Thursday, January 26, 2012

Friday, January 20, 2012

Just Pick a Date-To Induce or Not Induce


The birthing process usually occurs naturally but there is a process where labor can be forced to begin artificially through medical intervention. Recently there has been a rise in what is called elective induction for convenience or to accommodate schedules. Before making this choice you might want to read Dr. Linda Burke-Galloway article "5 Questions Every Pregnant Woman Should Ask Before Being Induced" first.

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Monday, January 16, 2012

Cervical Cancer Awarness...time to take the pledge


This year, more than 12,000 U.S. women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer. And more than 4,210 will die. Now, Take the Pearl Pledge and help protect yourself and other women from this preventable disease!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

When It Come to Care for Your Loved One A Bargain Is Not The Best Deal


At some point in life, many will be faced with the task of finding in home help to provide care for their loved ones. Though not limited to the aged population, with the advance of medical technology, people are living much longer and middle aged adults are faced with the responsibility of ensuring the adequate care and safety of their aging parents. This present challenges even for those whose parents were wise enough to plan ahead for this need by obtaining a long term care policy in the younger years.
This scenario came knocking at my door recently and my first thought was I would just look to private hire a trained individual to come into our home to provide care. Thankfully before making what could have turned out to be a very unwise decision, I did some research and came across an article,"Hiring Private Duty Home Care Workers: Why Work Through An Agency? which helped to enlighten me on the subject. Of course the main reason families tend to private hire is because of the financial aspect of it; the hourly rates are often lower but along with that they assume a certain liabilities and tax responsibilities. There is also the added risk of abuse and exportation, especially if the person who is being cared for lives in another location distant from their family members.
Although it will take time and effort to contact various home care agencies to find the right help needed for your loved one, in the long run this is the better choice, really the only choice to protect both yourself and your loved one. There are several internet services to assist caregivers navigate throughout this process. Elder Care locator is a good resource that can connect you to a variety of services in your geographical area. My choice turned out to be Chevy Chase Home Care, a minority, woman owned business serving the metropolitan Washington DC area. From my first contact with them their director, Dr. Nataliya Lakiza, showed great care and concern for what my family’s needs were. Their company also works to gain funding for the less fortunate who are not able to pay for in-home care by partnering financial sponsors with families who simply cannot afford the care. They will be hosting several fundraising events for this purpose and Bees Wellness Lounge will definitely share in this effort.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Environmental Birth Defects


The birth of a healthy baby requires the mother to take action long before conception. One thing that can have a huge impact on the outcome is her environment. January is Birth Defect Prevention Month. Smoking during pregnancy has been linked to premature births and miscarriages but it also increases the risk for delivering a baby with a birth defect. Read some of the data Smoking During Pregnancy Increases Risk of Birth Defects in Offspring.

As my associate Dr. Linda Burke Galloway says "a healthy pregnancy doesn't just happen...it takes a smart mother to know what to do"...check out her Smart Mother's Guide to a Better Pregnancy.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

GoPillow - Breastfeeding Pillow - Nursing Pillow - Baby Blanket- Toddler...


In an effort to provide a product that would help to change the feelings of uneasiness about breastfeeding and provide comfort for both mother and baby, a young mother, Tangela Walker-Craft came up with the idea of the Go Pillow. I think after you have viewed the video you will not only think this is both a useful and practical product for breastfeeding.



Visit Simply Necessary to make purchase of this great product. Be sure to mention you learned about the pillow at Bees Wellness Lounge.

Mommie...what are those for????


As we move into another week of the month of January, I pondered on what to blog about for Birth Defect Prevention Month and it came to me…breast…more specifically breast feeding. In the United States breast have seemed to have more recognition sexually than for their physiological purpose, which is for nourishment. This attitude has led to the discomfort of many around the issue of breastfeeding, which has many medical and psychological benefits for both mother and baby. I stumbled on an article “Got Milk? Not in Public!” by Jacqueline Wolf, which comments that as far back as the 1960s a woman whose father was an obstetrician responded to her breastfeeding her baby saying “you will ruin your breasts you know”. Now years later, right here in DC, where laws are made everyday, the breastfeeding debate made the news when a mother breastfeeding her baby in a government building (Department of Motor Vehicles) was told she could not do so because it was considered “indecent exposure”.
The uneasiness around breastfeeding will continue unless there is a collective effort to promote its acceptance by the public at large and programs to support this effort. You can read more about the statistics and what is being done to foster change in “Hospital Support for Breastfeeding”.

Check out Breastfeeding.com for some good resource information.

For helpful information to help you with having a healthy pregnancy/baby...check out my colleague Dr. Linda Burke-Galloway's site The Smart Mother's Guide to a Better Pregnancy.

Let’s get some dialogue started on this one…leave a comment on your thoughts.

Friday, January 6, 2012

When Health Begins


January marks Birth Defect Prevention Month and there are many things to consider to ensure a healthy baby. Learn more about When Health Begins and what you can do.

Pose without injury


As I entered into the year of 2012, I found myself desiring to return to the practice of yoga. Yoga is a great choice to add to your wellness plan but there are several important factors to consider to help prevent the injuries that could occur.
Find out more in the article Preventing Yoga Injuries.