Author: Megan Senseney

8 Beauty Trends In America That Seem Weird To Other Cultures

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date June 5, 2017

In a number of ways it seems as though we’re broadening our horizons every day, but Americans tend to have preferred standards when it comes to beauty. As with so many other cultural norms, some people in other countries don’t understand them and actually think they’re just plain weird.
Each and every country has its own standards when it comes to beauty, and the United States is no different. In fact, it’s often one of the first things people from the States notice when visiting other countries—that those who live there don’t pay as much attention to things that we wouldn’t leave the house without doing.

Believe it or not, people from other countries not only don’t focus on these aspects of beauty, but they also think it’s pretty strange that we do. Here are some of the most common trends when it comes to American beauty standards that other countries just don’t understand.

Tanning

Some Americans wouldn’t even dream of leaving the house without some sort of color to their skin, and the thought of going to a big event without getting a tan first is basically unimaginable.
Although using a tanning bed has been deemed unsafe for many years, we’ve found our way around it with inventions like at-home tanning kits and spray tan salons. With something that is such a huge industry in the U.S., you might be surprised to hear that people in some other countries think artificially tanned skin is pretty strange.

In particular, many Japanese women find it weird that American women would actually want tan skin. Pay a visit to any Japanese beach and you’ll notice that women are often wearing long sleeves and hats, not to cover themselves up for modesty, but because they don’t want their skin touched by the sun.

The same standard of having creamy-looking light skin is also present in countries like Thailand and South Korea, where women also think tanning is basically insanity. In fact, you might be hard pressed to find skincare products that don’t have some kind of lightening agent in them.

White Teeth

There are a million different products out there to help with getting whiter teeth—from strips to gels, pastes, and even teeth-brightening devices.
If you use Instagram, you’ve also probably noticed that any Insta-famous person you follow will likely promote some type of whitening gadget every now and then because it’s something that’s become that important to us. Other countries, though? Not so much.

Americans often have preconceived and judgmental notions about British teeth. So it may come as no surprise that Brits also have their own thoughts about American teeth—mainly how straight and blindingly white they tend to be.
The American standard is obviously based completely on looks, because it’s actually been proven that teeth that are a bit yellow are actually stronger and healthier than super white teeth.

Extremely Thin Bodies

For as long as most anyone can remember, super thin has been the body type to strive for in America. Models are generally always waify, and it seems like almost the only celebrities who actually make it big are the ones who are very lean.

But this isn’t the standard of perfection everywhere. Beauty expert Michelle Phan has said that in certain countries, the obsession with being stick thin is unheard of.
In the African country of Mauritania, for instance, Phan she says that being a little bit overweight is actually preferred. It’s something that’s often associated with wealth and fertility, which makes it a more ideal body type in that culture.

We want t0 be clear that we’re not telling anyone what their body should or shouldn’t look like, but don’t think that being thin is the only way to live your happiest life.

Full Lips and Big Butts

In our Kardashian-obsessed culture, it’s not that surprising that lots of women are constantly working toward a bigger butt, smaller waist, and fuller lips.

It’s actually become somewhat normal to see even “regular” people adopt this type of aesthetic, because there are endless tips, products, and procedures to help us get this look. There are many cultures out there that aren’t into it, though.

South Korea is one country that just doesn’t understand the hype surrounding lush booties and full lips. There are even reaction videos in which Korean people look at images of the Kardashians, and they appear to be pretty shocked because it’s not at all what they’re used to seeing.

Heavy Makeup

There are many American women out there whose goal is to have makeup that’s done so flawlessly that it looks professionally airbrushed.

Although it’s not necessarily a bad look—or even a bad thing to want, other countries tend to go for a more natural look and find the obsession with daily glam makeup a little weird.
Laura Mercier, owner of the French skincare line of the same name, has seen the differences between makeup in France and America firsthand. “It really astonishes me the way American women wear so much makeup,” she said.

“French women are not flashy. They must be subtle. The message must not be, ‘I’m spending hours on my face to look beautiful.’”

Revealing Clothing

It’s no secret that there are many women in America—and around the world—who love to wear clothes that show off the goods.

We say flaunt it if you feel comfortable doing it, but there are some countries that don’t know how to react when someone dons something revealing.

In Japan, for example, if you run into an older man while you’re wearing a tank top, it’s likely that he won’t meet your eyes. Even a visible collarbone might be considered too sexual for some.

Overly Groomed Brows

There’s no doubt that your eyebrows really complete your face, and a bad shape can change your look for the worse.

Americans, however, seem to have taken their brow routine to the extreme, drawing on and carving out brows so sharp that you might be afraid they could cut you. This isn’t the style everywhere, though.
That’s not to say that women elsewhere don’t groom their brows at all, but they do tend to strive for a more natural look.

People in many other countries, such as South Korea, don’t go for an intensely arched brow, instead going for a brow that’s straighter. Thicker brows are still popular in places like Indonesia, but women tend to keep them more natural and dense looking.

Salons for Everything

It seems like any city in America truly does have a salon that’s dedicated to anything and everything you could want. From a salon that just does eyebrow threading to another that just does blowouts, the possibilities are endless when it comes to finding a professional to fulfill any grooming-related needs you have.

When it comes to something like a blowout, though, other countries aren’t on board. According to British writer Suzanne Jannese, Americans “seem to spend an unholy amount of time being groomed: blow-dry salons and making time in your day to get your nails done and hair coiffed. Why? You’re just gonna sleep on it and wake up with a bird’s nest the next morning.”

We can definitely understand it to some degree. Sometimes you just want to look bomb, but you don’t have the necessary hairstyling skills to do it yourself. For a special occasion, it can be worth spending more to save yourself the stress. Getting a blowout just to get one, though? Yeah. We’ll save our money for something that’ll last a little longer.

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Sweat

Tongue Rolling And 5 Other Oversimplified Genetic Traits

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date June 2, 2017

Eye color, hair color, whether someone can roll their tongue or not—they’re all traits that are often said to come down to genetics. As it turns out, though, we’ve been oversimplifying the reasons behind these traits for decades.

For anyone who can roll their tongue, it seems almost unfathomable that someone couldn’t do this simple trick. It’s actually something that up to 81 percent of all people on this planet are able to do, after all. If it’s so easy, though, why are there still so many people who aren’t able to do it?

The answer that’s been passed around for decades is that it’s genetic, but as it turns out, that explanation isn’t exactly correct. And the truth is more complicated than you might realize.

Way More Complicated, Actually

The story usually goes something like this: People who can roll their tongues were lucky enough to have inherited an awesome (but ultimately pretty useless) tongue-rolling gene from their parents. Those who can’t, of course, are then free to bother their parents about it forever, wondering why they were destined for such a cruel fate.

However, according to John H. McDonald, a University of Delaware professor in the department of biological sciences, there’s more to it. “If that were true, you could never have two non-rolling parents that having a tongue-rolling kid,” he explained. “Yet people have looked at families and find you do see that.”

McDonald says this common explanation is grossly oversimplified. It originated with a study that took place in 1940, but its findings were debunked pretty quickly. “By the early 1950s, people knew pairs of twins where one could roll and one couldn’t,” he said.

“That pretty clearly tells you it’s not all genetic. Yet I ask even today my students, ‘how many of you have been told that tongue rolling is a simple genetic characteristic?’ and most raise their hands.”

So, what’s the truth?

Ever heard of nature vs. nurture? You know, how as you move through life, certain things are said to be influenced by your heredity and genes and others are influenced by your environment?

McDonald says it’s the true driving force behind why some people can roll their tongues with ease and others find it impossible. In some cases, he says something as simple as your positioning as a fetus in the womb could prevent the trait from developing, whereas others are able to overcome the odds and teach themselves how to do it.

Why has this inaccurate reasoning persisted, then? It’s not really clear, but McDonald wants to put an end to it. “It is an embarrassment to the field of biology education that textbooks and lab manuals continue to perpetuate these myths,” he said. “If students took it seriously, a large proportion of students would look at mom and dad and conclude that the mom was sleeping around and dad wasn’t really their dad.”

Believe it or not, it’s not just tongue rolling, either. As it turns out, this type of oversimplified explanation applies to a lot of things we’ve learned about throughout our lives.

Eye Color

Does anyone else have vivid memories of going over the Punnett square in high school while learning about genetics?

Eye color is one of those things that’s talked about a lot when it comes to making genetic predictions, and there are certain things we all think are true when it comes to this type of science. For example, it’s long been said that it’s impossible for two parents with blue eyes to end up with a kid whose eyes are brown.

The Truth?

It’s actually very possible, because something like is eye color isn’t determined by just one single dominant or recessive gene.

“Eye color is determined by variation at several different genes and the interactions between them,” McDonald said. “Thi
s makes it possible for two blue-eyed parents to have brown-eyed children.”

Hair Color

Hair color is usually another popular topic when it comes to discussing genes. Teenagers studying biology often try to figure out how they got the hair color they did or the color hair their kids would have if they ended up marrying their crush of the moment.

When it comes to red hair in particular, most people are under the assumption that red hair will always be a trait that runs in the family, and any baby with at least one redheaded parent will end up with it.

The Truth?

Although there is one main gene that controls whether someone will end up with red hair, it actually has quite a few different variations. Not only that, but it can be easily influenced by other genes, particularly the ones that would give someone brown hair.

Despite what you’ve heard, parents who both have red hair can definitely produce a child that’s either blonde or brunette.

Attached vs. Detached Earlobes

Most of us have probably heard that there are two main types of earlobes we can have—attached and detached.

An attached earlobe will be one that’s actually connected to the side of your head, whereas one that’s detatched will be separated, causing it to dangle slightly. Like many other traits, it is said that one gene determines which you end up with.

The Truth?

There really aren’t just two categories of earlobes at all. Instead, there’s actually a wide range of how attached or detached a person’s earlobes can be.

Not only that, but it’s still not even completely clear which trait is considered to be more dominant than the other.

Hitchhiker’s Thumb

Yes, even something as simple as your thumb shape has been a topic of debate. Anyone who has a thumb that bends backward at the knuckle is said to have a hitchhiker’s thumb and everyone else is just…normal?

If you’ve got them, it’s frequently said that it’s because of a single variation within just one gene.

The Truth?

“If the myth were true, two parents with hitchhiker’s thumb could not have a child with a straight thumb,” McDonald said. Not only that, but there’s also no clearly defined line or angle that dictates what is a hitchhiker’s thumb and what isn’t. Everyone is different when it comes to flexibility, including their fingers, so it can be difficult to determine if someone even has the trait.

“It’s completely arbitrary where you draw the line between straight and angled,” McDonald added.

Hand Clasping

Yes, even the way you clasp your hands is often believed to come down to biology.

Apparently a single gene is responsible for whether you clasp your hands with your right or left thumb on top.

The Truth?

That’s really not the case. It’s been determined that even twins seem to have their own preferences when it comes to the position of their hands when they’re clasped. Not to mention that your preferences might change throughout life, and another position may feel more natural and comfortable at some point in time.

So, what’s the bottom line here? Although there are certain ways we can predict genetic traits, genes are actually way more complicated than we’ve been led to believe in our high school biology classes. For anyone i
nteresting in learning more, McDonald actually suggests studying cats instead of other humans.

“Cats do have a number of traits—long versus short hair, orange versus black hair, white boots or not that—that are nice, simple, one gene-traits,” he said. Oh, and: “Everyone either has a cat or knows someone else’s cat,” he added.

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Wellbeing

9 Signs Of Liver Damage That Shouldn't Be Ignored

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date May 18, 2017

You might think that your body would produce some pretty serious symptoms if your liver started to fail, but that’s not always true. In fact, liver damage isn’t always apparent, and its signs can be pretty subtle.

It’s no secret that there are a lot of things that can go wrong with our bodies, but some of them can be easy to push aside. Even when the problems are glaring, many people choose to ignore them, whether out of fear or just because they feel they can’t make the time. When it comes to liver damage, however, you’ll definitely want to, as it can present some subtle and not-so-subtle signs that something is dangerously wrong. Don’t take out word for it, though—pay your doctor a visit if you experience any of these troubling signs of liver damage.

So, what causes liver damage?

Though anyone can be affected by liver damage at some point in time, it’s worth noting that there are a few factors that can make it a bigger possibility for you. They include:

Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages

A buildup of fat within the liver, which is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Abnormalities within the immune system

Certain viruses and parasites
Liver cancer
Genetic conditions that affect liver function

Any of these factors and conditions can eventually lead to severe liver damage if left untreated, so talk to your doctor if you begin to experience any of the following symptoms, or just anything that’s abnormal for you.

Your eyes become yellow.

Most of us notice that our eyes become a little red from time to time, whether it’s because we’re tired or because an incredibly persistent eyelash got stuck in there sometime during the day. While both of these things are normal, what’s not normal is when your eyes turn yellow.

This is a sign of jaundice, a condition that can occur when your liver isn’t breaking things down properly. The yellow color comes from a substance call bilirubin, a byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells, which would normally be removed from the body after the liver breaks it down.

You’re always itchy.

Chronic itchy skin shouldn’t send you into a panic about whether or not you might have liver damage, but it’s important to pay attention to if you experience it along with any of these other symptoms.

Though it’s not known exactly why liver damage can lead to constant scratching, research suggests it’s linked to the production of bile salts.
The liver produces bile to aid in digestion but, for people with certain liver conditions, the liver may stop producing the substance or it might not be able to use it properly, which can make it accumulate in the body.

For example, primary biliary cirrhosis is a disease that can collapse the bile duct and trap it in your liver.

Your urine is dark.

Not only can liver damage affect the color of your urine, it can also make your stool look different, too. When it comes to your urine, a dark yellow color means that you’re probably dehydrated, but anything that looks more orange, amber, brown, or even root beer-colored should be an immediate cause for concern.

For your stool, look out for anything grey, yellow, or overly pale in color.
Bile is what gives your stool its normal brown color, so anything that appears much lighter could indicate that something’s going on in the liver.

However, using an antacid that contains aluminum hydroxide can also cause lighter stools as well, so don’t be too alarmed if it seems to be just a one-time thing after a bout of heartburn.

Your abdomen feels swollen.

Persistent bloating is never great no matter what’s causing it but, for most people, it’s something that eventually passes without many problems. However, if your abdomen starts to swell and doesn’t show any signs of stopping, it’s always worth getting it checked out.

While it could just be fluid retention or gas, it could also point to liver damage or damage to the blood vessels in or around your liver.
Liver scarring, also known as cirrhosis, could be blocking or putting pressure on blood vessels that lead in or out the your liver, causing a buildup of fluid within the body.

With a quick trip to your doctor, you’ll be able to figure out if it’s just gas or something’s little more serious.

You’re forgetful, or maybe confused.

We all have days where we’re not at our best, and perhaps on these days we repeatedly forget little details or have trouble understanding something simple. If you start noticing it happening more often than not, however, it’s time to see a doctor.

Among many other things, feeling increasingly confused or forgetful can be a sign that toxins are building up in your body because your liver is damaged and unable to filter them out. The condition is called hepatic encephalopathy and is common in those who suffer from chronic liver issues.

You’re always tired.

If you always find yourself waking up tired after a good night’s sleep, it’s pretty much always a sign that something’s not quite right within your body. For the majority of people, it’s probably due one long night out that can be fixed with another few hours of sleep, but it can also point to liver issues.

This is because the organ stores glucose for the body and also releases it, so anything that affects liver function can also have an impact on energy levels, too.

You’re at an unhealthy weight.

Being overweight can increase your risk for a lot of different health problems, and liver damage is definitely one of them. This is because of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which occurs when fat within the body begins to build up within or around the liver.

It can eventually lead to scarring of the liver which can then complicate things even further. Though nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can sometimes affect people who aren’t considered to be at a high risk for it, you can take steps to prevent it by doing things to keep yourself at a healthy weight.

You have hepatitis.

This one’s a no-brainer: If you have hepatitis, you are absolutely more likely to experience liver damage at some point. There are a few different types of hepatitis, and one causes different symptoms and affects the liver in a different way.

Hepatitis A is an incredibly contagious form of the virus that is often spread through contaminated water and food. It often causes jaundice and flu-like symptoms.
Hepatitis B is a form of the virus often spread through sexual contact with an infected person. It usually causes jaundice, dark urine, and abdominal pain.
Hepatitis C is usually spread through contact with infected blood. It doesn’t always cause symptoms immediately, but can cause jaundice, chronic fatigue, and nausea.

There are many other forms of hepatitis—autoimmune hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E—but the factor that they all share is that they cause inflammation within the liver. Fortunately, most of them are treatable or preventable, so you can talk to your doctor if you believe you’re more at-risk.

Liver disease runs in your family.

Like many other diseases and conditions, having a family history of liver problems can make you more likely to develop them at some point in time.

Of course, that’s not a guarantee, as there are many liver conditions that are the result of personal choices, but there are a few that do have a genetic component. These conditions include liver cancer, hemochromatosis, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

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Lifestyle

6 Healthy Habits With Huge Downsides Nobody Talks About

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date May 18, 2017

There’s nothing wrong with trying to be healthy, but what if the steps you’re taking aren’t doing anything? Some of today’s most popular health trends may not be worth it after all.

Forming a new habit can be difficult, especially when it’s one related to your health and wellness. No matter what you do, there’s no denying that junk food is still delicious despite how much we hear about its crappy ingredients, and that exercise still takes time and energy we don’t want to spend no matter how satisfying it can feel. However, there are few things that can make us feel more proud of ourselves than taking consistent steps toward better health—but are we really, though?

Whether a longstanding recommendation or a new trend that’s sweeping offices and gyms across the world, there are many health-related things we encounter every day that, as it turns out, really aren’t worth all the hype.

Eating Healthier

We can hear you screaming at your computer screen now, wondering out loud how we could dare say that putting a piece of kale in your mouth is somehow wrong. We promise we’re not saying that exactly, but hear us out on this one.

It’s a goal of pretty much every human being out there to eat healthier on a daily basis, regardless of what “healthier” happens to mean to them—for some people it’s becoming a vegan, while others just make the switch from drinking five sodas a day to only three.

At some point, however, making the switch to eating healthier can take a dangerous and very much unhealthy turn. An obsessive desire to eat only foods that are healthy is known as orthorexia nervosa, a condition that has been categorized as an eating disorder right alongside things like bulimia and anorexia nervosa.

Those who have it might spend 30 minutes figuring out what to order at a restaurant, only to eat nothing because they couldn’t verify that every ingredient used was organic. Or maybe it’s that they don’t take a handful of almonds because they weren’t first soaked overnight before being served.

Left untreated long enough, the condition can eventually cause nutritional deficiencies that can lead to even more serious health problems. Unfortunately, it’s a disorder that’s only becoming more common and sometimes even validated—some people are of the opinion that starving yourself to be thin is bad, but not eating because you don’t know the name of the cow your burger came from is somehow the picture of health. Do yourself a favor and don’t go overboard.

Using Fitness Trackers

By now, you might think that we’re just trying to take away everything you love—first your healthy diet and now your beloved Fitbit. Again, we’re not saying anything is inherently wrong with trying to keep track of your steps or fitness levels, but there are some unexpected downsides.

First of all, if you’ve been using your tracker to keep tabs on things like your heart rate, you should know that they have a tendency to be inaccurate. One study showed that they can calculate your heart rate incorrectly by up to 20 beats each minute, and that the miscalculation got even worse the harder someone exercised, which is probably when most people who use the feature care about it most.

For someone who absolutely needs to know their heart rate during exercise because of a heart condition, this kind of inaccuracy can also just be plain dangerous.

Not only that but, while studies do show that fitness trackers can help people exercise more, it often does so in a way that’s similar to a parent telling their child they can only have dessert after eating their carrots. Fitness trackers can eventually make exercise feel like even more of a chore than it sometimes does, and they might not even really help you get or stay fit!

One study kept track of 470 teenagers as they followed an exercise regimen and lower-calorie diet. Half of them kept track of their exercise on their own, while the other half used fitness trackers to get the job done for them. Believe it or not, the group that did it by hand actually lost more weight.

Flossing

Be prepared to run into your dentist’s office to gloat, because it’s been determined there is no scientific evidence that flossing is as great as they say it is. Go ahead, let all the times they judged you for your bleeding gums just roll right off your back.

Despite evidence that suggests flossing can help with plaque, cavities, and gum disease, that evidence is also considered to be “very unreliable,” “weak,” and “very low,” as well as being open to, “a moderate to large potential for bias.”

You probably won’t be surprised to hear that most studies that tout the benefits of flossing are often funded by floss-making companies, and they’re not even that thorough—one apparently made its pro-flossing conclusions after its subjects flossed just a single time.

Cutting Out Salt

We’ve all heard before that Americans eat way too much salt—in fact, according to the American Heart Association, the average person consumes around 3.4 grams of it day, when the recommended limit is a mere 1.5 grams.

There’s no doubt that most people could stand to cut some of their daily salt intake out of their diets—after all, too much can increase your risk for things like high blood pressure and heart disease—but cutting out some doesn’t mean cutting out all.

Believe it or not, your body does actually need salt, and research shows that the recommendation from the American Heart Association may actually be too low. One study monitored around 100,000 people and paid special attention to the amount of salt they consumed—the group who ended up being least likely to suffer from heart problems was the group that consumed between three and six grams of sodium each day.

Additionally, another study done in 2011 found that participants with high blood pressure were more likely to have a heart attack or stroke when they consumed over seven grams of salt each day, but also when they consumed less than three grams. When you consider the American Heart Association’s recommendation of 1.5 grams, it seems that it could put people at risk more than it helps.

Working at Standing Desks

It’s one of the latest trends in innovative offices everywhere: a desk that requires you to stand so you’re forced off your butt during the day. It makes sense—you can avoid slouching over, pinching your nerves all day, and just generally feeling like a lazy blob by making sure you’re keeping yourself somewhat active during the work day.

However, standing while at work isn’t enough to negate all of the things you choose to do outside of the office.

Scientists went over health data for around 5,000 people from the past 15 years, and they found that sitting doesn’t play as big of a role in our health as we think. It’s being stationary in general that isn’t good for us, and it doesn’t matter where we do it.

Basically, if you think that standing during works means you’ve essentially worked out during the day and can veg out in front of the TV all night when you get home, you’ve got another think coming. We’re not saying that your standing desk is totally useless, but you still need to get in an actual workout every now and then, too.

Taking Vitamins

Many people start their day off with a multivitamin as way for them to guarantee that they’re getting all the nutrients they need no matter what they eat. However, what most people might not know is that certain vitamins can build up in our bodies and lead to a number of issues.

When it comes to vitamins and nutrients, there are two main categories-water soluble and fat soluble. It’s actually good to consume water-soluble nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin B12 daily because your body will just excrete the extra in your urine.

However, fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin E can actually build up within your body’s fat cells and lead to vitamin toxicity. That does sound more severe than it can be—for most nutrients, an “overdose” won’t cause many noticeable symptoms, but can increase your risk for certain conditions over time.

That said, it’s still recommended that you try to get all of your nutrients from real food, and take supplements only for things you truly need more of.

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Motherhood

The Best And Worst Pets For Your Kids

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date May 11, 2017

Getting a pet is an exciting time in any child’s life, but the wrong pet can bring more problems than joy. Here’s what you need to know about picking the right pet for your family.

At some point in time, many parents end up getting their children their first pet, whether it’s because they’ve relentlessly begged you for one or you’re trying to teach them a thing or two about responsibility. (Spoiler: That latter reason will backfire.)

You might think that there’s not really anything to taking care of a dog, hamster, or fish, but in some cases, we can guarantee that you’re seriously underestimating the amount of work it will take.

Here are the best and worst pets to get for young children—and some of the most unexpected aspects of caring for them.

Are they ready?

Before you even start considering which pet to buy, consider if your kids are ready to look after any animal at all. This will largely depend on the type of pet you want to get them, but there are other things to factor in, too.

For example, even though taking care of a goldfish seems incredibly simple to any adult, a child who’s too young might have trouble with it. Are they old enough to be trusted with getting the food out of the cabinet? Do they understand the importance of feeding the fish the correct amount?

These are things you can obviously teach them when it comes to caring for any pet, but they might not stick if the child truly isn’t ready yet.

Dogs—Best

A dog is the most obvious choice when it comes to getting a pet for your family—not only are they incredibly cute, but they’re pets that can also be active members of your family. In general, dogs tend to be easy for kids of any age to take care of because there isn’t a ton that you really have to do for them.

Putting out food and water is simple enough, they can easily be walked or let out in the yard for some fresh air, and it’s not hard to clean up after them when they relieve themselves.

If you and your family have settled on a dog, older shelter dogs typically make the best pets, because they usually come potty trained and they’re fairly calm. If you think a puppy sounds like a good idea, we’ll pray that the universe goes easy on you.

It’s important, though, to ask a few questions before you adopt, such as:

Is there a reason no one has adopted the dog yet? Does the dog have experience being around children or families? What is the dog’s personality like? What is the dog’s life expectancy?

Cats—Best

Like dogs, cats tend to be one of the first options most people consider when they think of getting a pet for their families. Sometimes the choice is even easier when you consider how independent cats tend to be—you make sure their litter gets cleaned and changed, you make sure they have food and water, and there don’t tend to be too many details after that.

Despite their aloofness, cats can also form intense bonds with their owners, especially children.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), cats that are well cared-for can live incredibly long lives, up to 17 years in some cases, and 13 years at minimum. A kitten will be a bit harder to care for, but they’re ultimately just playful little creatures who do tend to calm down considerably as time goes on. If you have pretty small kids, they’ll probably relate to a cat fairly well—just like them, cats often work playtime and naptime into their everyday schedules.

Pocket Pets—Worst

A “pocket pet” is pretty much just that—any pet that is small enough to fit in your pocket. This type of animal can include mice, rats, hamsters, ferrets, guinea pigs, and gerbils.

Unlike dogs and cats, which will typically become part of the family and be included in many different family activities, pocket pets usually
have to stay in their own space and can’t really be left to roam around like a cat or dog.

Caring for them also requires way more supplies than you might think—they’ll need the right type of cage, the right type of food, a water dispenser, something they can exercise on, and wood chips or bedding material, which will need to be replaced fairly often.

Although they’re cute, these small critters involve way more work and care than any kid can handle. Not only that, but they’re also considered a sort of specialty animal when it comes to veterinary care, so it might be difficult to find a solution if something’s wrong with your pet. Until your kids realize how much goes into looking after a pocket pet, they’re not a good idea.

Rabbits—Not Great, Not Terrible

Rabbits are adorable, so it’s not a surprise that so many kids feel drawn to them and want them as pets. They’ll require a similar setup to that of any pocket pet, but they’re a little bit larger and more interactive than something like a mouse or rat. Rabbits can actually be really playful and have very distinct personalities.

However, they’re not just like a smaller version of a cat or dog. In fact, there’s actually a lot that people don’t know when it comes to owning a rabbit.

First of all, rabbits aren’t really meant to be caged animals, and they require way more exercise, space, and time to roam than most people think. They’re also not an animal that will be too keen on you picking it up like you would a dog or cat. Because they’re a prey animal in the wild, a rabbit’s instinct when being picked up is to flee.

Additionally, they also have super sensitive stomachs, and the wrong diet could be fatal. Ultimately, rabbits can make great pets, but they have to be in the right home.

Chicks—Worst

Most of us probably have memories of keeping baby chicks in our elementary school classrooms, and it was definitely an exciting time. Not only was it cool to watch them hatch and begin their lives, but they’re also incredibly cute and fun to hold.

It’s natural that a kid might start asking about having a chick as a pet after an experience like this, but we’re here to warn you that it really isn’t a good idea.

As sad as it is to think about, chicks can easily get crushed by a child who’s running around and not paying attention, which would obviously be a traumatic experience all around. They can also carry bacteria and viruses that can be transmitted to humans, such as salmonella, along with other zoonotic diseases.

The most important thing to remember, though, is that chicks are baby chickens, and they won’t stay that way forever. Granted, puppies and kittens don’t stay that small forever either, but caring for a full-grown chicken is a lot different from taking care of a standard household pet.

Fish—Best

Even before they consider a dog or cat, some parents lean toward a fish as their child’s first pet. In some cases, it’s an easy decision—they’re fairly cheap to buy, you really don’t have to get too many supplies, and what you do need can be found pretty much anywhere. They’re also a good pet for kids who are allergic to dogs or cats, because the kid will never even make contact with them.

Although it’s fairly easy to take care of a fish—you give them a sprinkle of food a few times a day, change their water every now and then, maybe buy them a tiki hut for their bowl—the main thing to consider is their lifespan.

Although it’s not likely th
at they’ll only live for a week, fish can be sensitive to things like water temperature, water filtration, and over- or underfeeding. Educate yourself about the specific care the type of fish you’re considering needs, talk about those needs with your kids, and go from there if they’re confident they can handle it.

Birds—Not Great, Not Terrible

Birds tend to be more of a specialty pet, mainly because of all the random equipment people need to take care of them—large cages, special foods, toys, and more. In general, birds aren’t terrible pets for children, but it’s important to consider if a child will even feel drawn to care for them once they realize that you can’t interact with a bird like you would a dog or cat.

Additionally, even when you do get all of the equipment that’s needed to take care of a bird, there’s still a lot more that goes into caring for them than just giving them food and water. As with pocket pets, most vets don’t specialize in taking care of birds, so it might be harder to get them veterinary care, and it’ll probably cost you once you do.

Ultimately, birds are probably a no for any home with young children, but they might be a good option for older kids who are actually willing to take care of them the right way.

Tags 50022606, hemingway, parenting

Motherhood

Here Are The Proper Sleeping Positions During Pregnancy

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date May 11, 2017

It’s no secret that pregnancy is hard on the body, and it can definitely make getting to sleep quite a chore. Here’s why you can’t fall asleep—and what you can do about it.

Sleeping while pregnant isn’t always an easy thing to do, whether it’s because of endless waves of nausea or not being able to get comfortable. In fact, many of your normal favorite sleeping positions may no longer feel good to you after a certain point—or a certain size—in your pregnancy.

Longing for a full night’s sleep?

Here are some common reasons why pregnancy can disrupt your sleeping habits, a few positions that can help you finally get a good night’s sleep, and some general tips for sleeping better while pregnant. It might seem impossible at first, but believe us, you can eventually get there. TODAY shares a few of their most practical tips as well.

Why am I uncomfortable?

Even for women in the beginning stages of their pregnancies, getting comfortable during the night can be a hard thing to accomplish. The obvious reason for this is because of your expanding belly, but what about women who aren’t even that big yet?

In general, pregnant women can experience a lot of discomfort due to nausea or vomiting, heartburn, and random aches and pains, especially in the lower back.

There are several other issues that can persist throughout pregnancy, especially as your body begins to change more and more. Fortunately, though, there are a few different sleeping positions you can try to stay comfortable throughout the night.

The SOS

The name of this position might make it sound like you’re in distress somehow, but it actually stands for “sleep on side.”

Not only will sleeping on your side make it easier to work around your growing belly, but it will also increase blood flow throughout your body and to your baby. Lying on your back can actually begin to put pressure on various blood vessels throughout your body, and it can also make it harder for you to breathe.

If you still feel like sleeping on your side doesn’t do much for any back pain you have, you can also try sleeping with a pillow under your abdomen so the weight is more evenly distributed.

Prop yourself up.

If you tend to experience heartburn and acid reflux during the night while you’re pregnant, elevating your head while you sleep can do you a world of good.

When you’re pregnant, there are a few different things that can cause you to develop acid reflux, including pressure in your abdomen and hormonal increases that can weaken your esophageal sphincter, the muscle that separates your stomach and esophagus.

By propping up your head and upper body, you can lessen the amount of pressure put on your upper abdomen, which can prevent the reflux from occurring. It can also make it easier for you to breathe if the pressure from your growing belly has been putting more pressure on your upper body.

As we mentioned before, you can also use pillows to prop up your belly if you choose to sleep on your side. Either way, using a full-body pillow that you can conform to your body is best.

Don’t just lie there.

Whether you’re pregnant or not, we all toss and turn from time to time as we lie in bed and try to fall asleep. If you find that you’re experiencing this more and more frequently, don’t just take it lying down—instead, get up!
It might seem counterintuitive, but taking a quick walk around your house or taking a few minutes to do a little chore you’ve been avoiding can help you slow down and feel more tired—essentially, it’s almost like you’re boring yourself to sleep.

This can be especially helpful if you feel like your mind is racing as you’re lying in bed, because getting up and moving around can help you get some of that restless energy out of your system and feel more ready to settle in.

Make the bed a sleep-only zone.

We all know that our beds are obviously there for sleeping, resting, and doing the deed, but it can be hard for our bodies to remember that when we choose to use them for work.

Sure, a bed can be a convenient place to catch up on emails or fold the laundry, but doing these types of things in bed can break the association that your brain has when it comes to your bed and sleep.

Do yourself a favor and take your work somewhere else so that your body knows it’s time to relax when you hit the hay.

Put the phone away.

Even if you’re not using it to do work, it’s a good idea to put your phone down before you climb into bed. As you’re scrolling through Instagram, there are any number of random things that could make you excited or suck you in, taking you out of sleep mode pretty quickly.

You should also try to avoid any type of fast-paced activities before you get in bed, like working out or suddenly deciding you need to give your house a deep clean.

Comfort is key.

There’s not a person alive who enjoys sleeping on a crappy bed, and any aches and pains you get from using a bad mattress will only be amplified while you’re pregnant. Unfortunately, it’s not always in the budget for everyone to just run out and buy a brand new mattress, but there are a few things you can do to get one for cheap or spruce up the one you have.

Although it might sound strange, thrift stores often sell mattresses that are actually brand new, and you can get them for far less than you would at any other store. If you don’t want to go that route, you can also just buy a cushy mattress pad or feather bed to put on top of the mattress you have now to make it a little softer and easier on your body.
Additionally, different sizes, colors, and shapes of pillows not only make your bed prettier, but they can also be used to cushion you throughout the night and add a little extra support where needed.

Turn down the thermostat.

It’s no secret that pregnant women can get hot pretty easily, and this is especially true when they’re under the covers during the night. Although you can always kick the covers off, many people would rather be hot than sleep without anything covering them—even if it means they keep waking up because they’re hot.

If you constantly toss and turn due to getting hot while you’re sleeping, try adjusting your thermostat to find a temperature that works best for you—start by lowering it just a few degrees, and adjust it as needed over the next few nights. Depending on the season, you can even open a window during the night, or only lower the temperature a few degrees and turn on a fan to cool it down even further.
You might also consider sleeping with lighter blankets while you’re pregnant if you’re someone who doesn’t like to sleep without some kind of covers.

Skip midnight snacks.

We know that you’re eating for two—maybe even more—but right before you decide to head to bed isn’t the time you should be walking toward the refrigerator looking for a snack. Eating and then lying down can make it even more likely that you’ll experience some acid reflux, and it might just make you feel more uncomfortable during the night.

If you feel like you really can’t get to sleep without a little bit of food in your stomach, opt for something lighter like fruit or fresh veggies as opposed to dairy, bread, or anything fried.

Avoid long naps.

Pregnancy can definitely make you feel worn down, and you might find yourself taking more naps throughout the day to recharge. There’s nothing wrong with this, but try not to fall asleep for hours during the middle of the day.

Napping for longer periods can put your body in a deeper stage of sleep, which can end up making you feel even more tired when you finally wake up. If you choose to nap, try to make it fairly short so you have a better chance of waking up feeling refreshed.

Tags 50022601, hemingway, parenting

Wellbeing

8 Underwear Mistakes That Can Mess With Your Health (And Style)

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date May 2, 2017

You might think that just remembering to put on underwear each day is good enough, but we’re here to tell you otherwise. Believe it or not, some of these mistakes can even be harmful to your health.

We all know that wearing underwear for more than one day is a big no-no, but did you know there are mistakes just as detrimental to your health and style that you could be making every day?

No, we’re not just talking about the temporary embarrassment of wearing black underwear with a pair of white jeans or the slight discomfort of wearing something too skimpy. The wrong habits when it comes to buying, washing, and wearing underwear could be causing you lasting issues that are more than just embarrassing.

They’re too small.

Many women might not think there’s anything too wrong with wearing underwear that are a bit small—after all, they’re the only ones who’ll know, right? However, aside from not giving yourself a muffin top, there are plenty of good reasons to make sure you’re buying yourself underwear that fits.

Underwear that’s too small can keep your downtown area hot and humid, which is essentially the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and infections. The same goes for wearing pantyhose often, too.

The Solution?

To make sure you’re getting yourself the right size, shop by brand and determine what your size is in that label.

Don’t buy one size across the board just because you wear it in one brand or style of underwear. They can be incredibly different from company to company.

They’re washed with scented detergents.

If you’re like most people, you probably just toss your underwear in with the rest of your laundry and call it a day. Unfortunately, though, the scented soaps and fabric softeners you might use for your jeans and shirts can actually be wreaking havoc on your lady bits.

The skin down there tends to be more sensitive than on the rest of your body, and it can be irritated incredibly easily—even by something as simple as a scented soap. Not only that, but the fragrances and chemicals in things like dryer sheets and detergents can even make your skin burn or itch.

The Solution?

Try to wash all of your underwear separately from the rest of your clothes in detergents and fabric softeners that are unscented.

Even better, look for products that are labeled hypoallergenic, so you can be sure they’re free of harsh irritants found in most commercial laundry products.

They’re not cotton.

In a perfect world, our underwear would be made of nothing but cotton, but most people wear pairs that are at least lined with the natural fabric. If you’re not one of them, it’s time to go shopping, especially if you’re someone who often finds themselves with some type of infection or irritation down there.

Lace, polyester, and other synthetic fabrics can hold in moisture and heat, which can not only cause irritation but create the perfect environment for bacteria and fungus to hang around in. Unfortunately, even silk is a culprit.

The Solution?

Try to stick with underwear made from only cotton as much as you can, or it least make sure it’s lined with cotton.

If you have to wear underwear made from other materials or you refuse to get rid of your favorite cotton-free pair, try to save them only for special occasions or for shorter nights out.

They move around.

Women turn to thong underwear for a lot of different reasons, and one of them is because they hate the dreaded VPLs—visible panty lines. It’s an understandable desire, not wanting your underwear to bunch up and create lines on the back of your pants, but this type of skimpy underwear does more harm than good.

Not only are they typically pretty tight, but they can also shift throughout the day, especially if you’re active. Unlike other underwear, the back part of a thong can sit against you skin and transfer some pretty gnarly bacteria from back to front and leave you with an infection.

The Solution?

If VPLs are your issue, you’re in luck, because companies now sell many types of underwear in fabric that is designed to have a seamless look.

If you like thongs because of the skimpy look, however, try out the “cheeky” underwear style, which is kind of like a thicker version that won’t rub against you in the back.

They’re always stained.

Hey, every woman probably has at least one pair of period panties; no one’s judging you for wearing underwear that you’re not afraid of having ruined, if you know what we mean.

However, when it comes to your everyday discharge, it’s important to pay attention to any changes you may notice, and a lot of women don’t. Depending on what’s causing the change, you might see more or less discharge, or it could be thicker or thinner, or even a different color from normal.

The Solution?

If you notice anything going on down under that seems abnormal for you, make sure to get it checked. Discharge that’s green or gray in color could point to a common infection called bacterial vaginosis, whereas thick and clumpy discharge might point to a yeast infection.

And don’t hesitate to see your doctor if you experience any excessive itching or burning, especially if it’s persistent and keeps getting worse.

You sweat then sit.

We’ve all been there—you hit the gym for an intense workout, then run some errands on your way home and sit around for a bit, all while in those same sweaty clothes. Although you may be planning on taking a shower later, you should still change out of your workout clothes as soon as possible, especially when it comes to your underwear.

Not only can tight, sweat-soaked clothes irritate your skin, but they can also create the perfect environment for bacteria to flourish in and around your lady bits. If your sweaty underwear is rubbing against your skin, it can also lead to some pretty unfortunate chafing.

The Solution?

If you don’t feel like changing your outfit entirely after working out, at least bring a spare pair of underwear to change into before you head home.

When you finally get there, try not to delay when it comes to taking a shower and getting into some fresh clothes.

You sleep in them.

This doesn’t necessarily apply to all women who sleep in underwear, but it does affect a good number of them. Wearing underwear throughout the night doesn’t seem to affect some women at all, but for others, it can actually irritate any existing conditions they have or cause them to flare up.

For example, any woman who is prone to yeast infections might find that sleeping in underwear causes them to develop one, most likely because their underwear is trapping moisture and heat as they sleep.

The Solution?

If you’re comfortable with it, sleep commando! It can help keep your downstairs area cool throughout the night and promote air circulation. If you prefer to wear something, opt for a pair of looser underwear or boxers, if your man has some lying around.

If you don’t want to go without your regular underwear throughout the night, try to make sure you’re wearing a pair that’s made from 100 percent cotton.

You pair white with white.

The initial thought process makes sense—you pick white underwear for white pants because a darker color would show through, right? Surprise! White does the exact same thing! Unless the pants you’re wearing are super thick or opaque, white underwear will definitely show through them, and it will look very, very bright and be easily seen by everyone else.

The same goes for any bright or super dark colors—when you’ve got on white pants, make sure you avoid them at all costs because we can guarantee they’ll show through. It might not be something that affects your health, but it can be an embarrassing situation to deal with when it happens.

The Solution?

Instead of white, opt for underwear in a neutral, earthy type of color. Ideally, you’ll want a neutral that comes as close to your natural skin tone as possible.

That way, it won’t look like there’s any difference between your underwear and your skin.

Tags 50021926, balance, hemingway

Motherhood

16 Unusual Baby Girl Names Inspired By Beautiful Places Across The Globe

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date May 2, 2017

The name you give your baby can be tough to decide, especially when you want to come up with something unique. Don’t worry, though. With a little global inspiration, you’ll come up with the perfect name that’s just as worldly as it is beautiful.

Nara

The name Nara is one with Gaelic origins, and it means “happy.” Nara is also a prefecture in Japan located in the Kansai region, which served as the framework for Japanese civilization.

Kent

Kent is a Welsh name that just sounds sophisticated, strong, and smart. Comic book fans might even take it as a nod to the Man of Steel.

Tangier

This unique and exotic name could work for either a boy or a girl, and the word means “harbour.” It’s actually a city in northern Morocco, and it’ll easy transport you straight to a Moroccan bazaar when you hear it.

Skye

Although Skye isn’t too uncommon as a name for little girls, you may not have seen it spelled this way before. This particular variation comes from Scotland and its Isle of Skye. The island is well known for its incredibly scenic landscape, picturesque villages, and even medieval castles.

Dominica

Also known as the “nature island,” Dominica is a country in the Caribbean that’s known for its hiking and diving. You can always give this name to your baby girl if you’re a big fan of the tropics.

Zaire

This is essentially the girl version of the name Zaine, which isn’t all that common either. The name is related to the word “nzere,” which is Kongo for “the river that swallows all rivers.”

Odessa

Odessa was actually a pretty popular name for quite a while during the early 1900s, and it’s one that has roots in the Odyssey, the epic poem written by Homer. It’s also a city in Ukraine that is famous for its theater, ballet, and 19th-century architecture.

Vienna

If you or your spouse are music lovers, then Vienna is the name for your baby girl. We all know that the name represents the capital city of Austria, which is also referred to as that country’s “city of music.”

Adelaide

For any Aussies out there, or anyone who has ever dreamed of going there, why not name your little girl Adelaide to bring a little bit of the Land Down Under into your everyday life? Adelaide is a coastal city that’s the capital of South Australia, and it’s one that’s famous for its festivals and art museums in addition to its beautiful coastal views. The actual word “Adelaide” comes from “Adelheid,” a German word that means “nobility.”

Verona

Ah, fair Verona, the setting of the world-famous Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

Valencia

From Italy, we head over to Spain and the city of Valencia. It’s a name that might seem unexpected to some, but it’s so classic and beautiful. You might even say it’s sweet, seeing how it shares a name with a type of orange. Although the orange was named after the city in Spain, which is known for its orange trees, it was originally cultivated in Valencia, California.

Brighton

Brighton is a name that could easily be given to either a boy or a girl, as it doesn’t sound overly masculine or feminine. With the word “bright” right in the name, it’s one that’s happy and fun, destined to belong to an expressive child. The name comes from a small town located in southern England that sits along the coast, where families can spend the day at the beach and have fun along the piers.

Dhaka

Dhaka is another name that could easily suit either a boy or a girl. It’s the name of Bangladesh’s capital city, which is also the country’s largest city, giving it a sense of worldliness and intrigue.

Quintana

If you happen to give birth to your fifth child and you know that it’s going to be a girl, we’ve got the name for you. Quintana, which is pronounced “keen-TAH-nah,” is a name that actually translates to “fifth girl” in Spanish. Quintana Roo is also a state in Mexico with a beautiful coastline that sits on the Caribbean Sea. Along the coast you’ll find coral reefs, underwater caverns to explore, and even some remains of Mayan ruins.

Lille

We’ve all heard of the name “Lily,” but “Lille” offers an uncommon take on what is considered to be a more traditional spelling. The name comes from a town in northern France that shares its border with Belgium.

Zaria

If you’re a fan of “Z” names, Zaria is another one to consider, and it’s also one you’ve probably never heard before. The name has roots in the Arabic language and means “flower”; it’s also a city in the country of Nigeria. Not only that, but Zaria is the goddess of beauty in Slavic lore.

Not only is the name Nara bright and adventurous, but it’s a new take on the more classic name “Nora.”

Looking for something else?

The origin gives the name a sense of ease, but one of fun, as well. You can ultimately pronounce it however you want, but it’s meant to be said as “Dom-i-NEE-kah” as opposed to a pronunciation that sounds more like the island chain.

It’s a pretty powerful name for a child, but one that somehow sounds very soft and sweet at the same time. If you’ve been looking for a “Z” name but didn’t want to go with anything too traditional, Zaire is the name for you.

Odessa is a name that’s not only beautiful but also deeply rooted in both history and culture.

As a name, Vienna is sophisticated and classic and also incredibly sweet. It comes with an endless number of built-in nicknames, too. Try Nina, Vee, Enny, or Enna to start. With a name like this, you may even end up with a musical prodigy on your hands before you know it.

If you end up having twins, one girl and one boy, Adelaide and Adelheid would make an incredible pair of names fit for a princess and prince.

As a girl’s name, Valencia serves as a unique but old-world take on the name “Valerie.” The two could even share the nickname “Val.”

In some ways, it’s almost like giving your child the name “Sunny,” but with a new twist.

Any Harley Quinn fans out there might also find the name a suitable tribute to the character with the nickname “Quin.”

What’s cool about it is you can choose how you want the name to be pronounced without even changing the spelling—it can be pronounced in the traditional way like the flower, “lil-EE,” or as one syllable, “Lil.”

With so many different origins, a little girl named Zaria is sure to have an adventurous spirit and zest for life.

In reality, it’s the name of a county in southeastern England that’s referred to as the “Garden of England” because of its high production of hops and fruit. Though it’s traditionally been a man’s name, it could easily work for a girl in these times.

As a name, Verona is not only a nod to Shakespeare and the Italian city, but it’s also a unique spin on the more traditional name Veronica.

There are still many mosques and palaces that remain from centuries past, making the city a center of culture.

While you’re taking this trip around the world, throw on some slippers, kick your feet up, and get ready for a wild ride. Here are some worldly names to consider for your next baby.

If these names don’t fit your fancy, have no fear! The Baby Name Wizard is the perfect book to help you decide on a name for your baby. Unlike other books of names, this one goes into the popularity of names around you,
names that would work well for siblings, other possible names based on ones you already like, and more.

Long story short, enjoy your time imagining the names of your unborn child. It’s a precious time you won’t get back. To remember this incredible time of anticipation and joy, be sure to record your experiences with The Belly Book. That way you can look back on this experience and remember every little kick and roll. We know you can’t wait to meet your little one!

Tags 50021941, hemingway, parenting

Motherhood

8 Things You Need To Know About IVF Before Using It

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date April 13, 2017

Infertility can be a devastating experience, but there are many couples who find a solution in various reproductive technologies. In vitro fertilization is a popular method that’s widely touted, but does it work as well as everyone thinks it does?

It is estimated that around 6.1 million couples of childbearing age experience difficulties with infertility. Although there are many couples who, unfortunately, never find the solution to their infertility problems, there are some who end up successfully conceiving.

For some it’s because they’re able to manage an existing condition that was affecting their fertility, whereas others may choose to sync up intercourse to ovulation or take certain medications. For others, however, the solution may be in vitro fertilization (IVF), a procedure that involves implanting an embryo in a woman’s uterus. If you’re considering IVF to grow your family, here are some facts you’ll want to know.

What are your odds?

It’s important to note that IVF isn’t actually as successful as many believe. The Society for Assisted Reproduction reported in 2012 that a mere 35.9 percent of all IVF cycles done that year actually ended with a pregnancy, and only 29.4 percent of IVF cycles actually ended with the birth of a live child.

Unfortunately, this is because there are many different factors that can affect the success of the procedure, such as the mother’s age and whether the embryos used were fresh or previously frozen.

It can be risky.

For a father, the IVF process is physically easy—all they have to do is provide the sperm sample. For the mother, however, the process can be a bit more difficult, both emotionally and physically. Women who undergo the procedure are required to take hormones that suppress their natural menstrual cycle in addition to medication that boosts their egg production.

The medications can come with their own sets of side effects, such as headaches and hot flashes, and an overload of hormones can even lead to a condition known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This occurs when too many eggs develop within the ovaries, and in the most severe cases, the condition can lead to extreme ovary growth, along with a fluid imbalance that causes fluid to collect in the abdomen or lungs.

IVF also comes with an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, which means that the embryo attaches outside of the womb, in the fallopian tubes.

The risk for postpartum depression increases.

Postpartum depression is an incredibly common issue among new mothers, and it has many causes. Not only are there a number of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and after giving birth, but the challenges of being a new parent cause some women to become so overwhelmingly stressed that they fall into a deep depression.

You might think that all new mothers have an equal chance of developing postpartum depression, but that’s actually not true. A 2015 study conducted in Denmark showed that women who gave birth after conceiving via some type of assisted reproduction treatment—IVF being one of them—were five times as likely to eventually develop postpartum depression as women who didn’t give birth after undergoing treatment.

It’s definitely a surprise to hear, and the researchers who were part of the study could hardly believe it either.

You could easily end up with twins.

There are many different factors that can increase a woman’s risk of conceiving twins—being an older mother, previous pregnancies, a family history of twins—and undergoing IVF treatment is one of them. During the process of IVF treatment, a woman’s eggs are retrieved and then mixed with sperm in the hopes that an embryo will form.

Doctors often put multiple embryos in the woman’s uterus at once so there is a greater chance of one implanting itself, but that also means that more than one can attach and continue developing.

This technique is changing, however. One study recently found that implanting two embryos during IVF treatment instead of just one can actually reduce a woman’s chance of having a successful pregnancy by 27 percent.

Grab the TUMS.

We all know that pregnancy can wreak all kinds of havoc in your body, from hormone-driven mood swings to hair loss and weird cravings, but there’s one strange after effect you may never have thought of: acid reflux.

One study showed that women who successfully gave birth after undergoing IVF treatment were actually three times more likely than other new mothers to develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is essentially long-term heartburn.
During the study, 13 percent of women who gave birth via IVF eventually developed GERD within one year of giving birth, whereas only 4.5 percent of women who gave birth without fertility treatments went on to develop the condition.

It is thought that this is because medications used during the IVF process can weaken the esophageal sphincter, which is the muscle between the stomach and esophagus that is supposed to prevent stomach acid from backing up into the throat.

You can make healthier eggs.

You might think that you just have to hope you have quality eggs when undergoing IVF treatment, but there are actually many steps women can take to actively increase the quality of their eggs. Not only that, but it can also affect how your embryo develops and your pregnancy itself.

Women who are trying to conceive, whether through IVF or the good old-fashioned way, should cut out all adult beverages at least three months before they begin the procedure, which can help create better quality eggs and embryos. They should also try to consume a diet that’s fairly low in sugar but high in proteins and vegetables.

Also, when trying to get pregnant, make sure you reserve as much of your mental, physical, and emotional energy as you can. It’s not the time to be spending long nights working or planning a stressful event.

Sometimes you can’t use your eggs.

The information we have about pregnancy has changed a lot over the years, but there is one thing that remains true—as you age, the number of healthy eggs you have dips, and your chance of becoming pregnant slims. That’s not to say that an older woman trying to conceive doesn’t have a chance at all, but age can make it more difficult to get an egg that’ll survive the journey.

Fortunately, it is entirely possible for an older woman with healthy eggs to give birth successfully with or without reproductive treatment.

Doctors are able to determine how healthy a woman’s eggs are by performing a pelvic ultrasound and can also tell from a simple blood test. They may recommend that a patient with a low egg count or weak ovaries consider other forms of reproductive therapy before trying to go through IVF treatment.

It’ll cost you.

If you’re at all interested in IVF, we’re sure you already know just how expensive the treatment can be. Generally, it can cost somewhere between $10,000 to $20,000, but that’s really just a base price. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may need to add on additional treatments or go through other tests as part of the process, and those are things that might not be standard—meaning there are going to be extra charges.

Fortunately, the amount of coverage insurance companies offer for these types of treatments has gotten much better over the years, and there are now 15 states that require mandatory coverage for fertility-related treatments. If you’re not lucky enough to live in one of these states, however, you may eventually find yourself trying to find that cash to cover what your insurance company won’t.

Tags 50020171, body, hemingway

Motherhood

Mom's Viral Story About Child Abductors In IKEA Is A Must-Read For Parents

Post author By Megan Senseney
Post date April 10, 2017

When one mom and her family set out for a trip to IKEA, they thought they’d end the day with taking home a new couch. Little did she know, however, that she’d have a terrifying experience that she’ll never forget.

When planning a trip to IKEA, you expect to have a day filled with picking out build-it-yourself furniture, Swedish meatballs, and probably a cinnamon roll or two.
There are some brave parents out there who choose to forgo the in-store childcare, bringing their kids along for the ride throughout the large, winding store.

Although they might expect a few annoyances along the way, none of them would ever think they’d encounter a lurking child trafficker, but that’s exactly what one mother said happened to her.

Their normal day took a terrifying turn.

Diandra Toyos wrote about her recent experience during an IKEA shopping trip with her three kids and her mother, and the post quickly went viral. As Toyos and her family searched the store for a new couch, she said she noticed a middle-aged man who was fairly well-dressed walking around the area in circles. She didn’t think much of him at first, but that all changed in an instant.

He started creeping toward her family.

Toyos began to notice that the man wasn’t really looking at anything in the store, only picking things up occasionally and putting them back down. He never strayed from the area she and her family were in, and at one point was so close to her children that Toyos instinctively moved herself between them and the man.
“I had a bad feeling,” she said. “He continued to circle the area, staring at the kids.”

The man continued to pick things up here and there but eventually began to stare at her children while doing it, probably not even noticing what he was actually touching. “My mom noticed as well and mentioned that we needed to keep an eye on him,” Toyos said.
“We moved on…and so did he. Closely.”

As she and her family continued to walk around the store, Toyos said her mother noticed another man walking in circular patterns around the same area they were, this one a little younger and somewhere in his twenties.

She felt in her gut that something was wrong.

Toyos decided that she and her family were just going to sit down until the men moved on. It never happened, though. As soon as she and her family sat down on one of the display couches, the men sat down on another one that faced the family. Toyos knew it was no coincidence—they sat there for around 30 minutes, and so did the men. They only managed to lose the men after Toyos’ mother made prolonged eye contact with them, letting them know she knew they were there and she thought they were up to something.

The men seemed to disappear after that, and Toyos continued to shop with her family, but all of the enjoyment of the day was gone after that. “[We] still kept the kids right with us the whole time,” she said. “I kept the baby in the sling which kept my hands free and my eyes too. I didn’t have to keep an eye on the stroller AND two kids… I just had to watch my older ones.”

She decided they needed to get out.

After winding their way through the rest of the store, Toyos and her mother stopped to talk to a store security officer and report what had happened to them.

She then decided she needed to share their experience so other parents could be on the lookout for similar activity not just in IKEA stores, but anywhere they take their kids.
“I am almost sure that we were the targets of human trafficking,” she said. “This is happening all over. Including the United States. It’s in our backyards. I’m reading more and more about these experiences and it’s terrifying. If not that, something else shady was obviously going on. Either way, as parents, we NEED to be aware.”

She’s absolutely right, too. Human trafficking is a thriving industry, one that generates around $32 billion each year, and it exists in each and every state in the country. Whether you’re a parent or just trying to look after yourself when you’re out in the world, there are certain things everyone can do to keep themselves and their families safe.

Stranger danger exists, but…

We all know that it’s important to teach children not to get too close to people they don’t know or wander off with them, and the rhyming phrase “stranger danger” is a convenient way to get children to remember that.

The problem with this, though, is that it doesn’t cover all the bases. In fact, your child is far more likely to be harmed by someone they already know. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention found that out of all reported kidnappings in the year 2000, more than 75 percent of them were carried out by acquaintances or family members.
Make sure you trust the people who are around your children, and don’t tell your kids that they have to be around or listen to someone just because they’re a sibling, uncle, grandparent, or friend.

Be aware.

It’s important to follow your instincts (like Toyos did) and pay more attention when something feels off to you. Try to be aware of your surroundings at all times, and make sure you report anyone who seems suspicious.

Recognize the signs.

There are many signs you can look out for that can indicate someone may be a victim of human trafficking. These include:
Having a malnourished appearance. They may even talk about not having access to proper healthcare.

Physical signs that the person is abused, such as marks around their wrists, bruising, or cuts.
Living or working in conditions that have high amounts of security, such as bars on the windows of the building, barbed wire fences, and security cameras. They may not be allowed breaks and often aren’t paid.
A lack of personal belongings. They may not have access to their own identification cards or banking information, and sometimes they aren’t allowed to actually speak to others.

Avoiding social contact with others. They may seem incredibly nervous and refuse to make eye contact, or appear anxious, depressed, submissive, and fearful, especially when the threat of calling law enforcement is made.

Keep identification updated.

Yes, it can be a pain to take young children in to have an ID card made, but it could be what saves their life if they’re ever abducted.

Putting together a child ID kit for each of your children can be one of the most helpful tools for law enforcement if they ever need to search for them, and they’re ultimately pretty simple to complete.
It is recommended that the kits contain a color photo of the child that is recent (no more than six months old), a full description of the child, fingerprints taken by a professional, dental records, and some type of DNA.

That last portion might sound surprising, but DNA can be taken from a number of sources like old toothbrushes, used bandages that contain the child’s blood, the child’s baby teeth, or even an old hair brush with some strands still in it. You can also purchase DNA kits, but these suggestions include simple items that you could gather at any time.

Remember escape techniques.

Whether it’s for you or your child, there are a number of techniques that can be used to make an attacker flee.

Remember one word—velcro. If you ever find yourself in a situation where someone is trying to drag you, hold on to whatever you can like a piece of velcro and fight as hard as you can to hold on. Attackers will typically go for an abduction that’s easier, and making it easier for them is the last thing you want to do.
Yell. Loudly. Try to call as much attention to yourself and the situation as you can. Like the velcro technique, it can make the abductor feel like they won’t be able to take you without a fight. You can also buy your child a whistle that they can use if they notice someone acting strangely or coming near them.

Use the swimming or windmill technique, which involves swinging your arms around wildly, as if you’re doing a backstroke. Doing so can prevent whoever’s attacking you from getting a firm grip on you, and you might even get in a good swing at them while you’re at it.

Tags 50020071, hemingway, parenting