Reality of Bulimia

This a taste of what you will see in my blog assignment in the discussion board, in the cybercafe slot titled blog # 9: please watch. please read and watch it is important information, if you have a friend or family member that is suffereing with ED you should notify someone, EDs can be fatal. No one should face something like this alone there are others out there and you are not alone in the fight. I am one of them!!!

GLOBAL WARMING: The Menopause Song

 I know Menopause is a big change in a females life, but we have to laugh to keep from crying I felt that this was very funny, and important to post to lighten up the mood a bit.

Blog# 8 Menopause & HRT ( threw a little story in)

I found this weeks reading to be much more interesting, for some odd reason. I guess reading about the changes a females body goes through between the ages 45-55 (Menopause) was quite interesting. I believed my mother started having the syptoms of menapause in her early early mid 40s and thought" wow! isn't that kind of early" I never put two and two together, but my mother is a smoker and she has had 5 children me being the 4th child. The text read that "smokers generally experience menopause about two years earlier thatn nonsmoking women" (Jones, Barlett, pg. 209). I always told my mother smoking is not good for ya, but she never listened. So I decided to ask her today what was it like and what is it like living with menopause? She told me that at this very moment she was expericencing cramping, bloating, hot flashes, mood swings and irritability, she is PMSing and going through menopause cuncurrently. It is not pleasant for anyone to be around her, on top of that she lost her mother this year and her copping level has decrease dramatically. She is more depressed and cannot handle things the way she use to. She told me a funny story about a night where she went to bed burning up and woke up in a cold sweat; the funny part was the events that took place.  She told me " I had just arrived home from work and was tired and proceeded with my normal evening routine. Joke with everyone, put some food in my stomach said goodnight to my grandchildren and head up stairs to my bedroom. I got into my nighties and flip on the tv and relaxed, about 25 minutes later I started to burn up, I turned my fan on  that sits on my night stand, hoping that would help a bit, but it seemed like it was fueling the fire. So I began to take of one piece of clothing after another, until I was butt naked. I finally felt some relief sprawled out across the bed and went to sleep, I am not sure how long I was out for, but  I woke up in a cold sweat freezing my behind off, and thought to myself " why am I naked and put every piece of clothing I took off back on and went to sleep" I found myself laugh for a good 30 minutes everytime I looked at her. I guess it is not nice to laugh because that could be me in a few years.
So I decided to share with her today what I had learned from the readings. I passed on to her ways that she could control her symptoms or relieve her symptoms. First of all my mothers eating habbits are horrible, I told her that if she changed up her diet and exercise would help improve her health in through out postmenopause. So I tried to use this to get her to become a vegetarian," if you eat more fruits and veggies, the symptoms will not be as bad", I know it is wrong I am always trying to convert someone. I rarely ever see her eat vegetables, an occastional fruit here and there, but nothing of real substance. The text said that if you eat enough" fruits,vegetables,whole grains and low saturated fats and cholesterol"(Jonas, Barlett, pg. 217) it can improve ones health. I even got her to start doing some yoga and mild cardio with me, and some weight lifting her and there. I am always concerened about my mothers health because she has alot to deal with.
I wanted to get my mothers oppinon on HRT, but she said she has never even considered it.
What is HRT? HRT stands for  Hormon Replacement Therapy, and now a days many women are choosing to get it to eleviate the syptoms of  Perimnopause and Postmenopause.  Like every other drug out there FDA aproved or not comes with its pros and cons. When I read that going through menopause can cause urinary tract infections and burning during sexual intercourse I was shocked to find out such things could happen to a females body at this stage in life. I heard that sexual drives goes away after a certain age, but I did not know it was becaue of Menopause. So after hearing about the benifits of HRTs I could not see why anyone would not want to participate in it.  "HRT provides relief from many symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, and related symptoms, hot flashes ,night sweats... as well as vaginal atropy and dryness"( Jonas, Barlett, pg. 214); also preventing urinary tract infections. There is always a BUT, estrogen therpy alone can cause cancer of the uterus, also if a woman has a history of diseases they put themselves at risk of having a "Stroke, venous thrombembolism and demntia" (Jones, Barlett, pg. 214). It is so hard to make and educated decision when there are so many variables to look at.
I just look at Menopause as a natrual occurance, therefore let nature take is course it will be over soon "By age 58, 99% of wmen are postmenopausal" tough it out right? I say that now, but I will just have to wait until it is my turn to experience the CHANGE.

Blog # 7: HPV

I first have to warn you that the images you will be viewing on this blog are quite disturbing.

I decided to discuss Human Papillomavirus (HPV) because I a friend of mine contracted the virus.

First I will begin with HPV. A close friend of both my fiance and I daughter contracted HPV with her first sexual experience. I remember the mother telling us "my daughters life is over, now she can never have a healthy sexual relationship with another man at the right time. This is going to haunt her for the rest of her life. What am I to do now?" When I heard this I though the same thing her sexual life is over, she should have waited until marriage. But at this time I really had no idea how serious HPV was I barely knew what it was and how it was transmitted.

What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?

• a.k.a Genital Human Papillomavirus
• One of the most commonly STI
• More than 40 types that can effect the genitals of both male and female, it also can affect mouth and throat.
• The infected could be ignorant of the virus for years, until they have symptoms.
• It has two distinct forms "High-risk" and "Low-Risk"

How is it HPV spread and Who does it affect?

• It is known to be spread through sexual intercourse (Genital-skin-to-genital-skin contact) (Jones,Barlett 2010, pg. 185).
• It can be contract during vaginal and anal sexual intercourse or during oral sex
• Same sex partners are can get it as well, it is not bias nor sexes. Most sexually active persons will contract HPV in there life time
• One can spread HPV with no evidence of be infected, that is why it is important for everyone who has had more than one sexual partner to be tested and to have physical exams on regular basis.
• It is rare that a mother who is pregnant with a child to pass it to the infant during childbirth. In a circumstance such as these, the infant could develop JORRP " Juvenile Onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis"(CDC).
• Both male and female can be affected by this.
• It is also possible to get more than one type of the virus (HR & LR), but "HR cannot turn into LR and vice versa" (Jones, Barlett, 2010, pg. 185).

How to prevent it and How to treat it

• Gardasil is a vaccine approved by the FDA, protects people against the two strains HR & LR of HPV. These two strains together  causes 70 % of the reported cases of Cervical Cancer and 90% of genital warts (Jones, Barlett, 2010, pg. 185)
• If vaccine and screening team up HPV and Cervical cancer could be eliminated.
• There is no cure,  but the symptoms can be treated.
• Visible genital warts can be treated with medication or some decided to let the warts disappear on their own.
• Abnormal Cervical Cells  will become normal after a while, but they might turn into cancer. If it continues then "Laser ablation,cold coagulation and cryotherapy (freezing) treat just the part of the cervix that contains abnormal cells" (Cancerhelp.org)
• Use condoms, although male condoms are not 100% not even 99.5% sure to prevent it. It is know that female condoms are more affective. The best way to prevent the spread of HPV is to abstaine from sexual activity.

         I am not a fan of vaccines or medicine because I believe that the side affects can cause more problems then the actual symptoms, however if you are sexually active with more than one partner it is advise to get screened and you should get the vaccination. The CDC advises that girls are 11 and 12 years of age should be vaccinated and females between the age of 13 to 26 who have not received a full vaccination. Gardasil is administered in a series of 3 injections in a 6 month period. The Vaccine is very effective and can prevent you from suffering from HR (high risk: can cause, Cervical dysplasia which could result in death and  cervical cancer) and LR (low risk: genital warts, and cauliflower like warts around the anus) strain of the virus. The only sure way of know that you have HPV is by having a DNA test done of the actual virus, it is 100 % effective at diagnosing HPV than a Pap Smear. HPV can be spread even without any signs, so the best method of prevention is screenings and abstain from sexual activity
         I pray that my friends daughter is getting the help that she needs. The mother has expressed that her daughter feels dirty and undesirable now, knowing that she can never really feel comfortable being sexually intimate with a man anymore is taking its toll on her.

I was going to post some photos, but I could not bring myself to post them, they are just to much for me and I am usually not squeamish.  So I will just post milder photos and some other images related to HPV.

HPV can cause Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, which could cause warts to appear in the throat

  

This could be treate with surgery or medication

Low Risk HPV:

Blog 6: 10 questions for an expecting mother

Can I still exercise and if so how long?

Yes you are still allowed to work out during your pregnancy. However, you will need to modify the work out. You do not want to introduce a new routine into your workout and you do not want to work out in hopes of losing weight. The best work out for pregnant women is yoga, walking, swimming and light aerobics. I prefer yoga; there are many prenatal yoga videos in circulation. It is important to use prenatal yoga if you are completely new to yoga, because certain poses are dangerous to the health of both the mother and child. Asanas (poses) that involve you lying on your back is advised against after the first trimester; inverted Asanas are prohibited for pregnant women because of the growing fetus and the possible risk of drop in blood pressure. Avoid backbends, headstands, shoulder stands, arm balances, and standing balancing poses unless you are using the wall or chair for support, a female’s balance is altered in the second trimester because the center of gravity starts to change. You should limit your work out to about 30 minutes a day and avoid Bikram yoga a.k.a hot yoga, elevated body temperatures can prove dangerous to the health of mother and child.

What is the best sleeping position?

A.    You can sleep on your stomach during the early part of your pregnancy, but it will prove very uncomfortable for you, long before you can hurt the baby. The reason why it is possible for a female to sleep on her stomach in the early stages of pregnancy is because the uterus is still tucked behind the pubic bone.

B.     The best position to sleep is on the left side, this will reduce blood flow issue. You want to make sure that the baby is getting enough blood and nutrient to the placenta and the baby. Lying on the back is very uncomfortable because of the growing fetus pressure on the lungs. If you are experiencing heart burn while lying down you might want to consider using a pillow to prop yourself up.

Should I stop having sex once I am pregnant?

A.    Yes Sex is still an option; some couples have sex right up until the water breaks. You it is not possible for the penis to reach the baby although some might think. Your partner will not be able to harm the baby because of the strong amniotic sac and the thick mucus that is produced sells the cervix’s; therefore, shielding the baby from infection.

B.     There are perks to having sex during pregnancy; sex is actually heightened because of the large blood flow, which will cause the genitals to become “engorged” heightening the sensation, also much more vaginal lubrication can prove stimulating for both.

C.    However there is a downside to these changes, cramping in the stomach may occur after sex or climax, and your breast may be tender to the touch.

 I am not sure I want the baby, how much time do I have to decide on abortion?

It is best to get an abortion as soon as you find out if you are not keeping the baby, but abortion facilities will abort 15 weeks into the pregnancy some 24 weeks (partial birth abortion) the later you wait the more dangerous it is for you, and the results are much more gruesome.

Can I still travel once I am pregnant?

A.    Yes you can still travel well into your third trimester, but before you make in definite plans you must consult your Midwife or obstetrician. It is also wise to avoid traveling 7 or even a month before the due date, especially if you plan on taking a plane, some airlines might prohibit you from flying so close to the due date because they do not want the chance of someone going into labor in the air.

B.     Also, if you are caring twins, or have a history of blood clots it is also noted that one should not travel. If you are experiencing cramping or spotting you should postpone your trip and seek medical attention, most likely you midwife or obstetrician will rule it unsafe to travel.

What can I eat or drink that is safe for the baby?

A.    Obstetricians and Midwives will tell you to abstain from drinking caffeinated drinks; if you must drink coffee or tea make sure that it is decaffeinated. Some say it is safe to drink alcohol, but just a small amount can cause FAS (fetal Alcohol Syndrome). This will cause facial deformations, and mental retardation.

B.     No raw foods, such as sushi, or raw vegetables. Everything you eat must be cooked and cleaned. Stay away from fish that is high in mercury such as shark meat, mackerel, and albacore tuna.

C.    Make sure you eat lots of grains, fortified ready-to-eat cereals, and Wheat germ. Lots of calcium for healthy bone and teeth growth for the baby, preferably, not fat or low fat milk.

D.   Eat lots of fruit, melons, mangoes, prunes, red or pink grapefruit, Avocados… Also eat a lot of veggies, spinach, carrots, sweet potato hmmm, cooked greens and red peppers.

How many calories should I consume a day?

Pregnant women should consume at least 100 calories than normal during the first trimester, then in the second and third trimester around 300. You want to reframe from dieting (just eat smart) it is a myth that you need to eat for two; you just need to make sure you are getting enough nutrients for both of you. To make sure you are eating enough talk to your midwife or obstetrician.

 How much weight is normal to gain?

 For an average woman 25 to 35 pounds is advised and normal, but for an overweight    pregnant woman, 15- 25 pounds is safe too much can result in pregnancy related diabetes, for an underweight woman 25- 35 same as an average woman.

 What are Braxton-Hicks contractions?

It is false labor pains; they are not like real contractions because they do not “increase in frequency, intensity or duration.

 Do I have to drink a lot of milk to produce milk?

The answer is no, eating a lot of grains, veggies and fruit will aid in the producing of milk.

Sources:

Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J.H., Bader, H. Garfield, S.  (2010). Dimensions in women's health. (5^th Ed.).  Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

http://www.babycenter.com/is-it-safe-nutrition-during-pregnancy

http://www.babycenter.com/406_is-it-safe-to-sleep-on-my-stomach-during-pregnancy_1245307.bc

http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-safe-to-do-yoga-during-pregnancy_

 

Mother-in-law: Cathy Van Hoose (medical field)

Sister-in-law: Krystal Kyle (2 children, and she used a midwife)

Prenatal care cont'd

If you are planning on getting pregnant t is important to take in a lot of folic acid foods, if you cannot get it through food  there are supplemental pills you can take. Folic Acid is important because it can reduce the risk of neural-tube defects (spina bifida). Before conception 400 mcg during the amount increases to about 600-800 mcg foods that contain Folic Acid:

Prenatal Care!!!

Prenatal Yoga has a lot of benefits attached to it. It teaches you how to control the breath, a breathing technique called Ujjayi teaches you to take full breaths through the nose, this is important because as the pregnancy progresses breathing can become a little bit more difficult, because of the pressure of the growing fetus. Learning how to breath Ujjayi will keep you calm during labor. It also keeps you flexible and in shape making it easier for you to snap back into your prepregnancy body.

Cat -Cow pose is a very safe and affective, for women wanting to keep there abdominal muscles intact

Squating is used to relax the pelvis and keep the legs toned and strong.To make it easier on you you can use yoga blocks ora stack of books to place underneath the buttocks.

A lot of these poses are used by midwives.These poses are known to ease some of the pain caused by contraction; also yoga poses such as these are used to help relieve PMS pains.

Namaste!!!

Breast feeding Assignment 5

I decided to complete assignment number five which regarded breastfeeding and cultures views on it. I found out that in America breastfeeding is seen as Taboo, therefore forcing some women to abstain from practicing it. Breastfeeding provides load of  benefits for both the mother and the child. The breast milk carries antibodies that help fight disease. If a mother breastfeeds she reduces her chances of breast cancer and type  2 diabetes. Some people might say that their children are smart because they have been breastfeed.

In African countries as well as Asian countries such as Kenya and Sri Lanka is a must. For women in Africa is a mother does not breastfeed she is looked down upon, and if her baby is crying in public and the mother does not stop to sooth the baby people will assume that the baby is not hers and she has stolen it. In some African cultures if a infant becomes motherless at birth then the responsibility of nursing is passed on to a relative and she will re-lactate to do so.
In Sri Lanka a nursing mother is seen as a Goddess and breastfeeding is important to there religious practice. The breast of a women is a symbol of fertility and bounty. So needless to say people around the world have a different take on breastfeeding than we do in America and to expose your breast in public is not uncommon.


Statistics show that 70% of women initiate breastfeeding at birth, 30% breastfeed at 6months and 17% breastfeed up until 12months, the low percentage could have something to do about what our culture views as culturally acceptable.


Breastfeeding in America

Blog # 5 Interview

I decided to conduct a small interview, about women chose to bare children or not. The lady i questioned was my mother-in-law. I asked her was Daniel my fiance a planned pregnancy or unplanned and she said no. She and her husband had decided not to have children; she wanted to be well off into a career and have a stable home previous to having any children. On the other hand her husband was totally against having children because he was apart of a big family, he was the 11th child out of eleven. I guess back in those days having a big family was the trend, anyhow this affected him he never really mentioned to anyone why and how being the youngest out of 11 kids affected his opinion on having children, but his wife told me it might have been because he never had a room or anything of his own. Maybe he did not want his children to end up like that. I asked her if she believed in using contraceptives and if that was the reason for her unplanned pregnancy. They both agreed on using some kind of birth control, but was not really sure what was out there and how effective if was going to be. The used condoms, but decided to discontinue the use, because it took away from the pleasure of lovemaking, so they resorted to rhythm method and it resorted to an unplanned pregnancy. I asked her if she had ever decided to terminate the pregnacy, carry it full term and give it up for adoption or keep it she told me " I never thought about abortion, but I did think about giving up for adoption, but that only lasted 2 hours after he was born because I saw the look on Larry's' face when he was holding Daniel and could not do it anymore"

So for my mother-in-law it was an unplanned and somewhat unwanted pregnancy. Family planning has to be a mutual thing because if one person does not want to have a child it could cause friction in a relationship. Once she had Daniel she decided to have one more child so that he could have someone to play with. She only has two boys and decided that two was enough and that she would not be able to handle more children. She wanted to have a stable career and home to bring children up in.

I personally am very hesitant about having children, but I know I want to have them I just do not know when, but I know how many. I only want two children because I know that my first pregnacy is going to be rough for me because of my health issuse. I to want to have a proper home and career before having children and have decided to use and IUD for birth control.  Having children is a life time commitment and you have to be ready to make informed decisions about having a child.