Undergoing Infertility Treatments in Connecticut? Know Your State Insurance Laws

If you are undergoing infertility treatments, and work in Connecticut you may be one of the lucky few with reliable insurance coverage. Connecticut is one of only a handful of states with a law mandating that insurance plans cover infertility treatments. And the CT law covers a higher percentage of its citizens due to some specific language in the mandate. But with any law there are loopholes, and you should know the rules before getting started to avoid any nasty surprises down the road.

The Connecticut infertility health insurance law mandates that "certain individual and group health policies to cover medically necessary costs of diagnosing and treating infertility". It specifically includes in-vitro fertilization (IVF) up to 2 cycles with a maximum of 2 embryos per cycle.

Broadest Applications

The Connecticut law is broadest in its application because it applies to individual and group policies. Many state laws apply only to group policies, and often to groups of fifty or more employees. This is not the case in Connecticut. Virtually any healthcare plan is subject to this mandate. There are no limitations based on group size.

Loopholes Remain

As with any law you have to look closely at the wording to find exceptions to the rule. In this case you will find several loopholes. First, the law only applies where Connecticut has jurisdiction. If you work for an employer headquartered in another state with a branch location in CT, your insurance plan is not subject to the mandate.

Second, the law relates to health insurance policies "delivered, issued, amended, renewed or continued on or after October 1, 2005". Does your insurance plan fit this description?

There are other exceptions based upon age, limitations on the number of cycles for specific treatments, and there is no specific language limiting deductibles, co pays, co insurance etc.

Read your policy, call your insurer, and understand the Connecticut law before starting your infertility treatments.

Review of the DreamGenii Maternity Support Pillow

The DreamGenii maternity support pillow sells for around 瞿45, so it's not the cheapest pillow around, but if you're pregnant and having restless nights you're probably willing to spend many times the amount if it gives you a comfortable night's sleep. So, how does the DreamGenii pillow compare?

The pillow is designed to provide support starting from the second trimester onwards. The unusual shape is one of the first things you'll notice. The pillows are designed to support your knees, tummy and back all in one without taking over the whole bed. It should be noted that the layout encourages you to sleep on your left side (in what is known as the recovery position). This position can encourage your baby to get into the preferred position for birth. DreamGenii does state that this pillow is OK if you sleep on your right hand side.

Considering that the product won Practical Parenting Best Buy and Pregnancy Product of the year 2007/08 hopes are high for this pillow.

Reviews from pregnant mums are generally positive. The product averages four stars on Amazon.com

Quality

The pillow has some good reviews here, and a number of people have commented that the stitches tend to hold together well even when being used over a few months. Of concern though, there a more than a couple of reports of the fabric tearing or coming apart, so in this respect the product may need extra care. If you opt for the fleecy cover this can help protect the product further whilst providing additional warmth for you.

Design

The two main areas a maternity pillow should address are supporting your bump and improving back pain. The improvement in back pain has been well noted across a range of mums so it appears to meet expectations here.

This pillow does an adequate job of bearing the weight of the bump, which is the overriding purchase factor for most women.

It is also sold as helping to prevent mothers rolling onto their backs. Here, experiences have varied with some mums commenting that it hasn't prevented them rolling over to their back, in part due to the pillow being a little soft. However, even where this is the case it does seem to have assisted with comfort and, in some cases, breathing.

One shortcoming that does appear is with the leg support. The stuffing itself is not quite firm enough, not always producing enough support. Furthermore, failings in this department appear to be more noticeable with taller women, as this element of the pillow simply is too short. Some women have started placing another pillow between their ankles.

As an alternative for separate pillows, the DreamGenii maternity pillows does appear to be an improvement. Many users are happy with the purchase, and as pregnancy pillows go it appears to be one of the better thought out makes. It isn't perfect though, and it may not be entirely suitable for the taller women; much does depend on your personal requirements and body shape, so overall all things considered it appears to be a reasonable product for the amount it costs, but investigate the competition prior to purchase.

She Just Had A Baby, Why Is She Sad?

So you are bringing your child home from the hospital. What should you do to get ready? You should understand what it is your wife or girlfriend just went through. The birthing process may be a beautiful event in your and the mother's life, but it is also a traumatic experience for both you and the mother. As a soldier and as a firefighter I was taught to press through emotional issues for the good of the mission. In this case your job is to ensure that the mother is comfortable and able to focus on recovery and childcare. The next month will set the tone. The mother should not have to worry about laundry, dishes, or other trivial things. This is your time to shine.

You might notice some emotional issues. The mother might have what are called the "Baby Blues." The mother has gone through the equivalent of an ecstasy trip and is now in for the "letdown." When the mother is pregnant there are a whole host of chemical changes that result in emotional changes. After birth the emotional roller-coaster will start to turn south. It is your job to ensure that the mother is able to handle the emotional changes. If this is her first child, she might feel inadequate whenever something goes wrong. Make sure to encourage her and not point out mistakes in any judgmental ways. If she wants to cry, be there for her and support her. Remember that this is not as much an emotional thing as it is a hormonal thing. She is not sad necessarily because of anything that happened. She is simply sad. She might even say that she doesn't know why. This is natural. The key is to avoid having the blues turn into postpartum depression. PPD is an actual medical issue that needs treatment. Going without treatment can lead to long term depression and all the things associated with it. Because it may be hard to distinguish between the blues and Postpartum Depression, I will lay out the differences and some signs to look for then determining whether your wife or girlfriend has the blues or Postpartum Depression.

Postpartum Blues or "Baby Blues" usually last for a week or two after the birth of your child. The characteristic emotional symptoms can be mood swings, irritability, and insomnia. She may feel overwhelmed and might say things indicating such. The peak of the postpartum symptoms is usually four days after the birth, and usually subsides after two weeks. More than half of women report feeling the blues shortly after giving birth. Make sure to report any blue feelings she may have to a doctor. Most of all, use common sense, Use encouraging words to help her get through it. Tell her she is doing great and don't point out little errors that may be insignificant. Although you may be in a relationship where little jokes are normal, please watch what you say during this period. Things she normally might think is funny could make her feel devastated.

Postpartum Depression is a totally different issue. It is a medical condition that needs monitoring. The symptoms are essentially the same as the blues, except it doesn't go away. It seems to slowly build up over the next few months and peak about 3 to 4 months after birth. The mother can experience hopelessness, or suffer from anxiety. She might feel empty inside. Things she used to love to do might not interest her anymore. She might feel guilty or worthless with no real cause. As you can tell, the feelings just seem to get worse. Make sure you do not ignore mention of suicide or thoughts of harming the baby. Please consult a physician if you suspect the mother is suffering from Postpartum Depression. PPD is a treatable condition and there is no need to feel as if it is hopeless.

Safe & Effective Pregnancy Massage

Benefits:

Massaging a woman from 13 weeks onwards during her pregnancy is a fantastic way to keep a mum-to-be relaxed and comfortable as her growing body accommodates the new weight. The main benefits of regular safe and effective mama massages are:

• Relief of pain


• Improved circulation for mother and baby


• Improved immune system for mother and baby


• Better sleep


• A more relaxed attitude towards giving birth, and thus better birth outcomes


• Better bonding between mother and baby


• Improved chances of carry the baby to full-term


• A healthier and calmer baby of good weight


• Improved skin condition


• Relief of headaches and possibly nausea

Extras you will need:

A firm, steady, thick pillow for the leg plus a towel to cover

A thin cushion or towel for under the belly

An two towels or sheets for draping

A pillow to hold on to

Positioning:

A pregnant woman should NEVER lie on her stomach. This is partially for insurance reasons, but also because the weight of the uterus will pull the ligaments on the mothers' sacrum (lower back) and cause back ache (not what we're trying to do!)

Do not massage any woman who is less than 12 weeks pregnant due to the increase risk of miscarriage. This is through nothing you would have done, but for insurance reasons stay safe. A woman who has lost her baby following a massage is more likely to accuse and sue you and cause bad relations than someone who had a sore muscle from a strong massage.

It is possible to have a pregnant woman of 13-22 weeks lying on her back with a cushion under her right hip/ buttock, but any pregnant woman who is more than 22 weeks should not lie on her back for more than 3 minutes. She may be propped up to a seated position if you need to work on her front. Lying on her back, the weight of the uterus, after 22 weeks, is too much pressure for the vena cava (main vein running up the right side of the spine) and will cause breathlessness in the mother and nutrient and oxygen restrictions to the baby.

You will find it easier and generally safer to always massage a pregnant woman in the side lying position, asking her to turn over half way through so you can massage both sides effectively.

When lying on her side, the pregnant woman should have her knee and foot on a firm and steady cushion that is high enough for her hip to be at a right angle so her leg is not pulling on her hip and lower back. Make sure the foot is supported as this creates more comfort for the mother.

If her belly is feeling like it is pulling while lying on her side, the mother-to-be will need a small cushion or towel under her belly. Let her put the cushion there so she can make herself comfortable. Any woman who is more than 22 weeks pregnant will need the belly cushion even if they initially feel comfortable... 1 hour on a couch can change things.

Ask your pregnant lady to lie on the couch with her back as close to the edge as she can... this makes it more comfortable for you to massage her so you don't have to over reach. Make sure that the cushions under her legs are close enough to her so her back and hips are not twisting.

Once you have made sure her leg is comfortable and the blankets are neatly in place you can then give your mother-to-be a pillow to hold on to like a teddy bear so as she doesn't put any pressure on her growing, tender breasts.

You will need two towels to drape your pregnant client. Make sure one towel covers the legs and is tucked neatly into the lady's undies, pulling them down far enough so you can work on the hips. And drape another towel over her back so it falls across the front and back of the woman. Ask her if she's comfortable with a blanket over her as many pregnant ladies get over heated. Ask her if she'd like her feet covered or uncovered.

Make sure your pregnant client has a pillow under their head that is not too high or too low...their neck should be in line with their spine. If the pillow is too low for her she is likely to put a hand under her head, so you'll know if she needs extra support.

Whether a pregnant woman has a large belly or not, always use side lying when giving a mama massage.

Pressure:

You can use as much pressure as your client wants when working on the back of a pregnant lady. The lower back and sacrum is often very sore and stiff because of bad posture so working as strong as the client likes is good to help release tight muscles. The shoulders and neck are also sore spots for pregnant women and can be massaged as strong or light as your client requires.

The only place on a pregnant body that you must NOT massage is the inside of the legs. A pregnant woman has 40% more blood in her body which is thicker and prone to clotting. This is a great design feature for giving birth in case of hemorrhaging. Normally the clots will disintegrate naturally, but if you use pressure on the inner thigh and calves, or any shaking/percussion moves on the leg you may accidentally move a clot which could cause thrombosis (dangerous restriction on blood flow) and cause problems for mother and baby.

You can safely massage a pregnant woman's feet with as much pressure as she is comfortable with. Massaging the feet has a different intention and effect than reflexology, so is not dangerous to the mother or baby. Reflexology can safely be given to a pregnant woman from 13 weeks onwards, so long as you stay away from the reproductive area and the pituitary gland as both of these can stimulate a miscarriage or premature labour.

If your client has water retention (puffy) hands and or feet, make sure you use very light pressure on these areas.

Some women really like their belly's being touched when their pregnant, while others hate it. Ask the mother before the start of the massage if she would like her belly touched. If she would like it to be massaged, only use gentle pressure with the flat of your hand (no pushing or poking with fingers)

Precautions:

• No massage before 13 weeks (unless you've had specific training)


• No massaging the inner leg


• No shaking moves on the legs


• No massage for any pregnant lady who is bleeding


• Always ask if there has been any complications, nausea, bleeding and if all their scans and tests have come back good.

Always ask the client to tell you if there are any sore/painful spots... never make the massage so strong it's painful. The baby gets the same as the mum, so if she's in pain the baby will be also. There's a difference between a strong massage that feels good and a strong massage that is painful but the client thinks it's doing good.

Conclusion

Pregnant women deserve to be massaged... so don't be shy! If in doubt about massaging your pregnant client, don't do it. Seek medical or other specialist health professional advice.

Ways to Get Her Pregnant - A Partner's Guide

Your partner wants to get pregnant and you want to get her pregnant, so both your plans are set. However, there is just one problem: it's taking quite long for her to conceive and both of you are beginning to wonder what it is you're doing wrong. The reality is, many couples face the same problem. Fortunately, there are ways of getting around this.

It is definitely true that not only the woman should "try to get pregnant." Sure, women who are trying to get pregnant ask for tips from their mothers, share ideas about getting pregnant and even take certain supplements to help them get pregnant. However, it is equally important that the men in their lives give them support. After all, you and your partner both want a baby, and it obviously takes two to tango in this case.

The thing about trying to have a baby is that you can't just get her pregnant and expect to have a baby in the next several months. For those of us who have tried many times before conceiving, we know it can take a couple of months up to a year to conceive a child. A couple will not only need to be physically up for the challenge, but they need to be emotionally supportive of each other.

If you are trying to have a baby for the first time with your partner, the first thing to do is to encourage her to engage in activities or methods that can help her become pregnant. Women planning to get pregnant are often recommended a healthy eating and exercise plan. She should avoid drinking caffeine and sugary sodas, and instead should consume more fruits and veggies. She should also drink more water. Of course, this is easier said than done, and constantly telling her what to eat can stress her and you out. To encourage her, get into a healthy eating plan together. Also do some de-stressing exercises together like stretching, yoga and walking.

Why is Insurance So Important?

When life is smooth, we don't think about insurance. Most importantly, insurance companies strive in view of the fact that more money is paid into the program than the amount of money which is paid out, similar to a casino. Do you really want to gamble away your future when these things could easily be covered by insurance?

Allowing individuals to take beneficial risks they might not otherwise take, Insurance is one of the most useful and powerful aspects of modern life. Leveling the costs of catastrophe, maintaining a steady flow of money, insurance not only for individuals but, ideally, for the community, the nations, and the world.

Insurance allows people to save for unpredictable life events in a popular and efficient way, even when it's not always managed properly by corporations or individuals, in general. Insurance when it is well decided on and managed is the ultimate winning situation for everyone.

Insurance provides a safety net and provides security. It is far too easy telling yourself that disaster won't ever befall you, or won't hit you hard, or that you're going to have the funds saved allowing you to deal with any upcoming crises. The efficiency of focus that can be given by a managed insurance provider, is something few of us are so lucky or disciplined to have.

In insurance, subsidy is available for cost of medical care, loss of damage to properties and death and more. In the meantime, while the money can "hold your place in line" to receive your benefits in times of economic distress, it can also in turn aid in caring for your neighbors, which will ensure a more stable, financially strong community and nation overall, keeping the lifelines of finances beating worldwide.

It is in moments like today's economic downturn that we realize the importance of insurance, since we witness the effects when it is mismanaged or not invested in enough: insurance failing strikes a devastating blow on all aspects of the economy. When it comes to regulated allows from the insurance development on all levels.

If you are doing business with a reliable provider, it is easy to create savings and provide for the family. Life, health, and well-being is what is covering when it comes to taking care of your business. Few financial services can help you cope with otherwise overwhelming difficulties or more clearly empower you.

California Short Term Disability - Is it Enough Coverage?

California short term disability insurance (California SDI) pays the richest benefit of any of the state programs. Does that mean you are fully protected in case you become disabled? While it's great to have, you may regret not increasing your coverage level should you suffer a disabling injury, illness, or go out on maternity leave.

Only five states have mandated short term disability programs in force, and California's program pays the highest benefits by far. California SDI replaces up to 55% of your income, up to a cap of $987 per week as of January, 2010. While other state plans replace a higher percentage of income, their weekly cap is much lower. This means fewer California workers full under the weekly cap, and actually get to enjoy the full 55% income replacement.

Does this mean you should feel secure? Ask yourself this question: "Am I spending most of what I make every week, or am I banking 45% of what I earn?" If you are like most people you are spending most of what you earn, and you have very little set aside in savings. It is estimated that 60% of American households are living check to check. If you are not banking 45% of what you earn, think about this. If you become disabled, you will be slapped with a 45% pay cut.

And people with higher incomes fall into the same trap. Many times expenses rise right along with income. Anyone earning more than $93,316 annually will be subject to the cap. This means the pay cut will be more than 55%.

Furthermore, much of your spending may be fixed. You may have a mortgage, rent, car payment(s), student loan payments, credit card debt, insurance payments, etc. All of these bills stay the same; whether you are working or disabled. If you are currently spending most of what you make, and have little in savings, what will you do when your pay is cut by 45%?

This is how people get themselves into financial trouble. They live on the edge financially, and everything is fine as long as they are healthy and working. But people do get sick, and have accidents. Roughly one third of workers will suffer a disabling accident and/or illness during their lifetime. With very little money in savings, people get pushed over the edge when their income dries up. Half of all bankruptcies are triggered by health events.

California short term disability insurance is a great program for many workers who become disabled. But ask anyone who needed to use the benefit: "was it enough?" The answer will probably be "no". This is especially true for women planning a pregnancy, because she will be out of work for at least six weeks, and longer if she needs to miss work before delivery, or take extra time to bond with her baby.

If you are concerned about staying solvent in the event of a disability, consider purchasing supplemental short term disability insurance while you are still healthy, and before getting pregnant. These policies will pay an additional benefit should you become disabled, and help close the gap in your California short term disability insurance coverage.

Are You Trying to Get Pregnant? Here is Amazing Biblical Keys to Help You! Part 1

Many of you have prayed all year for God to take away the miscarriage and infertility that has troubled you and give you your own child. Low sperm count may have been an issue that has troubled you and stopped you from having your own child. You may have done all you know to do in the physical yet have no answer to your problems. It looks like God has forsaken you. It looks like heaven has become brass in your case. In times like these what can I do? You may ask?
Today I want us to visit the Bible and see someone who faced the problem of unanswered prayer and how she finally overcame it.

In the book of 1 Samue1- 1:11, I found an unanswered prayer. A woman named Hannah was offering this prayer. It becomes obvious upon close observation that she had been praying this prayer for a long time. If you will notice, her prayer is not unscriptural It is simply unanswered. All she wants is a child. However, no child is born. Day and night she cried out to God to bless her womb and enable her become pregnant with her own child, but nothing happened.

The Bible tells us that Hannah is a faithful child of the Most High God. She and her husband go to Shiloh and worship God each time there is a feast. During those pilgrimages they always make the proper sacrifices and give generously to the work of the Lord in Shiloh.

Since we know that Hannah is a faithful worshiper of Almighty God, it is only reasonable to believe she is also a woman of prayer. Because of her great desire to have a son, we know she is constantly praying to conceive. No doubt she rises early every morning with this special prayer request, "Oh, God, give me a Son!"

Like so many out there she keeps at it, Lord, take away this miscarriage, take away this infertility from my life! Visit my womb with a child. Surely she continues to call out to the Lord Almighty every single day yet nothing seemed to be happening.

Everyone in the house knows her prayer by heart. I am sure she has asked all her family and neighbours again and again to agree with her that she will become pregnant. All the angels of heaven know her desire. To put it bluntly, everyone in heaven and earth seems to have heard her prayer - that is, everyone except God. Here we see the most heart-breaking kind of prayer. It is an unanswered prayer!
The Bible tells us that sorrow over her unanswered petition finally causes her to stop eating, "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD".

At this point she makes a radical change in the way she prays. Driven by desperation, she makes one last, violent attempt to move God's hand. Thank God, she has the sense to throw tradition to the wind and boldly take hold of that which is rightfully hers! Child of God, don't be turned off by the thought of taking violent action in prayer, for the violent leap of faith almost always brings deliverance, especially when your heaven has turned to brass.

We can see the desperation in Hannah's heart in the unusual way she forms her prayer. Her approach to God totally disregards tradition. The words she speaks can be described only as spiritual violence. It did not matter to her any more what anybody had to say.

Hannah's new way of praying swiftly moves God's mighty hand to her point of need. The Bible tells us that within hours of praying, she becomes pregnant. Take a moment, and read her most unusual prayer. (Continue reading in Part 2)

Become Pregnant Naturally - Discover the Power of Vitamin B6

Also known as pyridoxine, Vitamin - B6 and fertility go hand in hand. This vitamin can easily be found on certain healthy foods such as eggs, cereal, legumes, meat, liver, yeast and whole grains. If you want to become pregnant faster and the natural way, you should understand the power of natural foods and vitamins and how they can directly affect fertility. While all the vitamins we ingest are great for our bodies, vitamin - B6 is one step ahead as it is a wonderful reproductive hormone regulator. It boosts your chances to become pregnant. As an added bonus, this wonder vitamin also helps alleviate morning sickness, PMS and blood sugars.

In order to become pregnant naturally, I have enumerated the many benefits of vitamin - B6:

1.Vitamin - B6 helps stave off depression that can help a woman avoid PMS. Furthermore, being underweight can seriously undermine your efforts to conceive.

2.Vitamin - B6 helps to boost fertility by treating another common issue that causes infertility in women - luteal phase defect. The time from ovulation to menstruation is known as the luteal phase, and this should ideally be 10 days. If the duration is shorter than 10 days, it is recognized as a luteal phase defect. A luteal phase that is shorter than the norm is not able to sustain pregnancy and should conception happen, it can lead to a miscarriage. If you are suffering from this, have hope as this can be cured and treated naturally.

3.If you think that you have this kind of defect, this can be remedied by taking some progesterone supplements and vitamin B6 - both of which are wonderful and natural remedies.

4.You can determine if you have this heath concern by charting your basal body temperature. Also, being able to accurately chart your fertility signs is a wonderful way fro you to have a glimpse of your fertility cycle. It may take a couple of months for you to get the hang of it, but knowing how to detect possible infertility signs is worth the effort.

5.Many multivitamins don't contain adequate amounts of vitamin B6 and help boost your fertility. Make sure that you are taking at least 50mg of vitamin B6 daily to help you become pregnant faster.

Taking at least 50 to 200 milligrams of vitamin B6 will give you great results.

Scary Lack of Options in American Maternity Coverage

The cost of health care is quite a bit higher in the United States than in other developed countries. As well as being unfairly expensive, the American medical infrastructure has come under fire as of late due to a number of factors. Perhaps the greatest influence is the imminent presidential election in late 2008, and candidates from both the left and right have been scrambling to find plausible solutions to the glaring deficiencies left as a legacy of the Bush era. Another cause for the pressure to change comes from Michael Moore, a controversial political moviemaker whose recent work, a documentary film titled "SiCKO," highlights the many flaws in the United States health care system.

Faced with limited options, mothers-to-be are often stuck between a rock and a hard place in terms of covering their prenatal and childbirth costs. Traditional insurance providers, with high premiums and deductibles, sometimes have additional out-of-pocket costs that families are unable to shoulder. Other options, such as traditional health methods, aren't very reliable so women are forced to face the rising costs without attractive solutions. What other alternatives do they have?

One solution that has arisen comes in the form of non-traditional health coverage. Consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) are becoming popular for Americans seeking a cheaper route to medical insurance. CDHPs, which incorporate cost-sharing and fairly low deductibles in combination with Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), have the potential to yield high tax benefits that could offset costs and make CDHPs considerably less expensive than traditional insurance providers. The likelihood of these benefits coming to fruition, however, remains in question. Desperate individual policyholders are nevertheless turning to CDHPs to lessen the financial burden that comes with childbirth.

The Kaiser Family Foundation, a California-based, health-related think tank, recently tested the viability of CDHPs as an affordable option for high maternity costs. In the least expensive scenario, it was found that a new mother could pay barely US$6,000 for out-of-pocket costs to cover prenatal treatment and a straightforward childbirth. While US$6,000 is starkly less than the costs paid by other CDHP policyholders, it is still similar to or more expensive than would have been paid out-of-pocket under a traditional medical insurance plan.

In a second scenario, a family spent US$21,000 on out-of-pocket maternity fees when using a CDHP. This is quite a high value, despite the family having had coverage for more than two years and the pregnancy and birth being relatively free of complications. In a third (and quite extreme) example, a family was forced to pay more than US$287,000 in medical fees during the birth of the family's second child. In this case, a woman experienced a rocky pregnancy, coupled with gestational diabetes, pre-term labor that resulted in a c-section birth, and comprehensive neonatal intensive care.

The vast divide between the out-of-pocket charges for maternity care is the result of inconsistent cost-sharing across CDHPs. The conclusion, therefore, is that pregnant women with coverage from CDHPs could face costs that are extremely higher those incurred under traditional insurance providers. The risk of accumulating ridiculous hospital bills is too high in the face of the steep costs of raising an infant. The rising popularity of CDHPs could therefore potentially damage the health of less wealthy Americans who turn to CDHPs and then suffer from inferior health care and heavy financial losses as a result. On the other hand, CDHPs can, in some cases, provide comprehensive health care options to those who have been exposed to health insurance plans that are incomplete parcels of larger plans designed to suit a broader base.

Despite a much longer list of pros and cons, it has clearly emerged that CDHPs are a much riskier alternative to complete health care plans. Though American health care is pricey and often insufficient for the cost, the safest choice is to acquire coverage from a trusted insurance provider. The lack of reliable cost sharing and the rookie mistakes made by the new CDHP organizers can result in disastrous effects to the health of those insured. And the health of a pregnant woman or newborn should not be gambled with.

Getting Pregnant Over 40 - Six Ways To Help You to Conceive Quickly

Getting pregnant after 40 can be very difficult for many women. In today's busy world and we have careers and put off having a child until very late. When you are in your 40s start to realise just how fast is your body clock is ticking away and want to have a child before it is too late. So what can you do?

Instead of running to a fertility clinic and starting on expensive treatments you probably do not even need you can use natural methods to help you get pregnant quickly. What are these methods?

1. Staying fit. It is a proven fact that if you have a high BMI or body mass index your chances of conceiving decrease. The more overweight you are the smaller your chances are. This not only affect your chances of having a baby this will also affect your health and you need to take steps to address.

2. Being underweight can have as much effect on your chances of conceiving as if you are overweight. If you are trying to get pregnant over 40 and you are either overweight or underweight unique to take steps to address as quickly. If you are under weight this can stop you ovulating.

3. If you take anything with caffeine in it. You should stop as quickly as possible always for reduce your intake. Anything contains caffeine in coffee has an adverse effect on your body and your hormones and this in turn can affect your cycle and make it much harder for you to get pregnant over 40 and have a child. So cut that coffee out now.

4. Smoking is one of the biggest problems for women trying to get pregnant. Smoking not only reduce your chances of getting pregnant by up to 60%, even if you do get pregnant this will affect the child in so many different ways. You should stop immediately to improve your chances enormously of having a healthy child.

5. If you are trying to get pregnant over 40 and drink alcohol you should be aware that even a few drinks a week can result in a reduction in your chances of getting pregnant. Instead of risking that you should cut it out if you can.

6. Another reason that you might find it hard to get pregnant or 40 is if you are under a lot of stress. This may be the case if you have been trying to get pregnant for while and you have not been able to. This then becomes a vicious cycle with the stress stopping you getting pregnant and the fact that you are not pregnant increasing the stress.

You should take steps in the stress levels as low as possible all the time to increase your chance of getting pregnant quickly.

Following the steps listed here can help you to get pregnant very quickly and get pregnant over 40. It does not matter if you have been trying for six months or two years, these steps combined with other natural methods can help you to get pregnant quicker than you thought possible.

Hemorrhoids and Pregnancy - All You Need To Know

Hemorrhoids occur when the rectal area's veins becomes enlarged. Though minor and can be treated via a change in lifestyle, it can cause significant discomfort especially when sitting down. Some symptoms of hemorrhoids, such as rectal bleeding, are also indicators of more dangerous illnesses. Once this occurs, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Though an embarrassing condition, hemorrhoids are actually experienced by most people at least once in their life. Hemorrhoid and Pregnancy is even more common.

Why is hemorrhoid during pregnancy more common?

Hemorrhoids are triggered by an assortment of causes whether or not one is pregnant. Some factors that bring about this ailment are genetics and your natural body makeup, your lifestyle, the weakness of your rectal walls and yes, pregnancy.

Pregnant women are prone for similarly varied reasons. These are listed below.

1. Constipation regularly occurs to pregnant women. This is due to the increase in progesterone a pregnant woman has. Progesterone relaxes the smooth muscles in the body. This would result in more sluggish digestion because the food moves through the intestine more slowly. Hemorrhoid in the third trimester is even more common because the uterus is impressing upon the rectum which also increases the occurrence of constipation. The strain caused by constipation irritates the rectum which causes the vessels to swell.

2. The enlargement of a pregnant woman's uterus. The pressure the uterus exerts on the inferior vena cava, which is the large vein that transports the deoxygenated blood from the base are of the body to the heart, and the pelvic veins cuts of circulation to the bottom part of the body and triggers the swelling of your rectal veins.

How can a woman who is pregnant evade hemorrhoids?

Though common among pregnant women, there are still ways to reduce the risk mainly by doing activities that would help increase the speed of your digestion. Start with your diet. You can circumvent the acquisition of constipation by eating food that is chockfull of fiber. Fiber rich foods include whole wheat, grains, fruits and vegetables. Ingesting water constantly helps speed up digestion by keeping the body hydrated. Chewing food thoroughly and slowly also decreases the work your body needs to do to break down the food. Even just eating moderately can aid digestion. Over eating would lead to your body working overtime to break down the food which often results in constipation. Exercise can also help prevent hemorrhoids as a known method of increasing the speed of digestion. For pregnant women, slow walks and various exercises are available. Sitting down for really long periods of time also contributes to the presence of hemorrhoids so avoid doing so.

What can I do if I already have hemorrhoids?

Using sitz baths, which is when you sit on a basin of water or soak in a bathtub, helps in relieving hemorrhoids. You can also press an ice to the concerned area to decrease the swelling. Alternating the two methods also eases the discomfort. If all the above home remedies did not cure your ailment, your doctor can best suggest a pregnancy safe cream or other treatment.

Although hemorrhoid and pregnancy are common partners, in most pregnant women, hemorrhoids disappear shortly after giving birth.

Cystic Acne Treatments - Things You Need to Know

Cystic acne treatments do not have to be terrible or intimidating. Use this article to help you in attaining the m best decision to heal your cystic acne. While cystic acne is generally affiliated with adolescents, cystic acne can impact anybody. If at anytime you're uncertain about what to do, its best to consult a dermatologist.

As acne goes cystic acne is believed to be among the most fallacious types of acne to get. Acne is occasionally addressed as Modular acne and it acquires its name from the vesicles that build on the surface of skin once they start erupting.

Unless there are suitable cystic acne treatment, the appearing of cystic acne will result in pocked skin, which will leave a reminder on the skin. The impingement of this is that you will come across obvious pits on the skin. Its conceivable that without suitable cystic acne treatments you will find lasting scars on your skin.

Acne can be very distressful. Acne (including cystic acne) is a skin condition that bears witness at the teenage phases of an individuals life. The presence not exclusively impacts the physical visual aspect, but likewise subverts the confidence level of the individual. Acne, in essence means pustules that are bloated.

These pustules are typically constituted upon the surface of the skin. The activity is owed to the infection that kicks in upon the surface and is known as Acne. Cystic Acne is the most grievous class an acne infection. The flare-up is not solely the cruelest, but also the sorest. This form of acne addressed as cystic acne is a truly inflictive kind of the infection.

Affairs exasperate, as the contagion is not one that will be easily healed in the short term. A lot of time is required in order treat the cysts and in the meantime the process becomes awful if not addressed soon enough. Vesicles are not only puffed up, but likewise satiated with suppuration. This causes the blood-red color cysts that are obvious upon the skin surface exceedingly tormenting and inflictive. While the infection is for the most part viewed at the onrush of penetrate and is due to a hormonal alteration, the primary reason of the infection and its evolution is not genuinely specified. The miss of a particular explanation makes it even more arduous to care for this form of acne, as dieting and dandruff are 2 additional causes being investigated as the conceivable reasons. Acne deviates from person to person and though hormonal alteration and subsequent instabilities are found fault, you can't preclude the additional possible causes. Another reason summoned as potential causes for the onslaught of Acne include the accumulation of dust particles and dirt on the skin. This is a major cause of the contagion, because the pores become closed up, causing the skin surface to become very susceptible to infection.

There are tons of skincare pros and experts and even a count of physicians who are committed to the curing of Acne. Professionals are also investigating the hypothesis of the flare-up of acne such as Cystic Acne being ancestral and passed on down from generation to generation. Acne can evolve and erupt at any given time regardless of the age of the individual. Acne can strike males and females alike. The most common observation is that the persons touched by Acne are oftentimes adolescents. acne, that typically is detected in people above 30 years old is what is known as adult acne and is normally discovered in the adult females during the postpartum period. This sort of effusion in women is rather common due to extreme interchanges in the hormonal equilibrium that happen in the body. It is all crucial to bear in mind that the break out of acne is a impermanent stage that requires to be dealt with in time.

Grants For Pregnant Teenagers

Pregnant teenagers are a matter of great concern for the teen herself, her family and the community at large. The teen will need to shoulder the responsibilities of an unplanned baby without an income through a job, or a skill to do a job. A baby can be a setback to future plans of the teenager. The government and other organizations have recognized the problems of teenage mothers and the need for the baby to have stability and grants are provided to help teenage mothers to overcome obstacles in the life.

The TOPS program is a scholarship program for teenage mothers. This program prevents teenage mothers from dropping out from school. The major part of the funding helps teenagers to pay for books and the rest is to help teenagers manage the expenses for their livelihood and for the baby. Funds are provided to establish shelters and homes for teenage mothers. Licensed day care facilities for teenage mothers to prevent them from missing out on an education are provided.

Private grants help pregnant and parenting teens stay in school and study towards a diploma and obtain a marketable job skill through technical education. These grants are given to organizations to provide support services to the pregnant teen including health monitoring, tutoring, mentoring, enrollment and employment.

Grants are given by religious groups to establish crisis pregnancy centers. In these centers teenagers are counseled to give birth to the child and not to undergo an abortion. Christian organizations that provide these services are Care net and Heartbeat International. Some centers are subsidized by the government. These centers also provide support to the teenager through the pregnancy. Some churches provide shelters and short or long stay homes for pregnant teenagers who are unable to get family help.

The Government funds several support programs for pregnant teens. These programs focus on helping the teenager to stay in school till they graduate. Support services provided to the pregnant or parenting teen are healthcare, nutritional care, parenting advice and career planning. Special advice, mentoring and tutoring are provided in charter schools, technical schools and other schools to help pregnant and parenting teenagers through their education. Temporary assistance is provided for needy families. Food stamps are provided for the health of mother and child and special Medicaid benefits are provided for teenage mothers. The Women Children and Infants program provides nutritious food for teenage and parenting adolescents who are full time students in school.

The Department of Health and Human Services of many states organizes comprehensive medical and support facilities for pregnant and parenting mothers under the age of 17. Social workers, nurses and therapists work together to help these women through their pregnancy and through the early years of motherhood. Shelters and residential schools to help these young women get an education while parenting their child are available.

Pregnant teens are not condemned as they were in bygone times. Today, the government and society make every effort to look after the health and welfare of the adolescent mother and her child.

Pregnant in Prison - A Recipe for High-Risk Pregnancy

As a mom who was unaware of the issues surrounding these moms-to-be, I was troubled when I read that women are "the fastest growing segment of the prison population."1 Over a 30 year period, the number of imprisoned women went from 11,212 to nearly 113,000 women.1, 2

Within this population are huge state-to-state and regional disparities. In 2004, more than 10 times more women were imprisoned in Oklahoma than in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.1 Though the reasons for such differences are beyond the scope of this article, those states with high female imprisonment rates need to prepare for the very real issue of pregnant women within their system. More women= more moms-to-be in jail.

So, why the rise in women calling prison their home? According to The Rebecca Project for Human Rights, "Women have borne a disproportionate burden of the war on drugs, resulting in a monumental increase of women who are facing incarceration for the first time, overwhelmingly for non-violent offenses."3 When compared to men, the crimes of incarcerated women are typically non-violent offenses, and often the result of alcohol, drug, and property offenses.4

The Reality: Pregnancy and Incarceration

Six to ten percent of women entering jail are pregnant.5 The nature of this population means the majority fall within the classification of "high-risk." Medical problems that negatively affect pregnancy outcomes are common. These include: diabetes, epilepsy, HIV, hypertension, cardiac and renal diseases. Also, many of these women have not received adequate medical care prior to their imprisonment. They are more likely to smoke, be heavy drinkers and use illicit drugs.6 These factors have a significant impact on their requirements for increased (often specialized) prenatal care, as well as their need for education, counseling and substance abuse treatment programs throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Prematurity: A Difficult and Complex Problem in Obstetrics

A racial disparity exists, not only within the prison population where 67% are non-white6, but also in preterm birth (PTB) where Black women have the highest rates (17.5%), followed by Hispanics (12.1%), then Whites (11.1%).7 Research has shown that Black women are three to four times more likely to have their babies very early (between 20 and 24 weeks), in part because of their predisposition to infections.8 Many of the problems discussed mirror the risk factors for PTB (a birth occurring at less than 37 weeks gestation). PTB is a major global issue, where sadly the US ranks worse than most other developed countries. The conditions described in this article all contribute to prematurity.

The risk factors for early birth, the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality, are those with8:

•A history of pregnancy loss or PTB ( #1 risk factor)

•Womb abnormalities or carrying multiple babies

•A family history of PTB

•Diabetes*

•Periodontal disease*

•Bacterial vaginosis (BV)*, and other genital infections like trichomoniasis, chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea.

•High stress*

•A history of cervical surgeries (including multiple D&C/abortions)*

As well as:

•Black women (who have a higher risk if they are underweight or overweight)*

•Obese women with a BMI of 35 or more or those with a low BMI

•Teens

•Heavy smokers*

•Those taking certain antidepressants

•Unemployed women*

•Heavy drinkers, cocaine or heroin users*

* These factors are highly likely in incarcerated pregnant women.

Of Special Concern for Prison Healthcare Personnel8 (Edited excerpts from the book High-Risk Pregnancy- Why Me?)

Based on risk factors of women within the prison system, certain conditions and issues are likely to be encountered in this environment. The following are probable pregnancy issues medical personnel may be faced with when working with this special needs population.

Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM)

Who's at Risk? Women who:

* Have had a previous PTB

* Are at an economic disadvantage

* Have a low BMI

* Have had a cerclage or biopsy procedures to their cervix

* Are experiencing early contractions

* Have a urinary tract infection or STD

* Are experiencing vaginal bleeding

* Are smokers

Women with suspected early ruptures should immediately be provided specialized care and confirmation using NitrazineTM paper and/or observation of "ferning." An appropriate management plan under the direction of a perinatologist should be devised depending on the type of rupture (remote from term, near term, etc.). (Women with term ruptures should also be evaluated/monitored immediately.) Other management options will likely include hospitalization throughout the duration of the pregnancy, antibiotics, antenatal corticosteroids and routine monitoring for infection/contractions. Important: care should be taken to limit (preferably avoid) internal examinations to reduce the risk of infection/inflammation. (This is the largest problem faced by providers when managing PPROM, along with preterm contractions.)

Preeclampsia

This condition only affects women and their unborn babies during pregnancy, typically after 20 weeks, or during the six-week period after birth. Preeclampsia is present in about 5-8% of pregnancies. Since imprisoned women are more likely to suffer from hypertension, it is extremely important to monitor these women for this condition. (The #1 risk factor is having had this before, followed by women with a high BMI, a history of chronic hypertension, diabetes, or a kidney disorder, as well as those over 40 or under 18.) Regular prenatal visits are mandatory to track and manage the possible onset. If detected, specialized care must be sought to develop an appropriate monitoring program for the health and safety of mom and baby. (Note: Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) has been shown to provide a significant reduction in the incidence of severe preeclampsia, hypertension and IUGR. Magnesium sulfate is another common drug used.)

Warning signs all providers working with pregnant women should be aware of:

* Hypertension of 140/90 or greater, observed twice within a six-hour period. A rise in the diastolic of 15 degrees or more or a rise in the systolic of 30 degrees or more is cause for concern, especially with other symptoms.

* Edema, especially in the hands and face.

* Protein in the urine. A 1+ or higher could mean the start of preeclampsia, even if blood pressure is below the threshold. A 2+ is a major red flag.

* Sudden weight gain of more than two pounds in a week or six pounds in a month (though, this isn't the most reliable detection method).

* Migraine-like headaches that don't go away, even when treated.

* Nausea and/or vomiting in the second or third trimester (not to be confused with a stomach bug or food poisoning).

* Changes in vision, such as temporary loss of vision, a sensation of flashing lights, heightened sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or spots before the eyes. This is a very serious symptom and should be checked out immediately.

* Stomach pain beneath the ribs on the right side of the body and/or right shoulder pain. This can be mistaken for heartburn, indigestion or kicking.

* Sudden and specific lower back pain, different from the normal aching in the lower back. This is a possible sign of HELLP or other liver problems, especially if patient is displaying other symptoms of preeclampsia.

* Hyperreflexia.

Placental Abruption

This occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus due to internal bleeding, sometime between the twentieth week and when the baby is born. A hematoma further separates the placenta from the uterine wall, causing compression and compromise of the blood supply to the baby. Though quite rare, only occurring in 1% of pregnancies, it is included here since women with hypertension (the most common cause, occurring in 44% of all cases), diabetics, heavy smokers and/or drinkers, or a history of cocaine use are at a higher risk.

Tests to determine this condition include: abdominal ultrasound, complete blood counts, pelvic exams, fibrinogen levels, partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time. Placental abruption should be suspected when a pregnant mother has sudden localized abdominal pain with or without bleeding. The top of the uterus (fundus) may have to be monitored, as a rising fundus can indicate bleeding. Early recognition and proper management are key.

Symptoms of Placental Abruption

* 80% have vaginal bleeding.

* 70% have abdominal or back pain and uterine tenderness.

* 60% of the babies show fetal distress.

* 35% have abnormal uterine contractions.

* 25% experience premature labor.

Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)

Newborns are considered to have had restricted growth when their birth weight and/or length is below the 10th percentile for their gestational age and they have an abdominal circumference below the 2.5th percentile.

This is a complex issue with multiple etiologies. There are, however, several well-known risk factors including: alcohol abuse, drug addiction, poor nutrition and smoking. Ultrasounds for diagnosis and delivery of the baby at the right time, not too early and not too late, are necessary for the effective treatment in pregnancies affected. (Fundal height monitoring can also help to detect growth restricted babies, but ultrasounds are more accurate/ideal.) If IUGR is identified, monitoring should then include vessel analysis and biophysical testing every week or two, depending on the situation.

Short Cervical Length, Preterm Labor, Incompetent Cervix (IC), Infection

These are complex topics within the Obstetrical arena with thousands of studies and just as many opinions. They are either directly or indirectly related to each other, so due to space constraints, I bundled them together. Below is a brief summary of the recent research, treatments and strategies.

Risk Factors for Short Cervix (and IC) and the Chance of a Premature Baby

* Previous cervical surgery, including laser cone biopsy, cold-knife conization, or Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)

* Damage from a previous traumatic birth

* A malformed cervix or uterus

* Previous trauma on the cervix from D&C, multiple abortions

* Deficiencies in cervical collagen and elastin

* Genetic susceptibility/environmental factors (infection, inflammation, uterine activity)

A preventative cerclage, a piece of "string" which is looped in and around the cervix to reinforce it, should be considered for all women with a history of spontaneous second trimester losses, those who've had large portions of their cervix removed, etc. Prison medical providers should seek the guidance of a specialist in these cases.

Cervical Length - A Preemie Predictor

There's general consensus, which is backed by the research, that the shorter the cervix, the greater the risk of an early delivery. (A short cervix is commonly defined as ≤2.5 cm prior to 24 weeks gestation.)

Transvaginal sonography (TVU) - has increased the ability to predict and even treat women at risk of a premature baby by measuring cervical length.

Suggested TVU Screening Scenario:

* One check at around 18-22 weeks in low-risk women

* For high-risk women - e.g., those with a prior preterm birth - two checks, one at 14-18 weeks and another at 18-22 weeks

* For extremely high-risk women - i.e., those with a history of a second-trimester loss or very early spontaneous preterm birth - TVUs are recommended every two weeks from 14 until 24 weeks.

Understanding the Numbers:

* A length of less than 2.5 cm is best for predicting an early birth. The earlier a short length is seen, the higher the risk.

* A cerclage should be considered in high-risk women with a cervix shorter than 2.5 cm (prior to 24 weeks). The reduction in preterm birth following a cerclage has been shown to be about 30%.

* Cervical length of greater than 3.0 cm at 24 weeks = low risk of an early delivery.

Provider Options to Managing Early Birth

•In situations of preterm labor, providers need to consider whether there is an underlying problem, such as infection, triggering it. There are many side effects, with the use of tocolytics, to both mom and baby, so experience in this area is required. Research has shown promise in the ability of these medications to extend pregnancy to allow for transfer and steroid administration, as well as stopping a bout of preterm labor (specifically, Nifedipine due it's overall safety profile and Indomethacin).

•17 Alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate (aka 17P or progesterone) is a hormone which is shown to reduce PTB by 33% in women with a history of a prior early birth. Every woman with a history of a spontaneous early birth should be prescribed this medication during pregnancy. (Low-risk women with cervical shortening of ≤2.5 cm vaginal progesterone has demonstrated a substantial decrease in delivery before 33 weeks, as well as reduced neonatal morbidity and mortality.9)

•Fetal Fibronectin (FFN) swabbing is a test used to help "predict" the likelihood that the patient will deliver within 7-10 days. A negative equates to a >90% confidence that the woman will not deliver during this period. There is a huge range of variability with positive results, meaning only about 9-46% confidence. When swabbing of the cervix confirms the presence of fetal fibronectin (FFN) after 22 weeks, a link to PTB has been shown to exist. (Combined FFN swabbing and cervical length determination is the ideal approach when determining management plans for symptomatic women.)

•Steroids should be considered for women being treated for preterm labor between 24 and 34 weeks (dexamethasone or betamethasone).They are given as a series of shots in the muscle, two shots 24 hours apart, or 4 shots 12 hours apart. The use of steroids has drastically reduced preemie death rates, respiratory distress syndrome and intraventricular hemorrhage.

Make Adequate Prenatal Care, Nutrition and Education a Priority

Though an extremely complex issue, it's important to provide these moms-to-be proper care and nutrition throughout imprisonment to meet their additional needs during the antepartum period and to help ensure healthy outcomes for mom and baby. This would ensure they "are not further compromised by poor care during imprisonment."6 Pregnant women with specific problems, such as diabetes or hypertension, need to have access to specialist care.

It should be noted that studies have shown that there may actually be a beneficial effect for babies when mom is imprisoned, by providing food (leading to higher birth weights), shelter, protection from abusive partners, access to prenatal care, and moderation/elimination of alcohol and drug use.6, 10, 11 Though, there still appears to be much needed improvements within many state systems in order to meet the needs of this specialized population. The Rebecca Project reported that 38 states received a failing grade in prenatal care, which include inadequate policies, prenatal care, nutrition, screening and treatment for women with high-risk pregnancies.3

Providing education, with a combination of written through the library and on-site classes are ideal and should be a priority. Women should be provided the opportunity to educate themselves about pregnancy, what they can expect, body changes, potential risk factors, signs, symptoms or issues they should be aware of (such as the signs and symptoms of PTB, PPROM or preeclampsia), the importance of proper nutrition, etc.

Steps for Medical Personnel to Help Ensure Healthier Pregnancies

•Every incoming female should be tested for pregnancy as soon as possible to identify those who will need antenatal care. An ultrasound should be performed on all pregnant inmates to determine gestation. (Note: First trimester ultrasounds are more accurate for pregnancy dating than later ultrasound testing.)

•All pregnant women should take prenatal vitamins with folic acid as soon as they arrive in the facility or are identified. Along with preventing neural-tube defects, it has also been shown to reduce PTB. (Education about the benefits to the baby's development may help with compliance within this population. Explaining to mom that her baby could be severely disabled or die as a result of not taking vitamins may help her to better understand the needs of her developing baby, hence, improve her willingness to participate.)

•Programs within the system should include smoking cessation, as well as comprehensive alcohol and drug programs. These behaviors are linked to not only PTB, but low birth weight, IUGR, PPROM, placenta previa and placental abruption.

•A FULL and DETAILED medical history should be obtained for every pregnant woman by a trained obstetrical provider (including detailed discussions around risk factors). This evaluation should be used to determine the specific needs of each woman and the likelihood of pregnancy issues and early birth. (Sadly, actual access to prenatal care has been shown to be sparse and inconsistent within the prison system, which was designed to meet the needs of males.3)

•Women should be screened and treated for sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

•Programs which meet the specific nutritional needs of pregnant women must be implemented (and followed). (Proper nutrition reduces the risk of PTB, certain birth defects and low birth weight babies.)

•As stated previously, education materials and one-on-one discussions to help women better understand their situation/needs and pregnancy/birth in general should be mandatory.

The Doula Perspective - Birth and the Confined Mom

As a doula (a woman who assists women and families during the birth process, physically and emotionally), I couldn't let this article go without a mention of labor and delivery for imprisoned moms.

•Thirty-six states received a failing grade for their shackling practices of pregnant women.3 Shackling should ONLY be reserved for the most violent of offenders (so a very small fragment of the female prison population) or those with a previous escape attempt. This practice is not only a health and safety issue, it is inhumane and falls under cruel and unusual punishment. (I couldn't imagine giving birth while tied up.)

•States should evaluate the use of prison nursery programs which help foster the bond between mom and baby. (Thirty-eight states failed for not offering this to new imprisoned moms.3)

•Pregnant inmates should have a plan for their birth in a hospital or birth center. Under no circumstances should a woman give birth in her jail cell.

•Every mom-to-be should receive education regarding the labor and birth process, help developing a birth plan (her choices for pain relief, etc.) and should be allowed to have someone there for support during her birth (ideally family, significant other, or a doula for non-violent, low-risk offenders). Prison doula programs should be considered to help support and educate incarcerated pregnant women.

•The basic needs of pregnant women should be met, even during imprisonment (adequate beds, pillows and clothing to manage body changes and back pain).

Even Small Changes Matter

The complexity of issues regarding pregnancy and prison must be overwhelming to those who work within and manage the prison system. Even baby steps can lead to great change. Each in turn, will make a positive difference and impact within the population you serve. Providing mothers and babies with a healthy start trickles down to shape a better future for children born to imprisoned women.

References

1. Frost NA, Greene J, Pranis K. HARD HIT: The Growth in the Imprisonment of Women, 1977-2004. Institute on Women & Criminal Justice (The Punitiveness Report) May 2006

2. Guerino P, Harrison PM, Sabol WJ. U.S. Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoners in 2010; Dec. 2011, NCJ 236096

3. Saar MS, Bisnott B, Mathon-Mathieu F, et al. The Rebecca Project for Human Rights, National Women's Law Center, Mothers Behind Bars: A state-by-state report card and analysis of federal policies on conditions of confinement for pregnant and parenting women and the effect on their children. Oct 2010

4. Hotelling BA. Perinatal Needs of Pregnant, Incarcerated Women. J Perinatal Education 2008;17(2):37-44.

5. Clarke JG, Phipps M, Tong I, et al. Timing of conception for pregnant women returning to jail. J Correct Health Care 2010;16(2):133-138.

6. Knight M, Plugge E. Risk factors for adverse perinatal outcomes in imprisoned pregnant women: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2005;5(111).

7. Hamilton BE, Martin JA, Ventura SJ. Births: Preliminary Data for 2008. National Vital Statistics Reports 2010;58(16).

8. Whitehead, Kelly. High-Risk Pregnancy- Why Me? Understanding and Managing a Potential Preterm Pregnancy. A Medical and Emotional Guide. McAfee, New Jersey. Evolve Publishing, 2012.

9. Romero R, Nicolaides K, Conde-Agudelo A. Vaginal progesterone in women with an asymptomatic sonographic short cervix in the midtrimester decreases preterm delivery and neonatal morbidity: a systematic review and metaanalysis of individual patient data. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2012;206(2):e1-124.

10. Tanner R. Pregnancy outcomes at the Indiana Women's Prison. J Correct Health Care 2010;16(3):216-219.

11. Knight M, Plugge E. The outcomes of pregnancy among imprisoned women: a systematic review. BJOG 2005;112(11):1467-1474.

Getting Pregnant After 40 Naturally - Tips to Help You Conceive Late in Life

Is getting pregnant after 40 naturally really possible? What are the odds of success for pregnancy over 40? In order to get pregnant at this age do women need to do anything special?

In this article I am going to share information which will answer some of the above questions. In the present age women decide to put off pregnancy until later in life for multiple reasons. Career aspirations, financial security and emotional readiness are some of the factors which compel women to postpone having a baby. Although difficult, getting pregnant after 40 naturally is certainly possible.

Statistics

Research has indicated that two-thirds of women over the age of 40 have fertility problems while trying to conceive. In any single ovulation cycle only 5 out of 100 women of this age get pregnant.

Useful Tips To Get Pregnant Naturally

Here are some things which can help you get pregnant after the age of 40 naturally.

a) ensure that you are in good physical condition.

b) Stop taking pills at least a month or two before you want to get pregnant.

c) Start taking folic acid supplements. Folic acid helps to reduce the risk of serious birth defects affecting the brain and spinal cord of the unborn baby.

d) Give up smoking and drinking completely. Drugs and excessive intake of caffeine is another thing which you must avoid. Remember while trying to conceive you have to take into consideration the health of your unborn child also. These habits not only decrease the possibility of getting pregnant but also enhance the risk of birth defects and miscarriage.

e) In case you are overweight you must make efforts to shed excess body weight to help you conceive fast.

f) Stress can adversely impact a woman's fertility. Hence you must remain stress free as far as possible.

g) There are certain sexual positions which are conducive for getting pregnant. The missionary position is a good position to use when trying to get pregnant. Avoid positions where the woman is on top. It would also be useful to place a pillow under your hips to help tilt your pelvis and keep the sperm in longer. Keep lying down and try to relax after sex. This will allow the sperm to stay in the vagina for a long time.

h) Timing is extremely important while trying to conceive. You should be aware of the most fertile days of your cycle. This is the time when ovulation happens and eggs are released for fertilization.

Getting pregnant after 40 naturally is certainly possible if you are physically fit and emotionally prepared to give birth to a child late in life.

Belly Band Support

Belly band support garments are, as the name would imply, bands of flexible material that are used to support a pregnant woman's belly. In addition, they provide lower back support and relieve pain and pressure by redistributing uneven weight. They also help with balance and posture, a great benefit for those women who find it difficult to get around, especially during late pregnancy. Currently, they can found in a number of colors and patterns, so they can be used in conjunction with other stylish maternity clothing or even pre-pregnancy garments.

Many women end up purchasing multiple belly support bands due to their low cost and versatile uses. The average band costs around $20 or so, but can sometimes be found on sale for less. Also, because the material is so durable, they may borrow or be given used bands from friends and relatives. And since many women find it useful to wear their bands on the outside of clothing, having several in different colors is handy to coordinate with existing outfits. For example, if a woman wants to wear a blouse that has grown increasingly short due to her expanding belly, she can wear a band beneath it for coverage and control. She can chose a color that compliments or contrasts her outfit, depending on whether she feels like being subtle or vibrant.

There is also other belly support clothing available, such as skirts, leggings, and blouses. They can be worn with the belly band for extra comfort and control, or alone if desired. They are usually made of the same materials as belly bands, making use of soft, flexible fabric blends such as cotton or nylon mixed with spandex or Lycra. All clothing is meant to stretch and conform to the woman's body as she grows.

Over the last few years, belly support garments have become very popular among pregnant women of all ages and sizes, due to their comfort and multiple functions before and after pregnancy. After pregnancy? Yes! One of the great benefits of these bands is that they can be worn postpartum, as belts to hold up maternity pants, or as tops to provide extra coverage during nursing. And because they are conforming, the correct size will also render light control over the weeks or months that it takes the woman to transition back to her pre-pregnancy figure. Belly band support clothing has quickly become a staple of pregnant women's wardrobes everywhere.

The Realities of Teen Pregnancy and Parenting

If you spend enough time watching daytime talk shows, you are guaranteed to come across one devoted to pregnant teenagers who have decided to keep and raise their babies. If you listen to enough of theses young women, you will get a fairly good idea of how skewed their understanding of parenthood can be.

One of the most disturbing realities of teen pregnancy and parenting, however, is that the younger the expectant mother is, the less ability she has to recognize her own lack of preparedness for what lies ahead.

Surveys have shown that most expectant teens, not matter how old, believe that by having a child they will at last have found a bond with another person, and even think the child will bond them to its father. But younger teens not only seem to be relying on their coming child to provide them with emotional connectedness; they seem to have no true grasp of the how the realities of teen pregnancy and parenting will change their lives.

There are approximately half a million births to US women below the age of twenty every year. One of the sadder realities of teen pregnancy and parenting is that many teenaged girls who become pregnant are so ignorant about reproductive matters that they do not realize their condition until well into the pregnancy.

This is especially alarming because so many birth defects can result from the behaviors an expectant mother engages in during her first trimester. Even worse, many teenagers are afraid to acknowledge their pregnancies until it is impossible to hide them, or will even cut down on their food intake in and attempt to keep the pregnancy from showing.

Such behavior means that two of the other realities of teen pregnancy and parenting are a higher incidence of low birth weight babies and undernourished mothers who may have a longer postpartum recovery period and be even less able to properly care for their newborns.

A 2006 study of 247 expectant teenagers, headed by Dr. Cynthia Rosengard, of Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University Medical School questioned the young women, aged from 12 to 19, about their motivations for becoming pregnant. Almost one-quarter of them admitted to consciously deciding to have a child.

And it appears that one of the more common realities surrounding teen pregnancy and parenting is that younger girls believed that they could become friends with their children because of their closeness in age.

Alarmingly, another of the young ladies thought that one or the realities of teen pregnancy and parenting was that by having her baby at fifteen, she could pursue a career as an adult because the child would be old enough to fend for itself. Another one thought that having a baby would teach her some responsibility and keep her away from drugs.

But about 50% of the girls over eighteen admitted that they were not prepared for the realities of teen pregnancy and parenting. There appeared to be an improved understanding of those realities as the ages of the women increased.

The idea of children having children, it seems, is not a good one to anybody but the children themselves.

How Does Social Networking Affect Your Healthy Eating Plan?

Learn How To Eat

Healthy eating begins with learning how to eat, which can defend you again heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and depression, and can boost your energy, sharpen your memory and stabilize your mood. You can find people on health related social networking sites discussing a range of healthy food choices and you can learn how to plan ahead to create and maintain a satisfying, healthy diet. Such topics discussed include healthy eating tips.

• Eating with others has many social and emotional benefits than eating in front of the TV or computer.


• Take time to chew your food slowly and enjoy mealtimes.


• Ask yourself if you are really hungry or actually really thirsty. Have a glass of water to see whether you are only thirsty instead of hungry. During a meal, stop eating before you feel full.


• Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, be sure to eat breakfast, and eat smaller meals throughout the day.

Drink More Water

People found on health related social networking sites advise others to drink more water. Water helps flush our systems of waste products and toxins, yet many people go through life dehydrated, causing tiredness, low energy, and headaches. It's common to mistake thirst for hunger, so staying well hydrated leads to a healthier lifestyle.

What About Exercise?

When it comes to preventing, controlling, or reversing diabetes, consider exercising. Regular exercise maintains your weight and can improve your insulin sensitivity. One of the easiest moderate-intensity activities is walking for 30 minutes five or more times a week, swimming or riding a bike. You can discuss with others on social networking sites your exercise achievements and compare results.

Eat In Moderation

The most common advice seen on social networking sites is not to deprive yourself of the foods you love, but eat them in moderation. Try not to think of certain foods as off-limits. When you ban certain foods or food groups, it is natural to want those foods more, and then feel like a failure if you give in to temptation. Think smaller portions. If you are drawn towards sweet, salty, or unhealthy foods, start by reducing portion sizes and not eating them as often. You may find that you are craving them less or thinking of them as only occasional indulgences.

Eat The Rainbow

Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. Colorful and deeply colored fruits and vegetables contain higher concentrations of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and different colors provide different benefits.

• Greens, such as broccoli, and Chinese cabbage are just a few of the options, all packed with calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, and vitamins A, C, E, and K.


• Sweet vegetables, such as corn, carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, yams, onions, and squash


• Fruit such as berries, apples, oranges and mangoes, are satisfying way to fill up on fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Healthy Carb Options

Healthy carbs are digested slowly, helping you feel fuller for longer, while keeping your blood sugar and insulin levels stable. Healthy carbs include whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables.

Unhealthy carbs digest quickly and cause spikes in blood sugar levels and energy. These include white flour, refined sugar, and white rice that have been stripped of all bran, fiber, and nutrients. Blogs found on social networking sites document peoples experience on carb intake.

Eat Healthy Fats

Eating healthy fat nourish your brain, heart, hair, skin, and nails. Foods rich in certain omega-3 fats can reduce cardiovascular disease, improve your mood, and help prevent dementia. Unhealthy fats like saturated fats and trans fats should be reduced or eliminated from your diet. There are various healthy fats to consider and remain in your diet, and these include:

• Monounsaturated fats that are derived from plant oils like canola oil, peanut oil, and olive oil, as well as avocados, nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans, and seeds such as pumpkin, sesame.


• Polyunsaturated fats, including Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, found in fatty fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines oil supplements. Other sources of polyunsaturated fats are unheated sunflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil, flaxseed oil, and walnuts.

Guidelines To Protein

Protein aids to the building blocks of our body that provides growth and energy, while maintaining cells, tissues, and organs. A lack of protein can slow growth, reduce muscle mass, lower immunity, and weaken the heart and respiratory system. The different types of protein include beans such as black beans and lentils, nuts such as almonds and walnuts, and soy products such as tofu and soy milk.

Calcium Equals Healthy Bones

Calcium-rich foods are one of the key nutrients that your body needs in order to stay strong and healthy. The recommended calcium levels are 1000 mg per day, 1200 mg if you are over 50 years old. Good sources of calcium-rich foods include dairy products such as milk and cheese, vegetables such as leafy greens and celery, and beans such as black beans and kidney beans.

What Every Woman Needs to Know About Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy

During pregnancy a woman's thyroid hormones take on newfound importance. For the first 10-12 weeks of gestation, the developing baby depends solely on its mother's production of thyroid hormone to meet its developmental needs.

After that the baby will begin to produce thyroid hormone on its own, but still depends on the mother's adequate dietary intake of iodine in order to make thyroid hormones.

If a woman is suffering from hypothyroidism, of which Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause, even at a subclinical level, her baby could be seriously affected. Further, because many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism -- fatigue, weight gain, constipation -- mimic those of pregnancy, the condition can be incredibly easy to miss.

Health Risks to Baby from Mom's Hypothyroidism

If your body is not producing enough thyroid hormone during pregnancy both your health and your newborn's could be at risk.

When left untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to preeclampsia -- a potentially serious condition involving high blood pressure -- placental abnormalities, low birth weight infants, stillbirth, miscarriage, anemia, and postpartum hemorrhage (bleeding).

In the baby, thyroid hormone is essential for normal brain and nervous system development, so low-functioning thyroid in the mother may lead to cognitive and developmental disabilities in the newborn. Even mild subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy may lead to subtle brain abnormalities in the child.

For instance, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that children born to women who had untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy were nearly four times as likely to have lower IQ scores, and also were significantly more likely to have problems with attention, language and reading.[1]

Because the effects may be most severe when hypothyroidism is left untreated during the first trimester... a time when many women may not even realize they are pregnant yet... it's often important to get your thyroid checked prior to pregnancy.

Thyroid Screening for Pregnant Women Remains Controversial

A debate is raging over whether or not thyroid screening should be a routine part of pregnancy care. As it stands, pregnant women are NOT routinely screened, as the potential health benefits have been deemed inconsequential in relation to the costs of testing millions of pregnant women each year.

The exception is those at high risk of thyroid disease. Women with the following thyroid risk factors WILL be routinely tested for thyroid problems during pregnancy:

• Family or personal history of thyroid disease


• Goiter


• Symptoms of thyroid disease, including anemia or high cholesterol


• Type 1 diabetes or other autoimmune disorders


• Have received radiation to the head or neck as part of a medical treatment


• History of miscarriage or premature delivery


• Infertility

The concern is, however, that since many women may be suffering from hypothyroidism on a subclinical level, they may miss out on being screened and never know they have the condition.

In fact, a new study in the journal Clinical Thyroidology revealed that over half (55 percent) of pregnant women with Hashimoto's disease would be missed if only high-risk criteria like those listed above were examined.[2]

Another concerning issue has to do with thyroid antibodies. It's recommended that pregnant women be tested for thyroid problems if they test positive for thyroid antibodies, as this can be a sign of impending thyroid problems.

Research suggests that 3 percent to 20 percent of women have circulating thyroid antibodies during or shortly after pregnancy, and this increases the risk of becoming hypothyroid during pregnancy. However, thyroid antibodies are not normally a part of routine testing for pregnant women.

What Should You do if You're Pregnant or Thinking of Becoming Pregnant?

First, be aware of the signs and symptoms that you may have low-functioning thyroid:

• Fatigue


• Unexplained weight gain


• Cold intolerance


• Dry skin


• Joint and muscle pain and stiffness


• Muscle weakness


• Constipation


• Thinning hair


• Heavy or prolonged menstrual periods and impaired fertility


• Depression


• Slowed heart rate

If you notice any of these symptoms, insist that your health care practitioner check your thyroid function, ideally before you become pregnant.

However, it's very possible to have subclinical hypothyroidism and not experience (or notice) any symptoms at all. In fact, it's estimated that about 13 million Americans have hypothyroidism but have never been diagnosed. You could be in this group even if you've had your thyroid levels tested, as conventional lab tests to diagnose the disease can be misleading, labeling thyroid hormones as within the normal range when a problem still exists.

So if you suspect that you may have a thyroid problem, find a knowledgeable health care practitioner in your area who will work with you to determine if a problem is present. This is of crucial importance if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as your baby's healthy development during the first trimester of pregnancy depends on your healthy thyroid function.

Keep in mind, too, that pregnancy places an increased demand on your thyroid gland. Because of this, if you are currently being treated for hypothyroidism you may need to adjust your treatment plan to account for this extra demand. Again, it is imperative that you work with a practitioner who understands the complexities of thyroid function, including during pregnancy, for your health and the health of your baby.

References

1. New England Journal of Medicine 1999 Aug 19;341(8):549-55.

2. Clinical Thyroidology Volume 22 Issue 11 November 2010 "Over half (55%) of the pregnant women with clear abnormalities suggestive of autoimmune thyroiditis with or without thyroid insufficiency would be missed if only the high-risk criteria are examined."

Can Vitamin C Help You Get Pregnant? Yes and No

One of the things you can do to increase your chances of getting pregnant is to take
certain supplements that are known to have positive effects on fertility. It is important,
though to be aware of the negative effects these same supplements can have as well.
There is one vitamin in particular, that can do a lot to improve your conception odds, but
also has the potential to cause harm.

What is it?

I'm talking about Vitamin C. Here's the deal.. Taking some vitamin C is actually a great
idea, because vitamin C (in small doses) can do something wonderful to increase your
fertility. It actually improves the quality of your cervical fluid. You may already know that
the cervical fluid is crucial for transporting the sperm to your cervix and on to your uterus,
where it will eventually meet up with your egg.

Without good quality cervical fluid, the sperm just doesn't have a chance of surviving for
very long. If you do have very wet and abundant cervical fluid, the sperm can often
survive for up to 6 days inside a woman's body. The longer the sperm can last, the greater
your odds of conception.

But here's the catch...Too much vitamin C can have the opposite effect. Yes, that's
right...too much can cause your cervical fluid to dry up, and that can just about ruin your
chance of ever getting pregnant. So you must be extremely careful to avoid getting megadoses of Vitamin C (especially during cold and flu season where we're often advised to load up on vitamin C).

Now, moving on to the effect vitamin C has on men. Vitamin C is a powerful
anti-oxidant, which protects the DNA of the sperm. Side effects of damaged DNA to
sperm can be risk of miscarriage or chromosomal damage to the baby.

Also, a lack of vitamin C makes sperm clump together, a problem called agglutination.
This problem makes conception difficult, but can be helped with appropriate
supplements of vitamin C.

Additionally, taking supplemental vitamin C can improve sperm count, motility and
viability in male smokers and reduces the number of abnormally formed sperm. The
optimum dose for men is 500mg taken twice daily, for a total of 1000mg daily.

All in all, Vitamin C can have a tremendous impact on a couples ability to conceive a
child, effecting both the female and male partners.

Going From a CNA to a LPN

In the field of medicine, a CNA is often times considered as being the stepping stone into the healthcare field. Becoming a LPN is next on the ladder when considering a career in the healthcare field. Both of these positions work under the direction of a doctor or physician or RN. There are several advantages to working your way up the ladder and getting there is rather simple as well. Here are a few advantages and facts about both a CNA and a LPN.

Job Details and Salary of a LPN

An average starting salary of a LPN is around $40,000. As a nursing assistant, the average salary is $27,000. The average salary for a LPN is about $40,000. As a LPN, there are going to be more responsibilities and tasks that you are responsible for and therefore your salary is higher. Licensed nurses will administer medications and prepare patient rooms as well. They are a form of a more experienced, and licensed, CNA.

Qualifications

When you are looking into advancing to a position as a licensed practical nurse, there are a few extra skills and qualifications that you are going to have to possess. You should begin by finding out what your state requires. This will tell you what extra classes and degree forms you are going to have to obtain. For instance, if you are in CA and attempting to advance to a LPN, you need to have 51 months of experience in a hospital and this is going to include 200 hours of pediatric care, 200 of maternity care, and 64 of pharmacy hours. You can find out what your state requires by contacting the Nursing Board in the state you are in.

Educational Programs

Just about all community colleges will offer a LPN program. Nowadays, there are even options and some ways to take some of your courses on the internet. This has become a popular alternative as some people have a full time job that does not allow them to attend a college campus. For the most part, a LPN program is going to take 2 years and that is for an Associates of Science degree. This is the minimum requirement to work in the field of nursing and often times, many people go back to school to get their RN license.

Keep in mind that throughout your course and degree program, you are going to have to take part in a set amount of clinical hours. The amount of time you spend on clinical experience can vary from state to state and once you get enrolled in a college, they will be better able to assist you in answering any questions you are unsure of.

Working as a CNA can really open up many various paths, and if you are looking into going into nursing, a LPN license can help you get your feet in the door a little further. You can even contact your human resources department if you are working as an aide and learn more about any educational classes that you may benefit from.

Vitex Agnus Castus Might Help You Fall Pregnant!

Vitex agnus-castus, also called chaste berry, is becoming more and more popular with women trying to fall pregnant. But what does it actually do and will it really help?

The key to falling pregnant is having regular menstrual cycles and ovulation. Of course general health and well being also play a part, but for those women whose fertility is due to hormonal imbalances that cause irregular menstrual cycles or ovulation then Vitex has been used for centuries to help correct these problems.

The most common hormonal problem with women is insufficient progesterone during the luteal phase. The luteal phase is the time between ovulation and your period and should be around 14 days long. If your luteal phase is less than 10 days (called a luteal phase defect) then the egg, even if it does get fertilized, doesn't have time to embed into the uterus and is expelled with your period.

Vitex acts by balancing the hormones thus shifting the ratio of estrogen to progesterone. It doesn't actually produce progesterone itself, just helps your body increase its ability to produce more. It is also helpful for reducing high prolactin levels which are also commonly associated with a luteal phase defect.

It has been shown to be especially beneficial for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) as they often have hormonal irregularities that mean that estrogen, which is dominant in the first half of a women's cycle, continues to dominate in the second half thus not producing enough progesterone to sustain a potential pregnancy.

It is safe to take Vitex throughout your whole cycle until you fall pregnant but many women choose to take it either in the first half or second half of their cycle thinking that this will be more beneficial. However this doesn't allow enough time for the herb to build up in your body and many women give up too soon thinking that the herb is not working for them.

It usually takes at least 3 - 6 months for Vitex or Chaste berry to begin working so if you have just started taking it, continue for at least six months to make sure you get the full benefit.

Vitex can be taken in capsule, tea or tincture form, so talk to your naturopath about which is best for you.

Pregnancy Vomiting and Nausea - 7 Tips to Help You Cope

Pregnancy often leads to unpleasant vomiting and nausea. In fact, morning sickness seems to be almost inevitable and unavoidable. It is estimated that nearly 85% of all women suffer from pregnancy vomiting and nausea at some point of their amazing nine months. Problems normally start around the second month and are likely to last for at least another two to three months after that. So while there will be some that totally escape the feelings of morning sickness, chances are that you should expect it and then have to deal with it. So here are seven simple suggestions for how you can treat your pregnancy vomiting and nausea:

1. You need to pay more attention to your diet and liquid intake. It is vital that you stay hydrated at all times so you need to be drinking water regularly as part of your normal routine. Eight glasses of water per day is recommended for the average person and this should be increased to around twelve glasses when you are pregnant. I know this sounds like a lot but it isn't such an issue if you just try to take regular sips of water throughout the day. Make sure that you don't try to drink too much in one go and also avoid drinking with, or close to, your meal.


2. If you are vomiting regularly, you need to be very aware of your hydration levels to ensure that you cover for the loss of fluids. You do not have to be overly concerned about this, providing that you can keep down some level of water and food when you are feeling a little better. If you can't keep anything in your system for long, you may need to get proper medical attention to ensure that the situation does not get serious.


3. While you need to be aware of your food intake, you should also feel like you have some flexibility to eat what you want and what you really feel like. If you get a craving for a particular food then go for it - just make sure not to overdo it.


4. There are certain foods that can help to relieve the feelings of nausea and queasiness. These include salty foods (like chips or pretzels), as well as earthy foods (brown rice or peanut butter), and bland foods (broth or potatoes). Ginger is well known as a substance that can soothe upset stomachs so consider food or liquid options that incorporate it. Examples include ginger ale, herbal tea, candies, and ginger powder.


5. Getting plenty of rest is a simple but sound solution to help reduce the symptoms of morning sickness. Try to get a solid night of sleep and also take a nap now and again during the day if you feel that you need it. It has been proven that women need to have more sleep during the initial three months of pregnancy and also that nausea will increase if you are tired.


6. Fresh air is your friend. Avoid stuffy or hot rooms as they can impact on your nausea. You may also want to avoid the kitchen at certain times as it can get hot and also full of strong odors.


7. Call on the help of friends and family if you feel like you need to at any time. It is important to have support when you might be feeling unwell or even if you just want some advice. Most people will be keen to help in any way they can, so don't be afraid to take advantage of it.

While pregnancy vomiting and nausea is clearly a negative to expecting a baby, the whole experience will ultimately seem like a minor inconvenience compared to the joy you will eventually experience with your new baby.