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WHICH REMEDY FOR BALDNESS WORKS? With each remedy for baldness I have split up into two categories: "drugs" and "natural". Both remedies for baldness are said to work to a degree. The drugs (creams and pills) have had various clinical trials performed on them, but on the downside they are occasionally susceptible to unwanted side-effects. The natural remedies for baldness most often have had no clinical trials attached, merely word of mouth recommendations, but normally have fewer side-effects (at least less unwanted ones) reported. If you are unsure on which type to try, it is possible to try both (but please get advice from a physician before doing so). ALLOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR BALDNESS Before I start on any allopathic remedies for baldness, I have to explain the current thinking in science behind the causes of losing hair so that the mechanism and effectiveness of the drugs are easily understood. Men convert excess testosterone into a more potent form called DHT by the enzyme 5a reductase. The DHT is highly active on the hair follicle receptors, readily latching to them and restricting blood flow to the hair. This causes the hair to become thin and miniturized creating the "peach fuzz" look. There is apparantly a greater quantity of this enzyme in the scalp of men who are susceptible to male pattern baldness.[1] Women, however, have excess of the enzyme aromatase which converts their testosterone into a form of active estrogen called estradiol. The theory is that after women hit menopause, their levels of natural estrogen lowers letting the testosterone be converted into DHT which makes them more susceptible to losing hair post menopausal. However, that doesn't explain why post andropausal men lose hair when they become older and their testosterone levels die down.[1] Well, that's the theory, so now lets look at each remedy for baldness in turn and determine its effectiveness and availability as of July 2006. Below is a list of each remedy for baldness: Rogaine (Minoxidol) Propecia (Finasteride) ROGAINE Mechanism - unclear. Seems to open potassium availabilty to the hair. Effectiveness - average increase of hair per cm2 was 18.5% after 48 weeks. 1 to 3 months after stopping, hair condition returns to pre-treatment levels. Side-effects - Dizziness has been reported. Local irritation, itching, dryness, and erythema may occur with use of topical minoxidil, most likely caused by the vehicle formulation of alcohol and propylene glycol.[2] Availability - over the counter. Cost - $10 to $15 per bottle (one month). PROPECIA Mechanism - inhibits the 5a reductase enzyme responsible for DHT production. Effectiveness - A third study of 326 men with mild to moderate frontal hair loss found that after 1 year, finasteride treated men had statistically significantly higher hair counts on the frontal scalp. Approximately 50% of treatedmen and 30% of those who took placebo thought the appearance of their hair had improved. Hair regrowth was not reported in older men taking 5 mg finasteride. Side-effects - A decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, or a decreased volume of ejaculate have been reported in less than 2% of patients, which in reality is between 0.5% to 1% when compared with placebo.[2] Availability - was prescription only. Generic version now available. Cost - $69.95 for 3 months NATURAL REMEDIES FOR BALDNESS Most natural remedies for baldness also work by blocking DHT, either by inhibiting the enzyme or blocking the hair follicle receptor, or providing the nutrient for the hair follicle receptor which DHT blocks. There is also an alternative interpretation of the "DHT alone causes hair loss " theory. Some believe that it is too much active estrogen-like substances as well as too much DHT that is to blame for prostate cancer and losing hair, and not enough free testosterone in the body.[3] This sounds contradictory to the allopathic arguement, and concerning estrogen it is. Some naturopaths say that it is all about what blocks the hair follicle receptors. It is these protein receptors which attract nutrients to the hair. DHT and estrogen-like pollutants both block the receptor.[3] Apparently, certain bacteria which thrive on fat, produce estrogen-like substances[4], and there is excess of the aromatase enzyme (which turns testosterone into estrogen) present in fat cells of obese and balding men. Aging, a high fat diet and lack of exercise can create too much estrogen and too little testosterone. Even if testosterone is at normal levels, active estrogen levels can still be way too high.[3] Although this doesn't explain why women with high estrogen levels don't get male pattern baldness. Here is a list of each remedy for baldness and nutrient: Beta Sistosterol (from the herb: Saw Palmetol) Chrysin (from the herb: Passionflower) Vitamin D Vitamin B12 Biotin (vitamin B7) Iron and L-lysine (for women) Folligen (copper peptide) Soy Rooibos tea BETA SISTOSTEROL Mechanism - blocks DHT from the androgen receptors sites found on the hair follicles. Effectiveness - untested. Mixed reviews from people on health forums. Side-effects - None, but side-effects of the herb Saw Palmetol can be male breast enlargement.[2] Availability - over the counter. Cost - 90 Capsules 400mg $7.95. CHRYSIN Mechanism - increases free testosterone by inhibiting the conversion to estrodiol. Effectiveness - shown to be effective at stopping aromatase in the petridish, but not in the body. Not known if it helps with losing hair.[5] Not a proven remedy for baldness. Side-effects - none. Availability - over the counter. Cost - MRM, Chrysin 500, 30 Caps. $14.99. VITAMIN D Mechanism - binds to the many vitamin D receptors in the scalp and hair follicle. Effectiveness - shown to dramatically stimulate hair follicle growth in "nude" mice.[6] Side-effects - none, unless taken over 50 micrograms per day. Availability - over the counter. Cost - 400iu (10 micrograms) 60 capsules $4.99. VITAMIN B12 Mechanism - deficiency causes hair loss.[7] Effectiveness - 40% of Americans are deficient. Not proven to remedy hair loss if taken.[8] Side-effects - None, unless taken over 100 mcg daily. Availability - over the counter. Cost - 1000 mcg, Tablets $7.99. BIOTIN (VITAMIN B7) Mechanism - increases blood flow to the hair follicle.[9] Effectiveness - it can promote hair growth in high doses, although not a proven remedy for baldness. Side-effects - none. Availability - over the counter. Cost - 300mcg tablets $2.99. IRON AND L-LYSINE (for women) Mechanism - deficiencies in both these nutrients have been associated with losing hair in women.[10] Interacts with zinc and copper.[11] Effectiveness - proven effective remedy for baldness for women with losing hair.[10] Side-effects - none unless taken over 250 mg daily (iron). Availability - over the counter. Cost - 100 Tablets $7.29 FOLLIGEN (copper peptide) Mechanism - most effective blocker of the production of both types of 5a reductase enzyme.[12] Effectiveness - low copper and zinc enzyme levels caused hair loss in mice.[13] A topical copper peptide solution created near perfect hair rejuvenation in 6 months in a woman with 10% of her hair at the start.[14] No studies on the remedy for baldness Folligen itself, but some reports of success by women on forums. Side-effects - none. Availability - over the counter. Cost - 2 oz tube, $21.95. 2 months. SOY Mechanism - promotes the production of the good inactive estrogen. Blocks the receptor sites for active estrogen and inhibits 5a reductase.[3] Effectiveness - proven to inhibit the enzyme 5a reductase.[15] Side-effects - none. Availability - over the counter. A food substance, not a remedy for baldness. Cost - ? ROOIBOS TEA Mechanism - unclear. Effectiveness - in a 10% lotion called herbasol, 89% had increased speed of hair growth. 45% saw an increase in hair growth. 78% reported no further hair loss.[2] Side-effects - none. Availability - over the counter. A food substance, not a remedy for baldness except as above. Cost - ? I would personally recommend trying Beta Sistosterol with a powerful multi-vitamin and mineral supplement coupled with the Folligen solution as a good remedy for baldness. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] Have Scientists Accidentally Discovered the Answer to hair loss? http://www.emaxhealth.com/65/6131.html [2] Treatments for hair loss. http://www.hairlosstalk.com/download/sawaya1.pdf [3] Grow Young and Slim http://www.growyoungandslim.com/articles/Mens_Health_102a.pdf [4] Health Loss Education http://www.stuff4beauty.com/page/hairlosseducation.htm [5] Chrysin: Is It An Effective Aromatase Inhibitor? http://www.vrp.com/art/1208.asp [6] Vitamin D3 analogs stimulate hair growth in nude mice. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12399436&query_hl=41 [7] Diet and Nutrition - vitamin B12. http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/DietandNutrition/VitaminB12.htm [8] Do You Need B-12? http://thyroid.about.com/cs/newsinfo/l/blb12anemia.htm?terms=vitamin+B12+and+Tufts+ [9] Biotin and Hair Growth http://www.add-hair.com/Biotin-hair-loss.htm [10] Nutritional factors and hair loss. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2230.2002.01076.x/abs/ [11] Interaction of iron, zinc and copper in the body of animals and humans http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2700243&dopt=Abstract [12] Folligen http://www.folligen.com/ [13] Age-related cochlear hair cell loss is enhanced in mice lacking copper/zinc superoxide dismutase http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10466888&dopt=Abstract [14] Have Scientists Accidentally Discovered the Answer to hair loss? http://www.emaxhealth.com/65/6131.html [15] Regulation of Male Sex Hormone Levels by Soy Isoflavones in Rats http://www.leaonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/S15327914NC422_9;jsessionid=nFFp1FovOhX-OhcS3V?cookieSet=1&journalCode=nc cheap penile enlargement pills top penile enlargement pills easy elargement free penis surgery way free natural pnis enlargement pennis enlargement excercises penis girth enlargment plastic surgery penis enhancement cheap vigrx

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Many individuals judge the quality of their exercise session from the amount of pain they experience afterwards. These individuals are convinced by the old adage “No Pain No Gain”. Research on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) has demonstrated that here may in fact be some truth to this phrase. Recall in a previous article presented on this website dealing with Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, we discussed the high probability that muscular pain after exercise results from actual muscle damage. This damage is viewed by the immune system as would any other injury and as a result, an inflammatory response is initiated to start the healing process. Several substances and chemicals are released during an inflammatory response and are thought to enhance the sensation of pain by excessively stimulating the nerve endings in the damaged tissue. So since pain is associated with muscle damage, in some cases it may be a fair indicator of a “good workout” or running session. The repair and healing of damaged muscle allows for hypertrophy or enlargement of the muscle fiber by the addition of myofibrils, thus increasing the cross sectional area. Excessive muscle pain that continues for more than several days or continuously however is not desirable, as this is often an indicator of athlete overtraining or over-reaching. It must be stressed that if pain is experienced, it should be a “good” pain that is, not originating in the joints and should resolve within a couple of days. As exercise becomes more regular and the exerciser more accustomed to it, it will be noticed however that it becomes increasingly harder to elicit the same painful muscle response. The reason for this is unclear at this time but it is suggested that an exercise session that causes DOMS has a protective effect on subsequent exercise - lasting several weeks. Again it is unclear the exact mechanisms behind this protective effect. In conclusion then, a regular exerciser should not place a high value on the “No Pain No Gain” evaluation of their workout, as their muscles will be less susceptible to the effects of DOMS. Rather it is suggested to concentrate on other factors such as strict technique and exercise variety so as to avoid undue stress on the joints and overtraining of single muscle groups. natural penis enlagement pills best penis enlargment enlargement manhattan penis surgeon penis enhancement patch penile enlargment surgery photo enlargment forum free matter penile size penis elargement pills product buy penile enlargment pills pennis enlargement pic

Everyone has split personalities within them where separate intelligences are split off from the central stem of your Soul and use the Archetypes created and used by the Hurt Inner Children. Hurt Inner Children, split personalities are split off from the Central Soul personality when the person gets traumatised usually more in childhood by the painful and corrupt actions in life. These Hurt Inner Children flow in and out of your consciousness and it is these split personalities which use the Strategies like the Violator, the Poor Me and the Selfish Competitive Star in order to get the attention and the Love of everyone around them. Also these splits within yourself are like idiot children which have abilities above the normal like Dustin Hoffman in “The Rain Man” movie. The special abilities I want to talk about this time are the splits ability to be in control of your Love and Sex Life. They can manage your psychic sexual connections between your lower chakras and the lower chakras of the person THEY Choose!! These childish split personalities within you choose your husband, your wife and then they cut off the sex connection with your partner and transfer the connection to someone else, thus creating adultery, or the serial monogamy many people practise. The split off parts of your personality are the cause! Gurdjieff said that a normal person, split into many parts, “Cannot make a Promise”. As Gurdjieff said, "The person that says I will get up early in the morning is not the same personality who throws the alarm clock out of the window!!." And the split falls in love with a person for childish reasons, and the split again falls out of love for the same childish reasons. Because they control the Psychic Sex Connection, streams of energy between the sex organs, the penis and the ovaries and between the abdominal relationship chakras, all you notice is that the energy of sex is there in full one day, and the next it is gone!! To my Energy Enhancement students, I often ask the Koan, “Who is in Charge?” And the answer in nearly all cases is that the split off parts of their personalities are in charge. As we remove the Soul Split Personalities. As we integrate them, through healing them back into the Central Soul Personality. Our central Soul personality becomes more in charge. We find more and more, We Can Make A Promise! Sex becomes better, day by Day!! This is the real Sexual Tantra. The problem is that these ego strategies always hurt the people around them because they change every day. One day in love and whispering sweet nothings, the next the violator personality to gain attention!! Eventually the ego strategies they use to gain attention stop working and the people around them throw them out. With ego strategies, if you are rich everyone puts up with them, their job depends on it, but no-one likes them. If you get thrown out then you move on to another victim. Without someone pointing out the discrepancies in your behaviour, you probably will not notice them. The Denial and the justification of past mistakes come from the childish split off parts of yourself. As the False Negative Emotions of Anger, Manicism, Seeking Sympathy and Attention, Depression and Fear are Eliminated, Emotional Integration with the Intelligence results in Willpower and the Power of Doing. This higher functionality is the result of healing these Inner Children splits! Which use the Strategies of the Poor Me, The Violator, The Selfish Competitive Star, The Aloof, The Interrogator, The Don Juan or the Vamp, The Pleaser, Blamer, Critic, Tyrant and Last but not least, the Self Destructor! The first thing is just to notice when you get mad or sad and how you use these strategies, and have used them since you were very young, to manipulate all around you into giving you attention and love. With the traumatic nature of life, the Strategies become stronger and then your strategies will get stronger and more intense. People eventually get sick of this strategy manipulation for attention and so-called Love. If it worked when I was a child, then surely it must work now? WRONG!!! Alcoholism and drug addiction to make people sorry for you. Wife beating to get their attention!! This is not the true way to gain friends and influence people. You need to actually see that it might be a good thing to STOP!! Then you need to find out how. Everyone will use all of these strategies at some time in their lives. Usually people cycle between them. As one fails they try another, stronger one. And then will be sorry and swear that they will never use them again. We are all Dependent Vampires, stealers of energy. The only way out is through the advanced techniques of meditation Energy Enhancement. To connect to a higher level of energy, which can never fail and to integrate these split off parts of your personality back into the Central Soul Stem. Then we do not need the energy and attention of people around us. We start to give energy. Everyone becomes happy in our presence! We become Independent. Then we can comfortably destroy these negative split off thoughtforms in our lives. It needs an Ancient Advanced Synthesis of Effective Techniques for Gaining More Energy - Meditation, Shaktipat, Energy Circulation, The Kundalini Kriyas, The Five Elemental Paths Of The Chi Of Chinese Alchemical Taoism, The Grounding Of Negative Energies, V.I.T.R.I.O.L, The Art Card Of The Thoth Tarot, Access To Kundalini Energy, Strong Psychic Protection, Learn The Merkaba, Pyramid Protection, Power Tower Protection, Create The Antahkarana, Soul Fusion, Monadic Infusion, Logos Infusion. The Painless Removal Of Stress, Trauma And Negative Emotion However, to remove these sub-personalities completely, the more Advanced techniques of a Synthesis of Ancient Meditational Techniques are absolutely necessary:- Leading onto the more advanced Techniques of The Karma Clearing Process. Learning how to clean The Karma From Past Lives, Future Life, Future Lifetimes, Integrating Soul Fragmentation And Retrieval of Inner Children, Selfish Ego Sub Personalites, Life Destroying Strategies, The Aloof, The Interrogator, The Violator, The Selfish Competitive Star, The Vamp Or Don Juan, The Pleaser, The Blamer, The Critic, The King, The Self Destructor, All The Destructive Vows From This And Past Lifetimes,. Which results in The Creation Of Self Love, Love And Service. Ponder on this… penis girth elargement natural penis elargement pnis enlargement before and after photo enlargement manhattan penile free exercise tip for pnis enlargement penis enargement video vimax penis enlargement compare pennis enlargement pills pennis enlargement pic

Everyone should know that when testosterone is metabolized, it produces DHT as one of the by-products, which is what allows your muscles and erections to grow. That is a good thing! However, DHT that doesn't get burned up during sex or working out is also what is at the root of your prostate problems to begin with. The fact of the matter is that DHT is always being produced, and a lot of us simply cannot burn it off fast enough--no matter how much we work out in the gym or how much sex we have. In the case of prostate problems, one camp blames a lack of testosterone while the other camp blames too much of it. I have even heard of a doctor suggesting castration as a means of preventing the spread of prostate cancer because he believed it was the only way to prevent testosterone from acting as fuel for the cancer. Talk about a case of throwing away both the baby and the bathwater! I'm sure that we've all heard at some point or another the notion that more sex is the solution to prostate problems, citing as evidence the high incidence of prostate cancer in celibate priests. Let's think about this for a moment: If more sex was really the solution, how come a certain rock-star died from prostate cancer? Also, if prostate cancer is the number one cancer killer of males, were all these murdered males celibate? Not likely... While plain common sense would indicate that utter sexual abstinence may be harmful over the course of a lifetime, prostate cancer remains the number one cancer-killer of males DESPITE the fact that very few males are either rock stars or priests! So, prostate cancer has little to do with sexual activity or the testosterone that fuels it. Rather, it is an issue of how we handle the excessive DHT in our bodies. With today's meat and hormone-filled diets it should be no wonder that our current report card is so poor. This is why pro-hormone supplementation is replete with warnings that people with prostate problems should not be taking their products. (Bodybuilders love excess DHT which they can direct into their muscle tissue.) Benign prostatic hyperplasia, often referred to as simply BPH, is an enlargement of the prostate gland that usually occurs in men who are over the age of 50. This enlargement in the prostate gland can cause a gradual squeezing of the urethra, which makes urinating difficult and painful. Many men who experience this prostate problem do not have any symptoms at all and it may not be detected until an annual rectal exam. Men with this prostate problem who do experience symptoms are likely to notice difficulty in starting urination, frequent urination as well as an increased frequency in awakening at night to urinate. Prostate cancer, another prostate problem, is perhaps the most severe and is one of the leading types of cancers diagnosed in American men. Each year almost a quarter of a million new cases are diagnosed. It is estimated that prostate cancer will affect one out of every ten men. Each year more than 30,000 men die from prostate cancer. Because of the seriousness of this prostate problem, prostate cancer is perhaps the most serious of all the different types of prostate disease. Prostate cancer generally occurs in men who are over the age of 65, although cases in younger men have been reported. There is a high incidence of prostate cancer occurring in men who are shown to have a family history of this type of prostate disease. African-American men are considered to be particularly at risk for prostate cancer and suffer from the highest death rates related to this disease. penile enlargment herb penis enlargment information hgh magna rx pro solution review penis girth enlarement penis enlagement procedure penis enargement pic vimax penis enlargement pic pennis enlargement pic

LIFE AFTER BIRTH: THE FIRST 6 WEEKS Life after birth can be chaotic, especially if this is your first baby. Taking care of your newborn is hard work and won’t be much fun until he or she develops a personality. In case you didn’t know, a newborn doesn’t laugh or smile, it can’t play or even hold its own head up without a supporting hand. All it can do is eat, sleep, dirty diapers, pass gas, throw up and cry. Despite all of this, you will – believe it or not – love your little tot more than anything else in the world. Moreover, you will learn a lot about yourself and your partner as you both navigate through these initial days of parenthood. Sex (or lack thereof) You should know that sex is off-limits for at least 6 weeks after your partner gives birth. Don’t forget that she just delivered a fair-sized human through a very tiny birth canal and her body will need time to heal. Your gal’s doctor will ask to see her about six weeks after delivery for a full physical and emotional post-baby follow-up. At this visit, the doctor will check to see how her wounds are healing. If everything is good, your partner will get the green light for sex. However, this doesn’t mean that she will be as keen and eager to get back into the game. She’ll likely be tired from the whole pregnancy ordeal and from the added responsibilities of caring for a newborn. Help out as much as possible and be patient. Her interest in sex will return…just don’t push her too hard. Sleep (or lack thereof) The good news is that babies need a lot of sleep – about 15-16 hours a day. Unfortunately, newborns don’t have regular sleep patterns and don’t sleep for long hours at a time. This means that you won’t have regular sleep patterns either. Get used to napping throughout the day. And if that doesn’t work for you, then get used to sleep deprivation. You and your partner may feel like you are losing your minds as you quickly realize how cranky and dysfunctional you can be after several nights of disrupted sleep. Hang in there. After about 8 or 10 weeks, your baby will start to sleep through the night (approximately five consecutive hours) and your sleep-deprived, zombie-like state will be a thing of the past. You may with to alternate night shifts to maximize the amount of uninterrupted sleep each partner gets. There really is no need for both of you to get up every time the baby needs to be fed, coddled or changed. Caring for Your Tiny Tot After your shopping spree for nursery items, layettes and strollers, you may have thought that you were fully ready for your baby. While these purchases were necessary, they are only a small part of what you need to survive postnatal care. There will be many new and strange things for you and your partner to learn. The ins-and-outs of feeding, bathing, diapering and umbilical cord care are in no way intuitive. Don’t get scared or discouraged by your new-found incompetence. Chances are that your partner is also incompetent in this area. It’s okay to make mistakes; every new parent does. The good news is that the parental learning curve is steep. You and your partner will quickly develop the skills needed to care for your tot. To give you a helping hand, here is are a few pointers on baby care basics: Feeding The first step is to decide your method of feeding – breast milk or formula? There are many benefits of breastfeeding, including nutritional and emotional advantages. Breast milk is a complete food source that contains hormones and disease-fighting compounds that are absent in formula. Nursing also helps build a special bond between mother and baby. Studies show that babies thrive on the skin-to-skin contact, cuddling and holding that occurs during breastfeeding. However, there are a variety of reasons why many women do not nurse. They may not be able to produce enough milk or they may have to return to work soon after birth and are not available to nurse the baby throughout the day. Whatever the reason, your gal should not feel guilty or uncomfortable with deciding to bottle-feed. There are many excellent formulas available which are highly nutritious. Speak with your partner’s physician or pediatrician about recommended formulas. Regardless of your method of feeding, you should know that most newborns eat about 8 times a day (approximately every two to three hours). However, you shouldn’t try to set scheduled eating times during the first few weeks after birth. Let your baby eat whenever he or she seems hungry. Bathing Because your baby’s umbilical cord will need to heal, it is very important that you keep it dry to prevent infection. After about two weeks, the gross looking stump (i.e., remnants of the umbilical cord) will fall off and your baby will be left with a cute little belly button. In the meantime, take extra care not to wet the umbilical cord during bathing. The best way to do this is to give your tot sponge baths until the cord heals. To give a sponge bath, you will need a stable surface, a soft washcloth and lukewarm water. Make sure that you test the water temperature before applying the cloth to your baby to prevent scalding him or her. Your elbow or the inner part of your wrist is a good place to test water temperature. Your hand is not a good guide since it is not very sensitive enough to tell how hot or cold the water really is. Now you can begin wiping your baby gently with the moistened washcloth. Begin by wiping your baby’s eyes (from inside to outside), ears and under arms. Then you can move onto legs and genitalia. When washing the bottom, make sure you wipe from front to back to avoid bringing any feces near the genitals. If you have had your baby boy circumcised, then you will want to speak with your pediatrician about caring for the penis while it heals. The most important thing to remember when bathing your baby is to NEVER leave him or her along – not even for a second. Babies squirm around a lot, so you should always keep your eyes and one hand on your little one during bath time. The same rule applies when you are changing your baby’s diaper. Changing Diapers Don’t avoid this responsibility because it you have never changed a diaper before. Because babies pee and poop so often, you will spend a lot of time changing diapers. Take advantage of this precious time with junior. You may also have to develop silly and immature techniques to comfort your baby if he/she does not enjoy the diapering process. As ridiculous as you may feel, this is actually an important part of establishing a parent-tot bond. While it may be dirty work, diapering is not rocket science. For easy to follow instructions, make sure to read our article on How to Change a Diaper at www.thefunkystork.com. Caring for Yourself and Your Partner As flighty and silly as it might sound, self-care is important. Neither you nor your partner is doing your tot any good by neglecting yourselves. Try a shift-work system where you schedule an hour or two during the day where one parent will care for the baby alone. This way, the other parent can practice self-care – taking a long, warm bath, going for a run, doing yoga, reading or just going for coffee with a friend. You will find that self-care will also help maintain civility in your relationship with your partner. By making time to do something for yourself, you will find that you won’t feel as overwhelmed by your initiation to parenthood. And don’t forget that this rule also applies to your partner. In fact, she will likely need more time for self-care than you since she will also be recovering from both 40 weeks of pregnancy and hours of childbirth. Also be aware that your partner is particularly vulnerable to postpartum depression during the first weeks after birth. Postpartum depression, which is a more serious case of the baby blues, can begin as early as a few days after delivery. Experts don’t know the real cause of postpartum depression, but they suspect that it has something to do with changes hormonal levels. Stress, disturbed sleeping patterns and changes in daily routine can all contribute to postpartum depression. Signs and symptoms include restlessness, irritability, changes in appetite, sadness and anxiety. If your partner is experiencing any of these symptoms or if you sense that something isn’t right with the way your partner is behaving, you should consult your physician immediately. Untreated, postpartum depression can develop into postpartum psychosis, which is a serious mental illness that requires medical intervention. Both you and your partner should take her postnatal psychological state very seriously. On a lighter note, you and your partner make an extra effort to keep the romance in your relationship. While your baby will require a lot of your time and attention, he or she will also be taking a lot of naps. Nap-time may be the perfect (and only) time for your and your partner to romance each other. Snuggle, watch a movie, make dinner or enjoy a glass of wine together. Whatever you decide to do, take a minute to set the mood with candles and relaxing music. Another important factor to consider is how involved you want your parents or partner’s parents to be. Parental intervention can add some seriously unneeded stress to the situation and unnecessary strain on your relationship. That said, you shouldn’t reject offers to help. Being a new parent is not going to be easy and you will need all the help that you can get. Just remember to set limits and don’t be afraid to tell your relatives what you need (and don’t need). The last thing you want is to have one overbearing relatives overstepping their boundaries and overstaying their welcome. Now What? Things change after about 6 weeks of caring for your newborn. You and your partner will be different people, your relationship will be redefined and your tot will begin to act more like a baby than a squirmy alien. Life will get easier from here on out. Your tot will become a toddler and will begin roaming around the house. Make sure you are prepared for junior’s curiosity by baby-proofing your home early.