Genetic factors, environmental influences and psychological factors and disease can affect both a child's cognitive development and physical growth. This is why parents, doctors and teachers should routinely assess children's patterns of...
Although many countries offer free or low-cost health coverage to all pregnant women, in the United States, expectant mothers are frequently uninsured or underinsured. As of 2010, private health plans paid for only half of U.S. births because of...
Although it is the fetus that is not growing properly with intrauterine growth testriction (IUGR), most treatment options focus on maternal care. The first strategy is usually to suggest bed rest because it helps improve blood flow to the uterus,...
Dopamine is made by the inner part of the adrenal gland, called the adrenal medulla, and is one of the hormones responsible for the "fight or flight" reaction to a stressful or dangerous situation. During times of stress and anxiety, dopamine is...
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA), "nearly one million American women deliver babies without receiving adequate medical attention." HRSA estimates that infant deaths are five times higher among women who have not...
In Kentucky, the rising costs of health care means that many children go without care. What many who live in Kentucky do not realize is that there are many programs out there to help those children. Whether challenges result from loss of a job or...
As you approach the end of your pregnancy you may feel as if you have been pregnant for a long time. Some women experience the delivery of a postterm infant, or a baby that is born after 42 weeks of gestation, says Karla L. Luxner, author of...
According to "Maternal-Child Nursing," newborns typically sleep 15 to 19 hours per day in three- to six-hour blocks. If your schedule requires that you be free to function in the mornings without the responsibility of constantly caring for your...
A positive pregnancy test causes a range of emotions from excitement to worry about the costs involved. With rising health insurance costs, many families choose to go without or choose lesser coverages to reduce the costs. Health care coverage...
The postpartum period signifies numerous maternal changes, both physiologically and psychologically. A common phenomenon women experience after pregnancy is the "baby blues." It is characterized by feelings of overwhelming sadness and...
The soft, thin hair that is sometimes found on the face, shoulders and back of newborns is called lanugo. All fetuses grow lanugo hair in utero. The hair generally vanishes between 36 and 40 weeks gestation. Thus, premature infants are more likely...
Most individuals opt into their company's group health insurance coverage. Rates are usually lower than buying a private health insurance plan. However, if you are unemployed, self-employed or want different coverage inclusions, you may decide to...
Being a new parent can be scary when bringing home a fragile newborn. Breathing patterns of newborns are new and unfamiliar to parents. Babies breathe much differently from adults. Faster breathing and unusual noises can be frightening....
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 255 million people in the U.S. had health insurance in 2008. Health care coverage is insurance that pays for medical expenses due to accidents or illness, regardless of fault. It provides financial...
Living without health insurance leaves individuals and families at risk for health and financial difficulties. High insurance premiums and loss of jobs are two major reasons that many people go without health insurance. Uninsured people do have...
Most doctors are affiliated with one or more hospitals where they can perform procedures on the patients they see in their offices. Hospitals offer a variety of services that mainly cover inpatient procedures that require overnight stays or...
If you are dreaming about becoming pregnant, calculate the cost of prenatal care, labor and delivery before you make a decision. Unfortunately, the cost of care is somewhat of a nightmare. Add to that the possibility of either you or the baby...
Listening and attention skills are vital in building a child's cognitive, behavioral and affective aspects. It is essential they develop this ability to interact and communicate with the world efficiently. By building the foundation and being...
Indigestion, or dyspepsia, is a common pregnancy complaint due to the effects of hormones that relax muscle tone in the digestive tract. Symptoms may include a feeling of fullness during or after meals, nausea, bloating or heartburn. Depending on...
Many medical, technical and social strides have been made in the treatment of infertility. Sometimes the legal and third-party payer system process lags behind. Recent legal decisions in some states have defended a surrogate mother's right to...
Lavender essential oil is extracted by steam instillation from the flowers and tops of the herb lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). It is considered to be one of the safest of all the essential oils used in aromatherapy. Lavender can be a great...
Florida requires that all nutritionists obtain licensure. Obtaining a license to work as a nutritionist, who is also referred to as a dietitian, is a long road that requires a great deal of coursework. However, once you have successfully...
There are many factors that influence a child's quality of life, according to Children at Risk, a non-profit research and advocacy center in Texas. When a quality of life measure is not being met, the conditions can place a child's health and...
Quality day care programs provide a safe, stimulating environment for children while parents work or attend school. Although parents are the primary caregivers, often children spend a large portion of their waking hours with child care providers....
According to "Maternal-Newborn Nursing and Women's Health Care," the uterus is the only organ that increases in muscle size during pregnancy without the benefit of exercise. Although the muscles throughout the rest of the body relax, they do not...
According to Anne Frye, author of "Holistic Midwifery", there are a wide variety of causes of pain or pressure in the chest during pregnancy. Changes in the body, and an increasing size of a growing baby create symptoms of pain and pressure in...
Whether they dream of a low-intervention, unmedicated birth, or want all of the technological advantages available, women today can make a number of important decisions regarding their baby’s delivery. Although your insurance coverage and...
Prenatal care is extremely important during pregnancy. With rising healthcare costs, insurance coverage is crucial. Circumstances such as a change in employment or company insurance changes can bring about unnecessary anxiety regarding...
Your pregnancy is considered high-risk if you are over 35. Women who are over 40 and pregnant have some special considerations to take into account, especially when it comes to diet. Not only are you in need of some extra vitamins and minerals,...
It can be stressful for a new mother to leave the baby and return to work. Learn how to go back to work after maternity leave from a licensed professional psychotherapist in this video.
