Smoking Cessation During Pregnancy

Ways to Cope with Vaginal Dryness

Menopause is a reality for all women at some point in their life and it is rarely something that anyone wants to happen. Menopause literally means the physiological, or natural, cessation of menstrual cycles. There are many symptoms of menopause such as infertility, hot flashes, night sweats, bladder control problems, insomnia, weight gain, skin changes and headaches. None of these are very appealing symptoms to have to endure, but one of the most uncomfortable things women going through menopause encounter is vaginal dryness.

Vaginal dryness happens when a womans estrogen levels drop which causes your vaginal tissues to dry up and become less elastic. This affects so many parts of your life and makes having sex extremely uncomfortable. It also causes you to be much more prone to infections and is easily irritated. This is an incredibly unpleasant side effect of going through menopause. While your sexual drive is being decreased, you will find in increasingly difficult to become aroused as a result of the vaginal dryness. Sexual stimulation that you once found enjoyable becomes uncomfortable and is no longer something that you look forward to anymore.

Do not lose hope just yet though because there are some ways to get around this problem. Vaginal lubricants are a blessing to women around the world who are suffering from vaginal dryness. Vaginal dryness is not just caused by menopause; it can also be a side effect of pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding, surgical removal of your ovaries, immune disorders and cigarette smoking, just to name a few. Certain medications and treatments can also cause the membranes in your vagina to dry out. Generally, there are symptoms to indicate that you may be suffering from vaginal dryness, but sometimes it appears with no warning or reason at all. Vaginal lubricants come in a variety of forms, but most of them are available over the counter in any local drugstore.

While vaginal lubricants can help a person immensely who is suffering from vaginal dryness, it is important that you take the time to research different products to find out which one is best for you and your body. It is also a smart idea to consult your physician about your condition if you have not already. If your doctor thinks that it is necessary they can write you a prescription for a stronger vaginal lubricant that is only available with permission from a doctor. Just remember not to get upset and know that you are not alone and are not without a solution.

Breastfeeding – a Father’s Perspective

Breastfeeding is the most natural thing to do. It is one of the most important things that you can do to give your child the very best start in life and it is likely to be the first most important decision a mother and family will make about their baby’s health and upbringing.

We may all possibly be aware of the major benefits to mother and baby that breastfeeding confers.

But it does take commitment from both mother and family.

Possibly one of the biggest issues is that breastfed babies often spend more time ‘at the breast’ than formula fed children do whilst being fed; this is purely because bottle-feeding is functional (the activity only provides food).

Breastfeeding however provides food and nurturing. It is common for the baby to snuggle up to mother and fall asleep whilst feeding in this comfortable, secure environment (this intimacy leads to bonding which is a very important aspect of breastfeeding).

For this reason I personally thought for the first six months that our new baby did not have a face! I only ever saw the back of his head!

This leads on to more practical matters such as making sure mother and baby are comfortable for these periods and as happy and secure as you can make them both. Although this can mean a lot of ‘nurse-maiding’ it is wise for dads to remember that they are part of a team giving baby the best food, on tap, when he or she needs it. It comes out of the breast ‘ready to serve’ and is tailored to the baby’s age and nutritional needs. There are also no bottles to worry about, no formulas to mix, you don’t have to worry about sterilising everything, getting the temperature right, and, baby’s poo even smells better!!

Breastfeeding is not just the best source of food but also a good source of comfort and security. Mother’s bonding with her child can start here, if it has not already happened during pregnancy; breastfeeding is the most natural way of bonding. The eye-to-eye and skin-to-skin contact that breastfeeding requires strengthens the attachment between mo1ther and child. Breastfeeding helps mother to get to know and understand her baby. It is an important step in building a trusting relationship that extends well beyond baby years; it is not just the best source of food for a growing baby but the ultimate in terms of safety and security.

There are some emotional adjustments to be made. Family members may become jealous of the intimacy and attachments that occur between mother and baby through breastfeeding. From a father’s perspective, one sometimes has to wrestle with one’s feelings for baby, as this new-comer muscles in on what was your sole territory. But this time is very important for mother and baby, and it is often easy to forget that a family’s job is to care for and support mother as well as baby.

The help required from family members is very important but the most important is the care and support from dad. He can provide physical and emotional reassurance, he can head off discouragement and negative criticisms from other family members, and he can make mother comfortable whilst breastfeeding with such simple things as providing food and drinks, or even helping with the household chores or with other siblings.

Sleeping can also be an awkward time. If you do not want to sleep with baby in the bed, the cot should be placed in close proximity so that mother can virtually ‘do it in her sleep’. But here breastfeeding can be a major benefit to other family members because they may not be woken in the middle of the night. Mother simply attaches the baby and satisfaction is guaranteed!

There are other lifestyle modifications that are required for breastfeeding:

Having the right clothing to allow easy access for baby

Being willing to stop your routine for unplanned feeds

Continuing with a cessation of drinking and smoking

Watching what drugs or medications are taken

There are many other reasons that breastfeeding should be the first choice food for babies.

Just remember breastfeeding can be good for baby, mother and family – breast milk is perfectly formulated to meet your baby’s nutritional needs and…

It’s what breasts were designed for!

Breast really is best.

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Going through Premenopause:

Going through Premenopause:

We can look at 45 as a usual time when premenopausal symptoms first appear.
Unlike the popular misconception, premenopause does not only refer to irritability and mood swings but a whole set of distinct physiological symptoms. These symptoms may be vague independently but together confirm a woman’s ingress into perimenopause.

The symptoms every woman should be able to tell are irregularity of menstruation, hot flashes and associated stress/ irritability. Here irritability is not the primary symptom but an associated one.
There may be associated depression, weight gain, water retention and headaches as well.

At times, these symptoms may cause quite a bit of discomfort, resulting in women thinking of various solutions, many of which are suggested by other peers in small chats and internet chat rooms.

Remember, this is your health we are dealing with. Therefore always consult your gynecologist before considering a drastic measure like hysterectomy or tubal reversal without revealing your true reasons.

How long will this disease last?

Technically speaking, premenopause or menopause is not a disease but merely a switching phase of the body, accompanied with some uncomfortable and, at times, debilitating symptoms. There have been known cases of women who experience sudden cessation of menstruation. However, for the majority, it is the usual grill i.e. approximately 3-6 years of premenopause followed by 2-4 years of postmenopausal symptoms. The symptoms may be mild enough to ignore and severe enough to ask for medications.

Do I need medication?

That is for you and your doctor to decide. If you are experiencing nonadjustable problems, you should seek proper medical advice. The symptoms are basically due to hormonal fluctuations. Most women complain of lack of energy in addition to the above-mentioned symptoms.

In either case, you may consider many alternatives.

How will it affect me in future?

In the best way possible! You will not have to experience menstruation and associated body cramps. You won’t have to worry about unwanted pregnancies. The depression and stress is momentary and will pass away before you even notice. This phase is tough but will be gone soon.

Is there anything that I did to cause this?

No. This is inevitable and unavoidable. You may have accelerated its onset but no matter what you did, this was nonetheless bound to happen. It is a natural process.

What do you mean by my accelerating its onset?

Yes it is a possibility that certain aspects of your lifestyle caused an earlier onset of menopause. Those aspects are:

Hysterectomy (as it only removes the uterus, not the ovaries) Smoking No history of pregnancy Treatment history of pelvic radiation or chemotherapy

How do I know when to go to a doctor for my premenopausal symptoms?

In case of unusually heavy bleeding, longer menstruation i.e. more than 9 days, shorter cycle, and spotting in the middle of cycle, you need to see your gynecologist regardless of appearance of other symptoms.

Is this dangerous? Will I have to undergo a surgery? Will the surgery be reversible?

Whoops, lots of questions there. No it isn’t dangerous and you will not necessarily have to undergo a surgery. Most of the times, hormone replacement therapy HRT is advised. This therapy may be a combined pill or a progestin only therapy, depending upon your spectrum of symptoms.

Occasionally endometrial ablation is performed that is destruction of uterine mucosal lining. This is a surgery and not reversible. Even if you opt for a hysterectomy, that is not reversible. The reversible procedure you might be thinking of is tubal reversal which is done to reverse a tubal ligation. That has no effect on menopause at all.

Tubal Reversal

Heavy Uterine Bleeding And Beneficial Remedies For Menstruation

The inside of the uterus has two layers. The thin inner layer is called the endometrium. The thick outer layer is the myometrium (myo = muscle).

In women who menstruate, the endometrium thickens every month in preparation for pregnancy.

If the woman does not become pregnant, the endometrial lining is shed throughout the menstrual period. After menopause, the lining normally stops growing and shedding.

Under normal circumstances, a woman’s uterus sheds a limited amount of blood during each menstrual period (less than 5 tablespoons or 80 mL).

Bleeding that occurs sandwiched between menstrual periods or excessive menstrual bleeding is considered to be uncharacteristic uterine bleeding.

Causes of Uterine Bleeding

Hormonal imbalances that interfere with ovulation can result in abnormal uterine bleeding.

A number of things can interfere with the intricate hormonal balance that affects ovulation and bleeding.

1.    Pregnancy. In women of childbearing age, pregnancy is the leading cause of skipped periods.

2.    Perimenopause. The hormonal changes that occur during the years foremost up to menopause (the cessation of menstruation) can cause bleeding abnormalities.

3.    Stress. Stress hormones such as cortisol are known to interfere with ovulation.

4.    Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a condition in which the ovaries become filled with tiny cysts and enlarge.

The problem occurs when the pituitary gland produce too much of a hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH).

Symptoms of Uterine Bleeding

1.    Vaginal bleeding that occur more often than every 21 days or farther apart than 35 days (a normal teen menstrual cycle can last up to 45 days).

2.    Vaginal bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days (normally lasts 4 to 6 days).

3.    Blood loss of more than 80 mL (2.7 fl oz) each menstrual cycle [normally about 30 mL (1 fl oz)]. If you are passing blood clots and soaking during your usual pads or tampons each hour for 2 or more hours, your bleeding is careful severe.

Treatment of Uterine Bleeding

Make sure that the bleeding is coming from the vagina and is not from the rectum or in the urine.

You can insert a tampon into your vagina to confirm that the source of your bleeding is impending from the area of your vagina, cervix, and uterus.

If your bleeding is heavy, rest in bed.
Keep track of the number of pads or tampons you use so that you and your health care practioner can decide the amount of your bleeding.

Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills contain hormones that can stop the lining of your uterus from getting too thick. They can also help keep your menstrual cycle regular and reduce cramping.

Combination birth control pills are a common treatment for DUB. They contain the hormones estrogen and progestin, and are taken daily.

Combination pills slightly augment the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and blood clots.

If you smoke or have a medical history of any of these circumstances, your doctor may prescribe a progestin-only pill (also called the mini-pill).

Progestin-only pills can cause side belongings counting breast tenderness, bloating, headaches, mood swings and spot (light vaginal bleeding between periods).

You should tell your doctor if any side effects become a problem for you.

Surgery

If you don’t want to get pregnant in the future, and if birth control pills or the IUD don’t work, 2 surgical options are available to treat DUB: hysterectomy and endometrial ablation.

Hysterectomy is surgery that removes the uterus. If you have a hysterectomy, you won’t have any more period and you won’t be able to get pregnant.

Hysterectomy is major surgery that requires general anesthesia (puts you in a sleep-like state) and a hospital stay.

It may require a long recovery period. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of hysterectomy.

Symptoms of Perimenopause

Perimenopause, or pre-menopause is a transitional stage of two to ten years before complete cessation of the menstrual period. Its average duration is six years, and can appear in women from 35 to 50 years of age. Perimenopause marks the interval in which your body begins its transition into menopause. Perimenopause lasts up until menopause, the point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. In the last one to two years of perimenopause, this decline in estrogen accelerates. Perimenopause lasts from six to 10 years for most women. This stage begins gradually during regular cycles and ends when a year has passed since the final menstrual period. Perimenopause encompasses the years leading up to menopause anywhere from two to eight years plus the first year after your final period. It’s a natural part of aging that signals the ending of your reproductive years. Many women experience relief from hot flashes after taking low-dose birth control pills for a short period of time. Approximately 25% will begin to have night sweats. About 20-30% will have abnormally heavy flow for one or more cycles.

Most premenopausal women experience changes in their menstrual cycle. Most women experience some middle of the night sleep disturbances, mood swings and less ability to predict flow. Some women will experience nausea, new or recurrent and severe migraine headaches, weight gain and palpitations. Sleep disturbances may increase and rapid bone loss begins with the onset of irregular cycles. The final year of perimenopause is from the final menstrual period for one year. Additionally, this declining/fluctuating estrogen level can produce a host of disturbing symptoms: hot flashes, increasing dryness, sleep problems, mood swings, breast tenderness and many other complications. Additional symptoms of perimenopause or menopause may include, breast pain, irregular periods, urinary tract changes, problems as well as change in the complexion and hair. Some women find that these hot flashes disrupt their sleep, causing constant tiredness, and others respond with mood changes.

Main Symptoms of Perimenopause

1. Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling.

2. Changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier.

3. Tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, ‘whooshing,’ buzzing etc.

4. Anxiety, feeling ill at ease.

5. Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom.

6. Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion.

7. Trouble sleeping through the night.

8. Hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body; increase in facial hair.

9. Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance.

10. Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea.

11. Burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor.

12. Tingling in the extremities.

13. Itchy, crawly skin.

14. Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons.

15. Gum problems, increased bleeding

Treatment for Perimenopause Tips

1. Exercise.

2. Stop smoking .

3. Get more sleep and try going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day.

4. Decrease the amount of alcohol you drink.

5. Get to a healthy weight and stay there.

6. Take a multivitamin supplement and ingest enough calcium.

7. Drink at least eight glasses of water each day.

Top 5 Most Deadly Cigarette Chemicals

Cigarettes contain over 4000 chemicals, over 50 of which are known carcinogens (cancer causing poisons). These chemicals perform a range of functions – anything from improving the taste to slowing down the burn rate. Some of them don’t perform any function at all, but the tobacco companies refuse to disclose how they get included. Here are the top 5 most deadly chemicals found in cigarettes…

1. Cyanide

Used by the Nazi’s in their concentration camps during World War 2 (in the form of hydrogen cyanide), Cyanide is one of the most deadly poisons in the world.

2. Arsenic

Arsenic is commonly used in traps to kill rodents by dehydration.

3. DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane )

DDT is a very well known synthetic pesticide still used in various parts of the world. It has been banned in the USA since 1972. Likely it ends up in tobacco where it is grown outside the U.S.

4. Carbon Monoxide

This gas is made even more deadly by its colorless, odorless properties. Carbon monoxide kills by asphyxiation – it replaces oxygen in the blood stream with CO molecules. It is a common byproduct of burning appliances in the house, the car, and from cigarettes.

5. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a liquid commonly used for preserving dead tissue. It is also highly poisonous, causing intestinal and major organ disruption.

These chemicals perform a range of functions, from slowing the burn rate to altering the flavor. In all cases, they’re just part of the design to kill – to make smoking cigarettes more addictive. With all these chemicals it’s no wonder that cigarettes remain the leading cause of preventable death, and one of the top causes of death world wide.