Friday, January 18, 2008

5 Reasons Why You Need a Doula

A doula is a labor support professional who can assist you when going through childbirth. Traditionally, women were always attended by other experienced women to help them get through this difficult life transition. In the modern day hospital setting, women are generally unattended until it is time to actually deliver. This means a first time mom could spend 16-18 hours feeling completely alone. The nurses will hook you to the monitor, and check on you about once an hour.

A doula is a professional, trained to handle the non-clinical aspects of labor. She is familiar with the process of childbirth and how to guide you through the progression of labor with effectiveness. This is the only experienced professional who stays with the mother from the time her labor is active, until after the baby is born.

Here are 5 reasons a mom will want a doula by her side:

1.The mother will have professional help in developing a birth plan, as a doula assists the new parents in understanding all the available options

2.The mother will have an experienced professional by her side continuously during labor

3.The mother will be physically comforted by the doulas comfort measures, including warm compresses, massage, relaxation and breathing techniques

4.The partner will have support and guidance in how to help the mother during labor

5.The couple will have a beautiful account of what happened during labor, as a doula will keep a record and many mothers lose focus of the time

These are just a few things that a doula can do for you! Here is what Jacksonville moms are saying about having a doula for their birth:

She [our doula] provided us with important prenatal information and practice relaxation techniques that assisted my husband and me to feel prepared for the birth.

The positive outcome of our labor was directly impacted by our doulas birthing expertise and her ability to assist me in managing my labor. We would not have been able to have a natural, non-medicated delivery without our doula!

This was the best money we spent when preparing for our new baby!

Educate yourself and hire and doula to help you have a shorter, easier birth and a wonderful birth experience.

Sita Payne Romero, LMT, CD

Sita specializes in preparing expectant mothers to have a comfortable pregnancy, and achieve their ideal birth experience. She is a certified doula, a licensed and certified pregnancy massage therapist and a prenatal yoga teacher. She owns a private practice in Jacksonville, FL. For more information, and helpful articles please visit our Jacksonville Doula and Pregnancy Massage Resource Page

Yoga Online Beginners

Dehumidifiers - Developing a Proper Understanding

A dehumidifier is an important appliance that helps in reducing mite allergies and mold production during the humid seasons. Mold, which will thrive in high humidity, is dormant or dies as the humidity decreases. Dust mites also die when the humidity is consistently below 50%. You should remember the dust mites that develop in your bed depend on you for their source of humidity, so it is important to always use mattress covers, pillow covers, and box spring encasings.

Reducing levels of humidity by using dehumidifiers and monitoring with a gauge will ensure that you keep low levels of humidity within your home.

A common summer complaint from most people is not of the heat, but the humidity. Too much moisture in the hot summer air can literally turn the area you live in into a sauna, and instantly break you into a sweat. It can also create breathing problems, insomnia, and many skin infections.

Another problem associated with high humidity is that of mold. While being unpleasant to the eye, mold patches also can create a serious threat to your health, especially if you already have asthma and/or allergies. Once again these spores can die if you keep the humidity low. As mentioned before, dust is something else that can be decreased and eliminated if you keep the humidity low (below 50%).

A dehumidifier will take moisture from the air while utilizing a refrigeration system. The water that is removed from the air collects within a tank in the machine. In some models the water can then be removed through a hose connected to the water drain in the kitchen or bathroom, or wherever you choose.

Most dehumidifiers function approximately within 64 - 90 F temperature limit and 40% - 95% relative humidity limit. There are some that can function under temperatures as low as 44 F, which makes them perfect for uses in the colder areas of the home such as the basement. If you are planning to put your dehumidifier in a basement, consider purchasing the pump model over a non-pump one. While a pump model can be more expensive, it is capable of emptying its water tank on its own, which will save you the trouble of running up and down the stairs carrying heavy tanks full of water, and assures you peace of mind as you are not always going to be home.

To read more about the benefits of a dehumidifier and the various models available visit Dehumidifiers

Conroe Texas Yoga Ball

Tips In Choosing The Right Golf Iron

Irons are used for medium to long-range shots, and the variety of their uses is why they compromise more than half the clubs in a usual set. Irons are used for shorter golf shots, ranging from 200 yards to less than 100 yards. Long irons such as 1-iron (also called driving iron) and 2-iron are not included in the standard set of irons because they are the most difficult irons to handle.

Iron

Novice and recreational golfers are advised to stay away from 1- and 2-iron. They should even consider replacing 3- and 4-iron with higher lofted fairway woods, 7-wood or 9-wood, because they are easier to hit and produce comparable distance. In general, irons are used for distance that is less than 200 yards from the green.

One of the secrets to successful iron play is knowing exactly how far you can hit with each club. Higher number irons are used as you are closer to the green. Even though, driver is used to off the tee, but irons are also used off the tee for Par-3 or narrow & short Par-4. This is why cast irons also known as 'perimeter weighted' irons. Therefore, cast irons bring significant performance improvement for average golfers who have the tendency to hit the ball off-center.

Forged irons - In contrast to cast irons, forged irons feature a full back on the rear of the club head. Hence, forged irons with smaller sweet spot are less forgiving. But forged irons offer more control and extra 'feel' than cast irons. Therefore, forged irons are recommended for low handicapper. Graphite shaft irons allows an average golfer to swing the club faster that could add extra distance. You are strongly recommended to use graphite shafts in your irons if your golf swing is slow.

shaft

The higher the iron clubs, the more loft and the shorter shaft length is. Graphite shafts are lighter than steel can reduce the overall golf club weight which is good news for all golfers, especially for weaker players such as senior and women. Graphite shaft irons allows an average golfer to swing the club faster that could add extra distance. There are different types of shafts used for irons, and the right choice allows you to make easier and better shots.

Steel shafts are affordable and durable, making it the preferred choice of many. Graphite shafts are for people who wish to add speed or distance to their shots by making their clubs lighter without sacrificing its strength. And lastly, there are shafts that are made from a combination of graphite and steel to give you the best of both worlds.

There are many things to consider when buying clubs, like identifying your needs which shaft flex it is best suited for your swing would a club fitting benefit you the value of used golf clubs. Most teaching professionals say that up to 75% of all golfers use shafts that are too stiff. If you're not sure which shaft flex or club head is right for your game then a custom club fitting may be right for you.

James Young Clark is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.AGolfersParadise.com. He provides more information about golf and golf issues that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

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