Stages of Labor/Giving Birth

Signs of Emergency

In addition to the general signs, Mothers need to know 'exit signs', in which the mother should immediately went to the hospital and call the doctor if the mother feels.

• There is a contraction in case that the mother pregnancy is less than 37 weeks.
• Mother does not feel the baby move around 8-10 hours or less than 10 movements in 24 hours.
• Contractions too painful 

The three stages of labor

In the process of childbirth, the uterus will contract and the cervix gradually opens to give way to the baby's birth. It occurs in the first stage of labor. The second stage is the stage where the mother tried to push the baby out. The third stage is when the baby is out and the doctor help remove the placenta or placenta.

Phase 1

Starting without opening until the 2^nd opening, which can last 24-48 hours, the opening of the birth canal process is different for every mother. But do not panic. Apply what Mom gets in prenatal classes with her husband. Do not forget that there are families and supportive husband beside you.

Phase 2

Starting from the opening of 3-10, it will last approximately 7 hours, if this is the first child birth mother. Its time will be reduced to 3 1/2 hours on 2^nd labor and so on. Increasing contractions, it’s generally accompanied by increasing the opening of the cervix. When the cervix is open 10 centimeters mother and baby is born, the birth mother has entered phase 2. The long process of childbirth is different for each mother. Especially when giving birth the first time. This stage can last 1 hour or more.

Phase 3

After the baby is born, there is still a next stage, namely the placenta or afterbirth. Do not be afraid. Doctors remain in the mother to remove the placenta naturally or with the help of injections.

Removing the placenta

With help of an injection, the process of removing the placenta can take 5-15 minutes. But if it’s done naturally, it will be last 1 hour. This process is followed by a contraction again, but not as powerful as the time before delivery.

To check if the entire placenta had detached from the uterine wall or not, the doctor or midwife will suppress the mother's stomach and slowly pull the cord so that the placenta can get out. After the entire placenta along the cord comes out, then your body is cleaned.

Early initiation

Ideally, when the baby is born, the doctor will ask the mother to put the baby on the body to try to breastfeed. This desire can enter the Mother's birth plan and discuss it with the doctor. Immediate breastfeeding after the baby is born is the best way to build a bond with the baby.

When needs to be stitched?

If the mother underwent a cesarean section or natural childbirth, it will need stitches, but if you give birth in the water. There is not always needed to be stitched.

How long the stitches will recover?

Everyone has different conditions, but generally the seams because of childbirth can heal in 2-4 weeks. You should ensure cleanliness around the stitches so that your body can recover without problems of infection.

Sources:

www.babycenter.com

www.mayoclinic.org

www.whattoexpect.com

www.ghc.org/healthAndWellness

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Signs of Labor

Signs you will give birth soon:

• Flecks/coming out spots

• Rupture of membranes

• Cramping (similar with menstrual pain)

• Stomach ache

• Bloating, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness

• Contractions

Contractions

The birth canal is opened and it begins flavor stomach ache. From the arrival of irregular taste, until eventually mother will feel it every 5 minutes. This is called a contraction. Although it is uncomfortable, contraction is a guide to know when your baby will be born soon. Normally, at 38-40 weeks of pregnancy, the fetal head is starting to fall into the pelvic cavity. At the same time, the muscles of the uterus begins to shrink and stretch motion alternately, continuous regular basis.

Before delivery, the contractions became stronger and more frequent frequency. Usually this condition naturally stimulates the mother straining to push the baby out. So, let's set out the breath moves learned in prenatal classes.

Fleck/Spots

When the muscles of the uterus shrinks, the size of the uterus will shrink, so the fetal head pushed towards the birth canal. At the same time, the cervix gradually opens.

Mothers need to know, since the occurrence of pregnancy, the cervix naturally covered by a sort of thick mucus plugs. Mucus plug is tasked to keep the pregnancy can continue running while protecting the fetus from germs. Well, at the beginning of the opening of the cervical mucus plug it open and pink mucus out through the vagina. We used to call spots. But there is no need to worry if the mother does not experience it, because the spots appear naturally in some stage of labor.

Rupture of membranes

Rupture of membranes also becomes common signs before delivery. It rather makes a panic, moreover, if the release of such bursts is hard to resist. Amniotic fluid is amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby during pregnancy. Ethics during delivery arrives, the amniotic sac ruptures and the water comes out through the vagina. If it breaks, be careful of the danger of infection. Keep clean and hygienic the vaginal area and contact your doctor to make sure what it was time mother gave birth.

Sources:

www.webmd.com

www.babycenter.com

americanpregnancy.org

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Preparing for Labor/Delivery

The delivery/labor process should be prepared and done properly to avoid injury or baby blues. So, what do you really need to prepare?

 1. Mentality

Good mental readiness will help you through the delivery/giving birth process which is long and tiring, especially for new mothers. In addition, you will also be free from any fear and childbirth will pass relax even though there are some women who do not really care about pain. "Pain is only temporary until the baby is out. After this I can have fun, "mentality should be owned by all of the women so the birth process can be easier and lighter.

 2. Observation

With the right and better knowledge, you will be able to know what is right and not as well as to anticipate things that are not desirable. For example, respond to advice that turned out to be a myth. You can discuss with your obstetrician or find out in the book or health sites by yourself. Research on the delivery process is also beneficial, indeed you should not be too surprised when the doctor checks inside, check the opening, check the condition of the baby, the mother's heartbeat and the baby, and others.

Do not forget to seek out hospitals and obstetricians or midwives that are competent and always ready. Consider also the possibility of complications. So in addition to gynecologist, find out if the selected hospital, there are doctors of anesthesia, pediatrician, internist, surgeon competent. Necessary facilities should also be gone into research and the access such as distance from home, congestion, and the hospital parking lot.

3. Antenatal Care

Childbirth is a natural process, so even if you have not experienced, delivery will not be too scary, especially if you are diligent examination of antenatal care during pregnancy right and properly. Complications will not occur or be detected early if pregnant women routinely perform antenatal care.

Another benefit of antenatal care is how you will be educated labor right. For example, recognize the signs of labor or postpartum as there is a "show" or a small amount of blood mixed with mucus from the cervix, contractions and until the water breaks. If any of these characteristics appear, hope you can know when you have to go to the hospital. In addition, antenatal care was also studied in pregnant women about diet, breathing exercises for labor, sexual intercourse, as well as the dangers of smoking, drugs, alcohol, and others.

4. Breathing Exercise

To withstand pain during childbirth, it would be better to do a breathing exercise. Usually it is taught in the classroom pregnancy exercise. Do not loose control with screaming unclearly. As much as possible, it should be anticipated and the mother can stay focused on delivery. If the mother still can not bear the pain, the doctor will give you painkillers by injecting it.

5. Moral Supports

Look for moral supports from husband, mother, sister, friend, or others. You would really need supports throughout the delivery process. "It would be better a woman, anyway, because usually the husband or the man does not know what to do while his wife giving birth. The most important thing is birthing partner. "However, the husband can support his wife with encouraging wife when tired while straining.

This support should not exist only at the time of delivery, but also in the early months when the new baby is born. Remember, postpartum is an inconvenient time for the mother. Husband and wife do not take enough care of children or it’s maybe, "Oh well, there's nurse here". It is important that husband should help the wife take care of their baby together.

6. Baby Stuff

Prepare all of the baby stuff before the birthing process. Call it such as diapers, clothes, blankets, bottles, toiletries, baby specialty pharmaceuticals, and others. You can ask it to friends in detail who have experienced or from midwives and nurses at the time of antenatal care.

7. Breast Milk/Breast Feeding

Breast milk is the best food for infants aged 0-2 years even though some women have difficulty to come out the breastmilk. The solution is to understand and find out what makes your milk does not come out. Is it because you're stressed, troubled with the nipple, or other matters. You should ask this to the doctor or a lactation consultant. If all of these steps you have already done but breastfeeding remains out, do not worry and take it patiently. "You can replace it with formula milk. Do not ever think that your child will not grow perfectly without milk. Thoughts like that will only make you more stressed and depressed.

Sources:
Nova Tabloid

www.motherandbaby.co.uk

www.parents.com

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Paleo Diet: Pros and Cons

What is Paleo diet?

Paleo or caveman diet is a kind of diet program that the main idea of the program is eating like caveman. That’s why this kind of diet program called as caveman diet because of the treatment and the method of the diet program that similar with caveman eating habit. The main idea of Caveman diet is basically a high-protein, high-fiber eating plan that promises you can lose weight without cutting calories. Loren Cordain, PhD, the writer of book The Paleo Diet, claims that by eating like our prehistoric ancestors, we’ll be leaner and less likely to get diabetes,heart disease, cancer, and other health problems. So, what the exact idea of this program is travelling back to our ancestors did on eating habit. Cavemen or Paleolithic people eating habit are based on their way in hunting and gathering food from nature which will mostly be meat, vegetables, fruits, and everything from nature. This kind of habit that Cordain would like to adopt to his diet program that will suit to nowadays condition.

What are you going to do to succeed in Paleo diet?

So, after considering the idea of Paleo diet above, what next will you do to succeed the program? The idea of Paleo to adopt our ancestor eating habit means that you will considerably be aware to some food that you should add and eat in your daily eating menu and what you should avoid and prevent from your daily eating menu. Here I give you a list of some food that you should add and avoid on your eating menu.

Do Eat:

• unprocessed, nutrient-dense, nourishing foods
• grass fed and pastured meats and eggs
• wild-caught seafood not canned fish
• vegetables
• fruit
• nuts and seeds
• Healthier oils, including olive oil and coconut oil

Don't Eat:

• Wheat and dairy, along with other grains and legumes (such as peanuts and beans)
• Refined sugar
• Potatoes
• Salt
• Refined vegetable oils, such as canola
• Toxic and pro-inflammatory foods like gluten-containing grains, legumes, sugar, and the laboratory-concocted
• Fast/junk food
• Canned food

Why should you consider Paleo diet?

This might be the most important part you want to consider. The most frequently asked by people in around the world about every kind of diet programs is WHY? Why should I do the program? What is the reason I should follow the diet program? How can the program help me lose weight? Is it the best diet program, why? So, what question you will choose?

Anything you pick from the questions above, the main point is the same. Why should I do the diet program? Well, there are some interesting facts about Paleo diet that I have chosen and adopt from several sources. Firstly, lean proteins sourced from meat and eggs will support strong muscles, healthy bones and optimal immune function. Protein also makes you feel satisfied between meals. Secondly, Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that have been shown to decrease the likelihood of developing a number of degenerative diseases including cancer, diabetes and neurological decline. Thirdly, Healthy fats from nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, fish oil and grass-fed meat will help you kill disease. Even though it seems to be such a personal opinion but, Scientific research and epidemiological studies show that diets rich in Monounsaturated and Omega-3 fats dramatically reduce the instances of obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and cognitive decline.

Pros and Cons

I review from several websites about paleo diet pros and cons and here they are:

Benefits

• You will eat a clean diet without additives, preservatives, or chemicals.
• You do get the anti-inflammatory benefit from the plant nutrients in fruits, vegetables, oils, nuts, and seeds.
• You will be eating more iron through increased red meat intake.
• You will have improved satiety — a feeling of fullness between meals, due to the higher intake of protein and fats.
• Most people will lose weight primarily due to the limited food choices.

 Risks/Disadvantages

• This eating plan can be very pricey.
• You don’t eat any grains, whole or otherwise, which are good for health and energy.
• Consuming no dairy foods is not great for your bones.
• If you take away foods and nutrients and don’t find suitable replacements, you can create a nutrient imbalance.
• This diet can be really hard for vegetarians, especially since the diet excludes beans.
• Most athletes need between 3 to 6 grams of carbs per pound of their body weight, per day.
• This would be very hard to do with just fruits and vegetables.

 More Reading and References:

http://www.upmc.com/services/sports-medicine/newsletter/pages/paleo-diet.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/diet/paleo-diet

https://www.acefitness.org/acefit/healthy-living-article/60/3561/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-paleo-diet/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/201708-what-are-the-pros-cons-of-the-paleo-diet/

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Kids Vomit at Night With No Fever

Being parents is not easy task that everyone can do and one of the most difficult period as a parent is when our kids get sick. I have an experience that my son always vomits at night in the middle of the sleep time and after vomiting he continues sleeping well until morning. In the day light, my son looks healthy and seems normal. He vomits only at night and after that he sleeps well. I have read many articles about kids vomiting at night and there are several causes why kids vomit at night. Vomit can be caused by allergy from meals or drinks/milk, infection, cough/influenza, or diarrhea. But, those some diseases will cause vomiting together with fever and in my son case is that he is not getting fever. 

Another cause of vomiting is stomach flu but i don't really understand this concept so, here I cited from another website: 
Where there is no fever, stomach flu, or any other common cause of vomiting in younger children, vomiting is often caused by low blood sugar. Most typically, this happens to children between 8 months and 4.5 to 5 years of age. The official diagnosis for this scenario is ketotic hypoglycemia. Vomiting induced by ketotic hypoglycemia usually happens in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning, and typically when there's been a longer-than-normal stretch of not eating - missing dinner is a common cause for those who are predisposed to this. (more info about vomiting)

I can just conclude that my son is getting stomach flu in the first time then I consult with my son's specialist doctor and she said that, in my son case, he keeps vomiting at night can be caused by Urinary Tract Infection (more info about UTI). As I know that this kind of infection is commonly caused by bacteria or fungus and it makes kids urinary tract has a little hole to flow urine. This kind of infection is quite common in many cases of premature born baby as my son is, so as a parent don't worry because many people had ever experienced as well. After I consult to my son's doctor, she gave me a prescription for a drug, salve and it's called Dermovel Cream. And, it's totally working.

Back to our topic about vomiting with no fever, I found a natural treatment for this and it's just using Ginger. It's simple and cheap. If your son vomits at night but with no fever you can try this treatment using ginger. It's easy to make ginger drink/water. You just need to bake/burn/roast a finger of ginger and then clean it using water and then boil it with water until you can smell the aroma of the ginger. If your kids still drink milk you can mix it with milk 50:50 or as it needs. Just to make it clear that ginger tends to have strong taste like chili. If you don't want to mix with milk, just make a ginger water and mix with sugar to give it sweet taste to reduce the strong taste from the ginger.

This treatment is working for my son, so if you have ever experienced this why don't you try it. If your kids still vomit after you give ginger water treatment more than 3 days, it might be strongly better to consult with kids specialist doctor to have a better treatment and care. Another treatment problem with vomiting that my kids experienced is that his doctor gives him Probiotik and it works as well.

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