Urinary Tract Infection In Pregnancy – Some Effective Home Remedies

Urinary tract infection is a universal problem faced by men as well as women.? However, it affects women more than men. Pregnant women are even more susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTI) due to a number of conducive factors. The most common factor leading to UTI in pregnancy is the fact that pregnant women undergo a number of physical changes that push their bladder closer to the opening if the vagina.

This makes way for easy entry of bacteria into a pregnant woman’s bladder. Pregnant women also find it difficult to expel urine as effectively as they used to before.? This results in urine getting accumulated in the bladder and leading to bacterial infection. Gestational diabetes is another factor that leads to UTI in pregnant women. The presence of excess sugar in the body helps in the multiplication of bacteria inside the bladder of a pregnant woman.

While UTI in itself is not a threatening infection, when pregnant, there are many risk factors associated with it. Urinary tract infection during pregnancy can lead to kidney infection if left untreated and can also result in high blood pressure and premature labour. If you suspect a UTI during pregnancy, it is very important to visit the doctor and undergo medical treatment to prevent complications. Urinary tract infection normally presents itself with a burning sensation while urinating, pain in the lower abdominal area and frequent and low amounts of urine.

Sever cases may present itself with fever, chills and blood in urine. Urine would turn very cloudy and would have a foul smell to it when you have urinary tract infection. The good news is that there are many home remedies for preventing as well as treating urinary tract infections. During pregnancy, preventing is more important than treating and hence one must strive to do what one can in order to prevent urinary tract infections.

Cranberry juice is known to be one of the best natural treatment methods for urinary tract infections. Since this is a purely natural juice, pregnant women can take it without having to worry about side effects and risks. Cranberry juice can prevent as well as retract urinary tract infections to a great extent. For infections, intake of seven ounces of pure cranberry juice is sufficient for complete cure.

Cranberry juice must be consumed without any sweetening agents. Cocktails too are not recommended as they reduce the amount of cranberry juice required for recovery. It is a good practice to drink a glass of cranberry juice every day to avoid urinary tract infections.

Consumption of vitamin C will immediately reduce the symptoms associated with urinary tract infection. Vitamin C increases the acidity of the urine. Bacteria associated with urinary infection cannot thrive well in acidic conditions and hence one gets immediate relief and cure with Vitamin C. Talk to the doctor about the adequate amount of vitamin C that can be consumed safely during pregnancy. You may add plenty of foods that are rich in vitamin C in order to combat urinary tract infections during pregnancy.

Pregnancy is the time when you need to keep a toxin free body to ensure the health and well being of your foetus. For this drinking plenty of water is a must. Drinking water will also keep urinary tract infections at bay. If you have fallen prey to urinary tract infections, make sure that you drink 3-4 litres of water to flush out the bacteria that have planted themselves inside the bladder. Drinking water will also prevent the multiplication of bacteria in the bladder.

Most pregnant women get urinary tract infection as they try to control the urge to urinate. This will result in build up of bacteria in the bladder and resultant UTI. Pregnant women especially should not suppress the urge to urinate as their body is a great breeding ground for bacteria due to the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy. You must respond to every urge to urinate in order to keep the bladder empty and prevent bacteria from multiplying.

Personal hygiene is advisable at all times. During pregnancy it takes on a whole new meaning. You are responsible for your life as well as the life of the baby. While bathing, it is a good practice to avoid bath tubs as they allow easy passage of bacteria into the bladder through the water that is filled inside the tub. Showers are better and hygienic during the pregnant months.

Pregnant women must also avoid using public toilets which are again treasure houses of all kinds of bacteria. Always ensure that you clean your genitals after urination. Keep them dry and clean to prevent bacterial infections of all kinds. It is also important to wipe your genitals from the front to the back to prevent bacteria from the anal region from spreading into the perineum and subsequently into the vagina and urinary bladder.

During pregnancy, women feel increasingly hot that would lead them to sweat more than usual. So wearing cotton clothes that can absorb the sweat well is a must in order to prevent infections. Loose fitting clothes will ensure good air circulation that will keep your genital areas free from bacterial and fungal infections.

In spite of all precautions, you could still be prone to urinary tract infections. If the infection persists after basic home remedies have been administered, you must immediately consult the doctor for advice. There are many safe antibiotics that can be taken during pregnancy. Your doctor may prescribe a course depending on the severity of the infection.

Urine culture and blood test would also be conducted to rule out kidney infections and to check the response towards various antibiotic medicines. Urinary tract infection during pregnancy is a very common occurrence. There is no need to stress yourselves out if you have contracted the infection. With a little care and effort, things can very well be set right and brought under control.

Photo Credit: Askamum.co.uk

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Effective Tips To Introduce Solid Foods To Your Baby

Introducing solid foods to you baby is an important and significant step in the life of the baby. The introduction of solid foods is a stage at which the baby graduates to a more substantial diet from that of breast milk or formula milk.

For a baby, solid foods are directly associated with the baby’s growth and intake of nutrition. Hence, the introduction of solid foods to your baby has to be done with care. Your baby’s health is of top priority and you can in no way afford to comprise it. Therefore, it is advisable to do some research and take into account the safety and health of your baby before introducing your baby to solid foods.

Babies are generally fed with breast milk or formula milk for the first 6 months. However this period can be more or it can be less as well, there is no set rule. Therefore there is no reason for you to be in a hurry to introduce solid foods. It is better to consult a pediatrician before giving your baby any solid foods. Nevertheless there are certain tips on how you can introduce your baby to solid foods. This article will deal with these tips.

Before introducing your baby to solid foods, you should look into the medical history of your family. This is to check if there are any histories of allergies to certain foods. Introducing solid foods should be done at least after a minimum span of 8 months after the baby is born. The simple reason behind this is the fact that it is recommended that the baby should be able to sit up and be in a position to swallow the food before such foods are given to the baby.

The stage of infancy is a time when babies grow both physically and mentally. This is a very important stage for the growth and development of your baby. It is recommended that mothers should always breastfeed their babies for the first six months. Breast feeding keeps the baby safe and protected. Breast feeding also helps to develop the baby’s immune system which is essential in protecting the baby from catching harmful diseases. Breast milk is hence the most safe and economical way to feed your baby for the first six months before introducing your baby to solid foods.

Solid foods are generally introduced to babies when their weight becomes twice that of their birth weight. After they are born, babies are unable to support themselves physically or hold up their heads. After the first few months babies are able to sit up with a little support and they also learn how to hold up their heads. Unless babies learn to hold up their heads, they will not be in a position to eat solid or semi solid foods. Generally, a baby is able to sit up and hold his or her head within four to six months.

In addition, there are certain kinds of solid foods those are best avoided during the first year of your baby. These foods include peanut butter, cow’s milk, honey, and egg whites among others. These foods are high in protein and fat and a baby’s system should be given enough time to develop before such foods can be given. Also, notice what kinds of solid foods your baby seems to like, and what kinds of solid foods are disliked. This will help you to better understand what your baby wants.

While introducing your baby to solid foods, it is also advisable to follow a system. Following a system helps you to observe your baby’s response to the intake of different varieties of food. Also, giving some notice to your baby’s body to respond to the new solid foods lets you notice whether there are any adverse developments and responses to the foods such as rashes, allergies and so on.

This is exactly why you should not increase many types of food for your baby at once. Introduce one or two foods at a time so that your baby gets enough time for the proper intake and consumption of the food. Finally, as already mentioned, you can always consult your pediatrician to know about what kinds of solid foods which you can introduce your baby to and also how to introduce these foods to your baby.

While it is best to breastfeed for the first six months, you can introduce simple solid foods in small amounts after that. When the baby is four to six months old, you can give your baby cereals like rice, wheat or yeast. However, you should introduce these foods one at a time and take care to see that these foods are cooked in a very simple manner. Plain boiled rice can also be given. Other cereals can also be introduced but only after checking the response of the baby to these foods and waiting for a period of a few days or a week.

These cereals should be prepared in as simple a manner as possible with milk or warm water. Be careful not to add syrup, honey or sugar to your baby’s food. If your baby shows symptoms of rashes, cough, vomiting, itching or diarrhea, after the intake of these foods then consult your pediatrician immediately. After the period of the first six to eight months is over, you can allow your baby to graduate to more solid foods.

These foods include fruits, vegetables and protein. Fruit juice, vegetable soups can be given to your baby in small quantities to see how your baby reacts to them. If there is no problem to these, then you can give you baby soft egg whites, stewed chicken, mashed vegetables, fish and even yogurt. Babies require a lot of energy and food that is high in nutrition content. Hence, be careful while introducing solid foods to your baby so that your baby can develop healthy food habits.

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15 Effective Home Remedies for Oily Skin

Whether you have oily or dry skin depends greatly on a number of factors. Heredity is the number one factor that creates an oily skin. Everyone who has oily skin would agree that it is a difficult skin type to maintain and manage.

Oily skin can easily break out into black heads, pimples and acne more frequently than dry skinned people.?Birth control pills and sometimes the use of certain medications can cause oily skin. It would be interesting to know that oily skin is the aftermath of a male hormone, androgen present in our body.

This hormone is in charge of controlling the production of oil in our skin. This explains why some women experience more oiliness in their skin during their menstrual cycle and also during menopause.?While it is indeed difficult to maintain oily skin, a few home remedies can keep them very clear of blemishes and boils and render a glowing skin tone worthy of admiration.

The astringent qualities of apples help keep the oil under check in oily skinned people. Mash half of an apple alone with half a cup of oatmeal that is cooked. Add one egg white and three teaspoons of lemon juice and add it along with the mashed apple and oatmeal mix. Blend well and apply it all over the face and other oily areas of the skin. Leave it for fifteen minutes and wash with cool water.

For oily skin, removing the oil goes a long way in keeping it free from breaking into boils. Egg yolk can absorb the excess oil from the skin. Apply the yolk of an egg on the oily areas of your skin. Wait till it dries and was with cold water.

Application of lemon juice every day helps to keep the oil in check. Dilute the lemon juice with a little water and apply on the face. Wash with warm water after which you can give a cold water rinse for a fresh feel. You can do this before application of make up for preventing oily patches on the skin.

Citrus fruits are particularly good in absorbing oil from oily skin. Vegetables like cucumber too absorb oil from the skin. Mix lime and cucumber juice in equal amounts for the double benefit and leave it on till it dries. You can do this before using make up and also before showers every day.

Aloe Vera is probably the best natural remedy available for oily skin. It absorbs all skin oils naturally. Smear Aloe Vera gel on the face as much time as you want and allow it to dry. For better results cool it and use it.

Apple cider vinegar is also a great treatment for all sorts of skin eruptions and also for exfoliation and toning. Dilute apple cider vinegar with honey or water and apply on the oily areas. Leave it till it dries and rinse with cold water. Continue this application for 3-4 weeks for skin oiliness to subside greatly.

Salt is another great natural remedy that you can try to curtail oily skin. Add a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water. You can use a spray bottle for this purpose. Spray it on to your skin and pat dry.

Blackheads are a common occurrence in oily skin. Baking soda can help you prevent black heads. While you use a mild face wash or soap, add half a teaspoon of baking soda along with the solution and massage on the oily areas of your skin. The grains help in removing the black heads as well as the excess oil on your skin.

Almonds and honey work together as a team to sustain just enough oil for your skin and remove all the dead cells and black heads permanently. Grind just enough almonds and mix with honey to form a paste. You can now massage the paste gently on to the skin using a cotton cloth dipped in hot water and wringed dry. Wash with cold water after ten minutes of massaging.

Cornstarch is a good remedy for absorbing excess oil from the skin. Mix adequate quantities of cornstarch with enough water to form a smooth paste. Apply on the oily areas of the skin and allow it to dry completely. You can wash it off with warm water. Using cornstarch paste every day before you apply makeup helps in keeping the oil under control.

Masks can work wonder for removal of excess oil and dirt from oily skin. For making a mask, green clay is the best. Take green clay and mix it with honey to form a thick paste. Apply on the face with a brush and allow it to dry. Green paste is capable of absorbing large amounts of water and hence helps in keeping the skin free from oil and dirt accumulated over the days. Use it twice or thrice a week.

Fuller’s Earth is another ingredient that can be used for making a mask. It is easily available than green clay. Mix with water to form a paste and apply on the skin. Wait till it dries and wash it off with cold water. The skin will be left beautifully refreshed and clean.

Oatmeal and Aloe Vera can be mixed to form a gentle scrub for your oily face. Massage with this mixture to remove dead cells, blackheads and excess oil. Wash off with warm water.?Make a steam with licorice roots, rosebuds and lemongrass. Steam for ten minutes and wash with cold water. You can use this herbal water for toning your skin after it cools.

If you do not have time for any of these, you can just keep ice cubes in the refrigerator for everyday use. Wash your face with cold water and apply ice cubes on the face. Pat dry. Do this a couple of times to remove excess oil from the skin. Tending you oily skin with herbal and home made products will ensure that it remains beautiful and free from a sticky and greasy appearance.

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11 Effective Procedures To Discipline Children

Many parents have compared their experience of disciplining their children akin to tight rope walking. They have to be careful not to be too strict or too lenient with their offspring. The term child discipline broadly encompasses the rewards, punishments and rules which are implemented by parents to promote good behavior and reduce unruly behavior in children.

Nature and nurture have a strong influence on the levels of discipline or good behavior a child will exhibit. If the child is born in an environment where he or she witnesses various degrees of unruly behavior, the child will grow up imbibing the same negative habits. Children born into families which pay great attention to positive discipline will definitely exhibit good behavior and habits.

Parents either resort to excessive force or are too permissive with their children when it comes to disciplining them. Both techniques of disciplining children fail at some point or the other in the long run. Instead parents should follow a sort of middle path when it comes to disciplining their kids. There should be healthy doses of punishment and rewards to ensure that their children grow up in the right way.

There are many positive ways to discipline your child without using excessive force or punishment. While trying to discipline their children, the parents should not try to humiliate or embarrass them. Instead parents should develop a model or method where good behavior is rewarded and negative behavior is punished.

Most children equate discipline with punishment. The reason for developing this wrong notion can be attributed to the excessive force used by overzealous parents to discipline their children. Let your children know that although punishment may be a part of discipline it not the only element. Discipline also includes rewards. Once children understand that good behavior will not be ignored but instead will be rewarded, they will try to behave in a better, more positive manner.

A parent who succeeds in positively disciplining their children is one who rewards their children’s good behavior. Never be stingy when it comes to praising your children for their good behavior. If children observe that their parents make no effort to acknowledge their good behavior, they may become rebellious and do things just to irk their parents.

While disciplining children ensure that the punishment you mete out to them match the crime. For example if your child gobbles up his food every morning because he is getting late for school, instead of beating your child up or using harsh words, ensure that he gets up half an earlier so that he can eat his food at a more leisurely pace.

While chiding your child never use harsh language. Let your child know your displeasure on a certain behavior exhibited by him or her but use a tone that will not humiliate or embarrass them. If you are trying to adopt positive parenting techniques to discipline your child then never use harsh or coarse language to correct them.

Always remember to be consistent. An unswerving attitude on the parent’s part will help children to obey their parents and follow rules in a better manner.? If you have set a certain time for your child to turn in for the night, then ensure that your child goes to bed at the same time every night. Don’t waver from your decision if your child decides to throw a tantrum. If you allow your child to have his or her way, then they will latch on to the idea that tantrums will get them what they want each and every time.

As a parent, it is your duty to behave in the exact same manner that you would want your child to behave. If you behave in a way that is totally different from what you expect of your children, it can lead to confusion and negative behavior in children. For example if you have instructed your kids not to litter public places and you yourself throw rubbish around carelessly you are actually giving conflicting advice to your children.

Set limits or restrictions wisely. Allow your children to learn from a certain event in a positive manner. Parents and other caregivers lay restrictions for their children’s safety. For example if you child likes to play with fire instead of beating them let them know the dangers associated with fire and how they can get hurt if they play with. Reinforce the dangers associated with fire to your child, till it is imprinted in their mind.?Simply beating or scolding your child will only make them more rebellious.

One of the best ways to discipline your children is to share with them your own personal experiences. Taking the above mentioned example as a case in point, you can educate your children on how you got badly burnt when you yourself played with fire as a young child.

Never ignore your children when they approach you with a problem. Instead of adopting the ‘I don’t have time now’ attitude, take time out to listen to your children. Let your children know that you are as much their friend as you are their parent. This way you can set parameters regarding what is permissible and what is not which your child will readily follow.

Allowing your child to make choices will not only help you to discipline them better, it will also ensure that the child follows the rule in a better way. Instead of imposing your wish on your child allow them to choose things for themselves. By allowing the child to choose things for themselves you are helping them to gain independence.

As children grow older the role of parents become more of a guide and a friend. Allow your teenage children to make decisions. If you feel their personal decisions will not harm them in any way, then support them. However as a parent if your teenager is making wrong decisions then exert your authority.

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Simple And Effective Recipes To Lighten Skin

Skin is the most important part of our body as it not only makes us look good but also acts as a barrier between our body and the harsh external conditions. Our skin offers us a lot of protection from various pollutants, harsh environmental factors etc.

In an effort to protect us from all such factors our skin is darkened and damaged to great extents. Prolonged exposure to harsh conditions can result in irreparable damage to the skin. Most common skin problems caused due to various factors are acne, blemishes and pigmentation which causes resulting in darkening of skin.

Pigmentation or darkened skin can become a matter of great concern as it can totally pull down your beauty and make you look ugly. A lot of parlors offer treatments to lighten dark skin and treat pigmented skin as well. But these are likely to empty your pockets.

Regular care helps a great deal in minimizing the damage done to the skin. A number of natural substances from your kitchen will help you get beautiful blemish free skin. All you need to do is dedicate at least 20 minutes of your day for your skin and you will surely be amazed by the results. Here are some simple recipes that works wonders for lightening the skin.

Honey possess anti-bacterial properties and lemon is known to be the best natural bleaching agent in existence. A combination of honey and lemon juice will not only lighten your complexion but also help you get rid of pimples and acne. You can simply mix the two and apply it all over your face to remove a tan or in pigmented areas. You can also try massaging your face with the same mixture for about 10 minutes. The presence of honey makes it the best moisturizing agent and make your skin feel soft and supple. This recipe is mess free and can be applied on a regular basis to lighten the complexion of the skin.

Yet another effective recipe for skin lightening that has been used since centuries is the use of gram flour and turmeric. Gram flour is an amazing cleansing agent and it can be used for washing your face instead of a face wash on a regular basis. Washing face with gram flour deep clean your skin and clears all sorts of impurities form the skin. A combination of turmeric and gram flour makes it the best skin lightening recipe. You can simply make a mixture of these combined with rose water, milk, or even plain water for good results. You can apply this mixture on your face and wait till it dries before washing it off. The result will be glowing, soft and clean skin.

The juices extracted from these vegetables can be applied on the skin on a regular basis to lighten skin. You can simply take a slice of any of these and massage your face using the same in circular motion. This will soothe your skin after sun exposure and also make your skin glow. You can also combine the juices of any of these with lemon and honey and massage your face using the same for great results. These dry up fast and do not even cause any mess and can be tried daily to get glowing and lighter skin.

Rice Flour is also one of the most effective substances for lightening the complexion of the skin. You can apply a paste of rice flour with rice water for lightening your skin and to remove a tan. You can also replace rice water with cold milk for better results. Rice water will make your skin firm and supple and milk will make your skin more glowing. So you can add rice water or cold milk to rice flour as per your requirement. Adding some turmeric to the same mixture will result in better or at least equivalent results. You can also replace your face wash with rice powder to cleanse your face.

You can also try making a paste of banana and milk and apply it on your face to get rid of a tan and to lighten your skin. People with dry skin can replace milk with milk cream for softening their skin. However, people with oily skin should avoid using milk cream or else there are chances of acne outbursts. A dash of honey can also be added to the same mixture for enhancing the effects of this recipe.

Oats is a very effective skin lightening agent. A paste made of oatmeal powder and milk can be applied on your skin to treat darkened skin. Adding some drops of lemon juice and honey to this mixture will give you best results. You can apply a paste made of oatmeal powder and milk and leave it on for about 20 minutes to get glowing skin. Oats can also be used as an ex-foliating agent for your skin. You can scrub your face using oats to deep clean your skin.

If you are looking for simpler tips but wish to get instant results then milk and curd are the best products for your requirements. These methods will not cause any mess and can be applied on your face for instant glow. The best part is that applying milk or curd on your face daily for at least a week will reveal the results. These can also be mixed to any other face pack of your choice to lighten your skin.

Mint leaves have a very soothing effect on the skin and is very effective in lightening the complexion also. You can grind mint leaves with lemon juice and a dash of honey. Make sure that the mixture is a smooth paste so that it can be applied on your skin evenly. Apply this mixture on your entire face and leave it on for about an hour. Wash this mixture with water and you will be left will beautiful and glowing skin. Follow these easy recipes on a regular basis to lighten your skin.

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