Lilac City Momma

Lynn

How to Prevent High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

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While many of us believe that high blood pressure occurs when we are older, up to 8% of pregnant women experience hypertension too. If you fall into this category, there are complications that can arise, including preeclampsia and kidney problems.

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, here are five simple strategies that will help keep your blood pressure under control, ensuring you have a smooth pregnancy and birth.

Stay Active

Pregnant women who are sedentary have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure. So, to keep your blood pressure under control, staying active during your pregnancy is key. Not only can regular exercise increase blood circulation and reduce stress levels, physical activity will have a positive effect on your baby’s health outcome. Setting aside 30 minutes each day for exercise is the best place to start in lowering your blood pressure.

Follow a Balanced Diet

As you move through your pregnancy and your baby starts to grow, it may be time to put your feet up and take things easy. However, while you may not be as mobile as you once were, that’s not to say you shouldn’t be following a healthy, balanced diet. Instead of getting takeaways and eating junk food, you must eat more healthily and have plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and protein on your plate. A balanced diet can improve your mindset, aid weight loss, and boost cardiovascular health.

No Smoking or Alcohol

It goes without saying, you shouldn’t have any alcohol or smoke tobacco during pregnancy. Alcohol and smoking are key factors of high blood pressure. So, to keep your baby safe and healthy, you should give up smoking and cut out alcohol. If you are still smoking during your pregnancy, it’s advised to make an appointment with your doctor, who will provide advice and support on how to quit successfully.

Monitor Your Blood Pressure

If you have concerns about your blood pressure, keeping a close eye will put your mind at ease. Whether you’ve changed your diet, incorporated regular exercise into your routine, or quit smoking, there are devices that you can purchase at a discount chemist called Pharmacy Online that help you monitor your blood pressure. If you notice any changes or causes for concern, don’t hesitate to speak to your doctor.

Destress

Once you become pregnant, you will do everything you can to keep your growing baby happy and healthy. The last thing you want is to become stressed and anxious before giving birth. So, taking time to relax and unwind can relieve stress and help with anxiety. Many expectant mothers swear by yoga, which is a low-intensity workout that can not only boost your fitness, but keep stress levels at bay.

When you are expecting a child, the experience should be one to look forward to, rather than fear. If you have high blood pressure, there are many minor lifestyle changes you can make which can put you back in control and keep you and your baby happy and healthy.

 

5 Great Ways Mums Can Improve Their Smile

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If you’ve recently given birth to your first child, or you’ve been through the process before, your sole focus will be on keeping your offspring happy and healthy. However, that’s not to say you shouldn’t forget about your own needs. Your body goes through a lot during pregnancy, with many new mums lacking confidence in their appearance.

Some women get sore and swollen gums during pregnancy, which leads to gum disease and affects your smile. If you aren’t confident with your teeth and gums, here are five great ways mums can improve their smile.

Regular Dental Visits

The best way to keep your teeth and gums in good condition is by seeing your dentist regularly. If you have any worries about the appearance of your smile, your dentist will give you expert advice on what action to take. With the internet being filled with cosmetic treatments for your teeth, it can be hard to know where to start. Your teeth and gums need to be in excellent health before undergoing any treatment. So, don’t be afraid to speak to your dentist.

Teeth Whitening

If you’re a mum who dreams about having a whiter and brighter smile, there are lots of teeth-whitening products you can purchase. Whether you purchase at-home products or get teeth whitening from pakenhamdental.com.au, you should see a significant change. To get the best results possible, you will need to refrain from drinking fizzy drinks and coffee as they both stain teeth and will hinder how successful your treatment is.

Braces

When it comes to braces, many people instantly think of metal brackets. However, thanks to advances in orthodontic treatments, there are more options available to you, including removable aligners which can be taken out when eating. There are invisible braces that you can purchase too, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. Some braces can also be fitted behind your teeth, meaning you won’t have to worry about your braces showing when smiling.

Veneers

If you’re after a product that provides a natural tooth appearance and makes dark teeth appear whiter, veneers may be right for you. Veneers are fitted over your existing teeth and can dramatically improve your smile. However, you must get this treatment done by a professional, otherwise they can ruin your teeth. Veneers are costly too, so you will need to create a budget beforehand to ensure you can afford it.

Regular Brushing and Flossing

While your concentration will be on keeping your kids healthy, you must ensure you follow a good oral hygiene routine. Flossing once a day and brushing in the morning and at night will remove any built-up plaque and bacteria. If you want to get excellent results, it’s advised to purchase an electric toothbrush that removes plaque in between teeth. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash will reduce your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Many of us dream about having a Hollywood smile. If you aren’t happy with how your teeth and gums look, there are things you can do to improve your smile.

 

How to Design a Home Office

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With more and more people working from home in recent years (especially in recent months due to the coronavirus pandemic), the need for a home office has increased. It can be very difficult to work efficiently in areas of the house where there may be distractions from other people and tasks. Having a separate room for working is not just great for your productivity but can also provide benefits for your mental health and sense of wellbeing. Working from home can lead to a disrupted work-life balance, where it is difficult to get into “work mode” in the mornings and equally difficult to get into “rest mode” at the end of the day. Having a separate home office room can help you to divide work life and home life, especially if you only use that room for working and nothing else!

Choosing a Desk

One thing that is essential for a home office is a suitable desk. Even if you only use a small laptop rather than a full desktop PC with separate monitor and keyboard, sitting at a desk is preferable. A desk can also be useful for storage, for making notes on paper, and as a place to put your cup of coffee!

There are many desks specifically designed for offices. Although many of the desks used in office blocks around the world are only available from office furniture suppliers aimed at businesses, you can still find suitable desks as a home consumer. Desks with grommet holes (circular holes for cable management) can keep your workspace tidy and avoid electrical cables trailing.

Electrics

If you are setting up a computer in your home office, you will need to consider if there are enough electrical sockets for everything that you need (e.g. a PC, a monitor, speakers, a separate laptop if needed, etc). Extension cables are useful, and sites like powerpointelectrics.co.uk can help you to install or modify electrical sockets if needed.

Choosing a Chair

Choosing the right type of office chair is more important than you might think. After all, you will most likely be spending several hours each day sitting on it. Sitting on an unsuitable chair can not only be uncomfortable but can also lead to bad posture and long-term back and neck issues. Adjustable back rests and arm rests are highly recommended. An office chair is one area where going for the cheapest option can cost you more (in terms of health) in the long run.

Choosing Décor

Office décor is actually surprisingly important. Studies have shown that the décor of a room is linked to productivity, efficiency, and job satisfaction. This is not surprising considering the fact that you will be spending many hours on end in the office. In terms of what specific décor works best for you in your home office, your personal preferences will be most important. However, there are some design tips that will work for most people. For example, calming colours on the walls, natural lighting, and lack of clutter are highly recommended for a working space.

 

5 Ways to Boost Your Self-esteem as a New Mom

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There is an assumption that new moms must always be brimming with pride and joy, but the reality is that almost all women experience a drop in their self-esteem in some way after giving birth. Pregnancy, giving birth, and becoming a mother for the first time will change your life forever, and while many of those ways are wonderful, others are less comfortable. Some women struggle to embrace their new body; others lose touch with their friends or worry about balancing motherhood with their career. If you are a proud new mommy who is feeling unsure or insecure, here are five ways to boost your self-esteem.

  • Connect with other new moms

It can be helpful to know that you are not alone in the way you feel, so seek out other new moms who you can share your worries with and ask questions of. There are lots of forums, chatrooms, and social media accounts which bring new moms together to support each other and share their experiences.

  • Keep doing what you are good at

When a woman becomes a mom, her baby becomes her whole world, and almost all her time is spent ensuring the baby has everything he or she needs to thrive. This is right and natural, but it can mean that moms push their own interests and talents to the bottom of the list. Over time, moms can lose sight of what makes them an individual and can feel that they have little to offer other than being a mom. Whether it is your career, sport, or a hobby, keep doing something whatever makes you feel good about yourself as much as you can.

  • Look after your health

If you do not look after your physical health, you will feel drained of energy and will not look your best. Try to get as much sleep as you can as this will give your body time to heal and rejuvenate, as well as giving your skin a healthy glow. Eat a diet which is fresh and rich in nutrients and drink a minimum of eight glasses of water per day. You will have more energy, and your skin and hair will be in better condition, and your immune system will be stronger. In addition, it is important to eat well if you are breastfeeding to ensure your baby gets essential nutrients.

  • Revamp your hair

Spending time washing, nourishing, and styling your hair can feel like an indulgence when you have a baby, but clean and healthy hair is an important part of self-care. Consider washing your hair in the evening when the baby is asleep, as this will save you time in the morning. Choose a low-maintenance hairstyle, visit julia-lampard.co.uk for some inspiration, or tie up long hair in an up-do. If you are completely out of time before heading out, try some dry shampoo.

  • Use makeup as a quick fix

If getting enough sleep seems a distant dream right now, don’t be afraid to use makeup as a quick fix if you are not feeling your best. There are lots of light foundations or tinted moisturizers which can give you an even color without being too heavy or laborious to apply. A little white eyeshadow on the inner corner of your eyelid can make you look more awake, and a touch of blusher on your cheeks can give you a healthy glow. Makeup can also help to cover stretch marks and scars if you are particularly self-conscious about your post-pregnancy body.

3 Ways to Take the Stress Out of Traveling with Kids

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When you have children, travel isn’t always the most straightforward of operations. You have to meet certain deadlines, you have to remember to pack certain belongings, and you have to keep the kids happy whenever they get bored, tired and restless.

If you’re not careful, the stresses that you encounter as you drag your family across the globe could end up wreaking havoc on your vacation experiences. To ensure that stress isn’t afforded the opportunity to blight your next holiday, be sure to put the travel advice listed below into practice.

Here are three ways you can take the stress out of traveling:

Book transport to the airport in advance

Booking your airport transport on the day that you are due to travel is the last thing that you want to do. Leaving everything to the last minute in this sense is a recipe for disaster, simply because you might end up missing your opportunity to book a taxi; you could contact all the firms in your local area, only to find that none of them are available at the time that you need them. Should this happen, your chances of missing your planned flight will no doubt increase tenfold. One thing’s for sure — this delay in your travel plans isn’t going to do any favours for your stress levels!

Quite simply, it’s essential that you act sensibly and book your journey to the airport in advance. Once you schedule your pickup with an industry-leading provider of airport transport like Premium Minicabs, you won’t have to worry about being late for your flight. As stated at premierminicabs.com, they will guarantee you a swift, seamless, and stylish journey to the airport every time you and your family ride with them.

Attempt to book direct flights

Connection flights might be cheaper in some instances, but they’re almost always a whole lot more stressful. When you have multiple flights to catch, you run the risk of missing crucial connections and, in turn, you put yourself in danger of disrupting your travel schedule. If you want to avoid the stress that is caused by schedule disruption, you should attempt to book direct flight packages as and when you are able to do so.

Prepare your kids for the journey

If your children haven’t traveled extensively in the past, especially, it’s crucial that you sit them down and prepare them for the journey ahead. Talk to them about the plane ride, make them aware of how long it is going to take to get to your vacation destination, and make sure they understand the importance of remaining vigilant while they are away from home. Once you speak to them about these essential matters, they’ll no doubt find it easier to cope with whatever issues the journey has in store for them.

Do you want to enjoy a stress-free traveling experience and, in turn, a relaxing vacation? If so, it’s absolutely essential that you put all of the advice laid out above into practice.