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Visiting a hypnotherapist to prepare for the birth of a new baby can be the best decision a mother-to-be can make. Over 70% of Hypnobirthing mothers deliver their babies without any use of medications and on average undergo an active labor period of 4.5 hours, compared to the national average of 12 hours (Abramson & Heron, 1950).

A UK study published in the Journal of Family Practice (May, 2001) found no incidence of post-partum depression following the hypnotherapy training birth, compared to the usual 10-15% incidence.

Pregnant women may need to find a hypnotherapist to help assist with the painful birthing process. Sure, everyone knows how to breathe, yet in times of great peril or pain, these psycho-somatic techniques can quickly be forgotten, leaving many women gasping for air or hyperventilating.

Lamaze Breathing Techniques conjure up images of husband and wife in a yoga classroom setting, with the wife practicing healthy breathing patterns and the husband supportively going along with it. Similarly, one of the most common hypnosis techniques used to induce people into a state of trance is, in fact, relaxation breathing. Therefore, it makes sense that women would adopt some hypnotherapy training methods to help them relax through deep breaths of fresh air.

Another reason why pregnant women seek out the hypnotherapist is to help bridge the gap between the physical and the emotional realms. Lowering maternal anxiety can help the body push the baby out, shorten the birthing period, ensure nutrient flow and oxygenation to the baby during this difficult time and decrease the chances of uterine complications or post-partum depression.

Body-centered hypnosis can link the current physical changes with a woman’s psychological needs or past history. Often times, Ericksonian hypnosis storytelling guides mothers on a journey through labor. The impression is given that the woman has already mastered the birth. Later, when the birth is actually happening, she will feel the familiarity of the process and use phrases or images from the hypnosis sessions to guide her through.

“There are different aspects we teach so the mother can get through all of her fears and all of her stress,” explains hypnotherapist trainer Rebecca Batts, who works at Trinity Holistics in Wilmington, NC. “We teach the mother and the birth companions to work together as a team with the baby. There are bonding exercises that we do.

There are relaxation exercises that we do together. It teaches them not only to release all the stress and those burdens that are put in our minds for the birthing moment, but it helps them throughout their life.” Hypnosis sessions can last anywhere from 5 to 20 visits, depending on the program.

Mike Selvon has some informative articles for the creative mind. Find out more about the hypnotherapist at his resourceful site. We appreciate your feedback at our hypnosis relaxation blog.

Nature has a system and a plan for everything. The human body is made up of complex internal systems that keep the body running efficiently. Women have periods in their lives when some of their systems change. With the onset of puberty the body grows and certain physical attributes are formed.

The breasts develop and the girl’s overall shape changes. Each month her body goes through a cycle for reproduction. This continues for most of her life. But nature has set safeguards in place to prevent reproduction after a certain age.

At this stage in life a woman goes through menopause. She is no longer able to have children naturally. In this article we will cover the facts about this change in life that occurs to all women.

What is menopause?

Menopause occurs in women when menstruation ceases. There is actually a phase prior to the cessation of reproductive capabilities that is known as perimenopause. These years are the transition years in which the hormones in the female body such as estrogen, testosterone and progesterone begin to fluctuate.

It is still possible to be fertile in this stage and there is no set time period for this stage to end. Women will often experience hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings due to these hormones fluctuating and diminishing. You often hear perimenopause and premenopause interchanged with each other.

The stage postmenopause is the remainder of the woman’s life after her period has stopped. In order to be classified as postmenopause the periods must have ceased for twelve months with no flow or spotting.

Do all women experience the same symptoms?

No, not all women experience the same symptoms. Some may have a few mood swings and generally have an easy time during the transition period. Others may have many of the symptoms and be experiencing a much harder transition into menopause.

If you are having a tough time coping with the symptoms and the emotional ups and down’s, you need to contact your physician so that he or she can help you find some relief. There are a wide range of products that may be able to help you find the correct balance so that you can function properly.

How can the symptoms be alleviated?

The symptoms of menopause can be relieved in several ways. One of the most common ways of treating the symptoms is to go straight to the source of the problem: the hormone fluctuation and decrease in production. Doctors will prescribe hormone replacement therapy to help the menopausal woman get through.

The hormone replacement therapy is used not only to help alleviate the hot flashes and such but it is also used to help treat osteoporosis. The type of hormones used depends on whether or not there is a uterus present.

If the uterus is present then the hormones used will be estrogen and progesterone. If the uterus has been taken due to a hysterectomy then estrogen alone is usually enough.

What homeopathic remedies or alternative remedies can I use during menopause?

You do not have to use pharmaceutical means to help relieve your menopause symptoms. There are alternatives. If you are seeking a botanical source you can use phytoestrogens or femarelle. These two medicines can be purchased at a local vitamin or health store.

The potency of the phytoestrogens and femarelle are not the same as those found in pharmaceuticals but they do alleviate some of the symptoms. Another treatment many women are turning to is acupuncture. As of yet there have not been adequate studies done to ensure the results but it is a possibility.

A free gift awaits you at our portal site, where you can enrich your knowledge further about menopause. Your comment is much appreciated at our menopause treatments blog.

Sex hormones include, but are not limited to estrogen, testosterone, progestrone and DHEA.

Estrogen, not one hormone, but a group of similar hormones of varying degrees of activity, is secreted by the ovaries throughout a woman’s reproductive years.

Estrogen is the female hormone that is responsible for ovulation. Estrogen plays an important role in a woman’s life from the time she begins puberty until the final menstrual period.

Not only does estrogen have beneficial effects on cholesterol; lowering blood cholesterol, and lipid levels, it also contributes the production of proteins, to bone strength and the a woman’s mental well-being.

Estrogen also supports and maintains the secondary female sex characteristics such as the distribution of fat in the breasts, hips and buttocks (which is what produces those wonderful womanly curves). It also influences pitch of the voice and distribution of hair on the body.

Progesterone, the second major sex hormone in women; is the other primary hormone produced by the ovaries each month during the second half of the cycle.

Progesterone is responsible for prepping and maintaining the uterus lining so it grows a thick layer of tissue in preparation for the fertilized egg. Progesterone is necessary for the survival of the ovum and then the resulting embryo; until the placenta takes over this task.

Progesterone also works on the breasts to prime the mammary glands for milk secretion. After menopause, progesterone stimulates osteoblasts to help build bone and increase bone density.

It is the natural decline in progesterone each month that triggers the menstrual cycle. Progesterone and estrogen are closely interrelated and their actions in the body are in a very delicate balance.

So balanced that a deficit of progesterone in the system can cause face and body acne to break out and in some cases, the acne can be so bad it can cause scarring.

Progesterone dominance, or an abundance of progesterone in the body; on the other hand, can greatly increase urinary tract infections or the feeling of having an infection. One of the first signs of progesterone dominance is drowsiness. In fact, progesterone dominance symptoms that go beyond sleepiness are depression, apathy, and even suicidal ideation.

Progesterone imbalance can also cause gain weight. One drawback to this type of weight gain is that until the hormonal imbalance is corrected, the excess weight gain doesn’t come off. Aside from the acne, and weight gain, progesterone dominance can reak havoc with fertility. It is difficult to conceive a child when there is an obvious hormone imbalance in the body.

Testosterone is a hormone produced by both women and men. It is not just a male sex hormone. In women testosterone is produced in the ovaries, adrenals and to a lesser extent in the skin, brain and liver.

Testosterone behaves differently in the body systems of men and women, but it plays a very important role in the overall health and well being of both sexes. In men testosterone builds muscle, enhances sex drive, elevates the mood, prevents osteoporosis and increases energy. In women testosterone enhances the sex drive, helps relieve menopausal symptoms, restores energy, strengthens bone, elevates the mood and increases the sensitivity to sexual pleasure in the nipples and genitals.

Testosterone production naturally declines as a woman ages. However, too low testosterone levels in women can contribute to depression and osteoporosis.

Excessive testosterone can also cause problems. As women approach menopause and ovarian function slows, women can often show symptoms of becoming androgen dominant. Symptoms of androgen dominance in women include male pattern baldness and facial hair growth.

DHEA, (dehydroepiandosterone) a hormone produced by your adrenal glands, works to balance many of the effects of cortisol on your body, helping it cope with stress. In research studies, DHEA has been shown to improve memory function, boost energy levels, and reduce fat production. Most importantly, DHEA appears to protect the immune system from some of the cell damage caused by aging and disease. With a decline in DHEA, comes an increase of susceptibility to diseases, which correlates with the acceleration of ageing.

When a woman’s hormones are in sync, she will feel incredible. She will have energy and vitality. And, she is far less likely to experience negative hormonal symptoms throughout her fertile years, right through peri-menopause, to menopause.

Unfortunately all it takes is one alteration to this perfectly balanced cycle for hormone havoc to occur.

When hormones are out of balance, symptoms such as accelerated aging, PMS, irritability, mood swings, anger outbursts, depression, painful and/or lumpy breasts, breast tenderness, ‘making mountains out of molehills’, eating binges, puffiness, bloating, crying jags, foggy thinking, irregular periods, rapid weight gain, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, insomnia, low sex drive, no sex drive, painful intercourse all can occur.

Want to learn how to manage and conquer peri-menopause and female sexual health issues? Tracey DePaoli invites you to come and read Part II of Natural Hormone Balance For Womanat http://www.MyMommyEscape, a social networking community website devoted to Moms.

What significant factors have caused the increased popularity of vaginoplasty and labiaplasty in recent years? There are no known surveys that have analyzed the reasons that more women are seeking these operations, but there is plenty of unofficial–anecdotal–evidence that helps us understand the increase. And it helps us to decide whether this higher interest is merely a temporary fad or a long-term shift in attitudes.

The stories I hear from women lead me to believe there are four primary areas that motivate more and more of them to seek a labiaplasty or vaginoplasty.

First, many women experience physical irritation, and even pain, of the labia minora. This pain and irritation is aggravated when they become physically active. As the sensitive and fragile labia minora begins protruding beyond the labia majora, they are more likely to experience contact with outer forces. These forces could be anything from wearing tight clothing to bike-riding, horse-riding, or other physical activities. There are many more examples we could cite of causes of patients’ labial discomfort.

A second motivation that causes many women to seek a labiaplasty is previous embarrassing experiences in which their labia were inadvertently exposed to the view of the public when they wore some fashions or styles of clothing. For instance, there’s the thong bathing suit or sheer panties that might cause this kind of embarrassment. Many women have bodies that would be quite flattering to these styles were it not for the protruding labia minora.

A third motivation for women to seek labiaplasty is the recent popularity of what is known as “Brazilian Grooming.” This is the practice of removing hair from a woman’s pubic region through waxing, shaving or laser removal. This has the unintended effect of making quite apparent any protrusion within the woman’s labia minora.

For many of these women, it comes down to trying to look normal–although “normal” regarding labial appearance might come in many forms. Mother Nature has dictated that normal could encompass many shapes and sizes. However, women who seek labiaplasty are usually more concerned with society’s definition of normal. And it’s when they feel uncomfortable comparing themselves to this standard of normal that they often seek labiaplasty and vaginoplasty.

And, like it or not, society’s perception of what is and isn’t normal is evolving and rapidly changing. Because of this, many women have a more focused concept of what appearance they want. This is because there is more scrutiny of other women’s genital appearance, thanks in part to the media. Today, we can easily and regularly view the naked human body in the movies, on the Internet, and in magazines, to say nothing of in the women’s locker-room. And this shifting concept of normal has left many women feeling somewhat lacking in self-confidence. For them, labiaplasty and vaginoplasty has helped correct this situation.

None of this is to say that it’s positive or negative that women’s definition of normal has been altered in this way. Rather, we’re merely abiding by culture as it exists. And that culture, for many reason, has made labiaplasty all the more attractive.

Dr. Helen Colen is a board certified plastic surgeon in Manhattan. Visit her blog for more information about vaginoplasty and labiaplasty

Watch out when you say you’d like a biker babe, it might be your grandma! Today the women that ride aren’t all young and wild. Many of the Harley girls, in fact are older, more experience and all woman. They are the baby boomers that want to be free and they ride with their men, either clutching them tightly on the back of a bike or have their own machine and maneuver with the expertise of any good rider.

The women that ride their own motorcycles often got their start when they were very young and received their influence from a parent. Many of these ladies had dirt bikes long before they rode street bikes but often quit riding when they became parents or married the “wrong man”. They often returned to the road after they raised the children or the marriage ended. The open road and freedom is what riding is all about.

Some actually became biker women because of a bad marriage. They found they loved the motorcycle trips that they went on with their ex-husband and missed the camaraderie of the road. So in an attempt to flaunt their newfound freedom, they usually take a 2-day ABATE course and practice on their own until they feel comfortable to take a group trip.

Often it’s more difficult for women to find good female friends. Once away from a school environment, they find work friends for the nine-to-five existence but that’s where it ends. Some soccer mom’s manage to make friends with other parents, but what happens when the kids grow up? That’s one reason that you’ll find women actively involved with biker groups. There are ample opportunities to find someone that shares the same loves as you, and they ride. They may not be a neighbor, but over the months that have rallies, can be riding buddies. The rest of the year, most biker women keep in touch by email and snail mail.

The biker lady doesn’t always ride her own bike but often takes a back seat to her husband or life partner. That is, a back seat on the bike only. Many couples find that the great getaways, known as rallies and bike weeks are perfect for them. There are special groups for male riders, female riders and couples. These groups have patches and insignias to show membership and often ride to the rallies together or meet up when they arrive.

The best-known rally is probably the Sturgis Rally where thousands of bikers meet. This rally began as a small race over 68 years ago and grew to a huge and most noted rally it is today. The town is small and has a population during most of the year of about 6,000 to 7000 people. During the month of August, the population grows to over 500,000 people. Considering the normal population of South Dakota is close to 782,000, this is a heck of a lot of bikers. Many go because the countryside surrounding the area is beautiful. Others go for the companionship of other bikers. Some just want to see the sights like the old towns of Deadwood and Lead. Either way, these rallies provide good friends for the female rider.

Many female bikers worry that their small body can’t hold up a big bike. Even though they’re avid Harley fans, they opt for one that they won’t drop. Luckily many of the women find that they can trade in the cheap, used bike after they get a little practice. Once they learn the trick to getting the bike off the kickstand, they rejoin the ranks of the Harley Davidson riders. The trick is a shift in the front wheel. If you turn the front wheel to the right instead of the traditional way it’s parked, to the left, it produces more stability and less potential of dumping.

There are other reason’s women love bikes. It is an opportunity to rejuvenate the marriage. There is nothing more romantic than a long trip on the road witnessing beautiful countryside. Often there are accessories to make the trip more pleasurable. The Gold Wing Trike conversion kit is one example. This provides more stability, comfort and extra space for longer rides. There are special trips, saddlebags, seats that are more comfortable and everything that you’d want for a long ride. There are even products called Crotch Rocket and Viagra to provide for the couples pleasure after a long day of riding! Talk about a way to rev up a marriage. The open road and the motorcycle are the dynamic duo designed to dust off any staleness in a marriage.

The next time you go to a rally, don’t hit on a biker chic until she takes off her helmet. It could be your mom or grandma, hidden beneath the helmet. Yes, Moms and Grand-Moms need excitement too, and the new way of getting it, is with a motorcycle.

The Time Rider,Time Rider(TRACLLP) is a company created by bikers for bikers offering motorcycle tours, a character with a story line and a product line called Shtuff For Bikers which have natural ingredients and crazy names. See the humorous product write ups at Time Rider Shtuff