Pregnancy – The Good, Bad, and Ugly

Without doubt, pregnancy is an incredible miracle, a time of huge change as a new human being is being created. Being able to conceive, carry a healthy child, and then give birth is an experience that is hard to describe. This life growing in your womb is a blessing and for many women, the entire pregnancy is easy or with few problems.

Typically, a pregnant woman will see her pregnancy as a life-changing time, a time of new life. Women become very protective, knowing they now have a very important responsibility of raising the child in a loving and safe home. During the pregnancy, there are special moments between mother and child as she feels the fetus kicking and moving about. This intimate moment cannot be compared to any other life experience.

There are many special aspects of pregnancy but one is the special glow that soon-to-be moms have. People see a difference in appearance as the woman carries this special bundle around inside her body. Even the reaction received by other people while pregnant is different. For instance, people will offer to carry groceries, open doors, run errands, and so on. Being pregnant offers times of pampering, which women love. Since the pregnancy will only last for nine months, we suggest you enjoy the royal treatment while it lasts.

Along with all the good aspects of being pregnant, there are also some challenges. Fatigue and discomfort are common, especially as the pregnancy progresses so the woman will feel tired and find it difficult to do things she did one month before. There are also huge mood swings as the result of hormonal change. With this, a pregnant woman may awaken on Monday feeling fantastic and then on Tuesday become extremely difficult. The most common symptom of pregnancy is morning sickness, which causes nausea and often vomiting.

Every pregnant woman has a different experience but no matter what you might be faced with, the key to happiness is to keep your focus on the delivery of your precious baby. Interestingly, most newborns are not cute. They have wrinkled skin, crunched up faces, and sometimes, cone heads. However, after a few days pass that all goes away and you can now look into the eyes of your beautiful son or daughter. Most new moms agree that they cannot even remember or imagine life prior to the baby. Even if the pregnancy were difficult, all the bad memories simply fade away as this beautiful creation is held close.

There are many excellent books, e-books and guides that you can read so that you know what to expect during this special time, and also how to prepare for the birth and caring of your baby.

Learning about the Different Signs of Pregnancy

Although there are many different signs of pregnancy, if you think you might be in this position, it is important to get confirmation. A pregnancy test can be purchased at your local drug store or you can go directly to your doctor. Even with an over-the-counter test that comes out positive, you should have this confirmed by your doctor. Today, home pregnancy tests are affordable and developed to be highly accurate.

Even though the home pregnancy tests sold today are much more accurate than they were 10 years ago, they can still produce inaccurate results. For this reason, if you have missed a menstrual cycle or are experiencing morning sickness and your home pregnancy tests comes back negative, see a doctor. This way, more thorough and accurate testing can be performed.

The pregnancy tests used by the doctor include a urinalysis and blood test. Of the two, the blood test is the most accurate, often identifying signs of pregnancy that a urinalysis would miss.

Women who have already been pregnant recognize pregnancy relatively easy but for first time mothers, the symptoms can be overlooked. Even if you have a slight idea that you might be pregnant, do research so you know all the different signs to look for. After all, pregnancy has very distinct symptoms that are easy to identify. Examples of pregnancy symptoms include heightened sense of smell, fatigue, nausea, and mood swings. In the case of smell, foods that were once favourites now smell so rank that it can bring on a bout of nausea and vomiting.

If you are experiencing one or more of these pregnancy symptoms, then having a test done to confirm the condition is critical. If you are in fact going to have a baby, then obviously decisions going forward would not only be for your health but also the health of your child. This is the ideal time to make lifestyle changes to include no more alcohol or cigarettes, both habits that can have a direct impact on the health of the child.

Your doctor will have all types of pregnancy information so you understand better what is happening with your body, symptoms that you will likely experience, and the development of the fetus. The sooner you can gain knowledge about your pregnancy the better off you and the baby will be.

Typically, the doctor will schedule an appointment to see you on a monthly basis during the first three months of pregnancy. Once you get into the second trimester, the schedule will go to every two weeks and then the closer you get to your delivery date, weekly. Keeping each appointment is very important, allowing the doctor to educate you further while also keeping track of you and your baby’s health.

What to Expect in the First Three Months of Pregnancy

The first signs of pregnancy will typically appear in about two weeks but during the first three months, you will begin to notice all types of changes to the body and emotions. Known as the first trimester, this is one of the stages of pregnancy when the majority of changes occur. The one thing we want to remind you is that while feeling nauseated, tired, and uncomfortable are common, every pregnant woman has different symptoms and different intensities of symptoms.

It is important to understand the different changes occurring so you have a better idea as what to expect. In this article, we will go through the most common complaints of pregnancy, as well as tips for managing them.

Morning Sickness

During your first two weeks pregnant, the hormones in your body are going through major changes. You will find that foods, perfumes, and even environmental smells that you normally like now become repulsive. In fact, many pregnant women agree they get very nauseated and even vomit because of the heightened sense of smell.

Of course, there are other causes of nausea, one being the pressure being placed on your digestive system due to the stretching of the uterine muscles and growing size of the fetus. What happens is that there is a higher production of acid that can be pushed upwards, resulting in nausea and vomiting.

There are some positive things you can do to help reduce the effects of morning sickness. Now, there are some women who never have nausea or have only a slight problem – how fortunate. For the pregnant women who have intense problem, being nauseated 24 hours a day is a very serious problem.

Keep in mind that while you deal with morning sickness during pregnancy, most often the feeling of nausea will disappear at about the 12-week mark. Morning sickness is the most common pregnancy symptom so if you are faced with this problem remember that you are perfectly normal.

You can do several things to lessen the intensity of pregnancy morning sickness. For starters, instead of eating three large meals a day, switch to six smaller meals. This way, the stomach is never empty so increased acid is not as much a problem. In fact, experts agree that one of the triggers for morning sickness is not having any food in the stomach. Since you go all night without eating, we recommend you keep bread or crackers on your nightstand and then before even getting out of bed, munch of a few.

This symptom of pregnancy can also be controlled by eating the right foods. While pregnant, you need to increase the amount of starchy foods, breads, and proteins consumed. You are going to gain weight during pregnancy and while you want to be careful, when dealing with certain pregnancy symptoms, weight gain should be the last thought. Typically, eating a little food will make a huge improvement in the way you feel so during the first weeks pregnant, keep your focus on feeling good and not so much on weight gain, which you can worry about after the morning sickness passes.

Food Cravings

Everyone has heard the story of a pregnant woman craving pickles and ice cream but do not laugh. While pregnant, you will have some of the strangest food cravings such as this. For instance, there will be some women who have a very powerful craving at 2:00 in the morning for strawberry shortcake or she may want liver and onions, something she would normally never eat. Although strange, do not be afraid to indulge in these cravings, as this is a very normal part of pregnancy.

Swelling and Tender Breasts

Another symptom of pregnancy noticed early on is changes in your breasts. They will become very tender and sore and even swell. This happens because progesterone and estrogen levels increase, which means more milk, is being produced by hormonal changes and thus, swelling and soreness.

You may also notice that the area around the nipple called the areola becomes darker and larger. In some pregnant women, the breasts will also develop tiny white bumps and experience blue colored veins that can be enlarged in order to handle the additional blood supply needed when breastfeeding.

While some pregnant women will only experience swelling and soreness in the first few months, others have this symptom throughout the entire pregnancy. To ease some of the discomfort, we recommend you invest in a good support bra, one that will help with the added weight of the breasts.

Short Breath and Fatigue

Two other pregnancy symptoms include shortness of breath and fatigue. Trying to live a normal job, working, or going to school while pregnant can be physically difficult, which then affects the emotions. Even though getting more rest than normal might be challenging, it is important you work your schedule so you can rest. Typically, the overwhelming sense of fatigue is only during your first weeks pregnant but this symptom can last longer.

Rest is very important when pregnant so even though hard on some days, do all you can to get six to eight hours of good sleep. In addition, taking several short naps during the day can also alleviate some of the pregnancy fatigue.

In addition to naps, even eating a well-balanced diet can fight off pregnancy fatigue. If your body is getting the nourishment needed with minerals and vitamins, not only will you have more energy but you are also doing something good for the growing baby. During your pregnancy, your doctor will have you take prenatal vitamins, which really help but if fatigue becomes too much of a problem, the doctor may put you on other supplements and vitamins to help.

Other pregnancy information pertaining to fatigue has to do with exercise. Light to moderate activity actually boosts a person’s energy level so consider walking, yoga, or swimming. Of course, before you get involved with any exercise or physical activity, talk to your doctor to make sure it would be safe for your pregnancy.

Irritability, Mood Swings, and Emotions

Every pregnant woman deals with these symptoms to some degree. Remember, the hormones in your body are going through rampant changes so breaking out in tears for no apparent reason is common and normal. Sometimes, just having a good crying spell will make the pregnancy easier to handle.

Being Lightheaded

Next, when pregnant, your heart is doing a lot more work than usual. The heart needs to push blood throughout the body in a more effective way to ensure the fetus is getting what is needed so having bouts of being lightheaded is expected. However, if you are not eating the right foods and six small meals throughout the day, you might also have a problem with blood sugar levels dropping. This too can cause dizziness and is usually resolved after eating a meal.

Frequent Urination

The final pregnancy symptom we want to address is very common and also annoying. As the baby grows, the bladder is pushed on, which means when you go to the bathroom, it becomes harder and harder to completely empty it. This means as you go about your day, you will have a frequent urge to urinate even though only a small amount will come out. Unfortunately, this is a pregnancy symptom that cannot be avoided so understand this is just a part of being with child.

One tip that some pregnant women find helpful is to lean forward as far as possible when going to the bathroom.

Each of these pregnancy symptoms is common although each woman will have a slightly different experience and level of intensity. Additionally, while one pregnancy may involve having all the listed symptoms, others only have a few.

Being pregnant is hard on the body and the mind, which is why now more than ever, you need to take good care of you. Make sure you never miss an appointment with your doctor, eat a well-balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids, get daily exercise, and if necessary and with your doctor’s approval, add supplements and vitamins to your daily regimen.

Possible Causes of Morning Sickness

Although there are a number of signs of pregnancy such as breast tenderness and a missed menstrual cycle, morning sickness is the one that most women notice first. In most cases, early pregnancy symptoms such as this will appear in about two weeks from conception. With this, a woman will feel nauseated first thing in the morning although some women feel sick during the afternoon and even at night. Because morning sickness usually happens in the morning, many women will simply overlook it as being a sign of hunger.

There are some pregnant women who never have morning sickness at all but the majority will have some degree of nausea. In some instances, morning sickness is severe causing vomiting that can lead to dehydration. Studies have shown that women who have had problems with migraine headaches or motion sickness are at greater risk for experiencing morning sickness while pregnant.

There is a lot of debate as to the actual cause of this pregnancy symptom but most experts believe it has something to do with the hormonal changes that occur. Another pregnancy symptom that may or may not occur is heartburn, also known as acid reflux. In this case, hormone changes n the first weeks pregnant cause a higher level of acid and then in the third trimester, the added pressure on the diaphragm is believed to be the culprit.

Many doctors also contribute pregnancy morning sickness to the fact that women carrying a baby have a heightened sense of smell. Therefore, smells that would normally not bother them now become overwhelming, thus causing nausea.

Even being tired, overwhelmed, and stressed is believed to cause this pregnancy symptom. After all, if you were to ask 100 women if they felt tired during pregnancy, all 100 would say yes although the severity would vary.

Although most pregnant women will only have morning sickness during the first three months once hormone levels settle down, there are some women who experience this throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy.

If you are currently pregnant, chances are that you have a mother, grandmother, aunt, and friends who have offered a ton of advice. Some of the older generation often offer home remedies or family medicine to make the morning sickness go away but you need to listen to your doctor since every pregnancy is unique, even among families. Yes, there are some old remedies that can do wonders but there are also modern day medicines that work well too.

To decrease the level of nausea felt early in the morning, we suggest you keep crackers by the bed and before getting up, eat a few and allow them to settle. If you still work while pregnant, keep a few light, non-greasy snacks in your desk. The key is to keep something in your stomach at all times so the increased acid level does not build too high.

Many pregnant women swear by sucking or chewing on crushed ice. Even carbonated drinks such as soda have a calming effect on the stomach. You might also try tea for this pregnancy symptom, choosing things such as chamomile, green, or root ginger tea. Most often, these teas are not only calming on the stomach but they are also great for helping you relax.

As long as your doctor approves, you can also take over the counter medications for motion sickness. These are generally safe for pregnancy and they work quite well.

No pregnant woman wants to deal with morning sickness but this is a normal symptom. Although morning sickness can make you feel miserable, the baby is unaffected. Now, in the case where you cannot keep food or fluid down, you need to talk to your doctor. With this, you could easily become dehydrated, which would affect both you and the baby. A sign that you are seriously dehydrated is having dark urine with a very powerful odor. If you notice this, call your doctor right away.

Morning sickness and pregnancy usually go hand-in-hand but by keeping something light in your stomach, getting adequate rest, and drinking lots of fluid, you can keep the nausea under control. Pay attention to your body while pregnant and remember that morning sickness will pass. At that time, you can begin to focus on eating a well-balanced diet, one that will get you through your pregnancy and help the development of your precious baby.

Taking Proper Care of your Body While Pregnant

All through life, a healthy lifestyle is important but when pregnant, it can mean the health of you and your baby. To ensure you are doing everything possible for you and your unborn child, it is important to understand what it takes.

Unfortunately, many pregnant women do not get good prenatal care, something you need to make sure you get. This would include regular visits with your doctor to ensure everything is going according to plan. Your first doctor’s visit while pregnant will be around six to eight weeks. At that time, the doctor will check your health, making sure there are no risks and checking your week by week pregnancy progress. The doctor would also confirm your pregnancy due date. From that time forward, you would have once a month visits until you reach the 28 weeks, switching to bi-weekly appointments until week 36. Then, you would visit your doctor weekly until the baby arrives.

Proper Nutrition

It is critical that you get proper nutrition during pregnancy. The foods you eat should be high in vitamins and minerals and there are even some foods to avoid. Eating right will help you feel better, have more energy, and deliver a healthy baby. The calories that go into your body should be good calories, not from foods with no nutritional value. Keep in mind, because you are feeding two, your caloric intake will increase. After all, the baby is going to use a lot of nourishment during the pregnancy so you need to make sure you and the baby are getting everything needed.

Each pregnant woman will have different calorie needs. For thin women or those having a multiple birth, the number of calories being consumed would obviously be greater than someone of average weight and carrying only one child. On the other hand, if you are overweight, you still need more calories than usual but you will need to be careful not to gain too much weight during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor so a good nutritional plan can be devised.

The growth and development of your baby will be impacted by what you eat. Therefore, be sure your diet is well balanced, including fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains.

A misconception is that good food tastes bad. The truth is that good food can taste delicious, it is easy to make, and even easier to incorporate into your pregnancy. Of course, while proper diet is very important for pregnant women, particularly for breastfeeding this is something every person should consider. As mentioned, stick with lean meats, whole grains, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and only low fat dairy. These foods are high in nutrients that will keep you healthy while pregnant and benefit the baby.

Additionally, with pregnancy, you need certain foods that will provide high levels of calcium, iron, and folic acids. These essential nutrients are essential for the pregnancy and to ensure you get the level needed, your doctor will get you started on prenatal vitamins and in some cases, may prescribe additional supplements.

One of the most important nutrients is calcium. Typically, a non-pregnant woman would take 1,000 milligrams daily but while pregnant, you need an even higher dose. This will stop bone loss, help with the development of breast milk, and give your baby strong bones.

The great thing about calcium is that it comes in so many different forms. The most common is with yogurt, milk, and cheese but you will also find that soy milk, orange juice, kale, spinach, broccoli, dried beans, cereal, tofu, and almonds also contain calcium.

Iron is another area that pregnant women need to be aware of. This is used for making haemoglobin, a necessary substance that makes it easier for red blood cells to carry oxygen to the various parts of the body. During your pregnancy, you need to take between 27 and 30 milligrams daily to avoid a deficiency. If you do not get enough iron while pregnancy, red blood cells will die, which means vital organs and tissue are being deprived of oxygen.

The best source of iron is in meat. However, you can also boost the level of iron while pregnant by eating eggs, tofu, dark meat poultry, salmon, spinach, dried fruit, dried peas, beans, and even iron fortified cereals.

We now want to address the need for folic acid during pregnancy. Most doctors will recommend you get no less than 0.4 milligrams daily and if needed, a supplement can be taken to ensure you are getting the level required for you and the baby.

A tremendous amount of research has been done on nutrition and pregnant women and what has been discovered is that a woman that consumes folic acid one month prior to getting pregnant and then in the first trimester of pregnancy has a lower risk of neural tube defects. In fact, these studies have shown the decrease to be as great as 70%. This tube forms in a pregnancy’s first month, usually a time when the woman has no clue she is with child. Over time, the neural tube is what forms into the baby’s spinal cord and brain. Therefore, if the pregnant woman has a folic acid deficiency during these critical times, the baby is at higher risk of being born with spina bifida.

Fluid intake should also be increased throughout the pregnancy. While carrying a baby, blood volume increases and fluid is needed to help manage this increase. Additionally, most pregnant women deal with bouts of constipation and dehydration, both problems that are easily managed with increased fluid intake.

Finally, every pregnant woman should exercise unless her doctor has advised her not to. Actually, exercising and being physically active during pregnancy has a number of benefits. For instance, this will keep excess weight from being gained, constipation is less a problem, the woman has more energy, mood swings will not be as drastic, she will have an easier pregnancy and delivery, and her recovery time will be much less.

Other benefits of getting exercise while pregnant include better sleep. Most pregnant women agree that as the baby grows, finding a comfortable position to sleep becomes harder and harder. The less sleep the woman gets the less energy she has. However, exercise does help with sleep and with increased energy levels.

Just remember, eating a healthy diet, incorporating about 30 minutes of exercise into the daily regimen, drinking more fluids, and getting proper sleep will make the pregnancy much more enjoyable. This will also make the delivery of the baby easier and the recovery period shorter.

The Importance of a Healthy Diet During Pregnancy

A healthy diet is important for everyone but when it comes to pregnant women, especially critical. While pregnant, it is vital that you eat the right foods for your sake and the sake of your unborn child. After all, the very foods you consume are also going into the fetus’ system. This means that when you eat, you must consume vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that will make your pregnancy easier and produce a healthy baby.

For one thing, during the different pregnancy stages make sure you never skip a meal. Each meal is very important to you and your baby, especially breakfast. You have gone all night without nutrition and now at the start of a new day, you and your baby need food. Remember, when you go hungry so does the growing baby inside your tummy. Interestingly, morning sickness, a common symptom of pregnancy, is a sign that you are not getting proper nutrition.

Not only do you need to eat, but foods high in nutrients. For instance, calcium is very importance during pregnancy, keeping your bones strong and helping develop strong bones for the baby. Add milk, yogurt, cheese, and different types of leafy green vegetables, which are loaded in calcium and other nutrients. Experts suggest you eat between four and six servings to maintain health.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are also imperative for pregnancy. In this case, sweet potatoes are delicious and loaded with vitamins, as well as antioxidants, which are known to help with inflammation. As you go through each day of the pregnancy, you will have more of an appetite so when you reach for a snack, choose your foods wisely, those that will encourage healthy growth of the baby and boost your own energy.

Just as you need certain foods while pregnant to keep you and your baby healthy, there are also foods you should never eat since they can be harmful to your child.

Examples of foods to avoid while pregnant would include:

• Any foods unpasteurized, which are commonly found in soft cheeses such as brie and even milk purchased directly from a dairy farm.
• Fish to include shark, tuna, and swordfish contain high levels of mercury
• Uncooked eggs
• Meat, pork, and poultry that has not been thoroughly cooked
• Caffeine such as soda pop, coffee, and of course, chocolate

Every woman’s pregnancy is slightly different so before you start adding or eliminating food from your diet, talk to your doctor. This way, you will have a firm understanding of foods considered healthy for you and your growing baby, as well as foods that could cause serious problems. If there are foods you cannot eat or you have trouble digesting, your doctor might recommend you take a supplement to ensure you are getting all the needed vitamins and minerals for a healthy pregnancy. Any time you have questions or concerns, your doctor should be your first source of information.

One of the most annoying symptoms of pregnancy has to do with an increased sense of smell. This means that while pregnant, some of the foods you normally love will now have a smell that is appalling.

Although easy, pregnancy is not the time to consume a lot of fast foods, which are processed and greasy. Not only do these foods provide little nutrition, they also lead to nausea, especially in early pregnancy stages. Sure, you can have treats and fast food on rare occasion but the goal is to make the primary focus of your diet on healthy, fresh foods. If you get a craving for something sweet, instead of going for a chocolate bar, make a delicious smoothie using strawberries, banana, yogurt, low fat milk, and even a little fresh spinach or carrot.

Along with a well-balanced diet, you will also require more fluid intake during pregnancy. The best solution would be water but fluids in general need to be increased. Again, avoid caffeine and of course alcohol.

Keepsake Baby Gifts Recall Wonderful Memories

Unfortunately, babies, just like puppies, only remain so for a very short time. Even when parents are fully prepared to see them grow faster than imaginable, it always seems as if they do so much faster than expected.

Keepsake baby gifts make the time that they are so small a lasting memory and prized possession because of this short-lived period. Parents always treasure these types of baby gifts that allow them to reflect and cherish the memories of how their babies once were. These treasured baby gifts will last a lifetime, and even be passed down to the child in later years.

A great keepsake gift for a baby is a practical coin bank fashioned as a pewter train. Not only will it store and teach the child about the importance of saved money in the future, but it presents the perfect opportunity to add decorative flair to a little boy’s room. The lasting craftsmanship will serve as a memento in the future of a time when the child was young and innocent, opening the door to a flood of memories.

Pewter is both durable and beautiful, and also makes a lovely keepsake bowl and spoon baby gift set. Decorated with butterflies, it is a wonderful decorative accent in any room. This may also become even more special as a personalized baby gift by engraving the bottom of the bowl with a unique message.

Scrapbooking is a popular hobby today, and the same idea is applied when giving a baby memory book as a baby shower gift. These may be decorated in pink, blue, green or yellow, and are accented with a lovely ribbon to tie it closed. Both fancy and practical, these memory books are designed to create a template for mom and dad to record and store every milestone and memory of the baby’s first years.

Every baby loves a rattle, and this is a common item associated with the little ones. However, a pewter-fashioned rattle offers a keepsake and personalized baby gift. Parents love to remember the earliest years of a child’s life when prompted by the sight of this gift that will literally last a lifetime and then some.

Another unique baby gift that becomes the ideal keepsake in later years is the Irish guardian angel doll. As a symbol of the invisible layer of protection we wish for every baby, this doll will bring a smile to the child’s face armed with the luck of a four-leaf clover. A poem is also included in the baby gift set that will become a special source of comfort for mom and dad after baby has grown.

Keepsake baby gifts are the ideal way to help the new family to create memories and be able to recall them in later years. These gifts are always special and appreciated, unique and long-lasting. Virtually any gift can become a keepsake, with personalized messages or a special added touch that speaks directly to mom and dad.

Opting for the Best Massage Chair

Massage therapy is extremely beneficial to health and no one disputes it. However, everybody may not be able to fit in a massage therapy session into his busy schedule. For others, the cost of a massage therapy session may be the inhibiting factor. At least a partial solution to this problem can be found by opting for chair massage therapy. In this, an automated massage chair allows a user to experience much of the comforts and benefits of a normal massage. And when you opt for chair massage therapy, you can do it at home or anywhere you choose, because even portable massage chairs are available.

A massage therapy chair can offer immense health benefits to you. Its robotic action massages the tissues of the back and improves the movement of fluids in those areas. A chair massage therapy also helps in dilating blood vessels and thereby increasing circulation. Massage chairs, whether they are a human touch massage chair, or ijoy massage chair, also facilitate the removal of body wastes as well. The healing benefits of massage chairs are also substantial. Injuries sustained by soft tissues heal fast by undergoing chair massage therapy, and so does contusions and swellings. Massage chairs are great stress relievers as well. Some of the better known massage chairs that help in stress relieving are shiatsu massage chair, homedics massage chair, panasonic massage chair, human touch massage chair etc.

While buying a massage chair, there are many things to be taken into consideration. It has to be one that you feel comfortable in, irrespective of whether its massaging properties are good or bad. Then check out its massage facilities and decide whether these are suitable for you. Some massage chairs does intensive massage while others does only very light massage. Either of these could be good for you, based upon the amount of massage that you require. However, a golden mean between these two would be the best option while choosing a massage chair. Next thing to be taken into consideration is the range of massages that the specific type of massage chair allows, be it a shiatsu massage chair, or dolphin massage chair, or homedics massage chair. Different massage chairs are programmed to do different types of massages, like foot and calf massages, back massages, or arm massages. They may also be designed to do rolling, kneading, or compression. The wider the range of motions that a massage chair has got, the better would its utility be for overall improvement of health. And a massage chair that can perform a variety of massages would be helpful for all the members of the household.

Another thing that you can look for in a massage chair is its accessories. Some massage chairs offer a leg rest that will help the user to relax better. Some massage chairs even come with a music therapy system. A shiatsu massage chair will have all options of the traditional Japanese medical system of shiatsu massaging. And there are several brands like ijoy massage chair, human touch massage chair, dolphin massage chair, homedics massage chair, and panasonic massage chair that come with a wide range of functions. As long as it suits your pocket, you can opt for any of these massage chairs.

What Can Ultrasound Testing Tell You About Your Baby?

An expectant mother has many choices when it comes to medical tests which will provide her with information about her developing baby. One of them is amniocentesis, which requires testing of extracted amniotic fluid. Amniocentesis was developed more than a hundred years ago.

Another important test is the ultrasound, which was first introduced in the sixties, but became popular much later as a form of fetal testing and diagnosis. Today, ultrasound tests also enable the expectant mother to watch three dimensional movements of her fetus!

Ultrasounds today are quite simple and reasonably priced, and are mostly part of the insurance plans that encompass pregnancy. Another name for the ultrasound process is sonography. In this process, a clear gel is placed on the abdomen, and a transmitter sends ultra-high frequency (UHF) sound waves to the uterus which are reflected back, giving many images per second thus forming a moving image. This process is similar to the Doppler Shift used in submarines, speeding devices and so on.

Ultrasound is a non-invasive technique, since unlike X-Rays, no ionizing radiation is produced which can harm the fetus. Apart from being completely safe and painless, sonography has two major advantages compared to X-Raying: the visibility of soft tissue and the viewing of the images in real time! Also, being non-invasive, the ultrasound can be done as many times as possible over the course of the pregnancy.

The ultrasound technician will start off by applying the clear gel that will prevent the sound waves from distortion at the transmitter-tissue interface due to the refractive index of air, which can lead to distorted images. The wand used by the physician generally contains both transmitter as well as receiver of the UHF sound waves.

An ultrasound test will give you results in about half an hour, whilst an amniocentesis can take up to two weeks!

If you wish, you can get the results of the ultrasound analyzed by a specialist in the field. Your physician is trained to study the images in more detail, and will be able to tell you if any sort of physical shortcomings exist in the fetus or even if there has been a problem with implantation which could lead to major concerns later.

Apart from showing the likely concerns, the ultrasound is also meant to detect the age, sex and development rate of the fetus. Showing the physical position of the baby helps the doctor determine whether the birth will be breech or normal. Knowing this helps the mother determine whether she wants to go for a vaginal delivery or a Caesarean section.

The disadvantages of sonography are that UHF sound waves get distorted in air, which is why they do not give a clear picture of what is happening in regions such as the stomach, which has quite a few air pockets. Also, ultrasounds are only clear closer to the surface of the abdomen, since they get distorted when sent through fatty tissue and bone. Thus, ultrasound testing is not very ideal for women who are obese.

Other tests such as amniocentesis can be used to verify the results of the ultrasound in case of the above limitations. These tests will amalgamate to provide much needed information about the health of the baby, which will, in turn, lead to peace of mind for the mother!

Irish Baby Gifts That Celebrate Their Heritage

Irish baby gifts offer the perfect option to celebrate baby’s family heritage and pass on the luck of being born in such a family. Even if they aren’t of Irish descent, these gifts offer a unique way to give baby a special gift that they’ll always have as a memento.

Guardian angels are needed by everyone, and every baby should have his or her own. The Irish Guardian Angel doll is small enough for play and standing among other toys in the nursery, and dons a white lace gown to compliment her delicately painted porcelain face.

Four-leaf clovers are common Irish symbols that bring luck wherever they are. One of these on a cotton bodysuit with snaps that keep it snug to baby’s body up to 9 months old brings luck to the entire family.

Remember to consider genuine Irish baby gifts from the motherland, also. Fork and spoon sets from Ireland create a cherished heirloom that will be passed down for generations to come, and commemorate the special occasion for the baby.

These sets are kept in a white satin sleeve that are just as lovely as an Irish sunset over the lake. Boxed in a special decorative container, the entire package becomes an item to keep for baby and future children. An enclosed poem outlines the fork and spoon tradition as the ideal Irish gift.

During the baby shower, an Irish gift is also customary for the new mom. White cotton corsages that surround a four-leafed clover are perfect for wear at all Irish “baby is coming” parties.

These traditional corsages are set in delicate lace within an Irish-themed gift box, and are everlasting. Tied with a green satin bow, this baby shower gift gives something special just for the mom-to-be.

Bibs are ideal baby gift ideas, as they are practical and needed items for the new baby. Linen and lace creates a great barrier for all of those messes, and is accented by shamrocks that speak to a true Irish theme and heritage. Packaged in a unique gift box tied with a green bow, this bib can even become a family treasure and heirloom.

Whether the expectant couple is Irish or not, these baby gifts that hail from Ireland herself offer a surprising option to the ordinary baby shower gifts normally received.

Everyone, including baby, will fall in love with the Irish-themed toys, clothes and gifts for mom, and even present a perfect option for an heirloom. Generations to come will treasure your unique gifts that are well planned for and classic in design.

It’s relatively simple to find baby shower gifts that celebrate any heritage, but Ireland is the most popular motherland that still produces genuine and original gifts. Simply look for ideal and practical baby gifts that attest to the Irish traditions of yesterday and today to carry them through to the next generation.

Irish baby gifts can create a fun and inviting atmosphere for baby, and also introduce new traditions to the welcoming family.

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