Chronicles of a “Mr. Mom”

By 2010, over one fifth of pregnant women in the UK will be obese at the start of their pregnancy, according to scientists from the North East Public Health Observatory (NEPHO).

The Teeside-based researchers studied 36,821 women who had attended a local maternity unit between the start of 1990 and the end of 2004 and found that the proportion of women who are obese at the start of their pregnancy rose from 9.9% to 16.0% in the 14-year period.

Results also showed that mums-to-be were more likely to be overweight if they were at the older end of the fertility spectrum and lived in a deprived area.

Full story…

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in this present day and age. Women around the world are susceptible to breast cancer while men are prone to develop prostate cancer. Let us focus our attention the most common form of cancer in women, and one of the most common types of cancer in general.

Research statistics indicate that one in every seven women who live up to the age of 90 will develop breast cancer. However, the statistics are a bit skewed because this disease is especially prevalent in some families. Women who have a family history of being afflicted with this type of cancer have a greater chance of developing this disease. You should stay especially vigilant for breast cancer symptoms if the women in your family have a history of breast cancer.

In general, breast cancer symptoms manifest themselves once the cancer is already in its later stages of growth, and may have already metastasized to other more vital areas of the body. This means that it would be healthy for women to get checked for tumors regularly. Late stage breast cancer symptoms are much more unpleasant than the mammograms they have to endure during a check up.

A lump in a woman’s breast is one of most common breast cancer symptoms than may indicate the presence of this illness. Of course, not all lumps are cancerous. Most women will develop numerous lumps in their breasts throughout their lives. Lumps are especially common during periods of rapid hormonal changes such as puberty and menstruation.

Some women who suffer from this illness often experience pain in their breasts. This painful sensation is one of the more severe breast cancer symptoms. A cancer that has grown large enough to impinge on nerves will be a noticeable lump in a self check or mammogram. Once again, pain in the breast are does not necessarily mean that a woman has breast cancer. Women usually experience tenderness of the breasts during puberty and periods of hormone fluxes .

Cases of breast cancer are usually diagnosed in women over 40, but women in their teens and twenties can be afflicted with this disease as well. If you are a woman, then it would be good idea to start checking yourself for lumps from puberty. However, do not forget that you’ll probably find a lot of lumps that are harmless during this period. You’ll soon get an idea of the kinds of lumps that are normal, and the kinds of lumps that may be breast cancer symptoms, with some experience and some consultation with your doctor.

By: Morgan Hamilton

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Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Breast Cancer Symptoms. Visit our site for more helpful information about Breast Cancer Symptoms and other similar topics.

Bear Creek, Wis. (PRWeb) January 30, 2007 - Pregnant women who eat cruciferous vegetables like Sauerkraut, cabbage, and broccoli may be improving their child’s resistance to cancer, according to a recent study conducted at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.

The research, published in the journal Carcinogenesis, was conducted with pregnant mice and revealed that a chemical found in Sauerkraut - Indole-3-carbinol - gave their offspring noticeable protection against leukemia and lymphoma at a young age, and against lung cancer later in life.

Ryan Downs, co-owner of Great Lakes Kraut, the world’s largest Sauerkraut manufacturer, said the latest research augments earlier findings pointing to Sauerkraut as a key in preventing certain types of breast cancer.

Full story

Austin, TX (PRWeb) December 4, 2006 — Yello Dyno child safety lessons are credited with foiling a recent attempt at child abduction in Lubbock, Texas.

A Hispanic man tried to force a nine-year-old boy into his car, but he broke free and ran home. The boy was unharmed and police now have a composite sketch of the suspect, described as 5′7, 130 pounds with a bald or shaved head. A witness, who heard the boy’s story came back to the area and found a person matching the description, but he fled in a 90s-style sedan, similar to a Chevy Lumina. The boy told police he learned how to get away because of the Yello Dyno Program at his school.

“It is a fact that one in five children you know will encounter a child predator. Research shows that safety knowledge cannot be taught the same way you teach English or math,” explains Jan Wagner, founder of Yello Dyno. “The knowledge has to be stored in the part of the brain that takes charge when a child is fearful or anxious. The Yello Dyno Method™ ensures that children automatically recall right action and act on it in a crisis.”

The Yello Dyno Method™ is based on the research of Nobel Prize winner Dr. Roger Sperry, and the internationally recognized research on children in crisis of Dr. Bruce Perry.

According to Sara Wilson, Safe and Drug Free Specialist for the Lubbock ISD, “It’s a blessing to hear how the Yello Dyno program saved this child from the unthinkable. We make sure children have the patterns to respond correctly if they are ever in danger. You certainly don’t want to leave that to chance.”

Yello Dyno, an award-winning, non-fearful, musically-based program, arms parents and educators with curricula and materials needed to teach children how to protect themselves from child predators: sexual predators, abusers, abductors, bullies, violent kids, drug pushers, and Internet stalkers.

For information, visit http://www.yellodyno.com/lubbock_attempted_abduction.html

From wmtw.com….

There is no evidence that moderate levels of caffeine consumption during pregnancy cause problems for babies, according to a new study on BMJ Online, from the British Medical Journal.

Some health officials have warned that caffeine increases the risk of premature births and low birth weight. Some earlier studies have suggested that a high caffeine intake can lead to lower average birth weights. Others have found no connection between caffeine and problems with fetal development.

Full story: Caffeine Doesn’t Hurt Pregnancy

Prairieville, LA (PRWeb) January 15, 2007 — When breastfeeding does not come natural to mothers whether due to illness, psychological barriers or other problems that may come with giving birth to a baby, then breast pumping can be an option that will still allow moms to get that incredible nutritional breast milk to their baby.

However, the cost associated with purchasing a brand new breast pump can be overwhelming to some. Parents that have financial issues or confronting illnesses due to premature birth or congenital diseases, may be unable to obtain a breast pump in order to express their breast milk needed for these particular babies in critical need of their mother’s breast milk.

Fortunately, through a memorial foundation established by Wendy Williamson, these families can now acquire a breast pump at no cost. The foundation assists by arranging the administration of donated breast pumps to these parents, allowing them to acquire a free breast pump and provide breast milk to their baby.

Now that it is a new year, GotBreastPump.com is challenging all moms who have experienced the great gift of providing breast milk to their babies and assist these families by either donating their breast pumps or providing a financial donation.

The 2007 GotBreastPump.com Breast Pump Challenge goal is to encourage mothers to donate their breast pumps to 100 families throughout this year. Now that your baby has become healthy and beautiful from precious breast milk, it is time to give to those families in need.

To learn more about how to donate your breast pump, or to receive a donated breast pump, visit www.GotBreastPump.com, a web site geared toward educating new mothers about the great benefits of breast pumping for both baby and mother. Wendy Williamson, mother of two and founder of GotBreastPump.com, hopes to create a greater awareness of donating breast milk and breast pumps to mothers who want to provide their milk to premature or ill babies.

When we are looking for educational toys and games for our children, it is always helpful to know what children are like at the various stages of their development.

During infancy, nearly everything a baby can touch, taste, smell, see, hear or feel is a learning experience, but there really are very few educational toys and games for a child of this age, with the following exceptions: language ‘games’. Learning language, even from birth, is of extreme importance to your baby’s mental development and preparation for school. Talk to your baby!! If you name objects many times a day, these objects become his ‘educational toys and games’! Your baby is learning to associate a particular sound with the particular object, whether it is a toy, or baby’s feet during bath time, or your nose (and baby’s nose), and so forth.

You can also talk about activities throughout the day, every day. The repetition of words is key. Our babies recognize many words long before they can speak even a single word. How would your baby ever know to say “mama” or “dada” if you did not repeat these words hundreds of times?

I remember when my first-born learned the word for moon. There was a favorite soft book of his, with dozens of pictures that we would look at together, every day, saying the word of each object. When he was about 16 months, there was a full moon in a clear sky. We went out on the porch to enjoy the early evening, and he spotted the moon. His enthusiasm was immense, as he alternated his little feet in a fast dance, and pointed to the sky exclaiming, “Moon, moon, moon!!” This was the first time he had ever said the word.

As your baby gets older, educational toys and games are in abundance. Blocks, crayons, easy puzzles, hand puppets, stacking toys, mobiles, and so on, all help to develop motor skills, spatial awareness, recognition of various sounds, and language skills if baby has ‘talking’ company for some of the time when he is engaged in play. Of all the toys your pre-school child might have, their value will be enhanced dramatically by your participation in his play, with spoken words, words, words! Language skills are further increased by naming the surroundings, the travels from one room or one place to another, and so forth.

Educational toys and games are a big part of your child’s early years when they are fun! Babies and children are naturally curious, from the first few weeks of life. They are hungry to learn. But the keyword is “fun”. We should not try to teach letters and reading and math until a child is ready to learn, and this is generally not during the preschool years, even though there are some exceptions. Follow the child’s lead, and if she points to a magnetic letter on the refrigerator and says its name, we can applaud and share in her enthusiasm.

http://www.mylittletoys.com

Welcome To My Little Toys! My Little Toys offers products of the highest quality that will enable you to make your child’s world a delightful, stimulating, educational and safe environment. Please visit us often as our product catalog continues to include more toys for all age groups.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pamela_Emerson

(ARA) - With the most kissable day around the corner, couples scramble to find the most meaningful and personal gift for Valentine’s Day. With flowers, candy and stuffed animals being so stereotypical and other gifts being costly, why not give the one thing that brought you together in the first place: You!

Valentine’s Day is a great reason to get a makeover and unveil the new you. Not only will you feel great, your special guy will adore the dreamy new look of the woman he fell in love with. A hot new you doesn’t need to come from expensive doctors or spa treatments. Try these ideas at home for a ravishing appearance that is bound to surprise and delight him:

Hair
So many of us fall into hair ruts each day as our mornings are short and styling time is sacrificed. For Valentine’s Day, do something out of the ordinary. If you wear your hair down, try an updo; if you often wear a ponytail, leave locks to flow down your back. Wispy curls can add romance to any hairdo. If you are really ambitious, try a new shade or add some highlights.

Clothing
Despite the large wardrobes that most women have, the amount of clothing they actually wear is small. Look through some of those items that got pushed to the back of the closet. Maybe there’s that little black dress you forgot about that you wore on your first date. Does he have a favorite outfit that you don’t usually wear, but could surprise him with? And don’t forget about shoes! High heels give you a feminine confidence and make legs appear sleek and long, something he is sure to notice.

Smile
A study conducted by Kelton Research of 600 men determined the high importance of a kiss-worthy mouth. A beautiful, white smile is one of the first things partners find attractive in one another and nearly half of the men surveyed stressed that white teeth are a deciding factor for a second date. It’s easy to keep smiles bright with Crest Whitestrips Premium. Use them just twice a day for 30 minutes and start to see results after just three days, with full results in seven. They’re perfect for men and women alike who don’t want to spend a lot of money. So pucker-up and give your sweetie a whiter, more kissable smile this Valentine’s Day.

Accessories
The finishing touches to your look are in the details. For example, jewelry with a little sparkle can add glamour to your look and dangle earrings can draw more attention to your face. Maybe there’s something special he’s given you that you can wear. Make sure you smell delicious by lightly spraying on his favorite perfume. Polish with a bit of makeup. Try dark smoky eyes for an exotic, mysterious look. A glossy lipstick will add to your already beautiful smile.

This Valentine’s Day, don’t fret over what gift to give your special guy. Give him what he loves above anything else…you! He will be surprised at your new romantic look and impressed that you went through all the effort just for him (we won’t tell him that you didn’t mind all the work). For more information on a gorgeous white smile, visit www.whitestrips.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

As a father of two teenage daughters (15 and 17) I have continually heard the comment that goes something along the lines of “Whoa, that’s a tough age. I guess you’ll get to talk to them again in six years!”

I have also run into numerous dads (moms too) that say, “Yeah, my kids don’t even want to be around me these days. They are so into their friends.”

The first comment is a myth. The second is a cop out.

Granted, teenagers want their independence, but they still want their parents in their lives. More on this later.

What I believe happens is that parents get intimidated and busy and stop taking the time to ask children simple, conversational questions about their lives.

Nothing can be more intimidating than walking into a room of seven teenagers talking about music or anything, and feeling completely outnumbered, out-cultured, and out of sorts. It is easier to walk away than say, “What’s going on?” It is easier to walk away than ask that new pimply-faced boy you haven’t seen before, “Where do you go to school? “How are the grades going? Where did you go to middle school?” This starts the dialogue. Walk into the teenage fray we must. Take a deep breath, walk in, and ask away!

Let’s face it: we parents are human beings too. And half the time these kid’s parents have stopped talking to them and their teachers are basically time police. You may be the first adult who has asked them a considered question in the last month. People, even teenagers, love to talk about themselves. So if you give them half a chance they will. You can become an oasis of freedom to talk about themselves. This goes for your own children as well. It doesn’t have to be an interrogation. Just a question about school, about a friend, about music. You don’t have to be cool or “in the know.” “Who is that group? Are they popular?” You don’t have to know that Eminem is back with Kim. The key, I believe, is to not give up on the initial push back - or non-push back in the case of teenagers. They won’t be forthcoming. They won’t answer. They may shrug and say “Oh, nothing.” But believe me they want to talk. They are dying to talk. Even if they don’t.

Some how to’s:

1. Be the house they can come to. Let kids gather at your house. Anytime.

2. Food. Have lots of food. Kids (especially boys) love food. Don’t take, “I’m not hungry,” for an answer. Teenagers are always hungry. Food is the lubricant for talk.

3. Don’t be judgmental. I am not saying to let them have drugs in your house. But don’t let the disapproval of a little tattoo or funky hair on your kids friends show on your face.

4. In and out. Don’t hover. Come in, ask a few questions. Then get out. Let them breath.

5. Rules are OK. I like to keep them reciprocal. I respect you. You respect me is my favorite. I don’t talk to you that way, you don’t talk to me that way.

One last word on kids wanting you in their lives: Have you ever met a thirty year old that said, “I sure wish my parents hadn’t been in my life when I was a teenager.” I haven’t. Mostly we hear the opposite. Kids might be confused, they might even be angry. They may even be embarrassed by you - but then again everyone’s parents are an embarrassment. But, you are like the old best friend that you haven’t seen in ten years. Even though they would never tell you, your kids want to see you and most importantly, talk to you.

“Teens Don’t Like Adults” is a Myth. Don’t buy into it.

For more assistance on dad teen relations, please visit: http://www.greatdad.com
Author is an expert author for kids related advices. You can contact anytime for kids or parenting related issues.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nalini_Niraj

This is a really funny post from Jane Copland at Drivl about names she doesn’t like. All about western names and not Indian names, but still a must-read.

Here’s a summary:

# Jenny: Jenny is the rosy cheeked, fat girl who likes to dance.
# Jenn: Jenn will try to kill herself. I’ve known two Jenns; both attempted suicide and one succeeded.
# Taylor: As a girl, Taylor is a nasty bitch. As a guy, he wears pink Lacoste polo shirts and loves himself way too much.
# Raquelle: Raquelle is seventeen and knocked up.
# Rachelle: Begins with “rash.” Aside from this, is exactly the same as Raquelle.
# Lindy: The most boring, personality-void, toneless shit of a name.
# Amanda: Friends ruined this for me. She’s a man, duh.

Names I Don’t Like

Ravi Jayagopal