Pregnancy scheme

June 1st, 2006

Pregnancy and childbirth are the main things in lives of many families. You are giving life to a new man. It is awesome!!!!! And I don’t understand how some cruel people can use it. There is one story about it. 

 

An Alexander woman arrested for writing almost $3,000 in hot checks is also wanted for allegedly defrauding couples interested in adopting a child. 

Lindsey McCall was arrested on a Saline County warrant charging her with allegedly writing $2,817 in hot checks. 

Authorities said she also is wanted on contempt of court charges in Bryant and Sherwood. 

McCall lied about being pregnant and allegedly collected money through an adoption agency from a Concord, N.C., couple interested in adopting her child, a Saline County Sheriff’s Department report states. 

Capt. Jason Massey discovered the possible pregnancy scheme after speaking with a Concord Police Department detective who said McCall used falsified documents from an Arkansas medical provider stating that she was pregnant. 

Massey initially contacted the Concord detective concerning a warrant charging McCall with allegedly obtaining property under false pretense. The warrant states that “the false pretense consisted of goods and services obtained by means of (McCall) receiving $10,478.75 in wire transfers for birthparent expenses from June to December 2004 from the victims when the defendant knew she was not in fact pregnant and acted as if she was pregnant to continue to collect these monies.” 

Massey said the sheriff’s office has also received information that the San Francisco Police Department is investigating McCall for possibly defrauding another couple in that area. 

Deputy Josh Hickey and Benton police Officer Bobby Shell went to McCall’s residence on Friday to arrest her on the felony hot check warrant but could not find her, authorities said. 

Hickey returned to the residence later Friday and saw McCall’s parked vehicle packed with clothes “as if she were ready to leave the state,” the sheriff’s report states. Hickey was again unable to find McCall, however, and called Shell and Deputy Harold Higgins for assistance. 

According to the report, McCall called Saline County dispatch while the officers were outside the residence. She then spoke to Higgins on the phone and said she was in Hot Springs at Lake Ouachita and that she wanted to turn herself in at 3:30 p.m. at the Saline County jail. 

Higgins asked McCall how she got to Hot Springs when her car was parked in front of the house. She replied that a friend had picked her up in a white car, but Higgins said neighbors said they never saw a white car at the residence. 

Higgins then told McCall he knew she was in the house and urged her to exit the residence before he had to obtain a search warrant and go in after her. 

About an hour after denying she was in the house, McCall surrendered and was taken to jail. 

Massey said the FBI is investigating whether McCall attempted her alleged pregnancy scheme in other places. 

McCall has been transferred to Rivendell Behavioral Health Services near Alexander. 

So, guys, be careful! 

Pregnancy insurance

May 30th, 2006

There is a big problem in America. Over 41 million Americans are uninsured and many of those who are insured are underinsured. Insurance premiums have been increasing and they are expected to continue to rise. This has led many Americans to go without insurance and hope for the best for their health. As a result, there are approximately 13% of women who become pregnant each year who are not insured, which results in pregnant women receiving inadequate prenatal care.
Another challenge uninsured pregnant women face is the notion from many insurance plans that pregnancy is a pre-existing condition. Medicaid, a federal funded program for low income persons, will accept women who are already pregnant. However, if you are not eligible to receive Medicaid it can still be a challenge to pay for all the prenatal visits and delivery. The estimated cost of delivery alone is $6,000 – $8,000 for a normal pregnancy and the cost increases if it is a high risk pregnancy. It is really expensive.
This is the crisis that many pregnant women find themselves facing when they learn that they are pregnant. The excitement of being pregnant is quickly dissolved by the worry and anxiety of financial burden.
Government funded programs
Medicaid is a state run program that is federally funded. Medicaid provides medical assistance for low-income families and individuals.
You may find that there are other options, depending on your state, which provide additional programs for women who are pregnant such as Medical from the state of California.
WIC is a federal agency that serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants and children under the age of 5. WIC provides nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating and referrals to health care.
Healthcare discount programs
There are many alternatives to traditional health insurance and Medicaid. These alternatives offer a discount on your healthcare and may help you out.
MaternityCard™ is a discount health program that can save you up to 60% on doctor’s visits, lab work, sonograms, your hospital stay and much more. MaternityCard is not insurance but it works with a National Preferred Provider Maternity Network. For a low monthly fee, MaternityCard can provide you with a comprehensive maternity plan. You can receive these benefits even after you have found out that you are pregnant.
AmeriPlan is a discount plan that is currently available in all states except Alaska. AmeriPlan saves people up to 50% and more on their health care services. Benefits include physician, hospital, and ancillary services (i.e. lab work, tests, x-rays). Since AmeriPlan is not insurance, all pre-existing conditions are covered (except orthodontic treatment in progress), there are no deductibles, no waiting period, no claim forms and no annual limits.
Smart Health Care Solutions is not insurance but an affordable alternative to the soaring costs of health care. All pre-existing conditions are accepted. As an Association, Smart Health Care Solutions is committed to providing members with access to healthcare providers at reduced rates that are both nationwide and affordable regardless of any pre-existing health conditions
Other options for managing healthcare costs
Here are some additional ideas for helping you manage the costs related to prenatal care and birth:
If you are delivering at a hospital you can contact the account office and talk to someone about setting up a payment plan or ask if they offer a sliding scale. Many hospitals do offer these, but they are not utilized because people do not know what is available to them.
If you are having an uncomplicated pregnancy you may want to consider giving birth at a birthing center. The estimated cost of a delivery and prenatal care at a birthing center is about $3,000 – $4,000. This is half of what it would be for a delivery at a hospital. Many birth centers also provide sliding scales, payment plans and accept Medicaid.
If you are a single parent you can go to Single Parenting: Making It Work and Doing It Alone for other ideas on how to save a little extra money.
It is expensive to give a birth in USA. But I know that it is much more expensive in Sweden. The estimated cost of a delivery and prenatal care is about $12,000- $25,000 if you don’t have any problems and  $18,000- $29000 if you need Cesarean section. In Germany cost of a delivery and prenatal care is about 18400 – 22000 euro. THAT IS REALLY EXPENSIVE!!!
I know that the medicine is free in some countries. For example you don’t have to pay anything for delivery in Russia. If you want medical personal to be very nice you can pay. It is gonna cost you  about $100 – $1,000. Pregnant woman usually don’t have insurance.
I don’t know why it is so different in different countries and I don’t know where is better. Can anybody explain to me?

Children die of malaria

May 27th, 2006

A number of children were reported to have died of malaria in villages of Gedo region in southern Somalia (Africa), where the spring rains began.
The most complexity that the people in Burdhubo district and villages of Gedo region were suffering is malaria disease, which has threatened the region that bordering Kenya.
Two children  have died of malaria in Burdhubo district for the past two days after more rains in the region laid water on the ground, which resulted out break of malaria.
Chairman of health committee in the district Ali Hassan Burale said the villagers faced the worst health problems in three years.
He said more than 12 people mostly pregnant women and children over the age of 12 fallen into the disease every day.
Mr. Burale appealed aid agencies to deliver urgently humanitarian assistance including mosquito net and medicine to fight against the disease.
My God!  Can anybody help them?

Exploitation and abuse of migrant children

May 27th, 2006

Numbers of Zimbabwean children illegally entering Mozambique are  increasing every year. Children want to escape poverty at home. Many are AIDS orphans or unaccompanied, hoping to find a better life in better-off neighbouring Mozambique. Instead they can fall prey to exploitation and abuse, including prostitution and child labour.
A lot  of Zimbabwean children are crossing the Mozambican border each day.   Large numbers of these children are alone and extremely vulnerable.
Zimbabwe is in its eighth year of economic decline, which has cut GDP by 40 percent. But child migration was not a problem peculiar to Zimbabwe, but a growing issue in the southern African region.
Mozambican children are entering South Africa illegally, Angolans are entering Namibia, and so on. Children say that they are not fully aware of what is going to face them in the countries. They often think they can earn money quickly.  The reality is that they often become trapped in a cycle of abuse and dependency.
The  study of Zimbabwean children found that many young girls - some aged as young as 12 - ended up in the sex trade along the transport corridor linking Zimbabwe to the Mozambican port of Beira in Sofala province. Sofala has the highest HIV infection rate in Mozambique, at around 26 percent of the adult population.
Young Zimbabwean sex workers living illegally in settlements along the Zambezi River in central Mozambique are popular with men because they are exploitable.
Many Mozambican men tend to be sexually involved with Zimbabweans because they are cheaper,” the report quoted a government official in the central Mozambican town of Machipanda as saying. “With 30 to 40 thousand Meticais [just over one US dollar], it is possible to have one afternoon or a night of pleasure.”
Zimbabwean girls are also employed in barracas - informal, often rowdy bars - and in restaurants. The owners see English-speaking staff as a status symbol.
Children often find employment illegally on farms. The provincial government in the central province of Manica confirmed that child labour occurred, with boys paid up to 900,000 Meticais (about 33 US dollars) a month for long, arduous work herding livestock or as farm hands.
 SCF is looking to develop a range of school magazines and radio programmes targeting children, clearly spelling out what it means to travel to another country “without papers, family or friends to support them, and for them to know that the kind of problems they will face will be massive and grave”.
SCF is also calling for police and border officials to be provided with additional training on children’s rights and abuse laws.
That is horrible!!!!! I even don’t know what to say! A night of pleasure for  one US dollar!!!!!!!!!!! Poor children…………. Yeah, it is a good idea to develop a range of school magazines and radio programmes clearly spelling out what it means to travel to another country alone and explaining to children what kind of problems they will face there. But I don’t think this measure can help a lot. Children want to escape poverty at home!!!  They are going to another country because it is extremely difficult to live in their own country. I don’t think they want to work so hard for 33 US dollars because they like it. They just want to live better!!!!! Probably some reach European countries and USA can help to rise their economy. I don’t think it is too difficult for them. I understand that they can’t help all poor countries, but in such situation……..

Pregnancy and birth superstitions in Europe

May 25th, 2006

There are many rules about what you should and shouldn’t do to ensure a healthy pregnancy throughout Europe. One such tradition maintains that wearing a brooch, generally made of boar’s tooth, will protect you from evil and secure prosperity or honor for the baby. These amulets were sold in fine jewelry stores across Europe.
Many traditions are based on the belief that otherworldly beings are determined to steal human babies before birth. In order to avoid the attention of these beings, some conceal their pregnancies altogether, even to the point of not preparing for a baby’s birth (Scotland’s Orkney Islands).
In addition to fearing otherworldly beings, pregnant women are also taught to avoid the dead. For example, you should not stay in a house with a corpse or attend a wake, as this could cause premature labor. (Ireland) And you should also avoid graveyards, or, at least, gravestones, because if the shadow from a gravestone cross is cast on you, it could cause you to miscarry (European Gypsy Folklore).
Associating with corpses and graveyards can also affect your child’s future health. Even if you avoid the shadows of gravestone crosses, the simple act of entering a graveyard may cause your child to starve or have weak spells (Ireland). And if you step on a grave, your child could die (Germany).
Unfortunately, graveyards aren’t the only things you need to avoid. If, in your travels, you meet a hare in the road, your child will be born with a harelip (Ireland). Or if, heaven forbid, you cross the path of someone who is to be executed, your child will share the same fate (Germany). My God, probably it is a good idea to stay at home during pregnancy?
If you choose to avoid everything and remain in your corpse-free house, you can, at least, indulge in pregnancy cravings! And if anyone (e.g., your husband) complains about having to go out at 3am to buy pickles and ice cream, you can simply point out that you are ensuring your child does not have a birthmark in the shape of a pickle cone (Greece). But if bread is what you’re craving, be sure to warn anyone preparing it that they cannot pierce it with a knife or fork, or your child’s eyes will be poked out. And you mustn’t indulge every craving – if you eat fish or snails, your child will be slow in learning to speak or walk, respectively. Perhaps food isn’t going to be much of a comfort after all. I’m happy I don’t like bread!
Since you can’t go out and you can’t eat everything in sight, perhaps it’s time to start preparing for the delivery of your new arrival. To ensure a safe birth, you could blow on the bellows at the local forge (Italian). That is, of course, if you’re lucky enough to have a forge around. But, wait a moment, you weren’t supposed to leave the house. So instead, you could simply take a bath … just remember to turn the tub over afterward (Germany).
But just because you’ve secured an easy delivery, doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. You still need to be wary of otherworldly beings. If they weren’t able to snatch your unborn child early in the pregnancy, they’re certain to make a second attempt. To protect yourself, simply place a knife or a bible in your bed, and when your baby is born, transfer the items to the baby’s bed for its protection (Scotland’s Orkney Islands). Knife to baby’s bed?????? It is dangerous…..
But what if you don’t have a local forge? Or are afraid to venture outside? Or if you forgot to turn your tub over or aren’t able to, as it is attached to the wall? And now your labor is upon you. Well, if you and your husband are honest in naming all of your past lovers, giving birth can still be easy. If, after confessing, your labor is still difficult, perhaps you should take a closer look at your husband, or suffer the consequences of your own dishonesty (Russia). Duh… that is really funny and interesting!!!!!!! I’m gonna ask my husband right know!!!
In addition to rehashing the past, the father of your child can be helpful in other ways. He could tie your garters in order to ease the birth (Germany). If you don’t own garters, he could let you wear his slippers for the same effect. Or, he could do the most helpful thing of all and leave you to the women of your family (Ireland).
Congratulations! You’ve given birth to a beautiful baby. Now it’s time to relax and enjoy! Or is it? Unfortunately, just when you thought you could forget about them, they rear their ugly heads again – those pesky otherworldly beings. And now, not only do you have to worry about having your baby exchanged for a changeling (Germany), but the mother must also be protected, as otherworldly beings need nursing mothers to feed all the babies they’ve abducted (Ireland).
And while you’re busy protecting your little one from others, don’t forget that your actions can have detrimental consequences for him/her as well. If you don’t want your child to be clumsy, be sure to lay him/her on the left side; if you don’t want your child to have bad teeth, avoid putting pins into curtains within six months of giving birth (Germany). If you don’t want your child to grow a beard (girls) or be beardless (boys), have the child christened (Scotland’s Orkney Islands). You will also be restricted in what fashion trends you can follow. Wearing a rope for a belt could get your child hanged, and walking around without shoes could cause your child to have difficulty learning to walk (Germany). And be sure the first movement your child takes is in the upward direction, as a downward direction will lead to a lowly life without fortune or fame (Gaelic). Maybe it’s a good idea just stay in bed ????…

Childbirth Traditions in Latvia

May 24th, 2006

Pregnancy was always considered the most important period in the life of women of all nations. That was usually a period when women were to observe special rules, and these rules were as a rule similar with different people.
People from Latvia - a country on the Baltic coast next to Lithuania and the Russian Federation - hope that the Goddess of Fate smiles kindly on their newborn baby. Latvians believe the Goddess of Fate, or Lamia, determines a child’s future the second he’s born.
They may also pray to Mara, or Mary, for help in childbirth. It’s believed that Mara rules the human body and can make a woman’s labor easy or difficult. Young wives will often try to get in Mara’s good graces with gifts even before they become pregnant. In ancient Latvia, babies were usually delivered in a small building called a pirt. Pirts are similar to Finnish saunas and are designed to be used as steam baths. Mothers, infants and midwives return to the pirt three days after a baby is born for a ceremonial bathing of the mother and the new baby called Pirtizas. Women who helped with the birth may also attend and take part in the ceremonial feast which follows. When leaving the pirt, a new mother will often leave a gift for Mara

Nine days after the baby is born, his or her godparents host a name-giving ceremony, or Krustaba, at the parents’ home which lasts two days. In Latvia, a baby girl has two godmothers and one godfather. A boy has two godfathers and one godmother. Parents usually appoint relatives as godparents. Latvians believe children inherit their godparents’ good qualities, so they select someone they’d like their children to emulate. In addition to participating in the name-giving ceremony, godparents are expected to raise the child in the event that the parents cannot.
The name-giving ceremony begins in the morning. Guests arrive bringing gifts for the baby and food for the feast. Talk is happy that day; it’s believed that there should be no unpleasant conversation at the ceremony. And women wear their best and most expensive jewelry. The actual name-giving ceremony is performed at Mara’s church — a sacred grove of oak or birch trees. At the church, guests receive a quick meal of bread, milk, cheese and honey. Guests eat the meal while standing. They then form a circle around the child to insure good habits and sound physical development of the child

The child is placed in water and the clergy performing the ceremony asks the godparents if they will accept the child and lift her into Mara’s sun or leave her in the water of the Vala Mate (Mother of Spirits). The godmother lifts the infant out of the water and holds the her in front of the symbol of the cross while all the godparents promise to care for the child. At that point the selected name is bestowed upon the baby. In Latvia, the godparents select their godchild’s name

When the newly named child returns home, everyone welcomes the child as a full-fledged family member, and the child’s name is announced. Songs of praise and good wishes are sung at a feast, and the godparents perform a ceremonial dance with the baby. Guests join in and soon everyone is singing good wishes for the child while executing a light dance step and passing the child from guest to guest

On the second day of the name-giving ceremony, the godparents attend the preparation of the cradle. The godfather first leads a party of guests to a nearby woods and selects a suitable pole for the cradle while other guests prepare a light basket to hold the infant. The godfather fastens the pole between the ceiling and the wall and affixes the cradle to the other end. The godmother places the baby into the cradle along with a gift. The other godparents and guests also place a gift in the cradle. The name-giving ceremony concludes with guests giving thanks for the new family member. And, they give the baby their best wishes that life will smile kindly upon him.

Such a beautiful and interesting ceremony! I also want to have 2 godmothers! So they can care about me!!!!!!! I just don’t like that godparents select their godchild’s name! I think that biological parent’s should choose it. This is their decision.

Some pregnancy and delivery traditions in different countries.

May 23rd, 2006

Today, people speak a lot about the importance of applying bringing-up methods even before babies are born. Some of us believe the tendency has outlined just recently, however this tradition was popular even in the past centuries.
By Candidate of historical sciences, lecturer in History of Medicine Larissa Kondrashkina
in Ancient India and Ancient China, parents began to inure their babies to understand the arts three months after the conception. For this purpose, pregnant women had only fine things around them and listened just to fine music; they ate tasty meals sanctified in the church. These measures were believed to make unborn babies beautiful and talented. I also believe in that and trying to look at beautiful things and get positive emotions.
Nowadays, doctors say that contemporary pregnant women must have the same environment for better pregnancy and good future of their babies. In the old times, husbands in some provinces presented their wives with jewelry when they learnt about pregnancy. Pregnant women wore clothes made of delicate and expensive fabrics; the blue color was considered the most favorable for the development of unborn babies. Fine music was obligatory for pregnant women, as it is actually good for babies and mothers. That is why, artists in Asian countries regularly organized concerts for pregnant women thousands of years ago. Why I was born in 20th century? I also want some jewelry!
At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a special institute assisting women in childbirth in St.Petersburg, Russia, founded with the assistance of famous accoucheur Dmitry Ott. The doctor insisted that the hospital must have a concert hall with an organ. Every week, all female patients of the hospital were invited to concerts at the hall. It is pity they don’t have such tradition now.
In Ancient India and Ancient China, pregnant women always sang, drew birds and plants during pregnancy. These traditions may seem naive, but they do have an effect upon unborn babies. It is known that Napoleon’s mother drew toy tin soldiers and imagined they were battling. So, the future emperor probably knew the essence of battles even before he was born. In the cultures of many countries, arts were obligatory for pregnant women.
In Ancient China, pregnant women sang nice and quiet songs, at that the melody and the text were of little importance, as singing first of all helps bring much oxygen to the organism of a pregnant woman. Indeed, during singing we first take a deep breath, and then goes slow exhalation. So, singing is in fact a really esthetic physical exercise.
Contrary to many of the modern recommendations, many nations disapproved of walking during pregnancy. When it was evident that women were expecting babies, they never walked too away from the home. Moslem women were prohibited to go outside before the sunset during pregnancy. On the one hand, it is a good method to avoid heavy UV-radiation. On the other hand, Moslems believed that a baby would be born with too many birthmarks if a mother was exposed to sunrays for too long. I don’t like this one! What about fresh air? I think it is very important for pregnant woman to go for a walk. Besides it is really good for you legs if you have varicose veins and for you blood if you have anemia.
Contemporary couples often want to deliver their babies together. Many centuries ago, men in European countries often stayed in the maternity ward during baby delivery. They encouraged their wives and helped them endure pains and suffering. In addition to the moral support, husbands also served an actual physical support for women during labour pains. Men’s presence in the maternity ward was typical of men in Italy, Spain, France, Yugoslavia and Scandinavian countries. But in some countries, husbands were prohibited to enter maternity wards, as only women were allowed to see how babies come to the world.
It is arguable point. On the one hand it is good when husband is there. He can calm you down and support you. But on the other hand, the statistics shows, that number of divorces among pairs which gave birth together is higher than among pairs where the husband did not participate. A lot of men who took part in childbirth need sexological help after that.
Women who assisted in delivery, often stayed in the home for some time after the delivery to look after the house. Mothers were not allowed to do anything about the house for several days after delivery. Women in Arab countries had the longest after-delivery rest that lasted for 40 days when they were prohibited to do things about the house. Instead, they were focused on their health and on babies. A tradition similar to this was also popular in Europe and Russia. That is really good and right tradition. Especially for women who had Caesarean section.
In Russia, an accouche became the key figure in the house after a baby came to the world. This woman stayed in a house for several weeks and looked after the baby; she got back home only when the mother was strong enough again to look after her baby herself. This seems to be a wise tradition indeed. Women need some time to restore their health and energy after the childbirth. Doctors say it is important when a woman has someone to help her about the house and look after the baby when she is still weak after the difficult work of baby delivery. In Russia, the post-delivery period traditionally depended upon the well-being of a family. Those who had little money had no opportunity for long rest as they needed to work.
Baby delivery was not always a success in Russian villages, as there often were poor hygienic conditions. As a result, mothers could get infected and some even died in baby delivery. Women not only in villages but even in large cities died of childbirth fever because doctors were not always tidy when operating in the maternity ward. Doctor Zemmelweis from Hungary was the first who offered to wash hands before baby delivery, but his colleagues declared him insane because of this initiative. It was just several years later that the teaching of aseptic and anti-septic appeared. My God! I’m happy it was long time ago. It is not funny to die because of dirty hands.
So there are a lot of different traditions in different countries. Some of them are really beautiful. Some of them are not clear. I like this topic very much and I’ll try to find some more information about it!!!!!!!!

Dominican Republic advices!

May 21st, 2006

There are some funny tips about pregnancy from Dominican Republic web-site!!!
• When a baby is just born you say “God Bless You” to prevent the child from getting the evil eye
• If you let a child see his or her reflection before they’re two years old they won’t talk.
• Put a small bracelet of beads on the child’s ankle or wrist to ward off evil and to bring prosperity.
• You must never say no if a pregnant woman asks you for something that you are eating, if you do you’ll get a sty. To be on the safe side ALWAYS ask pregnant women if they would like something of what you’re eating.
• Be aware of witches who try and eat babies ( from the legend)! That is really important!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• When very young children are given a nickname. No one will use their real name so as to deter attacks from evil spirits. This custom is very common it is said that a witch needs to know your real name in order to curse you. So in this way with the fake name it conceals their true identities from anyone trying to curse them.
• If you drop a spoon and the bowl of the spoon is up (it looks like a pregnant women) a new family member will be arriving soon.
• Some parents in Dominican Republic hang a baseball glove on the crib of a newborn baby boy as a good luck charm because they wish him to become a great baseball player.
• When a child bends over and looks at you from between their legs, it is said that they want another little brother or sister.
• A pregnant woman should not walk underneath a guanabana tree as she may lose her child.
• If a baby is getting sick or congested take a hair off a menstruating woman’s head and tie it around the babies wrist for 24 hours and the child will not get sick.
• When a baby has hiccups, put a hair from the mother’s head on the baby’s head until the hiccups go away.
Yeah, very important advices!!!!! I ‘m going to follow all of them!!!!

Birth traditions in Eastern Europe.

May 21st, 2006

There are two important traditions in Eastern European culture.
The ceremony of the “first bath” is the first one. Only women can assist in the bathing of the newborn child, and the oldest woman related to the father of the baby is in charge of the event. Fresh, clean water enriched with flowers, money, honey and milk are thought to purify and join the newborn to the family. The elder woman gives the cleansed baby to the mother with wishes for the child’s moral, spiritual and physical integrity. She wishes for the child to marry, to be good-looking and healthy, to be respectful of his or her parents and to be a patient person. She wishes that the child thrives, grows to maturity, becomes hardworking and experiences good luck in life.
The second important moment related to birth is the Christening of the child, a ceremony in which the child is named. In the Eastern Orthodox church, the spiritual, or “God-parents” of the child have an important ceremonial function. Usually, the child will be named after the God-father, or after a close family member. Later, the God-parents will play an important role in the wedding ceremony of the child.
I like these traditions and think that they are very beautiful!

About coffee and pregnancy

May 20th, 2006

I love coffee! Sometimes even more then my life !!!!!!! And it is really difficult for me not to drink it. I can’t!!! So I’m trying to drink it less then before. About one cup a day.
I found the information that too much caffeine during pregnancy - over five cups of ordinary strength coffee a day - could increase the risk of having a low birth-weight baby. These babies are at greater risk from a range of problems in later life, including developmental delay in childhood and high blood pressure in adulthood, making this an important relationship to understand.
So one cup is not so bad and probably I should stop to worry that such amount of caffeine can influence my little baby.
But me should remember that caffeine is present in many products from chocolate to over-the-counter medications such as flu remedies. The following materials contain caffeine: Tea (one 5-oz cup) — 40 to 60 mg, Coffee (one 5-oz cup) — 105 to 115 mg, Cola (one 12-oz glass) — 30 to 40 mg, Chocolate (one ounce) — 5 to 10 mg, Cocoa (one 5-oz cup) — about 4 mg. I’m very surprised that many pain relievers have significant amounts of caffeine ranging from 30 mg or more per tablet. Many other over-the-counter diet pills, stimulants, and diuretics contain from 100 to 200 mg of caffeine per pill. The ingredients of cough medicines, cold medicines, and allergy pills may also contain 16 mg of caffeine per tablet or more.
I also learned that there is the correlation between the ability to get pregnant and the consumption of caffeine. The less consumed, the better the chances are of getting pregnant, since caffeine interferes with the hypothalamus function.
Be careful girls!!!