Many expectant couples have fear that sexual intercourse will hurt the baby, or the expectant mother. Many couples fear that orgasm will stimulate early labor or even a miscarriage. However, in a normal pregnancy, sexual intercourse will not hurt the mother or the fetus. Likewise, having an orgasm in a normal pregnancy will not hurt the baby or bring on labor or miscarriage. Some studies also shown that couples who stay sexually active during their pregnancy may actually lower the chances of premature labor (i.e: the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks gestational age).

However, there are instances when sex may be restricted during pregnancy period. In the case of high risk pregnancy, sexual intercourse may be limited at certain times. Sexual intercourse may also be restricted is the mother has unexplained bleeding, history of miscarriages, history of premature labors, if twins are being carried, or if the mother has placenta previa.

It is vital to discuss with your doctor of what is safe and what is unsafes during sexual intercourse. You should know exactly what your doctor is instruction, whether it is abstaining from sexual intercourse, orgasm or both.

1. 6 or more servings of bread, cereal, rice, or pasta:
> One serving equals one slice of bread, 1 ounce of ready-to-eat cereal (about 1 cup of most cereals), or 1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice, or pasta.
> If you are physically active, you can eat more servings (up to 11 servings if you are very active).

2. 3 to 5 servings of vegetables:
> One serving equals 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables such as spinach or lettuce, or 1/2 cup of chopped vegetables, cooked or raw.

3. 2 to 4 servings of fruit:
> One serving equals one medium piece of fruit like an apple, banana, or orange; 1/2 cup of chopped fresh, cooked, or canned fruit; 1/4 cup dried fruit; or 3/4 cup of 100-percent fruit juice.

4. 2 servings of milk, yogurt, or cheese:
> One serving equals 1 cup of milk or yogurt, 1 1/2 ounces of natural cheese like cheddar or mozzarella, or 2 ounces of processed cheese like American.
> If you are 18 years or younger and pregnant, you need at least 3 servings of milk, yogurt, and cheese.
> Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products most often.

5. 2 to 3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, or nuts:
> One serving equals 2 to 3 ounces of cooked meat, poultry, or fish-about the size of a deck of cards. Choose lean cuts and eat no more than 5 to 7 ounces of meat, poultry, or fish a day. One cup of cooked beans such as kidney beans or 2 eggs count as a serving.
> Four tablespoons of peanut butter or 2/3 cup of nuts also equals a serving.

6. At least 8 glasses of water:
> Drinking milk, 100-percent juice, seltzer or other non-alcoholic beverages counts toward your amount of daily water.

* Adapted from the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Department of Health and Human Services Food Guide Pyramid.

Tips for pregnancy:

- Talk to your health care provider about how much weight you should gain during your pregnancy.
- Eat foods rich in folate, iron, calcium, and protein, or get these nutrients through a prenatal supplement.
- Talk to your health care provider before taking any supplements.
- Eat breakfast every day.
- Eat high-fiber foods and drink plenty of water to avoid constipation.
- Avoid alcohol, raw fish, fish high in mercury, soft cheeses, and anything that is not food.
- Aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week. Talk to your health care provider before you begin.
- After you deliver your baby, continue eating well. Return to a healthy weight gradually.
- Slowly get back to your routine of regular, moderate physical activity.
- Take pleasure in the miracles of pregnancy and birth.

When it comes to vitamins, each one has a special role to play. For example:

- Vitamin D in milk helps your bones.
- Vitamin A in carrots helps you see at night.
- Vitamin C in oranges helps your body heal if you get a cut.
- B vitamins in leafy green vegetables help your body make protein and energy.

There are two types of vitamins, which are fat soluble and water soluble.When you eat foods that contain fat-soluble vitamins, the vitamins are stored in the fat tissues in your body and in your liver. They wait around in your body fat until your body needs them. Water-soluble vitamins are different. When you eat foods that have water-soluble vitamins, the vitamins don’t get stored as much in your body. Instead, they travel through your bloodstream. Whatever your body doesn’t use comes out when you urinate.

1. Vitamin A
This vitamin plays a really big part in eyesight. Vitamin A helps you see in color, too, from the brightest yellow to the darkest purple. In addition, it helps you grow properly and aids in healthy skin.

Which foods are rich in vitamin A?

- milk fortified with vitamin A
- liver
- orange fruits and vegetables (like cantaloupe, carrots, sweet potatoes)
- dark green leafy vegetables (like kale, collards, spinach)

2. The B Vitamins
There’s more than one B vitamin. Here’s the list: B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, folic acid, biotin, and pantothenic acid. The B vitamins are important in metabolic activity — this means that they help make energy and set it free when your body needs it. So the next time you’re running to third base, thank those B vitamins. This group of vitamins is also involved in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. Every part of your body needs oxygen to work properly, so these B vitamins have a really important job.

Which foods are rich in vitamin B?

- whole grains, such as wheat and oats
- fish and seafood
- poultry and meats
- eggs
- dairy products, like milk and yogurt
- leafy green vegetables
- beans and peas

3. Vitamin C
This vitamin is important for keeping body tissues, such as gums and muscles in good shape. C is also key if you get a cut or wound because it helps you heal. This vitamin also helps your body resist infection. This means that even though you can’t always avoid getting sick, vitamin C makes it a little harder for your body to become infected with an illness.

Which foods are rich in vitamin C?

- citrus fruits, like oranges
- cantaloupe
- strawberries
- tomatoes
- broccoli
- cabbage
- kiwi fruit
- sweet red peppers

4. Vitamin D
No bones about it . . . vitamin D is the vitamin you need for strong bones! It’s also great for forming strong teeth. Vitamin D even lends a hand to an important mineral — it helps your body absorb the amount of calcium it needs.

Which foods are rich in vitamin D?

- milk fortified with vitamin D
- fish
- egg yolks
- liver
- fortified cereal

5. Vitamin D
No bones about it . . . vitamin D is the vitamin you need for strong bones! It’s also great for forming strong teeth. Vitamin D even lends a hand to an important mineral — it helps your body absorb the amount of calcium it needs.

Which foods are rich in vitamin D?

- milk fortified with vitamin D
- fish
- egg yolks
- liver
- fortified cereal

6. Vitamin K
Vitamin K is the clotmaster! Remember the last time you got a cut? Your blood did something special called clotting. This is when certain cells in your blood act like glue and stick together at the surface of the cut to help stop the bleeding. Which foods are rich in vitamin K?

- leafy green vegetables
- dairy products, like milk and yogurt
- broccoli
- soybean oil

One to two days before appearing, a burning or tingling sensation may be present in the area of the mouth where the lesion is developing. Rarely, a fever might present itself when developing a canker sore. Canker sores appear inside the mouth as round or oval sores typically with a red border and yellow or white center. Canker sores typically develop:

- On the top surface of the tongue and the tip of the tongue
- Underneath the tongue, on the floor of the mouth
- The inside of the cheek and lip
- On the gum tissue
- Canker sores do not develop on the external surfaces of the lips and are not to be confused with coldsores.

Canker sores may be classified as:

- Minor - Although painful, minor canker sores are often fully healed within two weeks after onset. The size of a minor canker sore varies, but typically stays under 1/3 inch to 1/2 inch.

- Major - Canker sores that appear larger that 1/3 inch to 1/2 inch, last longer than two weeks, and appear to have irregular margins — oddly shaped — may be classified as major. Rarely, this type of canker sore may leave behind a scar. Common in immuno-suppressed patients.

- Herpetiform Canker Sores - A cluster of several tiny lesions that appear to form one larger sore. This type of canker sore may last from one week to one month.

Canker sores may become painful, especially when eating, drinking, and talking.

Dental implants are fixtures of titanium which are surgically screwed into your jaw bone. The implant is an anchor for a naturally-appearing false tooth or a set of false teeth. The success rate of dental implants depends on where the implants are placed and their purpose. They are typically best placed in the front portion of your lower jaw.

Implants are great for replacing missing teeth. It is important that you have enough bone in the area of the missing teeth for the implants to be attached to. Implants are not only used to replace one tooth, but rather people missing most, if not all, of their teeth benefit greatly as well. Implants are increasingly being used to replace certain types of bridges and removable partial dentures.

However, there are many things you need to consider before going for implants; you might want to know what are the advantages and disadvantages of going for the implantation.

> Advantages:
As our life span increases, a permanent dental replacement like implants is increasingly important as we get older. While dentures and removable bridges are usually loose and unstable, implants provide you with dental replacements that are both natural looking and very functional. Implants look much better, and feel better, than traditional removable bridges, and offer the same force for biting as bridges that are fixed in place. Implants will last your lifetime.

> Disadvantages:
Implants are a major investment and not without risk. The extensive use of implants can cost tens of thousands of dollars to achieve a great result. It is also a very time consuming procedure when having many implants placed. As this procedure is surgery, it is very important to research and find a well credited cosmetic dentist that you are comfortable with. For some people there are varying degrees discomfort or pain, which subsides in a couple of days. As with similar types of surgery, bruising and minor swelling might also develop shortly after the procedure. The crown (false tooth placed on top) will need to be replaced in ten to fifteen years.

If the body lacks iron, it cannot make enough haemoglobin, the substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body and brain. Without adequate iron, you will lack energy and get sick often. Lack of iron is the most common single nutrient deficiency worldwide.

Girls and women need more iron because of blood loss during menstrual periods. During pregnancy, women need more than double the usual intake of iron. Women and men who follow restrictive or fad diets also can become iron-deficiency.

Infants and young children who do not get enough iron are more prone to infections and illness, may not gain enough weight, get tired easily and have feeding and digestion problems. Iron-deficiency is extremely common in pre-school children, with up to a quarter of those under age three suffering from iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA).This condition can have a permanent effect on brain development and affect the children less able to learn.

Teenagers and athletes need extra nutrients to fuel growth spurts, but they are also more likely to be on poor and unbalanced diets. Some iron is lost through urine and the gut during very strenuous activity.

Vegetarians and vegans may be getting too little iron, because iron in vegetables and other plants food is not as easily absorbed by the body as iron in meat.

Symptoms may differ from one person to another, and can also mirror those of other conditions. So, if you experience any of the following, please consult a doctor at once.

1. A constant itch around the vaginal area.
2. Thickening or lumpy skin around the vulva (occasionally, whitish or rough skin).
3. Change in colour and appearance of the vulva.
4. Bleeding or spotting that is unrelated to periods.
5. Sores.
6. Pain during urination or intercourse.
7. Unusual odour.
8. Unusual discharge.

An infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for cancer of the vulva. A history of cervical or vaginal cancer may also put a woman at risk for vulvar cancer. Other factors include age, smoking and infection with the human immunodeficiency (HIV). Lichen sclerosus is a skin condition that manifests with severe itchiness of the vulva and has been linked to an increased risk of vulvar cancer.

Just as with the symtoms, treatment options for vulvar cancer vary. Factors such as the extent of the cancer and tolerance of medication will influence a doctor’s decision on treatment options. There are different types of surgical options available, including by laser, which is less invasive and employs a beam of light to eradicate abnormal cells. In some cases, the doctor will have to excise or remove the affected tissues. A vulvectomy is occasionally done and involves the removal of some or all vulvar tissue.

The exact cause of vulvar cancer is still not known. However, avoiding certain risk factors may help protect against the condition. Since HPV infection is a risk factor, practising safe sex may keep the infection at bay. There are now vaccines that protect against certain strain of HPV. Also, regular Pap smears can help pick up abnormal cells in their early stages, so, don’t skip your appointment with the gynaecologist.

Be aware of conditions and treatments to help prevent your nail problem. There are certain disorders or illness that can affect the nail. All of them have their own treatment as well. Given below are a few disorders and how to deal with them.

1. Discolored Nails: In this condition the color of the nail changes. It may change to green, yellow, blue, red and/or purple. The change in color may be caused by a heart condition, poor blood circulation or medicines being used. You can cover up the discoloration by using nail polish or artificial nails.

2. Eggshell Nails: Nails that are very thin and fragile are called Eggshell Nails. In this condition the nail curves over the tip of the finger. This maybe a result of nervous disorder, diet or medication. The treatment is to keep your nails trimmed at all times. If you realize that this condition is being caused by medication discontinue the medication.

3. Furrows: These are long ridges that run up and down or across the nails. These may be caused by poor blood circulation, medication, lack of zinc in your diet or frostbite. Some may get deeper as time passes. Applying ridge filler of any kind or buffing can hide the ridges.

4. Hangnails: Is medically known as agnails. In this condition the cuticle becomes dry and cracks. Hangnails are caused by dryness of cuticles or when cuticles have been cut too close. You can apply cuticle oil and trim the hanging skin.

5. Onychauxis: In this condition your nails become abnormally thick. This normally happens with your toenails. This can be caused by an unbalanced diet; infection or it could be hereditary. Filing and buffing the nail can reduce its thickness.

6. Ingrown Nail: Is medically known as onychocryptosis. The nail grows into the sides of the skin around the nail. Wearing ill-fitting shoes or using a file in an improper way can cause this. If the nail has grown deep into the skin then a only a doctor can remove it.

7. Bitten Nails: Bitten nails or onychophagy can deform your nails it you bite them continuously or if they are bitten too far down. The only treatment is to stop biting them. Regular manicures and artificial nails can improve the way your nails look.

8. Pterygium: Is when your cuticles grow over your nails. If they are not prevented they could grow right over your nails. Use cuticle oil to soften the skin, use a cuticle pusher to push back the cuticles to their place. Use cuticle clippers to trim away the loose skin.

Many of these conditions if not taken care of in the initial stage can become very painful and permanent. So remember to take care of nail disorders immediately.

You might think of many ways to get slim down, go on many diet plans which might make you look not healthy. Lack of nutrients that needed for body is not a healthy diet; cutting down on calories are correct, but not cutting down on the nutrients. For example, you always define that meat will spoilt your diet plan, that’s true, but you can’t miss it for your daily nutrient. There are ways to get in shape meanwhile stay healthy, first thing you need to know is to watch out for your diet plans. Does the diet plan you follow daily healthy or nutritious? Here are some guides that will be useful for you to know your diet plan and how you can fix your food daily in order to stay in shape and healthy.

1. Caesar Salad:
Salad, the main diet food that every “dieter” will take; but that’s different for caesar salad. Some food that we think are healthy can be sneaky little diet wrecker. Just a small bowl of caesar salad has 300-400 calories and 30 grams of fat, because of the loads of dressing. How you can fix this? Just use only 1 tablespoon of dressing and 2 tablespoon of tangy, Parmesan Cheese.

2. Fresh Smoothies:
Smoothies are blend of fruits, milk and yogurt; these smoothies can have whopping 80 grams of sugar, 350 calories, no protein, and no fresh fruits. Fruit concentrates are often used instead of fresh fruit. Sorbet, ice-cream, and sweeteners can make these no better than a milkshake. How you can fix this? Mix your own smoothies, get a small cup, use fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat milk, or you can choose to use protein powder to blend in good nutrition.

3. Energy Bars:
Many energy bars are simply enhanced candy bars with more malories (up to 500); their compact size also leaves many people unsatisfied. Energy bars are usually meant for athletes to gain energy and protein they needed. How to fix this? Choose bars that hve 200 calories or less, at least 5 grams of fiber, and some protein, which helps provide energy when the sugar rush fades.

4. Chicken Burrito:
Contain about 1,000 calories and plenty of saturated fat. Cheer, sour cream, and the fat in the jumbo flour tortilla all contribute. How to fix this? Share one with another of your friend, or try a soft taco with fajita-style grilled meats and veggies on a corn tortilla with tasty low-calories salsa.

5. 2% milk:
2 percent milk sounds healthier than “whole” milk. But it still has more than half the saturated fat of whole milk. Whole milk contain 150 calories, 2% milk contain 130 calories, and skim milk contain 80 calories. To fix this; if you like whole milk, blend it with 2% milk, as well 1% of the skim milk, until you get to the taste of nonfat milk.

6. 2% Milk Latte:
It is tempting to choose “reduced-fat” milk in a latte and topped it with whipped cream. Sadly, this trade-off still adds up to 580 calories, and 15 grams of saturated fat in a 20 ounce white chocolate mocha. That’s worse than a quarter-pound burger with cheese. To fix this, use skim milk (non-fat milk) and do not topped with whipped cream. You will avoid 130 calories and two-third of the bad fat.

7. Turkey Hot Dogs:
The nutritional content of turkey hot dogs varies from brand to brand — and some are real turkeys when it comes to health. It may say “less fat” on the front label, but when you check the fine print on the back, you find there’s still plenty of fat left in each sausage. Howw you can fix this? Compare the nutritional labels for the lowest fat content; there are some really good choices now available. Or only eat them a few times a year.

8. Breakfast Muffins:
Muffins masquerade as a healthy choice for breakfast. They beat doughnuts, they’re still mainly sugary little cakes of refined flour. One store-bought muffin can hit 500 calories with 11 teaspoons of sugar. How to fix that? Go no larger than 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Or look for 100-calorie muffins at the store. They limit calories, and some brands are a surprisingly good source of whole grains and fiber.

9. Low-Fat Yogurt:
Too often this nutritional superstar — rich in protein and calcium — contains shocking amounts of added sugar. Some brands add 30 or more grams of fructose, sucrose, or other sweeteners. How to fix this? Six ounces should be 90-130 calories and under 20 grams of sugar. Avoid sugary “fruit on the bottom,” or blend sweetened yogurt with plain, nonfat yogurt.

10. Ice Tea:
The antioxidants in iced tea don’t make it a health food. Too much added sugar can turn a tall glass into a health hazard. A 20-ounce bottle can have more than 200 calories and 59 grams of sugar. To fix this, skip “sweet tea” in favor of unsweetened iced tea. Lemon or artificial sweeteners add zing without calories. Herbal and berry teas taste mildly sweet without sugar.

11. Popcorn:
The word “snack” can be a little misleading on microwave popcorn. One popular brand packs 9 grams of bad fat, including 6 grams of trans fat, into each “snack size” bag. All you need to do is just Compare nutrition labels and get a lower-fat popcorn that has no trans fat at all. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese or low-salt spice blends for added flavor without a lot of fat.

12. Cole Slaw:
Cabbage can be dandy for weight loss, but cole slaw can be a diet disaster. At one popular restaurant, a small cup (4.5 ounces) has 260 calories and 21 grams of fat — a third of most people’s daily limit — thanks to copious mayonnaise. How do you fix this? Some places make a healthier slaw, so ask for nutrition information. At home, try low-fat mayonnaise or mix with nonfat yogurt.

13. Crackers:
Some cracker sandwiches now say “whole grain” — a step in the right direction. But what you see on the front label may be only a tiny portion of what you eat. When a whole grain does not appear in the first three ingredients, there’s not much of it. “Wheat flour” is usually just a different name for refined, white flour — a name intended to sound healthier than it is and fool customers. How to fix this? Try to keep a low-fat cracker like a crisp bread and peanut butter in your desk drawer.