Women's Health

OK, So We’re Home, Now What?

Having children can be frightening, exciting, tiring, and nerve-wracking all at the same time.  When you bring your first newborn home from the hospital, you’re likely to think, “OK, so we’re home, now what?”  Here are some ideas of things that you can do with your newborn.

Most first-time moms are overwhelmed and tired when they first bring their baby home.  They’ve gotten used to having people available around the clock to answer questions or concerns they may have about their newborn.  Friends and family have come to the hospital to visit and Mom may not have held baby much while there.

It’s helpful to realize that for the first couple of weeks your baby is going to be either eating or sleeping most of the time.  You will have to change their diapers and bathe them, but for the most part the beginning is the easiest time you’ll have raising children.  Take advantage of this time to rest and recuperate from labor.  You worked hard, Mom, you deserve it!

Having the help of your spouse, a family member, or friend would be great for the first week or so.  They can be available to watch the baby while you take a nap or shower.  Someone being there with you will help you feel less scared when it’s just the two of you.

Be protective of your baby and your home when you first come home.  If you would like to have guests, by all means, do.  Just be sure they understand that anyone who might be ill will have to wait until they are healthy before they are allowed to come by.

Keeping things absolutely quiet isn’t necessary, but you will want your home to be quieter than may be normal.  Don’t play the television, computer, or music too loud, but don’t go overboard.  While babies do need the home to be calm and serene, they don’t need it to be lifeless.

Show the baby around the house, spending a good amount of time in the rooms where they’ll spend the most of their days.  Your bedroom (if you plan to keep the baby in with you), the nursery, and the living room are all places they’ll see a lot of.

Most importantly, love the baby and trust in your own maternal instincts.  You may feel overwhelmed and even a little bit afraid.  That’s a normal reaction when the world you’ve known has been turned upside down.  Take your time, learn about your baby, and enjoy loving it.

Before long you’ll be a professional at taking care of your little one and you’ll wonder why you were so scared.  You may have wondered what you were supposed to do once you brought the baby home from the hospital.  Now you know that it wasn’t as hard as you thought.

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PPD What Is It?

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a condition that women have dealt with for centuries, but it has received more attention due to Brooke Shield’s recent bout with this condition.  Women all over believe it is about time that the “baby blues” are being discussed and dealt with in a serious manner.  What exactly is PPD, what are the symptoms, and what is the best way to treat it?

Depression in any form can be a debilitating illness.  It is often described as being blue, unhappy, or down in the dumps.  Most people in the world will experience it to some degree.  When a mother experiences depression during pregnancy it’s called perinatal depression.  If a mother has depression after birth, it is called postpartum depression.

There are three degrees to depression affecting women after birth.  “Baby blues” last from a few days up to a week or so.  It may include:
* mood swings
* crying
* irritability
* inability to concentrate

PPD is often considered at first to be the baby blues, but is more intense and lasts longer.  There could be, in addition to the symptoms of baby blues, any of these symptoms:
* loss of appetite
* intense anger
* lack of joy in life
* difficulty bonding with the baby
* thoughts of harming yourself or the baby

The most severe, and rare, form is postpartum psychosis. This is characterized by:
* confusion and disorientation
* paranoia
* attempts to harm yourself or the baby

Experts haven’t determined an exact cause for PPD.  Causes may include physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors.  Some experts think the changes in a woman’s body after birth causes the hormones to go haywire which leads to this condition.  Lack of sleep, feeling overwhelmed, and being anxious could be emotional factors that contribute to PPD.  A demanding baby, difficulty breastfeeding, financial difficulties, and having a non-supportive partner are lifestyle factors that may be part of the cause.

Don’t feel too embarrassed about your symptoms to tell someone about them.  Having any of these conditions doesn’t make you a bad mom, but it does mean you’re human and you need help.  Women have been having postpartum depression for years and many never knew what they were dealing with.

Talk to your doctor about your concerns, especially if you’re concerned you may hurt your child.  Treatment options are to prescribe medication to help with your symptoms or they may suggest you seek professional mental help.  In either case, don’t try to wait the depression out.

Postpartum Depression is nothing to be ashamed of.  Try to get as much sleep as you can and accept help from friends and family when it is offered.  Finding a PPD support group may also help you understand and deal with the condition of PPD in an effective way.

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Help, I Need Some Sleep

When you were pregnant, all your friends probably told you the horror stories of labor and delivery.  What they maybe failed to prepare you for was how tired you would be when you have children.  Don’t be surprised if you hear yourself yell, “Help, I need some sleep!”

You may have had plenty of help when you first brought your child home from the hospital.  At that time, you were probably able to sleep when the baby slept and rest as much as you needed.  As your baby grows, however, you may find getting sleep isn’t quite so easy.

Often what makes the whole sleepless night situation worse is the fact that everyone asks you, “Is the baby sleeping through the night yet?”  You’ll want to tell them yes, but the fact could be that your baby hasn’t gotten into a good sleep routine yet.  That’s nothing to be ashamed of, so give yourself a break.  You will be able to sleep all night again, eventually.

Here are some options you may like to try to see if they will help you and your child both get much needed sleep:

* Breastfeeding is the best one option parents choose for feeding their newborns.  If you’ve chosen this option, you may decide to pump part of the time.  By pumping, your spouse can help feed the baby in the middle of the night so you can sleep.

* Again, with breastfeeding and pumping, you could take turns getting up with the baby at night.  By sharing the load, you won’t get one parent who is totally rested while the other parent is wiped out from getting up each night.

* Change your schedule so you’re going to bed earlier.  It may seem odd to go to bed at 8:00 p.m. but it might be one way to get that much needed sleep you desire.

* Co-sleeping allows a mom that breastfeeds to do so without having to completely wake up.  This option has been used for centuries.

* Hire a babysitter to come over during the day for a couple of hours so you can get in a decent nap.  If you have friends with children around the same age, maybe you can trade babysitting so you both can catch up on your sleep.

Consider the above suggestions when you’re yelling, “Help, I need some sleep!”  Or you may be able to think up other ways to get the sleep you need.  No matter which you use, make getting sleep a priority.

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Hysterectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures for women.  It involves the partial or complete removal of the uterus, and sometimes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and/or cervix.

There are several reasons that hysterectomies are recommended by Doctors:

* Uterine fibroids - This is one of the most common reasons that hysterectomies are done.  These are non-cancerous growths in the uterus.  Sometimes uterine fibroids cause few or no problems and require no treatment.  There are also other treatments that can be used in some cases.  But if the fibroids are very large, or if they cause severe pain, pressure or bleeding, a hysterectomy might be necessary.

* Endometriosis - Endometriosis is a condition in which the lining of the uterus, or the endometrium, grows outside of the uterus.  Symptoms may include chronic pelvic pain, urinary difficulties, infertility, and gastrointestinal problems.  This is often treatable with medication or other surgeries, but sometimes a hysterectomy is needed.

* Adenomyosis - This condition is similar to endometriosis, except that instead of growing outside the uterus, the endometrium grows within the muscles of the uterus itself.  It is often treatable with medication or endometrial ablation, a procedure that destroys the lining of the uterus.  But in some cases, a hysterectomy is necessary.

* Uterine prolapse - Sometimes the tissues and ligaments that support the uterus become weak, and the uterus descends into the vagina.  This is called uterine prolapse, and it can cause urinary incontinence, pelvic pressure, and difficult bowel movements.  In some cases, a hysterectomy is required to repair the condition.

* Chronic pelvic pain or heavy vaginal bleeding - These conditions may require a hysterectomy, but in most cases surgery is a last resort.  Medication or more conservative surgery can often bring relief.  But if the patient does not respond to these treatments, a hysterectomy may be in order.

* Cancer - Hysterectomy has been used to treat several types of gynecologic cancer.  These include cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer.  It may sometimes be necessary for severe pre-cancerous growths as well.

Alternatives to Hysterectomy

It is important to consider alternatives to having a hysterectomy before going through with it.  A hysterectomy will make it impossible to have children in the future, and it can have a number of side effects.  Less invasive treatments are usually preferable if they will work.

If you have cancer, hysterectomy is often the only option.  But other conditions may be treatable with medication, endometrial ablation, or surgeries that do not involve removal of the uterus.  Ask your doctor about your options.

Hysterectomies are usually only prescribed when less complex treatment options have failed.  This is because with any surgery, there is a certain amount of risk.  But while hysterectomy is most often a last resort, it is usually effective in treating the problems for which it is performed.

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Possible Side Effects of a Hysterectomy

Hysterectomies are performed to treat a number of gynecological conditions.  They eliminate the source of the problem, so they are effective in most cases.  But it is important to give careful consideration to having a hysterectomy.  The procedure has several potential side effects.  These include the following:

* Women who have hysterectomies tend to go through menopause a few years earlier (if they haven’t already been through it).  This is thought to be due to diminished blood supply to the ovaries.  If the ovaries are removed, menopause will begin right away.  Symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, decreased energy and night sweats.

* Hysterectomies are associated with increased risk of certain health problems, especially when done prior to menopause.  This is due to a decrease in estrogen.  Some of the health problems that become more likely include cardiovascular disease, arthritis and osteoporosis.

* Sexual dysfunction sometimes occurs after a hysterectomy.  Vaginal lubrication is often reduced, and uterine orgasm is no longer possible in those who had it before.  A decrease in sexual desire and enjoyment is also fairly common, especially if one or both ovaries are removed.  Pain during intercourse may also occur.

* A variety of urinary problems can develop after a hysterectomy.  The bladder or urinary tract could be injured during the procedure, possibly requiring further surgery.  Bladder and kidney infections after a hysterectomy are common.  And in rare cases, sensory nerves could be cut and you could lose bladder sensation or control.

* Weight gain is somewhat common after a hysterectomy.  There is some debate as to the reason for this.  Some say it is a result of changes in hormone levels, while others blame it on the inactivity required during recovery.

* Some women face depression or other emotional problems following a hysterectomy.  Hormones can play a role in this, but it is often triggered by loss of the ability to reproduce.

* As with any surgery, complications are possible during a hysterectomy.  Anesthesia could cause breathing or heart problems, too much bleeding could occur, or adhesions could form.  These complications are rare, but it is important to know about them beforehand.

A hysterectomy is major surgery, and it should not be taken lightly.  Other, less invasive treatments are available for many of the conditions for which hysterectomies are performed, and it is important to consider them.  But in some cases a hysterectomy is the best or only solution.

If you do need a hysterectomy, many of its side effects can be treated or prevented with hormone therapy.  There are also medications and natural remedies that can provide relief from some hysterectomy-related problems.  Your doctor can help you find the best course of treatment for hysterectomy side effects.

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Healthy BMI Levels for Women

Your BMI, or Body Mass Index, tells you how much fat there is in your body.  An accurate BMI reading is a great way to tell whether or not you’re at a healthy weight.  If your BMI is too high you are at a greater risk of weight-related health problems like heart disease, stroke and diabetes.   Maintaining a healthy BMI is one of many ways to stay healthy and reduce your risk of future problems.

To calculate your BMI, you simply need to know your weight in kilograms and your height in meters.  A healthy BMI range for men and women is between 18.5 and 25.  Below 18.5 is considered underweight, 25 to 30 is overweight, and over 30 is considered obese.

You should monitor your BMI regularly if you think you weight is changing (or needs changing).  That means if you gain weight OR if you lose weight.  While it doesn’t garner nearly as much attention, a BMI that is too low is just as dangerous as one that is too high.  If your BMI is below 18.5, you should alter your habits to gain weight in a healthy manner.  A doctor can help you come up with a weight gain plan just as they would for weight loss.

While you may be an adult legally when you turn eighteen, BMI calculations don’t consider you an adult until you’re twenty.  Women under age twenty can calculate their BMI in the same way as adults, but the cut-offs for a healthy range are different and vary by age.  If you’re nineteen or younger, you should check age/weight ratio charts to determine if you fall in the healthy range.  A BMI less that 5% of other women your age is considered underweight, between 5 and 85 percent is healthy, 85 to 95 percent is overweight, and above 95% is obese.

Just because your BMI doesn’t fall into the healthy range doesn’t mean you need to lose gain weight.  If you are older, or if you are an athlete or just very muscular, your BMI may not be accurate.  This is because BMI is a general tool developed for men and women aged twenty and above, and isn’t specific to age, sex, or body type.  If your BMI is high or low, you should consider getting a more accurate reading of body fat percentage from your doctor.  Also, if you eat healthy and exercise regularly, you are probably less likely to have health issues than someone with the same BMI and a poor lifestyle.

If your BMI is not in the healthy range, your best course of action is to visit your doctor.  The can give you a healthy weight loss or weight gain plan that is right for you.

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Full versus Partial Hysterectomies

A hysterectomy is defined as the surgical removal of the uterus.  There are two common types of hysterectomy:  full and partial.  A full hysterectomy involves removing the entire uterus including the cervix, while in a partial hysterectomy the cervix is left intact.  Sometimes the ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed at the same time as well, but this is considered a separate procedure.

Full hysterectomies are the most common kind, but there have been arguments in recent years that a partial hysterectomy is better.  Here are some of the arguments in favor of partial hysterectomies:

* Some doctors claim that leaving the cervix intact reduces the risk of uterine prolapse.  They say that removing the cervix damages the supports of the vagina, making prolapse more likely.

* Studies have shown that there is less likelihood of sexual dysfunction in women who have had partial hysterectomies compared to those who have had full hysterectomies.  Women who’ve had partial hysterectomies have reported greater sexual satisfaction and more frequent intercourse and orgasm than women who’ve had full hysterectomies.

* If there is no problem with the cervix itself, many surgeons prefer to leave it intact.  They reason that there is no point in surgically removing it just because there is a problem with the rest of the uterus.

Proponents of full hysterectomies dispute these claims, citing a lack of evidence.  They also argue that a full hysterectomy eliminates the possibility of developing cervical cancer.  This could be a concern for those who have had their uterus removed due to cancer.

Removal of the Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes

In most cases, if there is no problem with the ovaries and fallopian tubes, they are not removed.  This is because the ovaries are responsible for hormone production.  Leaving them intact prevents the onset of menopausal symptoms immediately after surgery.  Still, having a hysterectomy usually means that you will go through menopause a few years earlier than you otherwise would have, unless of course you have already been through it.

Leaving the ovaries and fallopian tubes does leave the possibility of the development of ovarian cancer after the hysterectomy.  The hormones produced by the ovaries also heighten the risk of breast cancer in some predisposed individuals.  If you have an increased risk of these cancers, your doctor may talk to you about going ahead and removing the ovaries during the hysterectomy.

Whether a full or partial hysterectomy is best depends on each woman’s individual situation.  In some cases, the entire uterus and the ovaries are damaged and everything must be removed.  In others, just removing the upper part of the uterus is sufficient.  It is important to discuss your options with your doctor in order to determine which procedure is right for you.

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Menopause

Menopause is the period of a woman’s life that follows the end of the menstrual cycle. It can be fraught with hot flashes, irregular periods for a year or so, sexual changes, skin changes, hormonal changes, and the feeling that you are losing your mind. Pills can help but many women don’t want the side effects. So they turn to more natural remedies.

* Phytoestrogens help maintain the level of estrogen in the body. During menopause these levels drop. A good source of phytoestrogens is soybeans. Increasing the consumption of tofu, soy milk, soy nuts, and other soy-based products (live vegetarian meatless meals) will raise those levels and help with the symptoms.
* Many doctors are prescribing substances like black cohosh, alfalfa, and wild yam to help with the hormone levels in the body during menopause.
* Increasing the amount of vegetables you eat each day will help with hot flashes. The veggies that provide vitamin C and fiber such as beets, broccoli, beets, fruits, berries, whole grains, and flaxseed are full of good things that are not only healthy to the body but also will lessen the symptom of menopause.
* Calendula and aloe Vera handle the matter of vaginal dryness during this phase of life.

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