How Can Pesticides Impact Fertility?

A healthy, unpolluted and non-toxic environment is essential for optimum fertility. Everything in our macro and micro environments impacts on our health and fertility. Chemicals damage our health. They also have a huge impact on the Earth's delicate ecosystems and, not surprisingly, on the sperm and egg that will eventually become an embryo. That is why it is so important to make positive changes in order to overcome fertility problems and/or simply have the healthiest possible baby.

Everything you are exposed to, or do, for at least 120 days prior to a conception attempt will have huge repercussions on your ability to conceive, but even more importantly will have a dramatic impact on the health of your prospective child. Pesticides, herbicides and many other chemicals are not only toxic to our systems but they also imbalance fertility and hormonal levels in animals and humans. They mimic our own hormones, particularly oestrogen, and end up blocking receptors for other hormones such as testosterone. For women this is a problem because it enhances oestrogen dominance, leading to hormonal 'disproportion' and contributing to conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids. For men it disrupts testosterone balance and therefore healthy sperm production. Finally, it also disrupts embryonic development, particularly in relation to sexual development and reproductive function later in life. You can make a difference and safeguard your health, and the health of your prospective family, by changing your habits, namely dietary, lifestyle and even your cleaning and pest control of course!

From the outset, however, I must be clear that although every positive change is very important, each is but a single piece of the optimum fertility puzzle. Only together can they generate the necessary synergy to create profound and positive change. A whole person approach, taking all the pieces of the puzzle into consideration, is the essential way to restore and optimise natural fertility in men or women.

I have identified 11 key areas making up the platform I named the 11 Pillars of Fertility, which underpins my natural fertility treatment approach. In order to create the result many couples yearn for: The baby of their dream--these key areas require diligent and simultaneous implementation.

One of these important areas addresses the need to avoid toxic exposure to chemicals such as pesticides in order to truly optimise a couple's fertility as well as safeguard the health of a prospective child.

Fertility is not an isolated 'event' it is intrinsically connected with emotional, whole body and even (believe it or not) spiritual health. The body and the spirit are constantly striving towards balance, good health, fertility, energy and happiness. The problem is that due to our hectic lifestyles, health compromises and poor daily choices, we often overlook the basic requirements for incredible health and optimum fertility.We only take care of ourselves when something breaks down rather than making daily choices that maintain our most precious possession to the absolute best of our ability.

Thankfully, given the right circumstances, the human body is capable of seemingly miraculous shifts. It takes sufficient time, energy, nutrients, lifestyle changes and other desirable conditions, but at any time, the choice is yours. You can choose to take the time to listen to your body, to learn from it and work with it.

There are empowering and endless possibilities, even in cases where all hope had previously been lost for couples who take the time and take action! Keep the faith.

Copyright (c) 2008 Gabriela Rosa and Natural Fertility and Health Solutions P/L.

Information about the Author:

Leading Sydney natural fertility specialist, researcher and author Gabriela Rosa is devoted to helping bring healthy babies into the world. For free fertility advice and your FREE Natural Fertility Booster subscription visit boostyourfertilitynow.com.

How Common And Well Established Infertility Treatments Are Unlikely To Improve Fertility

Long established medical interventions to help couples with infertility problems do not seem to improve fertility, according to a study published on BMJ online. These findings challenge current practice in the UK and national guidelines should be reviewed in the light of this evidence, say the authors.

One in seven couples in the UK experience infertility. Unexplained infertility affects a quarter of these couples and common interventions to help them have been used for many years in line with fertility guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

A team of researchers led by the University of Aberdeen compared the effectiveness of two specific interventions with expectant management (no treatment).

They recruited 580 women who had experienced unexplained infertility for more than two years from four teaching hospitals and a district general hospital in Scotland. The women were randomised into three groups-one group of women were encouraged to try naturally for a pregnancy and had no medical interventions; one took oral clomiphene citrate (CC) which is believed to correct subtle ovulatory dysfunction; and the other had unstimulated intra-uterine insemination (IUI) of sperm.

Overall, 101 women became pregnant and had a live birth during the course of the study.

The researchers found that women who had no interventions had a live birth rate of 17%, the group taking oral CC had a birth rate of 14%, and the group having unstimulated IUI had a birth rate of 23%.

They point out that to have a meaningful and significant improvement in the live birth rate, the difference in live births between unstimulated IUI and no intervention would have to be much higher than the 6% reported in this trial.

Side effects for women including abdominal pain, bloating, hot flushes, nausea and headaches were highest in women taking oral CC, affecting 10% of women. (GR comment: And this does not take into consideration the potential long term negative effects of the drug).

Interestingly, women on active treatments (CC and IUI) were reassured by the process of treatment while women who had no interventions were less satisfied, despite it being equally effective.

The researchers conclude: "These interventions, which have been in use for many years, are unlikely to be more effective than no treatment. These results challenge current practice, as endorsed by a national guideline in the UK."

In an accompanying editorial, Tarek El-Toukhy and Yacoub Khalaf from the Assisted Conception Unit at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, say: "As a direct result of the lack of evidence, many couples with unexplained infertility endure (and even request) expensive, potentially hazardous, and often unnecessary treatments."

They call for high quality clinical trials to guide policymakers and to inform patients about the best treatments, and the cost effectiveness and the adverse effects associated with these interventions.

In addition, they suggest that current NICE guidelines, which endorse the use of up to six cycles of IUI without ovarian stimulation in couples with unexplained infertility, be reviewed in the light of current evidence.

Source: BMJ-British Medical Journal

Author's Comments:

Drug therapy for treatment of infertility like clomiphene has been around for a while, yet its efficacy just like other assisted reproductive methods is questionable. And it's no wonder since on their own (i.e. without natural and holistic support) their aim seems to treat individual body parts as opposed to a bigger whole.

I am not in anyway against assisted reproductive technologies, in fact I believe it has its place and sometimes even refer patients who truly cannot fall pregnant any other way. In addition, I support a lot of couples going through IVF with natural methods. However I believe couples in general are equivocally led to believe science is more effective than their own body's wisdom. They lose faith in the fact that their body can heal and change and adapt to create the baby of their dreams--even in cases where all hope had previously been lost.

How can I be so sure? I've seen this happen too many times to doubt it. My patients often experience miracles in the eyes of those who simply don't understand or believe in the unchangeable laws of nature. What they experience are not miracles because nature never deviates from its established laws. Our bodies have immense wisdom, ability and regeneration power--given the right circumstances and the right sort of encouragement--optimum fertility can be restored. It is just a matter of time.

The right amount of time required for optimum results is at least 120 days of what I like to call pristine living--because this is approximately how long it takes for the egg to mature and the sperm to form and if the sex cells are developing in the best possible environment the chances of a healthy conception are at the very least doubled. Pristine living is easier than you think but it does require that you do the absolute best you can day in, day out.

Eating a healthy diet on its own it not enough, you need to avoid all toxins (environmental, dietary and recreational), ensure you dose up on your good quality nutrients, get enough sleep, exercise and relaxation; naturally balance your hormones, emotions and priorities. When you and our partner do these things you automatically put yourselves in the best possible position to ensure your chances of a live birth are increased beyond the 17% in the above mentioned study. Foresight, the Association for Preconceptual Health Care in the UK shows at least 78% increase in the numbers of babies being taken home by "previously infertile" couples who follow such an approach.

Take back your power and start making better choices for yourself and the long term health and wellbeing of your family now. You all deserve it!

Copyright (c) 2008 Gabriela Rosa and Natural Fertility and Health Solutions P/L.

Information about the Author:

Leading Sydney natural fertility specialist, researcher and author Gabriela Rosa is devoted to helping bring healthy babies into the world. For free fertility advice and your FREE Natural Fertility Booster subscription visit boostyourfertilitynow.com.

Your Baby Reads! Discover Your Childs Hidden Ability

When your baby is just in your womb you have often given a thought for his future and evidently each parent will think his child to be ideal and most intellectual person in the world! This is true for every parent. You can assist your baby to attain the quality of reading and learning right from birth to 4 or 5 years of age. Yes, this is an amazing notion recently invented that your baby reads!

Well, you as parents are solely responsible to boost this capability of your baby and you can assist him build up this unique ability by several ways and for all this the crucial period is during your baby's infancy, (0-4 years) after which their capability begins to lessen. A baby during his primary years can memorize things very quickly as compared to children who become older. He should be encouraged to read as it facilitates them in many ways which are explained below.
1. Children who learn to read early have sharper brains and can grasp things effortlessly in future.
2. They become concentrated as their mind is much organized than other children who began reading late. Due to this skill he is ahead of others, thus he is ahead in education and is in a position to top others.
3. Reading naturally builds up their confidence and the children who are confident and with a great self-respect forever create a positive impact on their surroundings, school and teachers.
4. Early readers are likely to read more as they develop the habit of reading right from childhood. Because of this talent they know more and thus recognize better.
5. Toddlers who develop the practice of reading surmount a lot of reading problems and they like their schools more than the children who can't read correctly

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But keep in mind all these benefits your child can't attain it solely by himself, you are the main source behind him to help him acquire these qualities and become a confident human being in future. All you should do is only put in a little bit of efforts. Firstly, you must speak to him with the body language that he recognizes what precisely you are trying to communicate to him. Then notice on what you talk and the way you talk to him. Your speech should be lucid and must create a positive atmosphere and your tone should be so gracious that it builds an impression that no one else in this world is able to build. What you speak must be appealing so that your child enjoys your company and reacts promptly. Once your baby is comfortable with you, start to read with him, show him wonderful books that are not only motivating but informative too. There are a vast number of books with interesting poems, rhymes, lullaby's, pictures and stories that your child can effortlessly understand and will build the habit of reading. You just need to point on a few important things and emphasize a few interesting details that draw his concentration. This method of inventive reading will boost his self-assurance and increase his IQ level, he tends to become more inquiring and questioning to know more about the things occurring around him and the world.

Helping your baby read is a two way gain, your baby gets closer to you as you give him a lot of valuable time and the other is you come to know your baby better, his likes, reluctance, his hidden capability and of course his skill to concentrate and grasp things. Hence, helping your baby read will finally amaze you when you discover the truth that "Your Baby Reads"!

Information about the Author:

Discover the hidden potential in your baby, yes! he can read. Teaching your baby to read is fun! Find out more at mybabycanread.info and you can tell the world that my baby can read too!

How To Be Smart When Buying Stretch Mark Creams

Have you ever used a stretch mark cream to get rid of your stretch mark? Did it work? There are many stretch mark creams available but not all are value for money. However, it is the easiest method to fight stretch marks because all you have to do is drive to the store to buy one. Which one to buy is the question. The sure way to find out if a stretch mark cream will work for you is to try it out yourself.

If you refer to other mothers for a recommendation, I'm sure you'll have quite a list. It can get quite confusing too when one product draws contradicting testimonies. One person may say that the cream is the best while another may render it useless. One thing you need to know is that some stretch marks creams do help to remove stretch marks but not permanently. If you use it for several weeks, the marks may diminish. So, when out shopping, how will you know if a certain stretch mark cream will really live up to it's promises? Unfortunately, there is no way to know for sure beforehand.

One factor that effects the performance of a stretch mark cream is the level of skin damaged already incurred. If the skin is badly damaged, the primary compounds of the cream can't penetrate into the skin. If this is your condition, tummy tuck is the only way to remove stretch marks.

Those streaky lines may be unsightly but they certainly are not dangerous to your health. It will not cause any sickness or health problem. However, it may affect you mentally and emotionally as it effects your physical appearance. It can make you feel less worthy and shake your confidence. Thus, many skin care companies are taking advantage of these emotional problems by marketing their creams as miracle cures for stretch marks.

I hate to say it but you cannot reverse the process of developed stretch marks. Using the cream, you can only make the marks less visible and less noticeable. It is unlikely that you can make stretch marks disappear like magic.

The thing you need to do when looking for a good stretch mark cream is to search for one that can reinstate the lost natural oils of your skin. If it can do this, the chances of a favorable outcome is high. Vitamin A and vitamin E are essential ingredients in a stretch mark cream. You'll also need to check if the cream has a functioning delivery mechanism such as emu oil to give it the ability to permeate deeply beneath the skin. No point having wonderful ingredients if they can't reach the part of your skin that needs it most.

Among the frequently used creams for pregnant women are cocoa butter and shea butter. Unfortunately, not everybody can endure the distinctive odor of cocoa butter. If you are one of them, don't despair as there are other natural creams that you can try. Doing a little research on the products before you make a purchase will give you a better chance of getting the right one. Don't get caught up with all the advertising they throw in your face. Be smart by scanning the product's ingredients. Make sure you don't buy any creams with steroids such as hydrocortisone.

Information about the Author:

For a stretch mark cream to work, it must be able to improve your skin health. Trilastin SR is highly effective because it stimulates the production of collagen. Scarred tissue are replaced with new cells. Get all the details at www.merchantbuster.com/stretchmarkcreams/trilastin-sr

Are You Using The Best Pregnancy Diet? Don't Make These Mistakes

Do you need to get rid of that leftover flab from your pregnancy? Do you want to be that slim, attractive girl you were before the baby? Are you struggling to lose but can't get the hang of it? You may be making some common mistakes. The best pregnancy diet consists of three main elements.

Eating healthier, exercising to increase your metabolic rate and breastfeeding your baby are the three most successful techniques ever used in the quest to get rid of baby weight. They will work for you if you are willing to commit to the right way to lose weight.

To begin, many new mothers make the mistake of eating the same things they did before giving birth. Such a life-changing event requires you to re-evaluate your choice of foods. The best pregnancy diet will emphasize the use of foods with fewer calories. Postnatal advice is to eat a high fiber, high protein diet loaded with fruits and veggies.

That means salads and fresh fruit and anything that has lots of fiber. Many cereal grains have fiber. Lean meats, fish and skinless chicken help with protein. Low fat dairy products like yogurt have protein and vitamin D. The best pregnancy diet recognizes that giving up those sodas and other sweet drinks will help cut down calorie intake. This common mistake slows the weight loss progress of many new moms. Drink water instead. It gives you a nice full feeling and it flushes the toxins out of your system and it will rehydrate you.

Another common mistake is the belief that you must wait for six to eight weeks before exercising. That just ain't so. The best pregnancy diet means you must increase your metabolism as soon as you can by exercising. If you had a normal vaginal birth with no real complications, then you can start whenever you want. It might be best to wait a day or two, then begin. The object here is to increase your metabolic rate. That will happen when your heart rate and breathing increase.

Exercise fits the bill. Most new moms begin with pushing that baby stroller for a few minutes every day. They may not know it but they are exercising their arms, legs and abdominal muscles when they push it. After a while, they can tell when they are ready to add more exercise.

The best pregnancy diets have another option. Some lucky new moms join a health club. Not only do they have special programs for new moms, but they usually have free day care for the babies while mom works out in the gym. That hot tub doesn't make you suffer much either.

Another mistake new mothers make is not understanding that beginning to breastfeed will cause an immediate loss of weight. That's why it is included with the best pregnancy diets. When you start, during the postpartum phase, your body begins a hormonal change that breaks down your body fat into nutrients used for your baby's milk.

A daily 500 calorie loss will result. Combine that loss with diet and exercise and you will lose at least a pound every week. The best pregnancy diets have used this knowledge to educate new moms for a while now.

In conclusion, the best pregnancy diets always use the three most successful techniques ever discovered. Eating a healthier diet, doing lots of strenuous exercise and breastfeeding are very effective when used together.

It should be mentioned that when you are breastfeeding, you must eat a minimum of 1500 to 1800 calories per day to make sure your baby is adequately nourished. If you use the best pregnancy diet, you will be one of the successful ones. You can do it.

Information about the Author:

Of course this is just a few tips on the best pregnancy diet. Many people ask us how they can lose that baby belly and we help many by sharing what worked for us. More questions? losing-baby-weight.com

Is The Best Pregnancy Diet Really A Myth?

Because a new mother tries to lose weight and struggles, she has a tendency to believe that the things she was told are not true. She is simply misinformed about how to lose it. The best pregnancy diets have three main elements in their design.

Eating a much healthier diet, doing enough exercise to increase metabolic rate and making the choice to breastfeed are the three most effective techniques used to get rid of that unwanted weight. If she uses them properly, she will experience a definite and timely weight loss. The best pregnancy diets have used these methods since the dawn of mankind. They will work for you too.

At first, you were told to gain weight for your baby. Then, when you delivered, you noticed that there was weight left over that had to be removed. The best pregnancy diets will do that for you, but you must be committed to making smarter choices with foods. Your postnatal advice was to eat a high fiber, high protein diet rich with fruits and vegetables.

The best pregnancy diet will recommend lean meats, chicken without skin and fish to supply protein. There are many sources of protein. You can find out what their caloric content is by reading the food value labels on the product packaging. Low fat dairy products like yogurt supply protein and vitamin D. But the most important advice is to give up drinking sweet drinks and sodas. Drink plain water instead. It gives you a full feeling and it flushes the toxins out of your body while rehydrating you. The best pregnancy diets recommend it highly.

The old wives tale of waiting six to eight weeks before exercise is a common mistake. The best pregnancy diets tell you to get started right away. If you had a normal birth without complications, then you can start exercising whenever you want. It would be best to wait for a day or two, then get going. The object of exercising as part of the best pregnancy diet is to raise your metabolic rate.

Most new moms start by pushing a baby carriage or stroller for a few minutes every day. This is an excellent low impact exercise that is easy to do in the beginning. It exercises your arms, legs and abdominals. After only a short while, you'll know what condition you're in and can add exercise accordingly. There are many good exercise plans for new mothers out there. Pick one and get going.

The best pregnancy diet will include the choice of breastfeeding because it is a very effective tool for weight loss. It may surprise you to learn that breastfeeding will cause a 500 calorie loss rate every day. When you start during the postpartum phase, your body starts breaking down body fat into nutrients used for baby's milk.

This hormonal change should be combined with diet and exercise. When you do, you can expect a weight loss of at least a pound every week. That's why the best pregnancy diets recommend it.

To wrap things up, the best pregnancy diets use eating a healthier diet, getting enough vigorous exercise and breastfeeding to achieve effective weight loss goals. It must be said here that if you are breastfeeding, you should eat a minimum of 1500 to 1800 calories every day for your baby's nutrition. All in all, the best pregnancy diets can be trusted to do what they say, to get rid of that extra weight. You can do it.

Information about the Author:

Of course this is just a few tips on the best pregnancy diet. Many people ask us how they can lose that baby belly and we help many by sharing what worked for us. More questions? losing-baby-weight.com

How To Conceive A Girl: 3 Essential Tips

Is it really possible to choose the gender of your unborn baby?

The short answer would be... yes!
Medicine has advanced to the point at which it can help parents who want to choose the sex of their baby. There are already baby gender selection medical procedures available to guarantee that your baby will be of gender of your preference.
Whatever your reason for choosing the sex of your baby may be!

Because... some will argue that being able to choose the sex of your baby before conception is not a right thing to do.
If parents would be allowed to choose the gender of their baby, that could disturb the balance between the number of males and females in a given population. Not to mention the ethical questions choosing the gender of unborn babies would arise!

So, how is that important issue regulated?
In United States, there is no law that prohibits parents from choosing the sex of their baby in fertility clinics.
Since fertility clinics are not regulated, nothing stands in the way for parents to exercise their "right" to choose, except maybe the high monetary cost of baby gender selection procedures.

Some countries prohibit sex selection procedures.

It is not unusual for wealthy people from foreign contries who want to choose the sex of their baby to come in american fertility clinics. Many american fertility clinics advertize in those contries so to attract wealthy clients who want that choose the gender of their baby.

While it's still possible.

Anybody who says that can guarantee you 100% that you will conceive a girl, and the procedure is not medically recognized, is either lying - or is misguided himself.

The only way to conceive only a baby girl for sure is to ask help from fertility clinics with qualified and experienced medicine professionals.

However, there are ways to sway your odds - somewhat - in favor of conceiving a baby girl, and they're fairly simple:

1. Remember the saying "You are what you eat"? Well, it seems what you eat can also have a determining effect on the gender of your unborn baby.
To conceive a girl, you should be eating a diet rich in magnesium and low in sodium. That means giving up on salty foods and introducing lots of green leafy vegetables in your diet - something that is either way good for your health!
Oh, and you are officially granted permission to indulge yourself in sweets:)
In a nutshell, that would be baby girl conceiving diet.

2. Timing intercourse to conceive a baby girl method.
Because of the differences between male and female carrying sperm, you are advised to do a baby dance about three days prior to your ovulation date. That would give X sperm a better fighting chance to fertilize egg when the right time comes.
That would be the short answer to a question: "When to have sex to conceive a baby girl?".
Remember, the exact date of ovulation is of critical importance when you’re trying for a girl, so be sure you know how to determine when you’re ovulating.

3. What position to have sex in to conceive a girl?
It seems that shallow penetration favors the conception of a daughter.
Make love in missionary position to conceive a baby girl.
Some also recommend position with woman on top.

Have fun trying for a girl, and good luck!

Information about the Author:

How to conceive a girl - how-to-conceive-girl.blogspot.com - is a place to learn more about baby girl conceiving ways!

The Best Pregnancy Diets Are The Ones That Work For You

You can get rid of that extra flab leftover from your delivery. The best pregnancy diets are the ones that show you how. Essentially, there are three main ways to do it. They involve eating a healthier diet, getting lots of vigorous exercise and making the choice to breastfeed your baby.

When you do these things, you are making a change in your lifestyle. The best pregnancy diet is the one that helps you to eat fewer calories and burn more calories with vigorous exercise. The best pregnancy diets are the ones that work for you.

When you got pregnant, you didn't think about dieting. You gained weight for the healthy development of your child. The best pregnancy diet will help you change from that habit into one that is more realistic for a new mother. Your postnatal advice was to eat a high protein, high fiber diet rich with fruits and vegetables.

You were told to eat lean meats, skinless chicken and fish for protein. Salads are good for both vitamins and fiber. Low fat dairy products like yogurt and cottage cheese contribute protein and vitamin D. The best pregnancy diets call for wise choices. But, overall, the best advice is to drink lots and lots of plain water. It gives you a full feeling and it flushes out your system while it rehydrates you. You really should give up drinking those sodas and other sweet drinks.

When you use the best pregnancy diet, you are trying to burn more calories than you eat. That means you must increase your metabolism. The way to do that is by exercising . The object here is to increase your heart rate and breathing. The new mother usually starts out by pushing a baby stroller in the fresh air for a few minutes daily.

She may not know it, but she is exercising her arms, legs and abdominals when she does. After a while of doing that, she gets a good idea of what her physical condition is. The best pregnancy diet encourages exercise wherever you can find it. One new mom I know does leg lifts and sit-ups when she plays with her baby on the floor. There are many good exercise plans for new mothers out there. Pick one and get started.

When a new mother begins to breastfeed during the postpartum phase, she is losing weight in the easiest way possible. That's why it's included in the best pregnancy diets. Breastfeeding is Nature's gift of effortless weight loss. Her body begins a hormonal change that causes her body fat to break down into the nutrients used in her baby's milk.

This breakdown means a loss of 500 calories every day. The best pregnancy diet will recommend that the new mom combine that with eating a healthy diet and lots of exercise. The predictable result will be a loss of at least a pound every week, maybe more. Now that's the best pregnancy diet.

To sum up, Eating a much healthier diet, doing lots of exercise and choosing to breastfeed your baby are the three mostly successful methods used in the best pregnancy diets. They are simple, effective and have a proven track record of impressive weight loss.

It should be said here that if you breastfeed, you should eat a minimum of 1500 to 1800 calories every day. That's not much. The best pregnancy diet is flexible enough to fit into your life. You can do this.

Information about the Author:

Of course this is just a few tips on the best pregnancy diet. Many people ask us how they can lose that baby belly and we help many by sharing what worked for us. More questions? losing-baby-weight.com

What Causes Back Pain In Pregnant Women?

Back pain in pregnant women is a frequent problem. As many as three quarters of expectant mothers experience back pain during some phase of their pregnancy. So, why does your low back hurt during pregnancy?

Pretty much, it can be reduced to changes in your body posture due to the stretching abdomen, and hormonal shifts.

Hormones cause the ligaments and tendons in the body to loosen in preparation for childbirth. Postural changes occur as your center of gravity changes. The muscles that surround your spine must work harder.

This article will explore the causes of back pain during pregnancy, discuss the different types of back pain that occur, and provide information about what can be done to prevent and relieve prenatal back pain.

There are two common types of low back pain in pregnancy, lumbar pain and posterior pelvic pain.

Lumbar pain is similar to the kind of back pain you may have experienced before you became pregnant. Lumbar discomfort is felt in the lower spine, at the level of, or slightly higher than, your waist. It can also result in pain that radiates to your legs.

Lumbar discomfort can be triggered by sitting or standing for extended periods of time or by repetitive lifting.

Posterior pelvic pain is low back ache that is experienced behind the pelvis, below the waist, and/or across the tailbone or sacrum. It can also be felt in the buttocks, on one or both sides, or in the back of the thighs. You may also have pubic pain. Posterior pelvic pain occurs four times more frequently than lumbar pain during pregnancy.

Posterior pelvic discomfort can be aggravated by bending, twisting, rolling, climbing stairs, and prolonged leaning forward such as occurs when you sit at a computer for extended periods of time.

Posterior pelvic pain is often mistaken as sciatica. When you have sciatica, it causes discomfort not only in the low back, hips, buttocks, and thighs, but also in the legs. With sciatica, the leg pain is generally more severe than the spinal pain, and is accompanied by numbness, tingling, or pin-pricking sensations. This aching and numbness generally radiates all the way into the toes. Numbness may also extend to the groin and genital areas.

Sciatica is generally caused by a herniated or bulging disk.

Your risk of low back pain during pregnancy increases if you have had back aches before becoming pregnant or during a previous pregnancy. You also have an increased risk of prenatal back pain if you are carrying twins or are overweight.

In order to maintain a healthy back during pregnancy, it is essential to engage in a regular exercise regimen. Exercise is essential for controlling and avoiding back pain. When your muscles are weak and inflexible, you are more likely to hurt. Regular exercise will stretch and strengthen your muscles and ligaments to better support your spine and prevent pregnancy back ache from occurring.

Specific exercises to alleviate low back pain during pregnancy include pelvic tilt exercises, Kegel exercises, back stretches, hamstring stretches, chest stretches, and wall squats.

Some expectant mothers find that a warm (not hot) bath helps to alleviate pain. Try adding Epsom salts to your bathwater. The magnesium in the Epsom salt is especially helpful at soothing tired and aching muscles.

Take extra time to rest and take care of yourself. While exercise is important, so is rest. Make sure you get adequate rest and sleep, and don't over-tax your aching back. This can help keep back pain in pregnant women in check.

Massage therapy, chiropractic care, and acupuncture may help comfort you when you need immediate relief from your discomfort.

Some women find that the use of a pregnancy support belt helps take pressure off of their back. Always talk to your doctor first.

If you are pregnant with back pain that is very intense, or your pain is rhythmic and feels like menstrual cramps, you should contact your health care provider for advice. Also, if you are having numbness you should always contact your health care provider.

A dull backache could be a sign of preterm labor. If you are concerned about your pain, you should contact your health care provider for further evaluation.

Information about the Author:

Orit Cox is a Holistic Health Practitioner and massage therapist in San Diego, CA and content writer for PregnancyMomandBaby.com, a resource for pregnancy and mothers, where you can find back exercises for pregnancy. At PregnancyPainRelief.com, you can discover easy techniques to relieve back pain from pregnancy

Why Your Low Back Hurts During Pregnancy, and How to Get Relief

Back pain in pregnant women is a very common complaint. In fact, as many as 80% of pregnant women will have back pain at some time during their pregnancy. There are several types of back pain that occur among expectant mothers, but low back pain is the most common. But why does your low back hurt during pregnancy?

Backache can occur for a number of reasons, which can be reduced to two main issues: hormones and postural changes.

During pregnancy, your body produces a veritable cocktail of hormones. Among these is a hormone called relaxin. The primary role of relaxin is to loosen the joints and ligaments in your body in order to help them stretch and widen. This allows your body to more easily make room for your baby inside of your pelvis. And, when the time comes for your baby to be born, the hormone relaxin will have helped the joints of your pelvis relax and stretch enough for your baby's shoulders to pass through your pelvic bones.

But what does all that have to do with lower back pain? Well, unfortunately, your body is unable to isolate which ligaments and joints will stretch and loosen, and this happens on a broad scale throughout your body. As the ligaments and muscles which normally support your spine become lax, it can result in some instability in the spine, which can result in aching and discomfort.

As your uterus expands and your baby grows, it also causes immense changes in your posture, which can result in aching. As your abdomen and uterus stretch, it puts a greater strain on your back muscles.

Your center of gravity is changing. Your abdomen is shifting out and down, and your spine curves backward to try to compensate for this shift. As a result, your spinal muscles become sore and tired, and more prone to injury and strain.

This article will explore the causes of back pain during pregnancy, discuss the different types of back pain that occur, and provide information about what can be done to prevent and relieve prenatal back pain.

There are two common types of low back pain in pregnancy, lumbar pain and posterior pelvic pain.

Lumbar pain is similar to the kind of back pain you may have experienced before you became pregnant. Lumbar discomfort is felt in the lower spine, at the level of, or slightly higher than, your waist. It can also result in pain that radiates to your legs.

Lumbar discomfort can be triggered by sitting or standing for extended periods of time or by repetitive lifting.

Posterior pelvic pain is low back ache that is experienced behind the pelvis, below the waist, and/or across the tailbone or sacrum. It can also be felt in the buttocks, on one or both sides, or in the back of the thighs. You may also have pubic pain. Posterior pelvic pain occurs four times more frequently than lumbar pain during pregnancy.

Posterior pelvic discomfort can be aggravated by bending, twisting, rolling, climbing stairs, and prolonged leaning forward such as occurs when you sit at a computer for extended periods of time.

Posterior pelvic pain is often mistaken as sciatica. When you have sciatica, it causes discomfort not only in the low back, hips, buttocks, and thighs, but also in the legs. With sciatica, the leg pain is generally more severe than the spinal pain, and is accompanied by numbness, tingling, or pin-pricking sensations. This aching and numbness generally radiates all the way into the toes. Numbness may also extend to the groin and genital areas.

Sciatica is generally caused by a herniated or bulging disk.

Your risk of low back pain during pregnancy increases if you have had back aches before becoming pregnant or during a previous pregnancy. You also have an increased risk of prenatal back pain if you are carrying twins or are overweight.

In order to maintain a healthy back during pregnancy, it is essential to engage in a regular exercise regimen. Exercise is essential for controlling and avoiding back pain. When your muscles are weak and inflexible, you are more likely to hurt. Regular exercise will stretch and strengthen your muscles and ligaments to better support your spine and prevent pregnancy back ache from occurring.

Specific exercises to alleviate low back pain during pregnancy include pelvic tilt exercises, Kegel exercises, back stretches, hamstring stretches, chest stretches, and wall squats.
Take extra care to be aware of how you bend and move. That alone can help prevent discomfort before it begins.

Back pain in pregnant women can be frustrating, for sure, but you can find relief. Be sure you are getting adequate rest, nutrition, and exercise, and you will be on the way to eliminating backaches for good.

If your back pain if very intense, is rhythmic and feels like menstrual cramps, or is causing numbness, you should contact your health care provider.

Information about the Author:

Orit Cox is a Holistic Health Practitioner and massage therapist in San Diego, CA and content writer for PregnancyMomandBaby.com, an information resource for pregnancy and mothers. Orit is also the author of The Pregnancy Pain Guide, featured at PregnancyPainRelief.com, where you can discover easy-to-implement techniques to relieve back pain from pregnancy.

Top 7 Fertility Boosting Foods You Should Start Eating Now

A healthy diet and lifestyle are essential for optimum fertility. A healthy body is a fertile body and the health of your baby is in great part decided before a pregnancy is even in sight. You see, by 8 weeks gestation a baby's health blueprint is already created, as are his or her tiny organs and little fingerprints! At this stage his or her health vulnerabilities and strengths are set by the "map" guiding this miracle of creation. It is fair to say that once a pregnancy is established your child's health potential becomes the lowest common denominator of you and your partner's health at the point of conception.

So, how do you overcome fertility problems and give your child, the best possible start in life? It's simple. Ensure you your partner are in optimum health by beginning the preparation for your most important event yet, at least 120 days prior to a conception attempt--whether you are trying to conceive naturally or using any form of assisted reproductive technologies.

Why 120 days? The quality of the egg and sperm today is the reflection of everything that was happening in your life and immediate environment over the previous 4 months. Your complete health picture during that time including nutrition, stress levels, blood oxygenation, hormone levels, emotions and other factors affect the quality of your fertility in the current month.

What you eat is an important part of my 11 Pillars of Fertility blueprint developed to give couples a comprehensive step by step reproducible system for overcoming fertility problems and creating the healthy baby of their dreams.

So what are some of the fertility boosting foods you can start making a solid base of your fertility diet today?

:: Green vegetables and Leafy Vegetables--This includes spinach, kale, collard greens, watercress and even Avocadoes. They contain folic acid, helpful in the production of red blood cells and genetic material. Folic acid also promotes development of a healthy nervous system, and prevents neural deficiencies in the fetus after conception--and it's extremely important for healthy sperm production.

:: Nuts and Seeds--This includes walnuts, almonds, pecans and all seeds like safflower and sunflower seeds. The have essential fatty acids and Vitamin E which are essential in the production of healthy cells.

:: Citrus Fruits--Oranges, Kiwi fruit, grapefruit and other citrus fruits all have very high Vitamin C content. Vitamin C enhances sperm motility by preventing sperm clumping. It also enhances ovulation and release of the egg from ovaries.

:: Pigmented Vegetables--This includes orange or red hued vegetables like carrots, pumpkins, and all varieties of squashes. These have beta-carotene which is a healthy source of Vitamin A. This vitamin is essential for maintaining healthy tissues in the reproductive organs as well as being essential for developing healthy brains and eyes!

:: Salmon--This fish contains essential omega-3 fatty acids, which assist hormone production. In addition sperm is largely made up of this type of fatty acids as is the embryo's developing nervous system.

:: Pineapple--This is the best known natural source of Manganese, a very important mineral. Manganese activates enzymes in the body that trigger production of various reproductive hormones. Low levels of manganese are associated with difficulty conceiving. Pineapple also contains great amounts of enzymes, which aid digestion.

:: Chilies--Spicy foods containing red chili peppers increases blood flow around the body, ensuring that the reproductive system gets a healthy supply. Chilies also stimulate endorphin production, associated with stress release and a feeling of calm relaxation, which greatly increase chances of conception.

These foods are most effective if consumed in their natural form. For the highest nutritional value, choose fresh, unprocessed organic foods wherever possible, and avoid overcooking your vegetables.

Copyright(c) 2008 Gabriela Rosa and Natural Fertility and Health Solutions P/L.

Information about the Author:

Leading Sydney natural fertility specialist, researcher and author Gabriela Rosa is devoted to helping bring healthy babies into the world. For free fertility advice and your FREE Natural Fertility Booster subscription visit boostyourfertilitynow.com.

Congratulations, You're Pregnant! Now What?

It is so fun to see that deep shade of blue on the stick for the first time. It's an exciting day - kind of like standing in line for a fun, but somewhat scary roller coast ride. Anticipation, happiness, hopes, fears and questions may start rattling around in your mind all at once. And there are many decisions to be made; here are some you may want to start thinking about to begin with:

Who do you tell and in what time frame? (work, family, friends)

What kind of care do you want? (hospital, midwife, home birth, birthing center)

What kind of lifestyle, diet or exercise habits may you need to change?

What are the best resources for you as you learn about pregnancy?(internet, books, movies, family members, friends, classes)

There is a lot to learn which can be overwhelming. Narrow it down to a few things to focus on especially if, as most women do, you are in the middle of a full and busy life that continues to march forward with responsibilities to attend to.

The first thing we usually think of when we think of pregnancy is feeling sick. Actually, everyone is different. Early pregnancy feels much like pre-pregnancy days for some. For others nausea may begin even before you miss your period! Each has its pros and cons. Those who don't feel sickness are lucky in that they don't feel sick, but may be concerned about the health and well-being of the developing baby because they don't feel any differently. Those who are sick are probably thrown immediately into the game of trying to fend off nausea and second appearances from their swallowed meals (even brushing your teeth might make you gag if you find yourself in this category), but can rest assured that something is going on in there. Meanwhile those in between these two extremes may just feel more fatigued, have a few headaches or just occasional bouts of nausea. Here are a few suggestions of things to remember whatever your situation:

Make sure to get plenty of folic acid in your diet - directly from food is best, but most health care providers also suggest a pre-natal vitamin.
Eat as nutritionally as possible (smaller meals more times a day may help if you're nauseated).

Try to keep exercising, even if it's just a 30-minute walk 3-5 times per week (this may help with nausea).

Remember you may feel more emotional than usual, especially in the third month, so be aware of your stress levels and the fact that you probably have a few expectations that will have to be discarded (for example: being pregnant may not bring you and your partner closer at first like you expected; if he wants to celebrate at a nice seafood restaurant, and the thought of fish - or any food at all - makes you want to hurl it may be difficult for him to understand your lack of enthusiasm. His experience of pregnancy may be quite different than yours in general, so find ways to help him feel involved and learn about pregnancy in a way that works for him).

If you're sick, don't be too hard on yourself; just do the best you can; it's typical for your second trimester to be easier on the stomach.

A woman's situation, experiences, goals and her unique body all contribute to making this experience wonderfully special to her. Thankfully she will have many things in common with other women as well which can help her build relationships with other women in her same situation and allow her to make some educated guesses about the exciting, but unknown path ahead of her.

Information about the Author:

Art Gib writes and contributes for many baby, child, family and parent online publications including HugaMonkey. Art is an avid baby sling supporter because of the positive impact it can have on families. For more information regarding baby slings, visit www.hugamonkey.com.