Mamma Fairy

Wow! You’re pregnant!  Congratulations.   And yet, despite the euphoria, there are feelings of dread, uncertainty and anxiety.  For many women, this comes with every pregnancy, whether it is their first child or their third.

It is a time of great change and for many of us, that is tough to handle. Combined with your own feelings of trepidation and insecurity, there is your partner to consider too, and their concerns too.   It is also a time where family members, work colleagues, friends and complete strangers feel they have the right to tell you what to do and not do, where you are going wrong and why.

Others also feel that they can impose their own belief systems about what a ‘good’ pregnancy is as well as wax lyrical about how to give birth.

And then there is the debate about breastfeeding and formula feeding, which is best, better or the devil in disguise. Here’s the big question – are you looking after you?

Pouring from an empty cup

Running on empty when pregnant, either physical or emotional energy, is simply not possible. Thus, looking after you is essential. But how?

• Take action that suits you

From finding a discreet incontinence pad supplier who delivers regular orders to your door that makes managing occasional leaks or urine easier, to practising pregnancy yoga to eating crackers when you wake in the morning, do what works for you.   Bear in mind that every pregnancy is different and so what worked the first time around, may not the second.   Be agile – in other words, be prepared to adapt from one pregnancy to another, from one trimester to another, from one week to another, from one day to another.

During and after pregnancy, there are ways that you can avoid and control urine leakage. Wearing of incontinence supplies is one of them. All you need to do is to choose the right product that suits your needs. So many surprises can be brought by pregnancy. It is important to manage this condition and stay focused on your health.

• Take time out

You can’t unstrap your baby bump for an hour or two but you can close the door on the world and all that well-meaning advice.

Unwinding, de-stressing, zoning out, call it what you want but just as in everyday life, taking time to disconnect, even if it is for half an hour, can leave us feeling renewed and vitalised to face the rest of the week.

• Stay active

There will be some days where rest is essential. And there are other days when a brisk walk around the park is just what you need.   But again, there are all kinds of beliefs that others have about pregnant women exercising. Providing you were an active gym bunny pre-pregnancy, there are no reasons why you can’t continue. You’ll probably find the gym staff will help you adapt your routine anyway.

• Keep an eye on your mental health

Thankfully, we have started to talk more about mental health and how, for some of us, days, weeks and months can be a struggle.The black cloud of depression hangs around and yet we don’t know why – we have everything we need and want.  And yet… 

Hormones in pregnancy magnify mental health issues and it is very easy for everyone, including you, to just assume that it is part and parcel of being pregnant. It is, in some ways, but there are also warning signs we need to keep an out for and when we ‘see’ them, we must reach out for help. But at a time when you are low, reaching out is the hardest thing to do. Use the resources available on line to learn more about post-partum depression.

The days of social services popping up and taking your baby away because you have dared to admit to feeling depressed, stressed and uncertain are gone.

There are mental health charities and phone lines who can help and will listen.  Please talk. Please share.

• YOU time

This includes the basics and the luxuries;

• • The basics – shower. Go to appointments in good time. Eat well. Stay hydrated. Talk to your midwife/GP/pharmacist if you feel unwell just as you did before pregnancy and before you were mum.
  • The luxuries – a warm bath, with bubbles and candles and the door locked so everyone knows it is calm and relaxing time for the lady growing a small human inside her. Or sit in the park, the garden or anywhere you like, reading a book and enjoying a chocolate treat or two.

• Banish guilt and shame

It is easier said than done because more mums – and dads – will tell you that most of the early years of being a parent are marred by guilt. Are they doing the right thing? Should you be going out and leaving the baby with a sitter? Should you go back to work?   And then there is the guilt-tripping that others do, sometimes without realising and without malice. They’ll tell you ‘what you are doing wrong’ or imply you are making the ‘wrong decisions’.   Banish this negativity and look forward to a joyous time, a time of amazing change and embrace it. Because you are amazing!

HARTMANN Direct is one of the leading discreet incontinence pad suppliers in the UK. Their products are safe for use during and after pregnancy.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Pic Credit:Pixabay

Fruits are not only delicious, but also healthy for consumption. This makes fruits a good alternative for people who want to pursue a healthy diet. However, fresh fruits do not always retain their freshness after a couple of days. Unless you are storing them in the fridge, the fruits may decay over time. Thus, an alternate method of keeping the nutrition high, while maintaining the richness in taste is by dehydrating the fruit. This post will share some of the best fruits that you can dehydrate and consume even after weeks. Go through the list of the fruits below and choose the ones that you love to consume.

Apricots

These fruits are one of the most delicious, especially when they are dehydrated. Many people who go on camping trips, etc., like to carry these with them as a snack.

Dates

This fruit is available in many desserts. Besides being incredibly tasty, these are also incorporating many health benefits. A benefit of dates is that you can rehydrate them when needed so that you can add them in various recipes. Some recommended recipes that you ought to try using dried dates are chocolate tart, quinoa truffles with date nuts, almond butter / date caramel with apple (raw) sandwiches.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes have also been considered one of the Best Fruits To Dehydrate, and many people do not even know about this. The method to enjoy dried tomatoes is best when you grind them after dehydrating them. Now, you have multiple options to use it to create ketchup, puree, or add them in other sauces as per your requirements for a particular dish.

Strawberries

Pic Credit: Pixabay

These sweet fruits taste very savory when one removes their moisture from them. The taste that you get is an exotic combination of sweet and tangy, which children love to eat. If you add dried strawberries to trail mixes and smoothies, you can enhance its flavor and make nutritious and appetizing recipes.

Bananas

Dried banana chips have been known to serve as an alternative to regular potato chips as these are these contain much more nutrition compared to the latter. However, you should avoid munching them uncontrollably, as these are also containing fat. Regulate their consumption, as these chips can be highly addictive just like their counter part.  In addition, you can use dehydrated bananas for various traditional dishes for lunch and dinners.

Apples

Pic Credit: Pixabay

This fruit is one of the most dried ones used in several types of deserts and dishes. You can even try them as a snack dipped in peanut butter, etc. One of the best ways to consume it is by making an apple pie out of them.

Cherries

You may have seen dried cherries on top of cakes, ice creams, mock tails, etc. These fruits have been known to serve its purpose really well. Kids love them too. 

Try dehydrating such fruits and add them to various recipes you have been waiting to try. You are surely going to love consuming them for their taste and health advantages.

It’s no secret that obesity is a huge public health issue through the world. Childhood obesity can not only have a disastrous effect on your child’s overall health, but on their quality of life and self-esteem as well. And too often, children tend to bring that excess weight with them well into their adult life along with their bad eating habits. Here are a few simple tips that can help you combat childhood obesity.

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Make Activity Fun

The first thing you have to do to prevent childhood obesity is to instill a love of activity into your children early on. Make sure that they don’t associate exercise and activity with hard work and suffering and try to get them into fun activities instead.

For instance, you could decide to make your backyard more conducive to activity. You can add a soccer net and play with them from time to time. Installing a small pool or a big inflatable one could be a great idea as well. A trampoline is also a surprising way to burn calories and most children absolutely love them, so that would be a great way to sneak some physical activity into their lifestyle without them seeing it as a chore.

You could also consider enrolling them in some organized sports. Most children will have a sport they will particularly enjoy from a young age. If you notice they have a love for a certain sport, ask them if they would like to play in a team – but don’t force them. If they’re enthusiastic about the idea, look for leagues in your area that you could enroll them in. But always make sure to make it about them and not you, or they might start losing interest.

Reduce Liquid Calories

You won’t believe how many calories juices and soft drinks contain alone. By making smart choices and cutting the amount of liquid calories your children take in, you could make a huge difference on their daily caloric consumption.

Instead of soda, try to go with sparkling water with fruit. You can easily replace soft drinks with a low sugar sparkling water lemonade and your kids will love it. Making your own smoothies is also a great way to cut on calories and provide them with the nutrition they need.

Gradually Reduce Servings

Serving sizes are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to childhood obesity. If your child is already used to huge servings, you’ll have to reduce them gradually so that they don’t notice the difference. One of the ways you could do that is by getting a smaller set of plates. Children will usually associate a full plate with a full serving and won’t see the difference.

It’s also important that you know what the daily caloric needs for your children are and portion their meals accordingly. Small children should never eat more than 1400 calories per day and can get by with much less than that. Adolescents however, will need about 2000 calories per day if they’re active. If you have a teenager who’s struggling with excess weight, you can consider weight loss supplements like Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, or HCG for short. If you want to learn more about HCG and various HCG products on the market, you can visit Hcgdietreview.Com.

If you follow these few simple tips, you should be able to reduce the chances of your child being overweight. Make sure that you apply these tips in your everyday life to improve your child’s quality of life.

Do you want a natural tan? Of course, you do. You might have tried the tanning booths, but this method requires much effort for mediocre results. And you deserve better.

Imagine getting an organic, even tan that lasts you for months and requires less effort to attain. You’ll get your wish plus more benefits with Melanotan 2. 

Pic Credit: Pixabay

In this article, you’ll learn what this peptide is, how it works and the benefits you can expect.

Does that sound good? Read on for more.

What is Melanotan 2?

Melanotan 2 is a peptide which mimics the alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Scientists made this drug to stimulate the formation of your skin’s darkening pigments. Therefore, you’ll get a natural tan which protects you from harmful sun rays.

Other benefits include an increase in your libido and possibly losing weight.

How Does Melanotan 2 Work?

Melanotan gives you a tan by stimulating melanin formation. You’ll get this effect when the drug promotes the production of Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH). This molecule then activates MC1 receptors on the plasma membrane of your skin’s melanocytes. 

Your skin thus forms more pigment on the hypodermal layer, which protects you against UV radiation. Also, you’ll only get mild side effects because this product works through your body’s natural melanogenesis mechanism. 

You’ll thus enjoy all the benefits without causing abnormal cell proliferation. Also, this method requires little sun exposure to get a full tan. However, scientists still need to do more research on Melanotan 2 before authorizing public use.

What Benefits Can You Expect from Melanotan 2?

Get a Near-effortless Tan

Melanotan 2 gives you a natural tan that lasts for months even if you stop using the peptide. Moreover, you don’t have to risk damaging your skin layers by spending hours in the sun. A few minutes of basking will get you perfect, enviable skin.

Protect Your Skin

Do you have sensitive skin? This peptide offers a cost-effective way to protect your dermal layers from sunburns. So you can save your time and money from other ineffective methods during your tanning cycle. 

Melanotan 2 is 1000 times more potent and lasts longer in your body than natural alpha-MSH. Therefore, you might use this peptide to protect yourself against skin cancer. You’ll get this benefit through the melanin’s protective effect.

Enhance Your Sexual Performance

This peptide works as an aphrodisiac for both men and women. Therefore, you can inject the product to improve your prowess in the bedroom. Studies show that you’ll get this effect through the MC4 receptor.

Some data also shows that you could use Melanotan 2 to cure impotence. However, there’s still an inconclusive report on this effect. So, first, optimize your testosterone with exercise, sleep, and a good diet. Then consult your doctor if the problem persists.

Lose Weight

Cutting extra kilos is a challenging process. But Melanotan 2 can help you burn off the excess fat by reducing your appetite and boosting metabolism. You’ll thus get your desired results fast when you add a good workout and diet regimen and are consistent.

The peptide works by stimulating the conversion of your adipose tissue to brown fat. You’ll also increase the mitochondria in these cells. Both of those processes thus help you burn fat for your body’s fuel instead of storing it. 

Treat Addictions

Melanotan 2 may help you overcome addiction. 

Physicians also predict that this drug could form a new generation of rehabilitation medications. However, this area still needs more research. The current studies show data from mice addicted to alcohol. These animals experienced lesser urges to drink after getting Melanotan 2.

Side Effects of Melanotan 2

This peptide has a few side effects. For example, you might get irritation on the pricked site, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting and a yawning-stretching complex.

Other consequences which you may experience due to long-term use include:

• High-grade skin cancer like melanoma.
• Deepened colour of your skin’s moles and atypical melanocytic naevi.
• An abnormal brown to black colour of one or more nails (Melanonychia).
• Rhabdomyolysis.
• Encephalopathy syndrome.

How to Buy Melanotan 2

Buy Melanotan 2 in Australia and other countries from reputable vendors to prevent wasting your time and money on sub-par products. You’ll discover these sellers by researching a potential company’s online reviews and 3rd party test results. 

Conclusion

Melanotan 2 helps you get a natural tan that protects you from UV-B light that could cause cancer. This product may also help boost your sexual stamina, lose weight and treat addictions with little to no side effects. Purchase your peptide from good sources and enjoy!

About the writer: Nikolay Stoyanov is the director of CBDAdvertising.agency – a CBD marketing agency that has been helping hemp and cannabis brands grow their online traffic and sales since 2015.