~*GUEST POST*~ Preparing for Baby

Preparing for Baby Preparing for the birth of a newborn can be a challenging experience. Although nine months may seem like plenty of time to get ready for a baby, the preparation process can be a great source of anxiety for many expectant mothers. The following tips will help moms prepare, both mentally and physically for labor, delivery and caring for their newborns. Physical preparations for delivery and post-delivery often entail exercise. For women with low-risk pregnancies, regular, low to medium impact workouts are often recommended. Please see http://www.hss.edu/conditions_exercise-during-pregnancy.asp. Exercising while pregnant can aid in delivery, as well as help new moms heal more quickly after childbirth. A few great workout options for expectant mommies include walking, swimming, yoga and cycling. Lamaze, as well, can be extremely helpful, and helps prepare new moms by teaching breathing and focusing techniques. Because every woman and every pregnancy is different and unique, it's important to speak to an obstetrician before beginning an exercise regimen. Preparing a home for the birth of a baby can be a time-consuming process. This process is often called "nesting," and entails preparing a nursery and the rest of the house for the arrival of baby. Since newborns need a lot of attention and physical contact, it can be hard for women to get things done during the first weeks of motherhood. If at all possible, it's a good idea to get everything done before delivery, so mommy and baby will have plenty of time to bond post-delivery. It can also be helpful to stock up on essentials for both baby and mom. Check out http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-life/preparing-for-baby/birth-labor-checklist/?page=2. Creating a birth plan is a great way for expectant moms to relieve some of the stress associated with delivery. A birth plan is simply a written account of any preferences a new mom may have. By figuring out their birth preferences beforehand, a mother won't have to make any of these decisions during labor and delivery. For example, a birth plan might include whether or not a woman wants epidural or a natural birth, whether she wants music played during delivery, whether she plans on breastfeeding, and also preferences on things like circumcision and cord blood collection. Umbilical cords contain stem cells that can be collected and preserved using a process called umbilical cord blood banking; the benefit is having a source of stem cells available to your family as a potential medical resource. For more information look at http://www.viacord.com/. An expectant mother's delivery day can be just as nerve wracking as it is exciting. If a woman is having an induced labor, she may have more time to prepare herself for childbirth, which can make delivery much less stressful. Women who aren't induced may experience more anxiety, as labor often begins at an unexpected time. However, all women can benefit from remaining calm and relaxed during this time. Some tips on making labor a more soothing and comfortable experience include listening to music, utilizing breathing techniques, watching television and bringing some of the comforts of home to the hospital, such as pajamas, a favorite blanket, etc. Preparing mentally and emotionally for the birth of a baby can be somewhat difficult. First-time mommies, especially, may have anxieties concerning the delivery and care of a newborn and may worry about their maternal instincts and abilities. Transitioning into motherhood can take a fair amount of time and a large amount of patience, and it can be helpful for new moms to remember to relax, learn as they go, and enjoy this most special time with their babies. This article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche. If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter @moorekm26.

Deep Thoughts Brought to me by MTV

Lately, I have been having mixed feelings about the MTV shows “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom” obviously I keep watching both shows because they are extremely addicting, REAL LIFE drama and heartbreak will always captivate my attention. But, I always wonder why the teenagers on the show are deciding to share their entire life with the public, I understand that they are being paid for their participation but MTV does not make their lives look glamorous and it doesn’t make them look cool. Something else that made me think was; why do they only choose young girls from extremely small towns in the middle of nowhere America? Are they trying to prove the statistics that all teen mothers are un-educated, disadvantaged, products of un-educated, disadvantaged teen parents? After I began having all of these deep thoughts I decided to look into what the TV stars have said about their experiences and what their advice would be to teen mothers. I googled, “16 and Pregnant cast member’s advice for teen moms” and what I got was: “MTV 16 and Pregnant Casting Call!!!”, “MTV’s mom Leah pregnant again!”, “Pregnant Celebrities Advice” and worst of all “Forever 21 Maternity Line”. This made my decision for me, no matter how many magazines, new reporters, or morning shows say that the MTV shows discourage teen pregnancy I would say the opposite. If they would like the public to think that then I would recommend having them interview other teen mothers who are working hard but not becoming famous at the same time.

Male Birth Control is Finally Here!

Finally! A male birth control option…other than a condom of course. For the first time, a safe, effective and reversible hormonal male contraceptive has been proven dependable. Several more concoctions are expected to become obtainable within the near future. Men may soon have the options of a daily pill to be taken orally, a patch or gel to be applied to the skin, an injection given every three months or an implant placed under the skin every 12 months, according to Seattle researchers. These are methods that are very similar to women’s birth control options. Options, a word that is very important in this new innovation. Women are not the only partner that is held accountable for practicing safe sex and avoiding pregnancy. Glenn Sacks, a columnist for Father’s & Families claims that women don’t really want men to have access to their own birth control. “While women legitimately complain that biology has condemned then to bear the burden of contraception, this burden also gives women control over one of the most important parts of any human being’s life—reproduction. The male birth control pill will shift much of that control from women to men” states Glenn Sacks, 2012. If you think about it women have a lot of control over a man when it comes to avoiding pregnancy. Adolescence may begin taking contraception as young as thirteen a time when there hormones are rampant, and relationships are blooming. Teenage years are a time where you meet your first love and begin experiment sexually. Girls on contraception have the choice to stop taking it whenever they want. They can stop taking the pill orally, remove their implant, patch, or stop taking their shot without letting their partner know giving them one-hundred percent of the power, and the ability to get pregnant right away. How many times have you heard of a situation where two people are in the heat of the moment, the woman asks the guy if he has a condom and he says, “No but you’re on birth control. Right?” her response, “Yea sure”. The last thing on her mind is the thought of getting pregnant; it is only their first time having sex anyway, she’ll just tell him to pull out. Whether you are fifteen or thirty this scenario can become a reality. Back to male birth control, will men take contraceptives? The current male contraceptive releases testosterone over a period of three months, it is a safe and practical method, meaning it will not cause men to be sterile and it will not affect a man’s emotions like some side effects in women’s hormonal birth control. Scott Hardin says that “he is glad that men may soon have a new choice when it comes to birth control. But, he adds, he would not even consider taking a male hormonal contraceptive”. Right now, all men have to protect themselves is the condom, a latex sleeve for the penis that is not one-hundred percent effective. It is also visible so women know when they are wearing one or not. So my question is; why wouldn’t men be excited about having the option to take birth control? Then they could ensure they are not going to become a father before they are ready. Fathers & Families. “Do Women Really Want a Male Birth Control Pill?” 2012. Web. 2 March 2012. http://www.glennsacks.com/do_women_really.htm Men’s Sexual Health Guide- MSNBC. “Male birth control pill soon a reality.” 2012 Web. 2 March 2012. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3543478/ns/health-sexual_health/t/male-birth-control-pill-soon-reality/#.T1ETlXk9a7E

Amazing Social Media

Amazing Social Media It's amazing how much you can learn in a day. Every time that I am on the internet I come across useful information regarding nutrition, sexual health, relationship safety, and/or pregnancy prevention. Today I stumbled across an article about the new vaccines that are recommended for tweens and teens, information that I never knew when I was a teenager that I wish I had known: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/PreteenVaccines/?s_cid=tw_cdc1206 Then, last week I discovered that there was a birth control for men, an injection that is proved 100% effective, that is more than any other birth control that isn't abstinence. Let's see how many men will actually use it: http://dvice.com/archives/2011/05/injectable-birt.php. Last but not least, I came across a couple new "teen trends" that I thought to be extremely upsetting. One of the new reports that I read was about a young girl who was having fun at a party, and sucking helium out of a balloon to make her voice sound like a mouse. She inhaled too much and died, it's hard for people to know when to stop: http://news.yahoo.com/teenage-girl-dies-inhaling-helium-party-222518777.html;_ylt=ApN1jx6xMVYfDHt1t4BwbeWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNqOHFiYmNqBGNjb2RlA2N0LmMEcGtnAzAzOTk0YzczLWVlYjMtMzU5OC05NzVhLTI2NzJiMTMxMzE5NQRwb3MDMgRzZWMDbW9zdF9wb3B1bGFyBHZlcgMxODU4NjAxMS01ZTM4LTExZTEtYmY3NS1hYTdkNzBjZjMxMzc-;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3 The second piece of information that I found to be upsetting was that girl's as young as 12 are posting about themselves on YouTube. On the Today Show they interviewed three teenage girl's who had posted videos asking others to "rate" their looks on the internet. Some of the responses that they got back were not positive which did not help their self esteem: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/46511399#46511399

Boy or Girl?

Some people grow up dreaming of one day having a little boy or a little girl. Interestingly enough there are websites dedicated to how to increase your chances of having either one! I saw this and thought it was worth sharing: http://www.urobiologics.com/

Pregnant Teens are now being Bullied!

Embarrassing and bullying young, sexually active girls about an unplanned pregnancy is not only hurtful but it can cause major backlash. We are considered adults when we turn 18, and the legal age to consent to sex is between ages 15 and 18 depending on the state. Unfortunately if you decide you want to have safe consensual sex as a teenager, or as an un-wedded woman pregnancy is not always 100% preventable. Harassment can have serious life threatening consequences. It is estimated that 160,000 children miss school every day because of the fear of attack or intimidation by other students (National Education Association). Also, American schools harbor approximately 2.1 million bullies and 2.7 million of their victims (Dan Olweus, National School Safety Center). And unfortunately, 1 out of every 10 students who drops out of school does so because of repeated bullying. Today, bullying is becoming more common between adolescents ages 11 and up. The harassment can be a variety of things, lately; there has been a shift in focus from innocent teasing to serious harassment. As many as 90% of high school girls from all different backgrounds report experiencing at least some sexual harassment at school. Being pregnant can make teenage girls more vulnerable to sexual harassment at school. Some people might think pregnancy gives them an excuse to talk about someone’s sexuality or sexual history (Jane’s Due Process). Unwanted sexual jokes or comments, sexual name-calling, spreading sexual rumors, grabbing or touching students in a sexual manner, and pulling clothing down or off are just a few examples of what these girls are experiencing. No matter what the schools feelings are towards teenage pregnancy federal law says that if your school knows you are being sexually harassed and doesn't do anything to stop it, it could be held liable for all repercussions. All schools or school district should have a policy against sexual harassment. It is important to understand that when a young woman becomes pregnant it does not mean that she has slept with several men, and you cannot assume that she does not take care of her body and won’t be a terrific mother. Unfortunately, nothing is 100% percent effective at preventing pregnancy for people who are sexually active; it can happen to anyone who IS sexually active. It is a personal decision and those who take that step of intimacy should be able to do so without shame. Resources: 1. Jane’s due Process. Sexual Harassment. http://www.janesdueprocess.org/teens/education/sexualharassment, 2012. February 13, 2012. 2. Prairie View Prevention Services Inc. Bullies and Victims. http://www.prairieview.net/Bullies%201.htm, 2000. February 13 2012.

February..the month of holidays!

February is a holiday that is known for its recognition of love, but most don’t know that it is a month that acknowledges affection of all sorts. Along with Valentine’s Day February is National Teen Dating Violence month and National Condom Month. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is a national effort to raise awareness about abuse in youth relationships and offer safe strategies for community response. This month we are joining with thousands of people around this country who are working to reduce the prevalence of dating violence, collaborate to promote healthier relationships for youth, and support integrated service models such as the work of adolescent health, pregnancy prevention, and domestic violence programs. Staggering statistics illustrate that we all need to do more to create safe environments for young people to discuss their experiences, to raise awareness about the National Dating Abuse Helpline as well as promote comprehensive community-based services. Unfortunately, 1 in 5 women and nearly 1 in 7 men who ever experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, first experienced some form of relationship violence between 11 and 17 years of age. Unfortunately, most teens don’t seek help. In 2010, local domestic violence programs supported through the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) provided services to 13,843 youth victims of dating violence through shelter, counseling, and advocacy services, and that is just to those who came forward. In addition, those programs reached over 1.9 million youth through training and public awareness programs. Please use this month as an opportunity to build your knowledge, strengthen partnerships and reflect on ways your agency can connect the young people in your programs with dating violence resources and support. There is free support online at www.loveisrespect.org. During National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month -- and throughout the year -- let each of us resolve to do our part to break the silence and create a culture of healthy relationships for all our young people. -President Barack Obama, February 2012 Going along with the theme of health and safety of at risk youth and sexually active adolescents, February is National Condom Month; The American Social Health Association (ASHA) wants everyone to be safe as Cupid’s arrows take flight, so each year we recognize February as National Condom Month. In the U.S. there are approximately 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STI) annually, about half of which occur among youth ages 15-24. STIs often lack noticeable symptoms and can be contracted from partners who don’t have a clue they have an infection. And they can be contracted through sexual assault and abuse. Untreated STIs can cause a host of medical complications, including infertility. Research overwhelmingly shows the value of condoms in reducing transmission risks with a host of STIs, including HIV and Chlamydia. Also, condom use is linked with lower rates of HPV infection and cervical cancer among women, and pregnancy. Lynn Barclay, ASHA president and CEO, says safer sex is often overlooked because people don’t think they’re at risk: "We think we’re ok because we only have a few partners or because STI’s only happen to others. Anyone who has sex is at risk.” Barclay says it’s important to take charge of your sexual health: “We all make choices, and using condoms is one of the smartest things we can do.” There may be pressure to have unprotected sex “just this once,” she says. Barclay adds that female condoms are an excellent alternative when a male partner can’t or won’t use a condom. Below are some tips of how to properly use a condom. Male Condoms: • Hold the condom by the tip to squeeze out the air. • Leave some space at the tip to hold the ejaculate (cum). • Unroll the condom all the way over the erect penis. • If you put the condom on and start to unroll it the wrong way, don't flip it over and put it on again. Throw the condom out and start again with a new condom. • After sex, the man should hold the condom at the rim and pull out slowly while the penis is still hard. • Use a new condom if you want to have sex again or if you want to have sex in a different place (for example, in the anus and then in the vagina). How to use a female condom The female condom is a pouch that fits inside a woman's vagina. It has a soft ring on each end. The outer ring stays on the outside of the vagina and partly covers the labia (lips). The inner ring fits on the inside of the vagina, somewhat like a diaphragm, to hold the condom in place. The female condom should be inserted before the penis touches the vagina. It can be inserted anywhere from immediately before to up to 8 hours prior to intercourse--allowing time to plan ahead. Another advantage of the female condom--it stays in place whether or not a male partner maintains an erection. To start, add lubricant to the outside of the condom. To insert the condom, squeeze the inner ring of the condom and put the inner ring and pouch inside the vagina. With your finger, push the inner ring as far into the vagina as it will go. The outer ring stays outside the vagina. Guide the penis into the condom, taking care that the penis is inserted into the condom and doesn't push the condom aside. After intercourse, the condom should be removed before standing up. Pull out the condom gently, making sure not to spill the content. Resources: 1. Health and Human Services. Administration for Children and Families, 2012. www.loveisrespect.org .February 10, 2012. 2. American Social Health Association. National Condom Month, 2012. February 10, 2012.