Jan
21

Pregnancy after Forty

By Shawn · Comments (0)

These days, most women feel that forties are now new thirties, and it is not too late to have babies.  However, the odds of getting pregnant are much lower as women age, and after 45, it is practically impossible to get pregnant with own eggs.  Getting pregnant after 40 can be quite discouraging and daunting task form many women as there are many misconceptions regarding starting a family late in life.  Some of the problems due to late conception could be caesarian delivery, inability to conceive due to reduced fertility, complications during delivery and so on.

Though there are several dangers and complications associated with late pregnancy, there are many women who have countered all the roadblock to have a baby in the later stages of their lives.  As per the researches, more than 40% of the women get pregnant after the age of 40, and the percentage is going to increase.  The main area of concern if trying to become pregnant after 40 is the higher chances of genetic disorders such as Down syndrome.  Dealing with pregnancy later in life leaves woman with many mixed emotions.

Some of the most common feelings of a woman are denial, fear and frustration.  Waiting to have children has some financial benefits, and working women save enough money every year for their kids, and are also more likely to return to their jobs after maternity leave, offering more financial security.  There are also certain psychological and physical benefits over the younger counterparts, and older women tend to have the healthier life-style, are more highly educated, and are financially more stable.  Some evidence also suggest that older mothers make the wiser parenting decisions, are more likely to breastfeed and provide a solid foundation to raise the family.

There are also some financial benefits associated with late conception, and researchers have found that women with more experience in the workplace before having babies tend to return to the work much earlier after the maternity leave.  Most common genetic problem is Down syndrome, and additional tests must be done to determine if the fetus has any kind of genetic abnormality or not.   There are also emotional benefits for couples who wait to have children as they are more focused on their children.  However, the fact remains that it is very difficult for women to get pregnant with their own eggs when they are in their late forties, and using the donor eggs boosts the chances of getting pregnant.

Tubal ligation reversal increases the chances of having the natural pregnancy after 40.

Dec
12

Aromatherapy During Pregnancy and Birth

By Shawn · Comments (0)

Genetic Testing During Pregnancy

The use of essential oils in aromatherapy has been used for centuries. Frankincense and Myrrh were noted in biblical times as a heavily useful meditation fragrance. It is well known that using essential oils can help alleviate a lot of the aches and pains that come with the day’s stress and anxiety. Although the term aromatherapy is now used, it did not become a common term until the 1920’s.

The main ingredient in aromatherapy is the essential oils. Essential oils are extracted from various plants that contain therapeutic effects. The extract is removed, distilled, and bottled in pure form. They are highly potent oils, and they need to be diluted before proper use as an inhalant or cream.

There are a variety of ways to use the essential oils. Before choosing, you should research and study which essential oil is best for your condition. Test the fragrance to make sure there are no allergies. Place a small amount of diluted solution on your skin to make sure that it will not cause any skin irritations.

Place a few drops in a bath and relax your mind and body. Preparing a warm bath and diluting essential oils in the bath can relieve you from mind fatigue. It is incredibly relaxing which is important for an expectant mother. They can also help relieve the aches and pains from your muscles or the tension from the day’s events. If you prefer to take a shower, place some droplets behind the drain where the oil can have time to dilute. The warm shower water will dilute the oil leaving an incredibly soothing fragrance.

Although many essential oils have individual benefits, there are also good combinations. Certain combinations of key essential oils can provide a more potent way to treat mental issues and emotional imbalances. They can also help you regain memory and get rid of irritability.

Essential oils are also great for massage use. Tiny droplets diluted in massage oils can enhance a massage by relieving tension in muscles and helping soothe sore aches and pains. Use the oils on the temples, forehead, and scalp creates a relaxing effect that removes headaches and leaves your mind refreshed and clear.

Pregnant women are prone to hormonal imbalances that cause stress and anxiety. Aromatherapy can be used to help pregnant women relax and help balance their emotions. Small amounts can be placed in bath water or in a vaporizer to inhale the therapeutic scents. Below is a list of essential oils that will help you relax during your pregnancy.

Lavender

Lavender is a restoring fragrance that helps relax the mind. It can put you in a euphoric state of rejuvenation and clear your mind from the day’s stress. It is also said to strengthen contractions.

Chamomile

This oil is a mild fragrance that calms the mind and the body. It is best for irritability and anxiety. Used in moderation, this fragrance can help you relieve stress and deal with emotional imbalances.

Neroli

Neroli is an essential oil that helps with depression. It removes the negative thoughts from your mind and helps you relax. It can also help with insomnia and other stress related illnesses.Stress is one of the leading causes of insomnia.

Bergamot

Bergamot is an effective mood enhancer that also helps you deal with depression. It will clear your mind and the citrus scent uplifts your spirit.

Dec
12

Baby Gender Prediction: Fact or Fiction?

By Shawn · Comments (0)

Many people are wondering about baby gender prediction these days since of course scientific and medical intervention has made so many health related issues much easier to manage and control. While “old wives tales” about baby gender prediction may still abound – calculating the woman’s birth date versus the Chinese lunar calendar or believing that the baby will be the same gender as the more active partner during sex – it’s best to consider some more accurate and more reliable methods with scientific backing.

Some think that the way a woman is carrying her child is a good means of baby gender prediction. Many think that boys tend to sit higher in the belly while girls sit lower. This too is not really accurate as often the way a woman’s belly develops during pregnancy is going to be influenced by her own body shape rather than the child’s gender. A woman that is shorter or that has a shorter torso may find that the baby sits lower in the belly simply because there is not much room for it to develop anywhere else. Taller women may find that the baby sits higher simply because it has that much more room. Of course there are many other factors that influence the size and shape of the belly during pregnancy and this too cannot be considered an accurate baby gender prediction method.

The only seemingly real method of baby gender prediction is based on the fact that the sperm containing the Y chromosomes for boys tend to move faster but die quicker than the sperm containing the X chromosome for girls. However the Y chromosome sperm seem to die quicker than the X chromosome sperm. Many believe that for baby gender prediction you should lie still after intercourse for a boy as this will allow that sperm to reach an egg to fertilize quicker. For a girl you should consider have intercourse a day after ovulation as the Y chromosome sperm may then die off before they reach an egg whereas the longer-lasting X chromosome sperm have a better chance of lasting long enough to reach that egg.

Remember though that there is no guaranteed method of baby gender prediction. All the techniques and tricks in the world cannot and will not control what goes on in a woman’s uterus, so be prepared for a baby of either gender no matter what you try.

Dec
12

Best Tips for Conceiving a Boy

By Shawn · Comments (0)

Are you trying to find a way to conceive a boy? There may be some families out there with a house full of boys who may want to sit you down and ask you if you really know what you’re getting into, but of course boys are a wonderful blessing to any family and for any reason. Maybe you already have a boy in the home and want a younger brother for him, or you have girls and want to have the experience of raising a child each gender. So what are some methods for conceiving a boy and do any of them actually work?

There is no method that will leave you absolutely certain that you will have a boy. The sex of a baby cannot be promised even by scientists. But there are some things that perhaps give those “boy sperm” a better chance at fertilizing the egg than their female counterparts.

When thinking about the methods for conceiving a boy remember that the “male sperm” don’t have as much longevity as the “female sperm.”" This means you need to give them a better chance at survival by creating a more optimal environment in the vaginal area. You need to insure that your akaline levels are correct by testing your pH level with a kit that is available at most pharmacies. {Avoid acidic foods such as citrus fruits as too much acid is believed to kill sperm prematurely.} These methods for conceiving a boy require you to keep record of your menstrual cycle as your ph readings and levels depend on it. It’s also believed that better methods for conceiving a boy mean having intercourse closer to when you’re ovulating since this sperm won’t last as long and so needs a better chance at reach an unfertilized egg as quickly as possible. Knowing when you’re ovulating is vital, so make sure you are checking your body with an ovulation kit, as well as keeping track of your menstrual cycle.

Remember that this will only increase your odds of having a boy slightly and what nature and god gives you is what you get and should be happy with. {Conception is something that just cannot be controlled by the parents no matter what they try.}

Dec
12

Calculating Your Baby Due Date Is Easy

By Shawn · Comments (0)

It’s not always easy to work out an accurate baby due date, especially if it’s the first time you’ve been pregnant. However it should be possible to work out the date of your baby’s birth to within a week or so of the actual date. Here’s how to do it.

A normal pregnancy will last for an average of 40 weeks. This calculation is always taken from the first day of your last normal period and not from the conception date, because it’s hard to be sure when conception actually happened. As long as your periods are regular, this will tell you when your baby is expected.

There is an easy way to calculate this. Simply add 7 days to the start of your last period and then add 9 months. To make this even easier, there are pregnancy calculators on line which will calculate this for you.

Not not every pregnancy is going to last for exactly 40 weeks. Babies are often born prematurely (less than 37 weeks) or late (after 42 weeks). If your periods are very irregular, calculating a baby due date is a lot harder. There is a test called a pregnancy ultrasound which can help.

If you are going to have a pregnancy ultrasound to find out your due date, it need to be done between 6 and 12 weeks to be accurate. This is a non invasive procedure using sound waves to produce a picture of the growing baby. An ultrasound operator can calculate the baby’s gestational age by measuring certain body parts, for example the circumference of the baby’s head.

A pregnancy ultrasound can also determine any abnormalities such as ectopic pregnancy, where the fetus has lodged in the fallopian tubes, or placenta praevia where the placenta obscures the neck of the womb. Ultrasounds can also find potential health problems with the baby.

Is there a problem when your baby is premature

The chances are much better today for a preterm birth (before 37 weeks). Paediatric care has come a long way in the last 10 years. Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks have an almost 100% survival rate.

Having said this, it’s still best if your baby can go full term. Premature infants can be exposed to greater infection risk and respiratory issues. How can you lessen the chances of a preemie baby?

Pregnancy and alcohol don’t mix so please don’t drink alcohol or smoke while pregnant. Make sure your food intake is nutritious and sufficient to maintain both you and your baby. Avoid getting into stressful situations and last but not least, ensure you get a prenatal checkup frequently to make sure your pregnancy is progressing normally.

So working out your baby due date let’s you be organized for the birth of your baby both physically and emotionally. If you’re experiencing difficulty in calculating when your baby is due, your obstetrician is sure to be able to help.

Calculating Your Baby Due Date Is Easy