Contractors - Employee Benefit Trust Vs Umbrella Company

It has been the tradition for contractors to refuse efforts to make them into regular PAYE employees. Contractors enjoy additional earnings and a more flexible working schedule (should they choose of course) However, they haven't had the same benefits given to full time, permanent employees. That is where an Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) steps in. Umbrella companies offer statutory benefits to contractors, which include:

• Holiday pay


• Maternity and paternity leave benefits


• Statutory sick pay commensurate with regular employees


• Guaranteed minimum wage or above and minimum weekly hours


• Redundancy payments


• Contractors may have no employee rights with their clients, but an umbrella company (EBT) that genuinely employs its contractors provides the full range of employee's rights.

All umbrella companies are not the same. The Pay As You Earn (PAYE) model sees the worker as an employee for income tax purposes. The agency deducts National Insurance Contributions and income taxes before payment to the contractor, even though the contractor isn't an actual employee. Other companies claiming to be umbrella companies provide the contractors an employee benefit trust paid into an offshore account. Neither offshore accounts nor agency PAYE models may give contractors employment rights. Many companies offering EBT style solutions claim to save contractors money.

Legitimate umbrella companies such as Parasol, Equity Incentives, Streets LLP, etc., which do provide an "actual" employment model for their contractors, follow all employment benefits specified by statute. They are usually members of recognized trade bodies and regularly pass vigorous membership compliance requirements. Those companies under trade body membership, provide contractors ongoing holiday pay.

Legitimate umbrella companies act as a "regular" employer. Now when a contractor needs a mortgage reference, he has a company that can give one, and an HR department to process the request. Support for grievances and disciplinary procedures are also provided if questions come up between the contractor and the client.

Quality employee benefit trust companies have stringent requirements for their contractors. This ensures that the contractor hasn't gone beyond expense limits with past clients or left tax bills unpaid. After working with an umbrella company for a period of time, that company will increase minimum payments to the contractor at times when they aren't in statutory redundancy pay or in a contract.

Reputable umbrella companies make benefits available, provide stability, and support for the contractor that regular contracting doesn't. This arrangement still offers higher earnings and a more flexible schedule than a permanent, full-time job. The contractors needn't worry about office politics, or fighting for the next promotion.

Things to Do to Get Pregnant With a Girl

I often write about ways that couples can naturally chose their baby's gender.  The other day, someone asked me if I could create a list of the top things that a couple should do if they want to have a girl baby.  I'll do so in the following article.

First, Understand The Real Goal: I'm always surprised by how many people contact me and tell me that they think they have all kinds of time to chose their baby's gender.  The truth is, you only get one shot at this. Once the sperm fertilizes your egg, your baby's gender is set.  For life. If you want to conceive a girl baby, you must make certain that the sperm chromosome which gets to and fertilizes your egg first is an X sperm, not a Y.

The first way to go about this is to understand the different behaviors in these sperm chromosomes.  The girl sperm is very strong and lives for much longer.  It is also much more stable - which is good for you.  But, the boy sperm is much faster. So, to keep these guys from winning the race, you have to exploit their weakness to ensure they're never in the race the begin with.

Understanding The Role Of PH And Acidity In Getting A Girl Baby: If I had to tell you what I think is the most important thing to do in conceiving a girl, I'd tell you that it's vital to raise your PH as high as you can.  Why? Because the weak boy sperm will die off when your PH is high. 

You can raise your acidity in three ways.  You can go on an alkaline diet.  You can douche with specialty recipes.  Or, you can combine both of these methods if you don't mind being a bit diligent.

Of all of the tips that I give, this is probably the one that scares or intimates people the most.  It really doesn't have to be this way.  There are tools that can make this a bit easier. First, go to the health food store and get PH testing strips (which will test your saliva).  Find out how acidic you already are.  Then, there are food lists and douche recipes to help you with the rest.

Next, continue using the strips.  Don't just assume that you're ready or that what you are doing is working.  Test every couple of days to make sure that you are moving in the right direction.  This will also tell you when you've reached a level high enough to conceive a girl.

The Second Most Important Thing You Can Do To Conceive A Girl Baby: If I had to chose the next most important factor, I'd chose timing.  Again, the boy sperm are short lived.  So, you want to make them wait around as long as you can.  Conceive a full three days before ovulation and it's very likely that a good amount of the Y sperm will already be gone by the time your egg is ready.  (Your PH is going to be the next knock out punch.)

Another thing that you need to do is make sure that you are very accurate with this.  I am still surprised at how many people are using old fashioned methods to predict or guess at their ovulation.  Basal temperature and cervical mucus are written about a lot, but they require too much guess work for comfort.  Go with the most recent, most accurate tool that you can get your hands on.  I personally had great results with saliva ovulation predictors.

Shallow Intercourse Positions To Get A Girl: The final thing that I want to share with you is that you should use shallow positions when you have intercourse in an attempt to conceive.  Why? Because again, you're stacking the odds against the Y sperm.  You're giving them a long trip in terms of distance. 

And, by timing your intercourse correctly, you're giving them a long trip in terms of time. Making yourself more acidic will give them a harder, more hostile trip.

Choosing the Right Birth Attendant - The Investigation

Picking the right prenatal care provider/birth attendant is one of the most important decisions you will make during your pregnancy. While the process does not have to take a lot of time it is important that you give some focused energy to your choice since the person you choose has the power to affect your entire experience.

Once you have an understanding of the type of birthing experience you desire, it's time to move into The Investigation Phase of choosing your provider. The goal of The Investigation Phase is to create a list of providers that you believe may fit your needs and desires. There are four basic steps to the investigation. Each step will bring additional information.

Step 1 Ask your friends, family and coworkers what providers they used. Ask what providers they recommend, which they don't recommend. Be sure to ask WHY? While their choice of provider may not be your choice what they tell you can give you good baseline information.

Step 2

Visit the websites of the hospital, birth center, or OB/GYN offices in your area. This will provide good baseline information. While you can't make a decision about choosing someone simply from an internet profile you may be able to eliminate someone from the search. As an example: If you are absolutely adamant about having a female provider you can eliminate some providers once your internet search reveals their gender. Perhaps you are absolutely sure you want to birth with a Midwife. If the practice you investigate does not have any midwives, you can eliminate them as well. If you are planning a hospital birth and there is more than one hospital in your area find out how you can get a tour of the maternity area including the nursery and post partum units.

Steps one and two are the basic investigation. Its possible you will eliminate a few providers with those two steps. Moving forward, you want to intensify your investigation and obtain more specific information about your remaining options.

Step 3

Make more use of the internet. First do a basic internet search. You may be surprised at the amount of information, personal and professional, you can find through a simple internet search. Then make a visit to The Birth Survey a national non-profit organization with a goal to create more transparency in maternity care. Women from all over the country can visit the website and provide insight, feedback and opinions about a provider they recently used for a delivery. Check out the site and see if the providers you are considering have been mentioned.

Step 4

If you are planning a hospital birth, call the hospital and talk to the staff about the providers. Call more than once and at a different time of day since a different person may provide different information. (Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings are often good times.) A great question to ask the staff is: "If you or a family member were pregnant, what provider would you use?" If it is possible, speak with different levels of staff on the unit. They see the providers differently and often have varying opinions. If it would make you feel more comfortable don't hesitate to call anonymously.

Remember, at this stage of the game, you are simply investigating and gathering information. You are NOT making any final decisions. At the end of the investigation phase, you should have a list of providers that you will interview to determine which provider is right for you. Also remember, during this process you should make an appointment with someone and start your prenatal care. You can always change providers later.

Affordable Colorado Health Insurance Plans - How to Get Cheap Quotes Online

Affordable Colorado Health Insurance Plans - How to Get Cheap Quotes Online

Searching for health insurance rates in Colorado you can afford? Here's how to find health insurance quotes online with the lowest cost.

Colorado health insurance plans

Managed health care plans such as HMOs, PPOs, and POSs are made up from a network of Doctors and hospitals. These plans are the least expensive of health insurance plans, and will give you quality medical coverage at the lowest cost. However, you must use Doctors and hospitals within the network to get the lowest cost.

When shopping for managed health care, you should check insurance plans for these coverages:

• 
  Major Medical Coverage Does the plan pay expenses for catastrophic illness or injury?
  


• 
  Doctor or Physicians Coverage Does the plan pay for Doctor visits? Most managed care plans have a small copayment for Doctor visits.
  


• 
  Surgical Coverage Does the plan pay for surgical expenses and surgeons fees?
  


• 
  Hospital Coverage Does the plan pay for a visit to the hospital, and what are the limits for a hospital stay?

Depending on your needs you may want to include coverage for items such as maternity care, prescriptions, and vision care. Plans can vary quite a bit from insurance company to insurance company so look at each plan carefully before deciding on one.

Affordable Colorado Health Insurance Plans Online

One of the best ways to get affordable health insurance quotes in Colorado is to go to a free insurance quote website. There, you can get competitive quotes from up to 5 health insurance providers so you can compare plans and prices. After you have your quotes, you need to look closely at the policies and decide which one is the best for you.

Control Weight Gain During Pregnancy - 12 Tips to Help Expecting Mothers Look Great

Are you trying to find the answers to control weight gain during pregnancy? It is possible to look great during pregnancy and quickly lose your baby weight after your child is born.

Weight gain is a good thing

Remember that for a healthy and safe baby and pregnancy, weight gain is natural and necessary. Our culture is so bent on weight loss that even pregnant women are sometimes mistakenly swayed to think that they shouldn't put on weight at all. This can be dangerous so you need to be informed on all matters relating to pregnancy.

Tips on how to control weight gain during pregnancy

Knowing what to do in advance will prevent pregnant mothers from putting on excess weight so prevention is key.

Here are some tips on how to manage your weight:

1. find and follow a healthy diet and exercise program


2. get a list of high-nutrition foods


3. know which foods to avoid


4. avoid fast food restaurants


5. learn how to eat sensibly at regular restaurants


6. resign yourself to eating low-fat only


7. eat moderately


8. manage cravings


9. eat only healthy snacks


10. weigh yourself regularly


11. be aware of your ideal weight for your height and build


12. be under a doctor's supervision

These are by no means all you need to know to safely control weight gain during pregnancy. You'll need details and creative ideas to help you. The answer?

Find a healthy eating and exercise program

You already know that eating healthily is vital, but do not overlook the importance of exercise. It's essential that you know what moderate exercise entails and that you get in the habit of getting physical exercise suitable for pregnancy.

Connect with a good eating and exercise program designed for pregnancy that will provide you with all the info you need to direct you. What do you do? Make it your goal to go online and find a good resource guide or website that comes highly recommended and rated with sound ideas, tips and techniques in knowing how to manage your weight during pregnancy.

The advantage of joining a program

You will be given ready-made diets and easy-to- follow daily exercises to keep you on track and healthy. This will positively take away any excuse to not do what it takes to keep well naturally, without any complications or accompanying medical conditions, and with the best happily-ever-after story: a safe delivery for both mother and child.

Best of all, you'll now know the steps to control weight gain during pregnancy.

How do I Choose the Health Insurance That's Right For Me?

Types of Health Insurance

As the cost of health care is rising, it is important for everyone to obtain health insurance. The two different types of health insurance plans are: 1)A reimbursement plan and 2)a managed care plan. Reimbursement plans are also referred to as indemnity plans. Managed care plans are mainly referred to as PPOs, POS, or HMOs.

With indemnity health insurance, you choose your own doctors. The plan pays for your medical bills partially, completely, or up to a specified amount for a specified number of days. A managed care health insurance plan covers the complete cost, minus a co-pay, and generally has more extensive coverage. However, you must use a doctor that is "in network". These companies make agreements with specific doctors that you must use if you want the company's health coverage.

In choosing a health insurance plan, be sure to check for coverages that apply to your individual situation. Hospital expenses should include room, board, and any other expenses that you may incur during your stay. If you require surgery, full surgeon's fees and all surgical expenses should be covered. Also, expenses for doctor visits, whether at the doctor's office or in the hospital, should be covered.
Lastly, the majority of health insurance plans cover all major illness or injury fees.

There may be additional coverages that you may want, such as preventative care, maternity care, prescription medication, mental health care, vision care, and even a dental plan. You will want to check with various insurance providers and see if the options you want are offered.

Shopping for a health insurance provider requires a lot of consideration. You must ask yourself if a particular plan covers all the benefits you require. Does it cover needs that are specific to you, such as maternity care or dental care? Are you able to choose your own doctor or are you restricted to using an "in network" doctor? Will the plan cover only yourself or your whole family as well? What is the policy on pre-existing conditions? What about deductibles and co-pays? What is the company's co-insurance policy? Most importantly, what is the reputation of the insurance company within the industry. These are all questions that require solid and specific answers before you can make your final decision on the health insurance company that is right for you.

Since health insurance is a large investment, there are many factors to consider when choosing between managed and indemnity plans. Each insurance company is unique and requires that you study the many options and plans available before deciding which insurance company is best for your needs. Of course the best company will offer you the greatest coverage and flexibility for the lowest cost. Bear in mind, it is wise to confirm the financial solvency of the company so you know they can afford to pay out when necessary.

Back Pain During Pregnancy - Understand The Cause And Get Rid Of The Pain

In 2007, The Back Pain Foundation asked women what their most important questions were about back pain during pregnancy. Below are the most frequent questions that women asked:

1. How bad will back pain be during pregnancy?

2. Why do I get pain in my back?

3. How can I stop the pain and make myself more comfortable?

4. Why do I get back pain during pregnancy?

Let's take a few minutes and discuss some of those concerns. First, we need to be very clear that not all women get back pain during their pregnancy. You may go through your entire pregnancy without getting any back pain. In addition, many women will get slight symptoms that they describe as a slight discomfort, ache or tightness but not pain.

What causes back pain in pregnancy?

As far as the cause or "why" someone might get pain during pregnancy, every woman's circumstances are different. Keep in mind that your body is undergoing many types of changes and stresses during pregnancy. You are gaining weight and the weight is pushing and pulling on your body in new ways, especially throughout your spine, pelvis and rib cage. This area is sometimes referred to as the "core" of your body.

Your core is the primary weight-bearing center of your body and also that which is most important for movement. And as your core movement changes during pregnancy, muscles can become stressed and overworked. Also your legs tend to be farther apart to help you carry the weight of you baby, so your center of gravity is different and your walking is different - creating more stress on your body. The new weight that you are carrying can also compress the vertebrae in your spine. Some women will experience these various stresses as pain or discomfort. All in all, your body has some good reasons to feel "cranky" and give you some pain. So the question becomes, what do to find some relief?

Pregnancy Back Pain Relief: Tips and Tricks to Eliminate The Pain During Pregnancy

To help reduce or stop pain in your back during pregnancy, rest whenever you need to...but not too much. One of the common myths about back pain is that you need "bed rest." This is not true. Research studies have demonstrated that too much bed rest is bad for your back. When you are pregnant you should take frequent rests, sitting and taking short naps whenever you need to. But do not spend too much time in bed; it will actually make your back pain worse.

When you do sleep, explore some new sleeping positions. For instance, try sleeping on your side if your normally sleep on your back (or vice versa). Keep one or both knees bent, as if in a fetal position. You may want to place a pillow or rolled up towel between your knees or under your stomach. The key is to experiment until you find the right position for your comfort.

Check with your doctor to see if he or she will approve light exercise. Remember what we said earlier about the stresses and strain of carrying new weight? Light exercise will help relieve that strain and stress. Swimming, and walking around the block or on a treadmill are potential ways of exercising and relieving your back pain and stress.

Get a "treatment." Are you the type of person that needs an excuse to get a massage? Now you have an excuse. Take advantage of it! Find a massage therapist that has training in prenatal massage. Feldenkrais is gentle bodywork that can also be extremely useful. A Feldenkrais practitioner can help you change the dynamics of your movement so that the pain goes away and you can move easier. And of course, you can take a nice warm bath, massage yourself or ask someone close to you to rub your back. A little TLC can go a long way.

Pay attention to how you move. Have you adjusted to your new body dynamics and weight? Do you have a stool or pillow to put under your feet to take the pressure off your lower back? Have your lowered your office chair to a more comfortable height? Are you sitting down whenever you need to? In other words, slow down, pay attention to how you are moving, and make adjustments. This is a difficult one, because we rarely pay attention to how we move. But you can learn to do it. Next time you make a movement, take a moment before you do and think it through in your mind. Visualize. Can you move in an easier pain free way?

In short, take care of yourself during pregnancy. Get plenty of rest, light exercise, warm baths and perhaps a massage or feldenkrais session and you will be fine. If you do get extremely bad back pain that lasts for more than a few days see your doctor or other health care provider. Most doctors are OK with pregnant women taking an over the counter painkiller such as aspirin or ibuprofen but it is best to consult your provider first.

Finding Pregnancy Help With Ergonomics

Pregnancy is a time of both excitement and anticipation. As you await the birth of your child, you will have many physical changes. Your body will stretch as your baby grows within you and along with this, you will experience new aches and pains.

It seems that pregnancy affects women in different ways. Some women are hardly bothered by their changing bodies while others seem to be sick and feel awkward from the very beginning. Although it is great to have the support of others, do not become frustrated if your symptoms are unique when compared to others. We all have different bodies and therefore, pregnancy is going to affect different women in different ways.

One thing that is normally a problem during pregnancy is sleep. You will likely be taking naps and feeling quite fatigued during the first part of your pregnancy. As your pregnancy progresses, however, you will find it harder and harder to find a comfortable position to sleep in. In fact, it's not even usual to have insomnia in the last few months, lying awake in bed for hours upon end. Thankfully, there are several ergonomic products available to help you get comfortable so you can rest and sleep.

A cradle sleeping pillow is specially engineered to help you relax and get comfortable enough to get to sleep and stay asleep. These pillows are made of various densities and heights so you can get exactly what you need for a good night's rest. Providing extra support to the shoulders, neck and arms, you will wake up refreshed and rejuvenated after a night's rest with a cradle pillow. A neck roll is another product that some pregnant women find helpful. Not as large as the sleeping pillow, the neck roll fits right under the neck, providing support and rest. In order to accommodate your needs, the neck rolls are available in various sizes.

A sleeping bean is another great product for pregnant women. These full length pillows make it easy for anyone to get more comfortable, especially women who are pregnant. Not only will you find support for your legs, back and hips, but you will also find that it will bend flex to any position that you need to find the comfort you need. With the sleeping bean, you will be able to take the pressure off of painful or uncomfortable body parts and get the sleep you need. Most women wrap their bodies around the bean and are able to get comfortable enough to get to sleep.

Another type of cradle pillow that many women find helpful is one that fits right under your belly as you sleep. You will then be able to sleep on your side, which is what most doctors recommend for pregnant women. Another great thing about this cradle pillow is that you can use it later when you nurse or are recovering from your pregnancy. It's a pillow that you will want to keep around for many uses.

So, there are many products available to help a pregnant woman get some rest and sleep through the night in the most comfortable positions. However, being pregnant does not mean sleeping all the time. Nearly half of all women in the United States alone will continue to work while they are pregnant, up until the time of their delivery. So, there are health issues at work and home that can be helped with ergonomic products also.

One complaint of pregnancy is the swelling of legs, feet and ankles while walking or standing for long periods of time. During pregnancy, women tend to retain water and if too much swelling occurs, there can be other problems that can be risky for both mother and baby. An ergonomic product that might be able to help with this is an adjustable foot rest. A foot rest that is adjustable will allow you to raise your feet and legs to a comfortable position where they will receive adequate blood flow and also prevent strain to your back and legs.

You will definitely want to consider buying a lumbar back support if you are going to be working at a desk chair. These supports will give your back comfort to help you get your work done. Most lumbar supports will fit in any type of chair, even the car, so you can have support while traveling or working. Of course, a spine wedge for the bottom of your chair will also help with circulation and take the strain off of your back, legs and hips. These can also be used at night for support between the knees.

These are just a few of the ergonomic products that can help during pregnancy. Other products that can be helpful to pregnant women are an ergonomic office desk, anti-fatigue mats and lumbar cushions. Depending upon your needs, your discomfort, your pregnancy and what type of work you do, there are ergonomic products out there to help give you the support you need during this exciting time in your life.

How Can I Get My Hormones Back to Normal?

The hormonal system is the 'engine' of the woman

The functions of the female human body are largely influenced by hormones. It affects the physical, mental and emotional aspects of the body. Hormones are the body's chemical messengers, produced by cells and carried into the bloodstream to affect various physiological functions and development.

Pre-Pregnancy?

• Around puberty age, the part of the brain called hypothalamus releases pulses of hormones to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce the luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which activate ovarian functions. The ovary is a female organ that produces the two main female sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone. The hormone estrogen is what stimulates breast development and the maturity of the vagina, fallopian tubes and uterus during puberty stage.


• Beyond puberty, estrogen and progesterone, as well as LH and FSH will play vital roles in a woman's menstrual cycle and fertility, following a predictable pattern of rising and falling levels to support a chain of events with regard to reproduction. These hormones will be the ones to govern the maturity and release of eggs in the ovary, as well as the preparation of the womb to conception.


• The surge of luteinizing hormone or LH marks a woman's ovulation phase, when the mature egg is released from the ovary to the fallopian tube. In the tube, the egg will be carried along by hair like projections to the uterus. In the uterus, the egg will be fertilized is sperm is present. Birth control pills prevent LH surge to prevent pregnancy.


• On the other hand, the hormone progesterone is responsible for the thickening of the endometrium or uterine lining. This is to facilitate the implantation of the fertilized egg. If the implantation failed to occur, the spiral arteries in the lining will stop blood flow. This turns the thick uterine lining into blood pools, which is normally released in the form of menstrual flow.

During Pregnancy?

• Pregnancy results from a fertilized egg. The usual drop of estrogen and progesterone levels at the end of the menstrual cycle does not occur, which explains the absence of your period.


• Immediately, a new hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) is released to develop the placenta and stimulate the ovary to produce the needed levels of estrogen and progesterone to sustain pregnancy. Along with other hormones in pregnancy, HCG will be responsible in increasing the blood circulating in the womb and initiating other body mechanisms to nurture the growing baby in the womb.


• During child birth, these two hormones also cause the womb to contract and stimulate the production of breast milk.

Post-Pregnancy?

• Progesterone and estrogen levels are expected to drop after pregnancy.


• This will facilitate the shrinking back of the womb,


• Toning of the pelvic floor muscles


• Normalization of blood flow. The sudden drop of female hormones may also cause episodes of post natal depression.

Getting my Hormones to Work?

"Normally, women do not need to do anything to control their hormones".

If we lived in a 'normal' world there would be no need for this article. However, in most societies women encounter as much stress, perhaps more, with their 'double' workloads, as anyone would.

• Depending on the woman's stress reactions, there can be many upsets to a normal pregnancy which is dependent on her hormones for biochemical direction.

Hormonal imbalance is basically a disturbance to the delicate balance or incorrect relationship between the estrogen, progesterone and the stress hormone levels in the body. Women suffering hormonal imbalance do suffer risk of infertility or miscarriage.

The usual medical solution is 'hormonal replacement therapy', a form of treatment trying to correct the hormonal imbalances, usually performed during the luteal phase of a woman's ovulation and menstrual period.

The human body though, is a maze of nervous system options that few people become aware of. There are a number of reflexes on the skin that relate specifically to the Endocrine Glands and can be used to balance their function.

Imagine if you could just stimulate one of these reflexes and its related gland would "start up" again, balancing not only it's own production of hormones, but stimulate others as well. It is true, that these reflexes exist and anyone can learn how to use them to balance the hormonal system without having to take any medications.

We are getting smarter about how our bodies work and pregnancy is a fine example of how well what we have learned can be seen in the 'real' world. Don't wait until it's too late to find out.

Neuro-Training has developed a proven way to systematically balance the whole hormone system. Women who have had terrible experiences with their hormones can now be helped and easily learn how to do it themselves.

Things to Help You Through Early Pregnancy

Early pregnancy is a scary time for many new mothers. It's a time of anxiety and change, further intensified by a flood of both hormones and information that may be correct on that day. New mothers will soon find a bevy of information declaring practically everything they touched throughout an average day, as being toxic to their unborn child. However, there's a short list of known things that will assist in sorting through the mess.

Make It Well Known You Are Pregnant

Tell any medical professional you come across that you may be pregnant, or even if you are trying to get pregnant. This can prevent exposure to harmful tests and chemicals if you are pregnant and don't know it yet. It's most important with medical professionals, but many others may need to know.

Exercise

Start to exercise now, and it will help you stay in shape during pregnancy, it can lower your risk of miscarriage, and it has been proven to help reduce labor complications and length. It's also important to note, that high-impact exercise should be considered off limits. Also, stay hydrated, as dehydration is a big concern among pregnant woman.

Prenatal Vitamins

Take a prenatal vitamin. They can be prescribed by your practitioner or you can buy them over the counter. Ensure it contains 0.4 mg of folic acid.

Cat Litter

Stop changing cat litter. It's not the litter itself, but cat feces, in many cases, carry a bacteria that can be harmful to an unborn baby.

Harmful Chemicals

Avoid anything that may contain harmful chemicals, such as smoking, alcohol, and be sure to enlist the help of others when painting the nursery. Paint fumes are noxious.

Look For Non-medical Remedies

Use non-medicinal remedies for problems like nausea, heartburn, and constipation. This is the case for both prescription and over-the-counter medications. In specific cases in which medicine is required, such as mental or chronic illnesses, always consult your doctor, as to whether it is safe to take during pregnancy.

Know Your Birth Facility

Tour your selection of birth facilities before making a choice if you are not having a home birth. It's best to feel comfortable with whatever hospital you choose, as well as the doctor. Know the procedure for the day of your child's arrival, and know the layout of the hospital, so you're not milling about when everything is happening.

Know The Symptoms That Should Concern You

Review the signs of premature labor and warning signs for when to call your prenatal caregiver.

Early pregnancy can be a beautiful time for a woman, but keep in mind that the health and well-being of you and your little one are the biggest concern.

Where Are The Best Hospitals in Amman, Jordan?

Amman is the capital of Jordan and it is a city where the ancient culture and modern day amenities blend. The city is an attractive tourist destination; it has been built on a series of hills and the famous Dead Sea is just a short distance from here. Jordan features among the top healthcare centers in Middle East and the World Bank ranks it as the best destination for medical tourism in the region. The city has a host of clinics and hospital that offer good services to the people.

King Hussein Medical Center is a leading and prominent multidisciplinary medical institution in Jordan. This center comprises of five hospitals and provides advanced medical care to its patients. Al-Hussein Hospital set up in 1973 is oldest of the five hospitals that form the groups. It is also one of the busiest hospitals in the country and is equipped with state of art technology. The surgery department at the hospital provides latest technology treatment like the minimal invasive and endoscopic surgery. Other services offered are comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic treatment for internal medicine, nephrology, respiratory medicine, hematology and oncology, neurology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, dermatology and venerealogy. The hospital also has well equipped ophthalmology, E.N.T, pediatrics, dental and obstetrics and gynecology departments.

Queen Alia Heart Institute was set up in 1983 dedicated to providing comprehensive cardiac care to the patients. It is also a part of the King Hussein Medical Center. The hospital has a coronary care unit, an intensive care unit and post surgery care unit. The procedures carried out at the hospital are mainly open heart surgeries and cardiac transplants. There is an advanced laboratory at the center that carries out no-invasive advanced investigations. Queen Rania Paediatrics Hospital, part of the same group is the first hospital in the country that specializes in pediatric care. The hospital is equipped with the latest technology and co-ordinates with hospitals from US and UK for cooperation and consultation.

Jordan Hospital at Amman is a JCI accredited hospital that offers advanced healthcare services. It is also compliant with ISQua (International Society for quality in Health Care) standards and is ISO 9002-2000 certified. The hospital is a major healthcare destination in North Africa and Middle East. Quite a few doctors at the hospital have trained in Europe, Britain or United States. The multidisciplinary hospital offers treatments in the fields of neurosurgery, cardiac care, organ transplant, pediatric, orthopedics, cardiac and vascular surgery, urology, nephrology and orthopedics. Other departments at the hospital are an emergency department, nuclear medicine unit, renal dialysis unit, lithotripsy unit, physiotherapy unit, an ICU and a radiology department.

The Al-Essra Hospital is a JCIA accredited hospital and is located at the Queen Rania Al Abdallah Street, Opposite Jordian University Mosque. The emergency at the hospital is operational day and night and is the most advanced and sophisticated emergency departments in Jordan at both public and private level. The hospital has set up a hotline telephone number (530-0333) for requesting an ambulance at any time of the day. There are facilities at the hospital both for small and major surgeries, heart and lung ailments, maternity care, orthopedic problems and kidney troubles. Besides these there is are IVF, physiotherapy, endoscopy and respiratory departments at the hospital.

Specialty Hospital is located in the central part of Amman and has been operational since 1993. The specialties at the hospital are successful organs transplantation especially for kidney transplants, open heart surgeries, cures for musculoskeletal disorders and eye related problems. The emergency department at the hospital is operational 24 hours and is equipped with modern medical technology.

Al Khalidi Medical Center, A Heart & Comprehensive Specialty Hospital was set by Dr. Ibrahim Al Khalidi in 1978. It offers a number of highly specialized medical and surgical procedures. The Emergency and Trauma Center that is operational round the clock and the ambulances are also available around the clock. The hospital offers pathology services, IVF procedures, advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services, IVF, dental services and it has a dialysis unit, a pain clinic, an eye center and a pathology department.

Help Getting Pregnant - How to Achieve a Healthy Pregnancy Fast and Naturally

For most women who need help getting pregnant, amount of advice can be overwhelming sometimes. As we know it, pregnancy should be time of great anticipation and joy, time of change. So, do you know to listen to your body signs and read its language?

Sometimes, conception is not proving to be as easy as so many people have preached about. If this sounds like you, there is no need to feel discouraged or give up trying to make a family with your special someone.

How To Achieve A Healthy Pregnancy Fast and Naturally - pregnancy needs planing!

If you need help getting pregnant, there are a lot of people that will probably steer you towards different fertility clinics and tell you about different fertility medications that you can consume in order to conceive. Especially, today's vast media influence.

However, if doctors are not your cup of tea, and you simply want to be able to get pregnant and not have to worry about persistent doctor visits there are other avenues that you can explore when it comes to conceiving.

Try to take a natural approach when it comes to preparing for pregnancy, before you attempt to try evasive procedures that western doctors are reluctant to get you started on. One of the first things that you should do in order to begin your pregnancy journey is transform your current diet.

You want to attempt to live a healthy lifestyle. This lifestyle will consist of consuming fresh fruits as well as vegetables and ensuring that you maintain enough vitamins and minerals in your body in order to be considered healthy. You need to work on your health, before you can ever think about conception.

Exercise, such as Yoga has actually been accredited to being able to substantially increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Yoga forces you to endure different postures and practice breathing techniques. These techniques have actually been linked to regulating hormone levels and improving the supply of nutrients to your reproductive organs.

You should also try different de-stress activities. Our emotions can actually prohibit conception from occurring. By undergoing massages and femoral massages you can learn to control the stress in your life, and have an easier time conceiving.

Using Traditional Chinese Medicinal practices such as acupuncture/acupressure and herb therapy can also increase your chances of conceiving. These practices have been utilized for an elongated period of time in eastern countries, and are now making their way over to the western way of medicine.

Quite rightly so, but, do you have what it takes to change your lifestyle and move on?

Before Choosing Health Insurance, Here is Critical Information You Should Know

Understanding Health Insurance

This article is written to assist consumers sift through multiple options, plans, exclusions and summaries of benefits and understand what Critical questions you should ask when researching health coverage. Finding the most beneficial health insurance plan to meet your unique and individual needs is difficult. This guide will help consumers understand the basics of health insurance and what to look for when comparing plans.

14 Costy Mistakes You'll Want To Avoid

1-FREE - Do You Have a "30 Day FREE Look Period?" Can you get your $ back if you are not happy?

2- DEDUCTIBLES: How many deductibles do I have per year? Some plans will have more than 1 deductible per person per year!

3- NETWORK RATES: Prior to your deductible being met, will your insurance company extend their discounted network rates to you? Example: Insurance Company A - 5 stitches to finger - Total cost $2000, patient responsibility, $800, or Insurance Company B - 5 stitches to finger - Total cost $2000, patient responsibility, $2000. (no network break).

4- NEGOTIATED RATE: What is the AVERAGE negotiated rate? (Sometimes referred to Network Rate - very very important!)

5- UNCLEAR TERMS Is your $100 "co-pay" for an Emergency Room visit REALLY $100? Some companies the $100 copay is more like a fee AFTER your deductible, and you'll still pay the co-insurance and the $100.

6- LIMITS on benefits, for example: $500 limit or $250 limit on Emergency Room expenses. $50 limit on Dr. Visits. Once the Limit is reached, YOU pay everything else out of pocket. $500 limit on hospital expenses per day (quick way to bankruptcy!)

7- PREVENTATIVE - Will you have to meet your deductible, or do you have a 1 year waiting period for preventative? Do you want to wait 1 year before you can have your female exam, or a mammogram?

8- TRAVEL - If you are out of state, are you covered for illnesses? If you eat something that doesn't agree with you and become very sick and need a doctor, will you be covered? (Not just life threatening emergencies.)

9- RATE INCREASES - I am buying a "fixed rate". Ask yourself if it makes sense to pay extra over the next 2 - 3 years for a fixed rate? Make sure your rate is set for at least 12 months but does it make sense to pay in advance for a fixed rate? Sometimes plans will naturally go down in price, so does it make sense to pay extra to have a fixed rate?

10- SUPPORT - After I buy this plan, MAY I CALL MY AGENT'S DIRECT LINE with billing issues, or plan questions, or technical problems, or claims questions or concerns of any kind?

11- EXCLUSIONS - Read the "Exclusions" in your plan. Are the exclusions available for you to read? Is there an exclusion that you cannot live with? For example: exclude well baby visits. Is this an exclusion that you didn't catch in the plan details?

12- MAJOR MEDICAL plans are designed to pay for MOST of your medical expenses when you become ill or injured. You'll want a Major Medical plan from a reputable company that has "Credible Coverage." Discount plans or Limited Medical Plans are NOT designed to protect your losses like Major Medical plans are. They are marketed as "Insurance," but you MUST ask, is it a Credible Coverage Major Medical plan?

13 - MATERNITY - Maternity plans. Do your homework. Does your plan have an outrageous deductible for maternity? Do you have a waiting period of 12 months, 24 months, or more? How many doctors do you get to choose from "In Network" that can deliver your baby? Are you happy with the choices of Doctors in the network that will deliver your baby? What if your doctor is not on-call the night you go in for delivery?

14- MEDICATIONS - Is there a limit on how much the insurance company will pay for medications. If you become very ill, this could be a very big problem. Do your research, ask questions. Do you have a deductible on medications?

*Did you know that key information about how coverage works is not always disclosed? *When comparing plans, is the language confusing? Why is the language confusing? *Did you know that many consumers compare prices of health insurance plans, but cannot always tell if they are comparing "apples to apples."

How to avoid Medical Bankruptcy!

According to a Harvard Law and Harvard Medical School study, they found that ½ of all bankruptcies are caused by illnesses and medical expenses. If you are a breadwinner for yourself, or breadwinner for a family or spouse, and the breadwinner gets sick, you may loose your medical coverage, and a way to pay for your day to day expenses.

When you are shopping for a health plan to protect yourself financially from medical bills and bankruptcy, there are many things to consider. Probably the most important thing is to consider is what "Type" of plan you are getting. There are several types of health plans that are available. If you buy a plan that is not "Underwritten" and is "Guaranteed Issue" you are not buying a Major Medical Plan. Major Medical plans will go through a process called "underwriting."

Some plans will pay a certain dollar amount for a procedure, or a certain dollar amount per day while in the hospital. IT IS CRITICAL you understand the implications financially if choosing a non Major Medical plan. Your chance for greater personal losses including Bankruptcy exist with non-Major Medical plans. If you are shopping price with health insurance, and you decide on a discount or limited liability plan, YOU HAD BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR RISKS ARE if you end up needing to use that "insurance."

Major medical plans are designed to cover most of your hospital expenses if you become hospitalized.

Do you have a disability plan? This type of plan will pay your day to day expenses if you loose your job due to an injury or illness. This should be a very important consideration when getting health insurance. If the breadwinner loses his/her income while injured or ill, how will the day to day expenses be paid for?

The 6 costly misconceptions about Health Insurance

1 - I don't need medical insurance, I'm a healthy person, I eat right, exercise and take care of myself. This is risk-taking. You are gambling your financial future.

2- I'm not getting insurance because There is no benefit before my deductible. Some Major Medical Plans will A) extend their network rates to you before the deductible is met, but not all. Another benefit before your deductible is met is B) the copays for Dr. Visits and C) Copays for Prescription coverage. Again, check the individual plan.

3- If I get sick, or now that I'm pregnant I'll get insurance. Once you are ill or pregnant, depending on the illness, you may or may not be eligible for health insurance. Certainly once pregnant, you will not be eligible for an individual plan. The insurance company will always reserve the right to underwrite your medical condition and elect to take you on as a risk, or not. You wouldn't expect to run out and get auto insurance after you've banged up your car and have them pay for it. For this reason, it is important to not let your Major Medical insurance lapse for more than 63 days.

4 - I will get stuck with a bill that I thought should have been paid for, or the insurance company should have paid. Here again, you must do your homework on the plan you intend to purchase. Look for Limits, deductibles, exclusions, co-pays, and understand these details. Also, if you come into a plan with pre-existing conditions and did not have continuous "credible coverage,' you can expect to pay for your pre-existing conditions for 1 full year.

5- I want excellent care at a cheap price. If you want Major Medical, shop between the competitors, and get the most for your money, but don't expect the same benefits in a discount plan as in a Major Medical Plan.

6- I'm waiting for the President to take care of this mess. It is not a good idea to wait to purchase medical insurance ever!

Important to Know:

Many People Feel That Health Insurance Companies are Greedy and Corrupt According to the Wellpoint Institute of Health Care Knowledge:

"Popular theories suggest that health insurance premiums are driven by an aging population, excessive insurer profits or medical malpractice. Objective research, however, clearly indicates that these factors have a minimal impact on the high price of health insurance premiums.

If meaningful health care reform, including health care cost containment, is to occur, emphasis must be placed on the real drivers of increased health care costs and concomitantly, health care premiums. These include the following key factors: such as

* Advances in medical technology and subsequent increases in utilization

* Price inflation for medical services that exceeds inflation in other sectors of the economy

* Cost-shifting from people who are uninsured and those receiving Medicaid to the private sector

* High cost of regulatory compliance

* Patient lifestyles, such as physical inactivity and increases in obesity."

Other Important Facts

Will they check my credit score. NO

Will they require a physical or blood work? In most cases, NO.

All insurance companies are the same. No they are not.

My Premiums keep going up. You can do very little about increases in health care costs. You may want to change plans or increase your deductible to try and save money. Try and find a company that will guarantee their rates for at least 1 year. No need to pre-pay for future rate increases.

Definitions:

DEDUCTIBLES (Phase 1)- Money that you pay out of your pocket before traditional insurance begins. Ranging traditionally from $0 to $10,000. Usually if you choose a lower deductible, your premiums will cost more, if you have a higher deductible, your premiums will be lower (you are assuming a higher risk in exchange for lower premiums).

CO-INSURANCE - (Phase 2) - After you meet your deductible, you'll pay a "co-insurance." "Co" meaning 2, two entities will share the burden of the bill; usually you'll see "co-insurance" as a 70/30, 80/20, 50/50, 60/40, 90/10. The larger portion of the co-insurance the insurance company will pay, the lesser portion you will pay.

MAXIMUM OUT OF POCKET - (Phase 3) - After you've paid your deductible, and then your portion of the co-insurance, you finally reach your maximum out of pocket. From this point on, the insurance company will pay the rest of the bill. (Major Medical Plan.)

CO-PAY - A flat dollar amount to be paid at the Doctors office. Sometimes referred to as a "first dollar benefit" (before deductible). Meaning, you pay a flat $30 or $20 or $40 dollar copay, or whatever the copay is, and the visit is paid in full. WATCH FOR LIMITS! Make certain the copay is a flat dollar amount paid BEFORE your deductible.

HMO is Health Maintenance Organization, usually a limited regional/geographical area, with a certain number of providers in the HMO. You will select 1 Dr to manage your care, and your Dr. will "help you decide" if you need a referral or not. HMO's usually have very low deductibles and copays.

PPO Insurance is Preferred Provider Organization. You may visit anyone you wish in the network, still you must know the geographical area of your Network, even with a PPO plan. If you are on vacation and become ill, will your plan out of state cover you (in network)?

CREDIBLE COVERAGE In order to cover your pre-existing conditions when moving from one plan to another, you must have a Credible Coverage Major Medical plan. It is a document given to you from your insurance company as proof that you had a Major Medical plan protecting you from a start date to an end date. You must not go further than 63 days from one Major Medical Insurance coverage to the next, if you do go beyond the 63 days, you will have a pre-existing condition clause in your new policy that states you will not be covered for any of your pre-existing conditions for 1 full year (at a minimum.)

If you go beyond 63 days without "Credible Coverage," the new insurer will look to your previous 6 months (average) health history and condition, and not cover you for any ailment you have (pre-existing.)

Now don't be mistaken, that when you want to go from one insurer to the next, if you were covered with "credible coverage" that you are automatically guaranteed a plan. This is not true. You will still need to be underwritten, and the new company is not obligated to take you on as an insured if you don't fit their underwriting guidelines.

Please Note: This Free Consumers Guide is meant to be used as informational only. The author herein will not accept liability for any circumstances in which an outside company may define their features and benefits differently than in this document. Consumers will accept this document as informational only, and not a legal document. Consumers will be held responsible for their own purchases, and not hold the authors in this document liable for any actions taken by any consumer. Consumers must verify the plan in which they purchase, and will not hold the information in this document as a specific reason to take or not to take a certain action. This document is produced by a licensed health agent. The 14 Costly mistakes you should avoid when selecting your health plan.

Qualities Of A Good Pregnancy Pillow

Pregnancy is a very difficult stage, especially for first-time mothers and if you are looking for things to make your life a lot easier, then you can start looking for the best pregnancy pillow. There are different types of pillows and if you are looking for the best ones, you may try getting a Comfort-U Body pillow (since it's one of the most reputable ones in the market) or you might want to read some pregnancy pillow reviews to help you find other nice buys.

Naturally, you would want to get the best bang from your buck. For you to do so, here are some of the qualities that you should consider when considering getting one of these specialized cushions:

Size - These specialized cushions come in many different sizes. It is important that you choose one according to its size so you would be able to use it properly. Look for one that can accommodate your belly or even your entire body. This is definitely going to make you feel a lot better when you sleep.

Components - There are different filling materials that pillow manufacturers use in making their products which is why it is important that you know these things. Of course, the prices also vary depending on the type of filling that's used in the pillow. You have to pick the filling that you are comfortable with or look for hypoallergenic ones in case you are sensitive. This might be a lot expensive but it is always worth some extra cash.

Level of Comfort - The main reason for buying of these is because you would want something that could provide enough support on your belly or back when you sleep. The U-shaped ones are becoming a favorite among pregnant women since they no longer have to switch their pillows in case they switch positions. This is definitely something that you might want to take a look into.

Dual-Purpose -This means that you should get one that would provide you support when you are pregnant and even after you have given birth. This is definitely something that you might want to check out. You can certainly find different types of pillows so be sure to consider this quality.

These are the main qualities that you should look for when considering on investing in a pregnancy pillow. Make sure that you also consider the brand as this plays an important role in providing you comfort and support.

Overcome Infertility - How Mineral Selenium Helps to Treat Infertility

As we mentioned in previous articles, infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse. It affects over 5 millions couple alone in the U. S. and many times more in the world. Because of an unawareness of treatments, only 10% seeks help from a professional specialist. Nutritional supplements pay a vital role in treating all kinds of disease, in this article, we will discuss how selenium effects fertility.

I. How selenium effects fertility

1. Antioxidant

It is one of antioxidants that helps to strengthen the immune system system, thus guarding our body against the bacteria and virus invasion and preventing the immune system abnormal function in recognizing sperm as foreigner and in producing antibody antigen to attack them.

2. Miscarriage and birth defects

Selenium is proven to prevent chromosome breakage that causes miscarriages.

3. Reproductive enhancer in men

Good levels of selenium are also essential to maximize sperm formation. A study conducted at the University of Padua in Italy shows that selenium helps to prevent oxidation of sperm cell , thus increasing the sperm quality and quantity.

4. working synergistic with vitamin E

Study shows that selenium works together with vitamins E not only can prevent the forming of free radicals but also increase it' s effectiveness in preventing and inhibiting the development of breast cancer.

5. Hypothyroidism

Selenium is essential for maintaining the thyroid glands in secreting thyroid hormone. Deficiency of selenium causes hypothyroidism, leading to abnormal weight gain that increases the risk of insulin fluctuation, leading to poor egg and sperm quality.

6. Intra cranial pressure symptoms

Intra cranial pressure is the pressure in the cranium, selenium helps to maintain the right levels of pressure exerts on the brain's intra cranial blood circulation vessels, thereby decreasing the intra-cranial pressure symptoms such as headaches, nausea, speech disorders, Jacksonian seizures, etc. thus reducing the risk of the nervous system causes of infertility.

II. Side effects and risks

1. It is toxic, if overdose
2. If over dose. it causes
a) Gastrointestinal disorders
b) Hair loss, sloughing of nails
c) nervous tension such as fatigue and irritability
d) Neurological damage.

Getting Brain Defects During Pregnancy!

The holistic development of a baby inside a mother's womb is probably one of the greatest responsibilities ever to befall on any woman. It is a task that entails a lot of sacrifices and hardships that promises a great reward at the end. Yes, being a pregnant mom could be the most exhilarating as well as the most daunting task a woman has to face and it is not one that comes without worries and fears. This is because it is always a mother's fear to bear a child that could come out with serious defects to its physical appearance as well as to mental capabilities. Mothers always dread having a child born with the worst defects of all, which are the defects of the brain.

Because of this fear, most mothers take care in avoiding things that could bring about brain defects in their children and the time that they do this is when these babies are still inside the womb. They take great care in seeing to it that they follow doctor's instructions when it comes to the proper diet and the prenatal vitamins that they must take. These mothers see to it that they take in the proper amounts of vitamin and minerals as well as other nutrients that are very essential for their babies to avoid getting brain defects.

One of the most essential nutrient that an expectant mother should take, which plays a great role in the development of an unborn baby's brain as well as his spinal cord, is the folic acid. While this nutrient could be sourced from a variety of foods, pregnant moms are always advised to take prenatal vitamins containing the prescribed amount of this vitamin. This is to ensure that the risk of acquiring neural tube defects can be avoided. These defects, which are due to the underdevelopment of the brain and the spine, can result in paralysis as well as mental retardation, which is one of the worst cases of brain defects.

Aside from the proper intake of folic acid, there are also other things that an expectant mother could do to make sure that her child is born without brain defects. One of these is to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages. This, as studies have shown that alcoholic drinking during pregnancy, heightens the risk of brain defects on babies. A baby could also develop brain damage if his or her mother use illegal drugs when she was pregnant. This brain defect could be experienced by the baby on top of other birth defects.

Who Needs HR, Anyway?

Who needs an HR person, anyway?

In a word-everyone!

At what extent should a company have a dedicated HR Department? Of course as a company grows and hires more employees, need to regulate HR functions increases dramatically. However, that does not necessarily mean they need a full office to handle the job.

Those experienced in the HR field indicate that a company ideally should have at least 20 to 50 employees before they have a dedicated HR person. Even at that point, HR remains largely a function, something that can be managed by one person.

In those cases, few employees would want to be that one person.

It is here that technology comes to the rescue, with outsourcing-or automating, as in the cases of Software-as-a-Service, HRM systems and cloud-based technology. Today, web-based programs can help with hiring, payroll, developing employee handbooks and so on. In this way, one person should be able to handle the remaining HR functions.

In business, there is a broad spectrum; no two businesses are quite alike. With SMBs in competitive markets, there could be a need for a dedicated administrator and a recruiter.

Traditionally, HR Departments are defined by tasks nobody else either is capable of doing or actually wants to do. From recruiting to onboarding, writing job descriptions to monitoring attendance, policies and benefits, there has been a need for a specialized body to support senior management to establish a structure-with the purpose of holding down administrative costs. Often the human relations authority has a title such as Administrative Manager.

If you are chosen to spearhead the HR functions, what do you need to do?

• Understand Expectations

What are the bare-bones requirements of HR? In companies of less than 15 to 20 people, the owner or most senior manager takes these duties-often listing responsibilities based on conferring with a lawyer (or group of them) and develop a job description the HR position.

• Compliance

Next, analyze any compliance issues which apply to your company. The principal subjects are: wages and work hours, COBRA (based on size), forms like I-9 and W-2, requests such as vacation and leaves-of-absence (both maternity and family), ADA, harassment and a long list of others.

Many SMBs do not think they have to have an employee handbook or approved list of policies and procedures. This is a HUGE mistake. From clarifying the company as an at-will employer, to defining perks and benefits, an established employee handbook is the best way to clarify rules and regulations. Even if a guide is in place, it must be updated regularly to remain in compliance with federal, state and local regulations, all in the best interests of the company.

Is the policy manual complete? A viable strategy is to arrange the manual by categories, like employment, disciplinary, benefits and compensation. Is there a clear delineation between the employee and company rights and obligations?

• Employee relations

Coordinate employee data-or get it together, if there is none-and set everything into logical files. The filing system, at least, should have an Employment Application/resume, a W-2 form, signed insurance forms and performance reviews. A complete file should have employment dates, dates of reviews, promotions, and changes in compensation, wages or salary.

To begin, do not be concerned that files are not computerized; that will come with a higher level of organization.

• Payroll

The biggest conflict between HR and bookkeeping is payroll-and not out of a desire to perform the task. For many, it is clear that payroll is a problem for accounting and is the most popular service to be outsourced, usually to an outside company or a bank. Even when payroll is off-site, there are many responsibilities-such as informing the service of any changes in wages or salaries, deductions to pay, and severance checks. There is a wide range of services, both in price and quality, so clearly shop around for the best deal.

Payroll services frequently offer (or at least try to sell) more than a company needs, meaning it always advisable to research.

• Benefits Administration

This vital HR function should certainly be divorced from payroll. No matter where benefits are outsourced, there will always be the need for some degree of in-house administration. Also, someone in the organization should take responsibility to answer questions about forms and insurance, provide options, and describe costs to employees.

This area is one of the greatest ways HR can keep benefit costs down, and auditing policies periodically is a smart habit, to update any increases in premiums, or decrease in benefits.

• Onboarding

One person should be responsible for onboarding and orientation. Apprise new employees of benefits and company policies, this means you will have to be the expert representative for the company.

Does the business offer a structured compensation, or is it on an individual basis? What are the job descriptions and responsibilities? Will pay be commensurate with responsibilities? How are raises handled? Is it a graduated system? Will SMBs-often less than 50 employees-have a concrete structure? It is even less clear when there are less than 15-20 employees.

First, the HR professional should be proficient in writing or authenticating job descriptions. The heart of HR is information, and it must be carefully considered.

A busy company is always in flux-with regular policy, benefits, compliance and even legal changes. These are things that are necessary to be passed on to all employees.

Major changes require formal training-sexual harassment, for example. Health insurance benefits are required to be explained to all employees affected by changes in the law. This is the most basic function of HR, as key to an organization's information cycle.

• Recruiting

For SMBs, recruiting is oftentimes an afterthought, rarely a overriding concern in smaller companies. Yes, turnover rates in stable companies can be low, some as few as a single hire a year.

However, in competitive industries, recruiting is a vital function. The process of acquiring, interviewing, selection and placement are detailed; a working knowledge of the techniques is essential. A poor hire can be extremely expensive. If recruiting is an essential function for the business, there are sources-especially HRM software and hiring services-that can do the job easily and at a much better price.

Recruiters must also be knowledgeable of company-specific benefits, policies and procedures. At its most basic, the primary purpose of recruiting is to hire the best person at a salary that satisfies both the candidate and the company.

Certainly Hr has many other responsibilities, but these are primary. For forward-thinking companies, diversity may high on a list of HR responsibilities. Unless it is the corporate culture or an issue with senior management, don't expect an emphasis on diversity. More regularly, diversity concerns appear as part of risk management.

One last thing, HR departments do not plan social functions, parties or a get together. It is better to leave those tasks to others with less to do. A formal HR professional will have too much on their plate.

Fertility Diet - Can Food Help You Fall Pregnant?

There is much talk lately of whether eating certain foods can increase your chances of conceiving, but is it true?

Recently I've been reading about Harvard's research into the link between diet and fertility and it has shown that, yes, diet and exercise DO play a role in your chances to conceive.

So let's have a quick look at the overview of what foods are good to eat:

Carbs

Specifically the difference between good and bad carbohydrates can impact on your fertility significantly.

Bad carbs - White bread, potatoes and sugary drinks do disrupt the balance of hormones needed for reproduction.

Good carbs - Wholegrain pasta and breads that are rich in fiber can improve your chances of conception by balancing your blood-sugar and insuline levels (which in turn balance your hormones).

Fats

It is already well known that women who restrict fat from their diets altogether can have trouble ovulating or may even stop menstruating altogether. Fats carry building blocks of hormones and cell renewal.

That's not to say your should start gobbling down lots of fatty foods though. Bad fats such as Trans fats actually increase the likelihood of developing ovulatory infertility.

Stick with the good fats and oils, like olive oil and fish oil. (Particularly fats and oils high in Omega 3).

Protein

Again it depends on the type of protein eaten as to how it will affect your fertility. One of the most significant studies shows that eating plant proteins (such as beans and nuts which are an excellent source of protein, fiber and other nutrients) can significantly improve fertility.

It therefore makes good sense to include more plant proteins such as nuts and beans into your diet.

Milk and Ice Cream

Now for some good news! Eating one or more servings of full fat dairy (such as yoghurt, milk, cottage cheese and ice cream) can help improve fertility.

So ditch the low fat milk from the fridge and replace it with the full fat version. Women who consumed low-fat dairy products were more likely to have trouble conceive than those who at full fat dairy products.

Now you don't need to feel guilty about having that icecream sprinkled with nuts - it's good for your fertility!

Weight & Exercise

Keeping yourself within a healthy weight range (not too big and not too small - just right ..) will help improve your conception chances by balancing your hormones. While we have all heard of this before, it does make sense that keeping your weight under control will help guard against high blood sugar and keep your insulin levels in check.

Exercise also improves circulation, and since your blood carries your hormones, better circulation means that you have an increased chance of getting your hormones to the right place at the right time, and improving the elimination of toxic substances from your blood.

Another great benefit of exercise is that it increases the body's natural stress relievers which is very beneficial when you are trying to conceive!

Signs of Postnatal Depression

They key to finding out when a woman has postnatal depression is, of course, to understand and to recognize the signs of postnatal depression, also known as postpartum depression and when they can occur.

What is postnatal depression, though?

Postnatal depression is a type of clinical depression that can afflict women, after they give birth to their children.

Postpartum depression should be considered as a serious medical illness. It occurs because of the changing hormone levels in a woman after giving birth. The lifestyle changes inevitable after childbirth also contribute significantly.

In most cases, this type of depression can happen within the first few months after a woman has given birth. Women who have undergone either a stillbirth or a miscarriage can also suffer postpartum depression.

Women who are affected with this type of depression can experience a difficult time in their efforts at bonding and caring for their new infant.

In some cases postnatal depression can even worsen to the point that it becomes something known in clinical circles as postnatal psychosis. This is a rare and more extreme type of depression, which could result in the afflicted women potentially hurting herself or her infant.

The symptoms of postpartum depression can actually overlap with something referred to as the Baby Blues, which is a recognised type of depression experienced by women in first days and sometimes weeks after giving birth. The Baby Blues can become postnatal depression when a person suffers the symptoms for an extended amount of time.

Here are the Baby Blues symptoms:

• Mood swings

• Either mild or moderate types of anxiety

• It is usual for sadness to be present

• Unusual irritability

• Lack of ability in either focusing or concentrating on things

• Sleep predicaments like excessive sleep or difficulty in falling asleep

• Crying

• Lack of interest in the baby

Some of the usual postnatal depression symptoms are:

• A loss of appetite

• difficulty in falling asleep

• Irritability

• Loss of sexual and general interest

• Extreme mood swings

• Withdrawal from people they are normally close to

• Inability to bond with new infant

• Thoughts of self-harm or even harming the new infant

There are a whole host of symptoms that a woman experiencing postnatal depression may display. Therefore, there is again the need to be really familiar with these symptoms. Woman and men in Ireland should be aware that postnatal depression is real, and they should be on the lookout for the very real possibility of its onset after childbirth occurs.

Suicide Prevention Ireland provides resources for men and women who are at risk of suicide. Find a range of articles including women and depression, male depression, as well as common stresses, illnesses, and issues, and know that help is at hand.

Panic Attacks During Pregnancy - Can Pregnancy Hormones Cause Anxiety and Panic Attacks?

When a woman gets pregnant her body goes through many different kinds of changes. Hormone levels will be on the rise as the body prepares to sustain life for both the mother and the fetus.

It is typical for women to experience fear and worry when they are pregnant. They will fear for the health of their unborn child. They will worry about the possibility of having a miscarriage if they don't do everything just right. All of these fears are common, although usually unfounded. Nature has a way of taking care of the innocent and keeping them safe. A miscarriage is usually a sign that something is seriously wrong and the fetus is not healthy enough to live.

With the drastic change in hormone levels many women find that they suddenly suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. You may have never had an anxiety attack or a panic attack in your life until you become pregnant and all of a sudden you find that your fears are out of control.

There is no way to know how your body will react to the increase in hormones. Everybody reacts differently and until you have been there you just can't tell how it will go. Increased levels of hormones are making all kinds of changes in your body but these changes are necessary for a normal pregnancy and delivery.

If you find that you suddenly experience anxiety and panic attacks during pregnancy you should immediately discuss this with your doctor. For nine months your body will be undergoing changes and that is a long time to deal with severe anxiety and panic.

Now, more than ever, it is important for you to eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. The delivery process is called labor for a reason. Your body needs to be in good physical shape to endure this process. This will also help the fetus grow strong and healthy if the mother stays healthy. The things you eat will also go to feed the baby so you need to take care to eat foods that provide nourishment to the baby.

If you experience a lot of anxiety and panic your doctor will probably recommend that you give up caffeine entirely. Caffeine is a stimulant that flows through the bloodstream and into the bloodstream of the baby. It is possible for the baby to feel stressed at the same time the mother does.

Avoid taking pain killers or other types of medicine unless your doctor approves it. Remember, everything that enters your bloodstream will also enter the baby's bloodstream.

Do something you enjoy every day. This could be a long soak in the tub or a shopping trip to look for baby items. If it makes you feel good it will help you relax.

If you follow these simple guidelines you will probably not have any reason to become anxious or panicky. Remember that pregnancy is a normal process that women experience every day. You may have to learn a few techniques to help you get through those hormonal periods but when you look at the end result you will know that it is all worth it.

In this article we have explored panic attacks during pregnancy. This information is but a tip of the iceberg when it comes to panic attacks during pregnancy. In my free eCourse - The mystery of the 7th cure, I show you deep strategies that will eradicate your panic attacks and anxiety disorders fast!

What Is Postnatal Depression?

Postnatal Depression

The symptoms of postnatal depression appear any time before and after delivery of your baby. Around 1 in 7 (14%) of women will develop postnatal depression and 10% experience symptoms during the pregnancy (antenatal depression).

Antenatal depression is often overlooked. A pregnant woman that is feeling overwhelmed and anxious for more than two weeks and cannot function in day to day activities may be suffering from antenatal depression. The risk factors for developing antenatal depression are listed below. Approximately half of women with antenatal depression will develop postnatal depression.

• Complicated, unwanted or unplanned pregnancy.


• Discontinuation of medications.


• Family history of depression.


• Lack of support or financial concerns.


• Previous infertility.


• Relationship difficulties.


• Stressful life events.

In post natal depression the symptoms might appear suddenly or take some weeks or months to become evident. Post natal depression is known to occur after miscarriage, stillbirth or delivery. It is most commonplace with the first baby but can occur with any pregnancy.

The risks posed by post natal depression are significant. Partners and family members are asked to monitor the woman for signs of suicidal thoughts, self harm, harm to the baby or substance abuse.

Causes of Postnatal Depression

Postnatal depression doesn't have a sole cause. A number of risk factors combine to cause depression and anxiety. The most common causal factors for post natal depression are having a family and personal history of depression, a stressful pregnancy, severe 'baby blues', a complicated or prolonged delivery and problems with the neonate's condition.

Signs and Symptoms of Postnatal Depression

The signs and symptoms of post natal depression are the same as for general depression. These are listed below.

• Always exhausted or hyperactive.


• Anxiety or panic attacks.


• Confusion and guilt.


• Constantly thinking in a negative way.


• Crying uncontrollably or feeling teary.


• Eating too little or too much.


• Feeling scared and alone, but not wanting company.


• Forgetfulness.


• Inability to enjoy life.


• Insomnia.


• Irritable or sensitive to noise or touch.


• Loss of confidence and low self esteem.


• Loss of interest in sex.


• Moodiness.


• Poor concentration.


• Poor coping skills.


• Preoccupied with obsessive or morbid thoughts.


• Thoughts of self harm or harm to the baby.


• Unrealistic feelings of inadequacy.

Assessment of Postnatal Depression

Recording a complete physical, social and family history is a good place to start the assessment. The symptoms of post natal depression are examined specifically after the general history and diagnostics are obtained. A self rating scale is used to screen for postnatal depression and measure the severity of the depression.

A common scale is the Edinburgh Post natal Depression Scale (EPDS). A score of 10 or more indicates the woman may be depressed and the woman should be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist for diagnosis. The EPDS is a useful comparator of the woman's depression over time when administered regularly.

Diagnosis of Postnatal Depression

The actual diagnosis of post natal depression is straightforward. Basic diagnostic tests are used to rule out any possible underlying source of depression. The clinician examines in detail the stressors in the woman's life. The major obstacle is trying to convince women to seek help.

Women with antenatal depression are likely to conceal their symptoms and carry on regardless. There is a misconception that motherhood is easy and a joyful experience. This is the case for some women but other new mothers do not share this experience. The stigma of mental illness adds to the depression.

Complications of Postnatal Depression

Left untreated, post natal depression has a negative impact on the women's relationship with her baby, partner, family and friends. Most women with postnatal depression express that they love their child but a connection between mother and baby has not been established.

Postnatal depression doesn't resolve on it's own. If the depression is not identified, it cannot be treated. The post natal depression will linger and possibly reappear as another form of depression in later life. Most women completely recover from post natal depression without any long term complications.

Treatment of Postnatal Depression

Postnatal depression responds well to a combined treatment strategy consisting of emotional support, psychological support and medications. Antidepressant medication is the mainstay of treatment. Most women will remain on antidepressants for six months to two years. Women with postnatal depression should be informed that antidepressants are not addictive and can be taken safely during breast feeding.

Cognitive behaviour therapy is an effective therapy for relieving depression and anxiety by providing the individual with realistic strategies to manage their illness. This encourages self management of stressful events and depression.

Hospitalisation is indicated when a woman is suicidal, a risk to herself or others or if medical care has not achieved mood stability. Ideally the mother and baby are admitted to a mother-baby unit. A woman in postpartum psychosis is admitted to a mental health facility without her baby until the psychosis has been resolved.

Ways to Get Pregnant With a Girl Baby

If you've found this article, you're probably looking for natural, inexpensive ways to conceive a girl baby or daughter.  I will discuss several ways that you can do this below.  I'll also tell you why these things work and how to make them a bit easier to accomplish.

Why Timing Is So Important When You Want A Girl Baby: Most every body knows that there are several days in your cycle where you are the most fertile and are most likely to become pregnant. But, not every one fully realizes that the day on which you conceive can influence your baby's gender.  Conceiving early in this cycle makes it more likely that you will conceive a girl, while hitting the tale end of the cycle favors your having a boy. 

Here's why this is true. Girl producing sperm are the most hardy of the two.  However, they are as slow as they are strong.  In contrast, boy sperm are as weak as they are fast.  Therefore, girl sperm have no problem surviving a slow and steady trek to your egg, while boy sperm would deteriorate and die off on the same trip.  So, conceiving early in your fertility cycle will allow many of the boy sperm to exit the stage, leaving the girl sperm that you're trying to encourage. You can gage your fertility with ovulation predictors.  I prefer the saliva variety, but this is a personal choice.

Intercourse Positions That Will Help You Conceive A Daughter: So, I've discussed when you should conceive.  Now, I'll tell you why the intercourse positions you use are important as well.  Again, it has to do with the weakness of the boy sperm and the strength of their female counterparts.  Remember that you are trying to give the son producing swimmers a long trip that they can't possibly make.  The first way to do this is by conceiving early in your cycle. The second way is by using shallow sexual positions.  This makes for a longer trip, which can be very effective.

Why Getting A High Enough PH Is An Important And Effective Way To Become Pregnant With A Female Baby: Keeping with the theme of giving the chromosomes that will get you a son a hard, difficult journey, another way to accomplish this is by creating a high vaginal PH and acidity.  This environment is simply too hostile for the many of the male swimmers to survive.  There are a few ways that you can go about this.  The first is by going on a high PH diet.  This sounds a bit complicated, but it's actually a lot like being on a weight loss diet.  Some foods will be off limits while others (with a high PH) will be encouraged.  There are food lists that can make this easier as well.

Another way to raise your conceiving PH is by douching, but probably not the way your grandmother did it.  I'm not talking about vinegar and water.  Douching has evolved well beyond this and can be extremely effective.  I realize that some people find douching undesirable, but you only have to do it long enough to get your optimal PH.  (You can find out where you are by using PH test strips).  And, if you are dead set against it, you can use foods and diet alone, but understand that it may take a bit longer.

Stay The Course: Probably the biggest mistake I see people make with this process is not following through.  They will maybe use one or two of the methods, leaving the rest to chance.  This is frustrating to me because just taking a few extra steps can take your odds of getting pregnant with a girl from roughly 50% to as high as over 90%.  If you really think about it, you're only addressing three variables.  Use the correct timing, tweak your intercourse positions, and achieve the right PH, and you've just greatly upped your odds of a pink nursery.

Six Strategies for Creating a Healthy Feeding Relationship

For some women, the first days of breastfeeding are easy and effortless. For others, it's a time of learning, practice, patience, communication, and experimentation. Every woman, every breast, and every baby is different. One thing, however, remains constant; creating a healthy feeding relationship promotes physical and emotional well-being for you and your little one.

Your babe has a physical need for milk, of course, and breast-milk contributes to the health of almost every physical system that your little one has. On an emotional level, creating a healthy feeding relationship will help you meet your baby's needs of love, safety, and nurturing. Whether or not these emotional needs are met will have a huge impact on your little one's emotional well-being throughout his or her life.

By consciously creating a healthy and loving feeding relationship, you are providing your baby with their first experience of a healthy intimate relationship. This gives your little angel the feelings of safety, security, and nurturance that will impact all of their future relationships.

Breastfeeding allows you to read you baby's cues and to develop trust in your mothering instincts. This one act is responsible for a plethora of physical processes that help your post-baby body recover. In addition, breastfeeding also releases the hormone oxytocin (a.k.a. the love hormone), which is responsible for feelings of contentment, pleasure, and love. All of these wonderful feelings will contribute to your well-being and postpartum recovery.

Breastfeeding, and feeding in general, plays an important role in bonding. Bonding is the intense attachment that develops between a mom and her little one. It's what makes her want to shower her baby with love and affection, and it's what drives her to protect and nourish her little one. We psychologists are still learning a lot about the bonding process, but one thing is certain: breastfeeding (and feeding in general) is an important component in the bonding process.

If you're unable to breastfeed, not to worry, you will still be able to bond with your little one and create a loving and healthy feeding relationship. Here are some tips that can help you create a great feeding relationship with your baby no matter what the experience is like for you.

Be Flexible

If you're anything like I was as a new mother, you probably have an expectation about what successful breastfeeding should be like. From my experience, "shouldering" on yourself is never a good thing. Being flexible in your expectations about what breastfeeding will be like for you is critical when it comes to creating a great feeding relationship. Various unexpected circumstances often present themselves in breastfeeding (and in life). How we handle these circumstances can mean the difference between a great feeding relationship and a difficult one. If we're not flexible when unexpected things happen, we can end up feeling regret, blame, grief, and guilt. We can be hard on ourselves, and that negative self-talk can destroy our self-esteem and potentially harm our relationship with our infants.

Release the To-Do List

When feeding, put your to-do list on hold. I know it can be really difficult to sit down and relax when you have a hundred things that need to be done. Our overscheduled busy lives often create unhealthy amounts of stress, thus causing us to feel anxiety, tension, and irritation. Babies have the ability to sense these emotions, which can interfere with the feeding and bonding process. As a new mom, it is imperative for the well-being of you and your baby that you take this time to relax. In addition, when you release the to-do list, it's much easier to feed without schedules or restrictions. When your little one is permitted to feed without a schedule, it provides her with an opportunity to absorb all of the nourishment and love that she needs.

Get Naked (well, sort of)

Providing your little one with as much skin-to-skin contact as possible has huge emotional and physical benefits. Skin-to-skin contact helps to regulate a baby's breathing and heart rate, increases oxygen levels in the blood, stabilizes body temperature, keeps blood sugars higher, improves sleep, and improves brain development. Skin-to-skin contact also contributes to improved postpartum recovery for you, so it's a win-win situation. Find a favorite warm fuzzy blanket, strip down your little guy, and let him snuggle in close while you wrap the two of you in a cocoon of warmth.

Get Comfortable

When you settle in for feeding time, make sure that you are comfortable and supported. It's helpful to learn about different nursing positions so that you can find the one that makes you and your baby feel most comfortable. Also, take the time to make yourself a Zen-like space that promotes feelings of relaxation, calmness, and peace. Make sure everything you need is at your fingertips. I personally liked having a glass of water and lip chap nearby with a nursing pillow supporting my little guy and a blanket on my feet.

Ask For Help

Getting support from family, friends, older children, and professionals is the key to creating a great feeding relationship with your baby. Help the people around you to understand that you and your little one need a calm and quiet environment while breastfeeding. If you have older children, you may ask for their help (e.g., "can you please bring me a glass of water?"). This is an excellent way to help them feel needed and involved. If you feel like something isn't quite right, then seek assistance from a professional. For example, if you feel emotional distress, talk to your physician or psychologist. If you're feeling pain or are having a hard time getting comfortable, La Leche League is a great resource for breastfeeding support and education.

Be Present

Once you've released your to-do list, you'll find it much easier to be present with your little one. Focus on making eye contact, humming, singing, talking softly, or rocking your babe gently. Your voice is soothing to your little munchkin, and your loving attention provides her with feelings of love, safety, and nurturing. In the long run, this will have a positive impact on her self-esteem and confidence.

One final thought. When approaching these strategies, focus on one at a time in the order presented. Once you feel like you've mastered one, move on to the next one. Trying to do everything all at once is a trap that many women fall into, causing stress, anxiety, and feelings of not being good enough. Here's a bonus strategy for you.

Be gentle with yourself, and approach feeding with an open heart. Set your intention to do the best that you can, be flexible as unexpected circumstances arise, love yourself and your body, and all will turn out just fine. This approach will benefit you and your little one more than any other strategy.

Tips to Reduce Pregnancy Costs

Pregnancy often comes as a barrel of fun. This period has hundreds of memorable moments. Parents overwhelmed with the joyous anticipation spend as much as they can. They just want to ensure the safe and healthy birth of their child. Although, being conscious about safe birth is appreciated, getting over-conscious and spending irrelevantly is not wise.

Here are some tips to help parents enjoy the whole period without ending up in financial ruin.

1. Maternity Insurance
Getting private maternity insurance is expensive. One can easily be dazzled by knowing how much is health insurance. But in most cases it is inevitable and should be utilized. The reason is that, such insurance relieves you from a sudden burden of $5000 and up to $15000. These insurance policies mostly cover all the expenses including hospitalization, physician's fees, drugs and others.

If possible, using your spouse's insurance is a nice idea, however, not everyone can avail this facility. In such cases try to avail a parent's or guardian's insurance. What you must keep in mind is to get insured before the pregnancy is detected.

How much is health insurance? It is a question that cannot be answered because the premiums and deductibles change every year. The change depends upon the state and thus nothing can be predicted.

2. Borrow Baby Gear
Once you deal with all the hospitalization costs, you will have to deal with the stuff you buy for your baby. Buying everything new is not prudent. You can easily find someone among your neighbors, family or friends who have a whole nursery resting in their attics.

Make the most of such opportunities and borrow whatever you can.

3. Gifts
The gifts your child receives from your relatives and friends should not go in vain. It is very smart to let your guests know what you need in your child's nursery. You can even make a list of required items and let your friends go through it to and decide themselves.

4. Buy Inexpensive Diapers in Bulk
Buy inexpensive disposable diapers and use them effectively. You can easily find sales and discounts in baby shops. Make the most of such sales and rush to the stores to buy the required items in bulk.

5. Be Patient
Usually, parents being overwhelmed with the joyous news, start shopping for their child before birth. Since they do not know the size of their child, later, when the clothes appear to be of the wrong size, they go shopping again. So be patient and enjoy shopping with your child.

Kinds of Food to Get Pregnant - Simple Tips to Help Get Pregnant

Conceiving is not easy for some people, which is why they need to know the importance of getting the right kinds of food to get pregnant to improve their chances of getting pregnant. This is a guide for the kinds of food you should be taking in every meal.

You are going to need to start revamping your diet if you find it hard to conceive. This is a fact that most people take for granted. What you need to do is discipline yourself and start eating much healthier because having a healthy body and eating all the right stuff will help you condition yourself and improve your chances of having a baby.

There are lots of kinds of food to get pregnant, but we'll start with what you have regularly for breakfast. If you usually eat just a few pancakes, the occasional buttered toast or even just cereal, it may not be enough. You have to make sure you have a well balanced and hearty breakfast that contains a source of iron, calcium and of course folic acid. Make sure your meals consist of a type of enriched wheat bread, grains or even just your run of the mill cereal. You should also have fruits on the side, like some apricots or oranges. Milk or yogurt is also an essential addition to your breakfast.

For lunch, the kinds of food to get pregnant are similar to the ones above. You have to focus on this triangle because these are the most helpful for helping you conceive. You should have some meat, and again with enriched bread and a source of calcium like cheese or broccoli. Have a lot of vegetables and add variety to your meals. It would be to your advantage if you take vitamins that are rich in these nutrients during the day as prescribed to supplement your meals.

When you have dinner, you are going to need seafood - mussels, shrimp, salmon - these are amazing and rich sources of iron that you're going to need. Have some pasta with a tomato based paste or some steak. All you really need is a meal that satisfies you and gives you the three essential nutrients without blocking your arteries. Having a body that is healthy will help you feel better, more relaxed and consequently eases the pressure on having a baby, making the process more fun and increasing your chances of getting pregnant. This doesn't mean you are forced to neglect all other kinds of food though, but it does mean you have to watch what you eat and prepare yourself for conceiving.