Labor Relief: 7 Effective Ways to Comfort a Woman During Childbirth

If you’ve ever had a baby before, you know how difficult labor can be. We don’t call it “labor” because it’s as easy as a walk in the park on a spring day. Still, even if you’ve done everything to prepare for the birth of your child, labor can take so much out of you. Before your baby arrives, share this list of ways to provide comfort during labor with your partner so they can really be there for you when push comes to shove, pardon the pun.

1. Human touch

It’s not just one of Bruce Springsteen’s best songs. The power of human touch can be healing. Of course, no woman in labor is up for a full-body massage. Facial massage and massaging the neck and shoulders can provide a huge relief. Test out an area and see what is most helpful.

2. Soothing coolness or mellow warmth

Some women will feel tremendous comfort from washing their face off with a cold cloth. Others will be more relieved by the application of heating pads on areas of pain like the lower back. And some women will love both of these simultaneously. Give them a try.

3. Breathing exercises

Taking prenatal classes can help prepare women for childbirth by teaching proper breathing techniques. But even if you guys didn’t go to one, you can still harness the power of breathing to help create a rhythmic pattern that will ease the pains of labor.

4. Positional changes

Some positions are more comfortable than others during labor. And some of them will be comfortable during the beginning stages of labor but not during the end. It’s all a bit of trial and error, but helping her adjust into each one will be greatly appreciated.

5. Pain management

If the pain is becoming unbearable for her, the administering of pain medications might be a good call, so long as she’s not opposed to this practice. Many women find this helps them feel less spent and more able to focus on the birth of their child.

6. Water relief

Some women opt for tub births. And even if she doesn’t, in the early stages of labor, she can enjoy the soothing effects of the shower. Have her turn the water on as hot as she can tolerate it. It will help to soothe her uterine contractions.

7. Positive promotion

Don’t forget that good coaching can help her find the strength to endure labor. For most women, after 9 months of pregnancy, it feels very surreal to finally be welcoming that baby into the world. Pregnant women almost resign to being pregnant forever. Labor feels like forever too. Remind her that it’s not and that soon, she’ll get to hold that baby in her arms and that it will all be worth it.

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The 6 Most Amazing Changes Your Body Undergoes During Breastfeeding

As if it’s not a miracle enough that your body housed a tiny little person within it for 9 months AND THEN pushed it out into this world, your body is still going to keep on amazing you with the changes it will go through to provide nutritious breast milk to your baby.  Prepare to be dazzled!

1. Colostrum

The first milk that comes out of your breasts the moment you first feed your newborn baby is called colostrum. It’s thicker and yellowish and has often been dubbed “liquid gold.” The reason is that it has all kinds of good nourishing things for your baby including antibodies to help protect your vulnerable newborn. That’s impressive!

2. Changes in milk

Your breast milk will turn from colostrum to regular milk a few days later. It will do this all on its own because your body is awesome. Best of all, it adjusts to your baby’s needs. For example, on hot days, your milk will be thinner so it can serve as more of a refreshing quencher when your baby is thirsty. Remember, breast milk is food AND drink for your baby for 6 months.

3. Milk production

Every time your baby nurses, your body gets a signal through your breasts to create more milk. That’s why if you want a good milk supply, you need to nurse as often as possibly, especially in the beginning. Your body produces it in a supply and demand style. Your breasts will never run out of milk, even if they don’t feel like they’re full when you squeeze them.

4. Breast size

If you had small breasts before getting pregnant, good news! You can enjoy having larger breasts without getting breast augmentation. Your newly-larger breasts won’t stay this way forever. They will go back down to size, eventually, once you stop breastfeeding.

5. Weight loss

Breastfeeding helps you shrink back down to size after having a baby. For some women, it will help them lose all the weight they gained during pregnancy. For others, they will only lose some and then hit a plateau. Dieting is difficult during this time too because if you don’t take in enough calories, your body will go into survival mode and store fat to help you provide enough milk for your baby. And while we don’t want more fat, you have to admit that’s really cool. Oh and beware – just because you lose all the weight you gained during pregnancy doesn’t mean you will be the same size.

6. Milk quality

While you were pregnant, you needed to watch everything you ate. But during breastfeeding, you can relax a little. You don’t need a perfectly balanced plate with every meal. Your body is designed to make healthy milk for your body, no matter what you are eating, so if you want a cookie, go for it. Just don’t go for the whole box or you’ll derail any weight loss plans you had.

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Which Birth Control Method is Right for You?

Not ready for having a baby? Whether you want to stop it from ever happening or just keep it from happening now, we’ve got the scoop on effective birth control for both men and women.

If your family is full or even if you’re not ready to start a family today, birth control is essential for couples to utilize to keep from getting pregnant. For thousands of years, birth control has been available. While the first condoms all those years ago were a bit questionable, the ones we have today as well as the other available methods for preventing pregnancy are safe and effective.

Not sure which is right for you? Read on to find out more about the most popular methods for pregnancy prevention.

Birth Control Pills
One of the most chosen methods for birth control is birth control pills for women. They’re small pills that come in a package. They additionally regulate your period though some that have progestin in them may cause bleeding between periods. It’s important to remember to take the pill every day at the same time in order for it to be the most effective. The down side is that prescriptions like birth control pills can be costly, even with insurance. It’s also not a good idea to take it after the age of 35 as it can pose health risks. If you’re interested in using the pill, speak to your gynecologist for a recommendation as well as a prescription.

Condoms
Condoms are easy to use and keep around. When the mood strikes and sex is about to happen, a man needs to roll the condom down over the shaft of his penis. When the sperm is released, the condom catches it, preventing it from entering the vagina. You can find condoms at most stores. They’re very effective when used properly and are a great choice for people that aren’t in committed relationships because they also help protect against STD’s. There is a risk that the condom can break but this is a rather rare occurrence.

The Diaphragm
A diaphragm is a shallow silicone cup that women can insert into their vaginas. It’s very effective and convenient, however, some women may have trouble inserting or removing it. Also, it can be knocked out of position during intercourse. They generally last 2 years before you’ll need to be refitted for one again.

Vasectomy
A vasectomy is a procedure that is meant to be a permanent way of keeping a man from getting a woman pregnant. A doctor closes the tubes that the sperm travel through, preventing the sperm from leaving. A man can still ejaculate but that ejaculation will not contain any sperm. This is a simple procedure that is a good choice for families that do not wish to grow any larger.

The Morning-After Pill
There is a pill that a woman can take should she have unprotected sex. The morning-after pill can prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after intercourse. However, this is meant as a last-ditch effort as accidents can and do occur. The best practice is to be as prepared as possible and act responsibly to prevent pregnancy.

 

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3 Yummy Banana Recipes Your Kids Will Love

Bananas are such a perfect food. They’re delicious AND they’re nutritious. Best of all, you don’t have to beg your kids to eat them. They make a great snack on the go, but they also work so well in so many things from breakfast to dessert. If your kids love bananas, they will definitely go bananas for these tasty recipes.

Bananaberry Smoothie
2 frozen bananas, peeled and chopped
1 cup of sliced strawberries
½ cup of orange juice
1 8-ounce cup of low fat vanilla yogurt

Add all ingredients into your blender. Blend and puree until it becomes smooth, then serve immediately for a cool and delicious treat.

Banana Pancakes
1 cup of all purpose flour
½ teaspoon of baking soda
3 tablespoons of sugar
1 ¼ teaspoons of baking powder
½ teaspoon of salt
1 cup of buttermilk
1 large ripe mashed banana, plus 1 more sliced for garnish
1 large egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Maple syrup for serving:
In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar and salt together. In another bowl, take the mashed banana and add the egg, buttermilk, vanilla and vegetable oil until well combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix well. Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet.  Pour batter in small circles into the skillet. Cook the pancakes until the edges are cooked and bubbles form on the surface. Flip and cook on the other side for one minute. Top with slices of banana and maple syrup. You can also turn these into chocolate banana pancakes by adding 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder in with the other dry ingredients, or drizzle with chocolate sauce when serving.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
1 ½ cups of whole wheat flour
1 cup of all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder
½ teaspoon of baking soda
2 large eggs
2/3 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of nonfat buttermilk
2 tablespoons of melted butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 tablespoons of canola oil
2 cups of diced bananas
½ cup mini chocolate chips
½ cup chopped toasted walnuts, more for topping

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line your mini loaf tin. Mix both flours, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, brown sugar, eggs, oil, butter and vanilla until well combined. Make a pit in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the wet mixture to it and mix well. Add chocolate chips, bananas and walnuts and mix. Pour batter into the loaf tin and top with walnuts. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before removing from pan.

 

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Kick Mats Review - Back Seat Protector Covers

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