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| The Importance of Kegel and Pelvic Floor Exercises For All Women by Keira Benson
| | Tips For Conceiving in Your Forties - Increase the Chances of Conception by Francine Parker
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| This article applies to ALL women.
Those of you who've had children by caesarean section or are childless might well be thinking, 'Oh, I don't need to do those!' but you'd be wrong.
The pelvic floor muscles are located between your legs, and run from your pubic bone at the front to the base of your spine at the back. They are in the shape of a sling and hold your bladder and urethra (the tube from which the urine comes) in place.
These muscles give you control over your bladder and are used to urinate. They relax at the same time as the bladder contracts (tightens) in order to let the urine out.
When it's at its best, one of these muscles, the pubococcygeus (PC) or "love" muscle, helps a woman to have strong and lasting orgasms.
But with age, pregnancy, and even lack of sex, this pelvic muscle can weaken. Over time, your body's natural muscle tone deteriorates. Things become less elastic. The tissues expand but don't return to their previous tension.
Once you hit the Menopause, irrespective of whether your body has undergone the strains and stresses of pregnancy and childbirth, those signs will really start to kick in.
Suddenly, you feel the need to pee more often. If you jump or sneeze, you may start to notice the most fractional loss of control and subsequent leakage.
When you are making love, your body no longer experiences the sensations so keenly. The more intense orgasms occur less frequently. Urinary tract infections flare up more often and you may become aware of hormonally-related personal dryness.
Most frightening of all, slack pelvic floor muscles are the main cause of prolapsed womb in women, and there is evidence that regular kegel and pelvic floor exercises avoid the need for unnecessary hysterectomies, an operation which is becoming increasingly common in these days of obese lethargy.
However, if you start to exercise your kegel and pelvic floor muscles routinely, that grim future can be prevented and any current problems can be alleviated and improved.
In a survey conducted for the UK Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies series, a large percentage of British women were found to have impaired pelvic floor muscle tone, whether they were mothers or not.
There are two ways of addressing the issue. You can work those muscles manually with a regime of exercises designed to work the pubococcygeus muscle and surrounding tissue. These are known as PC exercises, Pelvic Floor exercises or Kegel exercises after Dr Arnold Kegel, the gynaecologist who originally developed them.
The regular performance of Kegel and pelvic floor exercises has been proven to help in the treatment of vaginal prolapse and the prevention of uterine prolapse in women, as well as improving problems with bladder and fecal incontinence and poor sexual response.
The problem is that many women who work on their Kegel and pelvic floor exercises are doing them incorrectly and so there is no improvement in muscle tone.
A more proactive alternative is to invest in an insertable internal aid. There are balls and cones that you grip whilst you are doing your kegel and pelvic floor exercises. But there are also battery-powered stimulators with pre-set programmes that are designed to focus on urge, stress or general tone-up. These can do the job with or without your input. However, the best results are always obtained if you grip with your internal muscles each time they stimulate a muscle contraction.
Whichever method you choose, exercising on a regular basis has been shown to improve the quality of the muscle tone around your bladder, vagina and anus. Issues with incontinence are alleviated and sexual activity becomes more pleasurably intense.
As the old adage goes, 'Use it or lose it' and the huge benefits of improved pelvic health through regular kegel and pelvic floor exercises are no exception.
About the Author
Keira Benson wants to share everything she has learned about improved pelvic fitness. To use it or lose it manually, visit: http://www.kegelandpelvicfloorexercises.com To enlist the aid of the various devices on offer, go to: http://www.tightenmyvagina.info
| | The bad new is that as we age, the less fertile we become and this applies both to men and women. However, with men, there is no clear cut off point but as far as we women are concerned, as we approach the menopause we often become acutely aware that time is limited.
The good news though is that providing you have not reached the menopause, conceiving in your forties could be possible and most of us know of women either personally or in the media who have managed to achieve more than one pregnancy since reaching the age of forty.
A woman has had her eggs in her body since before birth and as time goes on, they naturally deteriorate so by your forties, the quality of your eggs is likely to not be as high as it was when you were in your twenties. However, there are a number of things you can do if you are looking at conceiving in your forties.
Most women in their twenties and early thirties are likely to conceive quickly and easily without a thought to what they need to do to improve their chances as the truth is they generally need do nothing. With the woman's fertility at its peak, it often doesn't matter if other areas are overlooked as with regular intercourse, a pregnancy is very likely to occur.
The first thing you can do to help with conceiving in your forties is to precisely pinpoint the day of ovulation. A woman will ovulate 14 days before the menstrual period and even if your periods are still regular and you feel that you are sure of the day you will be ovulating, I would strongly recommend that you make use of an ovulation predictor kit as this eliminates any doubt. Once you have established when you are ovulating, have intercourse two days before, on the day of ovulation itself and for two days following.
Another simple tip is to avoid using all perfumed products around the vaginal area, particularly douches and perfumed sanitary products as these can upset the natural balance and be hostile towards sperm.
For any woman, general good health is important when trying to conceive and this is essential to give yourself the best possible chance of conceiving in your forties. One particular area to focus on is your diet. You should ensure that you are taking in all the essential minerals, vitamins and trace elements and you may wish to consider supplementing your diet, particularly with selenium and zinc.
Equally important is thinking about what you should avoid. Harmful substances such as alcohol, illegal drugs and cigarettes should be avoided at all costs. In addition, if you are taking any prescription medication it is sensible to check out whether these could have any adverse effect on conception. A recent case in point is that of Zoe Ball, a relatively famous UK DJ who has been trying for a baby for 8 years. She is absolutely convinced that she conceived as a direct result of she and her husband giving up alcohol altogether.
There is a holistic system which has been clinically researched over 14 years and which guarantees to help couples become pregnant quickly. Containing secret natural infertility cures, powerful techniques and the step-by-step holistic infertility cure system which is all you will ever need to permanently eliminate infertility within weeks, most women will become pregnant within 3-4 months.
This "no stone unturned" system does not use drugs or surgery and has no side effects. However, it is powerful and potent and comes with a 100% guarantee. If you are looking at conceiving in your forties, time is of the essence and this guide has specific advice tailored to help.
To see further details, please visit How To Fall Pregnant Fast .
About the Author
As a writer on female health issues, I was introduced to "Pregnancy Miracle" through a journalist friend who had done an article about the astonishing results couples had had when following the advice.It took me 9 months to conceive my daughter, but I remember it seeming like forever at the time. Therefore, any help to speed up the process is usually welcomed by couples-especially a tried and tested product like this!
The Truth About Pregnancy and Fish Oil Revealed by Rich Hawkins
Pregnancy and fish oil are a great fit, helping both mother and baby and even the EU now recommends a daily supplement to ensure the correct development of the baby. Here are the main benefits and tips on selecting the right supplement. With research gathering pace in the last few years, the overwhelming benefits of taking a quality DHA omega 3 supplement daily has been proven beyond doubt, with very special benefits for pregnant and nursing mums. The reasons why pregnancy and fish oil go hand in hand are down to the two important omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. DHA is the one that is responsible for most of the benefits, especially for a baby's development. Research has shown how these oils can lead to babies with much higher IQ's and less incidence of any behavioural problems, and also recent studies from Australia show improved hand-eye coordination, verbal skills and better overall comprehension. It is worth noting that our adult brains are composed of nearly one third DHA omega 3 fats, and indeed fish oils are greatly beneficial for all of us, reducing the risks of many fatal diseases and helping to save thousands of lives each year. For the mother, a healthier pregnancy can be achieved along with a reduced risk of premature birth and a reduced chance of suffering from post natal depression. The EU recommends taking at least 200mg of DHA per day during pregnancy and breast feeding, as the body cannot make it, it must come from our diet and with 85% of pregnant mothers being deficient in omega 3, pregnancy and fish oil consumption are essential. The capsules must be pharmaceutical grade and have undergone molecular distillation to ensure their purity and your safety. This process simply separates the impurities out leaving only pure concentrated oil. Any quality oil will provide information on the batch of fish it came from and the purity levels. Another thing is to make sure the DHA levels are the higher than the EPA ones, as most on the market will only have high EPA levels as it is cheaper to make. Look for 200-250mg of DHA per capsule to fully benefit. As a guide, the Hoki fish from the pristine waters of the Southern Ocean of New Zealand provides some of the highest DHA and purity levels of any species. I hope this article on pregnancy and fish oil has shown you the amazing health benefits to be had by both mother and baby, and that you make a point to include it in your daily routine. If you would like to learn more about the high quality DHA fish oil supplements I personally take daily, visit my website today.
About the Author: Discover more about pregnancy and fish oil today. Rich Hawkins is a dedicated researcher of nutrition, diet and the amazing health benefits of high-quality fish oil. Discover the very latest and effective omega-3 fish oil supplements Rich recommends after extensive research.
What to look for when Buying a Baby Car Seat by James Mason
One of the first things that parents to be should be doing is looking for the best baby car seat possible in which the new addition to their family can be placed when travelling. Parents should always remember that baby car seats are what protect the child travelling in them if the vehicle is involved in some kind of accident. So when looking for baby car seats parents should be selecting those that meet certain safety standards.
For quite some time parents did not have much choice when it came to baby car seats, but in recent years we have seen quite a number of changes. As parents will now discover there are many different makes and models all with features that are designed to ensure that the child is kept safe whilst they are placed in them.
So what should parents of a new born baby or child be looking for when it comes to them purchasing a baby car seat? Below we offer some tips that could prove helpful and ensure that they select the right kind of baby car seat for that important new member of the family.
1. The first feature to look for is a five point harness which has in recent years replaced the three point versions. These latest harnesses help with ensuring that the child remains secure in the seat whilst travelling. Also this type of harness is one that reduces the risk of them being ejected from the seat if the vehicle in which they are in is involved in an accident.
2. When looking to buy a baby car seat the next thing the parents need to look at is what type of protection the seat offers to their child's head. Unfortunately as you will soon discover the head protection offered by some baby car seats is not as good as in some others. Ideally look for those where EPS foam or a similar material has been moulded together in several layers to provide the head protection.
3. When looking at baby car seats parents need to find out what sort of mechanism is used to secure it in the vehicle. In most cases the seats used for carrying babies and children come with a clip that attaches to the seatbelt in the car. Ideally this should be a clip that can be locked in place and which in turn will ensure that as the vehicle is travelling the seatbelt cannot come loose.
For parents who feel that they will find it hard to ensure that the baby car seat is clipped in properly they should go for those baby car seats which are fitted with built in locking clips. These clips unlike the other types to be found on baby car seats ensure that a tight grip is retained on the seatbelt at all times.
Above we have looked at the important features good quality baby car seats should have to ensure that the child remains safe and secure when in them. But you also need to look closely at the seatbelt system in your car before making your purchase. If you are at all unsure about what sort of baby car seat would be best to have in your vehicle your local car dealer or supplier of car parts may be able to recommend one to you.
About the Author: A car seat for your baby is a very important item and it is certainly worth taking some time to see which one is best for your child. MyBaby are an online retailer of baby car seats and are more than happy to offer help and advice when you are choosing a car seat.
Baby Sign Language - A Tool For Early Communication by Ian Creaser | | Best Sources For Breast Feeding Information by Eddie Lamb |
| Baby Sign Language is a gesture-based form of communication used with hearing pre-verbal babies and toddlers. It is an exciting way for parents to communicate with their children before they can talk. Parents communicate with their children through body language and their knowledge of their child's behavior; Baby Sign Language is an extension of this natural behavior and bridges the gap between guessing what your baby may need and knowing what your baby needs. As parents, we all wait with excitement for our baby's first smile, first word or first step. Baby's communicate with their parents through the only means of communication they know, which a lot of the time involves crying. If a baby is hungry it will cry, wet diaper, cry, and tired, yes once again cry. Knowing what your baby requires is very important, and all parents strive to be the best parent they know how to be. Baby Sign Language allows parents to take the guesswork out of communicating with your baby. By the age of 6 moths, babies are reaching for objects, giggling, recognizing their parents in a room full of people and able to start using Baby Sign Language. It's very exciting knowing that your little baby, who relies on you for everything, can let you know exactly what they need through the use of simple, body language based communication such as Baby Sign Language. A question often asked by people is whether or not Baby Sign Language will delay speech in a baby, and the answer is a definite no. In fact, it is the exact opposite. Studies have shown that children who have used Baby Sign Language have developed speech at a younger age and have an increased IQ level. By encouraging your baby to use Baby Sign Language, you are teaching not only a word, but also using your hands to explain the word. By doing this you are ensuring that your baby is using both sides of the brain in a very important stage of human development. The studies have also shown that by the age of 3 that children can be at least 12 months ahead of children who have not used Baby Sign Language. Have you ever seen a pre-verbal toddler throw itself on the floor of the supermarket, screaming and crying? Your first thought maybe "I wonder why that child is doing that?" If that child was able to communicate exactly what it needed to it parents, do you think it would be throwing itself on the floor having a tantrum? By the age of 6 months, babies will start to communicate back to their parents using Baby Sign Language. Your baby's first word does not have to be verbal; it can be a Baby Sign. Signing with your baby every time you are communicating encourages your baby to mimic your movements and tie the word into the gesture. As a parent you are the most important learning tool a baby can ever have. Baby Sign Language will ensure that the frustrations of both parent and baby are minimal through a basic understanding of needs. Baby Sign Language is now used in households and child care centers worldwide. As parents, if we can reduce the frustrations of our baby's, and ease the pressure on ourselves, it's a win for everyone involved. Children develop and learn so quickly, what an amazing opportunity Baby Sign Language gives parents and baby's to bridge the gap of communication. About the AuthorIan Creaser is the Author and Company Director of Toddler Interpreter. Toddler Interpreter specializes in Baby Sign Language products including Books, Posters and Complete Learning Packs. Toddler Interpreter Baby Sign Language Products can be purchased online from http://www.toddlerinterpreter.com | | Women who are breast feeding crave information, especially in the early days of the process. Breast feeding information, both good and bad, is extremely prevalent on the Internet. Not only that, but new mothers receive information also from their friends and family. This advice about nursing is not always the best, and sometimes scares new moms from trying to breast-feed. It is important that new moms are armed with the best breast feeding information before they start. This will ensure that they do not get discouraged and give up without a fight! Internet Sources One of the best sources on the Internet for breast feeding information is KellyMom. This site has been designed and is written by a lactation consultant who believes completely in what she preaches. She breast-fed her own babies and now wants to educate other mothers to do the same. There are some great sites, such as JustMommies that offer forums for breast-feeding moms. This is a great place to get breast feeding information and encouragement from other moms who are in the process of nursing their babies. Who else truly knows what nursing is like! Books There are several great books out there that contain great breast feeding information. Books may not be practical for the mom who already has a baby, but they are a great source of information for an expectant mom who is interested in the natural way to feed a new born child. The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins is a very helpful resource. Also, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding offers moms advice from the La Leche League. The Breastfeeding Cafe is an entertaining book that tells real-life breastfeeding stories while providing advice from real moms. Lactation Consultant For those who need face-to-face support while nursing, they should turn to a lactation consultant for breast feeding information. Most hospitals have full-time lactation consultants. The lactation consultant's only job is to provide information and support to mothers who wish to nurse their babies. If you decide to use a lactation consultant, keep in mind that they may be a little expensive, especially if they come to your house, but it is worth the expense if there is a problem you cannot figure out. If so, then turn to a lactation consultant. La Leche League Finally, the La Leche League is one of the best groups to join to receive up-to-date breast feeding information. Most communities have a La Leche League. Breastfeeding moms meet a few times a month to discuss their questions and concerns about nursing. Many moms make life long friends from the La Leche League.
About the AuthorEddie Lamb provides an abundance of information on a range of topical subjects. This article Best Sources For Breast Feeding Information, is just one of a host of useful articles about Breast Feeding listed on our site map at Breast Feeding Awareness. |
ARE YOU A PARENT OR PARENT TO BE?
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT OUR NEARLY NEW SALES?
The Stroud Valleys Branch of The National Childbirth Trust organises regular Nearly New Sales, four times a year. Two of them are for baby & children’s clothes, equipment and maternity wear and the other two are for toys and equipment. The sales are immensely popular: Not only do we sell quality second hand clothes, really useful equipment and a fantastic variety of toys & books at bargain prices but there is also a little café area serving delicious homemade cakes and free parking. All sales are held on Saturday mornings at Minchinhampton Primary School, Cambridge Way, off Dr Browns Road from 9.30-11am. We are always looking for sellers; if you are interested in selling, you must register. Please send a cheque for £2.50 payable to ‘Stroud Valleys NCT’ to: NCT Sale, Old Well Cottage, Hay Lane, Horsley. GL6 0QD with your name, address and phone number and you will be sent a registration pack including official seller’s labels. For enquiries please email nearlynewsalenct@hotmail.com. or check the NCT website www.nct.org.uk. Come and experience the sales for yourself – early entry with NCT membership card!
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