I just delivered my second child last tuesday. And I am thrilled about this new addition to our family. The delivery was easy, easier than the first time around. And my recovery has not been bad either.
I am back home after three days staying at one of the best hospitals in Texas: the Woman's Hospital. I enjoy staying at this hospital so much that sometimes I wished I did not have to go back home after delivering. Why I like it so much?
1- Remodeled Facility:
I gave birth to my first child at the same Woman's Hospital. But this time, I was put in a new wing that had been just added to the hospital. I was given a much bigger room with all the amenities I needed (bed, TV, stylish rocking chair, sofa, and bathroom). The location was also easy to find. Moreover, it was just in front of the nursery therefore I did not have to walk a mile to go check on my baby.
2- State of the art bed:
I loved the bed. It is not very spacious. My older son and I could barely fit in it. Yet, I loved the fact that I could recline it. It was one of those beds you could recline with a button. I just had to push it and I was lifted to a position in which I could get up without hurting myself. Moreover, all the remotes to the TV, the phone to call the nurse station or outside, the light switch, every button that I needed was incorporated into the bed, which was great because I did not have to get up.
3- "At your request" room service.
At this hospital, they do not delivered random food to you anymore. Instead, they have a menu and you call when you feel hungry. It is like being in a hotel with room service. Evidently, the food is not Michelin star worthy, yet the availablity of the service is wonderful. I do not have to cook, or go to do grocery shopping. I just give a call, and I have my food ready in minutes.
4- Nurses are nannies.
During the three days stay at the hospital, different nurses are assigned to you and the baby. The nurses assigned to myself, just check on me from time to time to make sure that my blodd pressure does not go too high or too low, and that I am not in much pain. In other words, they make sure that I have a good recovery. The nurses assigned to my baby take care of him, give him tests and shots. But the best part, is that they babysit him when I am too tired to do so. They give him food and change his diapers. It is wonderful to have somebody with experience taking care of your bundle of joy while you relax. I wish I had one of those nurses at my service forever.
5- Free Stuff
I remembered that after delivering my first baby, I had so many baby products from the hospital that I did not need to buy any after my release. Many samples of baby products were giving for free so for months I used them instead of buying the real thing. Being aware of that, this time I did not even shop for baby products. I just waited to be at the hospital to receive them. At first I was a bit skeptical because I thought that things may be different considering this economy. Yet I received a free diaper bags filled with formula, free diapers, baby soap and lotion, alcohol swabs, ice packs,two baby shirts and two receiving blankets. I also helped myself to hospital stuff such as small towels and cups. I felt bad because it looks like I was stealing. I felt like I was in a hotel and taking everything (bath robes, hygene products, food..) with me before check out time. However, my husband reminded me that he was going to pay for the delivery and stay at the hospital and considering the price, all these things that I was taking should be included.
It would be nice staying in the hospital for a bit longer. But let us face it, it would just make it harder for me to get back in the real world. Because the hospital is not the real world; it is a place where you get to be pampered for a while, a place where you get to be fixed and return home. Maybe that is why it is so special...
For more info about Woman's Hospital of Texas
http://www.womanshospital.com/
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Low Sperm Count
My favorite pastime (apart from browsing the Internet, blogging and reading magazines) is to watch TV. I have several shows that I enjoy on a daily basis. One of them is Gordon Ramsay's F word. For those of you who do not know Gordon Ramsay, he is an English chef who enjoys cursing. I have not really tasted his food but I like his style. His show, the F word is a mix of culinary competition and educational documentaries about food in general. The last time I watched the show, Chef Gordon was talking about an interesting topic that I do not get to hear very often: Low sperm count.
Low sperm count is a condition in which a man have lesser sperm than usual, or his sperms are deformed, or they are unable to move. This causes male infertility.
Difference between healthy sperms and low sperm count
Image from radiationtalk.com
During Ramsay's show, he invited a specialist who testified that poor diet had been the main reason of increased low count sperm cases in males in England during the last 20 years. In other words, there are more men having this problem than in the past because they indulge in processed and sugary food instead of going for natural things. I guess, as a result, those men would find themselves less able to procreate.
However, a poor diet is not the only cause for low sperm count. Gordon found out that heat can be another factor. Being a chef, he is constantly in the kitchen near the stoves which lines perfectly with his scrotum area when he is cooking. And he notices that the constant exposure to heat caused his own low sperm count. He is right. In another study (this time in Japan), it was stated that by putting their personal computer on their lap, Japanese men were exposing themselves to low sperm count because the excessive heat coming from the laptop was causing internal damages.
Alcohol, substance abuse (drugs), stress and even bicycle are also known causes of low sperm count.
To remedy to this problem, there are natural and simple ways: eat healthy (many veggies and fruits), drink a lot of water (instead of sodas and alcohol), avoid stoves and putting computers on your lap and just try to exercise and relax.
I guess the reason why I am interested in this topic is that I come from a country where when a couple is unable to conceive, the woman is the first one to be blamed. It is true that women do face serious infertility issues (caused by excision, poor hygiene, stress, bad diet...). Yet it is not always the case that they are at fault when they do not get pregnant. In Senegal, it is an insult to the man's manhood to even suggest that he may be the one with the problem. And women keep on being blamed and suffer the consequences: their husbands divorce them, or get another wife, the family in law keeps on harassing them...Those poor women go through all kind of "abuse" just because in Senegal it is believed that a woman is whole only when she has children. (Nonsense)
Nevertheless, I think for the sake of the entire family, it is best that both parties get tested if they are unable to conceive. There is nothing to be ashamed of for having low sperm count. Instead, it is a "positive" diagnosis since there is a low cost and natural remedy for it. Now if the tests suggest something more serious, the couple need to have a talk and decide what their options are. Communication being the best weapon for a couple, it is necessary that it should be ongoing particularly when it is about starting a family. Something that I think is lacking in our society today...
Info on Low sperm count
http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/causes-low-sperm-count.html
http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/690/main.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4749714_increase-sperm-count.html
Info on Gordon Ramsay's F word
http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/159/index.jsp
Low sperm count is a condition in which a man have lesser sperm than usual, or his sperms are deformed, or they are unable to move. This causes male infertility.
Difference between healthy sperms and low sperm count
Image from radiationtalk.com
During Ramsay's show, he invited a specialist who testified that poor diet had been the main reason of increased low count sperm cases in males in England during the last 20 years. In other words, there are more men having this problem than in the past because they indulge in processed and sugary food instead of going for natural things. I guess, as a result, those men would find themselves less able to procreate.
However, a poor diet is not the only cause for low sperm count. Gordon found out that heat can be another factor. Being a chef, he is constantly in the kitchen near the stoves which lines perfectly with his scrotum area when he is cooking. And he notices that the constant exposure to heat caused his own low sperm count. He is right. In another study (this time in Japan), it was stated that by putting their personal computer on their lap, Japanese men were exposing themselves to low sperm count because the excessive heat coming from the laptop was causing internal damages.
Alcohol, substance abuse (drugs), stress and even bicycle are also known causes of low sperm count.
To remedy to this problem, there are natural and simple ways: eat healthy (many veggies and fruits), drink a lot of water (instead of sodas and alcohol), avoid stoves and putting computers on your lap and just try to exercise and relax.
I guess the reason why I am interested in this topic is that I come from a country where when a couple is unable to conceive, the woman is the first one to be blamed. It is true that women do face serious infertility issues (caused by excision, poor hygiene, stress, bad diet...). Yet it is not always the case that they are at fault when they do not get pregnant. In Senegal, it is an insult to the man's manhood to even suggest that he may be the one with the problem. And women keep on being blamed and suffer the consequences: their husbands divorce them, or get another wife, the family in law keeps on harassing them...Those poor women go through all kind of "abuse" just because in Senegal it is believed that a woman is whole only when she has children. (Nonsense)
Nevertheless, I think for the sake of the entire family, it is best that both parties get tested if they are unable to conceive. There is nothing to be ashamed of for having low sperm count. Instead, it is a "positive" diagnosis since there is a low cost and natural remedy for it. Now if the tests suggest something more serious, the couple need to have a talk and decide what their options are. Communication being the best weapon for a couple, it is necessary that it should be ongoing particularly when it is about starting a family. Something that I think is lacking in our society today...
Info on Low sperm count
http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/causes-low-sperm-count.html
http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/690/main.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4749714_increase-sperm-count.html
Info on Gordon Ramsay's F word
http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/159/index.jsp
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Abortion Debate (not necessarily what you think)
I never deal with serious topics concerning pregnancies in this blog. Mostly, I just share events and opinions regarding my own experience. However, recently I came across an article from Marie Claire: "The Abortion Debate: what would you do?" This article was interesting because for once it did not evolve around women who just wanted an abortion because they thought they could not keep the baby for various reasons (economic, familial, career related ). This time the article focus on two women who were informed during their pregnancy that their babies were sick with a genetic disease called trisomy and that they were no chance for them to survive after birth. One woman decided to go through her pregnancy and deliver her baby who died just a couple of hours later, while the other one chose to have an abortion.
Abortion has been a violent topic in the States recently when a late term abortion doctor was killed in front of his church by a pro-life fanatic in May. However, abortion is a very hot topic everywhere you turn around this world.
In my country, the law stipulates that abortion is illegal, but it did not stop people from practicing it. People who have money go to private clinics. And the ones who do not try to do it themselves. When I was still a teen, our unmarried maid who found herself knocked up drank some bad substances to provoke abortion. She had it in our house a weekday when my entire family was either at work or at school. She nearly died. Of course, the abortion was successful but I do not know about the side effects to her health. Due to the danger and exposure to the law she brought in our house, my parents decided to let her go.
In my religion, abortion is also considered a sin. It is permitted only when the pregnancy constitutes a danger to the mother.
As far as I am concerned, I do not have a strong opinion on the subject. I prefer to think that I am against abortion because no matter how you twist it, you still get rid of a human life. If ever you did not get the abortion, the baby would have probably survived. Yet, I cannot judge women who decide to go through this procedure because everyone has its own reasons and its own circumstances. People-particularly religious and pro-life people- are eager to judge even before listening to your reasons. For them a life is sacred and once it is created, it deserves to be honored. I accept that, but you cannot go around shoving your beliefs in people's minds. You have to have a dialogue and try to get your views understood. Do not picket in front of abortion clinics and scream at women who go inside. Do not condemn doctors who do the procedure (or kill them). I find such an irony in killing Doctor Tiller in Kansas because if you declare that you are pro-life, aren't you suppose to cherish all lives, whether born or not, whether you believe they are good or bad?
Nevertheless, after readind the article, I find these two women brave. I never want to be in their shoes but I consider them courageous in their own way. Each one of them chose a path that were suitable for them and they are at peace with their decisions. I just wish that more people would try to listen to their experiences instead of thinking that everyone who goes for an abortion is just a selfish person and a murderer.
I also wish people used more and more protection when it comes to sex. Sex is good, it takes you to places you have probably never been particularly when you are a teenager with hormones boiling inside. But some minutes of sex are not worth having to go through abortion if you cannot handle having a baby. If you cannot keep it in your pants or keep you legs crossed, please use a condom or/and a contraceptive. But that is yet another debate, no?
Marie claire articles available here
http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/news/latest/abortion-debate
http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/opinion/abortion-wars-timeline
Information on Trisomy available here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisomy
Abortion has been a violent topic in the States recently when a late term abortion doctor was killed in front of his church by a pro-life fanatic in May. However, abortion is a very hot topic everywhere you turn around this world.
In my country, the law stipulates that abortion is illegal, but it did not stop people from practicing it. People who have money go to private clinics. And the ones who do not try to do it themselves. When I was still a teen, our unmarried maid who found herself knocked up drank some bad substances to provoke abortion. She had it in our house a weekday when my entire family was either at work or at school. She nearly died. Of course, the abortion was successful but I do not know about the side effects to her health. Due to the danger and exposure to the law she brought in our house, my parents decided to let her go.
In my religion, abortion is also considered a sin. It is permitted only when the pregnancy constitutes a danger to the mother.
As far as I am concerned, I do not have a strong opinion on the subject. I prefer to think that I am against abortion because no matter how you twist it, you still get rid of a human life. If ever you did not get the abortion, the baby would have probably survived. Yet, I cannot judge women who decide to go through this procedure because everyone has its own reasons and its own circumstances. People-particularly religious and pro-life people- are eager to judge even before listening to your reasons. For them a life is sacred and once it is created, it deserves to be honored. I accept that, but you cannot go around shoving your beliefs in people's minds. You have to have a dialogue and try to get your views understood. Do not picket in front of abortion clinics and scream at women who go inside. Do not condemn doctors who do the procedure (or kill them). I find such an irony in killing Doctor Tiller in Kansas because if you declare that you are pro-life, aren't you suppose to cherish all lives, whether born or not, whether you believe they are good or bad?
Nevertheless, after readind the article, I find these two women brave. I never want to be in their shoes but I consider them courageous in their own way. Each one of them chose a path that were suitable for them and they are at peace with their decisions. I just wish that more people would try to listen to their experiences instead of thinking that everyone who goes for an abortion is just a selfish person and a murderer.
I also wish people used more and more protection when it comes to sex. Sex is good, it takes you to places you have probably never been particularly when you are a teenager with hormones boiling inside. But some minutes of sex are not worth having to go through abortion if you cannot handle having a baby. If you cannot keep it in your pants or keep you legs crossed, please use a condom or/and a contraceptive. But that is yet another debate, no?
Marie claire articles available here
http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/news/latest/abortion-debate
http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/opinion/abortion-wars-timeline
Information on Trisomy available here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisomy
Monday, August 03, 2009
I don't did it!
Last night, I was talking with my boy. Actually I was jokingly accusing him of making a mess of his toys. I told him : " You did this mess!" And he answered:
"I don't did it".
I laughed so hard after hearing it. My boy has just started talking clearly so I cannot blame him for making such a mistake. Yet I found this hilarious. And you can imagine that I tried to correct him. Yet he went back to the " I don't did it".
Even though it is still cute that he makes mistakes like this, I wonder if I should start correcting him. It is important that he speaks properly despites being just three. My son being a late bloomer (as of he cannot speak properly compared to children his own age), I am tempted to let him be for a while. I just want him to thicken his vocabulary first before being strict on the grammar. Yet, I do believe that it is never too early to learn. So what's a mother to do?
"I don't did it".
I laughed so hard after hearing it. My boy has just started talking clearly so I cannot blame him for making such a mistake. Yet I found this hilarious. And you can imagine that I tried to correct him. Yet he went back to the " I don't did it".
Even though it is still cute that he makes mistakes like this, I wonder if I should start correcting him. It is important that he speaks properly despites being just three. My son being a late bloomer (as of he cannot speak properly compared to children his own age), I am tempted to let him be for a while. I just want him to thicken his vocabulary first before being strict on the grammar. Yet, I do believe that it is never too early to learn. So what's a mother to do?
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