Pregnancy Blues/Dealing with Acne and Stretch Marks
Pregnancy is unarguably one of the best phases in a woman’s life and they joy that an expectant mother feels while being pregnant with a baby is inexplicable. However, the ways in which pregnancy hormones work is quite unpredictable and most women suffer from mood swings and pregnancy blues. Other not-so-pleasing results of being pregnant are acne and stretch marks.
When you are pregnant your androgen and progesterone levels are enhanced and this results in your oil glands working overtime. This results in outbreak of acne. So, if you are suffering from acne outbreak during your pregnancy you will have to treat it in such a way that it does not affect your baby.
Firstly, you must avoid all the prescription medications that are available in the market to treat acne. Topical and oral medicines for treating acne can be teratogenic, which means that they can potentially harm the fetus. If you want to use medication for acne, always consult your gynecologist first.
Second, use topical medicines that have glycolic acid. It has been seen that glycolic acid is safe unlike salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide during pregnancy.
Remember it is always better to treat acne naturally while you are pregnant. You can apply crushed mint leaves on the pimples. This will reduce the inflammation. You can also mix rose water and lime juice together and dab it with a cotton ball on the pimples. This will not only reduce the swelling but will also fight bacteria. Appling aloe vera directly from the leaf to the pimples will help in treating them.
A lot of women also suffer from stretch marks during the months of their pregnancy. These marks occur when your skin is stretched beyond its elasticity and when you are pregnant these marks are likely to appear on your stomach, breasts, thighs and hips. If you want to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy or get rid of them then it is essential to keep the skin moisturized. You can apply cocoa butter on your stomach and breasts to avoid as well as reduce the stretch marks.
Eating well will mean that you have healthy skin. So, to avoid stretch marks follow a healthy diet.
Improving Your Motherly Skills/Tips And Guides
Being a mother comes naturally to most women and after giving birth they just know instinctively what is good and what is bad for their babies. However, a little help is never harmful and if you are a new mother who has given birth just a couple of weeks ago then you will surely cherish a bit of guidance and a few tips.
Being a mother especially for the first time is extremely overwhelming. However, you will need to come to terms with the overwhelmed feeling and stay abreast with the reality. You must see the bigger picture and always consider the well being of your baby first.
Firstly, you will have to understand that you will learn the skills of being a mother through the trial and error method. Every baby is different and there are no set rules for taking care of them. It is only with time that you will learn to understand your baby’s needs and wants.
Secondly, whether or not you want to breastfeed your baby is completely your decision and this in no way defines you as a mother. Breastfeeding is only a small part of your baby’s growing up and if you choose not to breastfeed then you can easily give your baby formula food.
Third, there is no set time at which your baby will fall asleep every night. You baby tries to learn this skill and you must not force your baby to sleep at a particular time. The same rule applies when the baby grows up a little and starts learning to sit, walk and talk.
Fourth, motherhood is a full time job and you may not feel up for it all the time. So, you can take some time out. In fact, taking some time out is absolutely necessary. Spend some time by yourself and just relax.
Know that whatever challenges you are facing at the moment will pass. The obstacles that you face while taking care of your baby are just a small part of the process.
Always keep in mind that as a mother you will grow and evolve with your baby and you must be ready to adapt to changing situations.
How To Avoid Breastfeeding In Public
The month of August is recognized as the Month of Breastfeeding and breastfeeding in public is a civil right in several countries across the world. However, it has been seen that despite all the campaigns most women are far happier to feed their babies at home rather than in any public place. A survey where 3000 mothers were questioned about breastfeeding in public revealed that one out of every four mothers is not warm to the idea of breastfeeding her baby in public.
If you have given birth to your son recently and are not very keen to breastfeed him in public, for whatever reasons, then you will have to know how to avoid breastfeeding in public. Mothers usually breastfeed their babies in public when they sense that are babies are hungry. So, if you want to avoid breastfeeding in public, you will have to make sure that you son is not hungry before you leave home with him.
If your baby cries just a few minutes before you leave home, you will have to see whether he is making sucking motions with his lips and opening or closing his mouth or not. If he is, then in all probability he is hungry and you should breastfeed him before you step out of the house. Babies also pucker their lips and stick out their tongues while crying if they are hungry; so you will have to watch out for these signs as well.
If your baby is sleeping while you are preparing to take him out and you are not sure whether he is likely to be hungry or not, watch his eye movement. If he is hungry then his eye movement will be rapid.
If you baby is still less than six weeks old, it is always advisable to feed him every two hours. This will ensure that you baby is never very hungry and also make sure that you do not have to breastfeed him in public when you go out with him.
You will have to remember that even after following these steps your baby might feel hungry while you are in public. And in such cases it is always better to feed the baby than shy away!
Tips For Single Moms Gaining Self Confidence
Being a single mom is a tough ask and it has been seen that there are times when single mothers lack self confidence and feel that they are not doing a good job with their kids. Yes, as a single mom you will face challenges but if you are able to gain self confidence then facing these challenges and overcoming them will become a whole lot easier.
Here are a few tips that will help you to become a confident single mother:
For starters, never beat yourself up and think that you are not doing your job well. There are a lot of single moms who pressurize themselves unnecessarily and always feel that people are constantly judging them and seeing how they fare. What you need to do is focus on the successes that you have had as a mother and take stock of the failures and strive to do better. Motherhood is a trial and error method and there are never foolproof ways of handling kids. Always stay positive.
Secondly, single mothers need to keep finances in mind. Being a good mother does not mean always giving your children everything that they ask for. You must know when to put your foot down. Know how you should go about the family budgets if you want to save money to send your kids to college. When you know that you are financially stable enough to send your kids to good schools and colleges, you will automatically gain self confidence.
Third, to become confident you will have to focus on the things that you can give and not on the things that you cannot. You may not be able to give whatever your kids demand but you need to understand that grounded and happy kids come from homes where there is a healthy and loving environment. So, you will have to ensure a healthy environment at home so that your kids grow up to be good human beings. Knowing that you are raising good kids will boost your self confidence manifold.
Lastly, believe in yourself and strive to achieve the dreams that you have for yourself and your children.
Fever Symptoms in Children
People who take care of children need to be continually educated, guided and reminded of all the fever symptoms that can occur in those first fragile years. Even as the child grows beyond the first decade of life, there is plenty of information that needs attention again. For first time parents, families and for those who think they know all they need to know, here is a refresher of important facts in order to keep alert and manage any situation properly.
Fever symptoms and high temperatures in children are caused by lack of sleep, allergic reactions, eating problems, various foods, irregular bowel movements, a rash and/or a recent vaccination. Physical activity, heavy clothing, a high room temperature, high humidity, a strong emotion like a tantrum and non-stop crying can also cause fever symptoms. Children may also be unwilling to move an arm or a leg.
Still, a fever fights in favor of children’s health and not against them. It is a signal or a warning that their small bodies are fighting an infection. Infections and bacteria thrive best when the temperature is normal at 98.6 F (37 C). Other names for fever are Hyperthermia, Elevated Temperature and Pyrexia. Children and adult temperatures can change during the day and increase to higher measurements in the evening.
However, the measurement for fever in children is a different range than adults. It is time to call the doctor when an infant under three months old has a temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher. From three months until one year, a high fever is 102.2 F (39 C) and from one year until two years of age a pediatrician must be notified immediately if the fever endures for a day or two days. Older children can last for three days before medical assistance is mandatory.
A parent or guardian has several ways to measure fever in both infants and children. The rectal thermometer must show a temperature of 100 F or higher for fever. A mouth or oral thermometer will indicate a running fever at temperatures greater than 99.5 F and a temperature taken from the arm is 99 F or more.
Some serious infections do not cause fevers or cause very mild ones. In these cases, the simple home remedy of drinking lots of water and rest is considered the best way to fight bacteria or infection. Other known remedies for even high fever are to decrease room temperature, remove excess clothing or blankets, make a bath of lukewarm water or turn on a fan for ventilation. Lowering fever can also be done by Acetaminophen or Children’s Tylenol and Ibuprofen like Children’s Advil or Motrin. Usually the dosage depends on the child’s weight and not only the age. Consult a physician especially if the situation worsens.
If the infant or child cannot awaken easily or does not awake at all or if the lips, tongue or nails are blue, it will be necessary to take the child to the emergency room at the nearest hospital and call the pediatrician at the same time. Do not give children with fevers sport drinks or too much fruit juice. Do not at anytime try to manage the situation alone.
Most fevers can be managed by parents and pediatricians. With the advice of a doctor, liquids such as water, popsicles, soup, gelatin and a lot of bed rest can give infants and children the best of care.
How to Pick Yoga Clothes for Women
Yoga clothes are very important accessories in yoga practice especially for women because yoga clothing also reflects one’s personality. One should dress appropriately and it should depend on what style of yoga she is going to practice. By this, she will have self-confidence.
Wearing very tight clothes is not recommended while performing yoga. Her clothing must ensure her to concentrate well on her poses and postures and she won’t feel discomfort and uneasiness, so she will be distracted in doing the yoga exercises.
Fitting clothing during yoga practice will prevent one from moving the limbs freely, which causes her to lose concentration.
Looking beautiful and sexy is not a requirement while doing yoga. It’s not the main objective of wearing yoga attire. The most important is how the yoga exercises are executed. The yoga session or class is not intended for fashion show. The performer must also wear underclothing which fits her well.
Slacks and loose fitting T-shirts are advisable. She must avoid wearing heavy and thick pants. Avoid clothes which are made from nylon, silk, chiffon and other synthetic materials. They don’t absorb sweat. One hundred percent cotton is the best material for yoga practices.
Clothes are one of the accessories used to finish and complete the different position in asana yoga. So, women should choose comfortable clothing. They shouldn’t pull or pinch at one self because they will cause distractions during the class or session. Relaxation and peace won’t be attained if one is distracted.
Comfort should be taken into consideration in choosing yoga clothes for women. Yoga consists of many body movements. Tight and loose clothes are not recommended because they may create problems in movements. In choosing clothes for women, choose clothes that will fit perfectly to the women yoga performers. They can also stretch. Easily when needed
Perspiring is very common to all yoga styles one must wear clothes that will absorb excess sweat. Pants shouldn’t be too long. They should be able to stretch together with the performer because of lots of bending.
The following should be remembered in choosing yoga clothes for women: style, cut, color and fabrics and it is also important to wear clothes which have tummy control. Yoga clothes for women can easily be found online or in stores which vary in colors, textures, styles and sizes.
The best way to know if one is choosing the appropriate yoga clothes is to ask somebody who has experienced practicing yoga because she can tell which yoga clothes fits her.
