Being pregnant is an exciting time for any woman but, especially for those expecting their first child, it can also be an anxious period, where they constantly worry whether they are doing the best for their unborn baby.

So, to allay some of those fears and concerns, we thought it would be good idea to put together a list of some simple tips for a healthy pregnancy that anyone can follow:

The most important of all pregnancy tips for expectant mothers is give up smoking and eliminate the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. By smoking and drinking you are effectively exposing your unborn child to all the risks inherent in tobacco and alcohol. Moreover, smoking during pregnancy has been shown to increase the incidence of miscarriage, birth defects, still birth and even sudden infant death syndrome or cot death as it is more commonly known. If you are a smoker and are finding things difficult, do not worry. Your GP and local health clinic have lots of advice and tips to help you quit while you are expecting

It is also important for the mum-to-be to eat well. The old saying that you are eating for two while expecting is more than just an old wifes tale. A healthy, nutritious diet is essential for the wellbeing of both mother and child during pregnancy, so make sure you take the time to eat properly, even if occasionally your cravings may be telling you otherwise!

Moderate exercise is also recommended during pregnancy. This should take the form of something gentle and relaxing. This is not the time for that Zumba class! Walking is an ideal way to ensure you get the exercise you need. Keeping active in general during pregnancy confers a number of important benefits on mother and baby – it helps maintain an even body weight, helps reduce the risk of factors such as miscarriage or stillbirth and has even been shown to reduce the risk of post natal depression

Image: Freedigitalphotos.net

This article will provide readers with much-needed information about caesarean delivery. Most people have hard of caesarean delivery but, beyond recognising the term, know little about what it involves. Caesarean delivery involves surgery in which the delivery of a baby is done by cutting the front wall of the abdomen to open the womb. Like all forms of surgery, it is not without risk. There can be a risk of infection, blood loss, side effects to the baby and other complications.

So why opt for childbirth by this method? In some cases, such as when the mother is affected by high blood pressure, or has a heart condition or perhaps diabetes, then caesarean delivery is recommended. Other instances where this type of delivery may be appropriate include where there is a risk of infection to the new-born child.

Where a woman is expecting more than one baby (i.e. twins or multiple births), caesarean delivery may also be appropriate. is necessary in the condition and there are instances where women may choose delivery by caesarean to avoid the pain of childbirth.

Caesarean delivery is also recommended when there are medical complications, for example, a low lying placenta. This method of giving birth is also becoming more common as more women delay marriage and childbirth till a later age, by which time there are more risks and chance of complications in childbirth, which then lead to medical indications and the need for delivery via surgery.

Accordingly, though vaginal delivery is the course of nature, sometimes, in life-threatening and serious conditions either for the child or mother, it is better to have a caesarean delivery. Surgeons require go cut through multiple layers of tissue to access the baby. A combination of blunt dissection and sharp instruments is used. A machine is also used to burn small blood vessels to prevent bleeding. After reaching the uterus, the amniotic fluid is suctioned to make more space in the uterus for the surgical instruments like a vacuum extractor or forceps. The baby is usually engaged in the pelvis with head down but rear first or breech. The part which first enters the pelvis is lifted by the doctors. The mother may feel nauseated and pressurized during this intense moment. Generally during vaginal birth, fluids from the baby’s nose and mouth are squeezed in labor itself, but in C-section, they have to be suctioned and extra is required if meconium is present. After the baby has been well suctioned, the rest of the body is born and the umbilical cord entanglement complications are resolved. The upper part of the abdomen is also pressed to assist the birth. After the birth, the neonatologist puts the baby by the warmer and suctions again to ensure the cleaning of the amniotic fluid.

Stress, anxiety and depression are common ailments in today’s frantic-paced world. Stress can cause even the most normally decisive and energetic of people to feel as though they do not know where to turn. Stress, if left unattended, can cause, or contribute to, a number of serious health conditions, so it is important to recognise the symptoms and to take action. The goods news is that if you have ever find yourself in this position, there are a several simple methods you can adopt to make your stress issues a thing of the past:

Ensuring you get enough sleep is an important means of overcoming stress. Sleep helps the body heal and recover and ?provides a boost to the immune system, so always make sure you are properly rested.

Another simple way to address stress issues is to relax by listening to music or losing yourself in a good book. Research has shown that music can impact deeply on the body and mind. Whether your music of choice is classical, jazz or rock, taking the time to relax and listen to your favourite music can have a powerful relaxing effect.

Gentle exercise such as a light aerobic workout or a long walk in the country can also help you unwind and relieve stress, quite apart from the other benefits that regular moderate exercise can bestow. If you are feeling under pressure why not go for a swim or a light jog and see how much better you feel? Or why not consider joining a yoga class? Yoga has long been recognised as an effective stress-buster.

Stress can be debilitating but by recognising the triggers and avoiding them whenever possible – combined with taking on board a few of the above suggestions – you can soon banish it from your life.

The above post was contributed by guest author James Glen, who has written widely on a range of health and medical issues, including for the Richmond Practice, a private GP service in Richmond as well as many other medical and quasi-medical bodies.

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There’s many terms used for hospital jobs that the general public are familiar with; staff nurses, matrons, even RGN. However, the phrase ‘ODP’ is still relatively unknown and can leave patients non-plussed about what to expect.

This lack of awareness is also present to a lesser extent within the medical profession itself. Although the job title has been in place since 2004, many hospitals have chosen to use other names to describe a similar role, such as Theatre Nurse.

ODP jobs demand advanced levels of knowledge, technical ability and expertise. We provide a short guide to what you can expect from a career in this field.

ODP ? the basics

ODP is an abbreviation of Operating Department Practitioner and refers to a role which is highly skilled and technical in nature, as well as incorporating the core components of nursing such as patient communication.

The job usually involves working in theatre in sterile surroundings, carrying out various tasks related to surgery. The ODP role has a strong overlap with that of Theatre Nurse but primarily relates to anaesthesia, the surgery and the recovery phase.

A Diploma of Higher Education in Operating Department Practice is required and many employers will also stipulate that the member of staff must be registered with the College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP) as well as state enrolled.

What the role involves

An ODP is responsible for all aspects of the patient’s care and must consider everything from prepping the equipment and having everything ready to infection control and wound management.

There are three main stages to the role of an ODP: anaesthesia, surgery and recovery.

Anaesthesia: During this part of the process an ODP must juggle the emotional needs of the patient with practical concerns such as getting the equipment ready. Whilst the patient is still conscious, an ODP must be focused on assessing their needs and providing the necessary level of support.

At the same time, it is the ODP’s responsibility to gather the equipment, implements and drugs required to safely administer the anaesthetic. During the whole process, the ODP will aid the anaesthetist.

Surgery: Probably the most stressful part of the whole role, during the actual operation the ODP should be on hand to assist the surgeon, anticipating needs rather than simply responding to requests. They will also be responsible for keeping account of all swabs and implements as well as other aspects of health and safety.

In circumstances where the surgical team need to communicate with other parts of the hospital, the ODP will normally assume the role.

Recovery: Once the surgery is complete, the OPD will receive the patient in the recovery room, evaluate the care given and decide what further interventions are necessary in order to stabilise them. This stage requires continuous assessment during which time the OPD will deliver the treatment required to stabilise the individual sufficiently to allow them to return to the ward.

An OPD will set up all kinds of equipment and administer medication before, during and after surgery

OPD career options

An OPD would primarily be found in a theatre environment, providing all of the above support to the surgeon and anaesthetist and becoming an integral part of the team.

There are a number of options open to an OPD including surgical assistant, scrubbed person, as well as the non-sterile circulation role. The OPD has a fundamental part to play in not just the preparation of the equipment and the environment, but also with patient care and infection control.

Whilst many OPDs may perform all of the above functions, it is possible to specialise in a particular area and take your skills to an even higher level. This is often particularly seen with OPDs who aid anaesthetists; where they can go on to play a role in trauma teams, carrying out procedures such as intubation in the absence of other more qualified medical professionals. OPDs often are part of any transfer team where a patient who is seriously ill is being moved from one hospital to another.

OPDs may find roles in other departments in addition to theatre such as Intensive Care or SCBU

Conclusion: OPD may sound like an administrative job title but in reality it is a highly trained medical profession, with gruelling physical demands and tough emotional pressures. However, for those able to withstand the rigours of the job, working as an OPD provides the opportunity to enhance your nursing knowledge and skills and go on to provide more advanced care in a variety of settings.

Author Bio: Written by Samantha, an experienced Healthcare writer who suggests visiting the Nuffield health careers site for more information about OPD careers.

Image credits: Zdenko Zivkovic and didbygraham

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