Anna Nicole Pregnancy

Aromatherapy, or the uses of scents from various natural plant extracts, has been used for centuries in meditation, healing, healthcare, beauty and relaxation. The essential oils are the fragrant essences derived from flowers, leaves, barks, roots and berries. Each essential oil has its own therapeutic properties. Nowadays, aromatherapists, who are individuals essentially trained in how to combine and administer these essential oils, have emerged as complementary healers to the more traditional forms of allopathic medicine. The appeal of aromatherapy transcends cultures and continents, chiefly because it has proven to work. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used aromatherapy in a wide range of uses – from embalming the dead to treating military soldiers injured in battle. Aromatherapy can be used to treat a wide range of ailments including first aid, stress related diseases and skin problems. Oils can be placed in aromatic baths, used in compresses, or mixed in creams, lotions or waters to help with the health of the skin. The various uses of aromatherapy in England and the US however, have been quite recent. Over the last decade, aromatherapy has become increasingly popular among the general public, used primarily in beauty and bath care for personal uses. Lavender, tea tree oil, clove, cinnamon, and other oils have been marketed for mass appeal for their healing and relaxation properties. These have been greatly diluted so that an individual will not become sensitive to an undiluted essence. Self-treatment with aromatherapy, however, should be exercised with caution. Properly used, essential oils are safe, but some oils present hazards that anyone using them should be aware of. I have purchased a number of oils off the shelves, only to find after further reading that these are hazardous and toxic in significantly small doses. There are no warning labels on aromatherapy oils, and if a service provider decides to sell them, people are free to buy and use them as they see fit. Babies, pregnant mothers and older adults need to be especially careful if they come in contact with essential oils. A properly trained aromatherapist will look beyond merely the application of essential oils, and will strive to treat the whole person to help achieve balance. As essential oils work on a subtle level, the multitude of healing properties they offer differ from synthetic drugs in this respect. They are not tailored to treat a specific symptom, but strive to rectify any imbalance in the body and promote better health and well-being. Aromatherapy has been likened to the Chinese idea of Yin and Yang- a harmonizing balance that exists with opposing energies. When balance is achieved, the person is in a state of health. I have used aromatherapy for over ten years, and have found the positive effects noteworthy. Primarily I have used oils to treat fatigue, combat stress and promote relaxation. When I travel, I often seek out essential oils that have been distilled in the country I am visiting, for these are usually of a purer and less expensive nature than ones that have been imported into the West. In Morocco, I have bought pure oils of jasmine, rose and neroli, some of the most expensive oils known. In Madagascar, I have bought ylang-ylang, clove, cinnamon, and other local oils that have excellent anti-viral and anti-bacterial oils that are perfect during travelling. Buying, experimenting and learning about aromatherapy oils are part of the enjoyment, and discovering their numerous health benefits through use is part of the reward.

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Menstrual Cycle

Menstrual Cycle For every woman, the monthly menstrual cycle is a life event that was very much a mystery to us when it began. No matter how much information our mothers gave us, or how many health education class lectures we endured, we still didn’t know. Menstrual cycles are as unique as is every woman. Not every cycle is 28 days; menstruation can start on the 26th or 30th day too. Some women have erratic menstrual cycles and they never know when it will begin. The onset of menarche usually occurs anywhere from age 9 to age 17; all girls are different in heredity, weight, activity, diet, health, etc. and this all has an influence on when menstruation occurs for the first time. It is normal for it to be irregular and not come at a regular interval for the first few months. Flow may be very light and last only a couple of days at first, then three months may go by until another menstrual cycle begins. The cycle should become more regular as the months progress, and of course, a health care provider should be consulted if irregularity continues or heavy bleeding occurs. The menstrual cycle occurs as a result of an egg being released from an ovary once every 28 days or so. As it travels through the Fallopian tubes, it approaches the uterus, which has been building up cushiony lining for the fertilized egg to implant. If a sperm does not penetrate the egg in its travels, then the unfertilized egg continues from the Fallopian tubes on through the uterus and out as the lining of the uterus is shed during the menstrual cycle. If fertilization has occurred, the embryo will implant into the plump lining of the uterus where the cells will continue to divide forming a viable fetus. At this point in time, the menstrual cycle ceases until the pregnancy is brought to term or another event occurs which would cause the pregnancy to be terminated. Many women look forward to this time, because they get a break from having their monthly menstrual cycle and they get to experience pregnancy. If a woman’s menstrual cycle is irregular or there are other issues such as heavy bleeding, cramping, and/or prolonged cycles, options are available to regulate the cycle and control the uncomfortable symptoms that are being experienced. Most of the time, birth control pills are the first treatment option. Birth control pills are available in many different hormone combinations and strengths, and can be prescribed according to what type of menstrual cycle issue the patient is having. These pills are also fairly inexpensive making them accessible to all women. Our menstrual cycles do not have to take control of our lives. There are many options available for every unique woman. It is her choice to decide what is appropriate for her and her menstrual cycle. Ask your health care provider during your regular check ups about any questions or concerns you may have about your menstrual cycle.

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Asthma Treatments During Pregnancy

Asthma treatments come in many shapes and forms. People who suffer from the breathing disorder have quite a few options to consider. Physicians can prescribe a number of medications that prove to be successful in relieving the symptoms associated with the frightening affliction. However, the options wane when the person looking for treatment is pregnant. One of the most exciting times in a woman’s life is when she is expecting a baby. The mother goes through a lot of emotional and physical changes during this time in her life. Some of the physical changes are unexpected and uncomfortable. A woman can find herself sleepless, irritable and nauseous. Having breathing problems on top of all of the other symptoms of pregnancy can really be a burden. Finding appropriate asthma treatments that can be administered during pregnancy can put the woman’s mind at ease. However, finding asthma treatments is not always so easy especially if you are pregnant. Asthma is quite common in the United States and other countries around the world. Anyone who has suffered an asthma attack knows the symptoms. An exacerbation, or attack, involves coughing wheezing and the frightening feeling of being unable to get any air. Some describe an exacerbation as drowning in air. Asthma treatments are developed to alleviate the symptoms associated with the attack. Unfortunately, the developing baby in the womb takes in oxygen through his mother’s breathing. If the mother isn’t getting any air, neither is the fetus. The baby is dependant on the mother’s breathing to get the appropriate supply of oxygen he needs to survive. When a woman has an exacerbation, the baby is at risk for not getting enough oxygen. This can be very dangerous to the developing fetus. Many women who used asthma treatments that involved medication before they became pregnant often cease the asthma treatments. Women with the breathing disorder are afraid that the medicine will have an adverse effect on the baby. However, it is best to consult a physician before quitting the medication completely. Your doctor needs to know the details about your condition and he needs to know if you choose to quit asthma treatments. You could be putting the baby at greater risk by quitting the medication because a severe attack will do more harm to the fetus than the medicine can. The more severe the exacerbation, the more dangerous it is for the baby. Abruptly stopping asthma treatments can do more harm than good.

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Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes Gestational diabetes occurs in women who are not diabetic prior to pregnancy, but who develop insulin resistance during their pregnancy. Women who develop gestational diabetes are unable to produce enough insulin for their bodies. Since not enough insulin is available to convert the glucose in the blood stream into energy for the body, the glucose levels increase causing hyperglycemia. This can be a serious condition if it goes undiagnosed and untreated. If the pregnant woman is seeking appropriate prenatal care, her health care practitioner is checking for glucose in the urine routinely, and some perform a finger stick as well. Gestational diabetes may not be as serious as an insulin dependent diabetic going through pregnancy and delivery, but it can’t be ignored either. A proper diet is essential in controlling blood sugar levels in gestational diabetes, as well as regular exercise and keeping weight gained under control. These factors all contribute to the birth of a healthy baby. According to www.diabetes.org, if a mother with gestational diabetes does not keep her blood glucose levels under control, the developing fetus will be required to make more insulin to process the extra blood glucose that is transferred to it via the placenta. The fetus has no real use for this extra energy so it is stored as fat. This extra fat can cause the infant to be large or macrosomic, which can lead to complications during delivery, such as shoulder dystocia or dislocation. The infant can be so large that it must be delivered via Cesarean section because it is too large to pass through the birth canal. The newborn infant of the mother with gestational diabetes can also be prone to having low blood sugar values after birth, and must be monitored for signs of hypoglycemia. A macrosomic baby is also prone to obesity and to potentially developing Type II diabetes later on in their adult life. Gestational diabetes can be managed, and doesn’t have to be an issue at all during pregnancy. Women are encouraged to check their blood sugar levels throughout the day and instructed to administer insulin if it is required. If women with gestational diabetes can keep their blood glucose levels under control, they are less likely to have complications during the birth of their baby. Most women do not continue to have high blood glucose levels after pregnancy, but some do go on to develop Type I or II diabetes later on. Gestational diabetes usually occurs with subsequent pregnancies as well. If you are pregnant and have developed gestational diabetes, it is very important that you keep your regular prenatal appointments and follow through with all recommendations made by your health care provider. It is all in the best interest of you and your baby.

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Planning a Baby Shower

My niece is pregnant with her first baby. We have always been close so I let her know that I would help her with any thing she needed help with in getting ready for the baby. There are many things to do in getting ready for a baby. We needed to prepare a room for the baby as well as purchase items that are needed when adding a baby into the home. I told my niece that I wanted to have a shower for her and her husband. I encouraged her to register at a number of local department stores for things that were needed for the baby. Planning a baby shower takes some time. The major time factor was coordinating things with my niece. In planning a baby shower I wanted to make sure that I was including everyone that she wanted to invite. I was taking extra care in this because when my sister had a baby shower for a friend she had invited people that the mother to be did not want at the shower. This made for an uncomfortable time for everyone. The other part of planning a baby shower that is difficult is deciding when the shower is to take place. My niece wanted to wait until after the baby arrived so that the people attending the shower could see the baby. This was fine, except that some of the items on her gift register were for things that are needed as soon as the baby arrives home. My niece mentioned that one of her co-workers was also planning a baby shower for her. I got the name of the co-worker so that we could coordinate the two baby showers to best fit with my niece’s wishes. When I spoke with the co-worker planning a baby shower I found out that she was planning on having the shower the last day my niece was scheduled to work before the beginning of her maternity leave. I explained that I was planning to have a shower after the birth of the baby. We decided that we would tell the guests this so they could pick out their gifts accordingly. I would be including relatives and she would include co-workers, so people would not be invited to two showers. When planning a baby shower you can get cards from the department stores where the mother has registered to place in the shower invitations. Having these cards to insert cuts down on the amount of information you need to write on the invitations. Planning a baby shower should include as much input from the new parents as possible. Try to include the new dad also so he is not feeling left out of the process. The baby shower should concentrate on celebrating the new life of a child.