Women Only

WILL HAVING A GENTLE BIRTH PREVENT ALL BREASTFEEDING PROBLEMS?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:49:00 +0000

I had briefly spoken by phone with Kimberly while she was pregnant and developing her birth plan. Kimberly and her husband, Doug, had hired a doula to support them in labor and were excited about becoming parents for the first time. Several weeks later, the couple called to report that Gabrielle was born following a rapid labor and natural birth. Now that she was home from the hospital, Kimberly was having a difficult time breastfeeding Gabrielle.

The next day I went to visit the family and found that Kimberly had significant bruising and bleeding on both nipples. During the consultation, I assisted Kimberly with positioning Gabrielle for feeding, and I prescribed ointments for Kimberly’s nipples. Over the next few days, Kimberly healed and Gabrielle became a better breast-feeder. Because Kimberly had a gentle birth, she had the energy to focus on quickly solving her breastfeeding difficulty. Likewise, Gabrielle remained alert and was able to learn to breastfeed without causing her mother further nipple trauma. Gentle birth may not prevent all breastfeeding problems, but if problems arise, you will be fortified by your positive birth experience to work toward a solution.

Although not impossible, it is more challenging to cope with a breastfeeding problem while simultaneously recovering from a difficult birth. When Becky went past her due date without going into labor, she was admitted to the hospital to be induced. Two days after starting the induction process, her labor rapidly progressed, but once fully dilated, Becky encountered difficulty and ended up having an emergency cesarean section. Becky finally arrived home with baby Emily after spending nearly a week in the hospital.

During our consultation, I could tell Becky had been through an ordeal. She was pale and exhausted. Becky’s feet and ankles were so swollen that her slippers did not fit, and she had painful purple bruises on both arms where her IV had been. Becky was discouraged because she was not making much milk, and baby Emily was still losing weight. I explained to Becky that her milk production was suppressed due to her long arduous labor and cesarean birth. Determined to work through this difficulty, Becky began regularly using an electric breast pump to stimulate her milk supply. While Becky worked on increasing her milk supply, we devised a plan to supplement Emily with her mother’s pumped breast milk.

Unfortunately, several days later, Becky developed an infection along her incision site that required antibiotics and daily dressing changes. As she recovered from this unexpected setback, Becky never lost sight of her breastfeeding goal. Her progress was slow, but Becky healed from her birth, built up her milk supply, and is still breastfeeding Emily

Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment of Endometriosis

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:50:00 +0000

What Causes Endometriosis?

No one is certain of the cause of endometriosis, but several good theories exist. Some believe that menstrual cycle flow can go backward from the uterus, move up through the fallopian tubes, and spill into the pelvis. Others suggest that endometrial cells can be carried through the blood and lymph vessels to various parts of the body. Still others suggest a more complex method involving antibodies and changes at the cellular and hormonal level. Endometriosis seems to occur most commonly in women who are in their 30s and 40s. It also occurs more frequently in women who have never had children. Endometriosis appears to have a genetic component. In fact, women with a mother, sister, or daughter who have endometriosis are more likely to have it themselves

How Is Endometriosis Diagnosed?

First, your doctor will take a detailed medical history and perform a physical exam, including a pelvic exam. If you and your doctor are suspicious that you may have endometriosis, your doctor may perform a laparoscopy to view the inside of your pelvic cavity. If endometriosis is found, your doctor will determine the extent of the disease and in some cases also destroy or remove the tissue at the same time.

How Is Endometriosis Treated?

Treatment for endometriosis depends on the extent of the disease, your symptoms, and whether you want to have children. Endometriosis can be treated with medication, surgery, or a combination of both. You should be aware that treatments may temporarily relieve pain and infertility, but the symptoms will most likely eventually return. That’s because whatever process caused the endometriosis in the fi rst place is probably still taking place within your body.

In some cases of endometriosis, medications are prescribed to relieve pain and cramping discomfort. Nonsteroidal anti-infl ammatory (NSAID) medications such as Motrin, Advil, Aleve, or Anaprox may be recommended. Various hormones, such as birth control pills, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), progestin, and danazol, are sometimes prescribed. Such hormones may relieve pain and also help to slow the growth of the endometrial tissue and new adhesions. These hormonal medications almost always prevent pregnancy and therefore are not used when a woman is trying to become pregnant.

In many cases of endometriosis, surgery is the best choice for treatment. Surgery is usually performed via laparoscopy. During the laparoscopy procedure, the endometrial tissue is either destroyed or removed. After surgery, you may have relief from pain and your doctor will be able to discuss your fertility chances. Some studies have shown that pregnancy rates after surgery for women with moderate endometriosis can be as high as 47 percent. Rates for those with severe endometriosis may be about 38 percent. These rates may not seem great, but they are much better than the chances of conceiving without treatment

Endometriosis and its affects on your Fertility

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:43:00 +0000

Endometriosis is a medical condition where the tissue that lines the inside of your uterus (also called the endometrium) spreads to other areas of your body, usually to your pelvic organs. Endometrial tissue found on your fallopian tubes or ovaries can lead to scarring, adhesions, and blockages within your pelvis.

Endometriosis is estimated to affect about 7 percent of women of childbearing age. However, endometriosis is found in approximately one-third of infertile women. Therefore, endometriosis is a major factor when considering the causes of female fertility problems.

The main symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. The pain and cramping occurs most often just before and during your menstrual cycle. The pain sometimes occurs during sexual intercourse, urination, or bowel movements. The amount of pain does not always tell you the severity of your condition. For example, some women with slight pain may have a severe case of endometriosis. However, those with signifi cant pain may actually have mild endometriosis. And some women with endometriosis have absolutely no symptoms. In many situations, endometriosis is only diagnosed as part of an infertility evaluation, after a woman has been unable to conceive on her own.

What Does Endometriosis Do? How Does It Affect My Fertility?

It’s important to understand exactly what endometriosis does and how it affects your fertility. Under normal circumstances, the only place that endometrial tissue can be found is the inside of your uterus. However, if you have endometriosis, that means endometrial tissue is also growing somewhere else within your body. It most often appears in various places within your pelvis, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, outside surface of the uterus, space behind the uterus, bowel and rectum, and bladder. It may occasionally be found in more distant parts of the body, though this is rare.

Wherever endometrial tissue is found within your body, it basically still acts the same as that found within your uterus. Endometrial tissue is very responsive to changes in your hormones. So during your menstrual period, the tissue breaks down and bleeds, just the same way that the lining of your uterus does. This bleeding can cause pain, especially just before and during your period. The breakdown and bleeding of the endometrial tissue located throughout your pelvic organs can cause scar tissue and adhesions.

Oftentimes the scarring and adhesions cause various pelvic organs to bind together and distort the normal pelvic anatomy. This could cause the ovaries to become anchored in an awkward position so that the egg cannot properly reach the opening of the fallopian tube. In another case, the scarring and adhesions may block the fallopian tubes so that an egg cannot pass from the ovary into the uterus. Endometrial tissue may grow within an ovary and cause a cyst, usually called a chocolate cyst or endometrioma. The affected ovary and cyst may not be able to ovulate and function normally. Sometimes an ovary cannot properly release an egg because the egg is trapped within the follicle by scarring on the ovary’s surface.

Endometriosis may also reduce fertility in other ways besides the scarring and adhesions already discussed. For example, toxic substances may be released by the endometrial tissue scattered about your pelvis. In this case, even if the egg is successfully released from the ovary and passes to the fallopian tube, the toxins might diminish the egg’s ability to become fertilized. In addition, endometriosis can lessen fertility by giving off an immune response. That means that the endometrial tissue outside the uterus sends a signal to release destructive cells within the pelvis that can destroy eggs, sperm, and even an embryo

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:35:00 +0000

The medical condition known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) causes your ovaries to act abnormally and leads to irregular or lack of menstrual periods, abnormal or absent ovulation, and, therefore, infertility. PCOS is a common cause of infertility and occurs in about 5 to 10 percent of reproductive-age women. Symptoms of PCOS do not typically show up until after puberty, when menstruation begins. In some women, hormonal changes may begin as early as the very first menstrual cycle. In most women with PCOS, changes occur gradually, over time.

Symptoms of PCOS may include:

Increased body and facial hair (also known as hirsutism)
Acne
Darkened color of the skin along the neck, armpits, groin, and inner thighs
Obesity
Irregular menstrual periods or no periods
Vaginal yeast infections

What Does PCOS Do? How Does It Affect My Fertility?
The circumstance that causes PCOS usually originates in your pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is considered your body’s master gland because it triggers the release of hormones for your entire body. Instead of the normal reproductive hormonal balance, PCOS causes your hormones to become out of sync. PCOS also causes higher concentrations of male hormones (androgens). The result of this complex hormonal imbalance is that ovulation occurs irregularly, if at all.

In a normal ovary with normal ovulation function, one follicle matures and an egg is released each month, and this corresponds to rising progesterone levels. In a polycystic ovary, there are many follicles, but they do not mature and, therefore, no egg is released. Because the eggs are not released, progesterone levels remain low and out of sync with the other hormone counterparts, androgen and estrogen. This results in irregular periods and continues the cycle of PCOS hormonal imbalance.

In addition, many women with PCOS produce too much insulin or the insulin they produce doesn’t work properly. Insulin is a hormone that controls your body’s use of sugar (glucose) but also usually plays a role in PCOS. Insulin interrupts the normal growth of the follicle in the ovaries. The affected ovaries contain such a large number of immature egg
follicles; that they become abnormally enlarged and function abnormally.

Who Is at Risk? What Causes Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) ?
Women with PCOS often have a family member with the condition. In fact, PCOS is considered a genetic disorder. This means that if you have PCOS, most likely you were born with the condition. Remember that PCOS might also be passed to your female children.

How Is PCOS Diagnosed?
To diagnose PCOS, your doctor will ask you questions about your health, your menstrual cycle, and your family history. The doctor will also perform a physical examination and order blood tests to check your hormone levels. If PCOS is suspected, a pelvic ultrasound may be performed to closely view your ovaries.

How Is PCOS Treated?
Treatment depends on your symptoms and your desire for pregnancy. A low carbohydrate diabetic diet along with regular exercise may be prescribed to lower your insulin levels. Additionally, research has shown that approximately 75 percent of women with PCOS respond well to fertility medication. In some cases, laparoscopic surgery is required to remove ovarian cysts that resulted from PCOS. Women with PCOS should be aware of potential long-term health risks. They are at an increased risk of developing uterine cancer and are at risk of developing diabetes. PCOS has also been linked to heart disease, abnormal lipid profi le, and high blood pressure. Because of these increased health risks, women with PCOS should be evaluated carefully by their doctor on an annual or more frequent basis. PCOS is a condition that you are born with, so you can never truly be cured. However with proper treatment, your symptoms can be relieved and you can live a healthy and normal life. Becoming pregnant is certainly possible but may require some advance planning and treatments to be determined between you and your doctor.

Share your views using the comment link:

Causes of Infertility: Health and Lifestyle Concerns for Women

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:24:00 +0000

NUTRITION

What you eat may affect your menstrual cycle, ovulation, and overall hormonal balance. That’s why you should consume a healthy and well-balanced diet. Plus, diets that are either too high or low in calories can signifi cantly affect your overall body weight. Extreme weight loss or weight gain may affect your menstrual cycle and fertility.

EXERCISE

Regular and vigorous exercise can change your menstrual cycle. In extreme cases, your menstrual periods may stop completely. This problem seems to be especially common among long-distance runners. However, women who exercise to excess and dramatically reduce their body weight and fat content may also experience a lack of menstrual periods. And without your menstrual cycle, you will not be able to ovulate and conceive.

BODY WEIGHT

Being overweight by even 10 to 15 percent above normal can overload your body with estrogen. This extra estrogen is produced within the fatty tissue and can dramatically change your hormone balance. In many cases, obese women ovulate irregularly, if at all. Lack of body fat may also result in irregular periods and infertility. A woman who is underweight by 10 to 15 percent has less fat storage and therefore less estrogen. Although it may vary from woman to woman, most medical experts agree that a woman needs a body fat content of approximately 22 percent to allow for the normal hormonal balance and subsequent ovulation process.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Medical conditions such as lupus, diabetes, thyroid disease, and rheumatoid arthritis have been shown to reduce your fertility. If you have one of these medical conditions, it’s imperative that you take your prescribed medication and be under the care of a qualifi ed health care provider. This is especially true when you are trying to become pregnant. Cancer may or may not affect fertility. However, the cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, almost always will. If possible, talk with a fertility expert before starting your chemotherapy or radiation. It’s often possible to work with your team of doctors and come up with a plan to safeguard or at least improve your future fertility.

Effect of recent or past use of contraception on Fertility

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:05:00 +0000

Many women are concerned about how past use of contraception might affect their future fertility. In almost all cases, your fertility is returned to normal within a short time of discontinuing the contraception. Birth control pills prevent pregnancy by stopping the ovulation process. Almost always, birth control pills do not affect your future fertility. That’s especially true if your menstrual periods were normal prior to beginning the pill. However, a few women who stop taking birth control pills experience some diffi culty getting pregnant.

A medical investigation may be a good idea if you have gone off birth control pills and still don’t have normal menstrual periods within six months. Another type of contraception is the Depo-Provera hormone injection, which works by stopping ovulation. One shot is supposed to prevent pregnancy for three months. Unfortunately, many women who want to become pregnant often fi nd that it takes between 6 and 16 months for their menstrual cycle and ovulation process to return to normal

Effect of Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs on your ferility

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:00:00 +0000

SMOKING
Virtually all scientifi c studies conclude that smoking is detrimental to your fertility.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine states that the best available scientific data indicates cigarette smoking strongly contributes to infertility and should be discouraged for both male and female partners. Tobacco appears to impinge on your fertility by reducing your ovarian reserve and also to contribute to fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Furthermore, women who smoke have an increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.

ALCOHOL
There is some controversy about the relationship between alcohol and the ability to conceive. According to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, even moderate alcohol consumption (fi ve drinks per week) can impair conception. Other studies state that no defi nite link exists between moderate alcohol intake and the ability to become pregnant. Medical research studies have shown that women who partake in heavy alcohol consumption, more than six drinks per day, are more likely to suffer from irregular menstrual cycles and ovulation abnormalities. Heavy drinking has been shown to disrupt the normal menstrual cycle and reproductive function ranging from infertility and increased risk for miscarriage to impaired fetal growth and development, according to a 1993 study published by the National Institutes of
Health.
It is also well recognized that alcohol can adversely affect the developing unborn baby. Therefore, most health professionals agree that it is best to avoid alcohol completely when considering pregnancy.

ILLICIT DRUG USE
Marijuana can interfere with ovulation in women. Other street drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy, have also been shown to dramatically diminish female fertility. Women who use these drugs may experience irregular menstrual cycles and abnormal ovulation.

So whats your view on these comments? Feel free to respond using the comment button

Is advancing age a cause of Infertility in women?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:53:00 +0000

The current social trend seems to be for women to wait longer before starting a family. Advantages to waiting to start a family include established career, fi nancial security, and overall maturity. However, there may also be a price to pay for delayed childbearing. Many women find it more diffi cult to become pregnant than they expected. That’s because, from a hormonal standpoint, most women reach their reproductive peak between the ages of 20 and 25. As you age, various changes within the reproductive system occur that may reduce your fertility. For example, fewer eggs are capable of forming a viable embryo.
Also, the follicles, which are saclike structures surrounding each egg and are supposed to rupture and release the egg during ovulation, may not be as sturdy as they were when you were younger and thus may not be capable of effective ovulation. The quality of your eggs is one of the major determinants of whether you can become pregnant.
It’s known that the release of reproductive hormones diminishes after a woman’s 20s, and therefore most women will ovulate less reliably. Consequently, most women over the age of 35 have fewer viable eggs and may ovulate less regularly.
In addition, the incidence of pelvic disorders, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids, seems to increase as a woman gets older. Endometriosis may reduce your fertility. Uterine fi broids that are located inside of your uterus and compromise your uterine cavity may also limit your fertility.

The causes of infertility, a woman's concerns

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:47:00 +0000

Potential Causes of Infertility

Many factors can cause or contribute to reduced fertility. Fertility concerns may be attributed to an issue with the woman, the man, the couple, or their lifestyle. That’s why you and your partner should be evaluated and treated as a couple. Some causes may be easily found and treated, while others are more complex. In rare instances, no cause can be found at all.
Roughly speaking, about one-third of infertility cases may be attributable to the woman and another third to the man, while the last third either has to do with problems involving both partners or remains unexplained.
For women, infertility may be caused by a combination of many issues, including the following possibilities:

Health and lifestyle choices
Ovulation problems
Hormonal imbalances
Anatomical problems
Genetic abnormalities
Serious infections

The type of treatment you receive depends on what may be causing the infertility

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR SO THAT I CAN BREAST FEED MY BABY OUTSIDE?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:20:00 +0000

A few wardrobe items will make breastfeeding on-the-go easier. It is worthwhile to invest in at least one high-quality nursing bra to wear under your clothes when you go out. These bras are sized to fit a mother’s body, easily unsnap for feedings, and won’t constrict the circulation around your breasts.

Besides a nursing bra, wearing a shirt designed for breastfeeding facilitates discreet breastfeeding. Nursing shirts have built-in snaps or flaps that allow you access to your breasts without lifting up or unbuttoning your shirt and exposing your torso. Before venturing out with your baby, practice breastfeeding at home in various clothing styles. Wearing what works for you will give you the confidence to breastfeed your baby in any environment. I have seen mothers attempt to conceal the fact that they are breastfeeding by draping a huge blanket over themselves and their baby. Hardly inconspicuous, these nursing curtains draw attention in the mother’s direction.

The easiest way of all to travel with and breastfeed your baby in public is to carry your baby in a sling. Instead of carrying your baby around in a detachable car seat, leave the seat in the car and hold your baby in a sling. Being held close to your body will keep your baby calm, and your hands will be free during your errands. As you walk around a store, your baby will be comforted by the familiar sound and feel of your heartbeat. The rhythm and movement of your body is reminiscent of the way you carried your baby during pregnancy. A sling is versatile; it can be used to hold your baby in many different ways. Best of all, you can position your baby for discreet breastfeeding.

Sling carrying takes practice. After showing my clients how to position their baby, I recommend that they practice around the house and use the sling to take a walk around the neighborhood. If you are unable to master the sling, then try holding your baby in a front pack. While less versatile than a sling, front carriers keep your baby close to you and are better than constantly toting your baby around in a car seat. Of course your baby still needs to be in an appropriate car seat while riding in the car.

How Do I Do This in Public? How to breast feed my baby out side my home?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:14:00 +0000

I was shopping at my favorite local market when I heard the unmistakable cry of a baby from the next aisle. I pushed my shopping cart around the corner, and I recognized the mother and the now contented baby. Rachel and her baby, Owen, had been clients of mine. Rachel was holding Owen in a sling, and it had taken her less than a minute to quiet Owen’s hungry cries by discreetly shifting his position so that he could breastfeed. During our consultation, Rachel had been eager to learn techniques that she could comfortably use to easily and privately breastfeed outside of her home.
Rachel had easily adapted to carrying and breastfeeding Owen in a sling. This enabled her to take Owen anywhere she needed to go. Rachel fully enjoyed the flexibility that breastfeeding gave her in her daily routine. Owen never had a bottle.

As breastfeeding becomes part of your life, you will both need and want to go out with your baby. None of the new mothers that I know want to be under house arrest during the length of time that they breastfeed their babies. As you know by now, breastfeeding is more than physical nutrition. The mere act of breastfeeding comforts a baby who has become unsettled by unfamiliar surroundings. For this reason, planning an outing around your baby’s usual feeding time is no guarantee that your baby won’t need to breastfeed while the two of you keep an appointment or run an errand

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:49:00 +0000

HRT consists of oestrogen and progesterone replacement, using natural oestrogens derived from horse urine, and progestogens:
• oestradiol
• oestrone
• oestriol.
Conjugated oestrogens is the term given to a combination of natural oestrogens. There are synthetic oestrogens available, these are:
• ethinyloestradiol
• mestranol
• diethylstilboestrol.

Progesterons includes:
• progesterone
• didrogesterone
• hydroxyprogesterone
• medroxyprogesterone
• norgestrel and derivatives.

Progestogens are normally prescribed with oestrogens as a tablet to be taken in the second half of the monthly cycle, because oestrogens cause the womb-lining to over thicken if taken on their own and this carries a high risk of cancer. These hormones are supplied in much larger amounts than the body’s natural (endogenous) production, to offset losses through digestion and tissue dispersal.

How HRT works
HRT preparations replace endogenous (a woman’s own) hormones. They act on peripheral tissues (target cells) but they send negative feedback to the hypothalamus, which reduces the production of releasing and stimulating factors. Side effects occur because they are given in higher doses than endogenous hormones and they disrupt the fine-tuning of the positive and negative feedback processes.

Why do some women have an earlier menopause?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:47:00 +0000

Most of the variation between individual women is down to genes in the same way that balding in men depends on their genetic inheritance. There has been no link established between the age of menopause and the age at which women start menstruating. There also appears to be no link between menopausal age and number of children women have. However there are some factors which do affect the onset of menopause, such as diet, work and exercise. Surveys show that women in the ‘first world’ affluent countries generally have later menopause than in 'third world’ poorer countries

What the heck is Premenopause, Perimenopause and Postmenopause?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:16:00 +0000

As defined by the World Health Organization, menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation due to the loss of ovarian follicular activity . This definition uses both a symptom that can be identified by a woman (the end of menstruation) and a sign that can be measured (the loss of follicular activity results in changes in levels of hormones). Investigators have generally agreed to define menopause as the last menstrual period followed by at least twelve months of amenorrhea (no menstrual bleeding). The advantage of this definition is that it identifies a single, measurable variable within the climacteric transition. This definition makes it possible to compute median or mean ages at menopause for inter- and intrapopulation comparisons. The definition also allows one to delineate a clinically normal range in age at menopause (for example, ages forty to sixty). Finally, this definition enables clinicians to identify
women who are postmenopausal for medical “management.” But while thelast menstrual period is a clinically useful marker of an event, the average woman’s sense of the process of the menopausal transition is better described by the term “perimenopause,” a gray, difficult-to-define time period during which a woman wonders if each period of bleeding is the last.

K. I know thats too complicated so take this:

Stages and Definitions of the Menopause Transition

Premenopause: Regular cycling. Having experienced a menstrual period
during the two months prior to study.

Perimenopause: Irregular cycling. Having experienced a menstrual period
from three to eleven months prior to study.

Postmenopause: Having experienced the last menstrual period at least
twelve months prior to study

That said, women still perceive menopause to be a marker for the end of childbearing because most women have no other “window” into the state of their ability to conceive. The end of menstruation can, therefore, be an emotionladen event. Some women react to the cessation of menstruation with relief (no more birth control); others describe deep sadness because they can no longer bear children.

Menopause: Is it a one time event or an ongoing process?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:59:00 +0000

Menopause is often treated as a onetime, life history event for cross-species and cross-cultural comparisons, as well as a medical event (a marker of estrogen decline). Women themselves, however, usually experience menopause as a more gradual, transitional process.

Menopause as a Process
The last menstrual period is an event that occurs within the transition from a reproductive to a postreproductive stage of life. In most countries this transition period is called the climacteric, but in the United States researchers speak more commonly of the “perimenopause”.
In general, the climacteric or perimenopausal transition begins when menstrual periods become irregular and ends one year after the last menstrual period. The word “climacteric” comes from the Latin word climactericus, meaning “of a dangerous period in life,” or from the Greek word klimakterikos, from klimakter, meaning “a dangerous point, the rung of a ladder.” “A dangerous period in life” may seem less favorable than “perimenopause”; however, because the word “climacteric” is used more often internationally, I employ both terms.

Menopause is related to the climacteric much as menarche is related to puberty. In other words,
menopause is the most prominent signal that the female body is exiting the reproductive period, just as menarche is the most prominent signal that the female body is entering it. There is a major difference, however, between menopause and menarche. While the first menstrual period is unmistakable, the last menstrual period is only certain in retrospect—enough time has to elapse before one can be sure.

Understanding menopause as a transitional process involves understanding
the hormonal changes that accompany the transition, the symptoms associated
with the process, as well as the various aspects of life that influence the
experience along the way

My thoughts on Menopause

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:45:00 +0000

There are three questions driving my interest in menopause:
Why did menopause evolve?
Why do some women experience menopause at forty-two, while others cycle like clockwork to the age of fifty-eight?
Why does menopause pass unnoticed for some women, while others suffer from unrelenting hot flashes?

Oh! sorry. Its not over I got some other 'SERIOUS' questions too;
Why do human females close down childbearing long before the end of life, while most chimpanzees reproduce until shortly before death?
Why didn’t my mother have any hot flashes, while other women remove strategic layers of clothing and visibly sweat?

Bring up the topic of menopause, and I’m more than happy to contribute curious observations, interesting hypotheses, and leaps of biological faith. Yet there are so many questions that I can’t answer. Friends and colleagues at work ask, “I can’t remember names anymore. Is that menopause?” “My left arm goes numb. Is that menopause?” “I want to have sex twice a day. Is that menopause?” “I’m more depressed than I have ever been. Is that menopause?”

Variation in age at menopause and in symptom experience can be understood
at the level of the population by combining a familiarity with biology with observations of cultural difference. I have summarized much of what is known across a wide variety of populations, including those that are most familiar to me: upstate New York (where women talk about menopause as something natural, ordained by God), western Massachusetts
(where women proactively smear themselves with yam cream and eat blue-green algae for menopausal health), Puebla, Mexico (where marital stress is a constant topic of concern among women of menopausal age), the Selsa ka Valley, Slovenia (where menopause is an uncomfortable, taboo topic of conversation), and Asunción, Paraguay (where some women describe menopause as un alivio, a relief, but others volunteer the word desesparación, despair, as a menopausal symptom).

I focus on menopause both as a onetime event, the last menstrual period, and as an ongoing process, the transition from pre- to postreproductive life. These two points of view—event and process—reflect different approaches to the study of menopause, and both are necessary. I also examine the evolution and contemporary experience of menopause in a particular way—from a biocultural perspective.

“Oh, this must be menopause.”

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:36:00 +0000

We talk about the onset of menopause in various ways. Many cite the first time their menstrual period failed to make its regular appearance. Others describe the first time they threw off the blankets in the middle of the night. Some women complain of menstrual periods that flood more and more heavily each month; others encounter dusty, unused tampons in a bathroom cabinet. Although many women in the United States disdain the fuss made about menopause in the popular press, resent having to seek treatment for hot flashes, and dislike being reminded that the process of aging is marching forward, every woman who lives to sixty years of age with her uterus and ovaries intact is compelled, at one time or another, to say, “Oh, this must be menopause.”

In general, ovarian biology is experienced as down there somewhere, internal, private, seemingly immutable. Women tell me that menopause is “out of our control,” “natural,” “biological.” It is all of those things. Menopause—technically, the last menstrual period—is also a cultural phenomenon, “a time of despair,” “a new phase of life.” Culture, generally unacknowledged, alters the experience of menopause, the recognition of menopause, the timing of menopause, and the symptoms attributed to menopause. Culture is public, shared, and created. Culture is made visible in medical interventions, attitudes about aging, birth control policy, indications for hysterectomy, smoking practices, food resources, diet preferences, marital norms, breastfeeding customs, and timing of motherhood. All of these aspects of culture influence biology and contribute to variation in the age and individual experience of menopause.

Breast Feeding: Steps to increase your milk supply...

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:03:00 +0000

WHAT STEPS CAN I TAKE TO INCREASE MY LOW MILK SUPPLY?

If you truly have a low milk supply, it may be possible to increase your milk production. Once again, be sure that your milk supply is indeed low. To help a mother gauge the nature of her milk supply issue, I observe a feeding and use a scale that is designed to capture even small amounts of milk taken during a feeding. If your baby is breastfeeding well and your baby’s weight gain has been good, you probably have plenty of milk. If, on the other hand, you determine that your supply is low, remember that all the benefits of breastfeeding, like every interpersonal relationship, cannot be weighed and measured. Any milk that you provide your baby is of value. Whether you increase your milk volume or not, enjoy the time that you spend with your baby. Of course, each mother’s situation is unique, so the advice outlined next needs to be tailored to suit your individual needs.

Supplementing
If your baby’s weight gain has been slow as a result of your low milk supply, supplement your baby with your pumped breast milk or formula. As your baby gains weight, your baby’s energy level and breastfeeding skills will improve. If possible, have a lactation consultant show you how to use a supplemental nursing system (SNS) while breastfeeding or use a dropper or cup feed. If you decide to use a bottle, choose one with a broad base, to remind your baby to keep his or her mouth wide open during feeding, and pace your baby’s feeding so that your baby is not overwhelmed by the flow from the bottle. These measures will help to preserve your breastfeeding relationship as you increase your milk supply.

Breastfeeding
Continue to breastfeed as you build your supply. Effective, frequent breastfeeding
can help to stimulate your milk supply. If your baby regularly
needs a supplemental feeding, then provide your baby with part of the
supplement prior to breastfeeding. Ending a feeding session by breastfeeding
as opposed to some other feeding method creates a positive memory
of breastfeeding for your baby. Make the most of each feeding by moving
your baby from breast to breast during the feeding session. As your
baby slows down on one side, quickly offer the opposite breast, and then
repeat the process. This technique will naturally increase the volume of
milk your baby receives from the feeding. Obviously, if you are supplementing
with an SNS, keep your baby on one breast per feeding while using
the device

Pumping
Regularly using a hospital-grade double-electric breast pump for a period of time can help you to increase your milk supply. The action of pumping both breasts together sends your body a strong signal to increase production. For the purpose of increasing your supply, pump both breasts together every three hours for ten minutes on medium suction. Turning up the suction will only give you sore nipples, not more milk. If you are regularly breastfeeding your baby, try to pump for a few minutes afterward. Save all of your pumped milk for your baby.
Pumping accomplishestwo goals: not only does it help to increase your milk supply but it also enables you to supplement your baby with your own breast milk.

Galactagogue use
A galactagogue is a substance known to increase a mother’s milk supply in conjunction with breastfeeding and pumping. The herbal supplement fenugreek is a popular galactagogue. The usual dose is three capsules taken with food three times a day.7 Fenugreek is also available as a tea. Fenugreek capsules should be taken with food to avoid a low blood sugar reaction

They told me "You have breast cancer" ???

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:30:00 +0000

Each year almost 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States alone. Moments after each of these hundreds of thousands of diagnoses are given by physicians, the women on the receiving end suddenly leave the healthy world and become patients–and run face-toface into a major life crisis. “How bad is it, and what are my options?
What are the side effects of the best treatments available? Will I ever be the same again, or will I be just a part of who I am now? How will my husband or partner think about me? Will I live to see my kids grow up? Will I be able to spend future holidays with my grandchildren?” These
are only a few of the questions that these women ask themselves and their physicians after they learn they have breast cancer, even when it is caught in the earliest stages.

DONT READ THIS IF YOU ARE NOT A BREAST CANCER PATIENT ...!

Individuals dealing with breast cancer experience continual psychosocial stressors including fears of recurrence and concerns about physical deterioration during adjuvant therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy .Inadequately coping with these demands may lead to depressed affect, hostility, reduced use of social supports, substance abuse, impaired immune functioning, and possibly accelerated disease progression.

Although initial research suggested that severe emotional reactions to cancer diagnosis and initial treatment are common among patients with breast cancer, more recent work suggests the importance of thinking of cancer-related distress along a continuum of adjustment ranging from mild distress to severe symptoms of depressive and anxiety disorders. Today, most consider the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer to be a crisis, but the experience is spread out over the period of a year for most women with early-stage cancer (i.e., women with a favorable prognosis). However, some women may experience the diagnosis and treatment as more traumatic and display symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder or other anxiety- and depressive-related conditions. In many women, anxiety and depressive symptoms persist for 4 to 5 months, yet even at subclinical levels they can affect their quality of life after surgery
for breast cancer. In addition to affecting quality of life, cancer-related distress may cause additional visits to physicians’ offices and to hospitals, interfere with treatment decision making, and disrupt ongoing curative and adjuvant treatments—which can increase costs and increase the burden on caregivers, resulting in caregiver burnout.

So how do you cope with "You have breast cancer thing"?

From my experience I've seen many women use particular coping strategies, such as positive reframing or relying on religion, and those who have social support from family and friends.

Importantly, each of these coping strategies can vary according to contextual factors such as the woman’s religious affiliation and marital status. For instance, we know that the use of religion as a coping strategy seems to most effectively buffer distress among woman who are Protestant. Women with high levels of social support from their spouses and female family members may experience less distress after surgery than more isolated women; however, certain types of support (e.g., material or instrumental support) from certain sources (e.g., female family members) may be detrimental. We have also learned that social support, especially support from female family members, tends to erode over time among women who remain distressed about their breast cancer for a long time after the diagnosis. Thus, numerous complex factors are involved in determining just the right mix of coping strategies and resources for helping a woman adjust to breast cancer.

In addition to clarifying these complexities, these findings highlighted the value of using psychosocial intervention, particularly group-based cognitive– behavioral intervention, to facilitate the adjustment process during the period after diagnosis and initial treatment for breast cancer. Cognitive coping responses and positive thinking are a prime example. If an intervention could teach women to use coping strategies such as positive reframing and to maintain a more optimistic outlook, they might experience less distress after diagnosis and surgery. These findings also highlighted the need to focus on maintenance and enhancement of social contacts. We reasoned that interventions teaching skills such as assertiveness could assist women in telling family and friends which of their actions were helpful and which were not. We also decided that a group-based intervention format was crucial because the group itself could serve as a source of emotional support. A supportive group should help women resist the urge to withdraw from other sources of support and aspects of normal life.

Thus using behavioral techniques to help increasing or maintaining social support and changing the outlook toward the future is essential.

HOW TO ADJUST TO A DIAGNOSISOF BREAST CANCER?

before discussing that let me tell you - please continue reading this if you are a woman..... 'coz it may help some one if not you..

You need to have a clear idea about the disease. Because you are not going to die in a day. You need to live. So does every one.
The next post will give you an idea on the thing.

This blog is only for women..to help them in their daily life

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Wison) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:00:00 +0000

Within every woman lies the potential of extraordinary capabilities— which are so powerful and compelling that, once established, it immediately and permanently redefines a woman’s understanding of her own inner self. Every woman deserves to discover this potential and embrace these capabilities , and I am writing this blog to be your guide.
I have been writing, teaching, and working with individuals in different apects of life over the years. Of all the things I have learned in my journeys as a woman, a healer, a teacher, and a partner, there is one thing that stands alone in the realm of personal fulfillment—something I call a super realization state.
When you attain such a state everything will be available to you. You will have the control.
For many women, everyday life has become a point of pressure, disappointment, and even unhappiness. But as you access your full potential, and attain a state of super realization this dissolves. No more feelings of “less than;” no more pressure; no more apologies; no more excuses; no more frustration. This opens the door to even more potential: the potential for a powerful, ever lasting joy that feels unlimited