Personal Stories

Talking With Parents About Pregnancy Options

December 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

Teens face an extraordinary challenge when they discover that they are carrying a child. In addition to the social stigma that is still attached to be a pregnant teen is the overwhelming fear that comes along in dealing with their parents. A teen is often scared enough at the immense responsibility that comes along with deciding the outcome of the pregnancy. This, coupled with the tension that angry parents create, can prevent the teen from telling their parents until much later in the pregnancy.

The importance of the parents’ role in teen pregnancy is vital to the teen’s mental and physical health during what is already a difficult time. Teens are instructed to tell their parents as early as possible and to be understanding of their parents’ reaction. It’s not easy to for a parent to accept that their kid has made a decision that will impact them in a such a serious and profound way. They must understand that there will be some anger.

Parents, conversely, must express their anger in a civilized fashion. Nothing about their emotional outburst is going to change the nature of a situation. Parents must be thinking about handling the situation before they think about reacting to it. The key is that the child weighs all the options.

Terminating the pregnancy, while not always the most popular choice, is always an option and one that is only up to the teen themselves. As the person, they are encouraged to stick to their principles. Some choices in life, like divorce, are not preferred but often necessary. A teen must make a decision one way or the other. The important thing is not for both parties to agree on the right path to choose, but that the teen makes a sound decision and the parents don’t make it any harder on them.

Filed Under: Personal Stories Tagged With: Health, pregnancy, Teenage Pregnancy

Morning Sickness During Pregnancy

November 13, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

If you are pregnant and have made the choice to continue your pregnancy, you may experience morning sickness. Not all women do, so if you’re not having the morning sickness symptoms listed below, simply count yourself lucky.

You have probably heard many women talk about morning sickness, and the one word that kept reoccurring during the conversation was “nausea.” This is usually the first and sometimes the most severe of the symptoms. You know what nausea feels like. You’re “sick to your stomach.” You may feel as though you need to throw up but you can’t, or you may throw up. It’s different with every woman.

For some women, the nausea starts first thing in the morning, as soon as awoken. For others, it may seem as though something “triggers” it, such as a smell or making a sudden move. And for some unfortunate women, the “sudden move” may be blinking or any slight movement.

The nausea may persist until you have eaten something light such as crackers or a piece of toast or drunk something like orange juice or tea. For some women, however, mild feelings of nausea may persist throughout the day.

There are ways that you can diminish the symptoms of morning sickness. One way is by keeping crackers by your bed and eating one before you even get up in the morning. (You can always shake the crumbs off the sheets later, after you’re feeling better.) Even if you don’t feel sick when you first wake up, doing this may prevent you from feeling any nauseous when you do start moving around.

You can also use holistic remedies for morning sickness. These include wearing special wristbands that apply mild pressure to certain points on your wrist. The mild pressure alleviates the nausea.

Filed Under: Personal Stories Tagged With: Health, Miscarriage, Morning sickness, Nausea, pregnancy, Pregnancy and Birth, Symptom, Vomiting

Find a Support System

October 21, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

If you find out that you’re pregnant and were not expecting it, you may be in for some tough decisions. Deciding whether to keep the baby, put it up for adoption, or even the possibility of abortion, are not easy thoughts. These are some of the hardest things you will ever have to think about. Previously, the most difficult decision you may have had to make was which piece of Roberto Coin jewelry to wear. Now, your whole life is changing.

When faced with these tough decisions, many girls are too quick to choose a solution. A better idea is to talk these options over with someone you trust. Make sure that you understand your choices and if you have questions, get them answered. You may want to talk to the father of the baby and hear his opinion. Many people are scared to talk to their parents about this issue, but in most cases this is something you should do. Most of the time, parents are there to help. They may not be happy about the choices you’ve made, but the love of a parent will generally trump this. If you feel comfortable talking to them, they may be able to help you make a decision about what to do, and be able to get you the help that you need, no matter what your decision is.

Whether or not you choose to talk to the father or your parents, you will want to talk with a doctor. They can help you understand the possible health risks of either having the baby or of abortion. There are many mental factors that go into these decisions as well, and you may want to talk with a counselor. Finding people that are willing to listen as well as tell you the truth is essential before you make any important life-altering decision.

Filed Under: Personal Stories Tagged With: Abortion, Parent, People, pregnancy, Pro-choice, Pro-Life, Roberto Coin, Talk radio

Financial Tips for Supporting a Pregnant Teen

October 19, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by mira mira on the wall via Flickr

If you’ve suddenly found out that your daughter is pregnant, it can be tempting to panic, especially if you’ll be supporting her and her unborn child. However, don’t lose your cool. Your daughter is counting on you to be the voice of reason in a world of upheaval; any rash action could lead to even more changes in her unstable world.

If you’re worried about managing the financial burden of baby clothes, a crib, diapers, and other baby expenses for your pregnant teen, you may be able to lessen your stress by reducing other expenses. If you’re paying for things like pet insurance, gym memberships, or other luxuries, now may be the time to consider cutting them from your budget to make room for upcoming medical expenses.

As soon as she has documented the pregnancy with your doctor, you should have your daughter register for any assistance your family is eligible for. In the U.S., pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and small children who meet certain income requirements are eligible for the Medicaid, which covers medical expenses, and the WIC program, which assists provides vouchers for nutritious food. Programs of this nature may be available in your area.

As your daughter’s due date gets closer, you may want to start looking for used baby supplies. You may be able to find items like baby swings, car seats, clothing, and more second hand. If you choose to purchase used items, be sure that you check to see if they’ve been recalled; many baby items are recalled each year due to manufacturer’s defects, safety hazards, and more.

While having a baby is an expensive proposition, it doesn’t have to break the bank. By cutting expenses, applying for assistance where your family is eligible, and purchasing items used and in bulk wherever possible, you can save money while supporting your pregnant teenager.

Filed Under: Personal Stories Tagged With: Access Hollywood, Children, Mariah Carey, Medicaid, NBC, Nick Cannon, pregnancy, Shopping

Maintaining Health

October 18, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Observe Actions and Reactions
Personal responsibility is what it all comes down for everyday. Everyone must become familiar with his or her own body so as to recognize when something is not right. If your shoes become tight some afternoon realize that it is not normal to have swollen ankles and it could be the beginning of left-sided heart failure. Do not ignore pain. There is a reason for pain. If you get a sharp pain in the calf of your leg that will not go away, you may have the beginnings of deep vein thrombosis and blood clots are serious.

Observing actions and reactions does not mean that you run to your physician at every sharp pain. It does mean that you need to start documenting when, where and how often you have the pain. If you have a sharp pain in the calf of your leg and you sit all day at a desk, put a stool under the desk to increase circulation in the leg. Get up and walk around more. Above all else, be aware of pain.

Social Activity
Social activity is important to one’s personal health. Each person is different and interacts socially in a different manner. Social activity may be to have lunch with a friend. But the fact remains that the health maintenance has a strong social relationship component and a positive attitude. Positive social interaction increases the chemical levels in your brain. If you are in a position that you can do volunteering at a hospital, a church, or with a political group you will reap social benefits years can be added to your life.

Stress Management
Stress is probably one of the greatest killers in our society today. Stress causes heart problems. Stress can be a component of the development of cancer. Stress causes ulcers and on and on. Life it tough and many times it seems there is no place to hide from stress. However, there is a way to minimize stress and it’s a daily decision. Laugh, learn to laugh as much as possible. It does the soul good.

Filed Under: Personal Stories Tagged With: Deep vein thrombosis, Health, Heart failure, Pain, Social relation, Stress, Stress management, Thrombus

Health and Fitness

October 16, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by doortoriver via Flickr

Just listen to the radio, TV or your next door neighbor and something will be said about health or fitness or eating right. Obesity is a plague in our world today for multiple reasons. We are living sedentary life styles. We have riding lawn mowers and office jobs that require us to sit for at least eight hours a day. Then we get in the car and drive home. We get home and sit down for dinner or sit and watch TV because we’re tired from the day’s work that we did sitting down.

Fitness to you is different that fitness to Joe Tonto down the street. One person may think they need to go to the gym every day to be fit and eat only 800 calories daily. We can get so wrapped up in doing that we forget the act of being healthy about everything we do, eat, or say.

Calculate how many minutes you sit. To be successful at health and fitness, you must create a life of activity. It is hard on your moral and hard on your body to yo-yo lose-gain weight. You can break the cycle by changing your life style to move, baby, move. Never ask a spouse or a son or daughter to go get something for you. Take that opportunity to move.

Walk a mile a day. If you live in a small community, there are many things that are within walking distance. Walk to the grocery store and buy just a few things so you’ll have to return and get a few more things to force you to move. In other words, create your day so that you’re forced to move, walk, move, walk.

Keep a set of small weights – either three or five pounds – and every hour or so while sitting at your desk lift the weights 20 times with your arms. Put them down and get busy. Are you driving to the post office, Wal-Mart, the pharmacy, etc, park as far away as you can. Force yourself to move all day, move, keep moving!

Filed Under: Personal Stories Tagged With: Activism, Allegedly Unethical Firms, Anti-Corporation, Business, Fitness, Gyms, Health, Wal-Mart

If Your Child is Having a Child, Tell Her What to Expect

October 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

In the US, nearly one million teenagers give birth to a child every year. If you’ve learned that your teen is pregnant, you, as well as your family, may be going through a whole range of emotions from shock to anger to disappointment to guilt. Between confrontation with your teen and hiding from society, it is easy to forget the most important fact: your child has a baby growing in her. She may need your support now more than ever to comfort and tell her what is happening with her body and the baby.

You have gone through nine months of pregnancy. Now, it is your child’s turn. Whether you like it or not, her body will react to the child inside her just like any pregnant body. Prepare her for morning sickness and other biological changes that will come her way. Schedule a doctor’s visit as soon as you know of your child’s pregnancy. The earlier your teen gets medical care, the healthier the baby will be.

Educate her on prenatal tests and what to expect in monthly doctor visits. You doctor can also tell her how to deal with pregnancy side effects like cramps, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, etc. Your teenager will have to make a lot of lifestyle changes during her pregnancy. From eating healthy food to avoiding alcohol, help her find her bearings. You can enroll her in prenatal classes on pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.

Pregnancy can be very stressful if it’s not planned ahead. Help her to see the positive side of pregnancy. Help her be active physically and mentally. Consider a benevolence project, like volunteering in assisted living facilities, to help her tap into her nurturing side. Share your pregnancy experiences with her. Finally, let her know that you will support her in her decision to either keep the baby or give the child up for adoption.

Filed Under: Personal Stories Tagged With: Infant, Morning sickness, pregnancy

Conquering Your Fears of Pregnancy

September 24, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful things in this world. Women have the ability to harbor new life within themselves and then bring that life into the world. It is one of the most special events ever to take place in a woman’s life. Yet for some, it can be one of the scariest times of your life as well.

Whether you’re single or married, a teenager or middle-aged, being pregnant and the thought of delivering a baby is petrifying! You don’t know what to expect, your hormones are raging, you’re uncomfortable and/or sick all the time—it’s just an endless barrage of challenges. Don’t be scared to ask your doctor thousands of questions; it’s their job to not only make sure the baby is doing fine, but that you are as well. Try to keep a positive outlook on things and just know that you can get through more than you will ever think possible.

Another thing that can be scary to new mothers is the thought of having to provide for a new little baby. Making room in your budget for diapers, clothing, formula, and all the other items babies need can be daunting. But, every little bit will help. For example, try to find big items, like a crib, second hand. Don’t buy a changing table; instead, buy the changing pad that goes on top of the table and use that on your bed, in the crib, or wherever else you can think of. It’s much more versatile, doesn’t take up a lot of space, and will save you a bundle. Next, try to cut back wherever you can. Find discount car insurance, stop drinking soda, cook meals instead of going out to eat. Keep repeating, “Every little bit will help.”

And above all else, just relax!

Filed Under: Personal Stories Tagged With: childbirth, Family, Home, Mariah Carey, Pain, Physical exercise, pregnancy, Shopping

Preparing for GMAT Prep Courses as a Working Adult

September 22, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Being an adult is not easy. And being an adult who is attending school, working full-time, raising kids is even harder—some would say almost impossible. For many working adults, going back to school is an important and often frightening idea. Many understand that getting a graduate degree whether from a traditional college environment or an online education program is hard, but very rewarding. As these adult students trudge through the course work, they can often feel disconnected from their jobs, families, even their fellow students. Depression begins setting in and many adult students just simply want to give up on their online education courses. They feel alone and forgotten. How can they reconnect and complete all the tasks on their to do lists? By using their online gmat prep courses as a way to connect with other working adults.

The GMAT prep courses are more than simply the road map to a graduate degree. They are the adult student’s life line for study help, friendship, and encouragement through the long days and nights. While your friends and family can sympathize with the graduate adult student, only another adult student can really understand the struggles of taking GMAT prep courses. Other adult students can offer advice or just listen when you need to vent about how unfair one of GMAT prep courses are. These relationships that you as the adult student form through your GMAT prep courses will give you the support you need to finish and get a job with your new degree. With the help of your new online adult student friends, you can purse GMAT prep courses with new confidence and support from other adult students just like you!

Filed Under: Personal Stories Tagged With: Education, GMAT prep, Test preparation

IUD’s are an Effective Method of Avoiding the Need for an Abortion – Health Medicine

March 16, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Abortion is a last resort method to avoid giving birth to a baby which, for various reasons, is unwanted. Long before an abortion is necessary however, there are birth control methods available to women which help them to sidestep the political debate over the legality of abortion. In an era in which societal extremists feel compelled to blow up, burn down, or otherwise molest abortion clinics, or even shoot at abortion doctors or harass women entering such clinics for treatment, avoiding the fray may be the most private and peaceful option.

One way to assist in avoiding unplanned and undesired trips to the local abortion clinic is for a woman to use a reliable method of birth control. One of the most reliable methods is the IntraUterine Device, or IUD for short. Part of its reliability stems from its simplicity once an IUD is in place, there is nothing to remember, or more precisely, nothing to forget. Many people are familiar with birth control pills, a pill taken daily by a woman which makes her infertile when the pill is taken. As with anything taken daily however, it is easy to forget to take a pill for a day or two at a time, and this opens the women up to an undesired pregnancy.

IUD’s don’t require anything to be done on a daily basis, and as such, there is nothing to forget for the busy modern woman. IUD’s are a small device inserted into the woman’s uterus by a health care professional, which stays there for a number of years. It is ‘T’ shaped and constructed of plastic, with two basic types available. There are those covered in copper, and those which emit a hormone which assists in creating an environment inhospitable to sperm. Either style is extremely effective in preventing pregnancy, once inserted in place in a relatively quick clinic visit.

For the woman who does not wish to be faced with decisions regarding abortion, IUD’s are an extremely viable, reliable option. They do not guard against sexually transmitted diseases, but they are 99% effective against pregnancy.

Filed Under: Personal Stories Tagged With: Abortion, clinic, legality