Female Care

The last few weeks of pregnancy are very exciting. Your baby will be here soon! Unfortunately, for many moms to be, the last few weeks seem like an eternity. We can hardly wait to see our little bundle of joy.

If you’re in the last weeks of pregnancy, try to be patient. Slow down and enjoy every movement your baby makes. Take this opportunity to get plenty of sleep and to get ready for baby. There is a lot to do.

Start by making sure you have everything you need for baby, for you, and also stock up on simple to prepare foods for yourself or your family.

If you haven’t packed your bag for the hospital and a bag for baby, now is a good time to do so. For yourself, pack comfy clothing like sweats or other loose fitting items. Bring socks or slippers to keep your feet warm. You should also bring along a nightgown, if you don’t want to be seen in a hospital gown when people come to visit you and your baby. Pack toiletries, a hairbrush, and your make up bag too. It is a good idea to leave your bag near the front door or keep it in your car, as you get closer to your due date.
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Even though many women think they have left the problem of acne behind them, it is not at all uncommon for those troublesome zits, pimples and blemishes to return during pregnancy. The complex dance of hormones that take place during pregnancy can often cause acne to return, and it is of course important for pregnant women to avoid any acne medications that could potentially harm the unborn child. Fortunately, there are some tried and true natural remedies that can help to banish acne without risking harm to the baby.

One of the most common, and most effective, natural treatments for acne is tea tree oil, and many women have used this product to treat pregnancy-related acne blemishes. Tea tree oil can be safely used as a spot treatment for blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and other acne blemishes.
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Regular exercise keeps you healthy, gives you energy and builds strong bones and muscles. However, many pregnant women are afraid that exercising will harm the baby. That fear is unfounded according to medical experts, but there are some guidelines to follow for safety.

Dr. Raul Artal, who heads the department of obstetrics, gynecology and women’s health at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, believes obstetricians should make exercise recommendations a top priority, But, Dr. Artal says there are some precautions you should take to keep you and your baby healthy during prenatal exercise.

Dr. Artal recommends moderate exercise for pregnant women – such as brisk walking, which allows you to carry on a normal conversation – for about a half hour a day. Aerobic and resistance training are OK, but pregnant women should avoid contact sports or activities that carry a high risk of falling or trauma to the abdomen.
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Although the choice to take childbirth classes is a personal decision you will have to make for yourself, childbirth classes can be very beneficial especially for first time parents. Besides teaching breathing and relaxation techniques, these classes are very informative and educational. It is a great way for expectant parents to have their questions answered, their concerns addressed and to learn about available resources to assist them even after the baby is born.

My husband and I attended childbirth classes since it was a prerequisite for admitting the father into the delivery room. It was an enjoyable and information filled experience. The instructor was both pleasant and knowledgeable and it was a pleasure getting to know the other couples in the class. The instructor made the exercises fun to learn and encouraged us to ask questions. The basic focus of the class was on vaginal birth, breathing and relaxation techniques to lessen pain and anxiety. The instructor did touch on related topics such as false labor, premature birth and c-section delivery. I remember vividly how the instructor stated that at least one woman in the class would probably end up having a delivery by c-section as she talked about the possible causes requiring such a delivery. At that time I did not think that I would be that woman. My husband never did get to accompany me to the delivery room since I ended up in the operating room instead. Even so, the knowledge I gained by attending the classes was time well spent.
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Yoga is not mysterious.  It is made up of different poses and postures that almost anyone can complete safely and effectively.   The benefits of yoga include improved posture, more flexibility, and relaxation overall.

To ease into yoga, beginners can use the following instructions as a springboard to jump into practice.  Intermediate and advanced yoga participants can use the following to brush up on the foundation of practice.

Mountain Pose

Breathing: Inhale arms up, palms touch, and exhale hands down over the chest.

Alignment: The toes and ankles should touch gently.  Engage the abs, left the chest, leave shoulders down and back away from the ears, and keep the hands in prayer over the heart. Continue reading »

Choosing a name for your baby is a very important task as you await your new arrival. The name will serve as your child’s identification for life and he will use it in everything he does. But, the process does not have to be stressful. With all of the preparations involved in getting ready for the new member of your family, keep the following suggestions in mind to help make naming the baby a fun, joyous experience.

You will probably have many suggestions from friends and family of names for your baby. Let everyone give their input, but remember that the decision remains with you and your mate. Make a list early on of some possible choices. Set the list aside for a while and come back to it. Usually some names will stand out above the others. When considering a name, say it out loud several times. Say it in combination with the middle and last names. Consider what types of nicknames might be generated from it. Be careful to avoid a name that might subject the child to ridicule from other children. Also, be mindful of the child’s initials and make sure they do not spell or stand for anything undesirable. Continue reading »

NCT Pregnancy: For Parents, By Parents
Edited by Daphne Metland
Collins
Expect to pay £12.99

This comprehensive National Childbirth Trust book offers an in-depth look at pregnancy, from the conception through to birth and the early days with your newborn baby. The authors recognise that every woman experiences pregnancy in their own unique way and that women have a variety of concerns, with the main issue on everyone’s mind being, “Is this normal?” Continue reading »

In 2003, legendary Texas cowgirl Connie Reeves died several days after a fall from her horse. She was 102 and had never stopped riding or running her ranch. She’d been teaching girls to ride for 70 years without pause.

“Bill”, nearing 90, is the opposite side of the coin. His attitude has always been that exercise for its own sake isn’t worth a hill of beans. As a result he has become increasingly sedentary. Even his atrophied leg muscles giving out to send him tumbling when he tried to step down from his physician’s examination table wasn’t a big enough wake-up call to get him moving.

The call finally became loud enough when he found himself on the floor in his bathroom, running a high fever and unable to get up. The trip to the hospital could well have been his last. When he arrived, doctors scrambled to test for everything they could think of that might have caused his collapse. His electrolytes were far out of balance. His Type II Diabetes was out of control. He showed signs of a massive infection and was put on IV antibiotics immediately.
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With all the current media news about Black Cohosh for use in menopause, the herb Blue Cohosh has been almost overlooked. The properties of Blue Cohosh, caulophylum thalictroides, make it the perfect herb to use during the childbearing years.

Blue Cohosh in an American herb, found growing in the eastern United States along streams and swampy area. The root, or rhizome, of the plant is key to the wonderful properties of this herb.

Before pregnancy, Blue Cohosh is an excellent tonic to use to tone the uterus. It can also be used in larger doses to jump start a delayed period or one that is abnormally light, although it will not trigger a spontaneous abortion. Blue Cohosh is also said to relieve cramps and some PMS symptoms.

During pregnancy, Blue Cohosh is used as an anti-spasmodic to ease the threat of premature labor, false labor and miscarriage during early pregnancy. Blue Cohosh should not be taken during mid-pregnancy, unless miscarriage or premature labor is threatened. Native Americans used the herb to help ease delivery when the fetus had reached full term by using Blue Cohosh as a tonic when the mother reached within a few weeks of the expected birth. Continue reading »

Would you rather ride your favourite Holler-coaster once or get an all-night pass? Since you’re likely an up-for-anything chick, we know you’d pick option two. So why settle for just one go-around when it comes to your sex life—especially when doubling up on the deed could increase your orgasmic potential? ‘When your body is still turned on from a previous round, it’s easier to climax,” explains Joan Elizabeth Lloyd, author of If It Peek Good. Plus, since your man won’t come as quickly the second time, he’ll have more erotic energy to spend pleasing you (and he’ll feel like one helluva stud for going the distance). But you can’t just expect sex after sex, and it’s certainly not smart to demand it. Just follow this strategies for successful sequel sex. Continue reading »