3 Kids and Us

Dealing with Backpain After Childbirth

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If giving birth wasn’t painful enough, you then have to deal with a host of other problems. In fact, it probably feels as if your body is never going to be the same again!

Celebrity mums seem to snap back into shape the moment their baby arrives. For the rest of us, life isn’t so kind. Unfortunately, it is very common for new moms to suffer from a backache in the days and weeks post-birth. Your body has been through an awful lot, with a host of physical changes to contend with.

You probably gained a few extra pounds when you were pregnant, on top of the extra baby weight you had to lug around for nine months. This extra weight will have put a lot of extra stress on your pelvic region, including your lower back. And, to make matters worse, ligaments will have softened and joints loosened, all thanks to pregnancy hormones. There is also the issue of poor posture. After all, who can stand up straight when their belly is huge?

Backache post-pregnancy is very common. Many moms associate back pain with pregnancy, but like those extra few pounds, back pain is one annoying problem that doesn’t always melt away when the baby arrives.

Why Your Back Hurts

The human body is a wonderful thing, but it needs time to recover from the rigors of childbirth. You have to give yourself a break and try not to do too much. Instead of rushing around cooking, cleaning, and taking care of a newborn baby, rest, recuperate, and let other people do the heavy lifting for a few weeks. It is important that you give your body a chance to heal. Rest is a great healer, especially if your back is sore after the birth.

Being overweight is another factor. The more weight you are carrying, the more strain it places on your back. As discussed already, your back and core muscles are likely to be weaker than normal post-birth, so carrying extra weight won’t help.

Dealing with Back Pain

Where possible, stick to a healthy eating plan and breastfeed your baby, as breastfeeding is great for post-partum weight loss.  Try and include gentle exercise in your daily routine. You might not feel like going out, but a bit of fresh air will be good for you and your baby. It strengthens your muscles and may help the baby get to sleep.

Be careful when feeding your baby. Poor posture is a trigger for back pain. Many new mums hunch over when feeding their baby. Try to sit back when encouraging your baby latch on or take the bottle.

Long-Term Strategies

Once you feel more energetic, consider joining a fitness class for new moms. Yoga or Pilates are very useful for helping ease back pain. If this doesn’t help, consult an echiro practor or ask your doctor to refer you to a physio.

Back pain is mostly nothing serious, but if you experience any other worrying symptoms or the pain isn’t helped by over-the-counter painkillers, speak to your doctor for advice.

4 Reasons You Should Spend More Time Laughing

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Most of us don’t readily associate laughter with doing something productive or constructive. To the contrary, many people justify their disregard of humor by convincing themselves that they “don’t have time for it.” After all, if you want to “go somewhere in life” you’ve got to be serious about things, right? Well, not all the time. Studies indicate that squeezing in a good laugh here and there is actually much more than fun and games, as it can actually have measurable beneficial effects on your health and wellbeing. With that said, here are four major reasons why everyone should try to spend more time laughing:

1. Reduces Stress

Research has indisputably proven that stress is linked to a heightened chance of developing a wide range of disorders, as people who lead stressful lives are more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses of all kinds. Science has proven that laughter directly reduces the level of “stress hormones” in the blood, thereby reducing the risk of developing new diseases while also improving the prognosis of existing conditions. In fact, surveys have shown that people who regularly browse humor sites like LOL Hit have better responses to stress than those who rarely enjoy comedy.

2. Enhances Mood and Memory

Did you know that even a fake smile or forced laugh has the ability to stimulate the feeling of happiness? Thus, just by making an effort to smile and laugh more you’re taking control over your moods in a positive manner. Furthermore, when you’re in a good mood you’re more likely to make healthy food choices versus when you’re in a depressed, junk food eating state of mind. In addition, learning new things while experiencing a strong emotion is the best way to retain information, so laughter has the ability to strengthen memories that are formed during or around the time of laughter.

3. Boosts Immunity and Fights Cancer

The stimulatory effect that laughing has on the respiratory, cardiac, and hormonal systems all combine to increase the development of T-cells and antibodies. By increasing the number of pathogen-fighting cells in the body, laughing provides a direct and immediate boost to the immune system. As if the benefits never end, you’d be surprised to learn that laughter also increases the level of interferon-gamma (IFN), which in turn stimulates NK cells, B-cells, and immunoglobulin – all of which play a crucial role in the body’s natural defenses against cancer and other degenerative diseases.

4. Enjoyable Exercise

Many people dread the idea of going to the gym or enduring a home fitness regimen, but laughing is so fun and easy that it doesn’t even feel like a workout, and yet it provides an excellent exercise for the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, back, shoulders, and even legs. If you’ve ever burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, then you know just how physically demanding it can be when you’re struggling to pull yourself together.

Heightened Creativity and a Better Social Life

Aside from the measurable medical benefits of laughter, it goes without saying that sharing a good laugh is a great way to improve your social life and spur bouts of creativity. People with a strong sense of humor are not only more likely to have plenty of friends, they’re also typically more creative than people who don’t rate humor as one of their best attributes.

Handy hints for if your little one is sick

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If you are a new parent, or perhaps you are mom or dad to an ever-growing family, then you will know that there is nothing worse than if your little one gets sick. If your child is still under the age of three, then you can expect a lot of tears and screams, as they may struggle to tell you what is wrong. It can be incredibly distressing for any parent, and you may even begin to feel upset and useless. Help is at hand, so you need not struggle along on your own. It is vital that if your little one is unwell, you seek medical advice and visit your local health practitioner or doctor to get them fully checked over.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

If your little ones attend daycare or spend time with a sitter, around other infants, then sadly there will be a time when they suffer from either vomiting or diarrhea bug. Changes in food, water, and the environment can affect sensitive tums, causing a change in digestion or even irritation if they are beginning to eat solid foods. It could also be worth getting your little one tested for food intolerances, in particular, if you notice that they are in pain or suffer a lot of wind after eating particular foods, such as dairy products. If your baby is a fussy eater and you find them spitting up a lot after eating, then baby acid reflux medicines can help to aid digestion. Remember that diarrhea and vomiting are common in extremely young babies and infants, but if you notice any blood in their stool or green discharge, then it is advisable to seek medical advice.

Flu

During the colder winter months, your little one is even more susceptible to coming down with the flu. If your little cherubs have the flu, then you can expect a grumpy, cranky and irritable infant that is restless and hard to settle down for a nap. If you think your child is at risk, then consult your local health practitioner about getting them vaccinated against the flu as this is highly contagious, especially amongst younger children. If they are already ill, you can expect the virus to last between three and seven days. However, if it is any longer than this, then you should book an appointment with your doctor.

Ear Infection

If you notice that your child is finding it hard to hear, and either rubbing or scratching their ear even more than usual, then they may be suffering from an ear infection. Although most infections will clear on their own during the course of a few days, it is worth seeing your medical practitioner if you notice any unpleasant smells, or colored discharge oozing from the ear. Ear infections are easy to treat with antibiotics but can be unpleasant for both infant and parents to deal with.

Remember to seek medical help if your little one is sick or unwell. It is important that you don’t feel isolated, and consult expert advice if you are unsure.

Five Tips for Looking After Your Family’s Dental Health

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As a parent, you’ll want to always make sure that your family is as happy and healthy as possible. This also means making sure that everyone’s dental health is in top condition. Along with ensuring that everybody brushes at least twice daily, there are several things that you can do to keep your family’s smiles gleaming all the time. These include:

#1. Get a Good Dental Insurance Plan:

Dental insurance will give you peace of mind about financial cover if anything goes wrong. Dental insurance can cover everything from small fillings to root canals, orthodontic treatment, extractions and more depending on the type of cover that you sign your family up for. In the case of a dental emergency, having insurance cover will ensure that you or your family member is treated quickly and effectively with no issues. For more information on choosing the right dental insurance plan for you, see Fep Blue Dental reviews.

#2. Visit a Good Family Dentist Regularly:

Even if nobody is complaining of problems with their teeth, regularly visiting a reputable family dentist for a check-up at least twice per year will ensure that any potential issues are spotted and dealt with straight away. Dental issues such as decay and cavities might not be causing any noticeable issues in the early stages, which is why it’s always important to see your dentist, who can spot any warning signs and issue treatment straight away. Regular visits to your dentist will also ensure that you’re up to date with the latest advice for keeping everybody’s teeth healthy, strong, and clean.

#3. Upgrade to Electric Toothbrushes:

Electric toothbrushes for your whole family may seem like a big investment, but it’s certainly worth it when it comes to looking after your dental health. Not only are electric toothbrushes easier to use than their manual counterparts, they’re also designed to provide a better clean and will get to all the hard-to-reach areas in your mouth. You can even get fun design electric toothbrushes for kids featuring their favorite cartoon characters to make brushing their teeth even more fun.

#4. Choose Tooth-Friendly Foods:

What you eat and drink as a family can have a huge effect on your dental health. Try to limit foods and drinks that are high in sugar or acid, such as fruit juices, sodas, and sugary treats. When you do eat or drink anything with a high acid or sugar content, it’s best to wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth to avoid any damage to the enamel.

#5. Floss Daily:

Lastly, getting the whole family into the habit of flossing their teeth daily is great for dental health and building healthy habits for life. Since it’s impossible to reach in between some teeth by brushing alone, dental floss helps you reach further areas where food particles can become lodged and cause decay and plaque. If you’re unsure how to floss your teeth correctly, ask your dentist or try an online tutorial.

If you found these tips helpful, we’d love to hear from you in the comments!

4 ways to increase your energy levels

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In order to make the most of every opportunity that life throws your way, it is vital that you have an enormous amount of energy to work with. Otherwise, you may find it difficult to stand out from your peers, push ahead with your plans, and ultimately achieve your goals. If you are currently concerned about your energy levels, don’t worry! It is never too late to take control. Below are four tips that will help you to do this.

Take plenty of breaks

Firstly, you need to make sure that you are taking plenty of breaks. This will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed by your daily duties and running yourself into the ground. If you are trying to strike the right balance between getting on with your day and taking some time for yourself, it is important that you have a list of suitable break time activities. For instance, you should visit Mt Baker Vape and explore their wide range of equipment. This will provide you with something fun and simple to enjoy during your breaks. You could also take a stroll outside or listen to your favourite playlist.

Work it out

You can also increase your energy levels by making an effort to get fit and active. Even if you struggle to get excited about exercise, there is sure to be an exercise activity that suits your interests. Perhaps you like to spend time with your friends and would benefit from a group workout session. Or, maybe you want to take in more fresh air and would enjoy going for a run in your local park. Whatever you decide, just make sure that your chosen activity is scheduled for a point in the day when your energy levels usually start to drop. This will help you to feel reinvigorated and ready for the challenges ahead.

Eat well

Another important step is to evaluate your diet and make sure that you are eating well. It is vital that you are following a balanced diet and getting all of the nutritional content you need. Ideally, you need to eat foods that will provide you with a slow release of energy throughout the day. You should also put together healthy snack boxes that you can keep in your bag or on your desk.

Enjoy a good night’s sleep

Finally, you need to make sure that you are enjoying a good night’s sleep. You can achieve this by establishing a strict bedtime routine. Firstly, you should switch off your technology and turn your phone to answer machine. Then, you should indulge in a relaxing bubble bath and change into comfortable clothing. Last but not least, you should unwind with some calming meditation or your favourite book. It is also vital that you go to bed at the same time every evening and set your alarm for the same time every morning. All of these steps will help you to achieve deep sleep and dramatically improve your energy levels.

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!