Pregnancy: September 2010

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Stages Of Pregnancy - Three Distinct Cycles During Pregnancy

For those just starting out on their journey to bringing a new life into the world, it's important to know what to expect from pregnancy and the different stages it goes through.

The first stage of pregnancy is often the easiest to miss; sometimes women do not even know they are pregnant until the end of this last stage. The first stage is referred to as the first trimester. A woman will experience many changes in her first trimester of pregnancy due to the body adapting to the life it will hold. Many women experience morning sickness; this is due to the high level of hormones in her system. Sometimes morning sickness can be brought on by certain smells, and other times it seems to develop without environmental triggers.

Another major change the woman's body is undergoing is the size of the uterus. The uterus grows very large in this first stage of pregnancy to accommodate the growth of the fetus. Because the uterus is growing so rapidly in this first stage, frequent bathroom stops are a common result. Back pain is also a constant problem throughout pregnancy because the fetus often rests against the spine causing pressure.

The second stage of pregnancy, or the second trimester, is often characterized by mood swings and food cravings. While every woman and every pregnancy is different, many women experience at least sudden shifts in mood; this is due to the extreme fluctuation of hormones in her system.

Food cravings can also be present, but not every woman will experience them. The symptoms a woman may experience will also depend heavily on her diet during pregnancy. Eating healthy and getting the proper vitamins and nutrients will be vital to both mother and child's health during pregnancy. Women who have a proper diet tend to have a much easier pregnancy. It's important, however, if you're on a diet pre-pregnancy to discuss with the doctor if it's still appropriate during pregnancy.

Another thing to consider is exercise; many studies have shown that women who exercise regularly throughout pregnancy have healthier births.

The third trimester can be the happiest, anxiety-ridden, uncomfortable time of a woman's pregnancy. Many couples become very anxious for their new little bundle of joy to arrive; mothers are often preparing the house for baby, and are as happy and anxious to meet the little one as they've ever been.

In this final stage of pregnancy it's important to try to get all of the rest and sleep possible. It can often be very uncomfortable for mom to sleep at night; the baby has become so big, finding a comfortable position can some nights be nearly impossible. Baby is also depleting a lot of mom's energy, so frequent naps may become very necessary. It's important at this time to try to relax and remain as calm as possible in preparation for baby's birth.

Abhishek has seen many childbirths in his huge family! Visit www.Childbirth-Guru.com and Download Abhishek's FREE Report "How To Dress And Look Your Best During Pregnancy!". If you are an expecting mother, or have just delivered, you can get some very valuable information about Pregnancy and Childbirth. But hurry, only limited Free copies available.

Exercising During Pregnancy - The Most Amazing Way To Reduce Pregnancy Post Pregnancy Problems

Research has revealed that there is a significant relationship between the physical condition and wellbeing of expectant women, new moms, and babies. By following the rules for exercise during pregnancy, women can comprehend and put into practice a great way to remain energetic and active and in the best possible health during pregnancy.

In accordance with the exercise rules during pregnancy, any less-stress aerobic exercises which do not entail contact sports, bring about muscle or joint strain, necessitate balance for safety purposes, present falling risks, or are not recommended by your doctor, will do good to the health of the mother and the new born.

It is quite simple to delve into the exercise rules during pregnancy. Most pregnant mothers are continuously flooded with old wives yarns, and useful counsel. The trouble is that the counsel is frequently inconsistent, and quite difficult to go through. Most often, it is not possible to determine what is beneficial and what is detrimental, or conversely what is not useful but not dangerous.

Your and your baby's wellbeing is very crucial to depend on conjecture. It is imperative to comprehend and be up to following the exercise rules during pregnancy, which will truly assist you and your little one to keep in the best of health all through pregnancy, smooth the progress of labor and the delivery, and maintain excellent postnatal health.

A majority of people pursue some sort of fitness regimen be it a sport they are keen on, exercise videos, a fitness center, aerobics, dancing, or a whole host of other pursuits such as walking and running marathons. It is of the essence to start a fitness regimen before you conceive, and bring about the required modifications to it in order to tailor it to your requirements.

By pursuing exercise rules during pregnancy a pregnant women can address many issues such as easing hypertension to improve the physical condition and wellbeing of herself and her newborn, maternal weight increase, preeclampsia, complicated labor and delivery, gestational diabetes, and low birth weight babies.

There are some activities, which are ill advised during the pregnancy period, and exercise margins and suggestions vary prior to, during, and post pregnancy. There are some excellent forms of exercise, such as stationary cycling, walking, water exercises or swimming and low-impact aerobics, which have all been attested to being advantageous.

There are some exercises, which pregnant women are dissuaded from following, such as sports that heighten the risk of abdominal trauma, like boxing, soccer, hockey, football, wrestling, or other hazardous sports such as horseback riding, gymnastics, racquet sports, skating, weight lifting, skiing, and such other activities. Besides, any kind of physical exertion that increases the body temperature over 102 to103 degrees, or places too much strain on joints and muscles should not be indulged in.

While deliberating over the exercise rules during pregnancy, be rational and reasonable, conduct an in-depth study online, and seek advice from your obstetrician for the final authorization, since particular conditions are ruled out from exercising during pregnancy.

However, a number of expectant women feel good with respect to their health, appear much improved, and do not have complicated pregnancies or deliveries, and postpartum problems for mother and the newborn are significantly brought down, when they decide to put into practice an exercise regimen after closely following the exercise rules during pregnancy.

Hypnosis For Childbirth: What is it.... and How Does it Work?

Mention Labor and Delivery to an expectant mom in her last trimester, and chances are good that her heart will begin to race, her mind floods with concern and in some cases, panic. She knows that the day is coming when a force much bigger than herself will take over and her body will govern itself completely. For some women, this is a very fearful event, but for Hypno-moms, it is merely a challenge.

These wise women use hypnosis to eliminate pain and fear from the birthing experience. In the past, the word "hypnosis" conjured up images of stage hypnotists re-creating Elvis, or mesmerizing others into embarrassing situations. Now it is common for hypnosis to be used therapeutically in many areas of medicine, dental anesthesia and personal therapy sessions. Even so, there are many misconceptions regarding hypnosis that can dissuade those contemplating this powerful tool. Here are a few FACTS: (see our page on hypnosis for more information)

* All hypnosis is self-hypnosis; the hypnotherapist is only the guide. A person chooses to enter into a hypnotic state, stay in and come out at will.

* Approximately 90-95% of the population can be hypnotized. Willingness, belief and motivation have great influence over hypnotizability.

* During hypnosis you are neither asleep nor unconscious, and will always "come out" when you wish.

* Stronger-minded and stronger-willed people are easier to hypnotize; not the other way around as is usually assumed.

* You cannot be made to divulge information or do anything against your will while in hypnosis.

*Hypnosis is not Satanic or religion-oriented at all, just a way to direct your inner mind toward the positive.

What about Hypnosis for Childbirth?

Hypnosis is used in medical and dental procedures with great success by patients who have life-threatening allergies to anesthetics, allowing them to undergo surgeries with no drugs and no pain. We know therefore that the mind can be trained to experience discomfort as only pressure, and that is what is achieved in childbirth hypnosis as well. In addition, with labor, the more relaxation the mother experiences, the more comfort she will have, and the depth of relaxation necessary can easily be achieved with hypnosis, as physical relaxation is learned and practiced daily in preparation for birth using guided visualizations followed by positive hypnotic suggestions. When the critical conscious mind is by-passed with hypnosis, the inner mind can literally be reprogrammed to believe that birth will be comfortable, easy and joyous. Software for your mind!

Fear and Expectation

In other cultures, childbirth is regarded as a natural, normal event in a woman's life. The birthing women are given support from other women, and children are often present to witness the event. In this way, birth is celebrated and honored. Young girls then grow up with the belief system that birth is a positive event and their expectations of childbirth reflect this attitude. As a result, their births are similar to their predecessors; without pain and fear. They have a positive expectation of childbirth. In our culture, it is very much the opposite. For many generations we have been told that delivering a baby is many hours of painfully agonizing work, to be faced with fear and trepidation. We have heard stories from well-meaning friends and family that send shivers up our spines, and so the legacy continues. We experience pain in childbirth, in part because we very much expect to!

When learning about how the mind controls the body, the expectant couple is taught to surround themselves with only positive people and messages, to create a positive view of childbirth and the expectation that their birth will be the beautiful, peaceful experience that they want. Fear Clearing Sessions are integral to this process, as they allow each person to address fears they have, work through possible solutions and then release them. Fear in labor can create tension, which creates pain, then more fear, and the cycle continues. Fear and anxiety can also create adrenaline production in the body, causing the labor to become dysfunctional, a common reason for Cesarean Section surgery. Freedom from fear can make a huge difference in the birthing experience.

Hypnosis for childbirth teaches a woman how to enter into self-hypnosis instantly, and create her own natural anesthesia whenever and wherever she needs it. This is important as any drugs taken by a laboring woman can be dangerous for her, and especially her baby. She has total control over her body, and is an active participant in her birth process. As labor progresses, she relaxes even more, goes deeper inside herself, trusting in her body's natural ability to give birth with ease and comfort. Her mind is programmed to give her exactly what she needs.

Too good to be true?

Can women give birth without experiencing pain? They can, but there are many variables in labor and birth that can affect the outcome, and couples need to have a positive but realistic view of hypnosis for childbirth. Each pregnant woman and her partner must take responsibility for the choices they make while in labor and how they can affect the dynamics and outcome. Many a wonderful birth has been thwarted by not realizing how to make positive, informed choices, yet these issues are easily addressed and learned in a good consumer oriented childbirth class such as Hypnobabies, or by doing research.

Without a doubt, women using hypnosis are much calmer and more relaxed during labor, which automatically creates more comfort, as well as having *powerful* post-hypnotic suggestions to actually eliminate pain and fear. How effective is this? Statistics will vary by the program and method chosen, depending on the length and number of hypnosis sessions, the materials used in each, and the skill of the hypnotherapist or teacher, as well as the dedication and compliance to the program of each birthing couple. Ideally, hypnosis for childbirth instructors will have backgrounds in both hypnotherapy and childbirth education, and be able to address each woman's personal needs. With adequate preparation and trust in the natural process of birth, most women can have much more relaxed and comfortable births, with many actually free of pain. It is important to know that the childbirth hypnosis program you choose to use will directly affect your success in having a comfortable birth, so educate yourself before choosing.

Benefits of using hypnosis for childbirth:

* Fewer drugs or no drugs at all means less risk of side effects on mother and baby.

* Shorter labors - resistance of the birthing muscles as a response to pain is minimized or eliminated.

* An awake, energized mother, due to total relaxation throughout the birthing process.

* A calm, peaceful birthing environment.

* Breech and posterior babies can be turned using hypnosis.

* Fewer interventions and complications during labor.

* Babies who are better sleepers and nursers due to fewer drugs in their systems.

How to study: Where do you start?

There are choices open to couples who are ready to begin their hypno-journey, and it will benefit each one to research all of their options to find one that allows them to achieve their goal. They include:

Choice # 1: You can seek out a Hypnobabies class in your area. Some are taught at local birth centers, holistic offices or the instructor's homes. The backgrounds of Hypnobabies Instructors always include hypnosis training and childbirth education, both necessary for excellent results. You can find a Hypnobabies Instructor by visiting http://www.hypnobabies.com and look under Professional listings.

You may want to ask a prospective Hypnobabies Instructor the following when you contact them:

o If they have a background in hypnotherapy. (Many of our instructors are certified or clinical hypnotherapists. This is helpful as they will be able to help you with individual issues)

o What is their background in childbirth education: midwifery, doula training, childbirth teacher, nursing etc. (A childbirth training background is necessary for all of our Hypnobabies Instructors so that all of your pregnancy and childbirth questions and concerns can be addressed adequately in class.)

o How long they have been teaching Hypnobabies classes, and where they teach the class?

o How many classes do they teach and how long is each one?

o What materials do they provide with the class? (All Hypnobabies Instructors need to give out exactly the same Hypnobabies materials: The Hypnobabies Workbook, 6 CDs for the Hypno-mom and 1 for the Birth Partner, The Birth Partner's Guide, The Quick Reference Guide, The Hypnobabies Scripts Booklet, a Perineal Massage booklet, and the book, Back Labor No More.)

o How much is the class fee, and is it a group class or private?

o Do they attend births as a Hypno-doula, and if so, how many have they attended? If not, have they trained any local doulas for this?

o Ask them about why they became a Hypnobabies Instructor. You will find that all our instructors have a passion for working with pregnant couples and a love of natural, unmedicated birthing!

Choice # 2: You can choose a home study course, of which there are many. To find one, you can do a search on the Internet for: "hypnosis, childbirth, home study." An adequate home study program will have detailed information on hypnosis and how to use it in childbirth, and hypno-tools for you to achieve your goals; books, tapes, CD's, handouts, hypnosis scripts. As you will be studying on your own, it is your responsibility to gain as much knowledge as possible, so choose well.

Of course, we think our Hypnobabies Home Study Course is the best one available, since it is so detailed and successful, so please visit us at http://www.hypnobabies.com to learn more about it.

Choice # 3: Seek out a qualified Hypnotherapist in your area for office sessions. You will want to make sure to interview them beforehand and ask what type of program they have for childbirth using hypnosis, since not all of them already have an effective program in place in their practice. A good one will include at least 4 sessions in the office, (6-7 are optimal) with the last one done one week before the estimated due date. It should also include at least one tape or CD to listen to at home by yourself, and one or more cues for the birth companion to learn and practice that helps you to relax and go deeper into hypnosis. Many hypnotherapists have developed their own childbirth hypnosis programs that are very effective, and some will use and modify already existing ones, such as Gerald Kein's Painless Childbirth Program.

The attraction to this kind of program is that it allows the hypnotherapist to adapt the program to fit the needs of their own practice, creating their own scripts and tapes from the original program sessions, and fully modify them to the needs of each expectant mother. This helps tremendously with women who have personal issues that need to be resolved, such as VBAC moms, those who have had a past negative birth experience, or those who have specific deep-seated fears about childbirth.

To find a hypnotherapist in your area, you can look in your phone book under "hypnosis" or "hypnotherapy", or contact the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association for a referral at (248) 549-5594 or (800) 257-5467.

It is well worth the time to look into hypnosis for childbirth as an option, both for yourself and for your baby. It is important to remember that most drugs are given in an adult dose to women in labor and will reach her baby in less than 5 minutes with effects ranging from respiratory depression to breastfeeding problems, and using hypnosis techniques can greatly help to avoid them. The deep relaxation learned in Hypnobabies has even helped many a nervous dad to cope as they prepare for their child's birth! In addition, the skills you will learn for relaxation and hypno-anesthesia will benefit you for the rest of your life!

Kerry Tuschhoff, HCHI, CHt , CI is a Certified Hypnotherapist, Childbirth Educator, and Founder of Hypnobabies Network in Cypress, CA. She teaches Hypnobabies Childbirth classes, Hypnobabies Instructor Training Courses, Hypno-Doula Workshops, Pregnancy Nutrition and Breastfeeding workshops, Birth Hypnosis Specialty Courses and gives seminars in her community on natural pregnancy and childbirth options. Kerry also created the Hypnobabies Home Study Course for women who need self-study options for hypnotic childbirth, and is the author of Pregnancy Hypnosis the Hypnobabies Way, The Introduction to Childbirth Hypnosis Workbook for Professionals, and The Hypno-Doula Training Workbook. The foremost expert in Hypnosis for Childbirth, she is also an international conference speaker and lecturer. Kerry can be reached at: (714) 898-BABY (2229). Website: http://www.hypnobabies.com e-mail: kerry@hypnobabies.com

Diet Plan For Pregnancy - The ABC's Of A Healthy Pregnancy Diet

Everyone is aware of the rule of the thumb that women need to adhere to a sound diet plan for pregnancy and consume a wide assortment of nutritious foods during the crucial nine months, leading to the arrival of the baby. Now, one out of every seven women, have a very high likelihood of suffering from pregnancy-related complications. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to augment the essential nutrients in the initial months of pregnancy, in order to further the prospects of delivering a baby, in the pink of health. According to studies carried out, sticking to a balanced diet plan for pregnancy can enable pregnant moms to:

Lower stress levels

More competently handle daily affairs

Provide emotional support to those who need it

Provide a serene setting for the developing fetus

Select foods that have a high starch and fiber content and ensure you gulp down lots of liquids. You can make things much easier if you enforce the diet plan at home. The more you tend to consume outside food, the lesser your chances of keeping to your diet regimen.

Moreover, by taking home-cooked meals, you can arrange the food, stock up anything that is lacking, and generally manage things in an orderly fashion. Stock plenty of fresh fruits, ensure there are ample dairy products in the refrigerator, and ensure you consume your daily dose of folic acid supplements.

Well, there are certain foods that you need to strike out from your diet plan for pregnancy, not due to their being bad for you, but since pregnant moms should not consume these products. Among those, which need to be avoided are alcohol, caffeine, excess salt, soda, pasteurized products (such as certain ciders and eggnogs) and a few kinds of seafood, such as shark.

Your doctor will recommend doing moderate work outs to tone your body and keep it fit for the forthcoming event. This factor should also be noted down in your diet plan for pregnancy. Now, this does not indicate that you need to engage in strenuous activity such as running a marathon. What it signifies is that you do some basic stretching exercises, go for a quiet stroll, or even go swimming. All these activities, in no way will harm the baby, and ensure that the mom-to-be feels calm and restful as her stomach swells.

The diet plan for pregnancy should consist of an additional 300-400 calories, since you are presently have to feed two persons. Being pregnant does not mean that you can simply eat anything you lay your hands on. In order to increase your nutritional levels, you may borrow heavily from the protein set. This in turn will provide you with the much-needed energy to ride out the weary moments and help keep at bay those drowsy afternoons.

You should bear in mind to be ultra cautious during the initial eight pregnancy weeks, since this represents the most crucial period in the fetal growth. When you visit your doctor for the routine pre pregnancy check up, he will provide you with useful suggestions, help draw up a strict diet chart for you to keep to, make available valuable information on childbirth, and recommend the amount of weight you can safely put on. Moreover, he will notify you in case there are any pregnancy-related problems.

If you abide by a decent diet plan for pregnancy, you will lower your chances of experiencing problems and will delight in all the joyous moments. Sharing the wonderful thoughts and feelings with your family members helps lighten your load, lets you revel in your pregnancy, and enables you to anticipate eagerly the tiny pattering of feet.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Childbirth Videos - The Best Tool To Calm Your Pregnancy Fears

While women may not realize it, there are dozens of websites out there devoted only to sharing videos and personal experiences of women during childbirth. While the first reaction to this may be negative, watching videos can actually help a pregnant woman to prepare for the process she'll be going through herself. It's also a great option for the woman who is deciding the type of birth she wants to have.

While many women choose to give birth at the hospital, more and more are choosing home or water births to welcome their new one into the world. The internet has been a great resource connecting women across the globe and sharing their birth experiences.

Many websites are available that women can join that caters to only motherhood. Women share their videos with other women of the world and speak about their experiences and what they would (or wouldn't) do again.

There are also new sites out there offering just the videos for viewing such as YouTube. And watching childbirth videos isn't just for expectant mommies either; it may be a good idea for dad or the birthing coach to get an idea of what to expect. Other women may be interested in becoming a midwife or doula and want to study up on the different procedures and situations. And sometimes a woman who isn't even pregnant likes to share in the joy of the special occasion.

Watching birthing videos can also help an expectant mother who is experiencing an abnormal pregnancy or facing an abnormal birth such as a c-section. Watching videos of other women going through the same process often helps to calm the fears of mothers about to undergo it.

Knowledge is always power, so doing a little research and knowing what you're about to experience will always be a good thing in every instance. A woman who goes into her doctor's office educated and aware of what she's about to face can make informed decisions that are right for her and her baby.

After giving birth you may want to think about sharing your own birth video. It will give you the chance to help other women who needs their fears calmed and questions answered. Childbirth can be a very wonderful and magical moment that women can share together. Doing a simple online search will connect you with hundreds of sites devoted to childbirth and many that offer birth videos for everyone to view.

Abhishek has seen many childbirths in his huge family! Visit www.Childbirth-Guru.com and Download Abhishek's FREE Report "How To Dress And Look Your Best During Pregnancy!". If you are an expecting mother, or have just delivered, you can get some very valuable information about Pregnancy and Childbirth. But hurry, only limited Free copies available! www.Childbirth-Guru.com

Pregnancy - What Are The Earliest Signs Of Pregnancy

For a woman trying to get pregnant, knowing the very earliest signs of pregnancy can be invaluable. Trying to conceive is both a very exciting and very frustrating time. It can often take women many months to finally get the good news, so knowing as early as possible can be the start of an exciting adventure.

It's important to know that every woman and every pregnancy is different. While there are often a few things in common, such as missed periods or morning sickness, these aren't the rule. So just because you don't experience them doesn't mean you aren't pregnant and vice versa.

Following fertilization the female body makes some drastic changes in a very short period of time. Hormone levels increase ten-fold and the body kicks into high gear. The earliest symptoms will not often manifest until one to two weeks after a missed period; thanks to modern medicine though, women don't have to wait that long. Some of the tests on the market can detect pregnancy as early as seven days before the missed period.

Some of the earliest symptoms include implantation bleeding eight to ten days after ovulations, and elevated basal body temperature for 18 days, and the missed menstrual period. The first fetal movements don't often occur until 16 weeks after conception.

Some other early symptoms that occur in the first trimester, or weeks one to twelve post-conception, are abdominal cramps, food cravings, nausea, tender or swollen breasts, dark nipples or larger areolas, frequent urination, fatigue, heartburn, headaches, constipation, and mood swings. While some of these symptoms alone may prove to be nothing more than what they are, a few of them together for any extended time can be an indication of pregnancy.

There is also the urban myth of food cravings in pregnant women. While it is true that food cravings can occur, they aren't often as bizarre as some may think; pickles and ice cream at 3am isn't a popular occurrence. In fact, many women find just the opposite true; repulsion for foods they once ate or certain smells that never bothered them pre-pregnancy.

For the woman hoping to conceive, it's important that she pay close attention to her body and her health. Avoiding drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes is essential, and exercise and healthful eating are recommended. A woman should also consult with her doctor if she is trying to get pregnant, or should take a pregnancy test if she's missed a period.

Staying Healthy During Pregnancy - The Best Gift For Your Unborn Child

A nutritional regime and fitness routine in the course of pregnancy are extremely essential issues to bear in mind when you are expecting. Maintaining a healthy way of life tends to lower the possibilities of going through any pregnancy-related complications, and will ensure that dealing with birth related strain and anxiety would not be very difficult. Besides, your baby, too, will benefit from you keeping a healthy diet and staying fit during pregnancy.

Remember to consult with your physician prior to beginning a fitness routine or making adjustments in your diet pattern. Make sure you consume lots of vegetables and fruits to obtain the required quantities of essential nutrients. Always drink plenty of water, since it is quite simple to become dehydrated in the course of pregnancy. Your medical health care provider will provide you with comprehensive information with regard to your nutritional regime and fitness routine during pregnancy.

Working out tends to keep you mentally fit and enables you to shed all that pregnancy flab after delivery. Women who religiously stick to a healthy diet and fitness routine during pregnancy tend to trim down their weight considerably, have a sense of well being, they sleep better and many women tend to lose weight more quickly after pregnancy, especially if they persist with their healthy diet and exercise routine post pregnancy. It is advisable that you don a fine fitting brassiere and comfy trainers while working out.

Excellent forms of fitness routines when selecting a healthy diet and fitness regimen at the time of pregnancy include aqua aerobics, swimming, walking, yoga, and Pilates. Walking is an all time favorite form of exercise for expectant women, since you set the walking limits as well as change the gradient, when you become more physically fit. You will be exposed to lots of crisp, fresh air that will enable you to sleep soundly.

Aqua aerobics classes, supervised by certified trainers or midwives, can be availed of by expectant women.

Pilate classes are just perfect to assist with breathing exercises as well as to straighten your posture. Then there is yoga, which will enable you to become more flexible and to get your muscles into shape and moving smoothly, all set for the delivery.

However, it can be very difficult to maintain a balanced healthy diet and to stay fit during pregnancy due to your obsessive food cravings or vehement dislike of certain kinds of food.

Always keep in mind that you would be having a baby and in order to ensure it is healthy, you need to eat and stay healthy. You will require an additional 300 calories during pregnancy and you should take in lots of protein-rich food and prenatal vitamins.

By adhering to a healthy diet and fitness routine during pregnancy, the likelihood of a miscarriage is greatly diminished. Your diet should include plenty of diary products since they are crucial for increasing your calcium levels, a lot of fish and red meat, or in case you are a vegan, ample amounts of lentils and beans. In addition, seek to include grains and bread into your diet. Folic acid is a further vital recommended supplement you need to take.

Pregnancy Discrimination

While most people are aware that it is illegal to practice racial, political, religious, or gender-based discrimination in the workplace, people often do not realize that there are other forms of discrimination that are outlined in employment laws for the protection of workers. One protection that many people are unaware of is the protection of pregnant women from discrimination on the part of their supervisors or employers.

Employers with fifteen or more employees are required by law to give fair and equal treatment to workers who are or become pregnant while working for the company. Such protections exist to make sure that workers are not treated unfairly for pregnancy, childbirth, or medical conditions that arise due to the birth of a child. Women who are pregnant should be given the same considerations as other employees and should not be punished or discriminated against because of the pregnancy.

These laws extend protection to applicants who apply for a position with a company. The owners and managers cannot discriminate against a pregnant applicant and should give fair consideration to her condition and her qualifications. Such laws also protect the applicant from discrimination based on the managers, supervisors, and other employees' prejudices.

Current employees who become pregnant should be afforded considerations for their condition and should be allowed to work as long as they feel that they are able to perform duties of the job. If a pregnant employee is unable to perform functions of her normal job, the employer should treat the condition in the same manner that they do temporary disabilities and may give the employee different duties for a short time.

When a worker takes maternity leave, the employer should hold the position for the same length of time that they would for employees who are on sick leave or disability, and should not seek to replace the worker simply because she is on leave for pregnancy. If it is found that the employer treated the pregnant employee in an unfair manner, there may be serious legal consequences for the actions of supervisors and managers.

If an employer discriminates against pregnant employees or fails to provide fair treatment in the event of pregnancy, the individual involved may be able to pursue legal action against the employer in question. If you would like to know more about pregnancy and discrimination in the workplace, visit the San Antonio employment lawyers of Melton & Kumler, LLP.

Joseph Devine

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

All About Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood For the Well-Rounded Woman

Pregnancy is an exciting experience, but it can also be very cooling for those first time mothers. If you want to know more about gestation or about teenage pregnancy, there are a diversity of resources online and in books that will tell you everything you need to know and what to expect in order to get through this special time without worries.

Finding Out About Your Condition

Finding out about gestation is a great way to prepare for the months ahead of you. There are a pile of stories out there from other women about gestation and their own experience that could scare you off, but do not let blackball experiences of others go against the experience that you will have with your own pregnancy. Although some of the stories may hold some truth, the experiences will run the gamut and everyone is different.

If you want to learn more about gestation from a first hand experience, you can ask a diversity of women. Try to ask women from all senescent groups in order to get a clear picture. But remember that your experience is unique, so only take what you need from the conversations. Take what is prescribed and leave what is blackball so that you will not gratify your own experience by disturbing about things that may never happen to you.

In order to get through gestation with a prescribed attitude, there are some things that you can learn in order to make your time being easier. First, women have a heightened laugh reflex so you will want to watch as your brushwood your teeth in the mornings. This may cause a pile of gagging, but changing toothpaste brands can help.

A heightened feel of smell is also a glamour for a women. Good smells will be well-fixed to handle, but the icky junk in the kitchen will make you sick, so you may want to find individual who can take the junk out for you during those months.

There are many more inside information about gestation that you will want to know, and look up resources online is the quickest and best way to connect to all of the selective information that you need. Also, your doctor and women in your life that have went through a gestation are a great way to get insider information, so use all of your resources in order to get the best advice for your condition.

What and When? Signs of Early Pregnancy

There are several early signs of pregnancy. Let's take a look at them in the order they might appear.

Before You Know You're Pregnant

Within the first week after construct you might notice that you are more threadbare than usual. Having naps is the best way to fighting this early signalize of pregnancy.

A week to two weeks after conception, you might have implantation bleeding. This is also referred to as "breakthrough bleeding" because it is caused by the inseminated egg give away through the uterine palisade and affixing itself there. This can also be tended by some cramping, but the spying should be minimal.

About the same time you might notice that your breasts are tender, perchance similar to when you have your period, but they also they might be swollen. As your gestation progresses, your areolas will vague and your nipples will get bigger in preparation for feeding your baby.

What? No Period?

The most common early gestation signalize that prompts a woman to get a gestation test is when her period doesn't show up - on time, or at all. This usually happens two weeks after conception, and is a pretty clear symptom of early pregnancy.

By about week 4, many women begin to have sickness - "morning sickness" - though it can happen at any time of day. Fortunately, most women are finished having morning illness by week 8.

About the Sixth week, many women account statement acquiring headaches and backaches. In early gestation caused by hormones, in late gestation (when the body is well victimized to the hormones) it is caused by the unfathomed freight rate the uterus is carrying, and the back's musculus participation in toting it around.

Also close to the Sixth to Eighth week after conception, women notice they have to go to the john much more often than before. For some women, this early gestation signalize comes as soon as just a week or two after conception.

Anything Else That Women Notice?

There are other signs of early gestation that women notice. Some have a vaginal discharge. It shouldn't be fidgety or burn, or even smell. If it does, let your doctor know. This early gestation signalize is because the cervix is edifice up the mucous secretion assure to help keep the pamper condom from infections, etc.

You might also notice a morsel of abdominal muscle bloating, similar to when you are expecting your period. This is caused by hormonal changes, and not something to trouble about. You might have constipation, or heartburn, or humor swings. Many women have food cravings or can't delicacy odors that they victimized be O.K. with. Because the rake sugar levels change, many women get light headed or dizzy, and need to be sure to eat regularly.

If you have been Keeping track of your body temperature, your BBT (basal body temperature - interpreted before acquiring up in the morning), you will notice a rise in temperature when you ovulate. It will also stay high if you are pregnant. For women who are trying to get pregnant and are charting their BBT, this can be the signalize of early gestation that they were watching for. For all women, a prescribed event on a gestation test is a authoritative answer about whether they're pregnant. If the test is negative, try again in a few days ? the endocrine it measures necessarily to be high enough for a home test to Registry it, and the level rises over time. Happy pregnancy!

Rolf Joho is owner of http://www.acnereview.biz/pregnancy and writes on a variety of subjects.

5 Best Books to Read While Pregnant

Families are flooded with media about pregnancy and childbirth. Publishers happily send free magazines, television shows are devoted to the subject and even full websites have been born to share information about the process of pregnancy and childbirth. If that weren't enough to prevent an expectant mom from buying a book on the subject, when she arrives at the book store she finds herself searching through shelves of books trying to find just the right one.

It is worth it to buy a book, if you know what you are looking for. Every book is different, written for a different purpose by an author with a unique expertise. The following books are five of the best about pregnancy and childbirth, but they may not all be good matches for you. Choose the book or books that have the best chances of answering your questions in a way you can relate to.

For Fun

Birthing from Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz is by no means your typical childbirth text. Written by a midwife, it talks about the spiritual, emotional and psychological issues surrounding birth missed by most other authors. Instead of telling you what to do, the book is designed to help you discover who you are and where your strengths lie. This is done through games, art projects and a variety of other activities. Mothers who are looking for something other than the nuts and bolts of pregnancy will find Birthing from Within a welcome treat. However, mothers who are looking for answers may find the book too vague and scattered and would do better to pair this book with another more intentional about answering questions.

For Education

Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley and Ann Keppler covers everything you could think to ask about the entire childbearing year. Written very much like a text book, this comprehensive guide is well indexed and follows a logical sequence with charts to help you quickly find and compare information. The authors' expertise as nurses, childbirth educators and doulas is displayed in the wide variety of information they share, from the physical process to how it feels and what to do about it. Mothers who are pregnant for the first time, or want to understand more about the process of pregnancy and childbirth will love reading this book cover to cover. Experienced mothers who know the basics will benefit from looking up answers to specific questions.

For Information

New Active Birth by Janet Balaskas shares the information you need to know to work with your body during labor. Moving beyond the basics of what options are available and what different terms mean, Active Birth explains the movements of the baby through the pelvis and how to help your baby make these moves. Authored by a childbirth educator, the book not only explains what to do, but why you should do it based on good body mechanics. With exercises for pregnancy to help you learn to move your pelvis, this is the perfect book for any mother looking for the next step of information to help her prepare for labor. Mothers without previous birth experience may find the book too focused on position and movement of labor to answer all their questions and should use it in combination with another book.

For Courage

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin is written in such a warm style you feel as if the author is a trusted friend sharing her experience. Rather than being impersonal, Ina May's Guide treats birth as a normal, healthy event and celebrates the wonderful experiences women have during pregnancy and labor. Not shy about answering embarrassing questions, and not to proud to admit mistakes, the author, a midwife experienced in homebirth, teaches you about labor from her first hand experiences. Most mothers will feel much more confident in their ability to give birth after reading this book, however a handful of mothers find it difficult to read because of the non-standard terminology used (i.e. rushes instead of contractions).

For a Challenge

The Thinking Woman's Guide to Childbirth by Heci Goyer is a synopsis of the medical research on pregnancy and childbirth. Rather than saying "do what your doctor tells you and you'll be OK," The Thinking Woman's Guide challenges you to pay attention to what is happening to your body and to be a part of the decision making process. The author, an award winning medical writer specializing in birth issues, holds nothing back when exposing common misunderstandings and myths that can harm you during labor. With information about how to avoid unnecessary procedures, and advice about how to make the procedures better if you need them, most mothers will find this book indispensable as they prepare for childbirth. However, the text of the book is filled with research findings and mothers who get overwhelmed with too much information may prefer to start with the pros and cons of each chapter, reading the text if they want or need more information on a subject.

Jennifer Vanderlaan is a childbirth educator and doula who helps families find the information they need to stay healthy during pregnancy and prepare for childbirth. She invites you to learn more about how to prepare for childbirth at http://www.birthingnaturally.net.

Ten Tips to Help You Enjoy Your Pregnancy and Childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth can make moms-to-be swing between euphoria and anxiety in turns. Getting as much information as you can and keeping yourself well informed about the changes in your body, the right pregnancy diet plan, pregnancy exercise, kind of childbirth etc. can help you enjoy this wonderful time in your life with confidence.

Here are ten tips to motivate you:

1. Be well informed, reading books and articles. Watch videos to know the changes in your body, as your baby grows inside you. Communicate with friends, family and other pregnant women to listen to their own experiences about pregnancy and childbirth. This will reassure you. Enroll for early pregnancy childbirth classes.

2. Now is the time to think about whether you want hospital childbirth, go to a birthing center or have your baby at home. Your doctor can help you decide. Discussing this in advance will boost your confidence.

3. Work on your pregnancy diet plan now. Refer to the nutrition guide for pregnant women, which recommends drinking more milk and adding extra protein to your diet. Add more fresh fruits and vegetables. Get your doctor to prescribe a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. Drink plenty of water and switch to fresh fruit juice.

4. Now is the time to drop your smoking habit. Also consider avoiding alcohol and drug use. If you are on any medication, talk to your doctor about what to do.

5. Be active. With the advice of your doctor, you might want to adopt a pregnancy exercise regimen that includes yoga, swimming, walking etc.

6. Work in sufficient rest via short breaks through the day. You may also want to sleep a little longer than usual.

7. Enjoy the feeling of your baby inside you and establish an early bond as you chat with your baby. According to studies, babies respond to your touch as early as from the tenth week of pregnancy. Now is the time to pick out your favorite music and share it with your baby.

8. Avoid allowing stress to develop and learn how to tackle them, should such a situation arise. Deep breathing and relaxation techniques are all useful ways to de-stress.

9. Make a note of all the questions you have about pregnancy and childbirth and your pregnancy diet plan. Consider enrolling for Lamaze classes that can help you understand the right positions, movements etc. through labor.

10. Make the most of this lovely time, feeling confident as your baby grows.

Pregnancy and childbirth are a memorable time in your life. Be happy, be informed and give birth to a healthy baby.

Enjoy your pregnancy and childbirth experience to the fullest. Get all the information you need about your pregnancy diet plan, what to avoid, what to do, exercise tips and more.

Can Hypnosis Help With Pregnancy and Childbirth?

Many of you might be familiar with how hypnosis can help with weight loss and smoking cessation. But, did you know that hypnosis can also be used during pregnancy to help relieve anxiety and aid in a calm, natural birth?

Hypnosis has been used for quite some time to help in numerous health-related issues, from relieving IBS symptoms to preparing for surgery to alleviating fear of dental procedures. Many pregnant women are now enjoying the benefits of hypnosis, allowing them to experience natural births with little to no pain.

In order to better understand how hypnosis can help pregnant women, it helps to gain a better understanding of hypnosis itself. To put it in simple terms, hypnosis is intense focus and concentration. Many people have likened the concentration with getting lost in a good book or television program. Utilizing that intense focus, hypnosis can actually slow down your brain waves.

Right now you're probably in your waking state, which is Beta consciousness. But, by altering your conscious state through hypnosis, you are able to enter Alpha consciousness, where your brain waves actually slow down. And, when you slow down your brain waves you lose the "critical chatter" of the conscious mind and are able to slip in positive suggestions to the subconscious mind. These positive suggestions can be about any behavior you'd like to change, or any outcome you'd like to see take effect, such as having a natural, easy birth.

In addition, when you're in a relaxed stated and imagining a desired outcome, the brain can't tell the difference between reality and fantasy, and reacts as if the desired outcome was a reality. This phenomenon can be seen in pain management, when hypnotherapists use hypnosis and imagery on pain sufferers to help them lessen the intensity of their pain.

Hypnosis can aid pregnant women in so many different ways and in so many different stages of their pregnancies.

Hypnosis Can Aid in Fertility

Where inability to become pregnant is not due to a medical condition, many women have found relief with hypnosis. There are many who believe that if you can imagine it you can create it, and hypnosis is often paired with imagery to "visualize" oneself becoming pregnant and imagining a baby coming into one's life. Hypnosis is also used to alleviate stress, which may be inhibiting a woman from becoming pregnant. Of course, women aren't the only ones whose stress and anxiety may be inhibiting pregnancy. Many men feel the pressure to help their partners conceive. This stress can affect men's sperm quality.

Hypnosis Can Aid in Helping a Woman Become More Comfortable

Many women experience discomfort from being pregnant, such as morning sickness, the intensity of which can be lessened through hypnosis. In women with high blood pressure, hypnosis can be helpful in helping them to relax, which in turn can help control the symptoms.

Hypnosis Can Help in the Actual Birth Process

Many women are now using hypnosis to help them have their baby naturally with no drugs. Utilizing hypnosis, women can help themselves relax during the baby's birth. Since pain responses are greatly enhanced with fear and anxiety, creating a sense of calm helps in reducing the sensation of pain. The women will be awake and aware of everything that's happening, including the contractions, but will be able to dictate to a great extent the intensity of the sensations she feels.

There are numerous hypnosis tapes and CDs available which can help reduce the fears and anxieties associated with pregnancy and the birthing process. If at all possible, it's preferable to meet face to face with a hypnotherapist who can tailor the hypnosis to your specific fears, anxieties or needs.

How to Find a Hypnotherapist

The first place to look is your own doctor. (It's always good to have your doctor's input before beginning any treatment programs). Ask him or her for a recommendation to a good hypnotherapist. If your doctor does not have a recommendation you can utilize internet hypnotist referral networks to find one in your area. One good referral website is http://www.registeredhypnotist.com, where you can look up hypnotherapists in your area.

Another good internet resource is http://www.hypnobirthing.com, which lists practitioners across the country who've gone through the HypnoBirthing® The Mongan Method, a program specifically tailored to natural birthing.

Whether you plan on a natural birth or not, hypnosis can still help you relax more about the entire birthing process. Becoming more relaxed can help you gain control over your pregnancy, rather than have your pregnancy gain control over you.

Shari Hearn is a writer, certified hypnotist and creator of Expecting Baby website, where you can learn about such things as choosing a pediatrician.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Critical Mass: Peculiarities of Pregnancy for Overweight Women

Adiposity is not just an overweight in organism. This is a chronic recurring disease, which contributes to display and development of many other chronic diseases. This disease also influences pregnancy.

Basic sign of adiposity is overweight in organism. Adipose tissue is a depot (place of accumulation of coming energy). The more adipose tissue you have, the bigger is quantity of "excess" energy, received from food and not consumed.

Where does overweight come from?

Factors of development of adiposity are varied and may act both together and separately. Most popular of them are: peculiarities of behavior (hypodynamia - lowering of moving activity, overeating), genetic predisposition, defects of endocrine system. As a result of numerous researches it was determined that adiposity in childhood is a powerful predisposing factor of adiposity in mature age, especially when one or both parents suffer from it. Thus, if parents have normal weight, only 99% of children suffer from adiposity, if one parent suffers from it - 50%, and if two parents suffer from adiposity - in 70% of cases.

There's a special center in our brain, hypothalamus, which controls sense of hunger and satiety. Constant overeating leads to defect of work of hypothalamus, and normal quantity of eaten food cannot already suppress sense of hunger, so a person has to eat more and more. Excess food is saved in store in a fat depot, what leads to overweight in organism, i.e. development of adiposity.

What's overweight?

Doctors use Index of Body Mass (IBM), which is calculated like a ratio of body mass (in kg) to height (in m2). Indices of IBM from 25 to 30 kg/ m2 point out on overweight, and more than 30 kg/ m2 already allow diagnosing adiposity.

According to prognosis of World health authorities' experts, if present rate of adiposity growth will remain the same, its level will increase in average on 8% by 2010 year, and by 2025 there will be more than 300 millions of people suffering from adiposity in the world. Results of series of epidemiological researches show that in Europe quantity of patients with adiposity in population is about 30%, and with overweight - about 25%.

Possible problems

Pregnancy. During pregnancy auspicious conditions for development of adipose tissue are created, which biological sense is in protection of a future baby. This is caused by hormonal change in female organism, to be exact, heightened synthesis of progesterone and chorionic gonadotrophin (hormones, which support pregnancy) and lack of estradiol, produced by ovaries mainly beyond pregnancy. Action of these hormones causes overweight mainly in breast, buttocks, hips, belly.

Those who suffer from adiposity seldom have pregnancy without complications. Most popular are: gestational diabetes, or diabetes for pregnant, arterial hypertension, hypercoagulability (increase of fibrillation), defects of heart activity, toxicosis, gestosis (it is characterized by increase of blood pressure, appearance of edemas, albumen in urine), infections of urinary tracts, incomplete pregnancy or prolonged pregnancy (state when pregnancy lasts for more than 41-42 weeks), premature discharge of amniotic fluid, birth of a baby with big body mass (more than 4000 g).

The most dangerous complication is preeclampsia - most serious form of gestosis, which main sings are increase of systolic pressure higher than 140 mm of mercury, diastolic pressure higher than 80 mm of mercury, and also proteinuria (loss of more than 3 g of albumen per day with urine). Signs of affection of other systems and organs can also be observed: headaches, pains in belly, defects of sight. While laboratory researches doctors find out increase of level of hepatic ferments, changes in fibrillation system.

Adiposity affects also development of a baby. As it is known, folacin plays main role in formation of nervous system, and while adiposity its interchange in organism of a pregnant woman changes, what may lead to development of defects of fetus's nervous system.

Childbirth. Not only pregnancy, but also childbirth itself for women suffering from adiposity pass with a series of peculiarities, what is caused by hormonal changes. Internal system, setting childbirth going, remains to be incomplete by the end of pregnancy for such women, and absence of formation of birth dominant (a center of excitement in brain) leads to prolonged pregnancy, and further - to asthenia of birth activity, which weight is increased proportionate to degree of adiposity.

While asthenia of birth activity, which cannot be cured with medicaments, doctors have to use surgical operation (Cesarean section), to prevent a new-born baby's anoxaemia. But probably, a necessity of Cesarean section will be caused by inconsistency between sizes of mother's pelvis and fetus, as pregnant women with adiposity, as it was mentioned before, more often give birth to babies with big body mass.

In its turn, surgical operation is also accompanied by big quantity of complications, as thick hypodermic layer worsens healing of postoperative scars.

You can buy skilful scales, analyzing mass of fat, muscles and bones. During pregnancy you can use this scales only for weighing, as they still cannot consider mass of fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid.

6-30% of women in childbirth with adiposity suffer from bleeding during delivery and also post-natal period, which is caused by as defect of uterus retractive capacity, as changes in fibrillation system.

You should also remember that women, suffering from adiposity, are in the risk group of development of defects of carbohydrate exchange, i.e. appearing of diabetes, so 2 months after delivery or cessation of lactation they should pass a test to determine level of glucose in blood.

How to reduce risk?

Regardless of many complications, adiposity is not a contra-indication for pregnancy. While preparation to conception a woman should consult not only accoucheur-gynaecologist, but also endocrinologist, during whole pregnancy she must observe all doctors' advices.

First of all, a woman should control her weight. Overweight of pregnant women with normal body weight should not exceed 10-12 kg, about 4 kg of which go for increase of fat tissue, and overweight of pregnant women with adiposity should not exceed 5-6 kg.

Majority of pregnant women with adiposity should pass tolerance test to glucose while their first visit to obstetrician-gynaecologist. If there are some defects discovered, you should stick to a special diet, and in some cases a doctor may even prescribe injections of insulin for you.

To lower excitability of food center, you should eat frequently (8-6 times per day), and food should be low-calorie, but take big volume in stomach, what contributes to removal of hunger. Exclude taste substances that increase excitability of food center and appetite (salty, spicy dishes, broths) from your ration, and also substances, which are quickly absorbed and digested (sweets, sweet fruits).

Protein content in a pregnant woman's ration should be enough, 20% of daily ration. You should receive about 30% of fats, and 50% of carbohydrates daily. Nutrition should be rational, don't eat only meat or dairy food, just as only fruits and vegetables, and, of course, don't misuse sweets. Menu for pregnant woman should be varied: 6-11 parts of it should be cereals, 3-5 parts - vegetables, 2-4 parts - fruits, 3-5 parts - dairy produce, 2-3 parts - meat food, legumes or nuts, 1 part - sweets. Caloric content of ration depends on IBM, but in average is it equal to 2500 kilocalories per day.

Women with adiposity should reduce caloric content of food, but no more than on 10%, otherwise coming food will not provide a normal growth and development of fetus. Remember that pregnant women with adiposity should not go without food, as then ketonemia can appear, i.e. products of metabolism will be found in a woman's blood - ketones, influencing fetus development negatively.

Pregnant women with adiposity should arrange fasting days 1-2 times per week. Here're some of them (volume of eaten food should be divided into 5-6 meals).

Cotton-cheese: eat 400 g of non-fat cotton cheese per day, 2-3 cups of tea without sugar (you may put lemon in it) or dog-rose extract.

Apple: 1,5 kg of raw or baked apples. 2 cups of tee without sugar.

Cucumber: 1,5 kg of fresh cucumbers, 2 cups of tea without sugar. Calorie content of cucumbers is very low (2 times lower, than of cabbage and 3 times lower, than of apples).

Salad: salad of 1,2 - 1,5 kg of various raw vegetables (cabbage, carrot, lettuce, cucumbers) with vegetable oil and 1-2 spoons of sour cream.

It's better to start with cotton-cheese day, as cotton cheese creates more pronounced feeling of satiety, than vegetables and fruits. It's useful to make a graph of results of systematic weighing to control change of body weight.

In addition to nutrition, restricted in calorie content, but complete, medicinal gymnastics is also recommended to prevent overweight. This gymnastics helps to increase energy demands, which contribute to mobilization of fat from depot. A complex of exercises for pregnant women is composed individually, depending on term of pregnancy and degree of adiposity. During pregnancy you should remember, that basic task is not to reduce quantity of fat tissue, but to avoid gaining additional one, at the same time providing normal growth and development of fetus.

Yana Mikheeva is the creator of the Baby-Health.Net at http://www.baby-health.net Are you going to get pregnant? Visit our friendly resource and read information on pregnancy and parenting, painless childbirth, growth and development of a baby, baby health, safety, signs of pregnancy.

What is Pregnancy Massage and What Are the Benefits?

Can pregnancy massage offer genuine therapeutic benefit to the expecting mother? In this article I'll discuss what is pregnancy massage, how it differs from a 'normal' massage, some of its benefits, and precautions that should be considered before beginning a pregnancy massage therapy program.

Pregnancy is a very special time for a mother to bond with the child she is carrying and no doubt it will always be remembered as a unique experience. It is also however a time of great physical change as the mother's body adapts to include the growth of another human inside her. Along with the physical changes come the emotional changes and fluctuations as her body undergoes radical physiological modifications.

As the pregnancy progresses, the stomach grows, hormonal production changes, the centre of gravity shifts and biomechanical adaptations follow. Joints suffer under the increased load and muscles ache with the increased burden.

Pregnancy massage can greatly alleviate these distresses and should be considered by all expectant mothers as the benefits are far and wide.

What is pregnancy massage?

Pregnancy massage is simply massage during pregnancy. It is also commonly referred to as prenatal massage.

It differs from 'normal' massage in several ways.

o The pregnancy massage therapist will need to have specialized knowledge of the pregnant female body

o The massage is given with extra care to ensure no harm can be caused to the baby

o The intensity of the massage is reduced and great sensitivity is given to the mother's feedback.

o The body position of the expectant mother during the massage is different. Typically the woman is on her side although lying on the front or the back is occasionally allowable with modification to ensure no harm to mother or child.

Stress Relief

Pregnancy is often a time of stress, emotionally as well as physically. The mother is constantly worrying about issues such as the state of her unborn child, the act of giving birth, her changing body, becoming a parent, etc. The last thing she wants is having to deal with her sore back and other aches and pains inherent with being pregnant.

Prenatal massage helps to de-stress. The experience is relaxing, soothing and nurturing, and also offers a break in her routine. This allows both the body and mind to enjoy a respite from the daily cycle of dealing with the aches and pains and pressures of pregnancy.

Muscle Relief

During the pregnancy, the mother will experience regular instances of tightening and cramping of muscles, with tension, stiffness and knots being present. Massage is well renowned for easing all these muscular conditions in athletes and similar results can also be found in pregnancy massage although the technique is obviously modified.

Pregnancy massage also helps with improving muscle flexibility, which is vital during childbirth and highly beneficial during the last trimester when physical stresses and changes to the body are significant.

Swelling Relief

A common detriment women experience in pregnancy is swelling of the feet, ankles and lower legs, particularly in the more advanced stages of pregnancy. This is due to pooling of the blood as the body deals with the increased weight and workload. Pregnancy massage is proven to increase circulation and relieve swelling.

Precautions

If you have any pre-existing health conditions or concerns, they should be discussed with your doctor or pregnancy massage specialist prior to commencing a program. Certainly diabetes and high blood pressure should be disclosed. Having a massage in a lying down position will affect your blood pressure so doing so while pregnant may potentially be harmful.

Conclusion

Pregnancy massage offers many benefits, both physically and emotionally to the expecting mother. It will require a specialist who is experienced in the modified techniques and methods required to ensure there is no harm to either the mother or her unborn child and maximum therapeutic value can be achieved.

Apart from the benefits discussed in this article, another major plus for undergoing a program of pregnancy massage therapy is that it greatly assists the body in preparation for the act of childbirth and the following recovery.

Arthur Bakeright is a qualified but non practicing massage therapist and avid traveller. He now writes extensively on both massage and travel.

For more articles related to Pregnancy and Infant Massage, see http://www.massageadviceonline.com/Pregnancy-and-Infant-Massage.html

For articles, tips, reviews and guidance on all things related to massage, see http://www.massageadviceonline.com

Viewing Childbirth Cartoons - Best Way To Cheer A Pregnant Woman

Most people look out for childbirth cartoons over the internet. One could find them without much struggle. Any cartoons concerning childbirth can enlighten pregnant woman's imagination. These cartoons cheer up even fathers to be and grandparents. Websites manifesting cartoons relating to childbirth and pregnancy make use of these cartoons to generate giggles and chats among web surfers. No matter whether you subscribe cartoons or are trying to find one to attest to a card or some handmade scrapbook, internet would be a good option for the download. You could gift or email loads of these cartoons to cheer up your loved ones.

There are purchasable cartoons, free cartoons and sometimes those with graphics including some which you could write your own. You could cross-stitch a cartoon on coffee mugs or on baby quilts. Cartoons could be appended on to almost any novelty gifts. You could have mouse pads customized with your favorite cartoons to bring a laugh every time you see them. Shower decorations or personalized gifts with cartoons on would impress every mommy to be.

Stationery and T-shirts with childbirth cartoons could make good gifts just like some homemade and humorous e-cards and cards. Apparently, pregnancy could be tough emotionally for any woman and sending such greetings could chuckle out humor in anyone, perking them up.

Stocks of cartoons online, magazines, newspapers etc are available which are dedicated to pregnancy and childbirth. These could be put on greeting cards and t-shirts or some homemade gifts accompanying them with joke books. It would bring a chuckle on every pregnant woman and almost everyone who is expecting the arrival of a baby.

You could send the cartoons to your pregnant friends. They also prove great for baby showers. Laughter or humor act as great medicines to brighten up days, equivalent to any gifts.

If you are looking about childbirth cartoons for your homemade greeting cards, you could find lots of online resources allowing buying cartoons. You would also know about places where you could hunt on them. You could purchase cartoons and then write your own funny lines to add to it. These would act as personalized gifts coming through heart. Writing lines customizing your girlfriend's name on it would bring a laugh to top it up. This could be included in scrap books as well.

Scrapbooks connecting to this media could have printable cartoons added as pregnancy scrapbooks are created. Collecting and saving information related to ultrasound scan pictures, hospital details or other appointments could assist you in creating memorable scrapbooks on your pregnancy. The essence of cartoon in this would act more personalized and customized.

Abhishek has got some great Pregnancy And Childbirth Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 77 Page Ebook, "Understanding Pregnancy!" from his website http://www.Childbirth-Guru.com/774/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

What Athletes and Pregnant Women Have in Common

What do athletes and pregnant women have in common? Both anticipate an event that will be challenging emotionally and physically, but, one that will be extremely rewarding at the finish line.

First let's look at what athletes do.

Athletes train for an event. They are known to employ coaches to help build their "mindset" for recognizing past accomplishments, and building confidence in their strengths, talents, and abilities. They learn to trust and believe in their capabilities. Athletes use techniques such as visualization to "see" themselves doing their training perfectly, winning, succeeding in their goals, and celebrating their accomplishment. Athletes train physically for hours, for days, weeks, and months to be in "shape", while increasing endurance, stamina, and be physically fit for the competition. Athletes eat well for strength, get enough rest, and stay well hydrated.

Let's recap. Athletes:

1. have coaches for emotional support

2. build positive "can do" attitudes and visualize success

3. learn to trust and believe in their skills and strengths

4. practice, practice, practice

5. take care of their body by eating well

6. prepare for the event

Pregnant women have a lot in common with athletes. They know a physical and emotional challenge is coming - the birth of their baby. They know they need to eat well because they are "building" a baby. They prepare for birth by enrolling in childbirth classes. They enlist the support of family members and their partner. Some women learn visualization techniques to prepare for birth.

The difference of course is athletes are usually not pregnant! But what if pregnant women started developing an athletic point of view for preparing for birth? If they did, it might look something like this:

From the first day a woman finds out she's pregnant she goes into "training" for pregnancy and birth doing the following:

1. finds a health care provider immediately - a midwife or a doctor

2. starts an exercise program appropriate for pregnancy: swimming, walking, etc. to build physical strength, stamina, and endurance and does it daily. Health care provider approves program

3. hires a birth coach, Doula, or builds a strong, positive, support group

4. enrolls immediately in a relaxation program and uses it throughout the pregnancy. For example, pre-natal yoga

5. learns how to meditate daily to develop a "mindset" for birth, using birth affirmations, and positive visualizations

6. learns to trust her personal strengths and abilities based on past challenges and successes

7. eats healthy for "building a baby" not eating for two, takes prenatal vitamins, maybe sees a nutritionist

8. researches childbirth education classes and takes the one that meets her values and interests

9. learns about pregnancy changes of the body and fetal development

10. reads books on parenting

11. accepts pregnancy and birth as normal events in life

12. focuses on her own pregnancy experiences, turns off the TV, doesn't listen to negative stories about birth

13. receives and celebrates her "prize" at the finish line - her baby

Pregnancy "training" is a great way to prepare for birth from day one. Waiting until the last few months to prepare can add stress to the experience. Starting from day one creates time to "grow" with the pregnancy emotionally. Time is needed to discover methods of relaxation and breathing for labor that work the best for the physical challenge of birth. More important, with time and preparation you can have the kind of birth and experience you want.

Be a pregnancy "athlete"! The training is worth it.

Lesly Federici is an RN experienced in labor & delivery and has been teaching childbirth education to expectant parents for over eleven years. She wrote the e-book "The Quick What To Do During Labor Guide" available as an Amazon.com Kindle download, and on her website. Lesly is also the founder of Smartbirth, an online childbirth social network dedicated to providing free childbirth education to women world wide. She is also known as the Green RN. Lesly is certified in the following areas: Lamaze, Calm Birth, hypnosis, and is a Reiki Master. Lesly also hosts and produces her own radio show.

http://www.leslynotes.com

Sunday, September 26, 2010

So.... When Did YOU Figure It Out?????

Ximena Pregnant the day we know it's a boy

Image via Wikipedia
So, when did YOU figure out that you were pregnant?

Some people said they knew the moment it happened. Others said they didn't feel any different than usual. Some say they felt like they had a flu coming on. Pregnancy, and finding out that you're pregnant, is different for EVERYONE.

I was one of those people that I knew the moment it happened. Immediately, I felt "off." I told my husband later on that there's no mistaking that feeling. You just feel "differenr." Slightly off kilter. Feeling run down all the time. sometimes with nausea, sometimes without. But they start to feel strongest right after you officially miss your period.

Within 3 days of missing my period, my bra size went from 36C to a DD! And omg, I couldn't TOUCH them, lol! Getting a bra ON was a whole different thing altogether. Waking up to pee 4 hours after getting to sleep. I was able to fend off nausea as long as I kept "grazing," or eating smaller amounts of food more often. Morning sickness is a vicious cycle. You don't eat because you feel sick, it gets worse. You eat too MUCH and you feel sick. The secret is to never allow yourself to get hungry. Then you won't gorge, OR feel sick. It's more or less just keeping your blood sugar on even keel...

So? How did YOU figure out you were pregnant??? Let me know, post below!!!

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