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20 Things to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Child Birth

Raise Your Child — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:07:56 +0000

You’ve probably realised by now that doing as much preparation as possible prior to giving birth can help you feel more relaxed. Packing a hospital bag in preparation for your birth is a necessary part of this pre-birth preparation.

I have included as much detail as possible and there are items that you may wish to discard or add to the list. For obvious reasons it would be better to select darker rather than light clothing. Here’s the 20 essentials.

1. Wash bag
Shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, moisturiser, cleaning wipes, lip balm and some make up. Some amount of make up may help you feel more comfortable when visitors arrive.

2. 2 x Sponges
One small sponge for sips of water and sponging your face and a larger one for sponging you down. Some women prefer to take a water spray for cooling down during labor.

3. Towels x 2
Fairly obvious what these are for!

4. Two or three clean nightdresses
Pick a dark colour and select a front opening style.

5. Underwear
Plenty of pairs of dark knickers, socks and your nursing bras. (See the end of this article for a free breastfeeding guide)

6. Dressing Gown and slippers

7. Something to wear during labor
Most opt for a large comfortable t-shirt (better than a hospital gown) and a hair bobble.

8. Ear plugs
May enable you to get some sleep while other babies are crying.

9. Mobile/Money/Phone Card
Obviously, so you can make some calls.

10. Anti-constipation tablets
Constipation is uncomfortable but it will be painful if you have had stitches.

11. Books/Music
Things to keep you occupied in hospital

12. A warm loose fitting cardigan or similar
In case you get cold while in hospital.

13. Camera and film
To take pictures of course!

14. Clothes to wear home
Unfortunately normally still your maternity clothes.

15. Maternity pads
Very thick sanitary towels.

16. Breast pads
You’ll soon discover that breast milk doesn’t just flow at feeding time, especially early on.

17. Rubber ring
Child’s inflatable swimming ring aid. May be more comfortable to sit on if you have stitches.

18. Glucose tablets
For that extra energy

19. A tennis ball in a sock
Can help with alleviating back pain during labor

20. Clothes/Nappies For Your Baby
Sleep suits, vests, scratch mittens, nappies/diapers, nappy/diaper cream, cotton wool and blankets. Make sure your partner has the car seat ready to bring you from his car.

It’s unlikely that you’ll need anything else if use this list. The only other thing to remember to bring with you is your birth plan, which you may wish to also pack in this bag.

Good luck and happy parenting!

Author Description

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Find Your Balance with Flowers – Before, During and After Pregnancy

Raise Your Child — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:06:32 +0000

Article on Bach Flowers.

Flowers have symbolized the expression of our emotions for centuries. We offer flowers upon births, deaths, and marriages. We present a large bouquet of roses to someone special. We deliver flowers to those who need cheering up or get well wishes. Dining tables are adorned with fresh cut floral arrangements. It follows, then, that flowers also hold an amazing ability to heal and calm emotionally and physically.

Pregnancy is an amazing, miraculous, and sometimes trying period of a woman’s life. The sheer delight of having a baby is also accompanied by changes – changes in one’s body, changes in how one feels through the nine-month period. There are changes in how others perceive and treat you. One may experience change in their personal (family) relationships, and even changes in how one lives through the day, as the pregnancy term advances.

The subtle yet powerful healing system of Bach Flower Remedies supports emotions, moods and attitudes – turning negative ones into positive ones. This natural support, in turn, strengthens the immune system and allows for a healthier emotional outlook and therefore and healthier turn out for all of our mind, body and spirit(s) life situations.

Dr. Edward Bach, a noted physician, immunologist and avid researcher discovered flower remedies (classified as energy/vibrational medicine) during the 1920′s and 1930′s. He felt that preventative medicine should take precedence over treating symptoms. He knew once harmony and balance was achieved, healing was promoted. Bach® Flower Remedies work according to an individual’s personality type, mood and emotional outlook. Once we achieve balance in mind, body and spirit we become more of “who we are” and live life with more energy, direction and purpose.

The essences are derived from tree blossoms, wild flowers, and waters from the English and Welsh countryside. They are licensed homeopathic remedies governed by the FDA and have been used for over seventy years by physicians, dentists, veterinarians, psychotherapists, chiropractors, and lay people. Flower essences are virtually free of side effects and can be used as a complement to other forms of treatment from infancy through the senior years.

Flower essences are typically taken under the tongue – four drops, four times daily. They can be sipped in a beverage or even placed on the pulse points (wrists, ears, knees, and ankles). Some place twenty drops into their bath water, while others place drops of flower essences into an atomizer and humidify the room with the healing essences, to set (or correct) the mood in the room.

Consider discussing your options in taking flower remedies before, during and after your pregnancy with a registered flower practitioner. It could be important, in addition, to discuss the correct flower remedies available for your partner, other children, and the new baby, too. Mimulus is a wonderful remedy for the period of time you are afraid -of the birth, the pain, concern for the baby, or fear of being a good parent. Elm is helpful for those times when this new state of your life has brought on feelings of being overwhelmed. Walnut is certainly helpful for protection from others’ influence, and to help ease in the transition of pregnancy to birth to motherhood. Interestingly, Impatiens offers patience for the exciting period of time when the baby is about due, and you “just can’t wait”! Use Olive for the extreme fatigue related to the energy used during gestation, and is especially helpful (with Rescue Remedy®) for the exhausting period related to the birth process itself.

Crab Apple is especially useful on stretch marks, and for those times when you are uncomfortable or not so accepting of the changes to your body during the pregnancy. Be aware that Rescue Remedy Cream is wonderful to use on stretch marks, as well as hurting nipples from nursing and even a great help on diaper rash!

Discussing all your healthy options with a registered Bach practitioner encourages individuals to identify feelings, commit to smoother change, and allow a wonderful process to be natural and peace filled The practitioner will familiarize you with the flowers, discuss events and attitudes you may be facing, and help formulate a combination of essences that will help lessen negative feelings, and improve the hidden strength within in you to be and experience what is meant for you in order to have a happy and fulfilling life. Certainly, when discussing issues with another, one finds relief and new direction in putting problems into perspective, and gaining insight and inspiration to heal, grow and change.

Flowers – what a wonderful way to find your balance!

About the Author

Mary Ann Dittmeier is a Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner and President and Founder of FIND YOUR BALANCE, INC. Mary Ann offers consultations, workshops and lectures by appointment. Phone consults available on a limited basis. Mail orders on all Bach Flower Essences¨ and literature, no minimum order requirement and no shipping! Call 631-475-8308.

Maternity Acupressure: Simple and Effective Method for Inducing Labor

Raise Your Child — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:18:46 +0000

After you have reached your 40th week of your pregnancy, you might begin looking for methods that could induce labor naturally. Especially, if your labor care provider begins to talk about medical labor induction, you might want to give a try for natural labor inducing methods and seek for a natural method to start labor in a safe, but gentle way as well. One of the best tools available today for inducing labor naturally, is Maternity Acupressure.

When it comes to inducing labor, there are many old-wives tales and folk remedies that people will recommend, however not all of these methods are safe, neither are they all effective. When people recommend methods for inducing labor you should always ask your health care provider if the method is safe as well as effective. In fact, some recommendations may not only be effective but they may also endanger the health of your baby. You should never undergo any remedy to induce labor before checking with your health care provider.

One very popular remedy that is recommended is to use for inducing labor is Blue or Black Cohosh. However, there is scientific proof to show that Blue and Black Cohosh increases the risk of bleeding and may have many potential consequences for those who use it. Unless your health care provider advises you to use these herbs and monitors your use, you should avoid using them. Maternity Acupressure is a much better and safer alternative. It does not promote or increase the chance of bleeding, and is highly effective.

Maternity Acupressure is a great alternative to these methods since it doesn’t include negative side effects or pose potential harm to the unborn baby. Acupressure for labor is also simple to perform, and it isn’t hard to have your partner perform acupressure. Your partner simply applies pressure to sensitive pressure points with his or her thumbs. This is an ideal treatment that can be used in the comfort and privacy of your own home and doesn’t require any additional equipment, supplements, or devices.

In addition, acupressure during childbirth has been shown to help reduce the pain and duration of labor significantly. There is no other method that can be used as safely throughout the early, middle, and later stages of delivery. The father of the baby can assist greatly throughout the labor and delivery by applying Maternity Acupressure techniques to specific locations. Not only will the mother benefit by this natural means of inducing labor, but she will also enjoy great relaxation as well.

One of the best benefits of using Maternity Acupressure to induce labor is the fact that it is so simple to do. Your partner can easily learn how to apply pressure to the specific points and can help mom through the stages of labor easily, simply, and effectively. Another great aspect of this method is that acupressure won’t hyper stimulate your body. The body will only receive as much as is needed. For couples that are seeking for a normal childbirth and a way for the father to be actively involved in to the birth of his baby, Maternity Acupressure is an invaluable tool.

About the Author

Maternity Acupressure is a natural labor inducing remedy that is safe for both the mother and the baby. Acupressure techniques for labor are becoming more and more popular among expectant mothers and labor care professionals. Maternity Acupressure is a way for inducing labor naturally, but also an effective method to get relief from labor pains. More information is revealed at www.MaternityAcupressure.com .

Acupuncture for Infertility

Raise Your Child — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 03:59:27 +0000

If you’ve been trying to conceive a child for at least one year without success, most doctors would consider you infertile. You are not alone; infertility affects 6.1 million Americans.

Many couples turn to the latest medical technologies, such as ovulation-promoting drugs, intra-uterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization (IVF), collectively known as Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). IVF has resulted in many pregnancies; however, it is not an easy path to choose: it is very complex, quite expensive, and most find it emotionally difficult. Plus, the success rates are relatively low. If you decide to invest your time and money into ART, you want to be sure to give yourself every possible advantage. Adding acupuncture can significantly increase your chances of success.

If ART is not for you, acupuncture is equally (or more) valuable, for both female and male infertility.

Acupuncture with & without ART:
Growing numbers of studies are demonstrating impressive results when acupuncture is combined with ART. A study published April 2002 (Fertility & Sterility) caught the attention of many specialists: women undergoing IVF embryo transfer who received acupuncture had a 42.5% success rate, compared with the 26.3% success rate of those who did not. Another study, published May 2006 (Fertility & Sterility), found that acupuncture more than doubled the pregnancy rates of IVF.

Acupuncture has been treating infertility for over 3000 years. Only recently has Western science begun research on acupuncture alone for infertility; these studies show that acupuncture can stimulate ovulation, treat endocrine dysfunctional infertility, increase blood flow to the uterus, and normalize the hormone communication cycle. It also reduces stress hormones and increases endorphins, both of which positively affect reproductive hormone levels.

Numerous studies also cite benefits for male infertility: acupuncture increases the number and ratio of normal-form sperm; significantly decreases the quantity of anti-sperm antibodies and increases sperm motility.

Why does Acupuncture work?
Acupuncture relieves stress and corrects imbalances. It increases the circulation of blood, energy and nutrients to the necessary organs and glands, so that they are healthier, work better, and communicate with each other more effectively.

Recommended Protocol:
I recommend acupuncture treatments weekly for 4-6 weeks followed by twice monthly, combined with Chinese herbs, until pregnancy. For those ART patients whose MD’s have requested that they not take herbs, I recommend once or twice weekly acupuncture treatments.

For best chances of success with ART, acupuncture treatment should begin 3 months prior to the procedure or for as many weeks as possible before the procedure begins.

What to expect from Acupuncture for Infertility:
In my clinic, I find that acupuncture can:
1. Regulate menstrual cycles: Often infertility is associated with irregular menstrual cycles or endometriosis. With acupuncture and herbs I have seen women without regular periods start cycling regularly again, women with heavy bleeding normalize, and partial and complete recoveries from endometriosis.
2. Increase ovulation rates: Related to irregular menstruation, some infertility patients are not ovulating regularly. With only acupuncture and herbs, one patient has been ovulating consistently for 7 months, after more than 12 years of negative ovulation readings!
3. Increase the quantity and quality of eggs: After 2 months of acupuncture and herbs, one IVF patient produced 15 healthy eggs for extraction – nearly double her first IVF cycle, without acupuncture, when she produced 8 eggs.
Another patient, after repeated miscarriages, was told by her infertility specialist that she could not use her own eggs. In his opinion, her eggs were too poor quality; she would have to do IVF with donor eggs. After 3 months of acupuncture and herbs, she became pregnant naturally, and, at the time of this writing, is due to give birth in 2 weeks.
4. Increase the chances of implantation: Often, in IVF, the embryo transfer process stimulates uterine contractions, which can make implantation difficult. Acupuncture helps to relax the uterus, so that implantation is easier.
5. Increase the chances of a healthy, full-term pregnancy: Continued acupuncture treatment for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is highly recommended to decrease chances of miscarriage. It’s also useful for morning sickness, fatigue, aches and mood swings.

The journey to overcome infertility is a difficult one. Give yourself every advantage. Whether you choose to receive ART or not, you can feel confident that acupuncture will optimize your chances of successful pregnancy.

About the Author

Dawn Balusik is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture Physician and Massage Therapist in Clearwater. She specializes in women’s health, including infertility and endometriosis, and has helped numerous couples achieve successful pregnancies. Dawn is located at: 28469 US Hwy 19 North, Suite #402 Clearwater, Florida 33761 Visit her website at www.AcupunctureByDawn.com or call (727) 723-3888 for an appointment.