As some of you may know, at the moment there is a bit of a chaotic situation happening within my family healthwise. I really think the hospital should assign us a room to pitch a tent in and save us the trouble of coming and going there on a regular basis.
My grandmother was released from hospital 3 days ago after being there for about 10 days due to her doctor's suspicions that she might be having early signs of renal failure and/or gastric issues. She wasn't able to take any of her meds for a while as she couldn't hold anything she's ingest down. At hospital they put her on intravenous medications and she responded to treatment very quickly.
The issue is this - since being sent back home, she went back to square one. Meaning, this evening, she got referred back to hospital by her doc. She is currently laying on a stretcher in the Emergency Room with my mum to keep her company, waiting for a bed to be assigned to her and for more tests to be carried out.
This year is a year of radical changes within my family. Not only is Creature due any minute now, but my brother is also getting married later on in the year. These are both events that my Gran is really looking forward to.
Knowing how her health is failing her lately, it does make me wonder whether she will be around to witness these two events. As bad as this may sound, I am making a conscious effort to keep in mind that everyone is here on borrowed time, and that at 82years of age, she has had a good long life. Kinda trying to prepare myself for the inevitable, since it must happen sooner or later. I can only hope that it will be later though.
It also makes me wish for Creature to be born sooner, just to make sure she gets to meet him/her. Few people get to meet their great-grandchildren. I'd like her to be one of those few.
I have been pondering this subject for a while... I've already clarified why embarrassing photos are taken... What I cannot figure out though, is why children are encouraged to make complete and utter fools of themselves on video, only to have it uploaded on Youtube.
A lot of the internet sensation children happen to be of the overly obese variety too - which to me is quite concerning. Not only are the parents of the children in question willing to have the world take the piss out of their child - with the possibility of that episode coming back to haunt them later on in life... but they are also willing to ignore their child's apparent health issues.
Yes, chubby children can be cute. Cute only lasts until their weight becomes a cause for bullying, as well as bringing along health problems. Those worthy of the title 'Mum' and 'Dad' will have done their best to safeguard the health of their child whilst in utero. Why should it be any different once they pop out?
A brief article I received by e-mail yesterday also made me think that maybe, not enough people invest the time to ensure their children are being encouraged to be healthy when under someone else's supervision. You'll know how much thought I have been giving to Childcare once I return back to work if you have been following this blog. It is not possible for me to understand how anyone can do any less when it comes to choosing who to trust with their child's well-being, and where to 'dump' the child whilst they [i.e. parent[s]s] are unavailable.
As a Nerd myself, I value the academic aspect of pre-school facilities. I cannot deny though, that unstructured play is vital as well. Running around, playing pretend, making up stories and games - all of this is a staple in childhood. Or rather, was, back in "my days". I would want my child to know the joys of imagination and creativity - not just to act like a trained monkey.
By allowing your child to potentially get hurt - within reason - you're also teaching them coping mechanisms and giving them the chance to earn their Battle Scars. When I was younger, my legs were always full of bruises and my knees were constantly scabby and scraped. I recall a few occasions when such injuries were incurred, and to be honest, they are memories I treasure.
Bottom line is this: Allow children to be children. Take care of their health, and don't throw obstacles in their way that might leave long-term damaging side-effects. It is uncalled for and to me, pure evil.
This entry will be taking us back to the very beginning of the whole deal - the reason behind this whole blog.
I got together with a friend of mine recently - and had to plan in advance how to tackle the Baby subject with her 6 year old son. He knew I am pregnant and that it means that a baby is on his/her way, but my friend asked me not to mention that Baby is 'inside my abdominal cavity. The reason behind it is so as not to 'traumatise him' due to a story someone had told her son about him living in his mum's belly and the doctors having had to cut her open in order for him to live. That seemed to scare the living shit out of him.
When I asked her what story I should stick to, she said to go for the Stork, even though he has been told that a certain young girl of his acquaintance was purchased from Pavi Supermarket. Being fat was to be used as a justification for my belly.
When he asked, I said I ordered Creature online and was waiting for the delivery now. He gave me a look of disbelief as if to say "You're pulling my leg, aren't you?" and he then asked if I'm married, and claimed only married people have babies. My friend [his mum] corrected him, and pointed out she isn't married either. He said "Yes you are. To me."
This got me thinking - When is it "too young" to explain the whole "Where do babies come from?" thing? Should the topic be solely limited to baby-making? Another thing that made me think was this article.
I came across the article yesterday on a different newspaper, and it makes me worried to think that so many parents hesitate to discuss the topic of Sex with their children because they think they are "too young and innocent" and expect them to learn all about it in school.
I have spoken to a few friends of mine to discover how Sex Ed is tackled in schools nowadays since nothing came up when I tried googling about it. I left school 10 years ago, so I figured things must have changed, surely? My bad. Apparently, they are still a complete and utter disaster.
Sex Ed is not approached as a topic before the child is in Secondary school it seems - [that'd be from age 12 upwards]. Every school seems to vary from the next, but what I've been told so far was this: do not rely on schools to teach your child about sex, contraception and STIs. A friend of mine who had finished school not too long ago mentioned to me that students who studied Biology had an advantage over the rest as that is pretty much the only exposure they had regarding reproduction and contraception. Sex Ed itself seemed to have consisted only of a slide show of gross images of warts and whatnot in an attempt to scare the students into abstinence. And the fact that during Religion lessons, condoms were deemed to be evil doesn't help either.
Another friend of mine said that her 12 year old nephew only knows that the penis has to go in a vagina in order for babies to be created. That was pretty much it.
It looks like it doesn't even depend on the school itself - it depends on the teacher's methods and willingness to approach the topic.
Raising sexual awareness from a young age should be standard procedure in my opinion. Within the article I posted a link to earlier, the boy involved was just a year older than my friend's son. Had the boy been made aware that it is wrong for someone - especially an adult - to touch their private parts and engage in activities involving intimacy, then perhaps things would have turned out differently, and a disturbed man caught earlier.
I have no idea how I'm going to tackle the topic when the time comes. What I do know is that there is no such thing as too young. I say this all the time - Knowledge is power. Empower your children - make them aware that their penis/vagina is not just there for them to pee from and that until they are older, peeing should be the only reason they use it for. Don't shove down their throat a plethora of lies and misinformation.
By approaching the subject from a simple awareness perspective at a young age, once puberty hits, the child is more likely to approach you for information as to what is going on. Now, puberty is not something restricted to the teenage years. Hell, I got my menstruation when I was 9 years old! Fair enough, it was still early for any sexual feelings to be involved - but that did not mean I could not get pregnant.
Think of it this way - you do your best to educate your child and to select what information is given when, how, where, by whom and in what fashion. Would you rather your child gets correct information from yourself, or be led to believe all sorts of nonsense by his/her peers, or even worse, his/her teacher[s]?
As awkward a subject as it may be - it is part of life. A child needs to know. The earlier you start explaining the facts, the better. Make it simple enough for a young mind to grasp the sense behind it, but stick to facts. You'll be safeguarding your child's well-being AND innocence in that manner.
Anyone who has ever had a crush on someone, or who has had too much red bull, knows what it feels like to have your heart race and not being able to do anything about it.
Usually, palpitations are caused by anxiety, stress, nervousness, fear, shock or physical overexertion and quite a few more things. Certain medications, as well as energy drinks and other beverages with a high caffeine content, can also cause palpitations.
But what are they exactly?
Palpitation is a term used to describe the feeling of the heart 'racing' or beating strongly and rapidly in the chest. The palpitations are generally associated with three main causes:
As I mentioned, anxiety can also cause palpitations in that the heart muscles are affected by the state of one's mind. This means that psychological problems can also cause one to palpitate. When undergoing a diagnosis to identify what is potentially causing these palpitations, medical staff should therefore consider the psycho-social aspect first and foremost.
When it comes to experiencing palpitations throughout pregnancy, this is classified under Hyperdynamic Circulation.
When you're pregnant, your blood volume increases by up to 50% in volume - however your heart doesn't change. Suddenly your body finds itself having to circulate one and a half times as much blood as it generally does - which means that your heart is put under quite a bit of stress. Anxiety and Stress encountered throughout the pregnancy itself continue adding onto the workload, so your poor heart is the one to suffer.
The further down the line your pregnancy is, the more you will start noticing the palpitations - not just when you put yourself out of breath by doing some simple task, but even whilst you're at rest.
I guess what I'm trying to say is this: Don't Panic. It is normal. However, please do mention it to your doctor. They are trained to know about these things and if they reckon there is cause for concern, they will take it further and order some tests for you. It is best to know about issues rather than leaving them untackled until it is potentially too late.
Fingers crossed, the doctor will give you the thumbs up, indicating you have a strong and healthy heart. So, what can you do to reduce the chances of palpitations from being due to stress?
I've been asking myself that question quite a lot lately seeing as I've been getting palpitations on a daily basis lately. As those of you who actually know me are aware of, I'm an insomniac. My insomnia is caused by stress - jokingly, I claim to be allergic to human emotions since any strong emotion can trigger my sleeping issues.
Needless to say, I have pretty much tried it all - meditation, exercise, relaxation music, chamomile tea, herbal teas especially designed to help you relax/sleep, heck - even my shower gels are meant to assist with relaxation and sleep! I have also had sleeping pills prescribed. Got blood tests done, spoke to numerous doctors. Still, nothing helped.
Having said that, just because I haven't been able to get rid of my stress-induced insomnia doesn't mean I'm not willing to give it a shot at reducing my stress levels that may impact the palpitations!
So, here are some ideas you can try out if you'd like:
Rest - Take it easy, make some time to rest throughout the day - and if you're tired, go have a nap.
Talk it out - Whatever is concerning you, don't keep it bottled up - talk to your midwife, your doctor, your partner, your relatives, your friends - to anyone who is willing to listen. Or else, write [which is what I'm doing right now].
Eat well - It is good for both your mind and your body.A healthy diet which includes plenty of omega-3 essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, can actually boost your mood! It is thought that the essential amino acid tryptophan can raise levels of the chemicals melatonin and serotonin in your brain - both of which help you to sleep well and increase them good vibrations! Tryptophan is found naturally in many foods, including nuts and seeds, which are ideal snack foods.
Exercise - Be it a 10 minute walk, swimming or pregnancy yoga, it'll do you good. Just ensure you don't over-exert yourself.
Prepare for birth - Pre-natal classes can do the trick. In Malta, you can either attend the free classes provided at Mater Dei Hospital, or you can sign up for classes at numerous private clinics. It'll give you the opportunity to learn how things are done locally- what to expect, what not to expect etc. It'll also give you the opportunity to ask questions and more often than not, realise your concerns are really nothing to worry about and that you're not the only one with those particular fears.
Commuting strategies - The more advanced your pregnancy, the more stressful catching a bus, or a train, or whatever means of transport you use can be. Most of the time, the moment people realise you're pregnant, they will gladly give up their seat. Don't turn it down. When possible, see if you can make arrangements to avoid rush hours, and to preferably get a ride with someone.
Learn how to budget - If you don't know how to, it is about time you learn. Make a list of all the stuff you think you need, and start asking around to see if you can get some items for free, or to purchase them 2nd hand. You can clicky here, here, here and here to check out previous blogsclicky here to the previous blog regarding financial matters. Also, this blog here gives you inexpensive amusement ideas for your child.
Meditate - Be it a guided meditation [which you can easily find in audio format online, or record yourself reading it out and then listening to it], or just a matter of laying down on your bed with a few candles lit up and relaxing music playing in the background - it can help.
Alternative therapy - Reflexology is said to help, as does Massage. However please make sure your practitioner is qualified and has experienced dealing with pregnant women. Any essential oils used on you need to be safe for use during pregnancy.
Pamper yourself - Be it a night out [or in] with friends, treating yourself to a pedicure, or going to the occasional movie - it'll do you good. Laughter is the best medicine they say.
Inform yourself - That is pretty much the thought behind this blog. I research stuff and learn as much as I possibly can, and share the information with whoever wishes to learn. The more you know, the less worried you'll be. Setting your own expectations helps a great deal. Knowledge is power, as they say.
If all else fails, speak to your doctor - s/he maybe able to give you pointers, or to refer you to someone qualified, who can help you deal with anxiety.
Ah, how I miss smoking. The joys of digging into my baccy pouch and rolling a cigarette, and then light up and take that first drag...
When I found out I was pregnant, i was 3-4 weeks down the line. I realised then that I had to stop smoking. It wasn't my first time attempting to quit. In the past, I had managed to quit for3 months, a few weeks, and a few days respectively. This time though, I knew I had to stick with it.
I was a heavy smoker. Since I rolled my own, I never knew exactly how much I would be smoking.... Suffice to say though, that a packet of baccy would last me just under a week... And I rolled my ciggies as thinly as I could. Thin enough for a filter tip not to fit in the paper tube.
Within a week of my finding out I was pregnant, I managed to cut down to just 1 cigarette a day. In the meanwhile, at work, I was getting denied cigarettes by my team mates [who realised something was up before I told them I'm pregnant simply because of my sudden drastic decrease in smoking.] and.or denied the loan of lighters.
Gradually, my one-a-day changed to one-every-3-days, then 5days, then a week, and so on and so forth. I had some travels planned for the month of June/July. I would be seeing some of my chosen family at Skindependence [a body modification annual meet-up that up until this year was held in Billings, Montana]. That means, I would be surrounded by people I love, but not being able to do the things I love which I had planned from the year before. If you weren't aware, getting any sort of body modification when pregnant is a bad idea. It causes your body to go through unnecessary stress, and although the chances of infection are remote if the mod [be it a piercing, tattoo, implant, scarification, brand suspension, flesh pull etc] is executed correctly, with no cross-contamination occurrences, and if you follow a strict aftercare regime, there is still a very slim chance.
Being at Skindependence also meant I would be constantly surrounded by a smoking majority - so I made a decision. I would still smoke the odd cigarette. But once SkinD was over, so would my habit.
My last cigarette was on the 8th of July 2011, in the company of some very close friends of mine. I haven't looked back since.
Now, I can tell you all sorts of scientific facts about the harmful effects of smoking on the unborn child. But I won't. I'll just link you to this, this, and this instead.
My personal reason to quit was this:
Smoking is a personal choice. I firmly believe that 2nd hand smoking is also a personal choice. Allow me to explain why. Picture this. You're standing in a room with 3 people who are smoking. You are being subjected to their 2nd hand smoke. You have a choice. You can either stay there and inhale the smoke, or leave the room, therefore removing the exposure to 2nd hand smoke. A foetus does not have your same choice. S/he cannot just pack up and leave your uterus, can s/he? I just don't find it fair to subject the unborn to something they have no say in.
I have no idea if I'll continue not smoking once Creature is born - right now I'm trying to tell myself that for the same amount of money I'd spend on tobacco and rolling papers every week, I would be able to afford an extra pack of nappies. Hopefully, that will keep me motivated enough not to start smoking again.
At the end of the day, it is all about prioritising. And right now, my sole priority is Creature.
The moment people find out you're pregnant, they automatically start telling you about what you should and should not eat. If you're like me, you'll have done your homework in advance, and find yourself telling them that you already know about it all.
If you are like me though, your diet is likely to get questioned by the majority of people. I'm pescatarian - meaning I'm a vegetarian who eats fish. My choice is a moral one.
Too many people seem to be under the impression that by being vegetarian - and I will be using the term loosely here, to describe all varieties of vegetarianism - or vegan, you're not eating healthily enough and you are therefore harming the baby and will have to eat meat.
Sorry, you lot who are of the above opinion. That is complete and utter bullshit. As long as you are on a balanced diet, you don't need to eat meat. Also, keep in mind that you'll be put on pregnancy vitamin supplements, meaning that whatever nutrient you're not getting from your diet, you're going to get from the pills.
Let us have a look at the most common foods that you're told to avoid, and why:
Soft Cheeses with a white, mouldy rind, such as brie and camembert, and blue-veined cheeses such as stilton. All these cheeses could contain listeria, a bacteria that could harm your baby.
Pate, and raw or undercooked meat and eggs. All are possible sources of bacteria that can harm your unborn baby, such as salmonella. When cooking meat and eggs, make sure they are cooked properly. Avoid products made with raw eggs, such as home-made mayonnaise.
Raw seafood, such as oysters, or sushi that has not been frozen before making. This means, any sushi that contains crab meat is fine, since it is a processed food purchased in the 'stick' format - i.e. frozen food. Vegetarian sushi is also another alternative. Shellfish is usually a food you're told to avoid for the simple reason that it is one of the most common foods that causes food poisoning. If cooked properly, then you're fine.
Shark, swordfish or marlin. These fish contain unsafe levels of naturally occurring mercury. Tuna contains some mercury too, so it's best you don't eat more than four medium-sized cans, or two fresh tuna steaks per week.
Don't eat liver and liver products (such as pate or liver sausage), because they may contain large amounts of the retinol form of vitamin A. Too much of this could be harmful to your developing baby.
You should stop or cut down on drinking alcohol during pregnancy, too. If you really want to drink during your pregnancy, don’t drink more than one or two units of alcohol, once or twice a week, and don't get drunk. Having said that, very few people are capable of moderation. Refraining from alcohol is your safest bet. Wanna know what happens to babies whose mother keeps on drinking heavily throughout the pregnancy? Clicky here, here, here and here.
It's best not to have more than 200mg of caffeine a day. That’s two mugs of instant coffee or four cups of tea or five cans of cola a day. You could switch to decaffeinated hot drinks and colas, instead. A good idea is to limit your chocolate intake - especially if you've had coffee/tea/cola throughout the day. Keep in mind that chocolate contains caffeine.
When it comes to raw vegetables, make sure they are properly washed.
By the way, you know that whole "Eating for two" thing? Yep. That's bullshit as well.
When you're pregnant, your body knows that it needs to be more efficient in utilising the food you eat on a daily basis. What this means is that you don’t actually need any extra calories for the first six months of pregnancy. Then you only need about 200 extra calories per day for the last three months.
If you're like me, 200 calories doesn't mean anything to you. I eat what I eat because I like it, not for its calorie count. So, after some googling, I've found out that 200 calories is equivalent to:
a slice of wholemeal toast with a small can of baked beans
a toasted pitta bread with two tablespoons of reduced-fat hummus
a slice of malt loaf or fruit scone with butter or spread
one slice of cheese on toast
145 grams of cooked pasta
83 grams of dried apricots
41 grams Snickers chocolate bar
and the list goes on. Clicky here for a visual list of more 200g foods.
And another thing. You know those cravings pregnant women go on and on about? Yep. You guessed it. Bullshit too. It is all in the pregnant woman's head. I can safely say that my cravings have not changed from my pre-pregnancy days up until now, that i'm approx 34 weeks pregnant. I just feel like having chocolate milk more often. That much, I justify with the need of extra calcium. Then again, I've always liked chocolate milk.
Pregnant women - do yourself a favour - eat healthily, and don't over indulge. The pregnancy weight so many women complain about after they give birth is merely their own fault. You should be looking at gaining an average of 12 kilos by the end of the pregnancy. And this weight should be gained gradually. [insert smug grin here. I'm happy to say I've so far gained about 8.3kg from the beginning until now. Go me!] Your pregnancy weight gain should be on your torso, not your ass.
