Posts

Blood sugar needs extra attention when a woman with pre-existing diabetes gets pregnant. Diabetes brings with it certain added pregnancy risks, so the goal is to maintain a blood sugar average that is as far below the normal level as you can without greatly increasing your risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or restricting the growth of your baby in the womb. It is important that this is done throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy....

What Is Claustrophobia? Claustrophobia is defined as a fear of enclosed spaces. Like any phobia, the severity of claustrophobia can vary widely from person to person. You may experience symptoms in small rooms, crawl spaces, crowds, and many other situations. Some people who are claustrophobic are uncomfortable in elevators, on amusement park rides that use secure restraints (such as roller coasters), public restrooms, or even revolving doors. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) chambers and other medical testing can also be difficult or impossible if you have claustrophobia....

A person who is confabulating is not lying. They are not making a conscious or intentional attempt to deceive. Rather, they are confident in the truth of their memories even when confronted with contradictory evidence. Confabulation is a type of memory error in which gaps in a person’s memory are unconsciously filled with fabricated, misinterpreted, or distorted information. When someone confabulates, they are confusing things they have imagined with real memories....

Gymnophobia, or the fear of nudity, is a highly personalized phobia. Some people with this fear are afraid only of being naked in public, as is the case in communal showers or changing rooms. However, some people also fear being naked while they’re with their partner or even when they’re on their own. Others fear being naked alone as well. Many people with gymnophobia are unable to participate in sexual activities and may develop a more generalized fear of sex that stems from their gymnophobia....

Every day, kids experience bullying. They are tormented, manipulated, ostracized, harassed, punched, pushed, and humiliated. And yet every experience is unique depending not only on the type of bullying they experience, but also on the gender of the bully. When it comes to perpetrating bullying, males and females typically use different tactics. For instance, research shows that females use more relational aggression, while males engage in physical bullying. This is not to say that females won’t be physically aggressive or boys won’t exclude others, but bullying does tend to be influenced by gender....

This can involve an inability or an unwillingness to get involved in the emotional lives of other people. While this detachment may protect people from stress, hurt, and anxiety, it can also interfere with a person’s psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Emotional detachment refers to being disconnected or disengaged from the feelings of other people. Emotional detachment can sometimes occur as a coping mechanism when people are faced with stressful or difficult situations....

One of the criteria for diagnosing a manic or hypomanic episode of bipolar disorder is what we call an expansive mood. Individuals with an expansive mood may behave brashly or lavishly, assume a superior or grandiose attitude, or dress and act flamboyantly. They exhibit larger-than-life behaviors that can often be accompanied by (or result in) extreme bursts of irritability. Expansive Behavior in Bipolar Disorder An expansive mood can reap unfortunate consequences for a person with bipolar disorder, ranging from interpersonal confrontations to financial loss....

Ignoring mild misbehavior is a legitimate parenting strategy. It shows your little one that their antics won’t get a reaction, which means they’ll be less likely to repeat that behavior in the future. However, while you can selectively ignore some behaviors, others simply shouldn’t be ignored. Without appropriate intervention, they can turn into much larger problems down the road. Keep a lookout for some of these small-but-significant behavioral issues that should be corrected ASAP....

If you’re anxious, worried, or concerned about life after the coronavirus pandemic, you’re not alone. As we emerge from our homes to resume work, shopping, dining out, exercise, and daily life, many of us are scrutinizing routine decisions we once thought nothing of—not to mention, we’re also facing the reality that our health and financial well-being is much different now than it was going into quarantine. Key Takeaways As the economy reopens and states begin lifting stay-at-home orders, we need to mentally prepare for a new normal....

Social media has changed how we communicate, get the news, and share our lives with others. In this new world where social media gives us our own soapbox with no boundaries, it’s also affected our parenting. Before you upload that next adorable pic of your child and wait for the likes to come in, take a look at how social media has changed the way we parent—and what you can do to make social media a more positive experience for you and your family....

The fear of emergency childbirth is common in pregnant women and their partners. You’ve probably seen it in movies, TV shows, and even the local news: A woman goes into labor so fast she doesn’t have time to get to the hospital before the baby comes out, and a non-medical professional has to assist in the delivery. While it is extremely rare that women don’t make it to the hospital or birth center on time—most women spend seemingly endless hours laboring before the baby is ready to be born—it does happen....

Impulse control can be a challenge—and developmentally appropriate—for many kids, particularly little ones. However, it is a vital skill that can be nurtured and improved upon at any age. This is important as a lack of impulse control is at the root of many behavior problems. Without effective intervention, impulsive behaviors can become normalized, habitual, and worsen over time. For example, impulsive 5-year-olds may hit or have tantrums when they don’t get their way, while impulsive 14-year-olds may share inappropriate content on social media or engage in risky behaviors like drinking alcohol without thinking about the potential ramifications....

Your baby’s first word is an exciting moment and many parents wonder about the significance of this milestone on language development. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh have shown that language development is far more involved than your baby’s first word. Key Takeaways Babies remember both single words and groups of words before they begin to talkSpeak to your baby in sentences to help foster language developmentUse actions to help your baby understand what words mean The study published in the journal Cognition found that babies typically remember multiword sequences and single words long before they begin to speak....

Inositol is a type of sugar that influences both the body’s insulin response and several hormones associated with mood and cognition. It’s often referred to as vitamin B8, but it is not actually a vitamin. Inositol also has antioxidant properties that fight the damaging effects of free radicals in the brain, circulatory system, and other body tissues. Inositol is found naturally in cantaloupe, citrus fruit, and many fiber-rich foods (such as beans, brown rice, corn, sesame seeds, and wheat bran)....

While marijuana is one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States, many people have the same question: Is marijuana addictive? The answer is yes, it can be. However, that doesn’t mean everyone who uses the substance will become addicted. Most people who use marijuana do not become addicted to weed. They do not lose control of its use; they generally use the amount they want to use and control when they want to use it....

John is an ever-popular name. It’s a familiar, but very traditional name with biblical origins. The name John is derived from the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning “graced by God.” It is a solid, traditional name that exudes strength, smarts, and kindness. How Popular Is the Name John? John is one of the most popular names in the English-speaking world. It was the #1 name for boys in the United States from 1900 to 1923, and remained in the top five for another 50 years, dropping to #6 in 1973....

Women have been using herbs to stimulate the production of breast milk for thousands of years. Milk thistle is one of a few different herbs that can increase breast milk supply in some people. What Is Milk Thistle? Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a tall, purple flowering plant with prickly spines. Originally from the Mediterranean region, milk thistle has a long history of use in medicine and healing. For centuries, this plant has been used to treat health problems of the liver and gallbladder....

Nicole is the feminine form of Nicolas, which originates from the Greek name Nikolaos. This compound name is composed of the elements nikē (victory) and laos (the people), hence it’s meaning “victory of the people.” The variation Nicole arose in the Middle Ages in France to honor St. Nicholas. Nicole embodies a balanced combination of French sophistication and simple elegance. However, the two-syllable name is equally adorable thanks to its nicknames Nic and Nikki....

If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, you may be wondering when you can try to get pregnant again. You may be able to start as soon as your menstrual cycle returns, typically within four to six weeks. That said, every situation is different, and your doctor can help you determine the ideal time to start trying from a physical and emotional health standpoint. Ultimately, only you can know when you’re ready. This article explains what experts say about trying to get pregnant after a miscarriage, the medical considerations, and how to determine when you’re ready....

Respiratory depression, also known as hypoventilation or hypoventilatory syndrome, is the abnormal retention of carbon dioxide in the blood due to the poor exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen within the lungs. Slow and shallow breathing characterizes this breathing disorder, sometimes as low as 8 to 10 breaths per minute. The normal breathing rate is between 12 and 20 breaths per minute. During normal breathing, the blood carries inhaled oxygen to all the tissues of the body while removing carbon dioxide through the lungs as a waste product....