Blogging Pregnancy

Postpartum Depression and Stress
Recently I had three babies in three years. Throughout each pregnancy I felt largely upbeat, although tired. I never had any difficulty however, with depression during or after my pregnancies.

Now that I have three children under three, I am finding my schedule more hectic than ever. I am juggling the three kids, working part-time and pursuing my MBA online through Andrew Jackson University.  I will be the first to tell you that takes much energy.

No small feat! Amid being so busy, it is sometimes easy to not pay attention to your own physical body and needs. Who has time to rest when the kids need dinner, the house needs cleaning and work needs to be finished? Of late, I noticed some sneaky symptoms of depression I decided to seek care for.

Signs of Depression
Depression sometimes sneaks up on people unexpectedly. Many times depression creeps up on unsuspecting moms even months after they give birth to their children. This is why they often do not recognize the symptoms as possibly related to their pregnancy.

What are some common signs you may suffer from PPD or a related condition? Here are a few examples:

• Crying that lasts days on end for no reason.
• Persistent feelings of sadness or the blues that do not resolve.
• Suicidal thoughts.
• Negative or harmful thoughts toward yourself or your baby.
• Depression that interferes with your ability to carry out normal tasks, including work tasks or your ability to care for your children.
• Inability to concentrate that may detract from work or your studies.
• Feeling hopeless or helpless.
• Poor motivation and poor concentration.

Fortunately, there is much help if you or someone you know suffers from this problem. There are natural remedies some people use to help treat forms of depression, including stress relief. Many moms find starting their own home business a terrific way to help reduce their stress and relieve some of the burden associated with working and taking care of young children.

In severe cases some mothers may need prescription medication intervention.  Sometimes prescription medication works well when used as adjunct therapy for patients interested in using holistic healthcare practices. 

The good news is most people can learn to distress their lives, balance their career and still enjoy all that parenting, pregnancy and life has to offer.

On August 24th the federal government decided to let women age 18 and older buy the controversial “morning after pill” over-the-counter.

The reaction from women is mixed. Some feel the ruling is a benefit to women who are at risk for unwanted pregnancy and who may be too embarrassed to get contraception from a clinic. However, it also presents the opportunity for people to acquire (more easily) and potentially abuse the morning after pill. (more…)

Boys and girls alike are just as much at risk for contracting HPV. Because of this, researchers are just now acknowledging the potential benefits of vaccinating boys and girls against HPV, even though previous recommendations focused on providing only women with HPV vaccines to protect against cervical cancer.

The new vaccine provided by Merck & Company, Gardasil, may be useful for protecting men and women alike against human papilloma virus. In June the U.S. FDA licensed a new vaccine targeting women between the ages of 9 and 26 at risk for human papillomavirus or HPV. The reasons for this include the increased risk of cervical cancer associated with exposure to HPV virus in women. (more…)

 Are you one of those people that has trouble getting off the couch to exercise? A new study reveals even “sedentary slugs” can benefit from starting an exercise program later in life. Scientists conducting a study at the University of Ulm & Heidelberg, Germany found that former “couch potatoes,” or those who had little exercise history, can reduce their risk of heart disease by more than 50% in many cases by starting an exercise program later in life. These promising results proved true even for people starting an exercise program for the first time after age 40.

This groundbreaking study involved more than 300 patients with a history of coronary heart disease and more than 400 without between the ages of 40 and 68. The researchers also found that study participants remaining active after initiating a physical exercise program were less likely to be diagnosed with serious ailments including heart disease later in life. (more…)

Your medical history: 

 Some women have medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, seizure disorders and other medical conditions that can cause problems during pregnancy. A pre-pregnancy check-up will get your started off on the right foot. Your doctor will have a lot of questions. Use the following to organize the information your doctor requires to plan for the safest, healthiest pregnancy possible.

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