Making the switch to cloth diapers is nerve wracking. There are so many brands and types it can be extremely overwhelming. That is why The Cloth Diaper Report is the best place to get all the information you need about cloth diapering and get excellent reviews on different cloth diapers and products.
www.theclothdiaperreport.com
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Violence Against Women
Domestic violence it not something that only affects women. It affects their children as well. A long time ago, domestic violence was not recognized. Women would come in to the hospital after being beaten by their spouse and then just sent home for the same thing to happen all over again. New laws have helped to reduce domestic violence today. President Obama gave a speech concerning the issue of domestic violence and what he (and others) plan to do to help the victims. Women and children are not only in physical danger, but many women simply can't afford to leave. Sometimes their husbands will have them so tied up in debt that they cannot afford to make it on their own much less afford the legal expenses to keep their children safe. So that is what president Obama and some of his advisers are working on. They are currently working on connecting women with jobs and helping them save money and rebuild their credit. Secretary Donovan at the Department of Housing and Urban Development is currently working on new rules that prevent victims of domestic violence from being evicted or denied assisted housing because a crime was committed against them. The Vice President and the Justice Department are also working on new rules that help victims get access to lawyers that will do their case pro bono. The Justice Department is also working with judges and other law enforcement officers to make sure that protective orders are issued and enforced against victims abusers.
Reference
Friday, October 29, 2010
Teen Dating Violence
Violence against women has been an issue for years, but another type of violence that also occurs that many people do not recognize is teen dating violence. Teen dating violence occurs among teenagers more often that you would think, and it can occur in heterosexual relationships as well as homosexual relationships. It is not always physical either. Teen dating violence can also take other forms, such as verbal, emotional, or even sexual abuse. Some of the highest rates of relationship violence occur among young women between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four. The statistics are pretty outstanding. Approximately one in five high school girls report being abused by a boyfriend. Twelve percent of high school students report experiencing some type of dating violence; male and females. Victims of dating violence are more likely to have depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. There are numerous crisis hotlines and support groups for teens that are victims of this type of abuse. There are also numerous legal options that include reporting this to the police, obtaining protective orders, and just cooperating with criminal prosecution. Victims are normally afraid to come to the police, so that is why there are numerous options available for people to get the help they need while keeping things confidential.
Reference
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk
October is breast cancer awareness month. In light of this cause, I thought it was important to write a blog on the ways women can lower their breast cancer risk. While you cannot prevent breast cancer entirely, there are ways to lower your risk of getting breast cancer. Many of these things are also just simple lifestyle changes. One of the best ways to lower your risk is to lose weight if you are overweight or obese. Extra fat cells produce excess estrogen in your body, which can increase your risk of developing breast cancer. Lowering your alcohol intake is another way to decrease your risk.
Eating healthy is another obvious way to lower your risk. Try to aim for five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Also limit your intake of red meat. Being aware of your risk factors is very important too. If breast cancer runs in your family, be sure to start getting mammograms as soon as your doctor recommends it. Some doctors will recommend getting mammograms earlier than an average women with no history of breast cancer.
Exercise is yet another way to decrease your risk of breast cancer. Exercising boosts your immune system and makes you feel better as well. And it will help you lose weight too. Also, don't smoke and stay relaxed. The smoking is obviously horrible to your health, increases your risk for breast cancer, and increases your risk for many other diseases. Finally, reducing your stress level is another great way to lower your risk for developing breast cancer.
Reference
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Services offered to Women with Cancer
The numbers of women who are affected by cancer every year are steadily increasing. Many women are struggling to fight it, but it can be very devastating. And as hard as it is, staying positive is one of the best things someone with cancer can do to help. Many women are unaware of all the support they can get. These days it's more than just support hot lines and groups. There are numerous FREE services available to women all over the country with cancer to help them with their fight.
One of these services is an iPhone application released by Breastcancer.org. Patients put in their information on the type of cancer they have and it gives them detailed information on that specific type of cancer as well as definitions of common medical terms that their doctor probably told them but didn't go into detail about. Another free service is called Look Good….Feel Better Workshops. These free workshops are available to women with cancer all over the country. Beauty professionals teach women how to apply makeup and conceal changes of the body due to chemotherapy. They also teach them how to wear wraps and how to fit wigs. Women also receive free makeup kits along with their lesson. Another company called The Finest Accessories sends out the Good Wishes scarf to women who have lost their hair due to ant kind of illness. Each scarf is made out of silk and the customer picks out the color and fabric. There is also a volunteer group called Heavenly Hats that gives out different types of hats to women who have lost or are in the process of losing their hair due to chemotherapy.
Women battling cancer can also receive free housecleaning services. Cleaning for a Reason is a nonprofit organization that offers four free housecleaning visits to women undergoing treatment for cancer. Chemo Angels is another company that has volunteers that offer encouragement and send free pick-me-up gifts to cancer patients. You can sign up online or a friend or family member can even request it on their behalf. Other companies include Casting for Recovery and Fill a Heart Pillow. A support system is one of the keys for a full recovery for anyone battling cancer. I encourage anyone who is suffering from or knows someone suffering from cancer to take advantage of these services.
Reference
Monday, October 25, 2010
IVF: Is it Worth it?
Women these days are waiting later and later to get pregnant, starting their careers early and having a family (or planning to) later. While this is a great idea for some, others are facing the consequences later. Sometimes women wait too late, thinking they have all the time in the world to get pregnant. Then once they do finally start trying they discover problems with infertility. Luckily, there are many new advances in medicine that can help with this. Of course there is always a price. In Vitro Fertilization has become very popular over the years. In Vitro Fertilization, or IVF, is a procedure where the woman's egg and the man's sperm are taken and fertilized in a laboratory dish. Then the fertilized embryos are implanted in the woman's uterus. This procedure has helped thousands of women get pregnant.
IVF is a great new advance in medicine, but it does have its cons. First, it is very expensive. The average cycle in the United States costs $10,000. But IVF does not always work the first time. The average amount of cycles for a woman age 35 or younger to get pregnant is about three cycles. For women aged 35-40 it's four to five cycles. For a woman that is 40-42, the average is ten cycles. The numbers dramatically increase after that. IVF can take an emotional toll on a woman and on a marriage, not to mention a financial toll. But some people see that as their only option. So I have to ask, is the cost of IVF worth having your own child when there are so many children and babies that need to be adopted?
References
Sunday, October 24, 2010
What's Wrong with 19 Kids?
There seems to be a lot of controversy surrounding the issue of the Duggar Family, who has the reality show on TLC 19 Kids and Counting. Many people claim that they have too many children, especially after having their 19th child Josie at 29 weeks gestation. Josie was very premature and suffered numerous health problems. But who are we to say how many children someone can have? It's been a hot topic lately but is it really any of our business?
I looked at a photo tour of the Duggar's home in Arkansas. It is a massive house, the great room is 2,000 square feet. There is just about double everything when it comes to appliances in the kitchen. The dining room seats twenty and there is even a beverage center like you would see at a fast food restaurant. The laundry room of course is also huge, complete with four washers and dryers. Upstairs the boy's bedroom is probably twice the size of my living room with ten beds. The girl's bedroom is very similar except with a much more girly touch. They even have a big playroom with computers, a pool table, arcade games, and even an indoor playground.
What I found really interesting about this family is that they live debt free and they built the house themselves over the course of three years. They really seem to work hard for everything they have. They also have very Christian values and their house and family are more organized than your average two children household. They also strive to teach their children good values and take the older children on mission trips around the world to help less fortunate families and children around the world. I think the Duggar's are a great family and we shouldn't criticize them for having so many children. If you can run your household as well as they do and still find the time to raise your children with exceptionally good values then you are obviously doing a good job.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19_Kids_and_Counting
http://hookedonhouses.net/2010/08/16/19-kids-counting-the-duggar-family-at-home-in-arkansas/
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