Weekly Pregnancy Calendar

Childcare Providers Once I learned that I was pregnant, many difficult decisions had begun. One of the most important decisions and tasks I would be facing is finding the right childcare providers. I hated the idea that I was going to be returning to work when my child would be only 12 weeks old so I knew that I would have to find a place that impressed me beyond belief. The amount of childcare providers in our local phonebook was intimidating, I will admit. I narrowed it down to about ten places that were within 20 minutes of my house and started the quest of making phone calls and setting up appointments to visit. Besides looking at childcare centers, I was also considering private childcare providers that were licensed for in their homes. I wasn't as keen on that concept but knew that it would be more cost efficient and owed it to my child to check into every possible scenario. The very first center that I visited was a franchise and I almost walked right back out. I was greeted by a screaming toddler who deemed it necessary to scream nonstop for several moments. I could not understand why no one seemed concerned about this or encouraged him to lower the volume of his screaming. In fact, most of the employees didn't seem very interested in the children. I cut my appointment short and crossed them off of the list. Within a week, two more childcare providers managed to get themselves taken off of my list as well. A few more on my list seemed promising but the tuition costs almost sent me into labor. How in the world do people afford some of these childcare providers? It would almost be wiser for me to quit my job than pay these fees. My husband and I spent a few weeks contemplating that concept. Finally, after a coworker of his passed along his stepmother's name, I called her. We were told that she runs a small daycare out of her home and is absolutely wonderful. I thought that I would be the judge of that and very reluctantly called her. I had to admit that on the phone, she was very charming and personable. I went to visit her the next day and watch how things went in her household. The moment she let me in the front door, I got that warm and fuzzy feeling. She was just as darling as I could have wanted. The children that she had all seemed to adore her and were well mannered. She took a great amount of time talking to me and before the end of the hour, I had made up my mind. There would be no more visits to overrated childcare providers. I had found the perfect home away from home for my baby. With a smile on my face, I drove home and found my "to do" list. I took great pleasure in checking "childcare providers" off of that list. One less decision to make.

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Acid Reflux Disease

Commonly called 'heart burn', acid reflux disease is a condition in which the liquid content of the stomach regurgitates (backs up, or refluxes) into the esophagus. It's annoying and painful. But you want to know the truth, the reflux of the stomach's liquid contents into the esophagus occurs in most normal individuals. However, when heartburn becomes acid reflux disease or Gastro esophageal reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD, it is s real problem. That is because with GERD, the acid is stronger and stays in the esophagus longer causing more discomfort. Most often, you will experience this during the daytime when you are upright, sitting straight, or standing. You body handles this reflux by the fluid flowing back down into your stomach. You swallow more during the daytime therefore draining the acid back to where it belongs. Your salivary glands produce saliva that also contains bicarbonate that acts to neutralize the acid your stomach has kicked up. At night though, you may have a greater problem when acid reflux disease occurs that is because while sleeping, gravity does not work as well lying down, your constant swallowing stops, and the production of saliva is reduced. Certain conditions make a person more prone to acid reflux disease, this GERD. For example, while you are pregnant, this can be a serious problem. Elevated hormone levels of pregnancy probably cause reflux by lowering the pressure in that part of your body known as the lower esophageal sphincter. Also, the growing baby puts more pressure on the abdomen. Both of these effects of pregnancy tend to increase the risk of GERD. If your acid reflux disease is a minor condition, then you should only experience minor symptoms. These would include primarily heartburn, regurgitation, and nausea. However, if the condition is complicated, then watch out for the following symptoms. The liquid that comes back into the esophagus damages the lining of the esophagus. The body tries to protect itself from the acid reflux disease by 'inflaming' the esophagus. Trying to speed the healing process through the inflammation, the wall of the esophagus may form an ulcer. The ulcer is a break in the lining of the esophagus wall. Then what happens is that there may be bleeding. If the bleeding is very severe, patients might need a blood transfusion or even surgical treatment. If your heartburn is severe or acute, happening very frequently, you need to see a doctor. What can you do for yourself to help the condition? Try sleeping a pillow a night that raises your chest up slightly so that gravity can bring the acid back down more easily. Since this condition usually occurs on a full stomach, eat earlier and eat less to keep the stomach from being too full. Ease off on the chocolate, peppermint, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks. Reduce fatty foods and of course, cut down or quit smoking. Other foods may aggravate the conditions. Avoid spicy or acid-containing foods, like citrus juices, carbonated beverages, and tomato juice.

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Aromatherapy in 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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Information about Video Conferencing on Maternity Leave

Many professionals today work from home. These individuals telecommute to their office in their pajamas. This may seem like a dream come true but there are times when this kind of work environment works against the professional. One way that commuting in your pajamas is negative is when you have to face your supervisors and coworkers face-to-face even if it is through video. If you are working from home, gather as much information about video conferencing as you can. I telecommute and I love working from home. It takes diligent discipline as well as tenacity to meet deadlines and complete tasks in a timely manner. I also thought that this type of work does not require travel and I thought it does not require professional clothing. I did discover through the information about video conferencing that occasionally it does require the clothing at least. I admit that I gained some weight when I was pregnant with my daughter. I decided that I wanted to work from home to be able to take care of her full time while pursuing a career from home. Working from home does nothing to help you when you have still 10 pounds to lose from your pregnancy. I didn’t really fit in any of my professional clothes but who cares? I’m not going anywhere (including the gym). When I found out that I needed to gather up information about video conferencing, I was excited that I was finally going to see my boss and my coworkers for the very first time. There wasn’t much time for me to realize that I would be seen as well. I was looking through the information about video conferencing when it suddenly dawned on me that sometimes the camera works both ways. This information about video conferencing may seem obvious to the average person but I didn’t consider that sometimes it is a two way street. Unfortunately, I still had 10 pounds to lose before I could even dream of wearing my professional clothes. I hated the idea of running out last minute to buy something for one meeting but I really didn’t have another option. The irony of the whole thing is that I was given some good advice once I landed my regular telecommuting job. One of my friends urged me to get information about video conferencing since I was going to work from home. I didn’t listen. I also didn’t listen when she suggested that 10 pounds to lose is next to nothing and I should get moving. I still have 10 pounds to lose even today.

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Pregnancy Test Kit Online

When you suspect that you are pregnant it is naturally the focus of many of your thoughts. Finding out whether or not you are going to have a baby becomes very important. There are several types of pregnancy tests that you can purchase at your local pharmacy or convenience store. Most of these tests give you very quick and accurate results. For some women, especially younger women, it can be overwhelming to walk into a store and purchase one of the tests. For these women there is an easy accessible alternative that allows them to purchase a pregnancy test online. There are many online websites that offer pregnancy tests to the consumer. All you do is search for a store that ships to your area you can then order the pregnancy test online. In most cases these are the same tests that are being sold in your local stores. It’s also common for the price of the pregnancy test online to be comparable to one that you pick up yourself. When you order a pregnancy test online the shipping time varies depending on a few factors. If you can locate a store that is within your vicinity that sells a pregnancy test online than you should order from there. You might be able to secure delivery for the same day or the next day. If you’re not in a rush when you order a pregnancy test online than you can have it shipped from another location. If price is more important than a speedy delivery than do a bit of comparative shopping for a pregnancy test online and choose a brand name kit at a good price. Another twist on buying a pregnancy test online is to order the kit online and then pick it up at the store. This can be a good alternative if your local store is busy. Using this method gives you a chance to look over the different brands of pregnancy test kits and then choose one that you trust. After you order the pregnancy test online you then drive over to the store to pick it up. Your online invoice will explain when your order will be ready for pick-up. If the store delivers you can choose this option as well. In either case after you’ve ordered the pregnancy test online you won’t have to wait in a long line to pay for it. This way you can take the test and find out the results in as little time as possible.

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Large Clothing

Maternity wear is often over-priced and many mothers-to-be opt to buy large clothing rather than clothes made specifically for pregnancy. For some reason, once an item has the “maternity” label attached to it, it becomes pricy. Buying regular clothes in larger sizes is a good alternative for some thrifty ladies. The hunt for the clothes can be tricky. Finding large clothing is not difficult but finding large clothing that looks good can be a challenge. There are certain things to look for when trying to dress your pregnant self. First of all, some clothes have to be designed as maternity wear in order for them to look right. There is no getting around it. You have to invest in nice maternity pants. There are many cute and comfortable maternity pants and very cute maternity jeans available. Buying large clothing does not come into play when it comes to your pants. Your underwear is another story. You can easily get away with buying large clothing when it comes to undergarments. Choose panties that fit under your baby belly and larger sized bras. Many nursing mothers insist on buying nursing bras. Don’t bother. Most of the nursing bras have no support and they are not always easy to unfasten. I have found nice bras in stores that carry large clothing that provide much more support than regular nursing bras. I also didn’t have to fuss with the difficult clasps that are supposed to make things easier. Women automatically think that they need to find the right maternity shirts but you can really get away with buying big shirts instead. My favorite shirt that I wore throughout my pregnancy was not a maternity shirt at all. I found it among large clothing in a discount store at a fraction of the price. I also found my husband’s large clothing to be very helpful. I had a winter pregnancy which really helped my search. I found oversized sweaters and big button down shirts in our closet. My husband didn’t really miss them and I had comfortable outfits to wear around the house. When you are expecting, you want to invest in a few good pairs of maternity pants. The rest of your wardrobe can consist of large clothing. This includes your hospital robe. Nothing is more annoying and more uncomfortable than maternity night gowns. Look for sleepwear in large clothing sections of your favorite store.