Moms-to-Be Aches and Worries - Recently Updated Pages

Managing a Home

Graciana — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 03:41:57 CDT

Being a wife and mother is not an easy task. The multiple demands upon a woman raising a family can take their toll on many an occasion. However, being a mother must be seen not as a punishment but as a reward and blessing from the Lord because, according to the Holy Bible, " children are an inheritance from the Lord."

Tips in Managing a Home:

Cooking -- Prepare a budget, and stick to it. Your meal plan must consider the physical conditions and needs of your husband and children, too. Have a ready list of menus and recipes from which you may select the food to be cooked for the day, which must be carefully chose and prepared with intelligence and skill.

Super-fine white flour is not the best for breadmaking since its use is neither healthful nor economical. Fine-flour bread lacks nutritive elements found in whole-wheat bread. So is the use of soda or baking powder, which causes inflammation of the stomach and often poisons the entire system. To make raised or yeast bread, do not substitute milk for water. Milk is more costly, makes the bread less wholesome and ferments more readily in the stomach.

Grains used for porridge or "mush" should have several minutes' pressure cooking. Soft or liquid foods are less wholesome than dry foods, which require thorough chewing. Zwieback, or twice-baked bread, is one of the most easily digested and most palatable foods. Cut ordinary raised bread in slices and dry in a warm oven till the last trace of moisture disappears. Then brown it slightly all the way through. This bread can be kept much longer in a dry place than ordinary bread, and, if heated again before using, will be as fresh as when new.

Avoid using too much sugar. Cakes, sweets, puddings, pastries, jellies, jams and sodas are active causes of indigestion. Especially harmful are the custtards and puddings in which milk, eggs, and sugar are the chief ingredients. The free use of milk and sugar taken together should be avoided.

If milk is used, it should be thoroughly sterilized; with this precaution, there is less danger of contracting disease from its use. Butter is less harmful when eaten on cold bread than when used in cooking; but, generally, it is better to dispense with it altogether.

Scanty, ill-cooked food depraves the body by weakening the blood-making organs, deranging the system and bringing on disease.

Cooking is one of the most essential tasks in practical life, a science that all women need to learn and should be taught in a way to benefit the less-advantaged; therefore, it needs understanding of the art of healthful cookery to cater to the well-being of the household.

Regularity in eating is important. A specified time for eating should involve everyone, and nobody's needs should be neglected.

From Better Homes and Gardens (March 2006), we got the following tips:

Launch each day with breakfast. Try oatmeal, whole-grain cereal, fruit smoothies, and veggie omelets. You'll feel and look better. People who eat breakfast tend to have less body fat than those who skip it because the early-morning meal boosts metabolism.
Make water your beverage of choice. This tip alone can cut up to 15 percent of caily calorie intake. For flavor, top off glasses with wedges of lemon, lime, or oranges.
Make supper a family affair. Parents and kids eat better and build stronger family ties when they share a meal.
Eat nuts. A one-ounce serving of heart-healthy nuts at least three times a week is best. An ounce is about one handful.
Avoid vending machines. Instead of raiding the vending machines, tote your own healthful snacks to the office or on road trips.
Keep food in easy reach. Put fruit and raw veggies on the counter or on the top shelf of the fridge. Also keep the fridge stocked with heady finger food made up of low-fat cheese cubes or sticks, grapes or sliced fruit, cherry tomatoes, and more.
Stir up a dip. Raw veggies are very enticing to kids when dunked in honey-mustard sauce or low-fat ranch dressing. Fresh fruit tastes yummy when dipped in chocolate pudding made with fat-free milk.
Make baggies to go. Fill snack-size individual baggies with healthy snack combos, such as dried fruit and nuts; popcorm and pretzels; a few cany-coated chocolate pieces mixed with whole-grain cereal; or ready-to-eat raw veggies or fresh fruit. Make them easy to grab and go.

Sewing -- Have a sewing kit handy for clothing repairs or alterations. It should contain: tape measure, scissors, thread, needles, pins, tailor's chalk, pencil, sharpener, pin cushion, thimble, and emery board. Buttons, zippers, and hooks are usually common problems.

Gardening -- Pots and plants can be bought from nearby garden shops. Add fertilizer to your newly transplanted shrubs, and don't forget to water your plants every so often to make them thrive, blossom and multiply.

Create calming green spaces and outdoor rooms for living--even on a long, narrow lot. Grading, drainage, planting, and even running the utility wires underground and the choice of graden furniture may sound like a trememdous task, but these can be all done with a specified plan using clean, simple lines and a charming symmetry. The personal style of the owners should complement the architectural details and the garden style, to achieve a sense of peace and support the theme.

Wherever you should go in the gardens, comfortable seating, cheerful flowers, gentle colors, fragrance, pleasant views, and a sense of peaceful equilibrium await. Add to these some lavish flowers and climbing roses in an ordered setting to vivify your home.

How about if you think that a country garden with a stone fireplace, leaded glass windows, and other architectural details of a quaint European country house would suit you? Add beauteous blooms in a compact, harmonious setting and accent with greens of ferns and the grays of helichrysum and lamb's-ears. Continue the profusion of fragrant rosebuds inside the flagstone-paved front courtyard and echo the blue-flowered vitex bush with the blue of delphiniums; complement the pink roses with pink pestemons and alstroemerias. Accent with white flowers including viburnum and foxglove.

Doing the Laundry -- Separate whites from colored clothes. Don't use any bleach for colored clothing. Diligently follow instructions for washing particular clothes with labels.

Washing the Dishes -- After removing any left-overs, soak the dishes first in warm, sudsy water. You may use liquid, soap, or dishwashing paste. Then, wash the dishes individually, beginning with glasses and cups, spoons and forks, knives, saucers, plates, bowls, and lastly pots and pans. This is done to save water and to use it to the fullest.

Interior Decoration -- When you buy things for the home, try to imagine how you can create a lively, lovely, liveable home atmosphere, and if the things you'r going to buy will add more beauty, relevance, and functionality to your home.

Design your own custom closet, and create an unhampered custom design for your bedroom, pantry, laundry room, bathroom, or garage. Use affordable, easy-to-install, hard wooden boards with stainless steel or metal handles with a clean, basic look.

For furniture accessories, choose a color scheme of neutrals and colors revolving around the twelve-hued wheel, in coordinating or contrasting colors to complement the curtain and paint colors of your home.

Cleaning the House -- Invest in a vacuum cleaner and a floor polisher or floor mop, whichever may be needed.
Have two or more brooms available, and if each room can have one broom, the better. Buy insecticides for mosquitoes and other pests, but be sure to place them out of children's curious reach.

Caring after the Baby -- Does any of these happen in your home? Your child: has been crying all night; won't eat; wakes up every hour or two; runs a fever; pulls at his or her ears. If so, your child may have an ear infection. Bacteria often cause this problem. Antibiotics may help, but sometimes they don't. You play a big role in getting you child well. The more you know about ear infections, the better you can fight them.

What causes an ear infection? It begins when fluid builds up in the middle ear. (The middle ear is the space just behind the eardrum. The eardrum is found in the ear.) When this fluid does not drain from the middle ear as it should, bacteria often grow. These bacteria can cause an ear infection.

If you think your child has an ear infection, call your doctor, who may write a prescription for an antibiotic. But don't push for one. Sometimes it is not needed. Let your doctor decide the best way to treat your child.

What are antibiotics? How do they work? Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria. They can also stop bacteria from growing. They do not treat viruses or the flu. Your doctor will decide if your child needs an antibiotic, and if so, he will deice on which is the right one.

Are antibiotics good for fighting colds? NO! They don't work against colds or the flu. VIRUSES casue colds and the flu. antibiotics treat BACTERIAL infections. Your doctor can tell the difference.

How will the doctor decide which antibiotic, if any, is right for your child? Your doctor will think about many things when choosing an antibiotic. Ease of dosing is only one of them. Only your doctor can decide what kind of infection your child has. He or she can also decide the best way to treat the infection.

You may life in an area where there is a high rate of "resistance". This means that some antibiotics may not work for your child where you live. Your doctor will think about this when prescribing an antibiotic for your childs.

If your child feels better, does he need to take the rest of the doses? YES! Your child may start to feel better before all of the doses have been taken. But if you stop early, the infection might not be gone. Give your child ALL of the doses your doctor tells you must be taken.

TIPS

If you think your child has an ear infection, see a doctor.
Let your doctor decide if an antibiotic is needed.
Don't ask for an antibiotic if your child has a cold or flu. VIRUSES cause these. An antibiotic won't work.
Give your child all of the doses on the bottle label. Finish the FULL prescription.
Don't give one child's antibiotic to a sibling.
Throw away any leftover medicine after your child has taken all of the doses the doctor says must be taken.
Listen to your doctor. Follow your doctor's instructions. Give doses at the right time for as many days as needed.
Always keep any medicine out of the reach of children.

s during Pregnancy

Graciana — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 05:37:00 CDT

The following complications have been observed to occur among pregnant and lactating women:

Cervical insufficiency (incompetent cervix)
Chronic hypertension
Ectopic pregnancy
Excessive amniotic fluid (hydramnios or polyhydramnios)
Gestational diabetes
Gestational hypertension (pregnancy-induced hypertension)
Intrauterine growth restriction ( IUGR)
Iron-deficiency anemia
Low amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios)
Placenta previa
Placenta abruption
Preeclampsia
Preterm labor and birth

Infections during pregnancy:

Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
Chicken pox
Chlamydia
Cholera
Diphtheria
Cytomegalovirus
Fifth disease (parvovirus B19)
Genital herpes
Gonorrhea
Group B streptococcus screening
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B blood test
Human papillovirus (HPV)
Infection
Listeriosis
Malaria
Polio
Rabies
Rebulla (German measles)
Sexually transmitted infections
Syphillis
Tetanus
Toxoplasmosis
Trichomoniasis
Typhoid
Urinary tract infections
Yellow fever

CHOLESTEROL -- The Good and the Bad (Adapted from The Heart of the Matter: What Your Really Need to Know about Heart Attack by Marilyn Johnson, 1992)

Cholesterol is a fatty substance which is always present in the blood and is essential for life. It is important in the digestion of food, and in the body's production of certain hormones. The body itself manufactures most of the cholesterol that it needs. Cholesterol is also found in many of the foods we eat, especially meats, eggs, milk, butter, and other animal products such as the ghee used in Indian cooking.

Cholesterol is constantly circulating in the bloodstream. However, if too much of it is in the blood, fatty deposits or plaques build up in the lining of the arteries. This causes the arteries to become narrower, resulting in the condition known as atherosclerosis. If this plaque build-up continues, one or more of the arteries eventually becomes blocked, the oxygen supply to that part of the heart stops, and the person has what we know as a heart attack.

Good cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol; the other form is bad cholesterol, or the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is harmful if occurring in uncontrollable doses and can block blood vessels. The HDL, on the other hand, helps to protect the body from plaque formation, carrying the cholesterol away from the body. If there is a balance of these two types of cholesterol, the risk of heart disease is generally low.

Many doctors check the blood cholesterol level by asking for a more complete test which shows the HDL and the LDL. A healthy approximate ratio of four-to-one between the total cholesterol and the good HDL is generally considered good.

Many screening tests simply check the total cholesterol level in the blood. Doctors and heart researchers have recommended that the ideal cholesterol level for a person may be found by adding 100 plus the individual's age. In other words, for a 45-year-old person, the blood cholesterol level should be approximately 145 milligrams per deciliter (145 mg./dl.).

Doctors consider that the maximum desirable level of cholesterol is below 200 mg./dl. Studies have shown that 5 percent of the Filipinos has higher than this recommended maximum level.

A blood cholesterol level between 200 and 240 mg./dl. is considered borderline. If your cholesterol is within this range, it would be advisable to reduce the fat and cholesterol content of your diet and to have your cholesterol checked again each year.

If your cholesterol is above 240 mg./dl., you should have it tested again, and you should ask for another blood test to check both the good HDL and the bad LDL. Ideally, the HDL should be approximately 50 mg./dl., and the LDL should be below 100 mg./dl.

If your cholesterol level is high, you must also carefully follow the strict dietary changes prescribed by your doctor, who may also recommend medicines to help reduce the cholesterol level. In many cases, however, positive changes in your lifestyle will be most helpful.

Children and youth who are at high risk should be tested early and regularly for cholesterol level. High risk children include those who:

Have one parent who has had a heart attack, angina, stroke, or other blood vessel disease before the age of 50 for the father, or before age 60 for the mother; or
Have two close relatives (grandparent, aunt, uncle) with such blood vessel disease.
Have close relatives with high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol level, or diabetes.
Are overweight and inactive.
Have started smoking.

High cholesterol level has come to be considered as one of the three major risk factors leading to heart disease. (The others are smoking and high blood pressure.) It is well known that when a person has a high level of cholesterol and has one other major risk factor--for example if he is a smoker, or has high blood pressue--he has a tendency to have heart attack. If, however, he has a high blood cholesterol level and has two other risk factors--if he smokes and has high blood pressure--he is potentially at risk. The person with all three of these risk factors is eight times more likely to have a heart attack than a person without any of these conditions.

In other words, the more risk factors a person has, the more likely he is to have a heart attack. Immediate changes in lifestyle are the best way to reduce the chances of heart disease.

The blood cholesterol level also seems to be closely related to obesity, or overweight, and to the amount of physical exercise a person gets.

One thing is certain: a moderate diet, relatively low in fat and fried foods, is best for everyone.

Controlling Your Cholesterol -- Below are effective ways by which you may control your cholesterol at the appropriate level.

Eat less meat or none at all. All kinds of meat contain cholesterol, though some kinds have more cholesterol that others. Shrimp, crab, lobster and prawn, as well as duck meat, are quite high in cholesterol content. Liver and brain contain extremenly high amounts of cholesterol.

A vegetarian diet is actually the most healthful, partly because fruits and vegetables contain no cholesterol at all. In addition, throughout many centuries, vegetarians have been shown to live longer, have greater endurance, and suffer from fewer diseases than meat-eaters.

Eat fewer eggs. If you do eat eggs, it is best to take no more than one to three eggs per week. The yellow yolk of an egg contains a very large amount of cholesterol, more than most other foods, so it is better to avoid eating the egg yolk.

Use less dairy products. If you use milk, ice cream, cheese or yoghurt, choose the non-fat or low-fat varieties. If you use condensed milk as a creamer in hot drinks, reduce the amount you use. Soyamilk, with little or no sugar added, contains no cholesterol and is a good substitute for milk.

Use only unsaturated vegetable fats. These include corn oil, sesame oil, olive oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, or peanut (ground nut) oil. These may have some cholesterol-lowering effect. Even so, they should be used in limited quantitites because they may still contribute to becoming overweight and possibly to certain other serious diseases.

Saturated fats, or "hard fats", are solid at room temperature. Even though they do not actually contain cholesterol, saturated vegetable fats may casue the body to produce more cholesterol. Coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil are highly saturated vegetable fats. Animal fats such as butter, ghee, lard, dripping, and suet are also highly saturated.

Use less oil or other fat. The body only needs one tablespoon of fat each day, including all of the hidden or unobvious fats in various foods. It is wise to reduce the amount of oil you use in cooking, even in pan frying. Avoid deep-fried foods such as flat rice noodles, flat Indian bread, carrot cake, oyster omelette, and chicharon (fried hog's skin); and many "junk foods" now in the market such as French fries, fried crackers (prawn, fish, vegetable, etc.), fried corn chips and many other snacks which, although tasty, could mean disaster to the heart. Salty, fatty snacks are without doubt one major cause of the increased blood pressure seen among so many teenagers today.

Eat three regular meals each day and avoid between-meal snacks. The heart, the stomach, the brain, and the entire body will function better if we take food only are regular meal times. The best plan is to take a good breakfast and lunch, and a lighter dinner. If you do have snacks, tea breaks or desserts, eat fresh fruits and fruit salads instead of ice cream, cakes, pies, biscuits, and other sweets.

Eat unrefined foods. Take whole grain bread and unrefined cereals instead of white bread or sweetened, refined cereals. The unrefined breads and cereals contain more fiber, which is good for health in many ways.

In digestion, the food passes through the stomach into the intestines, where the nutrients are absorbed into the blood. Fiber causes the food to move more quickly through the intestines, and does not allow digested fats and cholesterol to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Avoid alcoholic drinks. Alcohol slows down the removal of fats from the blood, thus resulting in an increased amount of fats circulating in the bloodstream and weakening the heart muscle. Alcoholic drinks are also fattening because they are high in calories and have virtually no nutrients.

Reduce the amount of sugar in your diet. Sugar reduces the body's resistance to infectious diseases such as cold and flu. It also causes a higher level of fats in the blood. Unnecessarily, parents give sweets to their children as a reward or pacifier and the children grow up loving sweets, not realizing the possible harm to the body.

Avoid drinking coffee or other caffeine drinks. Aside from their harmful effects on the blood pressure, caffeine drinks increase the level of bad cholesterol, or LDL, in the blood.

How much cholesterol is your blood carrying through the arteries? Worse yet, how much fatty plaque is in the lining of your blood vessels? If you know there is too much, begin today to improve your heart health. If you do not know, why not get your blood checked to find out soon. The heart attack you prevent may be your own!

HOW TO GIVE UP SMOKING

No matter how long you have smoked, the risk of developing heart disease or chronic bronchitis decreases as soon as you give up. Motivation is the key factor in managing to stop successfully. Before you decide to try, ask yourself: 'Do I really want to give up?' If you are not sure, you will find it difficult to keep on when the going gets tough. Wait until you feel certain.

Step one
Analyze your smoking habits carefully. Make a list of every cigarette you usually smoke in a 24-hour period. Give yourself two or three weeks to study when and why you 'need' cigarettes. This increasing concern with the act of smoking is a good way to prepare for the task of giving up.

Step two
Make up your mind that there can be no turning back. List all the reasons why you want to stop, including all the good things that will happen when you have stopped. For instance, you will enjoy the taste of food and drink more, your morning cough may disappear and you will probably have fewer respiratory infections. Convince yourself that it is worth making the effort.

Step three
Name the day, circle it in your diary, and give up smoking completely on that day. Try to get family members or close friends to give up as well, so that you can support each other in the difficult early days. You may also find that it helps if you choose a time when your usual routine is changed anyway -- just before going on holiday, for example.

Step four
Use any device that comes to hand as a cigarette substitute in the early days -- chew gum or hold a pen or pencil if your hand feels empty without a cigarette. Use nicotine substitutes if you need to overcome drug withdrawal symptoms. You could also try relaxation techniques to ease tensions that smoking once relieved. Avoid situations that encourage smoking and make a point of sitting in non-smoking sections of restaurants and transport.

Step five
Enjoy not smoking! Don't forget that you will save a lot of money. Use the extra cash to buy yourself regular rewards.

Step six
Eat as much as you want during the first few weeks, provided it is healthy food. When you are feeling tense and restless (the result of overcoming an addictive habit), you may often want to eat, and may gain a little weight. Remember that the first four weeks are the hardest. You can expect to lost your intense craving for tobacco after about eight weeks, and you should then begin to eat more sparingly.

We hope that your intention to quit smoking will give you many benefits and rewards!!!!!

Hints for Healthy Hair and Nails

Bleaching and Blow-drying -- Hair is quick to show damage and rapidly loses shine and condition when subjected to harsh treatment. Repeated bleaching with hydrogen peroxide preparations can be harmful and may lead to rough, dry, brittle hair, with split ends. If you want to continue bleaching, keep a watch on the condition of your hair and stop if it seems to be deteriorating -- or ask your hairdresser about changing to an alternative bleach. Snip the ends off every couple of weeks to prevent split ends.

A blow-dryer will not damage your hair as long as you keep the nozzle at least 6 inches (15 centimeters) away from your head, and do not train it too long on any one spot. A properly functioning dryer heats air to no more than 85 degrees centigrade (185 degrees Fahrenheit) -- a temperature well below the 149 degrees centigrade (300 degrees Fahrenheit) it takes to damage hair.

Conditioners -- Conditioners can also offer some protection. Choose according to hair type and special needs. Cream rinses act on the surface to neutralize static electrical charges and make hair more manageable. Protein conditioners lubricate and add lustre and body.

Frequency of washing the hair -- No hard-and-fast rules about this, only that washing depends on how greasy your scalp is, what sort of environment you live and work in, and what sort of activities you engage in. If you work in heavy industry or work up a sweat at the gym every evening, every-day washing may not be too much. If you have a dry scalp and work in an office, every three or four days may be enough. If your hair is dry, however, try not to shampoo it more than once or twice a week -- overwashing will strip away protective oils. When shampooing, use the smallest amount needed (one teaspoon is plenty). If washing leaves your hair 'squeaky clean' you are doing it too often or using too much shampoo each time.

Hirsutism -- Heavy face and body hair is a much more common problem for women than is often supposed, so you are by no means alone. In a few cases -- usually accompanied by irregular periods -- there is a medical cause which needs treatment by a doctor; but in many more there is no underlying disorder, and is more common after menopause and tends to run in families.

The only method of removing hair permanently is electrolysis, available from qualified beauticians, which uses an electric current to destroy the growing part of the hair. It also destroys the surrounding cells so that hair cannot grow there again. Fine hairs disappear after one treatment; coarser strands may need several, but will grow progressively finer until they disappear. Because only a few hairs can be treated at a time, electrolysis is usually reserved for facial hair. The treatment can be painful and may make surrounding skin temporarily red and sore. It can be expensive if numerous visits are necessary.

Bleaching, although its results are not permanent, is effective for a light growth of dark hair and can be used on the face or body. It may, however, irritate the skin, so always do a patch test first.

Home

Graciana — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 04:00:55 CDT

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 possible 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 . . . .

Safety in the Home

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.

Tablets or capsules more than two years old or any that are chipped, cracked, powdery or discolored.
Hardened, discoloured or separated ointments or creams.
Thickened or discolored liquids.
Cracked, leaking or hard tubes.
Capsules that have softened, cracked or stuck together.
Medicines with a changed odor, such as aspirin or paracetamol tablets that smell of vinegar.
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.

Immunizations

Graciana — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 02:36:41 CDT

Travelling some place away from home? Immunizations are needed to ensure a safe holiday. In some less-developed countries, the sterility of medical equipment is not guaranteed. The best advice if you are travelling in such areas is to avoid medical or dental treatment involving surgery, blood transfusion or injection, if at all possible.

Another precaution you may wish to consider is that of taking your own emergency medical kit containing sealed, sterilized equipment such as syringes, needles and suture materials. In any emergency, give the sealed kit to the doctor or nurse treating you so that you know the equipment used on you is safe. Personal kits are advised for travellers going to destinations including Goa in India, the Kenyan coast, sub-Saharan Africa, Egypt outside Cairo, rural Thailand, Mexico and Central America (outside tourist resorts), and for most of South America. They are available from chemists and at private travel centres.

If possible, you should ask your travel agent or doctor about immunization at least two months before you are due to leave. Some immunizations take time to become fully effective, and some cannot be given at the same time as others. If you are taking children with you, it is important that they have had their full course of normal childhood immunizations. If you need antimalarial medication, your doctor will be able to advise on the best type, including varieties available over the counter in pharmacies. Although certain immunizations are free on the NHS, you may have to pay for others.

DISEASE -- RISK AREAS -- MEANS OF INFECTION -- IMMUNIZATION

Cholera -- Africa, Asia, Middle East. -- Contaminated water or food. -- Two injections, 7-28 days apart.

Polio -- Everywhere except Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe.
-- Direct contact with infected person; contaminated food and water. -- Three drops taken orally.

Hepatitis A -- Most parts of the world -- Contaminated food or water. -- One injection or a skin-scratch vaccine.

Hepatitis B -- Worldwide -- Sexual contact with infected person; injection with contaminated blood or needle. -- Three injections over six months.

Malaria -- Africa, Asia, Central and South America -- Bite from infected mosquito. -- Course of tablets beginning a week before travel and
ending 4 weeks after return.

Rabies -- Many parts of the world. -- Licks, bites or scratches from any animal. -- Pre-exposure vaccine if you are going to a remote, high-risk area.

Diphtheria -- Main risk is in countries of the former USSR, and in developing regions. -- Airborne bacteria. -- If not immunized, three injections a month apart. Low-dose adult vaccine must be boosted every five years.

Typhoid -- Everywhere exept Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe. -- Contaminated food, water or milk. -- One injection or four doses of oral medication over eight days.

Yellow fever -- Africa, South America -- Bite from infected mosquito. -- Single injection.

Becoming a Christian Mother

Graciana — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 04:09:19 CDT

The following proverbs or sayings have been lifted from the Bible (King James Version) and simplified to conform with modern language.

Proverbs 19:18 -- Chasten your son while there is hope, and dn't let yourself be bothered by his crying.

Proverbs 19:23 -- The fear of the Lord gives life: and she who has it shall always be contented; evil shall not come upon her.

Proverbs 27:1 -- Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Proverbs 22:1 -- A good name is rather to be chosen than great wealth, and love more than silver and gold.

Proverbs 22:6 -- Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is older, he will not forsake it.

Proverbs 22:26-28 -- Be not among them who strike hands, nor of them who are sureties for debts. If you have nothing to pay, why should someone take away your bed for you to sleep on? Neither remove the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.

Proverbs 23:12 -- Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the word of knowledge.

Proverbs23:19-25 --Hear, my daughter, and be wise, and guide your heart in the way. Do not drink wine, nor be among riotous gluttons: for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor: and sleepiness shall clothe a man with rags. Hear the words of your father who sired you, and do not scorn your mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and do not sell it; also buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. Your father, if you are righteous, will greatly rejoice: and he who sires a wise child shall have joy of him or her. Your parents shall be glad because of your wisdom.

Proverbs 25:11 -- A word properly said is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

Proverbs 25:21-22 -- If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if is thirsty, give him water to drink: for you shall place coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward you.

Proverbs 26:22 -- The words of a gossip cause wounds, and they go down to the innermost parts of the stomach.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 -- Let us hear the whole conclusion: Fear God, and obey all his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

Amos 5:24 -- But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Micah 6:8 -- The LORD has showed thee, O woman, what is good; and He requires you to do things justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly before Him.

Proverbs 16:17 -- The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he who guards his own footsteps preserves his soul.

Psalm 125 -- They who trust in the LORD shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot beremoved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD watches His people from henceforth even forever. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of thje righteous; otherwise, the righteous would put forth their hands toward evil. Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts. As for they who urn aside toward their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of evil: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Secrets of Maternity Dressing

Graciana — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 03:20:39 CDT

Secrets of Maternity Dressing (Adapted from BabyCentre.com)

Borrow before you buy. Some of your female friends with eextra large blouses or maternity dresses may be willing to lend you some of their clothing, to be returned once you've delivered your baby.
Search your closet--and your man's. Your wardrobe may contain dresses, shirts, and skirts that didn't fit you before because they were too large -- either given by your godmother or relatives (who might not have known how much you weighed). See if your partner has some large shirts (polos or tees) that may go well with the pants or skirts you're planning to wear, or some accessories like a wide belt or pocketbag that may work well with the "in" things in fashionwear.
Ready to shop? First, try several "transitional" pieces. Consider extra-large shirts and blouses when you drop by the boutique or bazaar, A-line shifts, empire-waist dresses and tops, and pencil skirts paired with swingy shirts (the skirts must have sheared allowances for the growing tummy).
Don't be afraid to show off those curves. A flattering closely-fitting buttoned blouse opened at the belly, a loose shirt that collects its seams at the sides to hide the indentation, loose blouse with low or sweetheart or V-necklines may look good on you. Talk with your dressmaker to see what designs you can use for your weight, height, age, and job.
Paint yourself in one color. All browns; different shades or tints of red, ocean blue, or egg-yellow may work well on you. You may layer your clothing if the weather suits it, and peel off some once it cools down.
Flex your shoe sense. Use comfortable, flat shoes that carry your weight in the proper balance. Avoid stilettos (shoes with nail-sized heels), or shoes above 1 1/2 inches.
Accessorize. A colorful bandana or scarf, a suitable belt, your favorite bag, some hair clips, jewelry (earrings, necklace, bracelet, watch, ring, anklet, etc.)--use these to accent your breathtaking glow of maternity and to focus the eyes away from your tummy.
Buy a belly band in a dressshop near you.
Try "plus sizes" -- 1 or 2 sizes from what you normally wear.
Form-fitting is much more flattering than really loose. Avoid frumpy clothing that makes you look like last year's Christmas tree. Accentuate those arms or shoulders with form-flattering designs like a halter, assymetrical blouses, or crisscrossing backs.
Punch up an outfit with a colorful scarf or by tying a sweater saroung your shoulders.
Splurge (a little). A sexy dress, black velvet pants and a swingy top, or a stunning suit can make you look like a million bucks when you feel like anything but. Wear it frequently, while you can.
Dress sensibly and modestly. Our dress is to be simple and inexpensive -- not with "gold, or pearls, or costly array" (I Timothy 2:9). This means not using gaudy colors and profuse ornamentation.
Prefer clothes of good quality, becoming colors, and suited for service. They should be chosen for durability rather than display, and provide warmth and proper protection.
In all respects, the apparel should be healthful. "Above all thiings," God desires us to "be in health" -- health of body and soul. And we are to be workers together with Him for the health of both soul and body. Both are promoted by healthful dress.
The most beautiful dress He bids us wear upon the soul. No outward adorning can compare in value or loveliness with that "meek and quiet spirit" which in His sight is "of great price" (I Peter 3:4).
The making of changes in apparel for the sake of fashion merely is not sanctioned by the word of God. Changing styles and elaborate, costly ornamentation squander the time and means of the rich, and lay waste the energies of mind and soul. They impose a heavy burden on the middle and poorer classes. Many who can hardly earn a livelihood, and who with simple modes might make their own clothing, are complelled to resort to the dressmaker in order to be in fashion.

Be a Believing Family

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:09:50 CDT

From Columbia, a magazine publication of the Knights of Columbus, May 2003:

"In a world becoming ever more secularized, the great task of the believing family is to become conscious of its own vocation and mission."
-- Pope John Paul II

It's good to remember that just as there are a variety of ministries within the vocation of priesthood (pastor, missionary and teacher, for example), so too within the vocation of marriage. There can be, to quote a phrase used by Mother Teresa to describe her own life's work, "a call within a call."

For a family, for a couple, that calling or ministry can change over time. It is therefore important to foster family support for couples, especially young couples, by families who are spiritually and morally solid. It is a necessary apostolate at this time in history.

Special care must be shown young spouses so that they do not surrender in the face of problems and conflicts.

The starting point for this work is to safeguard and intensify prayer. This means an unceasing prayer to the LORD to increase one's faith and make it stronger. Nothing can replace an ardent, personal and confident faith that is open to the LORD. . . . Prayer, frequent recourse to the sacrament of reconciliation, spiritual direction, must never be abandoned with the idea that one can replace them with techniques of human and psychological support.

Young couples and families today face a host of new challenges, worries and fears.

John Paul went on to say that helping -- mentoring, coaching, praying for, rooting for! -- that younger generation is "even more necessary when there abound lifestyles, fashion and cultures that bring into doubt the value of marriage, even reaching the point of holding that it is impossible to realize the mutual gift of self in marriage until death in joyful fidelity."

So, how can a senior couple or family help?

Look for the positive and praise it. A young parent can feel he or she is doing nothing right.
Make young families feel welcome at church, particularly when youngsters are, shall we say, peppy.
Respect their time. It may not matter much to you if a committee or council meeting goes on and on. But the timetable may keep a young partner from coming back.
Help with the church's marriage preparation course.
Remember that at this point in your vocation you have a mission. There is a ministry, a service, to which God is calling you.

Monica and Bill Dodds are the authors of The Joy of Marriage (Meadowbrook Press).

General Hygiene (Adapted from Essentials for Healthful Living by Ellen G. White)

The knowledge that man is to be a temple for God, a habitation for the revealing of His glory, should be the highest incentive to the care and development of our physica powers. Fearfully and wonderfully has the Creator wrought in the human frame, and He bids us make it our study, understand its needs, and act our part in preserving it from harm and defilement.

The Circulation of the Blood

In order to have good health, we must have good blood; for the blood is the current of life. It repairs waste and nourishes the body. When supplied with the proper food elements and when cleansed and vitalized by contact with pure air, it carries life and vigor to every part of the system. The more perfect the circulation, the better this work will be accomplished.

At every pulsation, the blood should move quickly and easily to all parts of the body. Its circulation should be unhindered by tight clothing or bands, or by insufficient clothing of the extremities. Whatever hinders the circulation forces the blood back to the vital organs, producing congestion. Headache, cough, palpitation of the heart, or indigestion is often the result.

Respiration

In order to have good blood, we must breathe well. Full, deep inspirations of pure air, which fill the lungs with oxygen, purify the bood. They impart to it a bright color and send it, a life-giving current, to every part of the body. A good respiration soothes the nerves, stimulates the appetite and renders digestion more perfect while inducing sound, refreshing sleep.

The lungs should be allowed the greatest freedom possible. Their capacity is developed by free action; it diminishes if they are cramped and compressed. Hence the ill effects of the practice so common, especially in sedentary pursuits, of stoopng at on'e work, a position where it it impossible to breathe deeply. Superficial breathing soon becomes a habit, and the lungs loose their power of expansion.

Tight lacing produces a similar effect. Sufficient roon is not given to the lower part of the chest; the abdominal muscles, designed to aid in breathing, do not have full play, and the lungs are restricted in their action.

Thus an insufficient supply of oxygen is received. The blood moves sluggishly. The waste, poisonous matter, which should be thrown off in the exhalations from the lungs, is retained. The blood then becomes impure. Not only the lungs, but the stomach, liver, and brain are affected. The skin becomes sallow, digestion is retarded; the heart is depressed; the brain is clouded; the thoughts are confused; gloom settles upon the spirits; the whole system becomes depressed and inactive, and peculiarly susceptible to disease.

The lungs are constantly throwing off impurities, and they need to be constantly supplied with fresh air. Impure air does not afford the necessary supply of ocygen, and the blood passes to the brain and other organs without being vitalized. Hence the necessity of thorough ventilation. To live in cosed, ill-ventilated rooms, where the air is dead and vitiated, weakens the entire system. It becomes peculiarly sensitive to the influence of cold, and a slight exposure induces disease. It is close confinement indoors that makes many women pale and feeble. They breathe the same air over and over until it becomes laden with poisonous matter thrown off through the lungs and pores, and impurities are thus conveyed back to the blood.

Ventilation and Sunlight

Neglect of proper ventilation is responsible for much of the drowsiness and dullness that destroy the effect of many a sermon and make the teacher's work toilsome and ineffective.

So far as possible, all buildings intended for human habitation should be placed on high, well-drained ground. This will ensure a dry site and prevent the danger of disease from dampness and miasma. This matter is often too lightly regarded. Continuous ill-health, serious diseases, and many deaths result from the dampness and malaria of low-lying, ill-drained situations.

In the building of houses, it is especially important to secure thorough ventilation and plenty of sunlight. Let there be a current of air and an abundance of light in every room in the house. Sleeping rooms should be so arranged as to have a free circulation of air day and night. No room is fit o be occupied as a sleeping room unless it can be thrown open daily to the air and sunshine. In most countries bedrooms need to be supplied with conveniences for heating, that they may be thoroughly warmed and dried in cold or wet weather.

The guestchamber should have equal care with the rooms intended for constant use. Like the other bedrooms, it should have air and sunshine, and should be provided with some means of heating, to dry out the dampness that always accumulates in a room not in constant use. Whoever sleeps in a sunless room, or occupies a bad that has not been thoroughly dried and aired, does so at the risk of health, and often of life.

In building, many make careful provision for their plants and flowers. The greenhouse or window devoted to their use is warm and sunny; for without warmth, air, and sunshine, plants would not live and flourish. If these conditions are necessary to the life of plants, how much more for our own health and that of our families and guests!

If we would have our homes the abiding place of health and happiness, we must place them above the miasma and fog of the lowlands, and give free entrance to heaven's life-giving agencies. Dispense with heavy curtains, open the windows and the blinds, allow no vines, however beautiful, to shade the windows, and permit no trees to stand so near the house as to shut out the sunshine. The sunlight may fade the drapery and the carpets, and tarnish the picture frames; but it will bring a healthy glow to the cheeks of the children.

Those who have the elderly to provide for should remember that they especially need warm, comfortable rooms. Vigor declines as years advance, leaving less vitality with which to resist unhealthful influences;
hence, the greater need for the aged to have plenty of sunlight, and fresh, pure air.

Srupulouse cleanliness is essential to both physical and mental health. Impurities are costantly thrown off from the body through the skin. Its millions of pores are quickly clogged unless kept clean by frequent bathing, and the impurities which should pass off through the skin become an additional burden to the other eliminating organs.

Most persons would receive benefit from a cool or tepid bath every day, morning or evening. Instead of increasing the liability to take cold, a bath, properly taken, fortifies against, because it improves the circulation; the blood is brought to the surface, and a more easy and regular flow is obtained, envigorating both the mind and the body. The muscles become more flexible, the intellect is made brighter. The bath is a soother of the nerves. Bathing helps the bowels, the stomach, the liver, giving health and energy to each, and it promotes digestion.

It is important also that the clothing be kept clean. The garments worn absorb the waste matter that passes off through the pores; if they are ot frequently changed and washed, the impurities will be reabsorbed.

Every form of uncleanliness tends to disease. Death-producing germs abound in dark, neglected corners, in decaying refuse, in dampness and mold and murk. No waste vegetables or heaps of fallen leaves should be allowed to remain near the house to decay and poison the air. Nothing unclean or decaying should be tolerated within the home.

In towns or cities regardedperfectly healthful, many an epidemic or fever has been traced to decaying matter around the dwelling of some careless householder.

Perfect cleanliness, plenty of sunlight, careful attention to sanitation in every detail of the home life, are essential to freedom from disease and to the cheerfulnees and vigor of the inmates of the home.

Diseases during Pregnancy

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 04:57:57 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Planning Hospital Bag

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 04:27:23 CDT

Things to bring to the hospital:
1. birth plan
2. dressing gown
3. slippers
4. socks
5. an old nightdress to wear in labour
6. massage oils and lotions
7. hair band
8. lip moisturizer
9. snacks and drinks
10. watch with a second hand to time contractions
11. camera and film/tape
12. relaxation materials: books, magazines, games, music
13. pictures of loved ones
14. tense pain relief machine
15. toiletries

For birth partner:
1. change of clothes
2. snacks

After birth:
1. going-home outfit
2. breastfeeding bras
3. breastpads
4. sanitary towels
5. nightgown
6. toiletries
7. address book, plus lots of change or a prepaid phone card for all the calls you may want to make . You may find you cannot use your mobile phone in the hospital building.

For baby:
1. infant car seat
2. one outfit for trip home
3. baby blanket (preferably heavy when the weather is chilly)
4. nappies
5. one pair of socks or booties
6. hat
7. jacket/snowsuit for winter

Symptoms of Preterm Labor

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 04:14:36 CDT

If you ever experience any of the following symptoms while your pregnancy is in progress, report this to your doctor immediately:

vaginal bleeding -- There is a heavy discharge of blood, brownish or blood-tinged musuc discharge.
incompetent cervix -- Your cervix dilates by 10 centimeters or more.
increased risk for premature labor -- Consistently high blood pressure, heavy lifting, taking unprescribed drugs, alcohol, smoking are among the factors that may trigger preterm labor.
"placenta previa" -- This means that your placenta is lying unusually low in your uterus, next to or covering your cervix. If the placenta (a pancake-shaped organ normally located near the top of the uterus) covers the cervix completely, it is called a complete or total previa. If it's right on the border of the cervix, it's called a marginal previa. ("Partial previa," another term, refers to a placenta covering part of the cervical opening once the cervix starts to dilate.)

If the edge of the placenta is within 2 cm. of the cervix but not bordering it, it's called a low-lying
placenta. The location of your placenta will be checked during your midpregnancy ultrasoud exam.

What to do in case these symptoms occur:

Don't panic.
Consult your family doctor.
You'll be monitored closely by regular ultrasounds.
You''ll need to watch for the recurrence of vaginal bleeding.
You'll be put on "pelvic rest". This means no intercouse or vaginal exams for the rest of your pregnancy.
You'll be advised to take it easy.
Avoid activities that might cause bleeding, such as strenuous housework or heavy weights.
If you start bleeding or have contractions, you'll need to be hospitalized, where you'll be watched until the bleeding stops.
If you're less than 34 weeks, you may be given corticosterois to speed up your baby's development and to prevent other complications in case he ends up being delivered prematurely.

-- Adapted from BabyCenter.com

SIGNS OF LABOR

Cervix becomes progressively thinner and softer (effacement) and dilated -- up to 10 cm.
Contractions at regular and increasingly shorter intervals; longer and stronger intensity
Persistent lower back pain, often with crampy premenstrual feeling
Appearance of a bloody show (brownish or blood-tinged mucus discharge)
Waters break, if accompanied by contractions
Lightening (baby's head begins to drop into position in your pevlvis)
Increase of vaginal discharge
More frequent and noticeably more intense Braxton Hicks contractions

Loving Your Husband

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 03:30:58 CDT

Whoever finds a wife finds good, and gets the LORD's favor.

-- Proverbs 18:22

When a man marries, he marries so that he can have someone with whom to share his thoughts, feelings, and blessings. Thus, caring after someone who is not his own relative is for him an extension of his giving self. In doing this, he earns God's favor and delight, and his prayers are heard because He Himself is loving and the source of life and love.

She who turns away her ear from hearing God's law, even her prayers shall be abominable. -- Proverbs 28:9

Observe and obey God's laws always, so that your prayers will be heard and answered.

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so that he shall have no need of anything else. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands. She is like the merchant's ships; she brings her food home. She rises also while it is yet night, and gives meat to her household, and a part to her maids. She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, also strengthening her arms. She sees that her merchandise is good: her candle does not go out by night. She lays her hand to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretches out her hands to the poor; yes, she gives to the needy. She is not afraid of the cold days for her household: for they are all clothed with scarlet. She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes fine linen, and sells it, and delivers girdles to the sellers. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Her children wake up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but a woman who fears the LORD shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. -- Proverbs 31:10-31

Maintaining a Good Sexual Relationship

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 03:22:41 CDT

Compatible Couples -- Maintaining a Good Relationship (Adapted from the Reader's Digest Good Health Fact Book)

What is the best way of maintaining a good sexual relationship?

There is no single answer. A good sex life depends on the same things that make up a good relationship -- communication, love and concern for each other. It also helps if you and your husband are physically affectionate in general and show your feelings by gestures such as hugging, even without contemplating sex.

Contrary to popular belief, physical beauty and sexual athleticism have little to do with making someone a good lover. Most partners rate enthusiasm, openness and a sense of humor far more highly.

To enjoy sex to the full, a married couple need time alone in surroundings where they can relax. It helps if both partners are unselfconscious and can talk about their likes and dislikes.

Arguments, resentment and unresolved differences -- more than any other factor -- are more damaging to intimate relationships. Try to talk about problems, possibly with the aid of a trained counsellor if the divisions are deep and long-standing.

After 25 years together, my husband and I seldom have sex, thoughn we still love each other. Could there be something wrong with our relationship?

Not as long as you are both happy with the situation. For many couples, sex is never the most important thing and its declining frequency over the years is not regretted -- provided the relationship remains loving in other ways. However, even if nothing is said, a diminishing sex life can come as a severe blow to either or even both partners. Talk to your wife and find out how she feels about the situation -- you may discover that you have simply lost the habit of doing the intimate things that lead to sex, or you may have settled into a routine and become bored without either of you even realizing. Luckily, it is never too late to add new interest to your sex life if that is what you both want.

Physical problems such as pain and arthrities can also be a cause of diminishing sex in an otherwise happy marriage. All such difficulties can be treated, however, or ways found around the problem. Your family doctor can generally offer good advice on what methods might work best for you.

My husband often works late and comes home too tired for sex. I miss the intimacy we once shared, but I don't want to put pressure on him. What should I do?

Try to discuss the problem with your husband when he's not tired and in a non-sexual situation, such as on a walk at the weekend. Tell him how you are feeling and how he feels, too. Fatigue may not be the only cause of his lack of interest: he may have worries about work and money. Or he may feel that you have drifted apart and spend too little time for intimacy to flourish. Only you and your husband can decide how to deal with these issues, but whatever you do, talking and showing concern will help.

If the problem is straightforward exhaustion, simple measures will help most. When your husband comes home, let him talk about the day's events if he wants to, but don't insist if he'd rather be left alone. After he has unwound, he might feel more affectionate: try a massage or some other form of physical contact that creates closeness but doesn't necessarily lead to sex.

Sex doesn't have to be in bed at night, either. It might work better to set aside a special time, such as Sunday morning. Finally, remember that sex should be a pleasure, not a duty or a chore -- for either partner. Share affection, intimacy and time, and it will follow naturally.

Do aphrodisiacs work? Do oysters and champagne really increase sexual desire, or are popular beliefs about aphrodisiacs just old wive's tales?

There is little scientific evidence to show that any so-called aphrodisiacs actually work. Most, such as royal jelly, vanilla pods and ground rhinoceros horn, will do no harm, except possibly to your purse. Some, nowever, including the notorious Spanish fly, or cantharis, made from dried blister beetles, are poisonous, and can be harmful and deadly.

Oysters may be of some benefit, but only of you have an adequate diet. They are a rich source of zinc, and a lack of zinc may lead to a loss of libido. However, if your diet is already rich in zinc, getting more will not help. In any case, zinc is also found in liver, turnips and many equally unromantic foods. As for champagne, there is no proof that it increases sexual desire, although a few glasses might well reduce inhibitions and induce the same effect.

The root of the ginseng plant and chocolate have slightly better-deserved reputations. In scientific experiments some rats seem to have enjoyed the effects of ginseng, and chocolate is known to contain mood-enhancing chemicals. However, music, dancing, perfume and a romantic atmosphere are, it seems, more important than what is on the menu.

Depression

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 06:14:18 CDT

Depression Symptoms

If you've been experiencing the following symptoms regularly, consult your nearest trusted health practitioner:

insomnia (lack of sleep) or excessive sleep
changes in energy (low energy levels, feeling unmotivated)
feelings of inadequacy, guilt, hopelessness
inability to take pleasure in things that are normally pleasurable
suicidal thoughts
difficulty making decisions
fear of being left alone
desire to run away
panic attacks
feeling that life is out of control
eating disturbances (other than typical morning sickness)