Inside pregnancy: Labor and birth

Narrator: In the weeks before birth, your body slows down production of the hormone progesterone while increasing production of other hormones – including prostaglandins, which soften the cervix, and oxytocin, which triggers the uterine muscles to contract.

True labor contractions are rhythmic and painful, and grow consistently stronger. As the long vertical muscle bands of the uterus tighten, they pull the cervix open. The strong muscles at the top of the uterus push down and release, guiding your baby toward the cervix.

The mucus plug, a collection of thickened cervical mucus that's sealed your cervix shut for nine months, may be expelled days before or in the midst of labor.
When the amniotic sac ruptures, your water has broken. It can feel like a trickle or a gush of fluid.
Your cervix will begin opening and thinning, known as dilation and effacement.

Once you reach about 4 centimeters, your body will move into active labor.
In active labor, contractions become stronger and closer together. At 8 centimeters, you enter what many consider the most painful part of labor – transition.
By 10 centimeters, you're fully dilated and may feel the urge to push. This is your signal that the second stage of labor has begun.

Your baby will move down with each contraction. The three separate soft bones of his head will temporarily overlap so he can pass through the snug birth canal.
Your baby's scalp will come into view. When the widest part of his head is visible, your baby is "crowning." With several more pushes, your baby's face, shoulders, and body will emerge.
In the third and final stage of labor, your placenta detaches and is expelled.
With your baby's first breath, the incredible journey of birth is complete.

Baby's Skin Care

Taking care of your baby's skin

The baby care market is HUGH and is continuing to grow, as people (mothers) become more health conscious. In North America, baby care is projected to be approximately 7.5 billion dollars annually. For the first time ever, consumers are becoming better educated and are seeing the need to buy products that are specifically made to meet the needs of young (newborn) skin.

The fact is that your baby's skin in much different than adult skin... but to what extreme, that would require different care? At the moment the skin is formed, it exists in a very dark atmosphere - submerged in liquid. It is a major adjustment to be out in the real world, and as such, we need to care for it to ensure its health. Skin thickens as we age, and for babies, this means very thin, fine textured skin. Your baby's skin has many challenges to protect itself from the environment to retaining moisture. Yes, these are issues we all face, however they are greatly increased with young skin.

It is extremely important that the pH of baby skincare be between 4 and 6, to ensure the acid mantel is supported. It is important to look for products that are not made with animal products or by-products, as it is impossible to avoid fragrance if this is the case. Fragrance can be irritating to any aged skin, and particularly to a baby. Make sure that the products are dermatologist and pediatrician "tested", as opposed to simply "recommended", ensuring they are hypoallergenic.

Key ingredients to look for include Shea Butter, which is a very moisturizing botanical extract containing Vitamin A and E; Oat Extract, which is a great skin protector, is very absorbent, hypoallergenic and helps sooth and soften dry, itchy, sensitive skin; and Aloe, which penetrates deep into the skin to deliver moisture to the tissues and prevents moisture loss caused by evaporation. Products high in anti-oxidants such as Vitamin A and E, palmitate and tocopherol acetate are great to protect against free radical damage.

And lastly, you want very mild surfactants (which are the cleansing agents), such as deco-glucoside, which rinses clean....very gently!! Avoid the surfactant called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which can clog pores and is proven to be cancer causing. The less suds, the better!

Lynda Foreman

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Sciatica In Pregnancy

Sciatica In Pregnancy

The period of pregnancy is full of struggles. Women face various problems during pregnancy, and sciatica is one of these. Therefore, you should know the nature, reasons and the ways to deal with it. In this article, we will give you an insight into this problem.

Nature And Reasons For Sciatica:

Sciatica is the pain in the lower extremity. The other name is lumbago. Lumbago is particularly, felt from the lower back, to behind the thighs. The pain may travel down below the knees.

When the sciatic nerve, located on the back, and running through the lower extremities, experiences firmness or irritation, you experience lumbago.

 Pregnancy and Sciatica:

The main reasons for this pain during pregnancy is your bad body postures. Due to the weight of your baby, you sway forward, and your center of gravity moves forward. Due to this, you are unable to maintain the correct alignment of your body, and prone to bad body postures. As the baby grows, your abdominal muscles are stretched and cannot contract. Due to this, your lower back muscles do not align properly. The result is a severe pain.

Poor or bad body postures during this period are a natural phenomenon, and these may also put your baby at risk. But, you can avoid this by learning how to get better control of your body postures. Due to a change in the center of gravity, your body is prone to tilt forward. You can avoid this with a little practice. Your body, then, will automatically adopt the correct postures, without any difficulty.


Treatment for Sciatica:

You can deal with this pain by adopting natural techniques. Medication, at this stage, can hamper the development of the fetus and you may also face problems at the time of delivery. By adopting the correct body postures, you can avoid this pain.

Maintaining Healthy Posture While Standing:

1. Your ear, shoulder, and hip should be all aligned in one line.

2. Your lower back should not sway forward, so, maintain your pelvic tilt at all the times.

3. You should not stand in the same position for a long time.

4. Avoid high heels during this period. Wear low heels comfortable shoes.

5. Wear a maternity support belt.

Maintaining Good Postures While Sitting:

1) Maintain pelvic tilt, and avoid tilting forward.

2) Sit in such a position that your knees are at an equal level with your hips.

3) Do not cross your legs. This posture will decrease your blood circulation.

Correct Postures While Lying On Your Back:

You should not lie on your back for a long time. Your large blood vessels may be compressed, reducing blood flow and oxygen supply to your baby. And, if you lie, you should place a pillow under your knees.

b> My name is Muhammad Ayub, a Homeopathic Doctor. I am the author of this article. I have in-depth knowledge of Human Anatomy and Physiology. Women's issues are my specialty and want to present guidelines to them. I have written this article to guide general public and to give them awareness about a problem which is affecting a large number of women all over the world.




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Depression During Pregnancy

The Problem Of Depression During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, it's quite difficult for any woman to confront a treatment for clinical depression. This happens because there's a high health risk if one consumes antidepressant medicines during pregnancy. However, by visiting the doctor at the right time and with efforts from the patient's side, this issue can be resolved.

Generally, it has been noticed that women are more emotional and sentimental in the initial couple of days of pregnancy. Around 10% pregnant females require antidepressant treatment prescribed by the doctors. However, the percentage is a lot higher than that since females are approached quite softly during pregnancy and this becomes a neglecting psychological illness.

Women become more emotional and depressed because of the excessive safety measures and over cautious subjective view taken during the pregnancy. This may result in a serious psychiatric effect on a pregnant woman.

There's a high possibility that the antidepressants can hurt the unborn child of a pregnant lady. However, even excessive stress and depression can hurt the infant. Considering these points, it relies upon the seriousness of the illness, the decision of the guardians of a patient, and the recommendation of the doctors.

Depression in a pregnant lady can result in developing a few issues for the unborn child. Some issues that a child might develop due to the depression of his/her mother are irritability, slowness in activities, and less attentiveness. Short growth period is likewise one of these effects. The consumption of antidepressants can result in some major issues such as pulmonary hypertension, weight loss and cardiovascular deformities in the infant.

Recognizing depression is exceptionally difficult during pregnancy. For the most part, females end up becoming really emotional, homesick and hyperactive during pregnancy. Extra attention and a few physical changes can make them sad or upset. Sudden mood swings, low vitality are normal signs in every pregnant lady.

Those females, who have low clinical depression, can become pregnant. Remember, depression and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) are connected with each other. PCOS is an illness that causes trouble for women who are trying to become pregnant. However, it can be cured by visiting the best doctor for PCOS

While planning for pregnancy, you should stop all types of antidepressant medicines at least 6 months before. You should consult your psychiatrist or gynaecologist before starting or stopping any type of medicine. If you've severe clinical depression, there is no point in taking the risk for both, child and the mother.

In some situations, even serious patients can have kids, however it is quite unsafe. Such women need to be treated with proper medicines, therapies, meetings, and consultations. By and large, it is proposed that those females who are somewhat depressed should stop medicines, and even the individuals who are in medium seriousness level can do so. Visit your psychiatrist and gynaecologist to get more info.



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Things To Stop Before Pregnancy

Things To Stop Before Pregnancy

Are you looking forward to get pregnant and start a new family with your husband? If yes, then you need to take a few precautions to make sure that your pregnancy period goes well.
There are various things that you might be doing currently and you need to stop those activities immediately. Things like alcohol, cigarettes, and tobacco are extremely toxic, and they can prove too poisonous for you and the foetus. If you have any such bad habits and trying to conceive, then read the following points to know more about the ill-effects of such habits.

Quit Smoking Immediately

If you have been smoking cigarettes or tobacco in any other form, then stopping it before pregnancy is the most ideal thing to do. Smoking raises the chances for miscarriage, untimely birth and low-birth-weight. Furthermore, it also expands the likelihood of your child developing issues later on, such as asthma.

If you think that you can't stop, in that case, at least make an attempt to reduce the quantity of cigarettes you smoke, and take additional care to eat well. Your gynecologist can give you helpful tips on the most effective method to stop or decrease smoking cigarettes. Even if you're not a smoker, keep in mind that long exposure to second-hand smoke is likewise unsafe.

Important Note: Remember, it's important for you to find the most experienced gynec for your treatment, and for that you need to make a list of the best female gynecologists, and then get more information about them.

Say No To Alcohol

Pregnant moms are strongly advised to stay away from any form of liquor. If you drink, the foetus becomes more exposed to risks such as infections, birth defects, infant mortality, and growth inadequacies.

Infants born to women who frequently consume liquor may suffer from physical and intellectual damage, a health issue known as FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome).

Since it isn't known whether there is a safe least amount of liquor which can be consumed without involving any risk, it is better to stay away from liquor completely during your pregnancy period. By deciding not to consume alcohol while you're pregnant, you increase the infant's chances of having a healthy life.

Use Medicines Cautiously

It's also crucial to practice caution when it comes to intake of medicines. Some generally utilised medications, including non recommended drugs as aspirin, and even other common medicines, have been connected to birth abnormalities. This is why it becomes so important to find the best gynec.

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Choosing the Right Breast Pump for Yourself

Choosing the Right Breast Pump for Yourself

A breast pump is a type of mechanical device that extracts the breast milk from women who is lactating. It can be operated manually, using electricity or batteries. Many times women who are breastfeeding will use this to continue to breastfeed after they return to work. The breast milk collected can be kept at room temperature for as long as six hours or refrigerated for as long as eight days. It can also be frozen for twelve months in a deep freezer. In today's market there are many different types of breast pumps so it is important that you give some thought as to your needs before purchasing one.

One important factor that you should consider is how often you will be using it. To figure this out you will need to know how much you will be away from your baby. If you are going to be out of the house for several days during the week the double electric breast pump would work the best. 

If you have a full time job you can expect to use the breast pump several times a day so you will need a pump that is fast and efficient at removing the breast milk. One reason you might need this type is that you will probably be pumping on your breaks. The one that fits this description is the double electric breast pump as it empties milk from both breasts at the same time. It also is the one that closely imitates the suction of your baby's mouth. The drawback with this type of pump is that it is the one that is least portable and the most expensive.

The single pump can save you money but it also takes longer to extract the milk since it does one breast at a time. This is the type of pump you would need it you do not anticipate have to pump often or you can take a long break at work. If a woman is only going to pump occasionally the ideal one would be the manual one. The manual one can also be used while-on-the go. It is also the one that is the cheapest. It does not require batteries or an electrical outlet because you use your hand to pump the handle. A manual breast pump is often used as a back-up pump that you would use if you were somewhere there was not electric or you needed to pump in the car.

Take the time when you go into the store to purchase one that you read the information on the box to see if it would fit your needs. If you have any questions talk to your physician for their recommendation.

This article is penned by Lora Davis for Century Orthotics & Medical Equipment who are the leading suppliers of breast pump electric and knee walkers in the whole of North America.

To know more about their products just call (713) 597-0923.

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How To Get Pregnant Even If A Woman Has PCOS

How To Get Pregnant Even If A Woman Has PCOS

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a typical female endocrine issue and is one of the main reasons behind infertility. Regardless of the possibility that you have PCOS, you can get pregnant naturally after receiving proper treatment.

Females who have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome have a tendency to become obese and they stop ovulating (anovulation) as well. This can result in irregular or zero menstrual cycles. To determine the illness, a pelvic ultrasound is done that uncovers ovaries containing numerous small cysts.

No need to worry! Even if you're suffering from PCOS, a lot of things can be done to raise the possibility of conceiving naturally. Here are a few tips that can help you to pregnant easily.

Tip #1 - Get In Shape! Lose Excess Weight
If you're obese, then losing some weight should be first and foremost step. One research demonstrated that losing as meagre as 5% of your body weight can enhance your odds of conceiving without any need of medical supervision.

Tip #2 - Eat Cinnamon Regularly
Cinnamon spice has the power to enhance your insulin resistance. A recent study demonstrated that females with PCOS who ate a 1 gram of cinnamon a day fundamentally enhanced their insulin resistance power within two months. Different researches have demonstrated that regular utilization of cinnamon assisted in slow digestion, which would direct the increase of glucose levels after eating.

Tip #3 - Eat Some Millet
Many people have simply no idea what millet is. It is a whole grain that is wheat and gluten free and found in a store or marketplace near your home. It has often been termed as the 'fertility wonder grain'. Since it enables to adjust glucose and insulin levels, it can assist to keep your hormones in balance. However, you need to be extra careful before consuming it, since millet is known to contain a compound that meddles with the production of thyroid hormones. Therefore, if you've a thyroid condition, then you'll need to exchange millet with different other grains.

Tip #4 - Stay Away From Too Much Carbohydrate
Avoid carbohydrates such as white bread and other processed food items made of white flour and sugar since they trigger an insulin reaction. Rather, include complex carbohydrates, for example, whole grain items, beans or green vegetables in your diet. Consult renowned gynecologists and get a proper food chart of food items that you've to eat to stay healthy.

Tip #5 - Exercise Regularly
Increase your physical activity to at least 4 to 6 hours every week spread over various days. Studies have demonstrated that this level of activity alongside sensible eating can enhance the quality of hormone in females with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. This is credited to a reduction in the amount of fat around the stomach, which may enhance insulin sensitivity and thus re-establish natural menstrual cycle.

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