Probably the biggest problem most parents face with their kids is that of food –either the children are not eating enough of what’s good for them or they’re eating too much of what’s bad for them. Since neither option is desirable, you’re probably pulling out your hair in despair as you try to keep your kids away from all the fast food that’s being advertised on television and being made available at every street corner. And there’s the added pressure from peers who are eating what they want without any parental control, all ingredients that go to make your responsibility of making sure your child eats healthy food an uphill climb. It is a hard job, but one that you can accomplish with the following tips:
· First of all, know that each child is different and don’t expect your children to be like the ones next door. Avoid comparing them to other kids; instead, tell them what they should do in order to stay healthy for life.
· If you want your kids to eat healthy, you must set an example. So if there’s a rule that says no snacks in between meals, you must adhere to it too. The best way to do this is to keep only healthy snack options in the house. So if your kids (or you) are feeling hungry in between meals, you have to eat the fruits, nuts and other good kinds of food you have at home.
· Don’t give in to your children’s demands for something else to eat when they don’t like the menu you’ve prepared for a meal. If you feel guilty that they’re starving while you’re eating and make them something else, you’re setting a bad precedent that is very difficult to break as your child grows into an adult. Make your kids understand that healthy and balanced meals are a must if they are to stay disease-free and live a long life.
· Make healthy desserts that include fruits and vegetables (like ice creams and fruit salads and carrot cake). Your kids need to feel that you’re not depriving them of all the things that are good to eat.
· Pack their lunches for them instead of asking them to eat at the school cafeteria. It will take a little more work on your part, but it shows them that you care enough about their health.
· Talk to your children’s friends’ parents and their teachers to increase awareness about healthy food.
· Talk to your kids about the dangers of eating too many fried foods, fast food, junk food and food that is processed with lots of starch and sugar. Also tell them why soft drinks and other fizzy colas are not good for them instead of shouting at them whenever they indulge their taste buds.
· Make one day a week or in a fortnight “treat” day when they can eat and drink what they like so that they don’t feel the need to give in to their cravings at other times.
Getting your kids to eat the right food is a matter of persistence, patience and determination. You can’t ever give up even when the going is tough and they resist all your efforts, because it is a battle that must be fought even when victory does not seem to be forthcoming. After all, when it concerns your children’s health, you must come through for them, no matter how hard the task is.
There are various reasons why pregnancies are terminated, some of them natural, and others induced. Whatever the grounds, an abortion is definitely not an easy experience for any woman. The physical, emotional and psychological repercussions are many, even if the pregnancy was terminated because the woman was not ready to have a child and not for any other medical reason.
Some women undergo an abortion by accident, when the fetus has not implanted properly or when stress and trauma cause them to lose the baby. Others are forced to terminate the pregnancy because of medical complications like pre-eclampsia or the lack of a fetal heartbeat. And yet others choose to abort their babies because the fetuses test positive for conditions like Down’s syndrome and other genetic disorders that disable them for life.
Whatever the reason for the termination of a pregnancy, you need to be aware that the side effects are hard to take, at least for a while.
Physically…
- You may experience a pain in your abdomen and the feeling of cramping
- You may be nauseous
- You may experience spotting and bleeding
- You may find your lower back paining
- You may find yourself running a temperature
- You may experience vaginal discharge
Most physical effects disappear in a week or so, but they may last up to a month in some women. If your menstruation cycle is regular, you’re likely to get your period in around 4 to 6 weeks.
More serious complications that could arise from an abortion, but these are generally very rare.
· Your uterine lining could be scarred
· Your cervix and/or uterus could be damaged
· You may suffer an infection
· Other organs like your bladder may be damaged
· Although it happens very rarely, an abortion that goes horribly wrong could result in death
Emotionally…
- You could suffer from feelings of guilt, depression, anger and sadness, all of which are compounded by the hormonal changes your body is going through.
- You may also find yourself facing sleepless nights and suffering from a loss of appetite
- Your relationships may suffer as a result of your depression and guilt, so seek the help of a counselor or therapist if necessary.
- You’re also going to find yourself worrying if you will be able to get pregnant again, and if so, how soon it will happen.
Contact your doctor when you feel uncomfortable and when the symptoms persist or when you still experience signs of pregnancy like nausea and giddiness even after the abortion. While it’s not a regular occurrence, you may be experiencing a heterotopic pregnancy where one fetus is in your uterus and the other in your cervix or fallopian tube. This is a potentially dangerous condition that, if not treated at once, could lead to the death of the mother.
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