Bipolar Disorder: The Shared Mental Illness of a Mother and Daughter

Last Updated on Sunday, 16 October 2011 01:21 Written by Natural Health Team Sunday, 16 October 2011 01:21

Health Information about Bipolar Disorder: The Shared Mental Illness of a Mother and Daughter

“Annette’s” struggles began at age 14, when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It was at this time, that her mother, also suffering from this illness, committed suicide. When she needed friends the most, she was ostracized by her schoolmates once they learned of her illness. Throughout her life she had the loving support of her father and sisters.

Annette’s 26 year struggle to take control of her illness was sidelined numerous times due to repeated hospitalizations. For this reason, it took her 10 years to earn her Bachelor’s Degree. Her efforts to be independent were also impacted by her illness costing her to lose employment several times.

In 2001, Annette sought help at a community mental health organization. As she started to manage her symptoms, her work hours and responsibilities were increased. She was doing well until 2003 when she relapsed and was hospitalized four times in an eight month period. It was during this period that she learned self-help techniques to gain control of her illness–and she’s never looked back.

Once back at work, she worked part time in the mental health center’s outpatient and day treatment program. Now that she has her life on track, she shares her personal experience with clients and works hard with them to help them understand that they too can gain control of their illness.

In just five years, she went from consumer to a full time mental health worker (case manager) at the community mental health organization. She has been struggling with bipolar disorder for 26 years yet she never gave up hope. Her compassionate and heartfelt message to others with mental illness is, “If I can do it, you can do it too.”

Bipolar disorder is a disorder of the brain that can result in drastic changes in mood and personality. Nearly 6 million adults, roughly 2 and 1/2 percent of the population, suffer from bipolar disorder. Although there is currently no cure for bipolar disorder, it can be treated and individuals suffering from bipolar disorder can lead relatively normal adult lives under the proper care.

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Weekly Pregnancy Calendar – Almanac For Every Mother To Be

Last Updated on Friday, 7 October 2011 05:27 Written by Natural Health Team Friday, 7 October 2011 05:27

Health Information about Weekly Pregnancy Calendar – Almanac For Every Mother To Be

A weekly pregnancy calendar is a manual that records the journey of the fetus from conception to birth. It expounds in detail, the pregnancy week by week development that the fetus should achieve in the mother womb. The pregnancy calendar also gives the details about the changes that occur in the mother body and tells how to cope with these changes. This information can help the would-be-mother to ascertain that the fetus is growing in a healthy manner and her pregnancy is safe. Hence, every mother-to-be must possess a pregnancy week by week calendar to keep track of the milestones that the growing fetus achieves every week. Nowadays, there are numerous websites from where you can download these pregnancy calendars for free.

A Look At The Pregnancy Calendar

A weekly pregnancy calendar generally follows a forty week schedule. The calculation of the calendar is very simple. The LMP i.e. the last menstrual period date is the first day of the pregnancy calendar. Forty weeks from the date is the due date. Here, it has to be noted that only in very few cases, the baby is delivered on the due date. Generally any day after the 37th week is safe, because the baby would have attained full development by the 37th week.

A pregnancy calendar generally makes the following information available.

1. The growth and development that the fetus must achieve in each week of pregnancy,

2. The physical and the emotional changes that the mother-to-be undergoes and coping with these changes,

3. Nutritional requirements and exercises for a health pregnancy,

4. The do and do not during the nine months.

In a nutshell, a weekly pregnancy calendar is an excellent reference guide for every anxious would-be mother. It helps her to understand every change and emotion that she would be undergoing through the forty weeks of the pregnancy wheel. It helps her to keep track of what is going on in her womb every minute. The calendar helps in alleviating her anxiety and comforts her.

Maintaining Your Own Weekly Pregnancy Calendar

You can also make your own pregnancy calendar. It is very simple. Once you know your LMP and due date, you can yourself start maintaining the physical and emotional changes that you undergo on a weekly basis. You can compare this with any standard pregnancy calendar to assure yourself that everything is well.

Advantages Of Maintaining Your Own Pregnancy Calendar

In addition to the above mentioned benefits, maintaining your own weekly pregnancy calendar has some apparent advantages.

1. You can use the calendar as a jotting notepad to record your queries, doubts and apprehensions. This will be useful in future appointments with your doctor.

2. The pregnancy calendar is particularly useful in the third trimester of pregnancy (week 26 to week 40). In this final trimester, there are many changes happening in the mother body. The would-be mother will then find the pregnancy calendar handy. With the help of a good calendar, she can identify if her contraction are true or false and if there is a need to consult the doctor.

3. A religiously written pregnancy calendar will be very useful for the doctor in case any emergency arises in the course of delivery.

4. You can use your weekly pregnancy calendar to understand your future pregnancies better.

This is “pregancy yoga with Esther Ekhart and Jess”, 9 MONTHS PREGNANT Jess shows the routine she’s been doing every day.

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Which is the Best Age to Get Pregnant? Teenage Pregnancy, Being a Young Mother or Being an Old Mother ?

Last Updated on Monday, 3 October 2011 11:28 Written by Natural Health Team Monday, 3 October 2011 11:28

Health Information about Which is the Best Age to Get Pregnant? Teenage Pregnancy, Being a Young Mother or Being an Old Mother ?

Women are blessed with the enviable power of delivering babies. Almost every women dreams of getting pregnant and having a baby of her own someday. Pregnancy, however, is not an easy thing. Having a child growing inside can lead to many complications and changes, which a woman needs to be ready for. The most crucial thing to keep in mind here is the fact that delivering a child post pregnancy is not the end, but a new beginning. Being able to raise a child and ensuring him/her a good childhood and rewarding future, is as much important as childbirth.

This does bring up a thoughtful question, what is the best age to get pregnant? There cannot be a definite answer to this, as it is subjective and differs from woman to woman. Various factors which need consideration prior to making the decision include – fertility, financial resources, stability in life and career, physical health and readiness to become a parent. Pros and cons of getting pregnant in different life stages of a woman are discussed below.

Cases of teenage pregnancy have been growing and that too at an alarming rate. According to reports, in the United States alone, about half a million teenage pregnancy cases have been occurring every year. This is probably the worst age to get pregnant. Chances of premature delivery, below par weight of child at birth and death at birth are very high when teenage mothers deliver babies. Also, mothers are at a risk of pregnancy complications and are known to get affected by high blood pressure or anemia.

Teenage mothers not only lack in physical abilities while giving birth, but are also financially and emotionally unprepared. Girls in their teens are careless and usually refrain from any prenatal care. They could also be drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes when pregnant, endangering the life of the unborn baby. No girl wants to get pregnant this young and therefore almost in all cases it is a result of careless behavior. This is enough testimony to the fact that they are not at all ready to have a child.

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Physically, the best age to get pregnant is anywhere between 18 to 25 years. This is because women are in the prime of their fertility process during these years, thereby reducing chances of complications during pregnancy. For women looking to start a family, being a young mother is the best option. Compared to older mothers, young mothers are better off when it comes to meeting various physical demands related to child raising.

The biggest disadvantage in this case is the comparatively low financial resources a young mother is likely to have. Especially for women with low salary and savings, it becomes even tougher. Careers also get affected as pregnancy and child-raising need the mother’s maximum attention. Certain lifestyle changes and compromises are also on cards, like no more long vacations, night outs and private time with partners.

Many women consider 30s to be the best age to get pregnant and raise a child. This is so because till then women are more or less settled in life with a strong career, adequate financial resources, have spent quality time with their partners and most importantly are emotionally ready to start a family and embracing parenthood.

However, the largest disadvantage in this case is the issue of diminishing fertility in women. Post 25 years of age, chances of a women conceiving a baby start declining gradually. After 35 years the chances take a massive hit and post 40 reduces to half. Postponing pregnancy can also get physically challenging. Progesterone (an essential hormone for getting pregnant) production is low in older women and therefore chances of them getting naturally pregnant are less. Cases of unhealthy babies being born have been noticed as well.

It does not mean older women can never deliver healthy babies. It is possible through proper health care during pregnancy, under strict medical supervision.

Ideally, it is up to the woman to decide what is the best age to get pregnant for her. There are advantages and disadvantages at every stage and all aspects need to be thought upon before taking the plunge. Looking around or speaking to people will prove the fact that women can get pregnant at any stage and have healthy babies delivered. Consult a doctor to get all detailed information regarding pregnancy, which will help in deciding the best age to get pregnant.

” Who Else Wants To Get Pregnant Quickly and Naturally and Give Birth to Healthy Children Without Drugs or Surgical Procedures?

and Give Birth to Healthy Children Without Drugs or Surgical Procedures?

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