Self-Care Advice for New Mothers

by DP Nguyen 1 Comment

My best friend from college had her first baby six months ago. I adore my “niece” and I was there when she was born, and I was able to stay to help my friend for several days after her delivery. And my friend needed all the emotional and physical support she could get. Take care of a baby is an exhausting 24/7 responsibility that never ends. Her husband works night shifts, so he is sleeping most of the day, and unfortunately can’t give her the help that a partner working day shifts can. As a result, my friend is always exhausted and stressed. She doesn’t eat well – because she has no time to eat with taking care of her baby – and she’s lost a lot of weight. Her short term memory is out the window, and her mood suffers. She is neglecting her self-care.

Self-care is so important when you are a new mom. It will help keep your sanity.

So what are some self-care tips for new mothers? (Not all of these may help you and some may not be realistic depending on other factors, but I hope they help, even a little!) [Read more…] about Self-Care Advice for New Mothers

Surviving the NICU As a New Parent

by DP Nguyen Leave a Comment

Recently, a friend of mine had a baby. She had a textbook pregnancy and gave birth right on schedule to an almost nine-pound baby. It should have been the happiest day of her life.

But it wasn’t.

At some point during the delivery or before, the baby inhaled meconium and developed an infection. Instead of cuddling her new little one in her arms, the mom and dad were frantically driving to a hospital in a larger city as their new baby was airlifted to their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU for short.

How do families deal with having their dreams deferred by a side trip to the NICU? How can you prepare for an experience like that? How can you help a friend of family member that is looking at their baby through a plastic crib cover? [Read more…] about Surviving the NICU As a New Parent

Top 5 Causes of Death in Women

by Brianna Morton Leave a Comment

Even though this article is about the leading causes of death in women, it is not meant to bring doom and gloom. Rather, educate you so you can be prepared and take action. Among the many women I have talked to, all say the same thing. They want to put others first and themselves last. But remember, just like the flight attendant always says on a plane, put your mask on first before helping others because you can’t help anyone if your dead. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your loved ones. [Read more…] about Top 5 Causes of Death in Women

A Life Squeezed with Lyme

by Brianna Morton Leave a Comment

“Every long journey begins with a single step.”

These are words I live by. My journey with Lyme is a long and devastating one. Lyme is considered a health crisis in the United States. It was certainly my health crisis. It was October 2008 when I became ill, first semester of college during midterms. I became sick with extreme fatigue and flu symptoms and was diagnosed with a mono-like illness. It forced me to medically withdraw. I was told bed rest was the only way to get better so I did that. After many, many months of not getting better I began to pursue the true cause. I never knew this journey would stretch years with dozens of doctors and ending almost with my death. [Read more…] about A Life Squeezed with Lyme

Herbal Remedies and Recipes for Natural Pain Relief

by Brianna Morton 3 Comments

Pain has become a part of many of our lives. Mine included, as I suffer from Lyme Disease. On a regular basis, I struggle with chronic pain, fatigue, and insomnia, in addition to other symptoms. Narcotic pain medications are not the best answer for everyone, especially not if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Natural pain relievers do exist! Inflammation, whether acute like from a C-section incision or chronic like fibromyalgia, are at the heart of many women’s pain. The key to reducing pain and encourage healing is to reduce inflammation. Here are several suggestions that I have found to be helpful in reducing inflammation and pain. I do all of these and they have helped me dramatically. I hope they can help you as well.

* Please Consult your healthcare provider before trying any of these. I am not a doctor or healthcare provider. *

Inflamyar made by Pekana: This is a mixture of several great herbs; the biggest one being Arnica which is known to be a great pain reliever. This is a homeopathic ointment that is used for localized pain, including bruishes, muscle sprains, joint pain, arthritis, and sports injuries. (Please note that because it is homeopathic remedy, it has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety or efficacy.) Its active ingredients include arnica montana, bellis perennis, bryonia cretica, guajacum officinale, ledum palustre, toxicodendron quercifolium (Rhus toxicodendron), ruta graveolens, and viscum album. These are all natural plants, herbs and flowers found in nature, and have been used in herbal medicine for centuries. [Read more…] about Herbal Remedies and Recipes for Natural Pain Relief

Coping with a Flu During Pregnancy

by DP Nguyen 5 Comments

Getting sick when you’re pregnant is scary business. Not only do you feel awful, but there’s also a worry that your developing baby is at risk – especially if you’re unable to keep any fluids or food down.

Pregnant women are at higher risk for illness during pregnancy because your immune system is weakened during those 40 weeks. Mother nature is a miraculous thing, and your body changes so much when you’re pregnant. When you’re expecting, your immune system becomes weakened to tolerate the unborn baby, since it is a “foreign substance.” To prevent your body from attacking your growing child, your immune system naturally takes a back seat and alters its immune responses. So you are more vulnerable to getting sick. [Read more…] about Coping with a Flu During Pregnancy