Hello, and welcome to our soon-to-be-Moms Club! How are you going on today? How are you feeling? I hope that you're doing well, and that the aches and worries in your mind at the present time will soon "evaporate" into thin air!!! Do please read along and see what I can do to help you.

This is a site for all pregnant, planning-to-be- pregnant, or future mothers. The text is simple and easy to understand, and adapted for use even by young or anonymous senders.

Do feel free to tell me all about your aches and worries. There are other moms-to-be out there who are more than willing to help us to solve you presently plaguing problem. So, please contribute your comments and suggestions to this website and see what happens.

First, we'll see some possbilepossible ways by which we may approach your problem, all positive and envigorating. Next, we'll see the possible positive choices that you can make, and rank them in their order of importance. After this, we can try to stimulate our brain cells into working out a possible scenario for the different choices working out. From these, you can pick the best choice that fits your situation and--there, you have it!!!

Remember, this decision or choice of yours is your own. We only helped you to organize and choose. The final decision is still your own.

Thank you very much for sharing your views and comments on this page, in case you did so . . . .




How can you keep your home safe? Below are some suggestions from Reader's Digest Good Health Fact Book, 1995, p. 165.

Treat all medication with respect, whether standard over-the-counter remedies or powerful prescription drugs. The best place to store medicines, including seemingly harmless preparations such as cough mixture and iron tablets, is in a wall cabinet well out of the reach of children. It is also important to store them under conditions that ensure their effectiveness; improperly stored medication can become inactive or toxic. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about where to keep particular preparations. Otherwise, follow these suggestions for safe storage:

• Most medication should be kept at room temperature in a dark, dry place. The bathroom, despite its popularity, is one of the worst places to keep certain medicines because a warm, humid atmosphere may reduce their effectiveness.
• Always keep medicines in their original containers so that you don't forget what they are and can check the label for directions.
• Keep medication away from direct sunlight, even when it is in a darkened container. Sunlight may cause it to deteriorate, to the point where it loses almost all its effectiveness.
• Pharmacists are required to supply childproof caps for medicines that are taken orally. So if you suffer from a disorder such as arthritis, and would have difficulty opening such bottles, ask for a lid that is easier to remove.
• Some medicines need to be stored in the fridge. But don't refrigerate medicine unless actually told by your pharmacist, and never let liquid formulations freeze.
• Keep drugs with labels showing the date of expiry, which should not be exceeded. Milk of magnesia and aspirin can be kept for up to two years, provided they have been stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.
• Medicines in the following categories, by contrast, should be safely disposed of, as by being returned to a pharmacist.

1. Tablets or capsules more than two years old or any that are chipped, cracked, powdery or discolored.
2. Hardened, discoloured or separated ointments or creams.
3. Thickened or discolored liquids.
4. Cracked, leaking or hard tubes.
5. Capsules that have softened, cracked or stuck together.
6. Medicines with a changed odor, such as aspirin or paracetamol tablets that smell of vinegar.
7. Eye drops that have been opened for more than 28 days.

• Avoid taking aspirin for seven days before surgery, as it thins the blood.
• Do not give aspirin to children under 12. It has been linked to Reye's syndrome, which can cause brain dysfunction and liver damage. Paracetamol is recommended instead.
• Do not take ibuprofen if you are allergic to aspirin; you are probably allergic to both types of painkillers.
• Do not take ibuprofen if you have a long-term kidney disease.
• Do not take paracetamol if you have liver or kidney trouble.
• Do not take standard aspirin or ibuprofen if you tend to suffer from indigestion or stomach ulcers. Instead, choose a buffered or coated variety.
• Dispose of old prescription drugs. Some may have become ineffective or even dangerous if they have been stored for a very long time. Never throw them in the rubbish bin or flush them down the lavatory. Take them to your local pharmacy or hospital pharmacy department for safe disposal.

LIVING WITH ACNE Adapted from Reader's Digest Good Health Fact Book Nature is unkind to teenagers. Just when good looks become a major concern, acne occurs. This distressing condition persists beyond adolescence. It is in fact the commonest of all skin disorders, and many adults suffer from it, too. In general, though, acne improves slowly over time, and often clears up by the end of the teenage years.Likely causesAcne breaks out when sebum (an oily substance produced by glands in the skin) plugs up pores around hair follicles. Trapped bacteria can then multiply easily and the pores become inflamed and infected. The cause of the change in sebum secretion at puberty is uncertain, but it could be linked to a surge in the production of male hormones. Outbreaks are therefore generally worse in boys; although girls secrete male hormones, too, it is in smaller quantities and so they generally suffer less. There may also be a genetic factor at work: acne tends to run in families.Prevention and TreatmentAlas, there is no cure for acne, but various treatments, used regularly, can improve the condition. You will need to follow a strict skin-care regimen for several months before you see any benefit.To prevent the build-up and spread of bacteria, wash your face gently with a mild soap twice daily and avoid touching your face if possible. Most importantly, spots should not be squeezed or picked; that could worsen the condition and lead to scarring. Regular shampooing will prevent oily hair from aggravating the condition. As for diet, research has shown that it makes little difference: avoiding oily foods will not in fact mean fewer spots.Chemists sell many anti-acne preparations such as Acnegel, Acetoxyl and Quinoderm that act by unblocking pores. A doctor may prescribe a six-month course of antibiotics, which may not only kill bacteria in the skin but also seem to reduce inflammation and sebum production. Tea-tree oil applied directly to spots may reduce infection. Ultraviolet light -- either from a sun lamp or from sunshine -- may also help, although strict safety measures must be followed to protect the eyes and prevent overexposure.
Adult acne
For many people, acne continues into adulthood. Where antibiotics have failed, an anti-androgen drug called cyproterone acetate, which restricts the production of sebum, has proved successful. Available on prescription, the drug acts in a similar way to the contraceptive pill, and may have similar side effects. Manufacturers recommend that it should not be taken for longer than eighteen months at a time.