The crib is where your baby will spend a lot of their time and you want to be sure they are safe. Below are some of the questions (with the answers) that are asked about crib safety. Topics such as mattress position, how to place your baby in the crib, and general safety standards are discussed, as are other issues. If you need further information you can search the Internet and visit baby furniture stores.
Q. Are there safety standards for baby cribs?
Yes there are some very exact standards for your baby's crib. in 1974 it was made law that cribs should no longer be painted with lead based paint. it was discovered that the ingestion of lead (from any source) could cause learning disabilities and other difficulties in young children. The slats of the crib must be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, this is to prevent your baby from getting his body or head stuck between the bars causing injury or strangulation. The side bar should be 26 inches above the mattress when it is in its lowest position. If your child is more than an inch taller than the sidebar it is time to move him into a regular bed.
Q. Are there some hazards in my baby's crib that I need to be aware of?
Your mattress must fit snugly in the crib; an ill-fitting mattress could cause your baby to slip between the mattress and the side bar causing suffocation. The mattress height should be able to be adjusted into at least three different levels. When your baby becomes more mobile you will want to put the mattress in the lowest position to prevent your baby from climbing or falling out. The slats should be tight, loose slats could pinch little fingers. do not put the crib near a window to prevent your baby from possibly falling out or becoming tangled in Venetian blind cords.
Q. what are some historical facts about the crib?
Here is a short chronological time line of crib facts:
1973 - The standard for crib slats was to be no more than 2 3/8th inches apart to prevent your baby from slipping through or getting their head stuck. Also, double latches for drop-down sidebars were to become the norm.
1976 - The standard for cutouts in the crib end panels are presented. The end panels must not have any decorative cutout designs. Children were getting their limbs or heads caught causing serious injury or death.
1978 - Cribs must now be painted with non-toxic finish.
1981 - two models of cribs with cutouts are recalled.
1988 - a voluntary standard addresses mattress support hardware, failure of glued or bolted connections, drop-side latch failure and loosened teething rails.
1990 - no corner posts or projections can be more than 1/16th of an inch above the drop-side.
1998 - California and Washington mandate that hotel cribs must meet the same standards
set for full-size cribs
1998 - Portable cribs must now meet the same standards as full-sized cribs.
Q. how can I tell when my baby is ready for a regular bed?
When your child stands more than a couple of inches taller than the sidebar with the mattress in the lowest position. If your child is climbing out of the crib, for his safety put him in a regular bed.
Q. how should I put my baby to sleep in his crib?
Place your baby on his back or on his side for sleeping. use one piece sleepers rather than blankets. Your baby could slip under the blanket and possibly suffocate. Remove all pillows and toys as well, in order to prevent suffocation.
Q. Is it safe to cover my baby with a blanket?
A blanket sleeper will keep your baby sufficiently warm while sleeping. If you absolutely need to use a blanket, tuck it in around the bottom of the mattress. place your baby with his feet toward the end-panel and the blanket should go no higher than his/her chest.
Q. Is a mesh sided crib safe to use for my baby?
Yes, a mesh crib is safe provided the mesh is less than 1/4 inch in size, smaller than a tiny button on baby's clothes. The should be rips, tears, or loose threads. If staples are used to attach the mesh they must not be exposed and the mesh must be securely attached to the top rail and the floor plate.
Q. can I safely use bumper pads in my baby's crib?
While bumper pads are not necessary, they can safely be used. they must be very close the edge of the mattress and properly secured. The bumpers must be flat and not puffy, as your baby could get stuck between the bumper and the mattress and suffocate.
Q. what can I do to keep my baby's crib safe?
In order to keep your baby's a safe place, you should make sure to all connections are secure and that there are no broken or missing parts. Regularly, check the teething rail for splits or cracks. make sure the mattress spring support and your crib will withstand your baby's increasing mobility. The mattress itself should have no splits, tears, or holes.
Q. how can I tell when it's time to lower the mattress?
When your baby becomes more active, when s/he begins to pull himself to a standing position or when he sits up alone it will be time to lower the mattress to prevent your little one from either climbing out or falling out.
Q. can I hang a mobile over my baby's crib?
Mobiles and crib gyms can be used to entertain your baby but when your child is able to get on to their hands and knees or pull themselves up. this will prevent your baby from becoming entangled in them.
In Conclusion
Making sure your baby's crib is safe, is an ongoing to task. Proper positioning of the mattress, making sure all connections are secure and that there are no loose slats that could pinch little fingers will help to keep your baby's crib a safe place for him to be.
Be sure to place him in the crib on his back or side and dress him in a sleeper rather than using a blanket. Keeping these tips in mind will help keep your baby safe and give you some peace of mind.
More twins are being born now than ever before.
In the U.S., 1 out every 30 babies is a twin. the twin birth rate is up 76 percent since 1980. That’s partly due to modern science — fertility treatments — and that women are having babies at an older age (hence, more potential mothers needing help to conceive). as you may know, these treatments increase a woman’s chance of having twins, triplets, or more multiple births (hence, OctoMom).
Jane Roper is a Massachusetts writer who knows twins. in her mid-30s, she had trouble conceiving and started fertility treatments. Then she got pregnant … wait for it … with twins.
Roper looked for a book that would speak to her, and help her through the roller coaster ride, but all the manuals about raising twins were more “how-to” than “how-it-is.” So she wrote one herself.
Last week, her book, Double Time: How I Survived ― and mostly Thrived ― Through the First three Years Mothering Twins (St. Martin’s Press) arrived all fresh and squeaky clean on the marketplace. Forgive the metaphor, but us writers know that writing books can be like birthing our own babies.
Double Time is Roper’s memoir of her first three years raising twin daughters, yet the story it recounts is not always all joyful moments. the emotions she evokes, from both the pregnancy and during the early years raising her twin girls, run the gamut from elated, overwhelmed and confused, to thrilled, frustrated and exhausted. I’ve heard Jane read from her book and I can attest it’s smart, hilarious, serious, intimate and above all, candid. At one point she writes, “Let’s talk about my boobs.”
Her memoir is also gutsy: Roper bravely describes her battle with depression and how that got complicated when she added twins to her life. as the depression sank its claws into her psyche, she writes, “My veins, it seemed, ran with dread. just being hurt. … I crawled onto bed, curling myself into a fetal position.”
Jane Roper writes the Baby Squared blog on Babble.com and has another book under her belt, the novel Eden Lake. She also has written for Poets & Writers, Salon, Slate, and the Rumpus, and holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. With her husband, the singer-songwriter Alastair Moock, and their twin daughters, Clio and Elsa, Jane makes her home in the Boston area. Visit her virtually at janeroper.com.
I recently had the chance to ask Jane a few questions about Double Time, whether technology can help parenting, and why our culture might have a weird obsession with twins. (Disclosure: Jane and I know each other and we often work at the same cafe in Somerville, Massachusetts.)
Gilsdorf: Congratulations on Double Time. Tell me why you wrote the book.
Roper: When I found out I was pregnant with twins I was, one, terrified and therefore, two, dying to read a memoir of someone’s personal experience, but I only found books with practical information and tips. So I basically wrote the book I wished I’d had.
Gilsdorf: how on earth did you find time to write this?
Roper: Ha! well, I am fortunate enough to have a somewhat flexible schedule, as a freelance advertising copywriter. So I was able to squeeze in an hour or two of writing here and there — it’s amazing what a deadline can do — and I also spent a week at a writer’s retreat where I was able to pound out over fifty pages.
Gilsdorf: What are the biggest challenges raising twins?
Roper: You feel constantly pulled in two directions, trying to simultaneously meet the needs of two kids at very similar developmental stages. Also, it’s insanely loud. Our girls are always talking over each other as they vie for our attention.
Gilsdorf: Do you dress them identically?
Roper: No! Only if there’s an item — like shoes, or coats — where it’s just easier and more practical to get two of the same.
Gilsdorf: Whew. I never got that making twins even more identical thing. Why do you think parents do that to twins? Is this practice changing?
Roper: I don’t know why people do it — it’s cute, maybe? — but I think it really undermines twins’ sense of individuality. People seem to be doing it less these days, though.
Gilsdorf: Is there discrimination against twins or a weird fascination with them and if so, how do you shield your kids from that, if you do at all? Or do you embrace their “twin-ness”?
Roper: There’s definitely a weird fascination — people ask me all kinds of questions about them, including how they were conceived. I find the attention annoying at times. It’s the same questions over and over again. but I try very hard not to bite anyone’s head off. as for my girls, they care much less about the fact that they’re twins than anyone else does.
Gilsdorf: I see you on the computer all the time at the cafe where we work. Me too. I mean, who isn’t on their computer? but I wonder about how parents’ technology habits influence their kids.
Roper: both my husband and I are self-employed and work from home. So we’re constantly on our laptops, and probably aren’t setting a very good “screen time” example for our kids. So far, though, they don’t show any serious signs of techoholicism. They do like funny cat videos on YouTube, though.
Gilsdorf: how does technology help parenting? how can it be used well?
Roper: When our girls were infants and we were basically housebound, just feeding and diapering and rocking them day and night, our computers — email and the web, specifically — felt like our lifeline to the outside world. These days, we sometimes let the girls play educational games on our computers, which seems like a decent use of technology. And games on my iPhone can be a lifesaver on long car trips when all else fails.
Gilsdorf: how have you seen technology not used well in parenting?
Roper: I once saw a three-year-old — yes, three — clicking around on his dad’s iPhone like a pro, playing some sort of game. the dad said that his son played games on it all the time. To me, that’s just sad. Kids need to learn how to entertain themselves — with books or toys or kitchen utensils or whatever — to develop their creativity and independence. There’s plenty of time for tech addiction later.
Gilsdorf: I thought you were brave to talk about your depression in Double Time. It seems a taboo subject to discuss being a parent and suffering from clinical depression. And the depression itself sounds awful. as a parent of twins, you must have felt bad as well as feeling bad for feeling bad, if that makes sense.
Roper: You hit the nail on the head. in addition to feeling lousy and lethargic, I felt terribly guilty and sometimes downright sad about being in the state I was in. I was missing out on my kids, and not being the kind of parent I wanted to be. I felt especially bad about making things harder for my husband. It was such a relief when I finally got back on track, with help from medication and some life/work changes.
Gilsdorf: Talk about some of the myths about twins — one is mean and the other is nice, or what have you. how do twins become different people?
Roper: a lot of people seem to assume that twins are “opposites” in some way: one shy, the other outgoing; one rational, the other creative. This is, of course, total crap. Resisting the inclination to compare or contrast twins this way is, as far as I can tell, the best way to help them feel more individual.
Gilsdorf: are there other myths or ideas about twins out there you’d like to debunk?
Roper: everyone told us the first year with twins was the hardest. It sure felt hard at the time, but 1.5 to 3 years turned out to be a whole lot harder. They could walk. And run. And express opinions. It was nuts. but, fortunately there was a lot that was really fun and sweet and adorable about that age too. Which I guess is true pretty much across the board when it comes to being a parent.
Read more about Double Time: How I Survived―and mostly Thrived―Through the First three Years Mothering Twins and Jane Roper at janeroper.com.
]]>They have stuck with us through a lifetime of bad habits - the downing of sugary sodas, ice-chomping, pen-chewing, smoking, all-night bleaching. It's a wonder they didn't pull up roots and make a run for it long ago.
But here they are - our teeth. While it was once a given that growing older meant loosing our precious pearly whites, advances in oral health care, including everything from fluoridated water to the newest in dental procedures, have made it likely that today's middle-agers will grow into their twilight years with the same pointed cuspids and chomping molars they've had since braces and Boy Scouts.
This doesn't mean we can neglect oral health care. whether it's brushing our teeth before eating that piece of birthday cake or playing it cool when it comes to whitening, there are ways to ensure our teeth and gums age as gracefully as possible.
BE AWARE OF SMOKING RISKS
The place to start is lifestyle. Day-to-day choices we make affect our teeth and gums in myriad ways. a poor diet, drinking alcohol to excess and smoking are not only detrimental to our cardiovascular health, they can also cause significant problems for our oral health.
Smokers, for example, are twice as likely as ex-smokers to have poor oral health, and four times more likely than those who have never smoked, according to a recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics. they are also at higher risk for cavities, oral cancers and gum diseases.
Marianne Sampson, outreach coordinator and instructor with the dental hygiene program at the College of Southern Nevada, says long-term of tobacco use can rob the mouth's ability to absorb nutrients and weaken tissue to the point that gums become fibrous or "leathery."
"For patients that are smokers or long-term smokers, there is just a very high direct correlation between gum disease, between the loss of the bone that surrounds the teeth, to smoking," Sampson said. "The chemicals involved in the smoke coming right in contact with the oral tissues cause there to be less blood flow in that area, the vessels actually constrict down so that tissue becomes starved for all the nutrients that keep tissues healthy and, therefore, it causes the tissue to become fibrotic, the bone starts to kind of shrink away because it's not getting the nutrients and the things that it needs to stay healthy as well."
Smokers, therefore, need to be especially diligent about taking care of their gums and teeth at home to reduce bacteria in the mouth, Sampson said. Because smoking dries out the mouth, it can result in the buildup of acid, and a decrease in the important minerals and antimicrobials normally carried by saliva, she added.
When it comes to drinking alcohol and our overall health, the rule of thumb is to use moderation. The same is true when it comes to our teeth and gum tissue. Heavy alcohol use, for example, is a risk factor for oral and throat cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Combine it with smoking and the risk is even greater.
Georgia Dounis, a dentist with advanced education in geriatric dentistry, and director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Aging Research and Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, also points to a small pilot study the university conducted looking at patients who had dental implants and the success of the implant surgery based on their social habits.
For those who tended to consume more than a moderate amount of alcohol, the implants did not fuse to the bone as successfully as others, she said.
"What the research and literature suggest is that the alcohol accelerates the breakdown of bone and it slows down the formation that normally happens throughout life," Dounis said.
In the case of either habitual smoking or alcohol use, experts say, patients should seek a dental care professional's advice in developing an individual oral care routine.
Finally, cavities are an equal-opportunity nuisance that don't care whether you're six or 60, so try to limit sugary, starchy foods, and scale back on those sodas. they can cause bacteria in the mouth to release acids that are harmful to tooth enamel and, in fact, will attack the tooth structure for over 20 minutes, Dounis said.
While Dounis doesn't necessarily discourage brushing one's teeth after consuming these kinds of foods and beverages, it is a better idea to brush beforehand as a preventive measure. The idea is to remove as much bacteria from the mouth as possible before it comes in contact with the sugary foods and, therefore, limit the production of acid.
"There is one caveat in brushing right after consuming acidic foods or beverages. The acids may weaken the tooth enamel and brushing may damage the tooth structure. Brushing teeth before eating acidic foods or drinking acidic beverages will help to prevent enamel breakdown," she noted.
Of course, poor nutrition habits that are left unchecked can lead to gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. The experts advise that everyone brush with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste twice a day, and floss twice a day.
Dounis adds that brushing the tongue every day can remove debris that may build up because of smoking, as well as food and bacteria.
One of the most common oral health issues as we age is gum recession. Anthony Iacopino, director of the International Centre for Oral-Systemic Health, points to the expression "long in the tooth," which was coined years ago to refer to someone who has gotten older. It stems from the fact that as we age, the gums often recede away from the enamel-covered crown of the tooth and expose the softer root surfaces.
"This is a problem because the root surfaces are more susceptible to decay and to sensitivity, so it's not unusual to see an older individual's decay around the necks of the teeth and around the roots of the teeth near the gum line," he said.
The causes of gum recession can be a thinning of the gums and a loss of elasticity with age, Dounis said. Chronic, aggressive tooth brushing, teeth grinding during sleep, smoking, gum diseases and even genetics are among the other factors that can be associated with recession.
In some cases it can develop into periodontal disease as bacteria gathers in pockets of gum tissue that have formed around the teeth, and bone and connective tissue that help hold teeth in place start to break down.
To prevent periodontal disease, again it's important to brush with a soft toothbrush and floss twice a day. another way to help protect the exposed roots is by using a fluoride rinse, which will actually coat the vulnerable areas and help make the teeth resistant to decay, Sampson said.
"It also has some antimicrobial properties and so it's getting two effects going on there, but the fluoride rinses are regularly and routinely suggested for patients that are having new cavities forming, especially if it's on the exposed roots," she said.
People with significant gum recession may need to have more frequent cleanings, perhaps every three to four months, so the bacteria can be removed from those pockets around the teeth, she added.
DISCUSS YOUR MEDICATIONS
As people age, they tend to take more medications. The average number of medications taken by a 65-year-old, for example, is about six, Iacopino said.
Many drugs, such as antidepressants and blood pressure medications, have side effects that can have an impact on oral health. one of the most common problems is dry mouth, or the decrease in saliva. Saliva is important for preventing decay because it contains antimicrobials, as well as minerals such as calcium and phosphorus that help keep teeth strong, Iacopino said.
"So without the saliva we have less resistance to periodontal disease and decay, and we also have more things like ulcerations, delayed healing, fungal infections and those kinds of things," he noted.
For those having problems with dry mouth, dentists can recommend salivary substitutes that keep the mouth lubricated and, in some cases, contain the needed minerals and elements to fight off harmful microorganisms. Chewing sugarless gum and lozenges is also a way to stimulate the production of saliva, Iacopino said.
Certain osteoporosis medications can also have implications that should be discussed with one's dentist. While they do help prevent bone loss, there is some question about their ability, for example, to actually rebuild bone in the jaw after procedures such as extractions, Sampson said.
As a side note, the hormonal changes women experience during menopause can affect oral health due to issues such as changing bone density and an increased susceptibility of soft tissue to periodontal disease, according to the experts. therefore, it's important to discuss the issue, including any medications that are being taken, with one's dentist.
"I think the key to take away from all of this," Sampson said, "is to understand the medications that you're taking and when you go to any health care provider, whether it's your doctor, your dentist, take a list of the medications that you're taking, how much you take, your dosages, what you're taking it for, so that they can do a complete history and then tell you if there are some of these medications that may be affecting your mouth, or your teeth, or your ability to heal and fight off infections."
THE MOUTH-BODY CONNECTION
Addressing issues such as gum disease can have larger implications than many realize. These infections of the gums and other tissues that support the teeth can result in harmful microorganisms migrating downward through what are called "pockets," or the spaces that develop at the gum line as gums recede and the disease progresses.
"And over a period of time that pocket around the teeth is a portal of entry into the body," Iacopino said. "There is vasculature there, lots of blood vessels in the tissue around the teeth and the bacteria and their byproducts. and all that inflammatory stuff, inflammatory molecules, actually get into the blood stream, they travel around the body and they have cumulative effects over a period of time on organs and tissues in the body that are far removed from the mouth."
As a result, there are connections between gum disease and heart diseases such as atherosclerosis, as well as certain cancers associated with the ongoing inflammation and bacteria of conditions such as periodontal disease, according to experts. Yet gum disease is not always obvious and can progress without one even realizing it.
This makes it all the more important to have a good oral-care routine, visit the dentist at least twice a year, have the gums and teeth checked, and bacteria-containing plaque removed.
Iacopino compares a mouth with periodontal disease to an open wound.
"You wouldn't want it covered with dirt or bacteria, you'd want to keep it clean and obviously want it to go away," he said.
]]>Finding the most effective carpet shampoo for your needs depends upon a few different factors. You'll want to take into consideration the size of your carpet, the type of dirt or stains that you need to remove, and what kind of carpet cleaning machine or carpet shampooer you'll be using in conjunction. Read on to learn more about the different types of carpet shampoo out there, and which one will work the best for you and your home cleaning needs.
When it comes to removing dirt or stains from a specific area of your rug or carpet, versus an overall carpet cleaning and refreshing, the best type of carpet shampoo will be a concentrated spot or stain remover. these are usually packaged in aerosol spray cans, and the contents are applied directly to the area of your carpet where the stain or spill is found. This is a great way to clean up recent stains and spills without having to rent or purchase a carpet shampooer, since the stain is only in a small area. This is an easy method of cleaning your carpets quickly and efficiently, with the least amount of hassle.
For rugs or carpets that need an overall clean and freshening, dry carpet shampoo is a great place to start, because it does not require the use of a carpet shampooer. instead, the powder is sprinkled all over the area of your carpet that you'd like to clean, and then once it sits for a specified duration, you simply vacuum up the residue using a regular upright vacuum. The powder is essentially magnetized to the dirt and dinginess in your carpet, which makes it effective - but it does not necessarily have the cleansing power of a shampoo that is used in conjunction with a carpet shampooer.
A liquid carpet shampoo or detergent, when combined with a high-powered carpet shampooer, can be one of the most effective ways of deep cleaning your carpet and truly bringing it back to life. Although you can certainly purchase a carpet shampooer at a hardware or home improvement store, you also have the option of renting one, which is an economical way of cleaning your rugs and carpets without investing the hundreds of dollars that's most carpet cleaning machines are priced at.
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]]>— CUMBERLAND — If you’ve never heard of Ayurveda, you’re not alone. Cecile Gilchrest is out to change that and believes Ayurveda will take off, just as its sister science yoga did, in the 1980s. Ayurveda is a 5,000 year-old healing system that uses food as medicine, among other practices. “I feel so blessed by it, I am happier and healthier. ... The idea is to get the word out to share this wonderful old, new, news about Ayurveda,” Gilchrest said. Gilchrest is a certified Ayurvedic consultant who has studied at the premier Ayurvedic institutions in the nation, including the new England Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine. She’s started Red Hawk Ayurveda and is offering individual consultations and small group presentations (5-15 people) about Ayurveda. Gilchrest has studied lifestyle and diet as medicine for 25 years. She’s currently taking an anatomy and physiology course at Allegany College of Maryland. “I’m not looking to lure people away from their doctors,” Gilchrest said. Ayurveda can work in a complementary fashion with traditional medical treatments, she said. Ayurveda focuses on diet, stress reduction techniques, herbal supplements, proper breathing techniques, bodywork (akin to massage) and simply a change of attitude. “Ayurveda is related to healing the body using natural therapies and medicines whereas yoga is considered to be the science of mind and body purification. The two complement each other and are never in contradiction,” Gilchrest said. Some gentle yoga is incorporated into Ayurvedic practice. “You are what you eat ... also when and how you eat,” she said. “Ayurveda really believes in food as medicine.” Ayurveda believes everyone is made up of the five essential elements of nature: fire, water, earth, air and space. Air, fire and water are the most important of the elements. everyone has a combination of these elements with one usually dominant. an important part of Ayurvedic practice is to keep these elements in balance, largely by adjusting diet. a person with dominant water traits in their makeup, or constitution, might need to eat more fiery foods to keep their constitution in balance, Gilchrest explained. In Sanskrit, “dosha” means constitution, a person’s makeup, Gilchrest said. “Respect for nature is at the heart of Ayurveda,” she said. a deep appreciation for life itself and the empowerment of each individual to recognize his or her potential for greater harmony with nature and as nature is Ayurveda’s goal,” she said. “This is not difficult work, it is very easy and natural,” Gilchrest said. We all go off balance and need diet and lifestyle changes to right ourselves, she said. “There is a complexity to it, but it is not complicated,” she said. Among the sources of imbalance are stress, over-busyness, diet, family problems, economic and political issues, crime, violence and disease, she said. Ayurvedic practitioners can often tell a great deal from taking someone’s pulse, said Gilchrest. She’s personally witnessed amazingly accurate diagnosis by Ayurvedic practitioners after taking someone’s pulse. Gilchrest said her initial consultation and presentations are free with no obligation and nothing to buy. “I’m looking for a few committed people who want a companion along the way,” Gilchrest said. “Ayurveda isn’t a remedy, it is a practice. ... are you up to taking charge of your own health?” She believes Ayurveda can help with weight loss, sleep patterns and reducing stress, among other things. at this time, Gilchrest is offering consultations and information. She does have contacts for those who might be interested in bodywork or other Ayurvedic treatments. The name Red Hawk came to Gilchrest when a red-tailed hawk landed near her when she was taking one of her courses in Ayurveda. “It chose me,” she said. Gilchrest wore a pair of hawk earrings during the interview. You can contact Red Hawk Ayurveda at canouk502@gmail.com. an Ayurveda and yoga renewal retreat scheduled for June 8-10 is also being offered by Gilchrest and a colleague at Schellsburg, Pa. Prior registration is preferred and discounts are offered for early registration. This event does have a fee. Information on the retreat Gilchrest and her colleagues are offering may be found at Wildmeadowsfarm.com and clicking on “Weekend Workshops.” Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com.
Ayurveda: Using food as medicine to heal »
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Cumberland Times-News
While researching herbal teas for postpartum mothers, I called a midwife, Tisha Graham, CPM, from The Family Life Center in Albany, New York. She made it clear that drinking herbal tea was only a small consideration in the well-being of a new mother and baby.
The whole process of childbearing, starting with conception, must be taken into account. Graham is a homebirth midwife and services mothers throughout their pregnancy, labor, and the subsequent six weeks after birth.
Homebirth midwives treat any problems that may arise during the prenatal and postnatal periods by holistically using alternative healing methods such as herbs, homeopathy, nutrition, Bach Flower Remedies, chiropractic, and yoga.
For instance, if a mother gets high blood pressure, she may be given passionflower tea or be advised to eat cucumber. A nervous or fearful mother is given Rescue Remedy or chamomile tea.
These alternatives cannot be recommended by hospitals or by medical doctors, who usually haven’t been trained in herbology, homeopathy, or other alternatives that are not included in the obstetric standard of care.
A homebirth midwife meets the whole family. She teaches everyone what to do for a harmonious, healthful outcome. “We encourage the mothers to be proactively healthy,” Graham said.
Midwives make various recommendations to accomplish this feat. one is to buy and read Susun Weed’s book “Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year,” about medicinal and nutritious plants and their application to childbearing situations, which are described in detail. Susun Weed is a famous herbalist who also lives in the Albany area.
A tea blend that Susun highly recommends is called Women’s Blend. It is a combination of oat straw, red clover leaf, raspberry leaf, nettle, and spearmint.
Oat straw is very good for reducing the effects of stress and promoting sleep because it has B vitamins and zinc, both tonics for the nerves. Oat straw’s ability to decrease water retention can give relief to those swollen ankles that may occur toward the end of pregnancy.
Red clover leaf tea is rich in magnesium, calcium, and B and C vitamins. It is said to balance the hormones, purify the blood, tone the uterus, and increase the milk supply in new mothers.
Raspberry leaf tones the uterine and pelvic muscles. Raspberry leaf contains vitamins B1 and B2, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Raspberry leaf also promotes the flow of milk.
Nettle tea should be taken during pregnancy, as it can prevent heavy bleeding during childbirth, perhaps due to its vitamin K content. It also has folic acid, an important nutrient in spinal chord and brain development in the fetus. It can prevent anemia in the mother and increase lactation.
Nettles have many nutrients that strengthen the adrenal glands. Strong adrenals prevent allergies and allay anxieties and fears.
Spearmint enhances the overall taste of the tea and improves digestion.
Looking online for what these herbs can do, I found some cautions regarding pregnant or nursing mothers, especially for nettle and raspberry leaf. however, the midwives in upstate New York use them. if one has questions about this advice, one can do the research or ask one’s professional caretaker.
Because the scope of this article is limited to new mothers, only certain aspects of these herbs are emphasized. Their usefulness goes far beyond what is described here.
In science today, we analyze what a substance does by isolating it and feeding it to cells in a test tube or to animals. Plants are much more holistic. all the chemicals in a plant work synergistically and can vary within the species depending where and how it is grown.
]]>ScienceDaily (May 14, 2012) — the University of Virginia School of Medicine has launched the first U.S. outpatient trial of a UVA-developed artificial pancreas that could make it easier for type 1 diabetes patients to manage their condition.
A research team led by Patrick Keith-Hynes, PhD, and Boris Kovatchev, PhD, reconfigured a smartphone into a hand-held device to monitor a patient's insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor (CGM). the device is intended to automate much of the work of monitoring and maintaining safe blood sugar levels now performed by patients such as 40-year-old Charlottesville resident Justin Wood, the first patient to participate in the UVA outpatient trial.
Living with type 1 diabetes
Diagnosed as having type 1 diabetes about 28 years ago, Wood uses an insulin pump to help regulate his blood sugar but must check his blood sugar by pricking his finger at least three to five times daily. he also needs to precisely estimate his food consumption -- especially the amount of carbohydrates -- to help properly adjust his insulin supply.
While managing his diabetes is largely second nature, Wood says, "It's something you think about -- either in the back of your mind or the forefront of your mind -- almost constantly."
Automating diabetes care
Wood tested a new approach when he checked into a Charlottesville hotel the night of April 19 for his two-day outpatient trial. he immediately liked the device. "the operating interface was very slick and very fast," he says. "the extra second or two you save pressing buttons adds up when you have to do it every day."
Beginning the following morning, Wood used the device to automatically read and balance his blood sugar level. at mealtimes -- as with his standard insulin pump -- he entered what he ate to help balance his blood sugar quicker. he came away impressed with the potential of the artificial pancreas.
"the device automates a lot of the tracking and monitoring I do now," he says. Wood estimated he could reduce the number of times he pricked his finger for blood sugar tests from at least three to five per day to no more than two a day. he sees the artificial pancreas as "a step forward in technology that could change my view and outlook on life." for Kovatchev, the outpatient trial was a significant change from previous inpatient trials at UVA where patients were monitored in a hospital room. "to see no visible medical items around the patient -- it was an amazing feeling to have."
Next steps in testing
The UVA team and other participants in the JDRF's Artificial Pancreas Project -- the University of California, Santa Barbara; Montpellier University Hospital in France; and the Universities of Padova and Pavia in Italy -- will continue outpatient testing through 2013 at UVA and three other locations. Researchers plan to enroll a total of 120 patients in the trial.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Virginia Health System, via Newswise.
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]]>Does your lifestyle put you at risk for HIV/AIDS? Are you in danger of becoming an HIV/AIDS statistic because of something you don't know? before you say no, take this Black Woman's HIV/AIDS Awareness Quiz. you might be surprised to find out how vulnerable you really are.
1.Do you know your HIV status?
2.Do you know your partner's HIV status?
3.Do you know the HIV status of any sex partners you've had in the past?
4.Do you know your partner's sexual history?
5.Do you know your partner's true sexual orientation?
6.if you're sexually active, do you always insist on a condom?
7.Do you still think of AIDS as a gay white male disease?
8.Did you know that over 70% of newly diagnosed HIV positive women are Black?
9.Do you know how to tell if your husband or boyfriend is on the down low?
10.Do you take it for granted that you're in a monogamous relationship?
11.if your husband or boyfriend is cheating, has it occurred to you that his partner could be another man?
12.if you're married or in a committed relationship, do you feel you don't have to worry about HIV/AIDS?
13.Do you believe you can tell an HIV positive man just by looking at him?
14.Did you know that as a black woman, you're in the highest risk category for HIV/AIDS?
15.Are you aware that HIV/AIDS is the leading killer of black women, ages 25-44?
16.have you ever considered the possibility that you could be a victim of same-sex infidelity?
17.Can a down low man be identified by the way he looks, acts, dresses or talks?
18.Did you know that heterosexual contact is the most common form of HIV infection for Black women?
copyright 2007 Ruth Houston, founder of InfidelityAdvice.com
Answer Key:
The correct answer for numbers 7,10,12,13,and 17 is no. All other answers should be yes. Realize that even one wrong answer puts you at risk for HIV/AIDS. The more wrong answers you have, the more at risk you are. By making a few changes in your lifestyle, and becoming more knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and how it's transmitted, you can avoid becoming another HIV/AIDS statistic.
How you Can Benefit from this Quiz
The Black Woman's HIV/AIDS Awareness Quiz was designed to help Black women safeguard their health by pinpointing and eliminating risky behavior from their lifestyles. Share this quiz with female family members and friends. use it as a tool to initiate discussions about Black women, HIV/AIDS and the down low. for more information on this topic, visit http://www.DownLowDozen.com Educate yourself about HIV/AIDS, because ignorance invites infection. Knowledge is power. The more you know about HIV/AIDS, the less likely you will be to engage in risky behavior that can jeopardize your health.
If more than half your answers were wrong, it means there are major gaps in your knowledge. you could already be infected with HIV through no fault of your own. GET TESTED RIGHT AWAY - especially if you've been sexually involved with someone whose HIV status you don't know.
Black Women, the Down low and HIV/AIDS
Be aware that your husband or boyfriend could be a potential source of HIV infection. Alarming numbers of Black women are becoming infected with HIV from having sex with men on the down low. if your answers to this quiz indicate that you might be involved with a man on the down low, request a copy of the FREE Down low Dozen tip sheet so you can find out for sure. Send an e-mail to DownLowDozen@gmail.com with dozen in the subject line. Realize that your life is at stake. get the facts. Don't take chances with your health. The life you save may be your own.
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Terry Richardson for Harper’s Bazaar
Does Kate Moss ever age? It sure doesn’t look like it in latest Harper’s Bazaar.
In the June/July issue of the fashion glossy, the supermodel frolics on the beaches of Jamaica showcasing hot new looks from some of the world’s most famous fashion houses. Photographer Terry Richardson snapped the photos on location.
Moss graces the cover (bottom) in a feathered Alexander McQueen frock, accentuated with slicked-back hair and a bright red pout.
Inside the magazine she wears a belted metal-mesh dress by Yves Saint Laurent (left, available by special order), which doubles as a swimsuit cover-up for the spread.
A second look (below) includes an affordable Calvin Klein Underwear bikini (bandeau top $24, bottoms $12) paired with a Calvin Klein Collection net-like black shirt. The ensemble is finished with a vintage fedora.
Other designers featured in the multi-page spread include Michael Kors, Versace, Tom Ford, Stella McCartney and more.
To check out the rest of the amazing photos, pick up the June/July issue of Harper’s Bazaar, on newsstands May 29, and visit harpersbazaar.com/katemoss.
Terry Richardson for Harper’s Bazaar
Terry Richardson for Harper’s Bazaar
–Jennifer Cress
SHOP STAR-LOVED SWIMWEAR — FOR LESS!
Bikini-Clad Kate Moss Heats Up the Pages of ‘Harper’s Bazaar’
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