases.

Body temperature

Keeping a moderate body temperature during pregnancy (especially during first trimester) is important as it may lead to birth defects. It is a good idea to keep an eye on your temperature during exercise and keep your fluids up. Things such as saunas and hot baths are not recommended during pregnancy.

Alcohol and drugs

To be safe with alcohol during pregnancy it is probably best to avoid it altogether, as there is no safe level of consumption. It can have detrimental affects on an unborn child. In comparison to a fully grown woman, a baby is very small, so you could imagine the potential damage to the baby if the mother was drunk or even tipsy. Drugs during pregnancy have been shown to have a negative effect. Drugs such as cocaine have been shown to hinder the development of a baby's vital oxygen and nourishment, leading to complications such as birth defects and even an addiction in the child itself.

Exercise

Exercise during pregnancy is recommended for most women, but only at a moderate pace. Women who participated in high impact exercise, weight lifting, contact sports, high altitude training or scuba diving before pregnancy, will have to readjust their routines. Walking is highly recommended for at least the first two trimesters, as it can help your body withstand the rigors of labor and delivery more easily.

The do's and don'ts of pregnancy are different for each woman and each pregnancy. The above information is not a medical opinion and should not substitute a professional medical opinion. Always consult your doctor or care provider before making any major decisions before, during and even after pregnancy.

Foods With Folic Acid Help With a Happy Pregnancy and Child Birth

Folate is an important nutrition all of us should have. It is a water soluble vitamin b complex family. It can be taken only from external sources and our body cannot synthesise on its own. It has many health benefits but its importance in pregnancy should be known to all child bearing women. They should know foods with folic acid for a happy pregnancy and child birth.

Folic acid acid is important for cell maintenance and formation. It is very vital whenever there is rapid pace of cell division to ensure formation and maintenance. The fetus in the mother undergoes this transformation and thus during pregnancy this nutrition should be adequately available to her. Not only during pregnancy but also during periphery pregnancy period the woman should take proper dosage of this nutrition. This is because during the first 28 days of conception of the fetus the foundation for spine and the brain is laid. Folate is required else neural defective baby may be the result. This is a disaster.

All men and women should have minimum 400 to 500 mcg of this nutrition. In the case of pregnant woman she should have 600 mcg per day.

What are the foods with folic acid? All citrus fruits have sufficient folate. You can eat orange, pineapple, strawberry etc. In the case of green and leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach and green turnip sufficient folate is available. Pig liver has a rich source of folate. These are natural foods. When we eat them our body will synthesise folate into folic acid. You can also consume many foods fortified with folic acid like bread and breakfast cereals.

Apart from the above benefits folate deficiency leads to anemia. This nutrition is required for production of red blood cells. Sometimes deficiency leads to heart palpitation, diarrhea, frequent tiredness etc.

While it is better to take only natural foods as mentioned above many times it is advised to take natural nutrition supplement during pregnancy. The challenge is to find the best quality supplement. I know for sure a fantastic natural supplement that has folic acid and all other nutrition. This provides not only synergy but also a holistic nutrition offer. Visit my website to know more about foods with folic acid.

Low Thyroid Level Symptoms, The TSH Test And What It Actually Tells You

Studying Low Thyroid Level Symptoms?

Discuss with several people who are studying much about their low thyroid level symptoms. They look at the symptoms as a mixture of illnesses and afterward they just assume that "they have it," whether they have been examined or not. Please reserve that the symptoms billed at this point are no more than to pique interest. They actually indicate nothing until they go through the aptitude of a qualified medical doctor. So here are some of the greatest common low thyroid level symptoms:

1. Chilly hands and feet when they should not be especially in the Summertime You have freezing feet & socks just to sleep at night.

2. Drained invariably even after a full nights sleep.

3. Not able to drop Body Fat, even after harsh exercise & calorie counting in two to three weeks. It is cheaper for someone to map your Calorie intake and watch your weight fluctuation.

4. Constipation, plus substitute of numerous seeds and fiber to alleviate symptoms.

5. Brain blur, depression, that obstruct you from eating or miniature amounts of slimming exercise. This is constant in low thyroid function patients

6. Ahead of schedule menopause or irregular menstruation. Problems with getting pregnant and loss of libido. Many women have high postpartum depression. I want to advise that multiple factors can attain this. But be sure you have acceptable serum free T3, a convenient 24-hour urine test for T3 and T4. Not just a fair test lab. The urine should be checked by a picture spectrometer.. All alternative tests are exceedingly suspicious..

7. High cholesterol, if the thyroid is low, as measured by logical analysis, for the reason that the liver does not eradicate cholesterol from the blood and then you will be labeled as a heart patient, and prescribed lots of unearned chemicals that robbed you of your dollar and your vigor.

8. Now further symptoms occur, but exceptionally countless & do not suggest strongly enough that poor cellular function is the culprit due to the deprivation of adequate levels of T3 Remember, you want to unveil your level of T3

So How Do We Find The Level Of T3?

This is the fundamental approach to capture low thyroid (T3). Examination of the patient. Wherever else will you discern a low thyroid level? To start with textbooks warned doctors about the history and physical appearance a lot about lab tests. History suggests that is very sensible advice. All laboratory tests and X-ray studies with isotopes were investigated in approved low thyroid patients. Do you suspect what the results were? None. But the best of the worst was the blood TSH. You remember the one who will suggest the level of T4? The inactive thyroid gland.. T4 You know, what drug companies sell to you while uneducated doctors badmouth the natural pork balanced thyroid gland was discovered to be of advanced quality.

Was This Peer Reviewed?

This was published in the New England Journal February issue of 1999, that low thyroid level symptoms should be assessed by examination. In general, this document was on a small assemblage of thirty-eight patients, but a strange conclusion from the addition of T3 has many patients feel healthier.

Additional low thyroid level symptoms are as follows. Eyebrows are diluted or nonexistent at the last 33% of the eyebrow. Overweight (but I have discovered about 15% of hypothyroidism patients are skinny.. Go figure). A diluted pulse of around seventy or lower. Eyes are puffed-up under the covers, there is a puffiness under the eyes.. Skin is powdery & dry, sometimes cracked. Fingernails are broken. The lower limbs have been bloated and do not indent when you push a finger and hold it for 1 minute. Commonly the thyroid gland is enlarged and has a thumbnail, intermediate or large goiter. The first heart signal is not as distinguished as the subsequent, and the person appears in a daze. The ankle reflexes are almost always a regular low or nonexistent even if the knee and elbow reflexes are good.

Some doctors may possibly be able to physically feel the thyroid gland. They can tell you whether it is swollen. The gland will increase in an endeavor to create more TSH more if the body is low thyroid levels. This is not an accurate science. I've looked at & felt thyroid glands for greater than eighteen years and it is still complicated, the right mode to reveal whether the gland is raised, is to have an ultrasound done.

So What About Thyroid Cancer?

Absolutely we're concerned of thyroid cancer. They're rather few and far between though. Besides, there may possibly be nodules on the thyroid gland, that call for a needle biopsy or even surgical requests. This is the realm of a surgeon and an endocrinologist.

Conclusion

Established Medicine due to politics think that blood test technology for the TSH Levels is the most reliable. It would be if the reference points that they use for the TSH Levels were not gathered from pregnant women when they came in to get blood tests. Are the TSH levels the same with pregnant women as they are with everyone? I think not. Plus, the standard TSH Test only measures the T4 and not the T3. This is bad since we need to know both to see if your thyroid is actually converting the T4 to T3.

For some reason this is not standard. It amazes me and sickens me because many people go on everyday being told that their thyroid is fine when they are suffering and causing undue damage to their body.

How to Induce Labor Naturally?

Congratulations! You're going to have a baby! If you are reading this, you are probably reached the advance stages of your pregnancy. By now you might be tired to wait your baby to arrive - especially if your baby has reached - and passed - his estimated delivery date (EDD). You might also feel exhausted due to the day-to-day aches and complaints regarding pregnancy. I am happy to tell you that there is good news! As long as your professional pregnancy care provider agrees, you can induce your labor naturally and help things along without medical labor induction.

Inducing your labor naturally is a great alternative to using other forms of induction. Most of the natural labor induction remedies don't cause side effects to worry about, your baby's health won't be placed in unnecessary jeopardy, and you won't suffer any ill consequences. Some of the best ways to naturally induce labor are also safe and simple. Two common ways that you can induce labor naturally are by walking, and sexual intercourse. Some women may feel more pressure when they walk. This is due to the force of gravity and the baby's head descending into the pelvic region. In fact, when many women are in labor, their midwife or health care provider will have them walk to increase or speed up labor. You can do this on your own, before labor even begins.

Sexual intercourse is also known for inducing labor naturally. When a woman experience orgasms, the body releases hormones involved in childbirth, among other functions. A group of hormones that stimulate labor to start by ripening the cervix is Prostaglandins. These may be in synthetic form through a medical prescription, but you can bypass the medical alternative and access Prostaglandins naturally. Semen contains Prostaglandins and when you partner ejaculates during sexual intercourse, the Prostaglandins in the semen will help soften and ripen the cervix, therefore inducing labor.

When women climax their bodies release the hormone Oxytocin. Oxytocin helps the uterus to contract and will strengthen the intensity of your contractions. Therefore, you can see that sexual intercourse helps stimulate or induce labor from hormones released in both the man and the woman. In fact, the medication known as Pitocin is used to induce labor and strengthen contractions and it is a synthetic form of Oxytocin.

Another method of inducing labor naturally is nipple stimulation. Nipple stimulation also releases Oxytocin. Please remember, however, to apply nipple stimulation according to instructions from your midwife or doctor because vigorous nipple stimulation could cause to very strong labor contractions.

Additionally, there are many herbs that have been used for centuries to help induce labor. Before using any herbs, you should consult with your health care practitioner or midwife. Evening Primrose Oil, Blue and Black Cohosh, False Unicorn Root, and Red Raspberry Leaf are some of the most popular herbs that are used to naturally induce labor. Before using any herbs, be sure to let your health care provider know.

Evening Primrose Oil can be very helpful in ripening the cervix due to the Prostaglandins it contains. Evening Primrose Oil is applied by inserting an oil capsule into the vagina. It is extremely important not to use any herbs for inducing labor naturally during the early part of pregnancy, as these can have serious consequences.

Finally, one of the safest natural labor inducing remedy is acupressure. Acupressure for labor is among the most studies ones and proven to be safe and effective. Because the technique is simple, this labor acupressure could easily be used at home.

New Mothers - Post-Natal Expectations

Although your new baby will undoubtedly provide you with intense and emotional satisfaction, you will probably be physically uncomfortable. After all, your body has gone through significant changes during pregnancy and it will take some time for your body to return to its pre-pregnancy condition. Around six weeks after the birth your medical practitioner should examine you to ensure that everything is okay with your body, this additionally provides you with the opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have and the doctor will also test your blood pressure and take a sample of your urine.

The doctor should examine your abdomen and take your blood pressure also checking that any stitches you may have had are healing correctly. An internal examination to determine the size and position of your uterus may also be conducted and you may also be referred to have cervical smear test if you are due to have one.

When your baby is born in hospital the doctor or midwife will undoubtedly talk to you about contraception before returning home. If you haven't discussed this when at the hospital, you can also discuss it during the six-week check. Don't believe the old wives tale that breastfeeding mothers do not require any contraception - this is not true.

Almost right after birth your breasts start to produce colostrum which is a high protein liquid packed with antibodies. Once your pregnancy hormones begin to decline your main milk supply will come in, normally around the third or fourth day. You will notice at this time your breast beginning to swell, feel hard and possibly painful to the touch. If they are painful bathing them with warm water can help to relieve the pain. Allowing your baby to feed frequently will also help reduce any suffering. If you have elected to bottle feed your baby your breast will remain full for 3 to 5 days following birth until they slowly stop producing milk.

Your breast may never quite be as firm as they were pre-pregnancy and a good support bra and regular exercise will help you get back into shape quickly. Following the delivery of your baby your abdomen will be quite stretched and wrinkled as a consequence of relaxed muscles and stretched skin. Gentle exercising will again help to re-establish the shape of your abdomen and vagina muscles so do remember to try and focus a few minutes every day on exercising.

Almost all mothers undergo vaginal discharge following the birth of their child. This will be akin to a very heavy period which will last couple of days. The discharge will gradually become less until it disappears completely after a couple of weeks. Have a good supply of maternity pants or large sanitary towels available to help contain the discharges.

Optional Benefits to Consider Adding to Your Personal Health Insurance Plan

Choosing a personal health insurance plan can be difficult with all of the different insurance companies and policies that are available. Sorting through the various optional benefits available can make it even more challenging. These optional benefits are sometimes referred to as "riders" and can be added to your basic health insurance policy for an additional premium. Let's look at some of the common options available and some of the advantages and disadvantages:

1. Dental insurance - Most dental insurance riders usually include preventative care for check-ups and cleanings, basic restorative services such as fillings and simple extractions and major services such as crowns and root canals.

Advantages - Preventative care is usually covered immediately and covers most of the cost without a deductible if a network dentist is used.

Disadvantages - Restorative and major services generally have waiting periods of 6-18 months before benefits begin. Most plans do not cover orthodontics.

2. Maternity insurance - Covers routine pregnancy as any other medical expense.

Advantages - Most personal policies provide no coverage for maternity related expenses unless this rider is added. Virginia law does require insurance companies to cover complications of pregnancy even without the rider.

Disadvantages - Most plans have a 9-month waiting period before a pregnancy can begin and the rider can be expensive.

3. Life insurance - Provides each family member with term life insurance coverage should one of the insureds die.

Advantages - Generally does not require a medical exam and small amounts of coverage can be purchased at reasonable rates.

Disadvantages - You generally must maintain the health insurance plan in order to keep the life insurance coverage. Larger amounts of coverage can generally be purchased on a stand-alone policy and can be less expensive if you submit to a medical exam.

4. Supplemental Accident Protection - Provides first dollar coverage without a deductible for accidents and injuries.

Advantages - Covering the small mishaps on a first dollar basis is important for families with children or those involved in sports. Especially helpful if you have a high deductible on your health insurance.

Disadvantages - Could be costly and may not be necessary if you are not accident prone.

5. Preventative care and immunizations - Provides coverage for well baby, well child and adult routine preventative care such as routine physicals, immunizations, vision and hearing screenings.

Advantages - Preventative care can be expensive and this particular rider would encourage routine check-ups which could result in early detection of a serious health issue.

Disadvantages - Many major insurers are beginning to cover preventative care at no additional cost, therefore, the rider may not be necessary.

6. Multi-year rate guarantee - Locks in your rates for one or more years with a guarantee that it will not increase during the guarantee period.

Advantages - Health insurance rates have been increasing dramatically in some instances and this rider would help you budget for a certain premium amount during the guarantee period.

Disadvantages - You pay more for the rate guarantee and it may be for a period of time longer than you may need or want the coverage. Rate increases at the end of the guarantee period may be dramatic.

Utah Maternity Insurance - What Are Some of Your Options?

So, you live in Utah and you're looking to expand your family and you don't have coverage through an employer. You need to know what your options are and how you are going to afford to have this child but also not break the bank paying the premiums. We are going to cover what you can do to make sure that this baby has the best possible insurance for the least amount of dollars. One of the things to remember as we go through your options is that because Intermountain Healthcare facilities only take SelectHealth on an in network basis, if you choose a doctor that only has privileges at a IHC facility, your only real option is SelectHealth insurance unless you choose a different doctor.

The next thing we need to talk about which carriers cover maternity here in Utah and how they cover it. First we'll deal with who doesn't. Currently, HumanaOne does not cover maternity at all. The only real option with them is to use one of their HSA option plans and combine that with a hospital indemnity plan (which we will discuss later). Otherwise, they will not cover anything other than complications with the delivery.

SelectHealth will cover the pregnancy and delivery but only after a separate $6,500 deductible for maternity. But obviously with the amount of doctors in network for them and since their parent company, Intermountain Healthcare (IHC), is the largest health provider in the state, they always have to be looked at. They too will always cover complications as part of their regular health coverage. The one thing to remember with SelectHealth is that they will also only cover maternity in their own Intermountain Healthcare hospitals on an in-network basis. So, they will cover you in network at American Fork Hospital but not at St Marks in Millcreek.

Assurant will have the best coverage as far as deductible is concerned here. They have as low as a $1,000 maternity deductible. That means that after you pay $1,000 towards maternity care, your coverage will then kick in. Now, the only real problem is that your premiums are going to be very high since they know that with that low of a deductible that you are definitely going to use the coverage. Since the birth of a baby can cost anywhere between $6,000 to over $10,000 depending on complications or C-section, you can see that if the premiums weren't more, the insurance companies would go broke trying to cover it all. Same thing goes for Assurant, but opposite of SelectHealth. Their coverage is good at non-Intermountain Healthcare hospitals, like St Marks or Orem Community, but not at the IHC facilities like Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.

Regence BlueCross BlueShield has a $5,000 deductible for maternity coverage and also has a great network of doctors to go to. They also follow the networks of Assurant, so make sure you doctor hospital privileges aren't at a IHC facility.

Altius also offers coverage, but they have the highest deductible at $7,500.

Hospital indemnity plans are also an option. Since your health plan make not kick in until a certain deductible, how can you get covered without breaking the bank. That is where these types of plans come in handy. These plans will help cover the costs you incur while admitted to the hospital for child birth. That way, to help meet your maternity deductible on your health plan, the indemnity plan pays it for you. So, you will still incur the OB/GYN visits during pregnancy, but the real expensive ones on the hospital get covered. So, as an example of how this type of coverage would work, let's use it in conjunction with a SelectHealth plan. You get pregnant and you start your prenatal visits with your OB/Gyn. These visits will come out of your pocket, but will count towards your deductible. The ultrasounds and lab work will also be paid out of pocket and then count towards deductible as well. Then labor strikes and you are admitted to Utah Valley. The indemnity plan then would kick in and cover the charges incurred while you were there, but at the same time, the costs paid by that plan would also go toward your SelectHealth deductible. Once you reached $6,500 in expenses paid, your SelectHealth plan would kick in and cover the rest of the charges. Sounds pretty easy right? There is more to it than that, so do speak to an expert so they can walk you through what to do.

Now, what can you do if you can't afford any of the options? In the state of Utah, they have a great Medicaid program that will help cover all of the costs you incur. And with some flexible options to qualifying, it is always an option to look into. Utah's Medicaid covers everything from the prenatal visits to labor and delivery to even C-sections if needed all the way to the follow up visits with a pediatrician.

The most important thing to do is to speak to an independent health insurance agent in Utah to help you sort through all of the confusion in what might be the right plan for you. Because they specialize in only health insurance in Utah, they know what carrier and plan options will fit your situation. They will help you find out if your doctors privileges are at a Mountainstar hospital, an IHC facility or even an independent facility like University of Utah Medical Center. And best thing is that they don't cost you one extra penny to help.

Whatever you choose, good luck with the family expansion. It may be a slightly stressful time, but it is definitely worth it.

Post-Natal Care For New Mothers In Asian Cultures

Practices have also evolved over time and are quite different from those of a generation ago, especially in Chinese culture. In the nineteen forties and fifties, a new mother used to be confined to her bedroom during the confinement period which begins from the moment the baby is born until the baby reaches full moon or is a month old. She could not wash her hair during that period and could not leave the house for fear of wind entering her body and cause her to have aches and pains later on in life.

The confinement period was an enforced period of rest for the new mother so that she could recover from the ordeal of childbirth and recover her strength. A woman with specialized knowledge of herbs and confinement food is employed to look after the mother's diet and to look after the baby day and night so that the mother has proper sleep and rest. She will stay with the family for the whole month and is paid a tidy sum for her services. Such services were in great demand and an expectant mother would book way in advance to ensure that when her delivery time is at hand, there would be someone to look after her needs and the baby.

These days, there is some flexibility. After ten days or so, the new mother may wash her hair using special bath water. Her bath is usually water boiled with a concoction of certain herbs that will draw out the wind from her body. No cold water or water straight from the tap is used.

Special food and wine are included in her diet. Chicken and wood ear fungus cooked in sesame oil and lots of ginger and glutinous rice wine is a daily staple. She can take only certain vegetables and fruit such as apples, guava and papaya. She is also given special soups which will promote breast milk production if she is breast feeding. Everyday, free range chicken is steamed with special herbs in a double boiler to get the pure chicken essence. This is especially nutritious and invigorating.

However it can be quite hard to acquire such personalized services nowadays as many of those women specialized in caring for the baby and new mother have retired and are no longer available. A new niche market has sprung up where women entrepreneurs have opened up confinement homes.

These homes offer confinement services to new mothers who want to ensure that they have enough sleep and rest which they may not get at home if they have young children in their families or if there is not enough room in their houses. These homes offer single rooms which give you privacy, or twin bedded rooms. The market price varies from a few thousand dollars to more, depending on the type of room you choose. Everything is taken care of, all meals provided and the baby looked after day and night. Baby diapers and formula ( if the mother is not breastfeeding ) are also provided. These homes are run professionally like a business and the experienced confinement ladies also impart their knowledge of rituals and taboos. Traditional massage is also available.

Many Chinese new mothers are availing themselves of this confinement home service because of its convenience. Depending on the size of the home, it can accommodate up to eight mothers.

However, in Malay culture and I believe the Indian culture too, the traditional practices are more strictly adhered to. There is also the confinement period where the new mother has to rest and partake of a special diet and herbal baths. Lemon grass and ginger feature because of their properties, especially dispelling wind from the body.

The new mother in Malay culture has traditional massage that will reduce the wind in her belly and I remember the lady who came to give me the massage, used a hot brick wrapped in a towel to warm my belly before massaging with some oil. After that a long piece of cloth specially sewn, was wrapped round my tummy to flatten it. I was not allowed to take a bath during my first confinement. The purpose of the massage is to drive the wind out, to shrink the uterus and to give me back my waistline. This traditional massage is still practiced today and the new mothers of Malay ethnicity also consume jamu ( specially prepared herbs )which will help them to regain their strength and figure. Being Chinese, I didn't take jamu but followed the Chinese diet under the strict eyes of my grandmother and confinement lady.

At the end of the confinement period, the new mother is left to her own resources. Those who are working may still be on maternity leave and would use this time to bond with their babies. The Chinese usually have a big celebration where a dinner party is organized to introduce the new-born to relatives and friends. One tradition still observed by some families today is the giving out of red eggs, a slice of roast pork and yellow ( derived from turmeric )glutinous rice. If a dinner is held, then only the red eggs are given. In return, the baby receives an ang pow (red envelope containing money). In the yester years, when the price of gold was still affordable, the new baby would be given gold jewellery by close relatives.

Menstruation Disorders - Dysmenorrhea - Damp Heat's Tonic Herbs in TCM Perspective

All women experience irregular periods sometimes during their child bearing years, before menopause. While Western medication has never viewed that irregular menstruation is a problem of women reproductive system, traditional Chinese medicine looks at this problem seriously, if untreated, it will disharmonize the women ecosystem, leading to nervous tension and other health problems, including infertility.

Damp heat is defined as a condition of fluid accumulated in the body tissues over a prolong period of time. It can become damp heat as a result of intake of hot spicy hot, infection and inflammation. Chinese herbs used to treat damp heat include

1. Long dan cao (Gentian)
Besides it is used to treat liver heat caused by dampness accumulation due to spleen' inability in materials absorption, It also enhances the liver and the gallbladder function in draining damp heat in the body through kidney urinary secretion.

2. Huang qin (Scullcap)
Huang qin is important to enhance the lung function by moistening the qi, thus reducing the risk of fever, irritability, thirst, cough. It also improves the stomach function in absorbing vital vitamins and minerals by clearing the heat caused extreme dampness that causes diarrhea and thirst with no desire to drink.

3. Zhi zi (Gardenia)
It improves the circulatory function by clearing the liver heat due to constrained liver and heat caused by infection or inflammation as a result of fluids accumulated in body for a prolong period of time.

4. Mu tong (Akebia)
Mu tong besides increases the kidney in clearing dampness through urinary secretion, it also enhances the blood function by draining the blood heat caused by blood stagnation.

5. Che qian cao (Plaintain root)
Che qian cao has a vital function by eliminating the toxin accumulated in the body and promoting damp heat expelling through urinary secretion.

6. Chai hu (Buplerum)
Chai hu enhances the spleen and stomach in qi and materials digestion, thereby reducing damp heat in the abdominal region caused by liver blood stagnation, resulting in lessening the menstrual cramps and pain and pain caused lung qi stagnation due to spleen abnormal function in qi transportation.

7. Gan cao (licorice root)
Gan cao reduces damp heat accumulated in the body in many different ways:

a) It moistens the lung, thus reducing the lung dryness causing symptoms of coughing and promoting the smooth qi movement.
b) It reduces the heat caused by toxins in the body by eliminating them through urinary secretion.
c) It enhances the heart in regulating the movement of blood by strengthening the blood that stop the irregular pulse.
d) It increases the liver function in regulating the abdominal muscles, thus reducing the menstrual cramps and pain.

Are Beauty Products Toxic to Your Pregnancy?

Being pregnant is not a reason to stop feeling beautiful. Many common beauty treatments, however, are not approved for use during pregnancy and should be replaced with alternative beauty regimes until baby is born.

Hairspray, Gel, and Mousse - Some hair care products contain an ingredient called phthalates. This chemical has been linked to birth defects in animal studies and some human studies. The FDA does not recognize this ingredient as being unsafe during pregnancy due to lack of conclusive evidence, but the chance is worth changing up hair care products while pregnant.

Sunscreen Safety - UV rays are touted as a major cause of premature aging and skin cancer. Pregnant women may believe they are protecting their skin with sunscreen and SPF facial and body lotion. They could be wrong. Oxybenzone, a common ingredient in skin care products, may be linked to low birth weight in female infants and cell damage.

Soap and Shampoo - Two of the common ingredients in soap and shampoo are sodium laurel sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. The names may look similar, but the effects on the body could not be any different. Sodium laurel sulfate is generally considered safe for use during pregnancy, though skin irritation has been an issue for some pregnant women. Sodium laureth sulfate, on the other hand, may bring 1,4-dioxane along with it. 1,4-dioxane is a known carcinogen.

Lotion and Skin Oil - The first ingredient in many skin lotions is water. While this is a safe ingredient, high concentrations of water often used as a filler ingredient require chemical anti-bacterial agents to prevent bacterial growth in the product. If your lotion ingredients start with water and then move onto ingredients with chemical names and tons of syllables, chances are the lotion is not safe during pregnancy.

Acne Treatments - Accutane and Retinoic Acid - Fighting adult acne can include using Accutane or other retinoic acid based skin treatments. While effective at fighting skin breakouts, these products are considered category X for pregnant women. Under no circumstances should Accutane or retinoic acid be used during pregnancy.

Retinoids - Accutane is a retinoid used for treatment of severe acne, but other medications containing retinoids are used to treat psoriasis and certain forms of blood cancer. The March of Dimes offers the iPledge program where women who are of childbearing age can pledge they will not become pregnant while taking these risky medications.

Skin Bleaching - Skin bleaching creams contain hydroquinone. This ingredient is listed as a category C pregnancy risk. This means animals have had fetal side effects associated with consumption or use of hydroquinone. Though no human studies have proven human fetal birth defects, women should err on the side of caution when choosing skin care products during pregnancy.

There are healthy alternative beauty treatments approved for use during pregnancy. When in doubt about a beauty product, contact your obstetrician or take the product to your next prenatal check-up. Many skin care products contain toxic and risky ingredients that can affect fetal health for a lifetime.