Maternity Leave Pay - When to Apply For Short Term Disability

Short term disability insurance is a great way to create maternity leave pay, while also protecting your income in case of complications, accidents, and illnesses. Your benefit for normal delivery can greatly exceed the premium you pay when you time the start of coverage properly. Unfortunately, most women wait until it's too late to apply for coverage, and miss out on a golden opportunity. Consider your projected date of conception, the possibility of pre-term labor, and the chances of suffering an accident or illnesses.

Use Disability to Create Maternity Leave Pay

Short term disability insurance is a great way to create maternity leave income. It pays a six week benefit for your normal vaginal delivery, and an eight week benefit for your normal c-section delivery - less the elimination period. Your benefit for normal delivery can greatly exceed the premium you pay, thereby creating maternity leave income. For example, a woman earning $54,000 per year qualifies for a $3,000 per month benefit. Her benefit for a c-section delivery would be $4,100 compared to a monthly premium around $150. A pretty sweet insurance bargain for something you were planning to do anyway: have a happy healthy pregnancy and new baby!

Apply for Coverage at the Right Time

Coverage needs to begin before getting pregnant in order to qualify for the benefit for normal delivery. Most policies contain a nine month exclusion for normal delivery. Plus, pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition. If you wait until you are already pregnant to apply for coverage you will miss out in two ways: you will not qualify for the benefit for normal delivery, and any missed work due to pregnancy complications will not be covered. Avoid missing both of these important benefits by applying for coverage before conception. Don't wait until it's too late.

Another nuance that many women overlook is the possibility of pre-term labor and delivery. As mentioned above, most policies contain an exclusion for normal delivery during the first nine months of the policy effective date. It is possible for your policy to begin before getting pregnant, but for your normal delivery to occur inside the nine month exclusion. If this happens you may miss out on your benefit. For example, you conceive during the first week after your policy becomes effective, and you deliver two weeks early. Your normal delivery just occurred inside the nine month exclusion - no maternity leave benefit. Avoid this dilemma by applying for coverage several months before your expected date of conception. Your return on premium paid will still be well into the positive range.

Remember Accidents and Illnesses

The amazing part of buying short term disability insurance to cover your pregnancy and maternity leave is that it also protects your income in case of accidents and illnesses. You could get sick or hurt at almost any time. Should this happen, you will be very happy that you applied for coverage.

So if you think you may be getting pregnant anytime soon, apply for coverage now. An accident or illness could occur to any of us at any time. Don't wait until after getting sick or hurt. Not only will you miss out on the income protection benefit, you may no longer qualify for coverage.

Postnatal Depression - Is There a Cure?

Postnatal depression (PND) is a mood disorder. The individual affected is not to be blamed, this is a disease. Women who suffer from Postnatal Depression may or may not have a history of depression. The disease can strike without warning anytime after pregnancy, though if you have no experienced any symptoms by the first 3 months chances are you are not part of the one in five women who do.

Postnatal Depression is not something to be overlooked or ignored. Some women have such severe reactions to the disease that they may cause harm to themselves or their new born. It is important to seek immediate medical attention if you have these severe symptoms.

For those women who do not have severe symptoms but are suffering there are many treatments available. Most doctors will prescribe any number of anti-depressants in an attempt to control your feelings. Many mothers do not like the idea of being "hopped up on drugs" when caring for their newborns.

For these women there are natural remedies available including St. Johns Wort which is safe for new mothers but should not be taken in conjunction with prescription anti-depressants. A vital part of treatment is building a strong support system around you and being educated upon your disease.

There are several online message groups that women from all across the world have joined to share experiences and stories. These can be an amazingly helpful tool in combating your own depression. There are also several books available that can explain breathing exercises and other natural remedies for postnatal depression.

Gestational Diabetes Warning Signs

Gestational diabetes warning signs normally appear somewhere between twenty-four and twenty-eight weeks of one's pregnancy. It's the effect of having higher than normal levels of glucose inside of your body which affects the pregnancy and your baby's well-being.

No person likes any sort of problem while they are expecting. Having said that, pregnant women can control their diabetic issues with regular exercise, eating healthier foods and by taking their medication. If you take good care of yourself you'll be able to make sure of a healthy maternity for you, as well as a healthy start for the little one.

In the case of gestational diabetes an individual's sugar level usually goes back to normal after delivery, nonetheless you will have a significantly greater potential risk of acquiring diabetes type 2 sometime in the future. You have to continue to work together with your health care provider to regulate your blood glucose.

Gestational Diabetes Symptoms

Generally there are no kind of symptoms to speak of. Normally diabetes is detected at the time of routine medical tests which are done during a pregnancy. Under rare circumstances, for example in case your blood sugar level has gone through the roof, chances are you may suffer with a few of the common symptoms of diabetes, for instance:

* Urinating with greater regularity
* Persistently being thirsty
* Consistent hunger

Once you're expecting a baby, your personal doctor will incorporate a diabetes check as part of your prenatal care. For those who are discovered to actually have gestational diabetes, or if you should encounter any one of the aforementioned warning signs, you will definitely have to have even more check-ups.

Your health care provider will look at your sugar amount soon after childbirth and again inside of about six weeks to make certain it's gotten back to expected levels. In the event you acquire diabetes, it probably would be smart to get your blood sugar levels looked at on a frequent basis.

A large number of women who have gestational diabetes have healthy newborns. Conversely, in case your diabetes has not been properly handled, it may well result in greater problems when it comes to you and your little one.

Added problems for your unborn baby

* Excessive weight: An excess of glucose inside of your bloodstream will cause your baby's pancreas to generate even more insulin. This might produce a bigger newborn at birth known as (macrosomia). In cases where the child is way too big they may suffer harm during the course of childbirth, or perhaps the expectant mother may need to have a C-section.

* RDS plus Early Childbirth: Large quantities of glucose inside of the mother's bloodstream might lead to an early delivery. Additionally, the health care professional could advise an earlier delivery date in cases where the little one has gotten pretty big. Premature babies could get Respiratory Distress Syndrome rendering it hard for these babies to breathe by themselves. They might quite possibly have to have assisted breathing until such time as the baby's lungs become much stronger.

* Hypoglycemia: In some cases the child might experience low bloodstream sugar levels since they ended up manufacturing high amounts of insulin. In a worst case scenario, one of the warning signs of hypoglycemia is usually seizures. Prompt feedings or an intravenous glucose treatment could bring the newborn's glucose level back again to normalcy.

* Diabetes type 2: Infants have a much higher risk of being overweight and also of developing the much more severe diabetes type 2 down the road.

In the event that gestational diabetes is unattended it can potentially cause the demise of the child while pregnant or shortly after delivery.

Added dangers for the mom

* Hypertension: You will have a far better chance of establishing elevated blood pressure together with preeclampsia and eclampsia. These are extremely dangerous problems which may endanger the lives of both the mom as well as the infant.

* Diabetes type 2: For those who experienced gestational diabetes, you might get it yet again during any future pregnancy. When you age you are much more likely to acquire diabetes type 2, which is a great deal more serious.

You are able to manage gestational and even diabetes type 2 by adhering to a healthy style of living. Listen closely to your physician and focus on looking after yourself by exercising on a regular basis, maintaining a healthy diet and getting to know all that is possible on handling both kinds of diabetes as well as the warning signs of diabetes type 2.

How Can an Attorney Help in a Cerebral Palsy Case?

Cerebral palsy, which is a medical condition, occurs because of brain damage. It also occurs because of improper brain development. Brain development in a human being occurs right from the time of conception by the mother, as the fetus begins to show signs of growth. The brain is the most important organ because it almost controls everything in the human body. Any small damage to the brain can cause tremendous harm to any part in the body. If damage happens in the part of the brain cells that control the nerves and muscle coordination then the child will be born with cerebral palsy.

Damage to the brain of a child can occur anytime while the fetus is growing in the mother's stomach, during birth or right after birth due to various reasons. If the mother has a bad fall which directly results in causing brain damage to the fetus then cerebral palsy can occur. At times during birth, doctors tend to use forceps, a kind of medical instrument used for delivery on the head of the baby. When used with slight force it can cause damage to the brain. Also during birth or while in the stomach just before delivery, due to the mother's high blood pressure, the baby can be deprived of the much-needed oxygen that goes to the brain and this too can lead to cerebral palsy.

It is also possible that the umbilical cord connecting the baby and mother can get entangled around the neck of the baby and thus cause strangulation. This will result in the baby not getting enough oxygen to the brain and this will lead to certain cells in the brain to die a natural death because of lack of oxygen, which is so important for its survival. Leaving the baby too long inside the womb as soon as the child is ready for delivery is likely to cause cerebral palsy in the new born infant.

All these are instances of medical negligence and it is because of this that a cerebral palsy attorney is most required if your child is born and diagnosed as having cerebral palsy. It is the bounden duty of the medical fraternity to make sure that you have a safe pregnancy and the child in the womb is safe. In addition, they should ensure that the baby is born without facing any problems so that it stays healthy and does not end up with this medical condition.

The world over, there are thousands of children who are born with this medical condition and in many cases it is due to the negligence of the medical fraternity. Proper care during pregnancy, excellent delivery methods, and proper postnatal care is all very essential to the safety of the child. If malpractice and negligence is found to be the cause then legal remedy is to be sought, at once and a n attorney needs to be consulted. The attorney will call for all the records and then file lawsuits on behalf of the aggrieved parents. The attorney will fight the case in a court of law and get adequate compensation for the parents so that the money would be useful to help maintain and provide excellent treatment procedures for their affected child.

Ontario Licensed Real Estate Agents and Maternity Leave

Most Ontario real estate agents work solely on a commissions basis. These agents are generally on an independent contractor status making them self employed. The "employed" rules and regulations in the province of Ontario will for the most part, not apply to self employed real estate sales people who decide on taking a maternity leave.

When a real estate agent, Realtor, sales representative, or Broker, considers her maternity leave situation, she will be thinking about her loss of income, existing and continuing monthly expenses, and possibly the option of not returning to realty sales for a longer period of time.

Here is a typical scenario for an Ontario Realtor who is on maternity leave:

Most likely she was a registered real estate agent in Ontario with a franchise Brokerage. That Brokerage is a member of the Toronto real estate board or depending on their location in Ontario, their own local board. As a board member the Brokerage pays its dues including associations like O.R.E.A and C.R.E.A.. Therefore, all agents in that Brokerage will also be responsible for those dues whether active in sales or not. The agent on Maternity leave, then, will also be paying these dues so long as she remains registered with this Brokerage.

Not all franchise Brokerages are equal, but most of them will have certain common expenses or fees that their registered sales agents must pay as part of their agreement. These fees could be desk fees, advertising fees, franchise and transaction fees, fixed monthly office fees or administration costs etc., etc. Although the real estate boards fee and dues are mandatory whether you are on maternity leave or just not active in sales, some Brokerages may allow non payment or waive some of the listed expenses while the agent is on maternity leave.

An agent on maternity leave may have some legitimate concerns about having to pay for the same expenses she did while in the sales field. Another concern may be the loss of income due to her leave. Still another thought may be the eventual feeling, while taking care of her baby and family, that returning to real estate sales will not be something she wants to do sooner but rather, much later on.

There is a lot of flexibility in Ontario with real estate agents ready to take maternity leave. If expenses are going to be a problem, the licensed agent can opt to resign from her current Brokerage and register with a non board member realty Brokerage. She can park her license with a Brokerage that will not have any of the above mentioned fees and dues applicable. This alone will save the agent a lot of money especially if her maternity leave is extended for an uncertain period of time.

Income while on maternity leave is possible whether the realty agent remains registered with a board member Brokerage or non member Brokerage. She can refer business to a fellow real estate agent or Brokerage and agree to accept a referral fee. As long as her real estate license is registered with a Brokerage in good standing with R.E.C.O., she can continue to earn referral commissions paid to her through her Brokerage.

Although maternity leave is not an option for many agents, it's good to know that in Ontario, real estate agents who elect to take maternity leave can do so with a little piece of mind. The reassurance that these agents can substantially reduce their expenses and still earn an income by referring sales to other licensed agents, surely becomes important considerations as they decide to become stay at home parents.

Opting for a Cheap 3D Ultrasound

There are a lot of reasons that you may be looking for a cheap 3D ultrasound. Many people who are preparing for a new baby in their home are trying to save up all the money that they can so that they are prepared for the birth of their new child.

This is one of the main reasons that you may be looking to find a cheap or discounted ultrasound option. While this is usually not something that insurance will cover since it is an elective procedure, you will sometimes find that you can have it done in a doctors office. This can sometimes be more costly though. It is best to find a private facility in order to get your procedure done, because they will sometimes offer coupons and other discounts for you to be able to have the procedure done.

You may ask yourself this question- why do I need to have a 3d ultrasound? Well the answer is easy. There are many advantages to having this done while you are pregnant. Not only are you able to get really accurate imaging of your unborn baby, but you are also able to make sure that your baby is healthy and active in your womb. You may even be able to see a glimpse of what your baby may look like when he or she is born. Not only are you able to see your baby and rest at ease at night, but you are also able to share the images and video of your new baby with your family and friends.
Another good reason to find a cheap 3D ultrasound is that you are able to get some more imaging of your baby other than what the physician provides. Most insurance companies will only cover one or two ultrasounds throughout the pregnancy. Opting for elective ultrasounds will let you capture your baby at different intervals within your gestational period. This is priceless, considering the fact that you are only pregnant once.

There are many options for having this procedure done. While there are a lot of different facilities that offer the procedure, there are also several different places that you can go to find discounted options. Going online is your best option. Some areas are going to have a bigger selection for you to choose from than others. The reason for this has a lot to do with the demand in the area. Most of your bigger cities and metropolitan areas are going to have more providers than your small town cities. You may even be able to find cheaper options in bigger cities.

It may be beneficial for you to take the time to find a bigger city near you in order to book your ultrasound. This will help to ensure that you are able to get a cheap 3D ultrasound. Meet your baby before he or she is born, it is a great way to bond and build that connection with your child early on.

A Sudden Truth: Living After the Death of Your Spouse

Losing a spouse is perhaps one of the most emotionally grueling experiences an adult can go through in their lifetime. The deafening emptiness of your home without your partner, the realization of dependency on your spouse, and the loss of everything that you once shared with-companionship, a friend, a person to turn to for advice-these are hard pills to swallow. For women, especially mothers, this is an unbelievably difficult change in their lives. Being suddenly left to raise the children alone and having to be the sole breadwinner for her now incomplete family is a hurdle many cannot fathom.

As you grieve, however, you realize that this time in your life will not be forever. Things can be done to improve your life and to move you forward out of your grief. Allow yourself time to grieve and mourn the loss of your loved one, but once the tears start to become less, acknowledge the fact that it is time to move forward. The power of positive thinking can do wonders in helping you to get out of your hole and can push you forward to begin your brand new life alone. Here are some ways to get you off the ground:

1. Understand that the pain will not easily go away. Do not be frustrated or fall into a deeper depression if you feel as if your grief is taking a long time. The loss of a spouse is a heavy burden and it will take time before you start to feel normal again. Think positively and know that this time will pass as well and eventually, you will feel better about life.

2. Acknowledge the power of choice. Do not feel guilty about realizing that you want to begin your new life. This means your time of grief is over. Think of the good things to come.

3. Do not think that you are forgetting your spouse. Just because your pain is slowly fading and you are starting to feel better, it doesn't mean you are forgetting your spouse. Believe that they would have wanted you to be happy and fulfilled even when they are gone.

4. Channel your love and affection in other ways. Think positively and realize that you still have a lot of love to give. If you are looking for someone to care for, focus more attention on the children, or get a pet to take you through those solitary rough moments. Pets are great joy bringers, delivering comfort and happiness with just their mere presence. Not only that, believe that you can still find love, and that this is not the end of life for you as we know it.

5. Realize that death is just the beginning. Death is inevitable and by thinking positively, you'll see what the good side of death is. It isn't the end of life but a mere beginning.

Employ some positive thinking to help get your through your situation. See the brighter side of things and not just what's depressing and heartbreaking. There's always a flipside and that is what you must realize.

Carl Mathis, author of Life is what you make it - seven steps to moving forward
For more from Carl go to http://www.carlmathis.com

Aromatherapy to Treat Postpartum Depression

The majority of women do not suffer any kind of adverse reaction after childbirth, except to be emotional, easily upset and overtired. For a minority, however, it can be a very different story with a change of mood some time after the initial excitement following the birth. This usually coincides with the sudden change in hormone levels due to the commencement of lactation. New mothers can be highly sensitive, prone to weeping and possibly become irrational and suffer from depression. Loss of sleep and fatigue lead to anxiety, panic attacks and unnecessary worry. This is now recognized to be post-natal depressive illness, which can vary from a mild form to very severe cases which are quite rare.

Fortunately for sufferers, there is treatment for all forms of post-natal depression and a full recovery can occur. Aromatherapy is known to be helpful in preventing cases of post-natal issues. By using essential oils they can make life more pleasant and counteract any negative feeling that one might have.

How Aromatherapy Can Help

There have been numerous new mothers who have successfully used aromatherapy treatments to manage and assist in their fight against depression. There is hope out there in the form of natural treatments which do work. Having the assistance of a supportive aromatherapist can be of great help, as someone who listens and eases the new mothers concerns and answers her questions. It is a good idea to begin treatments before giving birth for maximum benefits but starting post birth is acceptable also. Having regular aromatherapy massages are very relaxing and beneficial to the mother. It is advisable to have a weekly massage. If you can't get to a massage therapist, self-massage is an alternative.

To feel uplifted and elevate your mood, use rosemary, cypress, bergamot or lemongrass. To feel calm and relaxed use lavender, chamomile or ylang ylang. Please note these essential oils should only be used diluted in a carrier oil such as jojoba or almond in massage after childbirth, not whilst pregnant. Due to the potent nature of oils, tangerine oil is the only acceptable choice during pregnancy. The selection of the essential oils used during the massage can impact on the desired outcome. As cases of post-natal depression differ from one individual to another it is best to consult with your aromatherapy massage therapist as to which oils will meet your needs.

Help Me Get Pregnant! 3 Tips That Can Help You to Get Pregnant

If you have been trying to get pregnant for a long time (or what seems like a long time), you are probably ready to run to a doctor crying, "Help me get pregnant!" Although a checkup with your regular doctor is always the first thing you should do when you are trying to get pregnant, there are simple things you can do right in the comfort of your own home - things that can make getting pregnant much easier and more natural.

Ensure you are in Good Health

Every day doctors see frantic females that are having difficulty getting pregnant. They are very familiar with women asking for help conceiving. One of the first things your doctor will do is give you a routine checkup to ensure that you are in good health, which is extremely important if you want to have a healthy pregnancy.

Once your checkup is out of the way, you will be given advice to relax and just let it happen. Sound frustrating? It is for many women. While relaxation is very important in your goal of becoming a mother, there are things you can do and use that will increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

As calculating as this may sound, time your sex so it is during your most fertile time. There are simple tests you can do to determine when you are ovulating. The best time to have sex is when you are ovulating.

Think Positive

Use mind control. Unbelievably, positive thinking really can make a difference in every part of your life, even with getting pregnant. When you are in a positive frame of mind your body will relax. Being relaxed can make it easier to conceive.

Take Care of Yourself

If you smoke, drink or do drugs, now is definitely the time to stop. All of these things can actually prevent you from getting pregnant. In the case that you would still get pregnant, you are putting your health and the health of your unborn child at risk by continuing to put these unhealthy things in your body.

Maintain a good weight. One of the first things doctors do when they hear the plea, "help me get pregnant" is to make sure the woman is in good physical condition and this starts with maintaining good weight.

Tips on Breast and Nipple Care During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

The size and shape of breast and nipples changes during pregnancy, so an extra care is require for both. Sometimes unusual things also happen like leaking of milk, oily discharge from the nipples, etc. Here in this article, you will find useful tips on breast and nipple care during pregnancy and lactation.

1. Oily discharge from the nipples - Sometimes, there is an oily discharge from the nipples during pregnancy and after childbirth for a few days. Around the areola of the breasts there are small glands (called Montgomery's Tubercles) which secrete small amounts of a greasy material which kills the germs on the skin in this area. The greasy material is also useful in keeping the nipples supple. Do not wash nipples with soap to clean the greasy material; otherwise there will be a possibility that the nipples might become sore when the baby suckles them. All that need to be done is to splash the nipples with plain water to keep them clean.

2. Flat or inverted nipples - In case the nipples appear flat or inverted, it is advised to press the areola between the thumb and the finger to encourage the nipple to stand out. If the nipple sticks out, the baby will not have any difficulty in suckling. During the pregnancy period the shape of the nipple may be abnormal, but it improves as the pregnancy advances. This is because of the effect of hormones during pregnancy. Do not apply any ointment or a cream to the nipples. Clean the nipples by splashing water on them. Do not try to remove any secretions, since these are protective and prevent infection.

3. Leaking of Milk From Breasts - Oozing of milk from the breast is common during the first few weeks after the baby is born. This indicates that the breast is full and the mother is ready to breastfeed the baby. Keep a soft napkin or a hanky or a piece of soft cloth or a pad against the nipple in the cup of the brassiere. This will soak up the milk and prevent the blouse, bra and sheet from getting spoiled. Make sure to change this pad quite often to prevent the nipples from remaining wet. Otherwise these will become sore. Try to keep the nipples dry and clean. The secretion of milk can be stopped by pressing the nipple with the heel of your hand against the breast for about one minute. In case the milk drips from the other breast while feeding the baby, just leave the breast exposed and let the milk drip on a hanky or a clear diaper.

Hope this article will help you to find some easy solution of problem discussed above.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

Tips on How to Get Pregnant Fast - Best Foods to Eat When Trying to Get Pregnant

'I don't know why I can't get pregnant?' If you have been actively trying to conceive a baby for over a year without success, it is a good question to ask. There are so many reasons why a woman can't get pregnant fast. One of them has to do with diet. If you are looking for ways to increase chance of getting pregnant, don't dismiss the idea that an appropriate diet can help very much.

Actually, there are many foods able to help you in your efforts to conceive quickly. When your diet is lacking in some vitamins, minerals and nutrients, it could have a knock-on effect of decreasing your odds of getting pregnant fast! What are the best foods to eat when trying to get pregnant? Here are 4 helpful tips about foods you need to eat more.

1) Foods rich in vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)

Some women notice that their luteal phase (time from ovulation to the beginning of the next menstrual flow) is fewer than 10 days. This defect can greatly reduce your fertility by preventing implantation. Vitamin B6 (rich in folic acid) possesses the property to help lengthening the luteal phase. By consuming foods particularly rich in vitamin B6, you will increase your chances of getting pregnant. Foods high in vitamin B6 include tuna, liver, kidneys, sardines, banana, egg yolk, soya, sweet potato, broccoli and asparagus.

2) Foods rich in zinc

Zinc is a mineral that plays an important role in fertility and conception. Scientists have noticed that zinc deficiency can cause chromosomal damage. Furthermore, zinc helps the reproductive system to use the hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, more efficiently. Foods rich in zinc include oysters, wheat bran, pecan nuts and liver.

3) Foods rich in vitamin E (tocopherol)

Vitamin E increases fertility by promoting cervical mucus production and by increasing egg quality. Some studies have shown that vitamin E supplementation may boost fertilization from 19 to 29 %. Excellent sources of vitamin E include sunflower oil, almond, wheat germ, tomatoes and kiwi fruit.

4) Green tea

A few studies have demonstrated that drinking green tea regularly may facilitate getting pregnant faster. It is thought that antioxidants found in tea called polyphenols may help a woman conceive a baby by protecting reproductive cells from damage. In the other hand, some research has showed that high caffeine intake may delay conception. That is why it is recommended not to drink too much tea.

Put all chances to your side!

Putting in practice the 4 simple tips described in this article can help to some extent, but it is not enough! What do you need to do in order to help increase your chances to get pregnant fast?

Panic Attacks During Pregnancy - 3 Tips to Help Control Them!

Panic attacks during pregnancy are normal. There are times when you cannot control your emotions especially when sudden bumps or pains occur during your pregnancy, and since you don't easily understand what caused them, you get worried. You also exert extra amount of concern as it's not only your health that's at stake-but your baby's as well.

But panic attacks can be controlled and prevented. You can then keep yourself or your pregnant loved one from getting into a panic situation by practicing these three helpful tips:

1. Water Therapy - drinking water, regardless of being pregnant or not, keeps the veins and nerves relaxed and at ease. You are also kept fresh and cool because of the hydration, thus you don't easily get worried. Whenever a potential panic situation arises, it takes a lot of time before the stimulus reaches your brain, and before it does, you have already responded to the situation properly. No need to worry then!

2. Exercise - panic attacks during pregnancy are also caused by restless muscles that have already grown tired of the usual routine of being pregnant. Restlessness usually builds up into anxiety, causing you to panic eventually. Thus, to keep the panic attacks from coming, get some exercise. Do some slight walking, at least to give your body some sweat. Your muscles are then stretched and satisfied, thus preventing you from getting restless and worrisome during your pregnancy.

3. Breathing - finally, you must learn how to breathe. The success of labor and childbirth depends on how you breathe, as your exhale will bring out the child you carried for nine months. By learning how to breathe properly, not only will you be able to bring out a healthy, happy child in this world, but also bring him out without the slightest risk of panic.

Your Healthy Newborn - First Days at Home

So you came home with your baby. Whether it is the first-born or not, it's always an exhilarating experience and an opportunity to learn new things everyday.

Your baby probably already had the first Hepatitis B vaccine and the newborn screen at the hospital. Also, he or she already passed the hearing test. Congratulations! This article reviews what you need to know about your newborns developmental milestone, feedings, elimination, and safety.

There are some essential things to know when you bring your neonate home. First of all, per the hospital's recommendations, set up a follow-up appointment with your baby's health care provider (usually 3-4 days post delivery). It is important to evaluate your infant, i.e. check the weight, listen to the heart, etc. Also, you may have questions that need to be answered: prepare a list before the visit so that nothing gets forgotten! Most health care providers like when patients come to the appointment well prepared. It helps us address all of your needs!

Below, I outlined some important things to know about your baby from the very first day.

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

Your baby should respond to noise. For example, she should startle at the sound of a slamming door or a barking dog. By one month of age, she should be able to distinguish between the mom's voice and voices of other people. However, some babies have this ability from the very first days after birth. Your baby's vision is intact, but right now she can best see objects and faces placed 8-12 inches away from her face. Also, she does not like bright lights. Babies like to open their eyes in dim light by the adult standards.

FEEDINGS

During the first few weeks, don't worry about schedules: your baby should eat on demand, on average every 2-4 hours. However, babies experience rapid growth spurts from time to time, and during those times they may be hungry every 1-2 hours. Just play it by ear. Also, keep in mind that your baby's stomach is very small (about the size of her fist), so it can't hold more than a couple of ounces at the time. If you feed your infant formula and notice excessive spit ups, decrease the amount of the formula but feed your baby a little more often. Don't let more than four hours pass between feedings. You do not want you baby get frustrated with hunger and make the feeding experience unpleasant. At any time, your breastfed or formula fed baby spits up excessively, talk to your health care provider. She may suggest a formula change or, on rare occasions, medication.

ELIMINATION

A healthy newborn should pass the first bowel movement (BM) within 36 hours after being born. After establishing a healthy BM pattern, your baby may go to the bathroom once or a few times a day, or every other day, or so. One thing to keep in minds is that not everybody has a BM every day! As long as you infant is comfortable between BMs and they do not look like pebbles, there is no reason for concern. Also, keep in mind that breast milk has much less waste than formula. Therefore, your baby may have less frequent and malodorous BMs than a formula-fed infant.
Urination is a good indication of hydration. A few days old baby should have at least 4-5 wet diapers and work her way up to more than 6 a day!

SAFETY

The safest sleeping position for your baby is on her back. It decreases the chance of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) (See Box 1). Co-sleeping of infants and parents is no longer recommended. Such sleeping arrangements create an unsafe environment for the baby who can suffocate on bedding or be crushed by a sleeping adult. Every baby should sleep in her own bassinet or crib. Smoking should not be allowed around your baby as well. Cigarette smoke exposure not only increases the risk of SIDS, but it also increases your baby's susceptibility to catching upper respiratory tract infections.

Practice measuring your baby's temperature. Should the temperature be 100F or above, undress the infant and let her cool off. Small babies overheat easily! After 15 minutes, check the temperature again. If the temperature is still 100F or above, your baby needs to be examined by a health care provider right away. That is true until the infant is 3 month old, because until then the immune system does not know how to work efficiently and fever may be a sign of a serious illness.

The series on newborns will cover in the future issues topics, such as jaundice of the newborn, the senses, primitive reflexes, six states of consciousness breastfeeding, reactions of older siblings to the newborn, postpartum depression, and infant's social development. If there are other topics that you would like to read about, email me at health@pluggedinparents.com

Box 1. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

SIDS is a sudden and unpredictable death of a seemingly healthy infant younger than 12 months of age. The diagnosis comes only after other causes of death are ruled out. You can take steps to reduce your baby's risk of SIDS by placing her to sleep on her back even though she might prefer to sleep on her belly! Make sure that the mattress in her crib is firm! Also, offering a pacifier to your infants (only if she does not reject it!) may decrease the risk of SIDS. Avoid cigarette smoke exposure and do not overdress your infant as overheating may contribute to SIDS.

Tips on Trying to Get Pregnant - pH Balance and Alkalizing

The major cause of infertility is due to poor health. So, if you are planning to have a baby, it is essential to take care of your health even before pregnancy itself. In order for you to give birth to a healthier and stronger baby, you need to ensure your health is in optimum condition as this will improve your fertility levels. Ideally, this should be done at least 4 months before trying to conceive. You are what you eat. So, if you have not been eating healthily, for sure your blood is circulating toxins instead of nutrients in your body, making it conducive to many ailments, including infertility.

To obtain optimal health condition, our bodies need to attain a healthy level of pH balance, essential for both the reproductive and general health. Our body's normal pH is slightly alkaline. A perfect body pH is 7.4, above is alkaline and below is acidic. You can test your pH levels using pH test strips available from the pharmacy. It is important for you to ensure that your daily dietary intake of food naturally balances your body pH. If you want to improve your fertility, you may benefit by adding more alkalizing foods to your diet. A healthy diet should consist of 70-80% alkaline-forming foods and 20-30% acid-forming foods. Alkaline forming foods include nearly all vegetables such as lettuces, lentils, onion, sweet potato, sprouts, tomatoes, celery, peppers, cauliflower, green beans, broccoli, cucumber and garlic. It also includes most fruits such as honeydew, olives, mango, lemons, pears, avocado, pineapple, apples, blackberries, apricots, bananas, blueberries, currants, raisins, cherries, peaches and papaya. For the sake of you and the baby, you should cut down on foods that are highly acidic such as sugar, meat, seafood, poultry, white vinegar, processed soybeans, cheese, MSG, coffee and alcohol.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is an alkaline forming food. It is a non-alcoholic beverage extracted from apples. It can work to balance the pH and therefore can help improve fertility. You and your partner can take 2 teaspoons of ACV, sweetened with 2 teaspoons of honey in a glass of water, 3 times a day. If taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, it can increase sexual desire and make the female's egg more receptive to sperm, thus increasing the chances of pregnancy. In fact, it can be used as a remedy for curing many other ailments and it is a good source of nutrition.

By drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day can help cleanse your body of toxins and wastes to prepare it for conception. This will also make it more effective for your body to absorb all the nutrients from the food you eat essential for the reproductive success. So always stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Adding lemon juice to water can boost your fertility. Antioxidants in this drink helps to remove the free radicals in your body which can harm the sperms and eggs, thereby increasing your fertility. However, water cannot be replaced by coffee or sodas because it can deplete you of water instead.

Which Health Insurance Plan Is Best for Me?

Health insurance has proven itself of great help and financial aid in certain cases when events turn out unexpectedly. In times when you are ill and when your health is in grave jeopardy and when finances seem to be incapable to sustain for your care, health insurance is here to the rescue. A good health insurance plan will definitely make things better for you.

Basically, there are two types of health insurance plans. Your first option is the indemnity plans, which includes the fee-for-services and the second is the managed care plans. The differences between these two include the choice offered by the providers, the amount of bills the policy holder has to pay and the services covered by the policy. As you can always hear there is no ultimate or best plan for anyone.

As you can see, there are some plans which may be way better than the others. Some may be good for you and your family's health and medical care needs. However, amidst the sweet health insurance plan terms presented, there are always certain drawbacks that you may come to consider. The key is, you will have to wisely weigh the benefits. Especially that not among these plans will pay for all the financial damages associated with your care.

The following are a brief description about the health insurance plans that might be fitting for you and your family's case.

Indemnity Plans

Flexible Spending Plans - These are the types of health insurance plans that are sponsored when you are working for a company, or any employer. These are the care plans inclusive in your employee benefit package. Some of the specific types of benefits included in this plan are the multiple options pre-tax conversion plan, medical plans plus flexible spending accounts, tax conversion plan, and employer credit cafeteria plans. You can always ask your employer of the benefits included in your health care/insurance plans.

Indemnity Health Plans - This type of health insurance plan allows you to choose your own health care providers. You are given the freedom to go to any doctor, medical institution, or other health care providers for a set monthly premium. The insurance plan will reimburse you and your health care provider according to the services rendered. Depending on the health insurance plan policy, there are those that offers limit on individual expenses, and when that expense is reached, the health insurance will cover for the remaining expenses in full. Sometimes, indemnity health insurance plans impose restrictions on services covered and may require prior authorization for hospital care and other expensive services.

Basic and Essential Health Plans - It provides a limited health insurance benefit at a considerably low insurance cost. In opting for this kind of health insurance plan, it is necessary that one should read the policy description giving special focus on covered services. There are plans which may not cover on some basic treatments, certain medical services such as chemotherapy, maternity care or certain prescriptions. Also, rates vary considerably since unlike other plans, premiums consider age, gender, health status, occupation, geographic location, and community rated.

Health Savings Accounts - You own and control the money in your HSA. This is the recent alternative to the old fashioned health insurance plans. These are savings product designed to offer policy holders different way to pay for their health care. This type of insurance plan allows the individual to pay for the current health expenses and also save for untoward future qualified medical and retiree health costs on a tax-free basis. With this health care plan, you decide on how your money is spent. You make all the decisions without relying on any third party or a health insurer. You decide on which investment will help your money grow. However, if you sign up for an HSA, High Deductible Health Plans are required in adjunct to this type of insurance plan.

High Deductible Health Plans - Also called Catastrophic Health Insurance Coverage. It is an inexpensive health insurance plan which is enabled only after a high deductible is met of at least $1,000 for an individual expense and $2,000 for family-related medical expense.

Managed Care Options

Preferred Provider Organizations - This is charged in a fee-for-service basis. The involved health care providers are paid by the insurer on a negotiated fee and schedule. The cost of services are likely lower if the policy holder chooses an out-of-network provider ad generally required to pay the difference between what the provider charges and what the health insurance plan has to pay.

Point of Service - POS health insurance plans are one of the indemnity type options in which the primary health care providers usually make referrals to other providers within the plan. In the event the doctors make referrals which are out of the plan, that plan pays all or most of the bill. However, if you refer yourself to an outside provider, the service charges may also be covered by the plan but the individual may be required to pay the coinsurance.

Health Maintenance Organizations - It offers access to a network of physicians, health care institutions, health care providers, and a variety of health care facilities. You have the freedom to choose for your personal primary care doctor from a list which may be provided by the HMO and this chosen doctor may coordinate with all the other aspects of your health care. You may speak with your chosen primary doctor for further referrals to a specialist. Generally, you are paying fewer out-of-pocket fees with this type of health insurance plan. However, there are certain instances that you may be often charged of the fees or co-payment for services such as doctor visits or prescriptions.

Government-Sponsored Health Insurance

Indian Health Services - This is part of the Department of Health and Human Services Program offering all American Indians the medical assistance at HIS facilities. Also, HIS helps in paying the cost of the health care services utilized at non-HIS facilities.

Medicaid - This is a federal or s state public assistance program created in the year 1965. These are available for the people who may have insufficient resources to pay for the health care services or for private insurance policies. Medicaid is available in all states. Eligibility levels and coverage benefits may vary though.

Medicare - This is a health care program for people aging 65 and older, with certain disabilities that pays part of the cost associated with hospitalization, surgery, home health care, doctor's bills, and skilled nursing care.

Military Health Care - This type includes the TRICARE or the CHAMPUS (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services) and CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affair). The Department of Veterans Affair (VA) may also provide this service.

State Children's Health Insurance Program - This is available to children whose low-income parents were not able to qualify for the Medicaid.
State-Specific Plans - This type of plan is available for low income uninsured individuals.

There are many different types of insurance plans that you may have the prerogative to know about. By learning which health care insurance fits your situation, you can avail of the many options that will likely be of great assistance to you in times when you will need it most. Insurance costs have typically become one of the common draw backs in choosing for an insurance quote. However, weighing the benefits will really matter. Make sure that you always read the benefits, terms and conditions before landing to whichever type of health insurance you choose.

About Abortion - Important Considerations While Choosing an Abortion Clinic

Pregnancy period is considered to be one of the most beautiful times in the entire life of a woman. This time period is full of immeasurable happiness, joy and contentment. However, the situation might turn out to be completely different in case of the unwanted pregnancy. The unwanted pregnancy can cause a great deal of emotional turmoil to the would-be mother, and often ends up in going out-of-the-way and having abortion. In case you are also going through a similar phase and want to terminate your pregnancy, then having an abortion done is probably the best idea. It is completely a private decision on the part of a woman and this is the reason why choosing an ideal abortion clinic becomes very important.

Choosing an abortion clinic can be quite a tricky task. The health center should not only be able to provide impeccable pregnancy services, but should also have an upper hand in taking extra care of the patients. One of the most important things that you need to do is to stay informed and up to date regarding the related practices. You should look out for the required information in order to avoid any inconvenience in the future. Since non-surgical methods are considered to be the best alternatives, you should look out for the clinics providing the best services. You should take some extra pain in spotting out the best abortion clinic that can provide you professional help in this regard.

Selecting a well reputed clinic becomes quite crucial as far as abortion is considered. If done in an improper manner or at a fatal stage, abortion can result in some serious consequences. Therefore, you must look for the health center with well experienced and educated physicians that can take good care of your health and carry on the abortion procedures in the best possible manner. It is quite an emotional decision and thus should be taken after comprehensive consideration. You can also take the help and advice of your near and dear ones in this regard.

Internet can prove to be one of the best places to find an ideal abortion clinic in your locality. You just need to enter the required details and the search results will appear instantaneously. You should not finalize the name of the clinic that very instant. Getting some remarks and testimonials from the previous patients can help a lot in making a final decision. You can have a word with the other women regarding the experience of abortion at the particular clinic. This will surely help in gaining some emotional support from the previous patients and will make the procedures easy for you.

So, these are a few important points that you need to consider while selecting an ideal abortion clinic to terminate your pregnancy. These points are quite comprehensive in every possible sense and you just need to consider them in order to make a wise selection. For detailed information, it is always better to consult a professional in this field. Taking the help of family members and the ones you trust the most is also considered to be the best option at this point of time.

Can a Surrogate Mother Get HIV Or STDs?

A lot of women keep asking what chances they have getting infected while playing the surrogate for a mom who is HIV positive. We know that AIDS is transported from one body to the other in many different ways. But will carrying an HIV positive mom's egg lead to the same thing? Read more...

To go to the core of this query, the first thing a woman should do is educating herself about home surrogacy. Take the instance of a government funded clinic in America. It recently came to the headlines by refusing to assist in any type of surrogacy for homosexual men couple.

Both of these two persons were carrying HIV-positive. Their whole scheme here was to fertilize an ovum off a female donor with sperms from one of those gay men and then implanting that within a 2nd female who had previously agreed to bear the pregnancy.

However, the gay couple challenged the decision of the surrogacy clinic on logical grounds. They emphasized on the point that there were hardly any research findings that documented any cases of HIV-positive sero-conversion within the recipients of the gametes off HIV-positive donors.

They also challenged the decision as they had evidence that a woman was clearly agreed for carrying the pregnancy. Still, though that clinic was offering assisted conception to both the HIV-discordant gay couples (and as same-sex couples, they denied to undergo this procedure.

Their argument was that those superseding ethical concern in such a case was to protect of the prospective surrogate mom from getting HIV infection. If it was assumed that the risk of this woman's getting an HIV infection was zero without the surrogacy contract, or implantation of that fertilized egg. However, due care was undertaken for reducing the risk of this unusual HIV transmission - this, they felt would fully eliminate the risk for that surrogate woman.

But all these arguments were turned down by the ethics committee, as it expressed clear supports to the decision of the clinic regarding not performing the process or their reasoning behind it.

As you understand how vague the situation is. And it should be also clear by now that it's tough to give a verdict on whether a surrogate mom should carry an egg from an infected woman. The decision can be only directed by your ethics. Hence different people may have different view points regarding this. Consider the case of the following women when she commented on the above mentioned case.

When she was 13, this woman found that she was born with NO UTERUS! At the age of 19, her initial sexual encounter was a horror when she came to know that the sex made her HIV positive. Just 2 years later she met her husband who happens to be a great person. This guy as well was HIV-positive. The woman found hope that she's found someone at least who she could consider her life partner.

Despite being HIV positive she found her love. Now wonders whether she can get a surrogate mom who'd want to carry her baby knowing she is HIV-positive!

Low Thyroid Symptoms - Keeping Up With Thyroid Problems

Hypothyroidism happens if you have low levels of thyroid hormones. It is a serious problem and affects a great number of people today. If left untreated, hypothyroidism can be dangerously fatal. Normally, your thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones that help maintain and keep your system healthy and balanced. In addition, these same hormones regulate your metabolism. Whenever your thyroid gland is not functioning properly, low thyroid symptoms start occurring and a condition like hypothyroidism happens. Most of the time, this problem occurs in women over 50 years old.

Knowing the Low Thyroid Symptoms

Some of the more common low thyroid symptoms that happen can sometimes go undetected for years and years because of its subtlety. Most of them are common symptoms that we encounter once in a while so it leaves us thinking that it is normal and harmless. However, if not taken care of right away, these low thyroid symptoms can cause even more deadly problems. Two of the most prominent symptoms that people experience are fatigue and low energy levels. Other symptoms also include constipation, depression, muscle weakness, dry skin, puffiness, hoarseness, abnormal sensitivity to the cold, joint stiffness, weight gain, and higher cholesterol levels. It could also cause menstrual irregularities in women that suffer from this problem. You will notice that these low thyroid symptoms are quite common. Therefore, without having yourself checked, it might be difficult to detect that you have low thyroid problems.

Living with Low Thyroid Problems

People who suffer from low thyroid symptoms will attest to the fact that this can pose as a big challenge to everyday activities. You need to follow thyroid-specific medications to help minimize the effects of your low thyroid problems in your usual activities. One of them is of course for you to have a healthy diet. Find time to get some exercise, get plenty of sleep and rest as well as time off to relax. Low thyroid symptoms should be taken seriously. When detected, make sure to seek professional help to find the cause of the symptoms. This helps in preventing the problem from worsening and gives you a good chance to prevent further complications from developing.

Using Feldenkrais for a More Comfortable Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman's life. The baby inside you grows and develops and your body and mind go through amazing changes. During pregnancy the belly expands, the bones of the pelvis soften and widen, the organs shift, and there is weight gain. On an emotional level your brain is responding to radical shifts in hormones and is preparing you for the psychological changes necessary for motherhood.

Being pregnant can be challenging both physically and emotionally. Even an uncomplicated pregnancy can be disrupted by the changes created by your growing child. Some very common physical complaints during pregnancy include heartburn, constipation, and urinary frequency. Muscular and skeletal complaints are also common, for example

• Back pain caused by a change in your center of gravity


• Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by fluid retention


• Pelvic pain caused by hormonal softening of the skeleton and cartilage and weight of the baby


• Swollen feet and ankles, again caused by fluid retention

Feldenkrais for pregnant women can help reduce pain and discomfort while providing an overall healthier pregnancy. The Feldenkrais Method teaches simple movements that make everyday tasks such as getting up and down, sleeping, rolling over and breathing much easier. It is an innovative approach to movement that helps to alleviate your pain during pregnancy by teaching you to use and move your body in more effective and efficient ways. The movements you learn are completely safe for both you and your baby during all stages of pregnancy. In fact, it's been proven that reduced stress and pain can create a happier, healthier overall pregnancy experience.

When practicing the Feldenkrais Method, you should expect:

• Improved mobility, posture, sleep and comfort during pregnancy


• A deeper sense of trust in your ability to give birth


• A more rapid return to health after delivery

Feldenkrais increases your energy and improves your quality of life, while helping you adjust to the common side effects which occur through each stage of your pregnancy. And while pregnancy seems to become more challenging as it evolves, you will be amazed at how easily you'll be able to do everything from rolling over in bed, getting in and out of a chair or the car, and simply moving more freely throughout the day.

Want to find out more about how the Feldenkrais Method can help you move more easily through your pregnancy? Please check out Pregnancy and Feldenkrais for more information.

A Look at the Different Types of Depression

When people talk about depression, they usually mean a person who is feeling down and lethargic, and who has generally lost interest in life. Most people don't realize that there are many different types of depression a person can be suffering from, with each type often showing different symptoms.

While this isn't an exhaustive list, here is a quick overview of the most common forms of depression.

Mild/Minor Depression is the least severe form of depression. Usually the symptoms aren't so severe that they have a major impact in the life of the sufferer, although the depression can still cause distress and disruption. Many people who are suffering from mild depression never seek treatment - they don't believe the symptoms are severe enough.

Dysthymic Disorder is a long-term form of mild depression (lasting two or more years). Like mild depression, most sufferers never seek help as they don't believe their symptoms are severe enough. Also like mild depression, the symptoms of dysthymic depression don't usually have a huge impact on the sufferers day-to-day life. But when the long-term results from the depression are considered, the impact can be huge. People who suffer from dysthymic depression often can't remember a time when they weren't depressed.

Moderate Depression fits somewhere between mild depression and major depression. The symptoms of moderate depression are more severe and numerous than mild depression, and they begin to have an impact on the work, home and social life of the sufferer. While mild depression and dysthymic depression can go unnoticed by others, the symptoms of moderate depression are usually noticeable. If left untreated, people suffering from moderate depression can slip into major depression.

Major Depression (also known as clinical or unipolar depression) is what most people think of when they think of depression - the individual seems to have totally given up on life, and has a large number of obvious symptoms. It is unlikely that someone suffering from major depression could function normally in a work, social or home setting - their symptoms are too pronounced. Suicide can be a huge risk with major depression, and professional help needs to be sought to treat the depression.

Bipolar Depression (BPD) is sometimes known as manic-depression, and is characterized by the sufferer having large mood swings from very upbeat and energetic to extreme lows. Both periods normally last for several weeks at a time. Bipolar depression is usually categorized into a number of sub-categories. While there is no firm consensus on how many sub-categories there are, the four most common are Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar I Disorder, Cyclothymic Disorder and Bipolar NOS.

People with bipolar I disorder have the most extreme mood swings. Their low moods can be classified as major depression, while in their positive moods they can engage in crazy, outrageous and even dangerous activities. During this 'mania' state they may even suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.

People with bipolar II disorder have much less extreme mania periods. Indeed, many bipolar II sufferers go untreated because people mistake their 'mania' phase for simply getting over their depression. People with bipolar II don't suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.

Cyclothymic disorder is a milder but much more long-term version of bipolar disorder (usually lasting for two or more years). Like bipolar II the mania phases are relatively minor, but in addition their depressive phases aren't so severe that they classify as major depression. If left untreated, cyclothymic depression can develop into bipolar II depression.

Finally, Bipolar NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) is a catch-all category for people who have some of the symptoms of bipolar, but those symptoms don't allow the person to be neatly categorized in one of the three other categories. For example, the sufferer may have fast cycling between the manic and depressive states, or manic states without depressive states.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) that affects between 3% and 8% of women. Symptoms of depression appear around a week prior to menstruation, and disappear within a few days of menstruation beginning.

Postnatal (Postpartum) Depression can occur any time in the first 12 months after a baby is born. Some form of postnatal depression affects over 80% of new mothers, although most who are affected only have a very mild form of depression that usually passes naturally with rest and the support of family and friends. However around 15% of mothers get a more severe form of postnatal depression, and like major depression the sufferer needs treatment and support to overcome the illness.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression caused by the changing light levels throughout the year. The most common for of SAD is caused by the low-light levels of winter, but a much rarer form of the disorder is triggered by the high-light levels of summer.

As you can see, depression comes in many different forms - each type of depression has different triggers and symptoms associated with it, and each type of depression also responds better to different treatments. By being aware of the different forms depression can take, you can be much more prepared to help a friend of family member.