Becoming pregnant and healthy site

In my previous blog, we discussed morning sickness, weight gain, cravings, and smells that can send waves of nausea through you.  Now let’s speak about other things to look for during your pregnancy.

You must find a reputable OB/GYN.  The ideal way to do this is, not by running your finger through the phone book, but to speak with your friends and relatives.  Get a physician by word of mouth! I’m sure that there are wonderful physicians in the phone directory but being told, in glowing terms, of a great OB/GYN by a friend is something to really take to heart.  The can tell you about the doctor’s sense of humor, his skill and background, and also his compassion factor.  I liked my OB/GYN because she was a woman and had been through exactly what I was going through.  It’s all a individualized choice when it comes to which physician you go with.  A few tips on choosing the perfect physician for you would be: Does he/she seem rushed and hurried?  How long has he/she been in practice?  Is he/she listening to your questions and answering you directly in a fashion that you’re comfortable with?  If the answer to ANY of these questions is “No”, find another doctor–one who makes you feel that you’re the only patient that he has.  You’ll find the right mortal with persistance and family/friends guidance.

My husband always joked that he loved my mood swings; he never knew he was coming home to. *smile*  But many men have real problems with the hormone surges that produce volatile vs. crying mood swings.  They don’t understand…and they will become impatient with you, at some point.  There’s nothing you can do about them.  Both you and your husband/boyfriend need to hold on for the ride.  It is important, however, to try your ideal to enlighten your significant other to the possibility that you might be violent one minute and crying the next.  It might leave him panicky but, if explained well, he’ll be sure to enjoy your wild swings of temperment and comprehend that you don’t really have any control over them.  Mine lasted my entire pregnancy, bless my husband’s heart.

When I was about 5 months pregnant, I woke up one morning and saw a distinct brown “mask” that surrounded my eyes and part of my nose.  I had never read about this.  Of course I freaked out!  I frantically called my OB/GYN and told the desk receptionist that I was covering in a brown blotch that covered my face.  They stated that is absolutely normal.  This blight on my grappling was called “the mask of pregnancy” and it’s due to the insurgance of hormones and their ilk.  I don’t think I got a really definative answer on it, come to think of it.  But, if you have the “mask of pregnancy, take heart!  I literally disappears after you give birth–mine was gone in 48 hours after I had my son.  I didn’t have “the mask” with my daughter’s pregnancy so it’s a case by case thing.  Just know it will be gone after you deliver; it’s unsightful now but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Around my 6th month of pregnancy, I started developing stretch marks.  I was horrified!  I whined to the physician and she told me to immediately begin applying cocoa butter to them.  It helped but I still got them.  I do believe that the cocoa butter lotion helped to moisturize my belly enough so that the stretch marks weren’t almost as bad as they could have been.  After you deliver, you will still be healthy to see them but they will, with time, become less noticable.   Carrying a child is a serious business so I think about my few stretch marks as a sign that I gave life…I own the stretch marks and they will not make me feel poorly about myself.  Life was carried and given–those establish it.

Lastly, I want to touch on sleeplessness.  For the first and second trimester, I couldn’t get enough sleep.  I slept well at night and took naps periodically.  I could sleep in chairs, in cars–you study it, I’d start asleep in/on it!  However, in my last few months, I couldn’t sleep well at all.  Be it my immense girth, the baby kicking and punching me, or just that I had to pee each hour or two, a good sleep was never to be found.  This is, of course, normal.  You have to rest and cat-nap whenever you get the opportunity.  There is no magical cure for sleeplessness but I found that chamomile helped rest me, to the point of a really fine “down-time”.  Not sleep but relaxation “down-time”.  I wish that I could be more help with the sleep-factor but if you’re the size of a barn and have someone beating you up from the inside, can you really anticipate a nice peaceful sleep?

In the end, all of the trials and anguish that you have visaged for nine long months drop away.  You have a beautiful baby in your arms and it’s all forgotten.  Enjoy your pregnancy and look to the end result.  Each ache and pain, mood swing and weight acquire was worth it!  Love and peace to all of you.  Happy babies!

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Hungry Devil Chicken Sandwich (Serves 1)

Ingredients
3 slices of bread (brown or white)
2 slices of chicken salami
1 egg
Mayonnaise
Butter
Schezwan sauce
Lettuce and tomato (optional)
2 slices of cheese

Method
1. Toast the bread slices till lightly brown.
2. Apply butter to one side of two slices and both sides of third slice.
3. Apply schezwuan sauce to the first and third slice.
4. Place the chicken salami on the first slice and add cheese.
5. Place the next slice of bread on top. Double fry the egg and place it on the second slice.
6. Add mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato before closing the sandwich
7. Place your hand firmly above the sandwich and pass a toothpick through to hold in place.

Open Cheesy Pizza Sandwich (Serves 2)

Ingredients
3 to 4 slices of bread (brown or white)
Butter
Mint chutney (mint leaves, coriander, green chillies, onion, salt to taste)
1 onion
1 capsicum
2 cubes of cheese

Method
1. Finely chop the onion and capsicum and grate the cheese.
2. Apply butter and chutney generously to the sliced bread.
3. Add the onion and capsicum and top up with cheese.
4. Microwave the open sandwiches for 30 seconds till cheese melts.
5. Remove and toast on tawa and serve immediately

Mushy Mashed Potato Sandwich(Serves 2)

Ingredients
4 slices of whole wheat bread
3 tbsp butter
4 to 5 huge mushrooms in thin slices
½ capsicum
½ carrot
½ red bell pepper
2 tbsp cheese spread (optional)
1 potato
Mustard
Chili flakes (optional)

Method
1. Parboil mushrooms with salt water and cut into thin slices.
2. Finely cop the capsicum, carrot and bell peppers. Cream them into the butter.
3. Add salt, pepper and chili flakes to taste. Add cheese spread for creamier consistency.
4. Boil the potato and mash well. Add very tiny salt and pepper (optional).
5. Mix in the mushrooms and mashed potatoes with a dollop of mustard.

Everything-in-Your-Fridge [Fully Loaded] Sandwich (Serves 2)
 
Ingredients
6 slices of white/ brown / multi-grain bread
2 tomatoes
1 cucumber
Lettuce*
Leftover potato-based dry dish
French Fries* [Frozen]
Cheese Fingers* [Frozen]
2 medium sized boiled potatoes
1 Onion
Leftover fried chicken OR frozen chicken nuggets / chicken fingers
Bacon*
Salsa sauce*
Margarine*
Butter
Salt to taste
Oregano and chili flakes [Pizza Hut sachets]*
Freshly ground black pepper
Mayonnaise*
Cheese spread / cheese slices or Blue Cheese salad dressing
6. Apply butter and mixture generously to both slices and close sandwich.
7. Grill or serve as is.

Sweet and Spicy Corn Sandwich (Serves 2)

Ingredients
4 slices of bread
¼ kg American corn
Olive oil
½ onion
½ chilli
Coriander

Method
1. Boil corn with a tiny salt. Grind into coarse paste (not very thin).
2. Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté corn for about 5 minutes.
3. Finely chop onions, chili and coriander and add to the pan.
4. Apply butter and a generous amount of the corn filling.
5. Toast the sandwich and serve hot. Alternatively you could make Open Sweet and Spicy Corn Sandwiches.

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Baby Development Guide for Baby’s Eleventh Month (weeks 44-47)

Month eleven has come around and can you believe that your baby is nearly one year old! You might want to begin thinking now what you want to do on his first birthday. Be sure to have a plan for taking tons of pictures and video to capture the memories.

This might be the age at which your child starts to love water. Always practice innocuous water habits and never leave his side. If you have a pool or hot tub, make 100% sure it is baby proof so your tiny one does not accidentally start in.

Your son or daughter will also love to stand and might be very preoccupied with it. Again, make sure your home is 100% child proof. Guard stair cases with gates because he will probably love to explore the steps. A standard travel age is anywhere from nine to eighteen months.

She might take interest in clothing (and unclothing!) herself. To prevent this, try putting her clothes on inside out or backwards so the fix or buttons are on the back and out of reach for her.

Socially, he will acquire interest in pets at this age. He will think pets are toys, so use common sense to keep him innocuous and do not let pets sleep with him.
Your child might seem to be “testy” as he tries to coax you into saying “no.” He isn’t necessarily doing it to test you…he probably does it simply to get your attention.

If you haven’t already considered using a caretaker, you might be thinking about it now. A caretaker is okay (as long as they pass your criterion!) and will even help your baby learn. Even though baby might not perform tasks on demand for others, a caretaker will probably become a special friend to your baby.

A huge step has happened intellectually this month- he has learned about goal permanence. In other words, he knows that a toy he left nearby will still be there when he turns around to find it again.

She comprehends more and more each day and will respond non-verbally. For example, if she is thirsty and you hold a sippy cup in front of her, she will reach out to grab it. Or, when it is time to take and he is sitting in his high chair, he might bounce up and down repeatedly in anticipation of the food.

To help your baby develop during this time, try playing hide and seek with objects. (This will help sharpen his understanding of goal permanence.) Keep offering her a running narrative of your day so that she can hear you talk and use new words.

Another great way to promote bonding between you and your tiny one is to spend unhurried time with her. A creative way to do that would be to play instruments with innocuous kitchen items. Gather pots, pans and wooden spoons together on the floor and enjoy banging them together with your son or daughter. You will both treasure the bonding and it will be a learning experience at the same time.

For these and more great tips and for tons of parenting freebies, visit http://www.birthannouncements4baby.com/yearone

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By the general public two terms are often misunderstood; nutrition and diet. Let’s have a closer look at these two words, their meaning and how this knowledge can help us to live healthier lives.

Understanding the Word Nutrition

Nutrition is a word misunderstood by many. The word means nourishment. Nutrition can be good or bad, healthy or unhealthy. Most people think about food supplements when they hear the word nutrition; however nutrition can come from any food consumed. It is important to have nutritious meals, providing the body with all the elements it needs per day.

Understanding the Word Diet

Most people when hearing the word diet think of dieting, ie weight loss. However diet means the food eaten. Having a healthy diet or an unhealthy diet is possible. It is a choice to make; a carbohydrate based diet or a accelerator based diet. Maintaining a healthy diet is of utmost importance in order to maintain a healthy body and a healthy mind.

Let’s have a deeper degree of understanding of what lays beyond.

Healthy Active Lifestyles

Living healthy active lifestyles has become important in a world which is putting more pressure and stress on each person. Finding proper nutrition from the foods consumed is as important as maintaining a healthy diet.

Stressful lives and the tiny time taken to take or cook: it makes one wonder why not more healthy elements can be found in regular nutrition.

The food industry is an industry: this industry often chooses quantity over quality. The consumer of any food product needs to be aware of this fact.

Many companies in the health and nutrition industry produce healthy natural food supplements, which can help individuals in their diets. Supplements compensate for the demand of nutrition in normal regular diets.  Providing more healthy elements means more nourishment to the body systems. And the body will begin to perform better.

Fast Food Are Not Only The Fast Food Restaurants

Have diets changed so much? The answer is simple; “yes.” The customer requests, and the market will provide. Forty years ago there were no frozen pizzas, no microwave two minute meals, no sprayed fruits, no polluted fish, no live stock injected with chemicals to make them grow faster. All people take elements which the body does not need or even are toxifying the human body.

Cleansing the Body

Avoiding the body to be clogged up with toxic elements, maintenance becomes an important regular exercise. Maintenance is done by cleansing the intestines system on a regular basis. Fasting, can be a very powerful form of cleansing, another form of natural cleansing is the use of energizing tea; which will increase the body’s metabolism and transport toxins away from the body.

The Right Choices Make a Healthy Active Lifestyle

Think before you eat. Making the right choices in health and nutrition and maintaining a healthy diet will help the body and the mind.

Quote – “You are what you eat.”

TOP TIP – Drink at least 2 to 3 liters of fresh water each day.

Credits:

Author: Frank Amptmeijer – www.frankamptmeijer.com

Research: Franklin-Paul Blake

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