Many a new mother has asked me about newborn bowel habits. In fact, it is probably the # 1 question I am asked, bar none. I frequently get frantic calls from new mothers whose baby has not had a bowel movement for 24 hours. So, let’s talk poop!!

Newborns have bowel movements that vary in behavior. The first few days, they are ridding their colon of a black, sticky substance called meconium. This is very normal. This is the substance that fills their intestines while they are in the womb. It is hard to clean up, and it does not rub off easily. After the first couple of days, you should see what we call “transitional stools”, which are still dark in color, but are slowly becoming looser, easier to wipe off their little bottoms and maybe with a few yellow seeds in them. These can vary in color from very dark brown, to green and may have spots of yellow in them.

From this point (approximately 4-7 days after birth), you will start to see progressively more yellow and looser stools. Now, these can also be on the green side, depending on what the baby is taking in. If you are breastfeeding, your diet can have something to do with this. If the infant is on vitamins of any sort, or iron supplements, the poops can be much darker in nature. But, they should be fairly loose and easy to clean up. If you are breastfeeding, this trend will continue. Stools will be loose, yellow/greenish and usually in the first few weeks, very frequent. They can also be very explosive!!!

When my son was a newborn, I was changing his diaper on the changing table and reached on the right side of the table to get a new diaper. As my head came up, I saw a flash of something go right before my eyes and then saw the “splat” on the dresser right next to me. I looked in wonder at how this small creature could produce anything with that much force behind it. Whew!! Just missed my head too!!

It actually is not that much force exerted, it has a lot to do with the small area it is shot out of. My point in all of this is to say that this is all very NORMAL. What mother has not experienced this or something like it, or the occasional “up the back” poop that boggles your mind?

If you are continuing to breastfeed, you will also notice that as your baby goes through growth spurts, he can go from pooping every time you feed him, to not having a bowel movement for 2-3 days. Again, very normal. Breast milk is very well utilized by their little bodies and in a big growth spurt, just gets down right used up. Nothing is left to eliminate. So, if you are used to changing a dirty diaper every time you feed your little tot, don’t fret when that changes. All babies go through growth spurts. Their bowel habits are ever changing. It is highly unusual for a breast fed baby to be constipated.

If you are bottle-feeding and using formula, their stools could be a little more solid. Usually they are what I call “silly putty poops”. This may be dating myself, but that’s what it looks like. The more solid consistency is due to the way they digest formula differently than breast milk. Again, it is very normal. Bottle fed babies can also have varying degrees of regularity. This is also due to the baby’s growth spurts.

So, you ask, “When do I worry”? Most doctors will not even bat an eye if you tell them your little bundle of joy has not pooped for 2-3 days. It is usually nothing to worry about. We do not call it constipation unless the actual stools look like little solid pebbles. Then, there is some intervening that can be done. Try a warm bath and moving baby’s legs like she is riding a bicycle. This sometimes helps to relax the muscles. Talk to your pediatrician if the baby seems very uncomfortable for long periods of time or it has gone beyond 3-4 days. There are a multitude of remedies out there; most of them from your own kitchen. But, every pediatrician has different opinions on this, so best to talk to yours.

If the stools are soft or loose, but infrequent, don’t worry. Your baby is most likely just growing. Call your online doctor Alberta pediatrician if:

1. It has been beyond 3-4 days,

2. Your baby appears very uncomfortable for a good part of the day

3. You see blood in the stool when she does go

4. The stools are hard, small pebbles

It is very rare, but there are some conditions that may warrant medical attention.

Babies have only, eating, sleeping and pooping to concentrate on, so their attention is fully on the “task at hand”. Their intense concentration can sometimes be misconstrued as discomfort, but wait it out. They will be back to their normal angelic looking self in no time. Babies systems are very efficient. They usually run easily on auto-pilot. Just relax and enjoy the moment. Someday you may write about it or tell stories at parties and embarrass your own grown child.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7300713

Because of the increase of school shootings across the United States, there is an ongoing debate regarding solutions. One of the most looked at causes behind mass shootings are the mental state of the shooters themselves. Most mass shooters have some things in common with each other.

1. Grew up in a fatherless home
2. Was on prescription psychotropic drugs
3. Had stressful events going on in their lives

For category #1, the solutions are obvious. We need to revamp the family law courts in way that there aren’t “winning” parents and “losing” parents. I speak about this topic in-depth in my published report sent to the U.N. titled, “Global Human Trafficking in The Family Law Courts”, which can be found on Amazon.

However, for the sake of this article, I want to focus on the mental health aspect. It is undeniable that our school systems and our healthcare systems are handing out psychotropic drugs like candy! Kids who aren’t paying attention in class are quickly prescribed Ritalin. Depressed teenagers are quickly give Prozac; the situation for adults isn’t much better.

Let’s look at modern rappers like, “Lil Xan”, “Future”, and the recently deceased 20 year old rapper, “Lil Peep”, who died from a Xanax pill laced with Fentanyl. The rapper was seen on Instagram frequently swallowing hand fulls of Xanax pills daily. His young fans who idolized him are most likely following suit.

According to the “business-insider” news site, the United States of America is the world’s leader in prescribing anti-depressant medication. According to one of its articles published, it was found that 12% of all Americans are on some type of drug used to treat mental illness.

There are pros and cons to these numbers. Take South Korea for example, a very developed nation, yet it is ranked #3 for suicides. In the Korean culture, seeing a doctor for depression is a social stigma that shows weakness, especially on part of a male. It isn’t surprising considering that 80% of all suicides in the world are attributed to men. Because mental illness is pretty much ignored in South Korea and among males in general due to society pressures to remain “stoic”, people are killing themselves left and right.

On the other hand, the United States, which is ranked between #30 – #40 (depending on the study), for suicides. So, there is some evidence that perhaps anti-depressant medications can work. Or is it merely cultural? Jamaica often ranks at the very bottom of the list for suicide rates despite being a poor country. Although the poor, the communities are very close knit, and their culture is very cheerful. Perhaps it’s because marijuana is legal to smoke in the country! Who knows!

But, I do know one thing; anti-depressants and other drugs used to treat mental illness carry many side-effects. “Suicidal Thoughts”, is often listed as one of the major side-effects of Prozac. Imagine that! A medication designed for suicidal people which may cause suicidal thoughts! There is no doubt that taking psychotropic drugs alters the brain chemistry, just like alcohol or any other intoxicant.

It is in my opinion that occupational therapy, talk therapy, and community interaction are among the best treatments for depression. However, yet again, there is a draw back to these types of therapies as well.

Anytime an American sees a counselor for depression, suicidal thoughts, or any mental health concern, they are then “logged” and “stereotyped”. Those who frequent a mental health counselor could have such activities used against them in a custody battle or those who seek to purchase a firearm.

Imagine you are battling depression, so you go see a counselor, only to have it used against you in the future. This is why many, myself included, fear the idea of seeing a mental health specialist during times of great stress. Once you visit these people, you are very “labeled” and will be “marked”. If you find yourself facing any future litigation, the courts can uncover your medical records whereas they will say,:

“Ahhh! You went to a mental health counselor several times for depression! You aren’t fit to own a gun or have custody of your kids!”.

In some cases, this may true, whereas in others, it could be an unfair stereotype. When people mentioned that they see a counselor or take anti-depressant medication, people will often sneer at you or perhaps take a step back. We associate mental health concerns with schizophrenia or severe manic depressive types. The fact is, we are all suffering with some form of mental illness.

If you are too happy, the doctors will say you are “manic”. If you are too grumpy, they will say you have “type A” personality. If you are too sad, they will say you are suffering from severe “Depression”. It is much like going to a mechanic. If you talk long enough, they will find something wrong with you!

The truth is simple. Visiting a mental health counselor could result in you losing rights to your child, to your firearms, and your reputation as a person. It is a sad truth. Under our current system, most people do not seek help for fear of being demonized.

The top ways we can prevent mass shootings is by encouraging a friendly community, surround yourself with loving people, do your best to be involved parents, seek natural therapies to mental health disorders over drugs if possible (Sports, work therapy, etc..). If you are hearing voices or are frequently attempting to complete your suicide, then you should certainly seek medical intention.

Requiring mental health screenings to purchase firearms sounds like a great idea until you realize that most don’t seek help so that they can purchase a firearm! Why not screen people’s health condition before they purchase alcohol, get a driver’s license, or board a plane? Mental health can make nearly any activity dangerous. Our country must stop looking for “quick” fixes and start looking at the true cause of our demise.

Our fast-food, sex-violence, entertainment, glorification of misunderstand anarchism. There is “freedom” and then there is “responsible” freedom. Make choices in life, however, make those choices in respect of how it will affect your society at large. Legislators cannot solve these issues. These issues are ones that will require families to step up, unite, and take back the reign of traditional values without going overboard.

A middle ground between progressive thought and traditional values must be balanced. We mustn’t be afraid to advance our society, but we must also not totally disregard traditional ways of living which have served our humanity for so long.

Lastly, we must encourage more anonymity within our mental health departments. Must like the “confessionals” at a Catholic church. If people can be anonymously treated without so much of a paper-trail to stigmatize them, I am sure that many more people would step forward and ask for help.

As a boxing coach, this job often requires me to be a counselor, talking with my students, building up their confidence. If you are depressed and need help, but do not trust or fear doctors, a great alternative in my opinion is to stay active in group settings. Building relationships are essential in combating mental illness. In poor countries, suicide rates are often low because their communities are so tight knit. They may be poor, but no one is as lonely as the isolated modern man who types away in his cold artificially lit office cubicle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9896824

Seasonal allergies are common to countries with four seasons. Because of the change in temperature and environment, a lot of allergen triggers arise which causes those with allergies to suffer.

In Canada, one out of six Canadians suffers from seasonal allergies. The most common allergens are the production of pollens from ragweeds, molds, and dust mites.

According to statistics, over 40 percent of those suffering from seasonal allergies are caused by pollens.

Because of climate change, the duration of every season has changed. This change brings a longer season and a longer exposure to seasonal allergens. There has been a pollen count rise in Canada over the years which brought people a lot of problems especially those suffering from allergies.

Allergies also affect the quality of work people give. Those suffering from allergies often call in sick for work in the fall and winter seasons.

Fall allergies

Fall and winter are two of the seasons that triggers allergies. During the fall season, pollens generated from ragweeds are the main allergen triggers for people. Pollen travels through the wind for miles and miles away. Because of that, people who don’t have ragweeds around their houses can still suffer from an allergic reaction because of the wind. Some fruits and vegetables can also be a trigger because of pollens that can stick around it.

Dust mites and molds can also be the cause of allergies during the fall season. One of the most common breeding ground for molds in the fall season are leaves that are piled outside of your homes. These molds may be inhaled by kids and adults and may trigger an allergic reaction.

Dust mites on the other hand can get into the air upon turning on the heaters or making the fireplace.

Here are some symptoms of fall allergies:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
•  Teary eyes
•  Itchy nose and eyes
•  Runny nose

To avoid allergies during the fall, minimize going outside. This will help you from being exposed to pollens and molds that are carried in the air. Closing your windows and doors to avoid these irritants from going into your home is advised.

Clean your surrounding especially difficult to reach places in your house. Take extra effort in tidying up the area under the couch and beds, your fireplace if you have one, the heater before turning it on, and the area behind your closets and cupboards. Maintaining a clean environment is a must for those who are suffering from seasonal allergies.

Steroids, decongestants, and antihistamine medicines are treatments for allergies. You can also get an allergy shot or oral tablets. The other term for these shots is immunotherapy. Most of these medicines for allergies are over-the-counter drugs and there is no need for a doctor’s prescription. But you should still make sure that you are taking these drugs properly. For example, decongestant sprays should be only used for 3 days and overuse of these drugs can cause more congestion in your breathing.

Winter allergies

Winter allergies on the other hand are triggered due to the colder temperature and longer exposure to indoor allergens.

The common allergens during winter are dust mites, mold, airborne dust particles, and pet danders.

Dust mites can get into the beddings, carpets, and furniture. Cleaning them once every few months is advised especially for carpets where dust particles reside.

Molds are usually in the basement, bathrooms, sinks, and other damp places.

Pet danders are from your pets like your dogs and cats. Since they roam around the house, dirt particles can reside in your furniture and many other areas of your house.

Here are some symptoms for winter allergies:

• Itchy eyes
• Sneezing
• Dry cough
• Skin rash
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Clogged nose
• Chest pain
• Wheezing

Here are possible treatments for winter allergies:

• Take over the counter drugs for allergies – Antihistamines
• Nasal sprays
• Allergy shots

Winter allergies can be prevented by regularly cleaning your house. Changing and washing your clothes, beddings, and furniture covers regularly to remove dust mites and dirt particles also work.

Putting protective covers to your pillows and mattresses to prevent dust mites from entering your beddings will also help in preventing your allergies.

Regular vacuuming your carpet, floors, and curtains will help eliminate dust particles.

Fix your leaking pipes or ceilings from your bathroom, basements, or roof to prevent the build-up of moisture inside your house that causes mold production.

Using a dehumidifier will help lessen the moisture inside your house. This will minimize the occurrence of molds in your bedroom and living areas.

Conclusion:

Allergies are common when seasons change. Over the counter drugs are easily available when you have symptoms of allergies. If your symptoms persist, contact your doctor. Want to get treated for your allergies fast? Contact an online doctor Toronto. If you have other treatments for illness before your allergies, it is important to consult your doctor to prevent complications with your medication as some drugs may affect your treatments for other illnesses.

As parents, you often observe if there are any changes in behavior or new mannerisms in your child. If your child comes home from school and you notice him or her incessantly scratching his or her feet, maybe it’s time to check if he or she has an athlete’s foot.

Tinea Pedis, more commonly called athlete’s foot, is a skin infection brought about by fungi. The fungus that causes this skin disorder consumes dead skin cells. Unfortunately, the human feet produce a lot of old skin cells which make them the body parts that are usually prone to this type of fungi.

Tinea pedis is popularly termed as athlete’s foot because athletes are the ones who typically get infected with skin diseases. One of the reasons athletes are more inclined to catch this is because the fungus strain causing the disease is usually found in areas where athletes spend their time in.  This type of fungus dwells in damp and warm surfaces like in showers, pools, and locker rooms. Athletes are susceptible if they walk barefoot in these areas – and they usually do! The fungus can also thrive on towels that the athletes usually use to dry their feet.

Although athletes are more prone to this, anyone can get tinea pedis – including your child. Here are some symptoms of athlete’s foot that you can watch out for:

·         Itchiness, continuous scratching of the feet;

·         Redness and scaling on the soles;

·         Elevated bumps on the feet;

·         Rashes visible on the inside part of the feet;

·         Smelly feet odor;

·         Burning sensation of the affected area; and,

·         If the child cannot stop scratching, raw skin surface

The bad news is that the fungi associated with this skin disease can spread to other parts of your child’s feet and other parts of his or her body. Before the condition worsens, you have to try these remedies to get rid of the child’s athlete’s foot problem:

1.    Soak your child’s feet in a footbath solution.

Some people swear that mixing 1 teaspoon of bleach to half a gallon of water and soaking the feet in the solution for 10 minutes is effective. However, if you are concerned about the effects of bleach on your child’s skin, you can opt for less strong footbath concoctions. Instead of the bleach footbath, you can soak your child’s feet in a 70% rubbing alcohol and 30% water solution. Or, you can also dilute a mixture of vinegar and water as an alternative.

2.    Bleach your child’s socks and towels and clean his or her shoes.

The fungus can thrive in shoes, towels, socks, and other clothing materials. If your child has an athlete’s foot, it is important to clean up his or her belongings, especially his or her socks and shoes. You can also use antifungal disinfectants like Pine-Sol to eliminate any fungus strain.

3.    Air out your child’s feet and things.

Since the fungus lives in damp and warm areas, it is recommended to air out your child’s feet and often-used belongings. If your child needs to use socks, choose a pair that is made of breathable material. As much as possible, let your child use flip flops.

4.    Use foot powder to avoid sweating.

If you want to keep your child’s feet from perspiring, use antifungal foot powders. A dusting of antifungal foot powder is crucial especially if your child needs to wear shoes.

5.    Prevent your child from walking barefoot.

If your child is at school, make sure that he or she is wearing flip flops or shower shoes when at the public showers. Let him or her bring a personal towel for the body and feet to avoid using towels at school. Additionally, you should also give him or her own set of slippers at home to prevent the spread of the fungus.

6.    Apply anti-fungal cream to the affected areas.

Get the help of a family doctor’s advice to treat your child’s athlete’s foot. The physician can prescribe an anti-fungal cream that you can apply to the affected area to prevent the spread and eliminate the fungi. Your doctor will also prescribe how often you should use the cream and for how long. If you cannot personally meet your family doctor at his or her clinic, an alternative is consulting an online doctor Toronto. Online doctors charge relatively cheaper consultation fees and they also provide digital prescriptions that you can use to buy the needed medicines for your child’s treatment.

7.    Get the whole family treated.

Since the fungus can easily spread, it is recommended that you should also watch out for the symptoms of athlete’s foot in other family members who are in close contact with your child. If possible, disinfect your home and your family’s clothing and belongings, especially, socks, towels, and shoes. Coordinate with your family doctor or trusted online physician if you need to get the whole family treated.

Save yourself and your child from the unnecessary discomfort from athlete’s foot. Do these seven tips and if possible, contact a dermatologist immediately.

In Calgary, an organization promoting mental health awareness has initiated a project which covers online support for men suffering from mental health issues. The initiative utilized the online platform through a private forum, Facebook page, and peer-to-peer sessions in the community to encourage male members of their community to open up and share their struggles.

According to organization founders, their locality suffered seven losses due to suicide since June this year. According to them, they launched the project to give men in Calgary an avenue to go to if they are struggling with problems like deep-seated trauma, financial woes, losses, breakups, family problems, and other challenges that might need peer intervention.

This just shows that men must also keep an eye on their mental health status and governments and organizations must include programs on how to change the support system for men to get them to talk about their situation.

Almost two-thirds of people with mental health problems will not consult a doctor about their ailment. With the stigma surrounding mental disorders, men will often not seek for help or will only find a psychologist or psychiatrist if they have hit rock bottom emotionally.

The problem is, seeking treatment is sometimes the solution to their emotional distress. To be helped, men need to admit that they need help. If you know someone suffering from a mental disorder, here are things that you can do to help them:

1.    Set a time to listen without distractions.

 Have a listening ear. But if you decide that you want to listen to a male friend, make sure that you set time to talk without distractions. You will only make matters worse if you initiate the conversation but you cannot concentrate because of other things. Give him an open avenue and a non-judgemental ear.

And when he starts to talk, let him share as much or as little as he wants to. You are there not to command the conversation, but to listen. Let him take the lead of your conversation and adjust to his pace of revealing things. If he is not ready to talk about something, do not pressure him. Do not expect him to tell you everything in one sitting.

When he finally decides to share his problems with you, take care to keep everything confidential. You might be the first and only person he opened up to, so consider all information precious and keep the conversation within yourselves, unless he expresses willingness to tell other people.

2.    Do not diagnose what they are feeling.

If you decide to help someone, have in mind that you are not a doctor or a specialist who can diagnose diseases. If he opens up about how he feels, listen but do not give advice or worse, recommend medicines that “might” cure him. Do not make sweeping statements like:

“You have depression for sure.”

“You are having severe anxiety.”

“That’s what depressed people usually do.”

“I have a friend who had depression before and he took this over the counter medicine.”

Remember, you being there is already a big help. Do not assume the role of a doctor when you are talking to your friend or loved one.

3.    Discuss holistic well-being too.

If he is not too keen on discussing what he is feeling, open up other conversations. Casually talk about his physical well-being. Be interested in what he eats and what he usually does every day. If he agrees, you can invite him to start a simple daily exercise regimen. If you are neighbors, invite him for morning brisk walking or jogging. If you are far away from each other and cannot meet because of social protocols and quarantine restrictions, invite him to exercise together online. Or, you can also volunteer to pay for his one-week meal plan. If he cannot fully open about his feelings, at least help him open up about his diet and exercise.

4.    Introduce him to online peer support groups.

As the local group in Calgary will attest, providing online support for the mental wellbeing of men will already make a huge difference. Find an online group or forum where your friend or loved one can join and voice out anonymously. Because it is online, he can hide under an avatar or code name and join discussions without revealing his identity if he is still not ready to divulge who he is. The important thing is he gets an avenue to talk to others regarding similar problems and he also has an opportunity to share from his experiences.

5.    Encourage him to get professional help.If he is still not ready to approach a walk in clinic Calgary, perhaps he will be more comfortable seeking professional help through online clinics. You can introduce him to online doctors who can diagnose and give treatment options without him leaving his home.

As schools are re-opening this September, one of the most stressful challenges any parent in Canada must manage is how to protect your kid from getting infected with COVID-19. Are social protocols going to be strictly implemented? Will the children’s room be properly ventilated? Are schools going to make sure that the door handles are frequently disinfected? These are just a few questions running around any mother or father’s mind.

But as much as we would want out kinds to stay within our reach inside our homes, they need to go to school. Schools are more than just a place for academics for children and teens. Besides learning how to read, write, and count, children can develop their emotional and social skills in schools by interacting with other children. It is a place where they get to taste a part of what we call the society or community.

​The question remains though: Are the kids really safe to go back to school?

Government authorities have given a go signal for the young ones to return to their places of learning. However, this does not mean that you, as a parent, would not do anything to protect your child on your own. Here is some back to school preparations that you can do to safeguard your kid against the threat of the global pandemic:

1. Train your child to practice personal preventive measures.

By this time, the whole family should know the different health protocols recommended by the government and health authorities. This is the moment when your child has to do this on his or her own. Make sure that your kid knows the different preventive measures by heart. The most important things that you need to teach your child are the following:

• Using of alcohol and sanitizer. Orient your children about the proper use of alcohol or sanitizer. These items are crucial in sanitizing the hands. Their hands should be sanitized every time they touch knobs or handles in schools and public places to avoid transmission of germs. Your child must have a small container of alcohol in his or her pocket or conveniently attached to his or her bag.
•  Wearing of a face mask. Face masks protect you from being exposed directly to droplets, one of the modes of transmission of the novel coronavirus. Kids must be instructed that they should wear masks in public places especially when they are facing a lot of people or when they are talking to someone within a close distance. Kids must also avoid touching the outer part of the mask. If they accidentally do, instruct them to sanitize their hands immediately.

2. Impress the importance of physical distancing to your kid.

The children must know that they should keep at least three to six feet away from other people, including their teachers and friends at school. Tell your child to step away from groups or areas that are not following the physical distancing protocol. He or she must also report to you if the school or the teacher is not strict in following these health rules.

3. In the meantime, pack your child’s lunch in disposable brown bag containers.

The children need to eat nutritious foods to boost their immunity.  But to protect your household from contracting COVID-19, you must avoid bringing possibly contaminated items back to our homes. Try to stock your pantry with brown take-out bags, take out boxes, and biodegradable plastics and utensils. You can prepare your child’s food and put it in biodegradable disposable containers. Let your child just throw the whole lot away after eating.

4. Let your kid shower when he or she gets home.

Whenever your child returns from school, get him or her ready for a bath. Let him go straight to the bathroom to get undressed and to have a shower. His used clothes must be separated into another container and sprayed with Lysol. You can isolate the clothes and just get them once you are ready to do the laundry.

5. Do not let the child go to school if he or she is sick.

You must also do your part to prevent the spread of infection. If your child has a cough, itchy throat, stuffed nose, or is sick with fever it is best to let him or her stay at home to protect not only your child but also other children. Inform his or her teacher when this happens so that you can be advised if your child can still receive notes or make-up for missed exams and quizzes while he or she is ill. It is also best if you can get your kid checked. If you cannot go out of the house or visit a walk-in clinic Brantford, consult an online doctor instead so that your child can get treated at home.

As a parent, it is only natural that you feel the need to protect your kid. However, for all of these things to be effective, let the child understand why he or she needs to do all these things.