How to keep people from getting too angry at gatherings.
The holidays, envisioned as a time of joy, love, and festive lights, sometimes take an unexpected turn into disagreements when family and friends gather. However, with a little planning and awareness of potential triggers, you can avoid getting caught up in arguments.
Understanding Holiday Stress
The holiday season can be stressful due to financial worries, colder weather, and the juggling act of work and time off. Emotional vulnerability is heightened during this time, making it challenging to manage feelings and communicate effectively. Factors like painful memories or a lack of family support can add to the emotional strain.
Alcohol consumption during holiday gatherings can escalate tensions, as it lowers inhibitions and makes it harder to stay calm. In a survey, 57% of respondents noted family members becoming argumentative after consuming too much alcohol.
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Childbirth, a timeless and sometimes unpredictable journey, has been an integral part of human experience. In the United States, where rates of avoidable complications and maternal deaths are surprisingly high, the demand for doulas is on the rise. Natalia Richey, interim chief midwife at Massachusetts General Hospital, notes an increasing interest in additional care during pregnancy and birth.
But what does a birth doula do? Unlike midwives or doctors, professional doulas offer emotional and physical support to women throughout pregnancy and the birthing process.
Here's a glimpse into doula care if you're considering it.
Doulas vs. Midwives
While midwives and doulas share some responsibilities, a crucial distinction exists: midwives provide medical care, whereas doulas focus on emotional and physical support. Midwives, like certified nurse-midwives, are trained nurses responsible for maintaining the physical health of both mother and baby during childbirth. On the other hand, doulas don't perform medical tasks; they specialize in helping laboring women stay comfortable and calm, employing various techniques like suggesting comfort measures and optimal positions.
Doula Training and Licensing
It's important to note that doula training lacks standardized rules. Certification from over 100 independent organizations is common, although no formal licensing is required. While private insurers often don't cover doula care, some employers, like Walmart, assist in covering costs. As of February 2023, ten states and the District of Columbia offer Medicaid coverage for doula services.
Impact on Birth Outcomes
A 2023 analysis spanning 22 years and 16 studies found that doula support correlated with improved birth outcomes, including fewer C-sections, premature deliveries, and shorter labor. Emotional support from doulas was associated with reduced anxiety and stress in mothers, with notable improvements in breastfeeding success, especially among low-income women.
Collaboration with Doulas
Agreements regarding care may vary, but typically, doulas meet with expectant individuals throughout pregnancy to discuss birth goals and build rapport. Doulas, akin to obstetricians, are available 24/7 to support clients during labor. This constant support, especially for those with limited resources, can be invaluable.
Doula and OB/GYN Collaboration
Collaboration between doulas and OB/GYN teams is generally seamless. Whether a hospital arranges for a doula or if hired privately, coordination ensures everyone sticks to their roles. Doulas suggest nonpharmacological ways to ease pain, respecting boundaries when medical intervention is necessary.
Questions to Ask When Considering a Doula
Interested in working with a doula? Natalia Richey suggests asking yourself questions like:
- What are my hopes and goals for the childbirth process?
- How do I envision my support team during delivery?
- Do I have friends or family members who have used doulas, and what were their impressions?
When contacting a doula, inquire about their training, the number of births attended, how they can assist during pregnancy and labor, and their approach to collaboration with your partner, spouse, and the medical team.
Take the time to meet with any doula you're considering and make sure they're a good fit, advises Richey. "Because this is someone who will be there during one of the most vulnerable times of your life. Having someone there who doesn't make you feel safe and comfortable can affect birth in a major way.
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Oh, and if you've been rocking nail polish for ages without a break, your nails might rebel with some dry, white spots. It's like they're saying, "Hey, let us breathe!" There's also a chance a sneaky fungal infection is behind the scenes, leaving a white film on your nails. Sometimes, more serious stuff like low iron, kidney issues, or liver scarring can play a part in turning your nails half or mostly white.
If you're scratching your head because none of these seem to fit, it's cool to chat with your doctor about it. Waiting for the spots to vanish on their own might take a while – like six months or more – because, you know, nails take their sweet time to grow out.
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Two days ago, I attended the conference at the Center for Contemporary Art, marking the end of the Anti-Racism Interim Governance Group (AIGG) and the sharing of their recommendations for the vision, mission, and structure of the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland.
It was very insightful, and people had the opportunity to ask many questions. Racism hasn't been adequately addressed in many countries and has often been taken lightly. A great-grandmother from India, who has lived in Scotland for a long time and has three generations here, shared accounts of how racism hasn't shown significant improvement for a long time.
Another person spoke up and said if there were not significant changes and accountability for those who engage in racist behavior, then she didn't want to be part of this movement.
Individuals from diverse racial backgrounds were in attendance and poured out their heavy hearts.
The event was attended by the Minister for Equalities, Migration, and Refugees, Emma Roddick, and provided an opportunity to hear from them, ask questions, and engage in conversation with the Co-Chairs of the AIGG.
The event also marked the publication of the AIGG community research report, which contributed in various ways. The community research mapped to the AIGG’s work.
Here is the significant question people want answers to:
Observatory Accountability
We would like to know who will be held accountable for how the anti-racist strategy is implemented.
What are your thoughts?
#AntiRacismConference #EqualityInAction #AIGGEvent #InclusiveScotland #RacismAwareness #CommunityResearch #EqualityAdvocacy #AccountabilityMatters #AntiRacistStrategy #EmpowerChange
Prevention of Diabetes and Four Ways to Lower Your Risk
Diabetes is a disease that affects more than 30 million people in the United States. Diabetes, if left unchecked, can result in serious complications such as blindness, renal failure, and heart disease, among others. You cannot change some risk factors, such as your age or genetics, or you cannot modify your past activities; but, there are some steps you can take now to minimize your chances of developing diabetes.
1. Adopt a healthy diet
The diet of a person can have a substantial impact on his or her efforts to prevent diabetes. When consumed in large quantities, sugary, refined carbohydrates are broken down by the body quickly and absorbed into the bloodstream, causing spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels to occur. Over time, elevated blood glucose levels can raise your chance of developing diabetes. You can lower your risk by substituting simple carbohydrates and entire grains, such as brown rice, sweet potatoes, and whole wheat bread, for simple carbohydrates and whole grains. More complex carbs take longer for your body to break down, resulting in a slow, consistent rise in blood sugar levels over time.
To help avoid diabetes, you can also boost your fiber consumption, which is a straightforward method. The addition of fiber to a diet is not only excellent for gut health and weight loss, but it also helps to maintain healthy blood sugar and insulin levels in the body. Fiber reduces the rate at which meals and sweets are absorbed, hence reducing the likelihood of insulin spikes. Bananas, apples, dark vegetables, legumes, and whole grains are examples of fiber-dense foods to consume.
Excessive food consumption can also result in elevated blood sugar levels and insulin production. The use of the ADA Plate Method is one method of dealing with this prevalent problem. In this strategy, non-starchy vegetables (spinach, broccoli, carrots, and so on) should take up half of your plate, grains and starches should take up one-fourth of your plate, and protein should take up the remaining one-fourth of your plate. To round out your meal, include a serving of fruit and dairy products, as well as a low-calorie beverage.
A healthy lifestyle necessitates the use of large amounts of water. Sugars, preservatives, and artificial additives are common constituents in many beverages. Despite the fact that some fruit and vegetable juices appear to be healthful, they can be extremely heavy in sugar. To avoid those sneaky sugars, stick to water, unsweetened teas, and coffee instead of other beverages.
2. Participation in physical activity
Exercise enhances insulin sensitivity levels, which aids in the regulation of blood glucose levels after a meal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week to reduce their risk of developing diabetes. Despite the fact that these statistics are intimidating, they may be broken down into 30 minutes per day, five days per week. The importance of consulting with your doctor before commencing any workout program cannot be overstated. Start small and gradually increase your physical exercise — even a simple walk to the mailbox every day can make a difference.
3. Maintaining a healthy weight
Excess weight, particularly around the waist, causes inflammation and insulin resistance, raising the risk of developing diabetes. You can reduce your chance of developing diabetes by as much as 16 percent for every kilogram (2.2 pounds) you lose. However, rather than following fad diets, it is critical to creating realistic goals that you can keep over the long run. When you concentrate on nutrition and physical exercise, as previously described, you should be able to better regulate your weight.
4. Cessation of Smoking
Cigarette smoking is linked to a variety of serious health issues, including diabetes. Cigarette smoking increases the likelihood of developing cancer by up to 44 percent. However, there is good news: it is never too late to stop smoking! After five years of abstinence, your chance of developing lung cancer can fall by up to 13% and continue to decrease over time. After twenty years, you will feel as if you have never smoked!
Along with getting appropriate sleep, managing stress, and contacting your doctor on a regular basis, doing these activities to live a healthier lifestyle will aid in diabetes prevention and minimize your risk of acquiring Type 2 Diabetes. For more health-related information, make sure you subscribe to our blog.
The Rosewe Wine Red pattern dress is perfect for a job interview.
I'm really excited to share this style of post with all of you. Over the years, my style has transformed into this classy and decent style that I absolutely love.
Today, I want to chat about this gorgeous dress I got from Rosewe. I cannot get enough of how good the striped side button wine red tie-collar bodycon dress felt on my figure; it fits me perfectly.
The design mixes plain and patterns to create this perfect look. The clothes match the photo exactly, and the sizing is spot-on. I've come across many lovely reviews about this dress, which only adds to my joy.
Wearing this dress just puts a huge smile on my face, and I wanted to let you know that you can get this beauty on sale at the Rosewe website. Plus, they'll ship it out within 24 hours, and you get a free gift with your purchase. I'm genuinely thrilled about this dress and would love to hear what you think.
This dress is perfect for Monday morning at the office, and it's a great fit for both churches. It's designed with such sophistication—the bold burgundy, gold buttons, and charming bow make it a complete package. If you wear this dress, be prepared for lots of compliments.
I am absolutely in love with this dress! It's gorgeous and perfect for a career day, an office job, or an interview, which brings me to the topic of what to wear for a job interview. When attending an interview, you need to look professional and modest, and this dress crosses all the dots.
By the way, it's only the second day of the week. If you're still going strong, keep it up—the weekend is right around the corner!
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