Question: Will I ever be able to wear my pre-pregnancy clothes again?

Answer: Probably — but not for a while. Remember, it took nine months to grow your baby, so you can't expect all traces of your pregnancy to disappear in a few weeks. In fact, it may take nine months to a year or more to get back to what you consider "normal." Even then, you may find that the shape of your body has changed for good. Your hips may be broader, your bottom slightly rounder, or your waist just thick enough to require one size larger in fitted pants and skirts.

For the first month or so after giving birth, you'll probably be most comfortable in the maternity clothes you wore when you were four to five months pregnant. Or you may find that regular pants, shorts, and skirts with drawstring or elastic waistbands, roomy tees and tops, or loose-fitting dresses best accommodate your post-baby body.You probably already know the two essentials for shedding pounds: eating sensibly and exercising regularly. Finding time to work out can be challenging with a new baby in the house, but keep in mind that doing something is always better than doing nothing.Many health clubs and YMCAs offer postnatal fitness classes where you'll meet other new moms who are struggling with the same issues you are. You can even find workouts you can do with your baby, such as "mommy and me" yoga classes.If you can't find a class in your area, check with the childbirth education instructors at your hospital or birthing center — they usually have a wealth of information about local resources for new moms. Consider investing in a couple of exercise videos so that you have a backup plan on the days you can't leave the house for a walk or get to the gym.Also realize that just as every woman's body responds differently to pregnancy, every woman's body has its own way of rebounding afterward. Some women never get back to their pre-pregnancy weight, while others find that the relentless physical demands of motherhood leave them thinner than they were before having a baby.Be patient. Whenever you're feeling frustrated by how you look, pick up your baby and head to the nearest mirror. It's hard to be too critical of yourself when you're looking at the wonderful reason your body changed.

source- babycenter.com

Thyroid problems ad fatigue

Question: I've heard that postpartum fatigue can be a sign of an underactive thyroid. How can I tell if my thyroid is the root of my tiredness and not sleep deprivation?

Answer: Approximately 5 to 10 percent of women experience a thyroid disorder known as postpartum thyroiditis. In this condition, a woman's immune system attacks the thyroid gland and at first causes it to become overactive (hyperthyroidism), and then causes a decrease in thyroid function (hypothyroidism). The period of hyperthyroidism is usually temporary, lasting a few months, but hypothyroidism can persist long after the postpartum period. Postpartum thyroiditis usually occurs four to 12 months after delivery, so if you just delivered your baby, you're probably just exhausted.

But keep your eye out for these symptoms of thyroid problems:Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)Heat intoleranceIncreased appetiteWeight lossHeart rate greater than 100 beats per minute at restHeart palpitations (feeling your heart race or skip beats)InsomniaTremorsHypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)Cold intoleranceDecreased appetiteConstipationInability to lose weight or weight gainDry skinDepressionFatigueSee your healthcare provider if you are having these symptoms. Simple blood work can be performed to check your thyroid function and make a diagnosis. If you are diagnosed with postpartum thyroiditis, you may not need any treatment at all because the thyroid usually gets better by itself. However, your care provider will monitor you closely and perform blood tests to make sure you're on the road to recovery. If the hypothyroidism persists, you will be prescribed thyroid hormone to replenish what your thyroid is not making. This medication is safe for breastfeeding women. source- babycenter.com

Postpartum wieghtloss

Losing the postpartum wegiht. A simple postpartum routine:


Postpartum Exercise Routine
You can do this routine with two pound ankle weights or without.
Leg Extensions 2 sets of 40
Lay on your back, bend legs and extend them to vertical. You should feel this in your quad/front of thigh/around knee.
Leg Curl 2 sets of 40
Stand next to a wall (on a phone book for a bit of height. Hold the wall, but don't lean). Bend leg to your butt and extend it all the way, with foot flexed. You should feel this burn the hamstring/back of thigh, butt.
Adductors 2 sets of 40
Lay on back, legs extended vertically and together. Open legs to straddle and close. (you don't have to straddle wide, just as much as you can and so that you feel it working your inner thigh muscles)
Abductors 2 sets of 20
Lay on side, both legs bent slightly. Lift top leg slightly above horizontal and back down. Make sure the foot of the leg you are lifting is straight, vs. turned out or in. You should feel this on the outside of your thigh.
Calves 2 sets of 40
Stand with feet together (you can hold the wall if you like) and go to tip toe (or as high as you can). Make sure when you raise your heels that your ankles stay in line (don't let ankles collapse in or out). You should feel this in your calves.
Toe Taps 2 sets of 50
Standing, just tap one foot at a time, lifting toes. You can do these quick. You should feel this in your shin.
Lunges 2 sets of 20
Standing, step back with each leg, once at a time. Make sure you don't turn out the foot of the leg that is in front and make sure you touch the knee to the floor of the leg you step behind. Alternate each leg. Left, right, so on. You'll feel this in your thighs.
Crunches 50
Lay on back, bend knees, arms on your stomach. Lift your head and shoulders enough to clear the floor. Try not to use your neck/head to help you lift. You'll feel it burn those muscles!

When to start using a tampon again

Not for at least six weeks after giving birth. Even if you've never used sanitary pads in your life, you'll get very familiar with them in the first few weeks after childbirth as your body expels the lochia — a discharge of blood, mucus, and tissue — from your uterus.As long as the flow of lochia continues, you have an open internal wound at the site where the placenta was attached to the uterine wall. And like any wound, this one is vulnerable to infection. It's important to avoid tampons until you've completely healed inside because they could introduce bacteria. After your six-week appointment with your health provider, assuming the lochia has stopped and your provider approves, you can use tampons for your next normal menstrual period. Of course, if you're breastfeeding, you probably won't get your period for many months to come.

When will I get my period again?

Whether and how much you're nursing your baby is the biggest factor in determining how soon your body will resume its menstrual cycles.The timing is different for every woman, and there's a huge range of what's considered normal, depending on your body and circumstances. As a result, the time frames mentioned below are approximate guidelines. If you're concerned, your healthcare provider can help evaluate your situation and make sure you're on track

Nursing moms: One seldom-cited benefit of breastfeeding is that it delays your period.

If you're breastfeeding exclusively, day and night, it can take up to a year before you have to run to the store for tampons, suffer from PMS, or cope with cramps. If you're lucky enough to have a baby who sleeps through the night from an early age, your period will likely return sooner — typically in three to eight months. The same applies if you're supplementing with formula. In other words, the more often your baby nurses, the longer it will be before you get your period again.Non-nursing moms: If you're formula-feeding your baby, you might start menstruating again as soon as a month after delivering your child, or it could take two to three months.All moms: Bear in mind that your body will release its first postpartum egg before you menstruate. So if you don't begin using birth control as soon as you start having sex again, you can get pregnant even before having your first period. If you're breastfeeding, don't be misled by the myth that you're not fertile — many a nursing mother has been surprised by an unplanned pregnancy.

babycenter-com

Hot tubs after delivery

Most care providers agree that tub baths are safe immediately following delivery. Taking a tub bath after delivery can be therapeutic. The warm water can soothe the episiotomy repair and ease swollen hemorrhoids. It can also help to ease the tension and fatigue that go along with having a new baby at home. If you have had a cesarean section, you may be asked to wait a week or so until your abdominal incision is well on the way to healing. Talk to your care provider for exact instructions.As for the hot tub, I'd be more cautious. Because the water isn't drained after every use, the only way it would be safe before six weeks is if the tub is meticulously clean. You don't want to risk an infection during these critical early weeks while you are still healing. And you don't want to risk harming anyone else, either. If you're still bleeding, you could contaminate the tub, making it unsafe for others.

Five-Element Vegetable Broth & Brown Rice Tea

Dr. Tateishi’s father and brother both died of cancer. And he found himself suffering from cancer of stomach and duodenum. His stomach and duodenum were removed, but the cancer cells had spread to his lungs. He resolved to fight for his life.



He researched, studied and tested over 1,500 kinds of herbs/plants. Eventually he discovered the right combination of ingredients to formulate a unique healing vegetable broth and brown rice tea with its own molecular powder. The vegetables are rich in chlorophyll, amino acids, iron, phosphorous, and calcium, all in a natural form.



He based his broth on the principles of Five-Element theory, the harmonizing balance of the forces of yin and yang, acid and alkaline that engenders health as opposed to the imbalance, which leads to disease.



The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Because of the balance of the five elements, Heaven and Earth are able to provide life. Each element possesses its own color: green, red, yellow, white and black. These relate to the corresponding internal organs: liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney. Dr. Tateishi used the essence of the five elements to formulate his vegetable broth. He used the concept of the five different colors as matched to specific vegetables:

Green: Daikon Radish leaves

Red: Carrot

Yellow: Burdock Root

White: Daikon Radish

Black: Shitake Mushroom