Top Parenting Tips

Best Pregnancy Books for Expectant Mothers:
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth - Henci GoerThinking Woman's Guide to A Better Birth - Henci Goer

This book is a must-have for all pregnant women. It will inform and empower you on the true risks and benefits of interventions during birth as well as preparing you on your journey into motherhood. If you choose only one book, this should be it.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - Ina May GaskinIna May's Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin

This book starts with an empowering collection of birth stories that will have you yearning to hold your own babe. It then moves into a well-referenced factual information for pregnancy and childbirth. She explores the mind-body connection thoroughly.

The Pregnancy Book - William & Martha Sears


Anything by Dr. Sears is a great preparation tool for childbirth and parenting. His books offer solid, evidence-based information for family centered care.

Labels: Best_Pregnancy_Books

Why Choose Natural Childbirth?

Choosing natural childbirth is choosing to trust your body. Even more than that, it's knowing that you already possess all the tools you need to give birth.


Having a natural birth doesn't mean choosing pain. There are a wide variety of natural comfort measures that can be employed. Women who choose natural childbirth realize that any artificial interruption in birthing, even for the best of intentions, adds risks. Whenever we interfere with the normal process of birthing, we increase the risks to both the mother and her child. None of these natural techniques carry risks.


However, the effective use of such techniques often requires diligent pre-labor practice. They are not a "quick fix". Mothers who choose natural childbirth willingly devote the necessary time to hone these skills and lessen the risks involved in choosing medicinal options.


Planning a natural childbirth does not mean swearing off all interventions. Situations will always arise when interventions become life-saving necessities. These mothers carefully weigh the cost-benefit ratio of any and all interventions. The possibility of pain is never a factor in making such decisions.


Women who choose natural birth realize that all medications taken during pregnancy are passed to the baby to one degree or another. The majority of mothers would baulk at the idea of shooting up drugs during their pregnancy. When in labor, choosing an epidural or intravenous medication means willingly exposing the baby to any combination of opiods (narcotics) such as morphine, pethidine, and fentanyl or dissociative anesthetics such as ketamine or clonidine. The cocktail of drugs is at the discretion of the anesthesiologist and can include any of these options. These mothers choose not to expose their babies to the possibility of allergic reactions, respiratory distress or the host of other complications that can arise from exposure to such drugs.


These mothers are not seduced by the seemingly easy option of avoiding birth through an elective c-section. A major abdominal surgery is not to be taken lightly. The risks of a c-section are numerous, including risk of future ectopic pregnancy due to scar tissue, risk of uterine rupture, and placental problems. The complications also extend to the baby. Babies born by c-section are three times as likely to experience respiratory complications. They do not have the benefit of passing through the birth path, which helps to clear mucus from the mouth and nasal passages.


These women understand that the process of giving birth does not damage the body. It is the interventions, the episiotomies, the unnatural birth positions, and the purple pushing that damage the body. Not one of these is necessary for birth. They not only damage the body, but also the spirit. Some women become so phobic, so unable to trust their bodies, they choose not to have more children.


Mothers who give birth naturally understand how their actions in labor affect their birthing. They welcome contractions as the force that brings their baby to their waiting arms. The mother and her child unite in a partnership as each contraction ebbs and flows into the next. They work as one with the rhythmic cycling of birthing until finally the baby arrives.


Natural childbirth empowers women. It instills self-confidence. But this is not why women choose it. They are not trying to prove their worth or be martyrs.

Labels: Natural Birth

Is your boyfriend or girlfriend avoiding you? Is your partner ignoring your calls? Read on to know what to do when a loved one ignores you.


Pooja and Manish met online through a dating website. They confessed their love for each other. For first few months everything was going good. Late night phone conversations, kisses and hugs, lying at home about a relationship and watching the sunset together, all felt so nice. Few days later Manish felt that Pooja is ignoring him. He confronted her about her behavior. She said she wanted to end the relationship. Manish did not probe too much and moved on.

Do you think Manish did the right thing? Moving on without knowing the reason of ignorance is not always possible. If relationship is stumbling, it is better to end it on a good note instead of making things worse. If your partner is avoiding you, having a word with him or her can improve the situation. There can be some misunderstanding. However, being pushy does not help.


Is he or she ignoring me?

When suddenly there is something wrong with your partner, when you feel everything is not okay, when you start finding loop holes in a relationship and when your partner ignores you, you know it is time to do something to save your relationship. Following are signs that show your partner is trying to ignore you.

* Your partner does not answer your calls and avoid calling you back
* Your partner spends more time with friends
* Your partner avoids giving you missed calls or sending you text message
* You partner does not look forward to meeting you and gives reasons
* Your partner says that he or she needs some space
* Your partner does not include you in his or her plans anymore


What to do if your partner is avoiding you

If you are sure that your partner is avoiding and ignoring you, you need to make a move. Do not overreact, do not be overanxious, the problem with your relationship might be trivial. Once you have identified the problem, it is time to bring it to the notice of your partner. Hard as it may seem and be difficult to do but it can save you many ugly moments.


Communicate

Communication, commitment, trust and love are the characteristics of a successful relationship. If your relationship is missing even one of these qualities, it may tumble. Love is like a delicate thread and open communication is the best way to keep the bond strong. If you are feeing that your partner is falling out of love, go and talk to him. Ask him why he is ignoring you. He may keep his cell phone switched off just to avoid you. Meet him in person. Avoid discussing things over the phone, through text messages, via e-mails or through chats. Do it face to face.


Seek explanation

Tell him that you have noticed that he is avoiding you and you need an explanation. Tell him that you would not go without getting proper answers to your doubts. Do not say something that will hurt your partner's feelings. You are still together. Your partner may be going through a bad phase. He may be depressed as he got rejected in the job interview or he is hesitating to tell you something. Find out the root cause of his behavior. Life will surely get on track once again. However remember you do not have to be forceful and keep calling every minute, demanding an explanation.


Give some space

Sometimes emotions are hard to understand. Give your partner some space. Leave him alone for a few days. When he will be okay, he will get back to you. Meanwhile spend time alone. Let your partner spend time alone so he will get time to know the situation in better ways. Do not argue or blame your partner. Do not say things like, ‘you have changed' or ‘you are not the one with whom I fell in love at first sight.'It is said, that time heals. Be patient and see whether things improve.


Think again

If you have discussed the reason for his disinterest in you, if you have given him enough time, if you have waited enough to improve the situation and nothing is coming out of it, then it is better you move on. Let go. If the person is the one for you, he will come back. Otherwise that person is just not meant for you. If it is clear that your relationship is going nowhere and is on verge of break-up, do not cling to it.

Believe in yourself and have patience. Avoid explaining to your partner how nice it would be to be together. Stay calm come what may, you will be glad you did. Trust yourself and go on with life. It is not worth a person who does not need or deserve you.

Labels: Partner_Avoiding

Fear of pregnancy or childbirth


Tocophobia means fear of pregnancy or childbirth. Read on to know the causes, symptoms and cure for this phobia. There is a hope for Tocophobics.


Kasturi was terrified about giving birth to a child since she saw her elder sister going through a lot of trauma in her first pregnancy. When Kasturi's pregnancy test came positive she was happy but as her due date approached she started displaying symptoms of tocophobia, an irrational fear of pregnancy or childbirth. She used to get panic attacks whenever she thought of pain during pregnancy. Her doctor told her not to worry. Within two months she came out of her fear with help of counseling and medications.

Though adults facing fear of pregnancy know that this fear is totally irrational, they do feel panic when they think of labour pain or childbirth. Let's understand more about tocophobia.


What is tocophobia?

Tocophobia is referred to as fear of pregnancy or childbirth. We have come across many phobias such as agoraphobia (fear of crowd), zoophobia (fear of animals) and such, but do you ever heard of tocophobia?

Any one of us can be a Tocophobic. A Tocophobic woman may panic to find out that she is pregnant. The early signs of pregnancy, the actual experience of childbirth, a thought of labour pain and early period of motherhood can make a woman freak out. A Tocophobic woman is so unnerved that she will avoid being pregnant. She may have craving for bearing a child and being mother, but fear of childbirth will dismay her.


What causes fear of pregnancy?

There are many aspects related to pregnancy which can make one feel fearful. Pain during labour, lack of emotional support from husband or loved one and death are some of the common aspects that could lead to tocophobia. Tocophobia is more of psychological fear rather that biological one.

The root cause of the fear of pregnancy can be related to your past experience. A trauma that faced in the past which is related to pregnancy, labour pain or child birth could lead you subconsciously to the fear of childbirth.

Some Tocophobics even plan for c-section delivery to avoid the vaginal birth. Complications in the previous childbirth can also make a woman fearful towards pregnancy and childbirth. But in most of the cases tocophobia is due to fear of pain during labour.


Symptoms of tocophobia

Many who suffer from tocophobia think that they are alone in this quest to battle against this less heard type of phobia. You have to understand that tocophobia is an in depth fear which does not have any actual danger for mother or her child. Following are the common symptoms of tocophobia.

* Breathlessness

* Too much sweating

* Vomiting

* Dehydrated mouth

* Feeling unwell

* Excessive shivering

* Excessive heart palpitations

* Lack of ability to speak or think clearly

* Fear of mortality

* Fear of losing control

* Panic attack

* Feeling irrational and detached from reality


Treatment for tocophobia

Of course there is a hope for those who are suffering from tocophobia. Getting to know all your thoughts regarding childbirth, pregnancy, parenting, labor pain, delivery, motherhood and raising a child would help you to know your fears better. Once you identify all the concerns then you can overcome them in better ways.

Speaking to an expert like gynecologist, midwife, obstetrician or birth counselor can help you a lot to fight back the fear. Communicating your fear to experts will help you to calm down a lot.

May be, knowing the fact that woman's body is designed to give birth to a baby would soothe your fear somewhat. Browse through science journals and learn all the facts about pregnancy and babies. You will come across some facts that would fix your misconceptions about childbirth. Hypnotherapy makes use of hypnotism to let you handle the fear of childbirth. Adequate prenatal care, massage techniques and proper positioning during labour help to reduce the labour pain.

Getting emotional support of partner in the labour room will help reduce the anxiety. Talk to your gynecologist if you are experiencing excessive fear or depression about being pregnant and giving birth. Though it may take time, you will surely get over your fear.

If motherhood has struck on your door, if you are all set to welcome your baby, if you are feeling your baby kicking, if you know that it is time and water has broke, do not panic. Experiencing motherhood is the wonderful experience. Overcoming your fear is not a big deal if you think of your baby. Love has the power to subside all fears.

Labels: Fear_Of_Pregnancy

Sex Education:

Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, and other aspects of human sexual behavior. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers, school programs, and public health campaigns.


Choose a Topic:

Body Talk | ContraCeption | AIDS | Periodic Cycle | Transmitted Disease(Sex)

Body Talk
Most of us are familiar with the different parts of our bodies and have a working knowledge of what they do. But somehow, when it comes to the area 'down there', nobody's sure about the great unknown. It's a taboo subject.

Contraception:

Do you really want a child now? You do have a choice in the matter, you know. Here's how to enjoy intimate relationships without the fear of an unwanted pregnancy.

Various Forms of Contraception

What are the various forms of contraception

There are various forms of contraception, ranging from natural family planning methods which are least invasive, to intrauterine devices which require a doctor's intervention:

(a) Natural family planning methods:

These methods are based on the principle that conception can be avoided by abstaining from sex during the woman's most fertile period. The two most popular methods are the temperature method and the rhythm method. These have a very high success rate when combined with other forms of contraception.

(b) Artificial barriers:

These methods mechanically block the sperm from entering the uterus. These include condoms, diaphragms (soft rubber cup-like devices used with sperm-killing cream, inserted into the woman's vagina before intercourse), intrauterine devices or IUDs (inserted into the woman's vagina and kept there for the entire time she does not wish to conceive), vaginal insert contraceptives, etc. In addition to contraception, the advantage of these barrier methods is that they prevent the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

(c) Spermicides:

Creams, foams, jelly and similar substances with special spermicidal chemicals can be useful contraceptives. These substances are inserted into the vagina before intercourse, and essentially immobilize the sperms and make them ineffective.

(d) Birth control pills:

Birth control pills are specially designed to control the hormone levels of the
woman. These pills need to be taken daily, for the entire duration that the woman is sexually active and does not wish to conceive. If taken correctly, success rate is close to 100%, but the drawback is that one needs to remember to take it daily, else it loses its effectiveness.


How effective are these various contraceptive methods

The table below indicates that the success rates are higher for contraceptives that are more invasive:


Rhythm method 80% on average
Foam 80% on average
Diaphragm 85% on average
Condom 90% on average
Combination pill 97% on average
IUD 99%

AIDS

Did You Say, AIDS?
By Dr. Vivek Jain


HOW TO AVOID ACQUIRING HIV
(What all should you do, so as not to get infected)

Avoid sex with multiple partners or even with a single partner who in turn has multiple partners (ideally speaking stick to one single, absolutely faithful partner).
If sex is unavoidable, always wear a condom (though there is no guarantee, at least this offers the best protection) - e.g. during sex with a Community Sex worker. Other methods of contraception provide NO protection.
Avoid unnatural modes of sex (anal/ oral)
Avoid intravenous drug abuse - and if unavoidable at least don�t share needles and syringes � you can use disposable ones.
Take blood transfusions, only when you must and that too from a blood relative / friend and after getting it thoroughly tested.
Petting, Masturbation, Mutual Masturbation are the safest alternatives to sex.
Insist that your barber use a fresh blade every time he shaves / cuts your hair.
Always insist on disposable needles and syringes when taking shots.
Contact your local AIDS Counselling Centre / Government hospitals for any further clarifications.
Remember even a single act of unprotected intercourse (forget the complete act, even unprotected penetration without going the whole way) with an infected partner can lead to infection.
Note:
Active research is going on at such a rapid rate, that a few of the concepts (true at the time of going to print) might turn out to be invalid in days / months to come.
The write-up is an extremely simplified picture of the very complex disease process. The above stated points are accepted by the majority. However not all doctors/ specialists might be in agreement with all the points.