Coronovirus 2020, Healthy Living, Parenting

Protect Your Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic With These 5 Tips

Protect Your Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic With These 5 Tips
Photo by Anastasiia Chepinska on Unsplash

There are so many unknowns about our health with this new virus. We hope masks work well enough and we distance as we wait to learn how airborne COVID-19 is. We are told to not touch our faces and sanitize but now we are told there are toxic sanitizers being sold.

I am just a Mom with a tween and 2 older boys trying to navigate through this, but I couldn’t imagine the extra element needing to protect your pregnancy or having a newborn on top of it all.

I have been searching to bring my readers tips and education with COVID-19 and these tips are for the Pregnant Mamas out there. Being prepared with the right tools and taking comfort in knowing that these tips are from a health expert may help you take all the necessary precautions to make it safely through your pregnancy during this virus.

Protect Your Pregnancy With These 5 Tips

  1.     Get a pulse oximeter: Hypoxemia (a below-normal level of oxygen in your blood) is one of the signs of serious illness with COVID-19. You can pick up a pulse oximeter for around $50 and take regular readings of your pulse and oxygen saturation. Get a baseline so that you know if something looks off. A baseline for healthy people is 90 or higher. When we see below 90, we start getting concerned.
  2.     Check for fever: Whether you have a fancy new thermometer that reads from the forehead or an old-school glass one where the mercury rises, take your temperature regularly to make sure you aren’t experiencing a fever.
  3.     Keep surfaces tidy for easy cleaning: Keeping tidy may not seem like a health tip for pregnancy, but in the days of COVID-19 it absolutely is. You want the surfaces in your home to be able to easily be wiped down and disinfected, frequently — at least once a day.
  4.     If you choose to travel, choose safely: For example, to further protect your pregnancy you might choose to visit a loved one in a remote rural town with few to no COVID-19 cases, but don’t travel somewhere that you’ll be interacting with a lot of people. 
  5.     Keep your distance: How close is too close? Can you smell the other person’s detergent, deodorant, or shampoo? That’s too close!And for some extra protection when you are going to be around other people, wear a mask. It’s an additional safety measure that can only help you and your baby. 

Here are some specific questions to ask your doctor if you are pregnant NOW, during the coronavirus outbreak:

  1.     Have you already been exposed? You have the right to know whether or not your doctor has already been exposed to COVID-19 or not, and what the implications are either way. Have they been tested recently? When was the last negative test? Don’t hesitate to gather information to put yourself more at ease.
  2.     What will happen if I’m positive for COVID-19 when I deliver? Make a plan with your doctor so that you have one less thing to stress about if this occurs. As much as you don’t want your baby whisked away after birth, the plan to protect and test your new baby for the illness will include isolating you from her/him initially after birth.
  3.     Will my baby be immune if I have/had COVID-19? One Chinese case study found that a mother who had COVID-19 and delivered her baby via C-section passed immunity onto her baby but not the illness. Other studies, however, have shown cases of mothers passing the virus on to their babies.
  4.     Will you be the one delivering my baby? Often, the O.B. you’re working with may not actually be the one to deliver your baby. Asking this question now gives you an opportunity to understand who will be there during delivery, and who else you need to talk to about their COVID-19 exposure and testing. 
  5.     Will I be allowed to have my support team in the birthing room with me? If you want your partner and/or a doula in the birthing room with you, this is a very important question to ask your doctor. The rules as we navigate the pandemic are constantly changing and under evaluation, so ask now, and ask again as birth gets closer.

These tips and questions to protect your pregnancy are provided by maternal health expert “Rural Doc” Alan Lindemann, M.D., former winner of the Rural Health Care Provider of the Year award and co-author of “Modern Medicine: What You’re Dying to Know.”

Healthy Living

How CBD Salves Work

How CBD Salves Work

Many people want to have one or more CBD salves and products in their homes because of the benefits that they offer. You can know more information about CBD when in this link here: https://www.livescience.com/65811-what-is-cbd.html. The cannabis plant contains hundreds of cannabinoids, such as marijuana and hemp. In the US, with the legalization of the growth of industrial hemp, lots of people benefit from the cannabinoids that come from hemp. The products that include cannabidiol is known to be in-demand in recent years.

One of the most active cannabinoids that can be found in hemp is called cannabidiol or CBD. This compound is known to have therapeutic effects that are unlike the common marijuana. Lots of companies have taken the challenge of manufacturing two or more products that contain CBD. Some of them produce oil, and others incorporated CBD into creams.

CBD is Different from THC

THC is a psychoactive compound that makes its users high. Most people who smoke weed can feel the effects of getting high, and marijuana can alter the mind’s processes. There’s also evidence that THC can make its users dependent on it.

On the other hand, CBD is a different strain found in hemp. It does not contain THC, and it does not make the users stoned. When using cannabidiol, most people will feel relaxed and calmer. Most people found out that they don’t become dependent on many CBD products. There are no feelings of euphoria and intoxication with cannabidiol, but it offers relief from back pain and arthritis.

What are CBD Salves?

There are lots of balms, lotions, moisturizers, oils, and salves infused with CBD. The creams make the skin smoother while the cannabidiol gets absorbed. You can go to this article source to know more about salves and how it can benefit you. The topicals are absorbed by the skin, which helps alleviate several medical conditions such as irritation, pain, soreness, and a lot more.

The topical products are powerful, especially if one uses the right amount and follow the label’s instructions. Most of the salves can relieve muscle soreness, joint pain, dermatitis, and more without any harsh side effects. The salves with cannabidiol don’t contain other chemicals, so they are very soothing for sensitive skin.

A Brief History of Topical Cannabis

In ancient Egypt, many people are already using topical cannabis to find relief from pain and skin conditions. Their role as disinfectants and treatments of inflamed muscles were valuable. Some of the locals also used the creams as an anesthetic for surgeries.

Because the CBD salves and products are re-emerging again in the present century, many people are becoming curious about how they can incorporate these products into their daily lifestyle. These gifts of nature can help them relax and become calmer without feeling any psychoactive effects.

How Does CBD Work?

The CBD salves is applied in skin areas where itchiness, soreness, inflammation and chronic pain are often felt. Though they are different from oil, which is typically ingested through the mouth, the salve can still do its work. The layers of the skin absorb and retain them even if they don’t go directly to the bloodstream.

The skin is the largest body organ, and it can absorb thin layers of lipid liquids that contain wax, oil, water, and salves. After the user applies the cream to the affected area, the skin will begin the absorption of the cannabinoid lipids. This leads to the healing and therapeutic effect that many people experience. The itchiness and pain will start to disappear. People who have contact dermatitis or psoriasis can benefit from the salve.

How the Endocannabinoid System Works

How the Endocannabinoid System Works

The body is composed of the endocannabinoid system that is responsible for maintaining balance in the body. It consists of the central and peripheral nervous system that controls the appetite, pain sensations, sleep, and more.

When the salve comes in contact with the ECS, the effect is immediate. The health benefits will include alleviating chronic pain, soothing skin irritations, and relaxation of muscles. You can get all these benefits without the dangers of abusing or becoming dependent on the product.

Currently, the legal status of cannabidiol in many countries is still in a gray area. Some may support the use of medical marijuana, and others may ban them. CBD salves and topical creams are available for purchase online to prevent problems. Overall, cannabidiol is legal to purchase in many states now.

Healthy Living

Prevent and Wear your Pain Away with these Two Pain Relief Brands

Whether you are working out at home right now or know you will be back to work after some time off in an active job where summer is nearing and chaffing is common, these products are what you will want to have on hand.

The following products will help in blister and pain relief and are made with healing ingredients to help relieve these discomforts. Starting with MedZone, they aim to make EveryBody feel better!

MedZone has products that work to prevent, treat and manage aches, pains, discomforts, wounds and skin-chafing issues. This BlisterZone stick is one such product that appears similar to a deodorant stick only this helps prevent friction that may cause blisters wherever you apply it.

The BlisterZone stick can be used on your feet where shoes, heels and boots may cause blistering. Swimsuits and work gear such as Military and Law Enforcement gear also can cause friction then blisters, so BlisterZone is here to help. MedZone also has pain rubs, sanitizers and muscle TENS massager packs to name a few. Visit MedZone to order your pain and chaffing products so pain doesn’t slow you down anymore.

Then there is a second brand, Nufabrx. Nufabrx is about infusing topicals such as capsaicin into fabrics such as foot or wrist compression sleeves. This is just one of many ways infused topicals can be of benefit. Nufabrx even has an infused pillowcase for acne. Where MedZone helps prevent and sooth minor pain and blisters, Nufabrx is the treatment of existing aches and pains.

One of the brands featured through Nufabrx is the Hemp Symmetry sleeves they make available at Everything Hemp store. This NEW Hemp Squeeze™ Compression Sleeve provides support, improved circulation, and zoned compression with the benefits of 150mg active CBD that remain effective after multiple (up to 25) washes.

Nufabrx also has Medicated Sleeves from the Ames & walker store. These sleeves for foot, hands, knees, arm and wrist are embedded with pain-relieving capsaicin, these gloves will help relieve joint pain and provide support for all-day relief. 

With Nufabrx you don’t apply creams, take pills or apply patches. You simply wear your healing ingredients. Their products respond to body movement and temperature, are comfortable and breathable and can be washed and used multiple times. I can get knee pain relief without really realizing it once I put the sleeve on! Visit Nufabrx for all that is available to wear your pain away!

Healthy Living

How to Get a Restful Night’s Sleep

Most people complain about not getting a good night’s sleep from time to time. Everyone has nights when they toss and turn in bed for hours and then wake up unrefreshed. If you find yourself in a pattern of sleeplessness, however, there may be something more at play. Factors such as stress at work, worrying about paying the bills or dealing with a family illness are just a few of the things that can interfere with sound sleep. Even if you can’t eliminate all of the factors that hinder sleep, there are some smart nighttime sleep habits that may help you get the rest you need.

Make Your Bedroom a Restful Place

Your bedroom should be a restful, quiet place. Limit the use of TV or computer screens close to bedtime. Look into buying shades that darken your room if outside lights are a factor. A fan or earplugs can also help eliminate noises and other disturbances. You should try to avoid spending much time in bed during the day so that you always associate bed with sleep.

Watch What You Drink and Eat Before Bedtime

You should never eat a heavy meal right before you go to bed since it can cause indigestion. Caffeine is another thing to avoid for several hours before you try to sleep. Alcohol can initially make you sleepy, but it can wake you up during the night and prevent you from getting back to sleep.

Keep a Routine Sleep Schedule

If possible, try to go to bed around the same time each night and don’t stay in bed for more than eight hours. When you are consistent in your bedtime routine, it will help your body keep a stable sleep cycle.

Reduce Naps During the Day

If you find you need a nap during the day, try to limit it to 30 minutes or less and never nap after 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

Try to Resolve Worries

Of course, you can’t eliminate your worries, but if you take time to write down the issues that you can resolve the next day it will help your mind relax so that you can get to sleep.

Make Exercise a Part of Your Day

Daily exercise can help you get a better night’s sleep, but don’t do anything too active right before you go to bed.

Keep a Sleep Diary

Another great idea is to begin tracking your sleep with a sleep diary. There are many diary templates available on the Internet but keeping it simple is usually the best option. A sleep doctor will recommend that you follow a few steps and write down your thoughts each morning and evening.

  • Step 1 – On the first night, think about your day and jot down some of the following information:
    • Energy – Record how much energy you had throughout the day and include if there was a specific time when energy surged or dropped.
    • Stimulants – Write down what time you drank caffeine, alcohol or smoked tobacco and include the amounts.
    • Naps – Record the time and length of any naps.
    • Medications – Jot down any medications that you took during the day.
    • Stressful situations – Record any unusual stressful things that happened.
  • Step 2 – When you get up in the morning, reflect on your night’s sleep:
    • Record how long it took to get to sleep.
    • Write down how many times you woke up and how long it took to get back to sleep.
    • Log how you felt as you got up that morning.

It may help visually to create a spreadsheet with columns for each item. If you wake up during the night, it is important to wait until the morning to fill out the diary. You don’t want to feel more stressed about getting back to sleep. Observing your sleep pattern for about a month can help you see potential problems that may be corrected.

If you still don’t see any progress after making healthy changes to your sleep hygiene, you may need to consult with your physician about the possibility of another underlying illness or sleep disorder. It would be a wise idea to rule out such things as sleep apnea, which can pose serious health risks. Other things that can affect sleep are an iron deficiency or deviated septum. 

Following some healthy sleep habits should help you get the rest you need so that you can tackle whatever the next day brings.