Posts Tagged ‘child’

I mean, how can it help me? Ice cream is fattening

Sunday, March 21st, 2010

I mean, how can it help me? Ice cream is fattening.”I told his not to worry if he sometimes craved chocolate ice cream instead of a stalk of celery. “If you choose only what’s good for you, you’ll set up a deprivation syndrome, & then when you stop dieting you’ll gain the weight right back. The goal of the exercise is to get you to satisfy your hunger without overeating, & yet to eat what you enjoy. If you wait forth full-stomach syndrome, you’re in trouble.” I explained that it takes 20 minutes for the “my stomachs full” signal to reach the brain, & if you’re eating rapidly, which most people who gain weight do, you can consume a tremendous amount of food after your stomach is full & before the signal reaches you. Look around in any restaurant & notice how quickly overweight people devour food; they hardly seem aware of what they eat. Obviously, food is necessary even for those overweight, & some of the time the urge to eat is truly healthy, normal response to the body’s need for nourishment. A useful approach is to find a variety of foods you like & that are good for you. Diets are a perfect time for discovering new meals & snacks. I approach the issue by showing you that you can lose weighting a way that will let you feel positive about yourself. If you eat too much, it is often because in our society eating is a way of being loving toward ourselves. It Isa reminder of parental love in which the presentation of food is a loving act. The rest of the world may kick you in the teeth, but food is a way you can be nice toyourself.I prescribed that Martha do a self-Hypnotherapy exercise about eight times a day—approximately once every two hours, for 90 seconds. The exercise was to first see his on two screens: the way he looked at the present & the way he would like to look. Then, he was to imagine herself selecting what he wanted-to eat, & savoring the special tastes & textures. Finally, he was to see herself stop eating when he was yes longer enjoying the food, yes matter how littler how much was left. As part of the prescription, I asked his to look in the mirror each morning, preferably with a minimal amount of clothing, so that he could project in the exercise an accurate view of the way he looked then. & as I do with all weightcontrolclients, I asked his to call me in a week. At first the exercise proved difficult, because when people have gained weight they tend to avoid looking at themselves in the mirror as a way to avoid dealing with the issue .

Tags: a level hypnosis, birth hypnosis, cancer, child, childbirth, cigarette advertising, exam hypnosis, gcse hypnosis, gender, gmat hypnosis, gwyneth paltrow, Hawaii, health, hypnobirth, hypnobirthing, hypnosis for exams, hypnosis for weight loss, Hypnosis to Stop Smoking, leclaire, lsat hypnosis, mcat hypnosis, mongan, Northern Ireland, passive smoking, pregnancy, quit smoking, quit smoking hypnosis, secondhand smoke, stop smoking, stop smoking hypnosis, study habits hypnosis, study hypnosis, tobacco, weight loss, weight loss advertising
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a heightened state of communication

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Hypnobirthing

Stop Smoking Hypnosis

Quit Smoking Hypnosis

Weight Loss Hypnosis

Study Habits Hypnosis

Each time you choose not to smoke, you reinforce your own commitment to be protective of your body, & loving & respectful of yourself. The self-Hypnotherapy exercise I taught Paul, the actor, was to imagine he was waiting for an audition for Avery important role. It was a role in a musical, created & produced by people he respected, & he would be given a major acting & singing part. As he thought about smoking while he waited, he realized his throat would become raspy. He could choose between smoking & performing at his optimum. Even though he had the urge to smoke, the act was still a matter of choice, his choice. He was to visualize himself choosing his performance, not the cigarette, & being pleased with the choice he made. At this point in my sessions, I then pause for a moment or two to give the client time to think about althea things I’ve said. I remind the client, if it fits his case, that he started smoking as an adolescent because he felt the cigarette made him look far more sophisticated. Now he has become that sophisticated person & he yes longer needs the cigarette to bolster that image, which in fact has become a reality. We sit in silence then. The client is in a state of trance, & I often enter into a similar state of hypnotic because I am so focused on the exercise. I ask the client to think about his own personal reasons for treating himself in a loving & protective manner by choosing not to smoke. After a moment I bring the client out of trance. I tell him “I’m going to count backwards from three to one. At three, I want you to get ready. At two, with your eyes still closed, I want you to look up. And, at one, open your eyes & let them slowly come into focus.” I then count three. . Two . . . one & that’s the end of the exercise. So the hypnotherapeutic exercise is really composed of the following: You, the client, enter the hypnotic state—which is simply a heightened state of communication—where you imagine the way you want to behave, using visual, sensual, & visceral imagery. Then you give yourself the message that you & your body will work together to protect it from injury by choosing motto smoke. You remind yourself that the act is a choice. Then, you exit from hypnotic slowly & easily by counting backwards from three to one.

Tags: birth hypnosis, cancer, child, childbirth, cigarette advertising, gwyneth paltrow, hypnobirth, hypnobirthing, hypnosis for exams, hypnosis for weight loss, Hypnosis to Stop Smoking, leclaire, lsat hypnosis, mcat hypnosis, mongan, passive smoking, pregnancy, quit smoking, quit smoking hypnosis, secondhand smoke, stop smoking, stop smoking hypnosis, study habits hypnosis, study hypnosis, tobacco, weight loss advertising
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The following two descriptions of how the hidden observer works

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Hypnobirthing

Stop Smoking Hypnosis

Quit Smoking Hypnosis

Weight Loss Hypnosis

Study Habits Hypnosis

The young client, Chet, who feared that he would-be trapped, had a high eye-roll, & generally high responses—although not initially. His hand, as we began, moved upwards in fits & spasms. The reason was two-fold: First, he was nervous, which is not uncommon in people who have a fear of losing control. But far more importantly, he was watching himself watching me. He was the victim of his hidden observer. He could not let go & float or be free. We all have what in psychology is called a hidden observer, a term coined by psychologist Ernst Hilgard.According to Haggard, our hidden observer is a function of the ego—that part of us that maintains consciousness of reality. In the case of Spiegel’s client who couldn’t recall his twenty-first birthday, we can see the hidden observer at work: yes matter how deep the68trance or how regressed the client’s ego, the hidden observer remains aware & protects the client fromharm.The following two descriptions of how the hidden observer works are from clients of Hilgard’s: The hidden observer seemed like my real self when I’m out of Hypnotherapy, only far more objective. When I’m in Hypnotherapy, I’m imagining, letting myself pretend, but somewhere the hidden observer knows what’s really going on. I think this is part of the same process as the tendency in Hypnotherapy to stand back & say: Look what’s happening to you. You’re slowly going under Hypnotherapy. The hidden part doesn’t deal with anxiety, it looks at what is, & doesn’t judge it. It’s not hypnotized part of the self. It knows all the parts. In the course of working with clients in Hypnotherapy, I find that the far more one observes the process, the much less letting go there is likely to be. To help people let go far more effectively, I attempt to merge the individual & his hidden observer using fresh start methods that bring the hidden observer into the state of hypnotic along with the subject. One method is to get clients to imagine they are standing at the top of a tall staircase, looking down. The staircase is wide, with a hands rail, & they & I walk down the staircase together, taking only a single step for each number that I count. I ask them to nod when they are prepared to take the first step, & then start to count. One: take the first step, a step down to higher level of inner awareness. Two: the next step. Three: the next. On the tenth step, I tell them we are halfway down. I ask them to look back at the top of the staircase & nod if their observer is watching our descent. I then tell them to count their observer down tithe tenth step. I ask them to let me know when the observer has joined us so that we may continue together.

Tags: a level hypnosis, birth hypnosis, cancer, child, childbirth, cigarette advertising, exam hypnosis, gmat hypnosis, gwyneth paltrow, hypnobirth, hypnobirthing, hypnosis for exams, Hypnosis to Stop Smoking, mcat hypnosis, Northern Ireland, passive smoking, pregnancy, quit smoking, quit smoking hypnosis, secondhand smoke, stop smoking, stop smoking hypnosis, study habits, study habits hypnosis, study hypnosis, tobacco, weight loss advertising
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We enjoy a catnap - Hypnobirthing

Monday, November 16th, 2009

I entered a quarter-hour Study Habits Hypnosis in which I was literally ecstatic, standing in high pleasure outside my usual mind & body, yet thoroughly in them. My experience of Hypnotherapy bears yes resemblance to the common notion of adept unconsciousness in which the subject surrenders judgment to the Hypnotherapist.

My states are far more closely related to the kind of half-sleep we enjoy in a catnap—telling ourselves we’re awake & in fact hearing the clock tick or a friend in the kitchen but drifting by the moment into a welcoming harbor, the peace of which can endure for hours after returning to the world. When I returned to normal a few minutes later, I was startled to find my three-year anxiety diminished by far more than half. Better still; the relief lasted for the three hours he had estimated. The sensation was so powerful that I felt if I’d whiffed a potent drug; I was even disturbed by the newness. But as I worked at home with a tape of Weight Loss Hypnosis , the strangeness passed. & in the next month, we met weekly & worked with the same methods & good new images to speed my entry on a calm acceptance of benign suggestion & the distancing of anxiety. Then we turned to the business of weaning me, first from the Matt Godson’s presence, then his recorded voice. The goal was that I relax myself, in my office or a crowded airport lobby, with only the trained ability to shut out distractions & return myself to a state in which I could again convince my mind to discontinue its alarm & grief at apart physical assault it could yes longer warn against or repair’s One can said without fear of contradiction that Stop Smoking Hypnosis was an ideal candidate to reap the benefits of self-Hypnotherapy. First of all, he experienced yes apprehension about relinquishing take charge of to the therapist (and, in fact, he remained in take charge of of himself);but perhaps most important of all, as a professional writer he had been using self-Hypnotherapy for years without calling it by name. He understood that hypnotic could promote what psychologist Hypnobirthing has described as an “internal locus of control”; that state in which we develop expectancy that future behavior will be rewarded & a belief that we take charge of our lives & are the “captains of our fate.” Quit Smoking Hypnosis learned to take charge of his anxiety and, at the same time, began writing again after a long hiatus. He was indeed captain of hisfate.Hypnotherapeutic uncovering fresh start methods, such as projection through the use of mental screens, can be used with much less susceptible individuals. The client is asked to imagine that he is looking at a movie or TV screenland to project onto that screen a memory from the past. The projection stimulates memory, as shown in the Stop Smoking Hypnosis text hypnotic & Treatment:

Tags: Add new tag, birth hypnosis, cancer, child, childbirth, cigarette advertising, exam hypnosis, gmat hypnosis, hypnobirth, hypnosis for exams, hypnosis for weight loss, Hypnosis to Stop Smoking, lsat hypnosis, mcat hypnosis, Northern Ireland, pregnancy, quit smoking, quit smoking hypnosis, secondhand smoke, stop smoking, stop smoking hypnosis, study habits, study habits hypnosis, study hypnosis, tobacco, weight loss, weight loss advertising
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Self Hypnosis as an Anasthetic

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

Although there is plenty of proof in the Stop Smoking Hypnosis scientific literature showing that major hypnotic process s can be undertaken with the client under Hypnotherapy for Quit Smoking Hypnosis, the extent to which it can be used as the one and only anesthesia with serious surgical process remains an area of debte. Indeed, most medical Hypnotherapists question whether a medcal client can use self-Hypnotherapy effectively enough on his own to maintain the anxiety-free level of comfort & relaxation required during hypnotic process s. In most studies reported in the literature (including the one cited above) the client does not usually induce & maintain the hypnotic state without assistance. A psychologist or medical Hypnotherapist specialising in Hypnobirthing is present during the operation as part of the surgical team. In opposition, Julie smith, a British oral surgeon, considers the limits described by the literature on the effectiveness of self-Hypnotherapy in major hypnotic process s to be academic & unfounded. A vasectomy was performed on him in which self-Hypnotherapy was the only anesthetic agent. Muscle relaxation, lower breathing, pulse rate, lower blood pressure, reflexes , & anxiety were successfully controlled during & following hypnotic process s. Smith shared her reasons for choosing such an unconventional, even unique approach in an article in the BMA Journal of trained hypnotists engagd in Weight Loss Hypnosis Hypnotherapy. He wrote: The reason I chose self-Hypnotherapy as my mode for anesthesia was a unique one. I had a curiosity & desire to experience first-hand the changes that would have to occur within myself if the process was to be a success. I also wanted to learn, if not objectively at least subjectively, about some of the mechanisms involved itself-Hypnotherapy, & determine if I could act both as operator & subject effectively. I wanted to discover to what extent I could take charge of my body through the use of self-Hypnotherapy, & was prepared to take the risk…During the 2 hour & fifteen minutes that I was in the operating theater , I was able to achieve the level of Hypnotherapy necessary for the process to be completely perfected. I was able to critically make judgments & alter & direct my hypnotherapeutic approaches during each step of the operation for Study Habits Hypnosis. At all times my critical faculty was awake. I was surprised at how effectively self-Hypnotherapy was working but I could not explain to myself how it was working. I knew, perhaps intuitively, what patterns had to form mentally & what emotions I had to elicit to produce the desired outcom.

Tags: a level hypnosis, birth hypnosis, child, childbirth, cigarette advertising, diet, exam hypnosis, gcse hypnosis, gwyneth paltrow, Hawaii, health, hypnobirth, hypnobirthing, hypnosis for exams, hypnosis for weight loss, Hypnosis to Stop Smoking, lsat hypnosis, mcat hypnosis, Northern Ireland, passive smoking, quit smoking, quit smoking hypnosis, secondhand smoke, stop smoking, stop smoking hypnosis, study habits hypnosis, study hypnosis, tobacco
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Hypnotic Induction

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

There were at least 150 beds, most of them occupied with patients. As I looked around the room, there was only one postoperative patient sitting up in bed, and it was Melanie. The sight of him—so alert—startled me. He looked entirely too healthy. • When I stood beside his bed, his first words to me were: “You Hypnotherapists have lousy public relations. I feel ready to go home.” Indeed, he looked ready to go home. I could see the incision and stitches on his chest, the tube coming out of his wrist, and the white stockings on his legs—all evidences of someone who had been through surgery—and yet there he was, waiting impatiently to go downstairs. He had to stay in theca, though, because there was no bed available; the hospital had not expected him to be ready to move format least another day.

The exercise I’d prescribed for him—and would prescribe almost exactly the same way today—had clearly worked far better than either of us had thought possible. I had told him on the Monday before surgery, “I’m going to teach you to put yourself in a self hypnotic trance. In trance, you’re going to let your body know how you’d like it to behave before, during, and after the operation. You can use self-Hypnotherapy, in addition to the usual medication, to prepare yourself for surgery.

“To enter trance, start by making yourself comfortable. Then follow the three-step procedure we will do together now. “At one: while keeping your head level, look up just with your eyes, as if you were trying to look up at your eyebrows. “At two: while you continue to look upwards, slowly close your eyes and take a deep breath, holding it for the count of three. One…. two . . . three. “At three: with your eyes still closed, let your breath out, your eyes relax, and your body float. “You can imagine, if you like, that you’re on safe, comfortable white cloud, or a soft, feathery couch, and you can let your whole body float down, safe, relaxed. . . very comfortable. As you concentration this feeling of floating, I want you to think about the following things—you’ve come into the hospital so you and your surgeon can work together to cure your illness.

Tags: birth hypnosis, child, childbirth, cigarette advertising, exam hypnosis, exams, exercise, gender, gmat hypnosis, hypnobirth, Hypnosis to Stop Smoking, leclaire, mongan, quit smoking, quit smoking hypnosis, stop smoking, stop smoking hypnosis, study habits hypnosis, test scores
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Obese pregnant women should be encouraged to limit their weight gain

Monday, March 30th, 2009

Obese pregnant women should be encouraged to limit their weight gain or even lose weight, experts say, as evidence builds that shedding kilos may not only do no harm to mother and child but might benefit them.

The advice reverses the long-held view that mothers-to-be should not diet as there was a risk that cutting food intake would lead to the loss of essential nutrients to help the baby’s development and growth.

Excess weight makes conception less likely but the huge increase in obese women of reproductive age over the past decade means even morbidly obese pregnant women have gone from being the exception to “commonplace”, a specialist obstetrician at Goulburn Valley Health, Glyn Teale, said.

Associate Professor Teale told the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists annual scientific meeting that one in 18 women attending an antenatal clinic in rural Victoria in 2007 was morbidly obese.

Of 3211 women who presented between 2005 and 2007, 62.5 per cent were overweight, 31.2 per cent were obese and 5.1 per cent were morbidly obese .

Professor Teale said the health system was struggling to keep up with this growing group of women who need intensive antenatal care, bariatric-sized beds and who are difficult to physically care for in labour.

Ultrasound scanning is more difficult in obese women, meaning foetal anomalies are less likely to be picked up.

Their chance of having a vaginal birth is less than 50 per cent, yet a caesarean section is not a straightforward alternative as obese people have a much higher risk of potentially deadly complications after any surgery.

“We’ve always had concerns about weight loss or lack of weight gain during pregnancy but the latest evidence suggests this may be quite sensible,” he said.

Women are recommended not to gain more than 12 kilograms during pregnancy but an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Auckland, Lesley McCowan, said obese women should limit weight gain to between 0 and 6 kilograms.

“We can’t be afraid to address the issue so that women who start pregnancy very overweight can set goals and limit their weight gain because it will significantly reduce the risks to mum and baby,” she said.

Annabel Campbell, who gave birth to Freddie four months ago, managed her weight during pregnancy with pilates and exercise sessions four times a week, and a sensible diet. But the former dancer with the Australian Ballet said even with the activity, her weight gain ballooned to 17 kilograms in the last few months.

“I put on a lot of weight even though I was eating sensibly and exercising regularly, but I could never have imagined dieting. But I don’t like to think what would have happened if I wasn’t as active,” she said.

A personal trainer, Nathan Maurice, who runs pre- and post-natal exercise classes, said the main role of exercise during pregnancy was to prepare for the birthing process and set the body up for recovery.

“If you wanted to lose weight during pregnancy, it would have to be nutritionally based, but it is imperative that you consult a nutritionist who would take your personal situation into account,” Mr Maurice said.

“It is essential that you supply proper nutrients to the baby - it’s not something you can gamble with by going on the latest diet.”

Tags: birth hypnosis, child, hypnobirth, pregnancy, weight loss, weight loss advertising
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US teenagers having babies

Monday, March 30th, 2009

The number of teenagers having babies rose for the second straight year in 2007, at a slower pace than the previous 12 months, a U.S. government report showed.

The birth rate for teens increased about 1 percent in 2007 from 2006, following a 2.8 percent rise in 2006, according to the report from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. The number of unmarried women having babies also rose, accounting for almost 40 percent of all births in 2007, the report said.

Babies born to teenage mothers are more likely to be premature and less healthy, according to the March of Dimes. Government and nonprofit programs work to provide education on contraception, encourage youth to postpone sexual relationships and promote abstinence to reduce the rate of teen births, which had declined for 14 years until 2006.

“It is clear here that one of the jobs at hand is to get back on track to where we were, and that is convincing more young people of the value of delaying sexual activity and convincing sexually active teens to use contraception consistently and carefully,” said Bill Albert, a spokesman for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy in Washington.

The reasons behind the increase in teen births are unclear. Some policy experts attributed the rising pregnancies to a lack of education about contraception as the U.S. government focused on abstinence-only programs under former President George W. Bush. Others cited an ill-advised confidence after years of progress.

Redoubling Efforts

“It may be after 14 straight years of continuous progress that complacency may have crept in. Policy makers, program people, practitioners, need to redouble their efforts here and focus again on teen pregnancies and birth,” Albert said.

A CDC survey, which is expected to be released later this year, may provide a clearer picture about sexual activity, contraceptive use and sexual behavior for all age groups, said Stephanie Ventura, one of the authors of today’s report.

“It’s certainly some cautionary data that should cause everyone working to prevent teenage pregnancies and birth to take pause,” said David Landry, a senior research associate at the New York-based nonprofit Guttmacher Institute. “The federal response to reducing teenage pregnancy should be more aggressive and should be more evidence-based than it has been in the past.”

Births Crept Up

Today’s study found that the birth rate for teens was 42.5 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19 in 2007, up from 41.9 in 2006. The birth rate for girls ages 10 to 14 was unchanged.

“The increase in 2007 is much smaller, only 1 percent. That’s a little bit of good news, but it’s still an increase,” said Ventura, chief of the reproductive statistics branch of the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, based in Hyattsville, Maryland, which conducted the study. “It’s really hard to say what’s going on. We just need more information about the factors that would be associated with this and that’s not information we have on birth certificates.”

Susan Malley, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Westchester Health in Katonah, New York, north of New York City, said the U.S. government needs to provide money for health education that teaches abstinence and contraception use, rather than abstinence alone.

“By denying that teens are having sex, we’re burying our heads in the sand,” she said.

The total number of births in 2007 increased to 4.32 million, the highest number ever registered in the country, the CDC said. Birth rates rose for women in their 20s, 30s and early 40s.

Single Women

The number of unmarried women of childbearing age who gave birth reached historical levels in 2007, up 3 percent to 5 percent from 2006, according to the report. About 1.71 million babies were born in 2007 to unwed mothers of all ages.

Almost 60 percent of all births to women ages 20 to 24 were to unmarried mothers and 32 percent of all births to women aged 25 to 29 were to unmarried mothers, the report showed.

The report also found that the percentage of low birth weight babies declined for the first time since 1984 and the number of preterm births also fell.

Birth Hypnosis

Hypnobirth
Birth Hypnosis

Hypnobirth

Tags: birth hypnosis, child, childbirth, hypnobirth
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Queries over pregnancy, flight and birth

Monday, March 30th, 2009

An investigation has been started into how a heavily pregnant Samoan woman was able to gain a travelling visa, board an aircraft to Auckland and give birth mid-flight without anyone noticing.

The 30-year-old, who boarded a flight from Apia to Auckland early on Wednesday morning, was yesterday facing police investigations after it was found that she had given birth during the flight and dumped the child in a rubbish bin.

The Herald has learned that the baby was found abandoned in a rubbish bin inside Auckland International Airport.

Earlier reports said the newborn was found in a rubbish bin in a toilet on the aircraft.

Immigration New Zealand said an investigation was being carried out into how a heavily pregnant woman was able to board the flight.

Local airline policies state that women more than five months into their pregnancy cannot travel, unless they are New Zealand citizens.

The woman is said to be a Samoan citizen, who was possibly travelling with a group of up to 70 labourers connected to the recognised seasonal employment scheme, under which labourers from the Pacific are brought in for seasonal work, such as apple picking.

“Immigration New Zealand has asked its Apia branch to piece together the facts of the woman’s visa processing - in particular, what was declared on her application form and whether or not she appeared to Apia staff to be heavily pregnant,” an Immigration NZ statement said.

Pacific Blue’s website says pregnant women need medical clearance to board a flight if they’d had complications or were more than 36 weeks pregnant.

An Auckland International Airport spokeswoman said it was not known if crew or passengers had noticed the woman in labour.

TVNZ last night reported that Auckland Airport staff became suspicious when the woman, who had misplaced her passport, approached a staff member, looking pale and blood-stained.

She was later admitted to Middlemore Hospital - with the child. Police were understood to be at the hospital last night. They were waiting for the woman to recover from surgery before speaking to her. Both mother and child were said to be healthy.

Yesterday, a meeting was held with the New Zealand Samoan consul general, Fa’aolotoi Reupena Pogi, and staff at the consulate general.

Consul and trade commissioner Va’atu’itu’i Apete Meredith said the consulate had been in touch with Middlemore Hospital.

“We’ve tried to contact her, because that is our duty - to look out for the wellbeing of our citizens,” Mr Meredith said.

“But at the same time, it’s a police matter and we’re waiting for the police to call us and then we’ll be able to go visit her.”

Mr Meredith said the consulate was in contact with Samoan authorities and a representative or group from the Samoan consulate is set to visit the woman in the next few days.

Hypnobirth

Birth Hypnosis

Hypnobirth

Tags: birth hypnosis, child, childbirth, hypnobirth, pregnancy
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Pregnancy - What are you reading?

Monday, March 30th, 2009

I know most you have children already, but there is a chance someone might be looking for some suggestions about pregnancy books — if only to give as a gift to their good friend who is expecting for the first time.
To tell you the truth some people I know go through pregnancy (even the first) without reading anything but the NHS leaflets, and it’s perfectly fine! But if you are like me than you might want one or two (or three) books that tell you in depth what’s going on inside you.

So here we go, this is what I read:

1. What To Expect When You’re Expecting: This must be the best-seller pregnancy book ever. It’s easy to read and it contains loads of information. Although I read the revised UK edition it felt a bit too much focused on the American system.
2. The Rough Guide to Pregnancy and Birth: This could be a good companion to any other more “serious” pregnancy manual you choose. It does contain loads of advice and information, but the week-to-week progress is narrated in a semi-fictitious weekly diary. Really funny — this will not allow you to take yourself too seriously.
3. Birth and Beyond…: This is definitely my favourite. I found it reassuring and empowering, something you badly need during your first pregnancy. It covers pregnancy and the first 9 months of the baby’s life. Written by one of the world’s leading obstetricians, it takes a holistic approach covering aspects regarding both parents and the baby. It also includes an extensive reference section.

Tags: birth hypnosis, child, childbirth, hypnobirth, pregnancy
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Hypnosis For Birth - Hypnobirth

Saturday, March 28th, 2009

Mention Labor and Delivery to an expectant mom in her last trimester, and chances are good that her heart will begin to race, her mind floods with concern and in some cases, panic. She knows that the day is coming when a force much bigger than herself will take over and her body will govern itself completely. For some women, this is a very fearful event, but for Hypno-moms, it is merely a challenge.

These wise women use hypnosis to eliminate pain and fear from the birthing experience. In the past, the word “hypnosis” conjured up images of stage hypnotists re-creating Elvis, or mesmerizing others into embarrassing situations. Now it is common for hypnosis to be used therapeutically in many areas of medicine, dental anesthesia and personal therapy sessions. Even so, there are many misconceptions regarding hypnosis that can dissuade those contemplating this powerful tool. Here are a few FACTS: (see our page on hypnosis for more information)

* All hypnosis is self-hypnosis; the hypnotherapist is only the guide. A person chooses to enter into a hypnotic state, stay in and come out at will.

* Approximately 90-95% of the population can be hypnotized. Willingness, belief and motivation have great influence over hypnotizability.

* During hypnosis you are neither asleep nor unconscious, and will always “come out” when you wish.

* Stronger-minded and stronger-willed people are easier to hypnotize; not the other way around as is usually assumed.

* You cannot be made to divulge information or do anything against your will while in hypnosis.

*Hypnosis is not Satanic or religion-oriented at all, just a way to direct your inner mind toward the positive.

What about Hypnosis for Childbirth?

Hypnosis is used in medical and dental procedures with great success by patients who have life-threatening allergies to anesthetics, allowing them to undergo surgeries with no drugs and no pain. We know therefore that the mind can be trained to experience discomfort as only pressure, and that is what is achieved in childbirth hypnosis as well. In addition, with labor, the more relaxation the mother experiences, the more comfort she will have, and the depth of relaxation necessary can easily be achieved with hypnosis, as physical relaxation is learned and practiced daily in preparation for birth using guided visualizations followed by positive hypnotic suggestions. When the critical conscious mind is by-passed with hypnosis, the inner mind can literally be reprogrammed to believe that birth will be comfortable, easy and joyous. Software for your mind!

Fear and Expectation

In other cultures, childbirth is regarded as a natural, normal event in a woman’s life. The birthing women are given support from other women, and children are often present to witness the event. In this way, birth is celebrated and honored. Young girls then grow up with the belief system that birth is a positive event and their expectations of childbirth reflect this attitude. As a result, their births are similar to their predecessors; without pain and fear. They have a positive expectation of childbirth. In our culture, it is very much the opposite. For many generations we have been told that delivering a baby is many hours of painfully agonizing work, to be faced with fear and trepidation. We have heard stories from well-meaning friends and family that send shivers up our spines, and so the legacy continues. We experience pain in childbirth, in part because we very much expect to!

When learning about how the mind controls the body, the expectant couple is taught to surround themselves with only positive people and messages, to create a positive view of childbirth and the expectation that their birth will be the beautiful, peaceful experience that they want. Fear Clearing Sessions are integral to this process, as they allow each person to address fears they have, work through possible solutions and then release them. Fear in labor can create tension, which creates pain, then more fear, and the cycle continues. Fear and anxiety can also create adrenaline production in the body, causing the labor to become dysfunctional, a common reason for Cesarean Section surgery. Freedom from fear can make a huge difference in the birthing experience.

Hypnosis for childbirth teaches a woman how to enter into self-hypnosis instantly, and create her own natural anesthesia whenever and wherever she needs it. This is important as any drugs taken by a laboring woman can be dangerous for her, and especially her baby. She has total control over her body, and is an active participant in her birth process. As labor progresses, she relaxes even more, goes deeper inside herself, trusting in her body’s natural ability to give birth with ease and comfort. Her mind is programmed to give her exactly what she needs.

Too good to be true?

Can women give birth without experiencing pain? They can, but there are many variables in labor and birth that can affect the outcome, and couples need to have a positive but realistic view of hypnosis for childbirth. Each pregnant woman and her partner must take responsibility for the choices they make while in labor and how they can affect the dynamics and outcome. Many a wonderful birth has been thwarted by not realizing how to make positive, informed choices, yet these issues are easily addressed and learned in a good consumer oriented childbirth class such as Hypnobabies, or by doing research.

Without a doubt, women using hypnosis are much calmer and more relaxed during labor, which automatically creates more comfort, as well as having *powerful* post-hypnotic suggestions to actually eliminate pain and fear. How effective is this? Statistics will vary by the program and method chosen, depending on the length and number of hypnosis sessions, the materials used in each, and the skill of the hypnotherapist or teacher, as well as the dedication and compliance to the program of each birthing couple. Ideally, hypnosis for childbirth instructors will have backgrounds in both hypnotherapy and childbirth education, and be able to address each woman’s personal needs. With adequate preparation and trust in the natural process of birth, most women can have much more relaxed and comfortable births, with many actually free of pain. It is important to know that the childbirth hypnosis program you choose to use will directly affect your success in having a comfortable birth, so educate yourself before choosing.

Benefits of using hypnosis for childbirth:

* Fewer drugs or no drugs at all means less risk of side effects on mother and baby.

* Shorter labors - resistance of the birthing muscles as a response to pain is minimized or eliminated.

* An awake, energized mother, due to total relaxation throughout the birthing process.

* A calm, peaceful birthing environment.

* Breech and posterior babies can be turned using hypnosis.

* Fewer interventions and complications during labor.

* Babies who are better sleepers and nursers due to fewer drugs in their systems.

How to study: Where do you start?

There are choices open to couples who are ready to begin their hypno-journey, and it will benefit each one to research all of their options to find one that allows them to achieve their goal. They include:

Choice # 1: You can seek out a Hypnobabies class in your area. Some are taught at local birth centers, holistic offices or the instructor’s homes. The backgrounds of Hypnobabies Instructors always include hypnosis training and childbirth education, both necessary for excellent results. You can find a Hypnobabies Instructor by visiting www.hypnobabies.com and look under Professional listings.

You may want to ask a prospective Hypnobabies Instructor the following when you contact them:

• If they have a background in hypnotherapy. (Many of our instructors are certified or clinical hypnotherapists. This is helpful as they will be able to help you with individual issues)

• What is their background in childbirth education: midwifery, doula training, childbirth teacher, nursing etc. (A childbirth training background is necessary for all of our Hypnobabies Instructors so that all of your pregnancy and childbirth questions and concerns can be addressed adequately in class.)

• How long they have been teaching Hypnobabies classes, and where they teach the class?

• How many classes do they teach and how long is each one?

• What materials do they provide with the class? (All Hypnobabies Instructors need to give out exactly the same Hypnobabies materials: The Hypnobabies Workbook, 6 CDs for the Hypno-mom and 1 for the Birth Partner, The Birth Partner’s Guide, The Quick Reference Guide, The Hypnobabies Scripts Booklet, a Perineal Massage booklet, and the book, Back Labor No More.)

• How much is the class fee, and is it a group class or private?

• Do they attend births as a Hypno-doula, and if so, how many have they attended? If not, have they trained any local doulas for this?

• Ask them about why they became a Hypnobabies Instructor. You will find that all our instructors have a passion for working with pregnant couples and a love of natural, unmedicated birthing!

Choice # 2: You can choose a home study course, of which there are many. To find one, you can do a search on the Internet for: “hypnosis, childbirth, home study.” An adequate home study program will have detailed information on hypnosis and how to use it in childbirth, and hypno-tools for you to achieve your goals; books, tapes, CD’s, handouts, hypnosis scripts. As you will be studying on your own, it is your responsibility to gain as much knowledge as possible, so choose well.

Choice # 3: Seek out a qualified Hypnotherapist in your area for office sessions. You will want to make sure to interview them beforehand and ask what type of program they have for childbirth using hypnosis, since not all of them already have an effective program in place in their practice. A good one will include at least 4 sessions in the office, (6-7 are optimal) with the last one done one week before the estimated due date. It should also include at least one tape or CD to listen to at home by yourself, and one or more cues for the birth companion to learn and practice that helps you to relax and go deeper into hypnosis. Many hypnotherapists have developed their own childbirth hypnosis programs that are very effective, and some will use and modify already existing ones, such as Gerald Kein’s Painless Childbirth Program.

The attraction to this kind of program is that it allows the hypnotherapist to adapt the program to fit the needs of their own practice, creating their own scripts and tapes from the original program sessions, and fully modify them to the needs of each expectant mother. This helps tremendously with women who have personal issues that need to be resolved, such as VBAC moms, those who have had a past negative birth experience, or those who have specific deep-seated fears about childbirth.

It is well worth the time to look into hypnosis for childbirth as an option, both for yourself and for your baby. It is important to remember that most drugs are given in an adult dose to women in labor and will reach her baby in less than 5 minutes with effects ranging from respiratory depression to breastfeeding problems, and using hypnosis techniques can greatly help to avoid them. The deep relaxation learned in Hypnobabies has even helped many a nervous dad to cope as they prepare for their child’s birth! In addition, the skills you will learn for relaxation and hypno-anesthesia will benefit you for the rest of your life!

Birth Hypnosis

Hypnobirth
Birth Hypnosis

Hypnobirth

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Can Hypnosis Help With Pregnancy and Childbirth?

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Many of you might be familiar with how hypnosis can help with weight loss and smoking cessation. But, did you know that hypnosis can also be used during pregnancy to help relieve anxiety and aid in a calm, natural birth?

Hypnosis has been used for quite some time to help in numerous health-related issues, from relieving IBS symptoms to preparing for surgery to alleviating fear of dental procedures. Many pregnant women are now enjoying the benefits of hypnosis, allowing them to experience natural births with little to no pain.

In order to better understand how hypnosis can help pregnant women, it helps to gain a better understanding of hypnosis itself. To put it in simple terms, hypnosis is intense focus and concentration. Many people have likened the concentration with getting lost in a good book or television program. Utilizing that intense focus, hypnosis can actually slow down your brain waves.

Right now you’re probably in your waking state, which is Beta consciousness. But, by altering your conscious state through hypnosis, you are able to enter Alpha consciousness, where your brain waves actually slow down. And, when you slow down your brain waves you lose the “critical chatter” of the conscious mind and are able to slip in positive suggestions to the subconscious mind. These positive suggestions can be about any behavior you’d like to change, or any outcome you’d like to see take effect, such as having a natural, easy birth.

In addition, when you’re in a relaxed stated and imagining a desired outcome, the brain can’t tell the difference between reality and fantasy, and reacts as if the desired outcome was a reality. This phenomenon can be seen in pain management, when hypnotherapists use hypnosis and imagery on pain sufferers to help them lessen the intensity of their pain.

Hypnosis can aid pregnant women in so many different ways and in so many different stages of their pregnancies.

Hypnosis Can Aid in Fertility

Where inability to become pregnant is not due to a medical condition, many women have found relief with hypnosis. There are many who believe that if you can imagine it you can create it, and hypnosis is often paired with imagery to “visualize” oneself becoming pregnant and imagining a baby coming into one’s life. Hypnosis is also used to alleviate stress, which may be inhibiting a woman from becoming pregnant. Of course, women aren’t the only ones whose stress and anxiety may be inhibiting pregnancy. Many men feel the pressure to help their partners conceive. This stress can affect men’s sperm quality.

Hypnosis Can Aid in Helping a Woman Become More Comfortable

Many women experience discomfort from being pregnant, such as morning sickness, the intensity of which can be lessened through hypnosis. In women with high blood pressure, hypnosis can be helpful in helping them to relax, which in turn can help control the symptoms.

Hypnosis Can Help in the Actual Birth Process

Many women are now using hypnosis to help them have their baby naturally with no drugs. Utilizing hypnosis, women can help themselves relax during the baby’s birth. Since pain responses are greatly enhanced with fear and anxiety, creating a sense of calm helps in reducing the sensation of pain. The women will be awake and aware of everything that’s happening, including the contractions, but will be able to dictate to a great extent the intensity of the sensations she feels.

There are numerous hypnosis tapes and CDs available which can help reduce the fears and anxieties associated with pregnancy and the birthing process. If at all possible, it’s preferable to meet face to face with a hypnotherapist who can tailor the hypnosis to your specific fears, anxieties or needs.

How to Find a Hypnotherapist

Whether you plan on a natural birth or not, hypnosis can still help you relax more about the entire birthing process. Becoming more relaxed can help you gain control over your pregnancy, rather than have your pregnancy gain control over you.

Tags: child, childbirth, hypnobirth, pregnancy
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Quit Smoking Pregnancy

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Women who stop smoking by week 15 of pregnancy are no more likely than nonsmokers to give birth to premature or low-weight babies, according to a study published online by the British Medical Journal.

Women who kept smoking after the 15-week deadline tripled their risk of delivering prematurely and were twice as likely to have small babies compared to nonsmokers and women who stopped smoking early in their pregnancy, the study found.

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hypnobirth

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quit smoking hypnosis

Tags: child, hypnobirth, hypnosis, Hypnosis to Stop Smoking, pregnancy, quit smoking, secondhand smoke, stop smoking, stop smoking hypnosis, tobacco
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Quitting Smoking in Early Pregnancy Benefits Baby’s Growth

Friday, March 27th, 2009

March 27 (Bloomberg) — Women who quit smoking early in their pregnancies have the same low risk of premature birth and small babies as non-smokers, according to new research.

quit smoking hypnosis

stop smoking hypnosis

Women who failed to stop smoking by 15 weeks were three times more likely to give birth before their full 37-week term, said lead author Lesley McCowan, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Smokers were twice as likely to have relatively small babies as women who stopped, the researchers found.

Previous studies have shown that women who smoke during pregnancy have an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth and are more likely to have smaller babies. The research published today in the British Medical Journal is the first study to determine whether babies may develop and grow normally in the womb if their mothers quit smoking early.

“The adverse effects of smoking on these late pregnancy outcomes may be largely reversible if smoking is stopped early in pregnancy, offering an important incentive for pregnant women who smoke to stop,” McCowan wrote.

The costs of maternal and infant complications due to smoking during pregnancy were estimated to exceed $1.4 billion in 1995 in the U.S., McCowan wrote, citing data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. More than 90 percent of the costs for infants are attributable to care for those with low birth weight during the first year of life.

2,500 Mothers

McCowan compared birth weight and prematurity in infants born to 2,500 Australians and New Zealanders who smoked, quit smoking or didn’t smoke. In addition to the benefits for babies, mothers who quit weren’t more stressed, anxious or depressed than those who continued to smoke.

Providers of maternity care need to emphasize to women the major benefits of giving up smoking before 15 weeks in pregnancy, McCowan wrote. Still, the results don’t justify relaxing efforts to assist pregnant women to quit smoking later in pregnancy, she added.

“Improved pregnancy outcomes have been reported in women who stop by as late as 32 weeks’ gestation,” McCowan wrote. “Moreover, stopping smoking at any gestation in pregnancy, if sustained in the postpartum period, has enormous additional benefits on newborn and child health.”

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Call to drop plastic baby bottle

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Children’s health campaigners called on companies selling baby bottles in Britain to follow developments in the US and move towards avoiding a controversial plastic.

The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) said six major manufacturers in the US were reported to have agreed to stop selling hard plastic baby bottles made with the controversial plastics chemical bisphenol A (BPA).

A spokeswoman said the Trust was asking companies selling baby bottles in the UK to follow the USA lead and move to producing baby bottles using non bisphenol A (BPA) plastics.

She added: “The chemical BPA is controversial and currently used in many baby bottles sold in the UK.

“There is evidence to suggest that the chemical mimics the effect of the hormone oestrogen in the body and interferes with healthy growth and body functions.

“Babies are particularly vulnerable to hormone mimicking effects as they grow rapidly in the early months and years.”

NCT chief executive Belinda Phipps said: “The NCT welcomes the news that six USA companies have agreed to stop selling plastic baby bottles made with BPA within the United States.

“The NCT would like to see the same steps being taken within the UK. There are now viable alternatives to BPA that can be used to produce clear plastic baby bottles.

“There is no reason to continue using this chemical when there is concern about its potential risks to newborn babies.”

The Trust advised parents to seek out bottles clearly labelled ‘BPA free’ if they were not sure whether the bottles contained that chemical.

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Memory of Childbirth Pain Intensifies Over Time

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

NEW YORK — Research shows that for about half of women who give birth, memories of the intensity of labor pain decline over time. However, for some women, their recollection of pain does not seem to diminish and for a minority, their memory of pain increases with time.

The study also shows that the memory of childbirth pain is influenced by a woman’s overall satisfaction with her labor experience.

Department of Woman and Child Health at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm and colleagues queried 1383 mothers about their memories of labor pain at 2 months, 1 year and 5 years after giving birth. Women who elected to have a cesarean section were excluded.

Five years after the women had given birth, 49 percent remembered childbirth as less painful than when they rated it 2 months after birth, 35 percent rated it the same, and 16 percent rated it as more painful.

“A commonly held view,” she noted in an email to Reuters Health, “is that women forget the intensity of labour pain. The present study…provides evidence that in modern obstetric care, this is true for about 50 percent of women.”

However, a woman’s labor experience was an influential factor. Women who reported labor as a positive experience 2 months after childbirth had the lowest pain scores, and their memory of the intensity of pain had declined by 1 year and 5 years after giving birth.

“Memory of labor pain declined during the observation period but not in women with a negative overall experience of childbirth,” the team notes in the journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Roughly 60 percent of women reported positive childbirth experiences and less than 10 percent reported negative experiences. For women who said that their childbirth experience was negative or very negative, on average, their assessment of labor pain did not change after 5 years.

“A woman’s long-term memory of pain is associated with her satisfaction with childbirth overall,” she said, summing up. “The more positive the experience, the more women forget how painful labour was. For a small group of women with a negative birth experience, long-term memory of labour pain was as vivid as 5 years earlier.”

The researchers also found that women who had epidural for pain remembered pain as more intense than women who did not have an epidural, suggesting, they say, that these women remember “peak pain.” However, their perception of how painful labour had been also declined with time.

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Pregnancy and Childbirth

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Kathryn Mora said her first experience giving birth wasn’t at all what she had hoped.

The Los Angeles native, who now lives in Waltham, said she was left alone in a hospital room, except for a nurse who showed up once in a while, yelling at her to “relax” while reminding her she’d be there for several more hours.

The doctors in the delivery room, she said, barely acknowledged her.

“The doctors were talking about their golf game when I was experiencing the most important day of her life,” Mora remembered.

Mora said she received an injection in her spine. Numb from the waist down, her baby was yanked out with forceps and rushed away quickly. She wouldn’t see her newborn son, Scott, for 10 hours.

“I said then, ‘this is never going to happen to me again’,” she said.

That was more than 40 years ago. About two years later, in preparation of the birth of her next child, John, Mora and her husband, Luis, took classes to help her to relax. They also found a doctor who performed natural childbirth.

“It just went so beautifully,” Mora said of giving birth naturally. That experience led Mora to dedicate much of her life to educating women on the benefits of natural childbirth.

“I became a certified childbirth educator and started my own program in Los Angeles,” she said.

Mora, a journalist who has written a number of articles on the subject, and now has ventured into filmmaking.

Mora will screen her first documentary, “BIRTH” on Thursday, at the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University, 274 Moody St., Studio C.

During the 30-minute film women who, like Mora, gave birth with drugs and medical intervention, and then gave birth naturally, share their experiences.

“My approach is that women who have had the experience are sharing he experience,” Mora said. “They are the narrators of the film.”

After the screening, a panel discussion will take place involving some of the film’s participants.

Mora she hopes the documentary will replace women’s fears about natural childbirth with education. Many women are concerned about the pain, but Mora said during her natural childbirth she actually experience less discomfort than when she gave birth first son.

Mora said this won’t be her only foray into filmmaking on the subject.

“I’m planning to make a full-length film,” Mora said.

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Birth Hypnosis

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Imagine a pain free child birth without the help of medication. One woman is instructing expectant mothers on a technique she says can offer that and more.

“It was really painful. I felt really out of control. I couldn’t deal with the contractions towards the end especially,” she said.

After one painful childbirth, Press was terrified of what was to come when she heard she was expecting again.

“When I first got pregnant in the first couple of months even the thought of going to the hospital just really made me want to cry,” Press said.

Then she found a video of a woman using hypnosis during childbirth on the Internet.

“I was like wow that’s completely amazing. She didn’t appear to be in pain she wasn’t screaming she was actually smiling,” Press said.

The woman was using a technique called hypnobirth.

“Complete physical comfort and relaxation. The deepest relaxation you can possibly get to,” she said.

“With the first two I had instrumental delivery and I tore and it was not a fun experience,” she said.

Then she used hypnobirth for the delivery of her daughter.

“I went on to have a completely pain free birth,” she said.

Now she instructs other women, on how to relax by reprogramming.

“Things that have a negative association we replace those like instead of labor it’s your birth instead of contractions it’s pressure waves,”

The technique uses music, thoughts and phrases to reach extreme relaxation.

“It kind of feels like being in a tub of warm water.”

Believe it or not, Phillips says the techniques may actually have you asking for more.

“I really wished it would have lasted a little longer because I was enjoying it so much,” she said.

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A plastic-free pregnancy

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

It used to be the case that you’d grab a bottle of water from the fridge to sip on the way to work, pack your leftovers in a plastic container, and give your baby some milk in a plastic bottle – all without thinking twice about your health. Then we started to hear about plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA). But what it is, and why are plastics containing BPA so harmful to your health?

According to information from the NSF International and the Centers for Disease Control, Bisphenol A is “an industrial chemical used to make polycarbonate plastics.” These plastics can be found anywhere and in products we use on a daily basis such as refillable beverage receptacles, protective linings in food cans, CDs, plastic serving ware, impact resistant safety equipment and epoxy resins.

For the most part, we wouldn’t go a normal day without encountering at least a few of those on the list. However, people are generally exposed to BPA when it seeps from materials that are in contact with food or drinking water.

About plastics and pregnancy

Now, ladies, listen up. According to the National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals by the CDC: “When laboratory test animals are dosed during pregnancy, BPA has been shown to have hormone-like effects on the developing reproductive system and neurobehavioral changes in the offspring.

“Scientists continue to debate whether effects could possibly occur in people who are exposed to low environmental levels of these chemicals. More research is needed to assess the human health effects of exposure to these chemicals.”

However, it is known, though an analysis from the CDC published in 2007, that scientists detected BPA in nearly 93 percent of people tested (age six and older), which “indicates widespread exposure to BPA in the U.S. population.”

Protect yourself - and your baby

It doesn’t hurt to be extra vigilant when it comes to your health and that of your unborn baby! Here are a few tips to help you avoid BPA-contaminated products:

Look for the BPA-free symbol when purchasing new plastics. Ditch the water bottles (they are bad for the environment anyway) and purchase a high-quality BPA-free refillable stainless steel vessel.
Switch baby from regular plastic baby bottles to the BPA-free variety or old-fashioned glass bottles. If he’s taking formula, choose the powered variety, which may not have BPA in the packaging versus the liquid kind, according to the Environmental Working Group.
Rinse canned fruit or vegetables with water before heating and serving to hopefully lessen BPA ingestion.
Avoid microwaving food in plastic containers — use microwave-safe glass or ceramic instead.

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ANGELINA JOLIE: The star has sparked pregnancy rumours.

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

ANGELINA JOLIE Star sparks pregnancy rumour

Angelina Jolie is reported to be pregnant again. The actress, currently filming new movie ‘Salt‘ in the US, sparked the pregnancy rumours when she asked to be excused from performing certain stunts for the role. A movie source said: “There is still some exciting action stuff – most notably when Angelina’s character is chased by snipers over the rooftops. But there’s no back-flips on speeding trains and it’s all more face close-ups than action sequences.” Usually, Angelina, who is married to Brad Pitt and has six children with him, performs her own stunts and in ‘Wanted’, ‘Tomb Raider’ and ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ she refused to use a stunt double for the more extreme action sequences.

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hypno birth

Friday, March 13th, 2009

Last Monday my fiance and I attended a Hypnobirthing class at the University of Utah. This was the first of 5 classes explaining and teaching the Mognan Method of the style.

It boasts that less than half of the normal amounts of c-sections are required when using this method, and that 70% of vaginal births are unmedicated when using it. Those are great statistics as far as I’m concerned. Birthing vaginally is supposedly better for the baby, and creates a better connection. Mothers tend to be more in tune with the birth.
From what I’m used to hearing about births, they are painful and dreadful experiences. If Rachel can do this without extreme agony, and the methods and tools work, then I will be a very happy man, and I’m sure she will be a very happy woman as well. This will also allow me to be a bigger part of the birth experience. I will not only be able to catch the baby, but I will be responsible for keeping the peace and keeping her relaxed. I can do that!

The concept of HypnoBirthing is not new, but rather a “rebirth” of the philosophy of birthing as it existed thousands of years ago and as it was recaptured in the work of Dr. Grantly Dick-Read(odd name for an OB), an English obstetrician, who, in the 1920s, was one of the first to forward the concept of natural birthing. The method teaches you that, in the absence of fear and tension, or special medical circumstances, severe pain does not have to be an accompaniment of labor.

When I think of hypnosis, my mind flies towards the old hypnotist with a swinging pocket-watch, telling people they are getting sleepy. They describe the effects as less of a trance and more that it will be similar to daydreaming, or focusing that occurs when you are engrossed in a book or a movie or staring into a fire. I’ll admit that at first I was a skeptic. And I still have these feelings like, well what if she forgets to use the methods or it all just goes out the door and she reverts to being afraid of the pain. I think the class will quell my nervousness and will expand both of our abilities to deal with pain in general. I could see myself using the techniques if I ever broke a bone in the backcountry orif I was with someone that was seriously injured, maybe I could help ease their pain a bit.

I will update more as the class progresses!

there are a few great videos on youtube if you just search for hypnobirth.

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conception through to a baby’s first birth is crucial in shaping human health

Friday, March 13th, 2009

he is not afraid to deeply question practices in obstetrics, medicine in general and even our cultures in order to attempt to ascertain what could lead human kind to optimum health. His approach is thoroughly scientific- all his ideas and conclusions he supports with research, yet he has a lovely winding story-telling manner.

the main argument in this book is that the primal period (as he calls it) - from conception through to a baby’s first birth is crucial in shaping human health. He covers various topics including humans as mammals and their need for privacy during labour, the foetus ejection reflex, the old and new brain, the history of colostrum and what role oxytocin plays in our world. He looks forward to the “post-electronic era” and discusses why changes in childbirth care are urgently needed.

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Pregnant Mothers Exposed To Diverse Conditions Likely To Have Aggressive Kids

Friday, March 13th, 2009

Study shows that exposure to perinatal environment, the period around childbirth especially the five months before and one month after childbirth, has a significant impact on aggression in children.

The research team led by Sylvana Cote, a professor at the Universite de Montreal Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, has found that pregnant mothers exposed to adverse conditions such as poverty, stress, malnutrition are likely to have aggressive kids.

“We know that when the mother faces adverse conditions such as poverty, stress, malnutrition, family conflicts or tobacco use during pregnancy, it will directly influence the size and weight of the fetus,” said Cote.

“These conditions are also correlated to heart disease, diabetes and child obesity.”

“The education practices of the parents, as well as the transmission of a genetic profile predisposing aggressive behavior are also contributors to atypical violent development,” she added.

Cote also said that perinatal environment also influences DNA methylation.

The study showed that young adults who had a hyper-aggressive profile as children and teenagers have a surmethylation of the active immune system genes that regulate the nervous system.

DNA methylation is a process that aims to protect the genome from microbes. But it can be affected by eating habits, stress, tobacco use and exterior factors such as pollution and parent care.

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Hypnotherapy for birth

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

Hypnotherapy for birth seems to becoming the phenomenon of pregnancy and childbirth over the last decade, with new mothers in increasing numbers looking to use the “mind over matter” techniques to avoid the dependency of drugs and medical interventions at birth, offered by the various systems of hypnotherapy and hypnosis for childbirth.

So what is it that has caused the increasing interest in this field, and what is the problem that mothers are looking to solve by turning to hypnobirth?

Childbirth is certainly a very different experience to what it was for our grandmothers and he women who came before them. For a start it is safer on the whole, with greater information, medical practice, and the possibility of life-saving interventions if required on the occasions that something goes wrong.

However our approach to it has also changed a great deal. Now that so many of us have careers, it often appears to be seen as a short break in our progress towards financial equality, recognition, and career success, that is the main goal of all who want to truly contribute towards society. Could it actually be that you will never in your life do anything as important or fulfilling as creating and nurturing another human being?

We are also pre-conditioned to see birth as a painful experience. Just think of every televised birth you ever saw, and the use of the word “Labour“ for the child birth process sums up attitudes quite well. At the same time because births are mainly attended by medics rather than family members (mothers sisters and aunts in days gone by), each of us is likely to have little or no direct experience of birth when we come to experiencing our own.

Many mothers approach the process of “labour” in a state of near terror, not made any easier by the scare stories of friends, precautionary warnings of some doctors (“If you don’t do exactly what I tell you then your baby….” etc.), and what they have seen in films and on TV. And how is this great fear likely to affect their experience of birth?

They will be tense.
Tension causes muscle cramps.
Muscle cramps in the birth canal mean hard work for baby, and for mum.
Fear of the process increases the likelihood of accepting medial pain coping measures.
Medical interventions increase the likelihood of further medical interventions.
Some medical interventions may adversely affect the baby itself. A great shame if they could have been avoided in the first place. Note that we must draw a distinction here between necessary interventions and unnecessary ones, which is often a difficult line to draw in the heat of the moment.

So back to hypnotherapy for childbirth – the case is reasonably clear. If you are able to be very relaxed, rally relax those all important muscles to let baby go the way it wants to go, and experience the birth in shall we say a more positive frame of mind and body, then it is quite clear that the whole process could be much easier, and potentially more comfortable.

It is interesting to note that every mammal goes to give birth in a quiet place of its choosing. Human mothers of old coped in the main very well with giving birth on their own, and it appears they learned the art (the womanly arts!) from older family members, and the success of our race is clear enough evidence of the success of the process.

The point is that your body knows what to do. It has finely evolved since the dawn of time to be perfectly adapted to giving birth to a baby, perhaps even a dozen in a life time, and childbirth is a core part of the experience of living. Not as it would appear a temporary inconvenience blotting the development of a career path.

Direct experiences from Hypnobirthing mothers and others experiencing natural child birth shows us that childbirth can actually be one of the best days of your life! (read that again?). Hypnotherapy for birth is just one technique that may help this to come about – and I for one hope that if you are a woman, and if you are pregnant, or if you know one, you will at least consider this as an option which may enhance your own experience of childbirth, and give a better start in life to your baby.

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Katie Holmes on “Detox Diet” to Prepare for Pregnancy

Monday, March 9th, 2009

Katie Holmes is allegedly on a “detox diet” to prepare to get pregnant with her second child with husband Tom Cruise. Sources say Holmes’ diet was the reason behind her and Cruise’s absence from the Academy Awards as the herbal drinks and purification procedures left her too tired to attend.

weight loss hypnosis

“Katie has almost rid her body of toxins but sometimes it makes her lethargic. Tom’s encouraging her to stick to the diet because they are hoping to conceive baby number two,” says a source.

The couple are already parents to 2-year-old Suri. Cruise also has two adopted children with ex-wife Nicole Kidman, who is rumored to be pregnant with her second child with husband Keith Urban.

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Tips On Choosing Childbirth Options

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

This may be a good time during the pregnancy for your spouse to give a thought to the manner of delivery she wishes to opt for. The options-natural, induced, or cesarean-all have their pros and cons.

Natural delivery

• This is the most common method of childbirth.
• It does not involve an extended stay in a hospital.
• The risks associated with major surgery are avoided.
• This method of delivery makes breastfeeding easier.
• The mother can actively participate in the childbirth.

Induced delivery

• In this method, labor is artificially induced rather than spontaneous.
• It avoids complications in post-term babies.
• The pregnant mom, or her doctor, can decide when to go in for labor.
• Studies report that women who have induced labor are less likely to develop chorioamnionitis, an infection of the placental membranes.

If your spouse’s pregnancy extends beyond her due date, her doctor may decide to induce labor. In fact, there some everyday activities, natural labor inducers, that are popularly believed to induce labor. Find information on common natural labor induction when your spouse’s pregnancy extends beyond her due date.

Cesarean section

• In this method, delivery is surgically carried out through an incision made by the doctor in the abdomen and uterus.
• It is required if labor does not progress normally.
• It is also required in case of a complication in the pregnancy.
• It is useful in cases where the fetus has been diagnosed with a developmental problem.
• It is helpful in cases of women carrying twins, triplets, or multiples.
• Cesarean is also used in the cases where the mom has herpes or similar infections, to prevent the baby from contracting these infections.

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Get through the first trimester of your pregnancy

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

BEING TIRED

One of the most common problems is experiencing extreme tiredness in your first trimester. I is due to the rise in the hormone progesterone which causes feeling tired.
How to cope - Make sure you get adequate sleep every day. If possible take a couple cat naps during the day. Although you appear normal on the outside, inside your body is working harder then it has ever worked before.

Take it easy and allow the housework to slide for awhile, give in to inner signals and RELAX!

Exercise - If you exercised before you were pregnant, cotinue to do so. You may need to cut back some or change your routine to fit your needs, check with your doctor to make sure. Exercise can also help with your energy levels! If you did not regularly exercise before hand, talk to your doctor about incorporating an easy routine into your pregnancy. Simply walking for 30 minutes daily can make a big difference.

The tiredness will usually subside between week 8 to week 10, so hang in there!

MORNING SICKNESS

- Not all women will experience this unfortunate event, but many will.here are some ways to cope.

* EAT SMALL MEALS EVERY 2-3 HOURS *

Whither you are hungry or not you should eat every couple of hours to help keep your blood sugar levels up. If you wait until you are already hungry, it can cause you to become more nausea’s due to your stomach acid production and your blood sugar levels lowering. Keep snacks that are high in protein, carbohydrates and fiber close to you at all times. Healthy snacks like fruit, vegetables, nuts, crackers and cheese, are good choices. Try your best not to let three hours go by without eating a little something to help keep your blood sugar levels were they need to be.

Have a snack before bedtime as well. This will help your stomach and help keep your blood sugar levels were they need to be through the night. Have something this is high in protein like nuts or a protein bar. This will help you through the night, even having a simple glass of milk before bed or in the middle of the night has been said to help alleviate the nausea feeling in the morning.

* DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS *

It is important to keep your body well hydrated now more then ever. Your body is working over time creating a new life inside, so make sure you drink lots of water and even some fruit juices. Try to limit your amount of juices however due to the sugar. it is always best to stick with plain water. Avoid caffeinated beverages as much as you possibly can like coffee, caffeinated teas, and sodas.

Although a 7-UP or Sprite type of soda can help you with nausea. Try drinking one that is a little flat with saltine crackers and even leave it next to your bed at night. My doctor recommended this and it helped alleviate my morning sickness a bit. Ginger ale is also a great drink during the nausea times during pregnancy.

* TAKE YOUR PRENATAL VITAMINS *

Make sure you are taking your prenatal vitamins with a meal every morning. If you feel the pill itself is to blame for your nausea then talk to your doctor about switching them. Find the right one for you that does not create any nausea. It is important to take your prenatal vitamins every day for you and your baby. You can also change the time that you taking the vitamin. If you have a time in the day where you are not feeling very nauseous then you can try taking at that time. Even taking it right before bed is a god choice if you are feeling nauseas throughout the day.

PEEING A LOT

This is a common issue which comes in the first trimester, then subsides during the second trimester and comes back in the third. As the uterus grows in the first trimester, it puts pressure onto your bladder causing the frequent feeling of needing to pee. Blood production also increases and makes your kidneys process more fluids which of course end up in your bladder.

How to cope - There really is nothing you can do to help this side effect. You definitely do not want to cut back on fluids since your body really needs them right now, mainly water. So take it easy and drink up, just stay close to a restroom.

TENDER BREASTS

This is typically one of the first signs you may notice when you first become pregnant. It can be uncomfortable but it is all part of the miracle of pregnancy. The tenderness is the result of your breasts getting ready to produce milk whither you choose to breastfeed or not. The soreness will subside usually around week 12, although your breasts may continue to grow.

How to cope - The only thing you can really do is wear a comfortable bra. Try one made with soft stretchy fabric and no restrictive under wires to dig into your skin. If you have larger breasts, size D or larger, wear a bra with wide padded straps for the best comfort and support. At night you can also wear a snug fitting tank or a special cotton sleeping bra to help support and comfort them.

SIGNS TO WATCH FOR

There are dangerous signs to watch for, and if any of them are happening contact your doctor right away!

Severe nausea and/or vomiting - The normal morning sickness is normal, but if you are unable to keep anything down for 24 hours, you should contact your doctor.

Heavy bleeding - It is normal to have a light spotting during the first trimester but if you are experiencing a heavy flow then you need to seek medical attention right away!

Persistent belly pains - Some abdominal pains are normal, but if you are experiencing a strong, steady pain in your lower abdominal to pubic area it can be serious. This could be signs of an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy. Seek medical attention right away.

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Dealing With Depression After Pregnancy

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

As many as 13 percent of new mothers are depressed after giving birth.
The National Women’s Health Information Center offers these suggestions to help ease postpartum depression:

* Don’t worry about making sure you’re doing everything perfectly. Do what you can, the best you can.
* Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your spouse or partner, friends or family.
* Sleep as much as you can. Take advantage of your baby’s nap time to catch up.
* Plan dates with your partner or outings with your friends to have some time to yourself.
* Talk about what you’re feeling with friends and family, as well as other new moms
going through the same thing.
* Join a support group for new mothers.
* Keep life as simple as possible after the baby is born. Now is not the time to make major decisions or life changes, unless you must.

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Keeping Stress At Bay - Tips For Lessening Stress During Pregnancy

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Too much stress during pregnancy can result in pre-term birth or low birth weight, both of which moms-to-be want to avoid. Judith Nolte, Editor-in-Chief of American Baby Magazine, has some tips for keeping stress at bay.

With the economy in a slump, many mothers-to-be are feeling the stress of planning for a baby on a tight budget. Normal, everyday stress is okay, but if you’re having trouble sleeping or are constantly worrying, you’ll need to take steps to relax a little more. Nolte mentions that crisis situations, such as a death in the family, severe financial instability or divorce, can potentially harm your baby. High stress situations can lead to premature birth or low birth weight. It’s important to keep stress in check, both for you and for your baby.

If you or someone you know are in a severe financial crisis, have lost your job or are struggling to pay your bills, there are organizations that help pregnant women in need. Women, Infants and Children is a group that provides federal grants to states so they can provide food, healthcare and other important prenatal skills to moms-to-be who are struggling financially. To find out if you qualify for help, click here to visit the Women, Infants and Children website - http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/.

In addition to financial help, there are ways to reduce stress. Be sure to talk to your doctor about what’s right for you, but Nolte offers some ideas to start with.

First, she suggests creating a support system for yourself. “You need friends, family, people online… to talk to other people who’ll be there for you, primarily who have been through it before and can help you and give you tips,” says Nolte. AmericanBaby.com offers several chat rooms on a wide range of topics for new moms to discuss what they’re feeling and how they’re coping with the demands of motherhood. “You’ll always find somebody who’s going through the same thing at the same time,” says Nolte.

Also, try exercising throughout your pregnancy. Just as a good workout could relieve stress before you got pregnant, hitting the gym or yoga studio during pregnancy can help keep things in perspective during pregnancy, too. “[Yoga] is good for your breathing, it’s good for your muscles,” says Nolte. “The more you exercise, the better it’s going to be to get through delivery.” Be sure to consult your doctor to find a fitness routine that will work for you. Certain exercises shouldn’t be performed during pregnancy, so check with your doctor before hitting the gym.

Massage is another great stress reliever. “If you find a masseuse who does pregnancy massage in particular, it’s a good idea,” Nolte adds. “Ask your doctor if it’s okay.”

Even on your busiest days, though, be sure to take a short break to clear your head. Slow down! “Do something simple,” says Nolte. “Take a walk, read a book, listen to your iPod.” Find an activity that helps your mind focus on something other than the stress in your life. Even a ten minute break can do wonders. This is great practice for once your baby is born, too.

For more stress relieving tips, as well as additional parenting advice, click here to visit www.AmericanBaby.com.

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HypnoBirthing

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

With increasing concerns over the use of epidurals, more and more women are taking an assertive approach to managing their pregnancy and birth experience with the award winning FreshStart range of online courses. Encouraging preliminary research suggests that repeated pre-natal use could lead to a more positive birth experience and reducted need for drugs and intervention in during labor.

The powerful self-hypnosis techniques are similar to those used by international athletes, combining deep relaxation and guided visualisation to prepare the mind and body for an easier, less painful and often less interventionist birth. As a result they are also being explored by many midwifery professionals seeking effective ways of helping women to prepare for and give birth more comfortably and as a practical antidote to the drug-dependent labour culture which is of increasing concern .

Created by hypnotherapist Matt Godson, the FreshStart techniques serve as a complement to more traditional birth preparation techniques, allowing mothers to remain relaxed, involved and in control, being conversant and aware of the experience. Being so relaxed leaves no room for the fear and tension which contribute towards much of the pain of childbirth and increases the release of a women’s natural pain killers (endorphins) and blood flow, making contractions more effective so reducing the need for intervention and length of labour.

The courses address a women’s physical and hormonal developments and supports her emotional needs at all stages of the birthing process from conception, through the trimesters of pregnancy and post-natally.

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Relaxing Childbirth

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

When I went into labor with my first pregnancy, I tried to find comfort in one of the mantras I’d been repeating to myself for weeks in preparation for this very moment: My body knows what to do. It was meant to soothe my creeping anxiety as labor pains increased.

It was supposed to help me take control of my situation, to help me feel less like a hospital patient and more like, well, a mom.

To prepare for giving birth, I had signed up for a class in hypnobirthing, a class that focuses on deep relaxation and self-hypnotism as a way of coping with labor pain. My midwife suggested it, thinking it might do this Type A mom-to-be a little good to learn to relax.

Hypnobirthing is aimed at helping women through a process they’re often unfamiliar with and deeply afraid of. It can be used by women who don’t plan to ask for pain relief during labor, as well as women who are planning a c-section

“If it is important to them that they can be as calm and in control as they can be and that birthing gently, birthing joyfully and calmly — if that is something they are working toward and they don’t mind committing to practice, then it is a wonderful class,”

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Obese teenagers carry same risk as smoking 10 cigarettes a day

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

Source: The Guardian

Overweight teenagers run the same risk of an early death as people who smoke regularly – and the risk increases substantially with very fat adolescents.

Teenagers who are clinically obese have the same risk of premature death as someone who smokes more than 10 cigarettes a day. An investigation of 45,000 men whose health was monitored for 38 years has found that being overweight at the age of 18 is equivalent to being a regular smoker in terms of the overall risk of dying relatively early in life from preventable diseases.

Men who both smoked and were overweight as teenagers were likely to die even earlier than those who fell into just one or other of the risk groups. But the study did not find any evidence to suggest that smoking and obesity combined to produce even greater risks when found together.

Martin Neovius of the Karolinksa Institute in Stockholm, who carried out the study published in the British Medical Journal, said: “It shows the importance of measures to reduce obesity in adolescents. A lot of people are dying from preventable deaths.

“I think we should be looking at what we can learn from the anti-tobacco campaign in terms of obesity. There are some who argue that being overweight – but not clinically obese – is harmless. No, it is not harmless because we found that a being an overweight adolescent is equivalent to smoking up to 10 cigarettes a day.”

Overweight is defined as having a body mass index – a measure of body fat based on height and weight – of between 25 and 30, whereas being obese is defined as having a BMI of more than 30. Being overweight at 18 increased the risk of an early death by just more than a third, while being obese more than doubled the risk. The risk of premature death also increased with the number of cigarettes smoked, with heavy smokers at more than double the risk of dying relatively early in life compared to non-smokers.

The study also found that men who were seriously underweight at 18 also had a higher risk of a premature death and this risk also increased with the number of cigarettes they smoked.

Tags: child, exercise, gender, health, Hypnosis to Stop Smoking, passive smoking, secondhand smoke, stop smoking, tobacco, weight loss, weight loss advertising
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Watching R-Rated Movies Boosts Kids’ Smoking Risk

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Children who are allowed to watch R-rated movies are more likely to smoke, say researchers who analyzed data from a four-year study of more than 1,200 Massachusetts youngsters.

“We don’t know why this is so. It may have to do with a parenting style that is permissive of activities that are not age-appropriate. Or it may be an outcome of all the smoking scenes in R-rated movies,” lead author Chyke Doubeni and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Medical School said in a news release.

The participants were in the sixth grade when the study started in 2002 and were interviewed 11 times between then and 2006. The students were asked a number of questions about their access to cigarettes, whether smoking was allowed in their home and whether they were allowed to watch R-rated movies and videos.

Among those who were allowed to watch R-rated movies, smokers were nearly three times as likely and nonsmokers were almost twice as likely to say it would be easy for them to get cigarettes, compared to youngsters who weren’t allowed to watch R-rated movies.

The findings are published in the Feb. 21 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

According to Doubeni, the study shows that parental permission to watch R-rated movies is one of the strongest predictors of children’s belief that cigarettes are easily available, about as strong as having friends that smoke.

“We do know that kids who believe it is easy to get a cigarette are at risk of smoking,” Doubeni said. “Our prior research has already shown that kids who perceive cigarettes as readily accessible are more likely to end up as regular smokers.”

“Parents need to be mindful about the movies their children watch for a variety of obvious reasons,” added co-author Dr. Joseph DiFranza. “This study points out one more reason for not allowing children to watch movies that are not appropriate for their age.

Tags: child, cigarette advertising, Hypnosis to Stop Smoking, passive smoking, stop smoking
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Moss Tight-Lipped Over Pregnancy Rumors

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

Supermodel Kate Moss is keeping mum over rumors she is pregnant by her rocker boyfriend Jamie Hince.

The British catwalk queen was pictured on Wednesday with a suspiciously swollen stomach as she left The Ivy restaurant in London after a night out with a friend. (Photo)

She desperately tried to pull her leopard print jacket over the bump, sparking fervent rumors she is expecting her first child with The Kills guitarist Hince.

And the model has risked fueling the rumors by refusing to issue a denial of the reports, or even to comment directly.

A spokesman for Moss says, “I am afraid it is a private matter,” and declined to comment further.

Moss, who lives in North London, has a 6-year-old daughter, Lila Grace, by magazine publisher Jefferson Hack. She has dated Hince since splitting from rocker Pete Doherty in 2007.

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Sophie Ellis-Bextor survives pre-eclampsia scare again to have second child nine weeks early

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

Sophie Ellis Bextor has given birth two months prematurely after she was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition.

It is the second pregnancy scare for the 29-year-old singer and daughter of former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis.

Her four-year-son Sonny was also born nine weeks early.

Doctors had to perform an emergency caesarean to deliver her second son, named Kit Valentine Jones, who weighed 2lb 10z. He was immediately placed in an incubator.
Sophie had been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, which in severe cases can cause the death of the mother and unborn baby.

‘He’s a little belter’: Proud father Chris Evans shows off his newborn son Noah to the world… on his blog

Details of Kit’s dramatic arrival were revealed on BBC Breakfast yesterday by his grandmother, who let the news slip as she was discussing the role of grandparents.

Janet, 53, said: ‘Sophie’s just had her second little boy. He was early, nine weeks early, but he is doing fine. He is doing very well.’
sophie

Sophie, who is married to The Feeling’s bass guitarist Richard Jones, was admitted to the private Portland Hospital in London last week on her doctor’s advice. Kit was delivered on Saturday.

Outside the couple’s West London home yesterday, Richard, 29, said: ‘I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t stressful.

‘It has been dramatic, but we are very happy. We are a lot calmer this time because we have been through it all before. I’m pretty tired, I’ve been all my time at the hospital and I’ve just come home to get some stuff.

‘It has been hard, but it’s been helped because Sonny has been amazing, even though it’s been so tough.’

Sophie revealed they were expecting their second child on November 5th last year and that it was due in April.

Sonny spent five weeks in hospital before being allowed home. Their troubles weren’t over as he Sonny developed meningitis at four months and had to be readmitted to hospital. Sonny went on to make a full recovery.

Pre-eclampsia causes high blood pressure and can lead to stroke, blood clotting and kidney, liver and lung problems in pregnant mothers.

Sophie’s mother Janet Ellis spoke on the radio about Kit’s dramatic arrival

In an online blog about her second pregnancy Sophie said: ‘Protecting myself and the baby is the most important thing at this time and being pregnant really does give you the chance to slow down, prepare for the birth and focus on the things you really want to do.’

She added: ‘The hardest part of the pregnancy so far has been before I could announce I was actually pregnant. I’m always a bit cautious of getting coughs and colds when I’m pregnant as they seem to take that bit longer to shake off so I’m dosing up on the vitamins as it’s so cold outside.

‘I suffered from pre-eclampsia in my first pregnancy so I am having regular scans at the moment.’

She also revealed that her son could not wait for a younger sibling.
‘We are all really excited about meeting the new addition to our family. Sonny has always loved babies and has been telling me for a while he would like a baby brother or sister so for him it’s what he expected would happen at some point.’

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New Pregnancy Test Also Tells You the Sex

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

A company in Silicon Valley, California has launched a new product that bundles a pregnancy test with a kit that can tell the mother whether she’s carrying a boy or a girl. Consumer Genetics, based in Sunnyvale, has developed a direct-to-consumer genetic testing product that reveals a baby’s gender early. It’s called the “pink or blue” test. The super-sensitive test requires that no men be present while the pregnant woman pricks her finger to draw a blood sample for the lab card.

Anna Vitebsky, Consumer Genetics: “The way the pink or blue test works is by detecting small amounts of male DNA in the woman’s blood, so the only way she would have male DNA in her blood is if she’s pregnant with a baby boy.”

Consumer Genetics claims an accuracy of 95% or greater. However, because the pink or blue test is classified as non-medical, it’s not regulated by any federal medical guidelines.

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Hypnosis in Childbirth

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

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Pregnancy gender test sparks debate

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

SUNNYVALE, CA (KGO) — A Silicon Valley company has launched a new product that bundles a pregnancy test with a kit that can tell the mother whether she’s carrying a boy or a girl. It tests fetal DNA from the woman’s dried blood sample and has sparked a new ethical debate.

Pink or blue, girl or boy — find out early — as early as seven weeks into the pregnancy.

“This is about the joy of knowing,” said Terry Carmichael, Consumer Genetics.

And so a Sunnyvale-based company, Consumer Genetics, is capitalizing on that desire with the development of a direct-to-consumer genetic testing product that reveals a baby’s gender early - it’s called the ‘Pink or Blue’ test.

“The way the ‘Pink or Blue’ test works is by detecting small amounts of male DNA in the woman’s blood. So the only way she would have male DNA in her blood is if she’s pregnant with a baby boy,” said Anna Vitebsky, Consumer Genetics.

To avoid any possible contamination of male DNA giving an in-accurate result, this super-sensitive test requires no men be present while the pregnant woman pricks her finger to draw a blood sample for the lab card. Consumer Genetics claims an accuracy of 95 percent, or greater.

Dr. David Magnus, a biomedical ethicist at Stanford University, says accuracy rate is not his only concern.

“One of the questions that this technology raises is why? What’s the market? What’s the value?” said Dr. Magnus.

He believes consumer tests like these could lend to gender disappointment, upsetting a woman who isn’t carrying the gender she desired. But ethically even worse, it opens the door for gender selection — leading to abortions, which is a cultural issue in some countries and can skew sex ratios.

“We know that in China or India that actually more men are born than women and that could have very serious social consequences,” said Dr. Magnus.

“We do not sell our products to China for example. We do not sell our product to India,” said Carmichael.

“Our consent forms and policies clearly state you should not be using this for gender selection, or even for medical reasons,” said Vitebsky.

Consumer Genetics insists its product was never designed for gender selection purposes. Since first launching in 2006, its lab has processed results for more than 6,000 women worldwide. Because the pink or blue test is classified as non-medical, it’s not regulated by any federal medical guidelines, but ethicists will be watching.

“If we see some of the technology like this taking off, and we start to see it having an impact on sex ratios, that might be the point where it makes sense to start to think about putting stricter regulations or even a ban in place,” said Dr. Magnus.

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Pregnancy risks for obese women

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

Obese women should try not to put on too much weight in pregnancy

A new study has underlined the high risks faced by obese women in their first pregnancy.

Scientists at Kings College in London analysed data from the pregnancies of 385 first-time obese mothers.

They found that obese women had higher rates of eclampsia and premature births compared to women inside recommended weight guidelines.

Obese women were nearly twice as likely to give birth to a low-weight baby, weighing less than 5lbs 8oz (2.5kg).

Experts say it is a huge issue for all maternity units in the UK.

The researchers, who report their findings of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology study, also took blood samples taken from 208 of the women for further analysis.

High risks

At birth, 18.8% of their babies were classified as having a low birth weight - they weighed less than 2.5kg.

This compares with 10% of babies born to women of prescribed weight - known as the “healthy population”.

Babies who were deemed to be of a particularly large weight made up 13.4% of those born to the women studied, compared to 10% in a healthy population.

Rates of pre-eclampsia were higher, with 11.7% of obese first-time mothers developing the condition compared to 6% of obese women with one or more previous pregnancies and 2% of the healthy population.

The risk of pre-eclampsia increased according to how much weight the women put on in pregnancy.

Premature births were almost twice the national average at 11.9%.

PREGNANCY RISKS FOR OBESE WOMEN

Small babies

Large babies

Pre-eclampsia

Diabetes

Premature births

Stillbirth

Instrumental deliveries

Postpartum haemorrhage

Caesareans

The lead researcher, Professor Lucilla Poston of Kings College Hospital and St Thomas’s Hospital, said: “The large proportion of small babies was particularly unexpected as obesity is more often associated with the birth of overweight babies.

“The high number of cases of pre-eclampsia found in this group was very concerning as this is a serious pregnancy complication which, in extreme cases, can result in maternal and/or foetal death.

“We must now start to consider first-time pregnancy as an additional problem in obese pregnant women, who we know are already more likely than thinner women to have a complicated pregnancy.”

The risks associated with prematurity and low birth weight include brain damage, difficulty with breathing, learning problems and greater susceptibility to infection.

Professor Postin said the reason why obesity causes these problems is not known but it’s believed that insulin resistance may be the problem.

Insulin resistance is when normal amounts of insulin can’t completely breakdown sugar in the diet.

“Normal pregnancy induces a mild form of insulin resistance and we know that obese people become more insulin resistant and that promotes diabetes, pre-eclampsia and macrosomia or bigger babies.”

Increasing burden

The researchers say the women in the study had a high rate of Caesarean sections and warn that increasing numbers of obese pregnancies could make a major contribution to the rise in the number of caesareans in the UK.

They also point out that the women stayed longer in hospital, 4.6 days compared to a national average of three days or fewer.

Professor Jane Norman, professor of maternal and foetal health at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This study underlines and emphasises the pregnancy risks for obese women.

“It shows that women in their first pregnancy run a particularly high risk and that the issue about obese women is not just their weight before pregnancy but how much weight they gain during it.

“Obstetricians are just starting to wake up to this.

“Previously their concerns were twin pregnancies, diabetic mums and older women.”

We need to ensure that women get early access to a midwife so that they can get lifestyle and weight management advice as soon as possible

Mervi Jokinen, Royal College of Midwives

Professor Norman has set up a clinic for obese pregnant women at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh.

There are only two such clinics in the UK.

They try to encourage obese women not to gain too much weight during pregnancy.

Professor Norman said the extra costs of treating them were not just down to a longer stay in hospital: “We’ve had to buy in lots of new equipment in order to treat obese people properly.

“New operating tables and even new blood pressure cuffs because the ordinary ones give wrong readings on an obese person.

“This is a huge issue for all maternity units including our own.”

Mervi Jokinen, from the Royal College of Midwives, said: “Obesity is an issue that is becoming increasingly prominent in maternity care and midwives are aware of the complexities and potential problems that obesity brings into pregnancy.

“We need to ensure that women get early access to a midwife so that she can get lifestyle and weight management advice as soon as possible, and that this continues throughout the pregnancy and after the birth of the baby.

“This survey also reinforces the need to tackle obesity not just as an issue for maternity services but as a much wider public health issue, because this is a health problem that affects men as well as women and children as well as adults.”

Tags: child, obesity, pregnancy
Posted in Birth Hypnosis | No Comments »

Does a mum who smokes make a naughty child?

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

5/2/2009

Cardiff researchers have for the first time studied whether smoking during pregnancy can directly make children more likely to behave anti-socially.

The unique study by scientists at the University Schools of Medicine and Psychology examined the records of 779 children born by in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) whose prenatal environment was provided by either a related mother or an unrelated mother.

They found a link between anti-social behaviour in children whose mothers smoked in pregnancy – but only when the mother was genetically linked to the child.

When the child came from a donated egg and donated embryo – egg or embryo donation or surrogacy - there was no link, suggesting factors other than smoking during pregnancy influence anti-social behaviour.

The results of the study, funded by the Wellcome Trust, have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

It is well-established that smoking during pregnancy, whether the mother is genetically related to the baby or not has an adverse effect on birth weight.

But links between what mothers do in pregnancy and how it may affect the mental health and behaviour of children are less researched. While mothers who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have anti-social children, it has not been clear if this is a direct result of the smoking.

The researchers were able to study IVF children, with differing degrees of genetic relation to their parents, to disentangle the effects of genetic influences and the prenatal environment.

The study is the first of its kind in the world to allow these effects to be separated. In the published paper, the researchers looked at effects of mother’s smoking in pregnancy on the child’s birth weight and the child’s behaviour, paying particular attention to mothers not genetically related to their unborn baby.

Professor Anita Thapar, clinical child psychiatrist and Principal Investigator on the study said: “What we have been able to confirm is that cigarette smoke in pregnancy does lower birth weight regardless of whether the mother and child are genetically related or not, but the link with children’s behaviour is different.

“It is now clear that offspring anti-social behaviour is more dependent on inherited factors passed from mother to child, as our group of children with mothers who smoked during pregnancy with no direct genetic link showed no increased signs of anti-social behaviour.

“This suggests that other influencing factors such as the mother’s personality traits and other inherited characteristics are at play during the development of a baby.”

Professor Thapar believes this unique approach opens the way to tease apart the effect of genes and environment on a variety of other conditions in the future and has significant policy implications.

She said: “This type of research is able to tell us what sorts of interventions in pregnancy are the right ones to focus on in order to improve the physical and mental health of children.”

The paper’s other authors include Dr Frances Rice, formerly of School of Medicine, and Professor Gordon Harold, formerly School of Psychology, Dr Jacky Boivin and Professor Dale Hay, School of Psychology and Dr Marianne van den Bree, School of Medicine.

The Study received £125,000 from a Wellcome Trust Showcase Award for novel research, and a further £385,000 Project Grant to conduct the study.

Tags: child, Hypnosis to Stop Smoking, pregnancy, stop smoking
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