Tag Archives: pregnant

Pregnant Farzana Parveen Stoned To Death By Own Family In Pakistan

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A pregnant woman, Farzana Parveen, has been stoned to death by more than 20 members of her own family in front of the high court of Lahore. She was only 25 and three-months pregnant.

The group included her father and brothers. They attacked her and her husband with batons and bricks. The attack happened in broad daylight.

Hundreds of women are killed every year in honor killings but public stoning is rare.

Police investigator Rana Mujahid said the woman’s father has been arrested for murder and that police were working to apprehend all those who participated in the “heinous crime.”

Another police officer, Naseem Butt, said she was killed because she married Mohammad Iqbal against her family’s wishes.

Her father, Mohammad Azeem, had filed an abduction case against Iqbal.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, a private organisation, said in a report last month that some 869 women were murdered in honour killings in 2013.

Zia Awan, a prominent lawyer and human rights activist, said: “I have not heard of any such case in which a woman was stoned to death, and the most shameful and worrying thing is that this woman was killed in front of a court.”

He said Pakistanis who commit violence against women are often acquitted or handed light sentences because of poor police work and faulty prosecutions.

“Either the family does not pursue such cases or police don’t properly investigate. As a result, the courts either award light sentences to the attackers, or they are acquitted,”

Her husband survived the attack. Iqbal, 45, said he started seeing Parveen after the death of his first wife, with whom he had five children.

“We were in love,” he told The Associated Press. He alleged that the woman’s family wanted to fleece money from him before marrying her off. “I simply took her to court and registered a marriage,”

Parveen’s father called the murder an “honor killing” and surrendered after.

“I killed my daughter as she had insulted all of our family by marrying a man without our consent, and I have no regret over it,” Mujahid, the police investigator, quoted the father as saying.

Gwen Stefani Confirms Pregnancy Via Instagram

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The gorgeous Gwen Stefani has confirmed her pregnancy by posing next to the equally pregnant celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe for an Instagram pic. It is hard to believe these women are in their forties. Stefani is 44 and this will be her third child, Zoe is 42 and this will be her second. The picture was taken at the Performing Arts Gala in Beverly Hills. Don’t they look amazing?

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Photo credit: Instagram.

Young People Using Fertility MOTs

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Erica and Kenny An increasing number of young people are discovering the benefit of ‘fertility MOTs’, consultants have said, even if they have no immediate plans to start a family.

Patients can come in for fertility advice even if they aren’t yet trying for children, and have a full range of tests so they can decide when they should start thinking about a family.

Mrs Yasmin Sajjad, fertility consultant at Spire Liverpool Hospital said: “The growing popularity of our fertility MOTs reflects a rising trend of young couples and singles seeking peace of mind on their fertility status.”

As people get older some may find it increasingly difficult to conceive and fertility consultancy is valuable in providing early advice as to how long it is practical to wait.

Yasmin said: “At 25 – 27 years old a woman’s fertility is already starting to decline, and upon reaching 35, chances of conception have often halved. Women who take an early assessment of their fertility can make informed decisions about their options later down the line, including the possibility of having eggs frozen for a later date.”

Erica Wilson used the fertility MOT to help make an informed decision on when she and her husband should start trying for children, she said: “I came to Spire a few years ago for a fertility MOT at the age of 31.  I was keen to see if there were any issues, and help become better informed so myself and my husband Ken could find out when we should start trying for children.  It ended up being a very good decision because we found out early on that there were problems and it has given us time to address this.”

Erica is now going through a treatment called ICSI, Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection.  This involves injecting a single sperm into an egg in order to fertilise it, it’s then transferred back to the woman’s womb as an embryo.

Erica said: “So far we have undergone a few treatments of ICSI through the NHS.  The treatment went smoothly but unfortunately it hasn’t worked.  It’s now been diagnosed by Mrs Sajjad that I have certain cells, which identify the embryo being put back in my womb as a foreign body and I am now on a course of steroid treatment which should prevent this.  Ken and I are now really hopeful that we can start a family and having a fertility MOT has given us the time to solve the issues, and have a good chance at trying for a family before time and the odds are against us.”

Yasmin also said that they have seen an increase in the use of the clinic by couples in the middle of trying for a family. “Many couples are leaving it later to try for children, which simply put means they can’t afford to wait around.  If they have been trying for a year with no success then they should visit a GP, but often taking this route can mean they end up on waiting lists for tests and to see a fertility expert.  This wait can mean the difference between having a child and not, as some couples have left it too close in terms of their fertility or accessing IVF on the NHS, where the cut off for funding is often around the age of 40.  This means that the women should be referred for assisted conception treatment at least six months before their 40th birthday.

“Many older couples are now choosing to pay privately to find out if there is an issue straight away, then they can decide what action to take.”

The Fertility MOT includes a range of packages, all of which require only two visits to the hospital within the space of a week. The comprehensive process will provide a full assessment of a patient’s ability to conceive and identify any underlying factors that may prevent natural conception down the line.

Packages are available for men, women, and couples. Men receive an expert semen analysis, while women will be given a pelvic ultrasound scan, urine test and tubal patency test. Both will also have a full blood test to check hormone status.

Upon the second visit the results are discussed and potential options will be laid out.  From there consultants can give expert advice on future options, and advise any appropriate treatments.

Yasmin added: “Modern hectic lifestyles mean that more couples are choosing to postpone a family until later in life, so a fertility MOT can be invaluable in checking one’s options before it’s too late.”

Spire Liverpool Hospital is holding an information event for couples planning a family on Thursday 24 October, from 6.30 – 9pm.

 

Katie Piper Speaks About Her Pregnancy Joy

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BRAVE TV PRESENTER KATIE PIPER GIVES HER FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE ANNOUNCING HER PREGNANCY IN THIS SUNDAY’S FABULOUS MAG

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In this week’s Fabulous magazine’s special Inspiration Issue, acid attack survivor, Katie Piper opens up about her pregnancy joy: “I just feel very blessed. It’s incredible really. When I go into hospital to have the baby, it’ll be the first time I’ve been there for something nice.”

In the exclusive interview, which is accompanied by a photoshoot by legendary photographer, David Bailey, the 29-year-old presenter and model says she finds it strange when people say she’s inspired them: “I was put in a situation and had to decide whether to sink or swim, and I think most people would fight and get through it. It’s not until we get tested that we know how strong we are.”

Katie, whose baby is due in the Spring, also opens up about the moment she found out she was pregnant and the morning sickness she’s been suffering from ever since.

Also in this week’s edition, brave Michelle Heaton opens up about her decision to have a double mastectomy after she was told she had an 80 per cent chance of contracting breast cancer, while award-winning Sky News foreign correspondent Alex Crawford reveals what it’s like reporting from some of the world’s most dangerous war zones.

Fabulous magazine is available free in The Sun every Sunday.

What To Eat When You’re Pregnant And Vegetarian | Book Review

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pregnancy, health, diet, food, what to eat, vegetarian, The phrase, ‘You are what you eat’, is never truer than when pregnant. In fact, both you and your baby are what you eat. If you are vegetarian, or just want to cut down on meat, then this book calls itself the ‘complete guide to healthy eating’. We put it to the test.

This book is an excellent guide. It has a handy reference of vegetarian-safe food and drink, checklists for pregnancy and post-conception, guidelines on caffeine and alcohol, tips on handling morning sickness, how to achieve a healthy weight, and then lose it again, advice on getting enough nutrients, advice on allergy-proofing your baby, food that affects a babies development and what you should eat when breastfeeding. Phew. That is quite a lot of information.

With its menu plans and tips for planning meals, the wealth of information in this book is vast. It even has graphs of how much you should weigh and what food you should eat, it makes a complicated time easy, at least when it comes to nutrition. I also thought the chapter on getting enough iron and avoiding anaemia is great for any mother-to-be. The common complaints during pregnancy and how to deal with them is great too. It covers most health complaints that occur in pregnancy.

What to Eat When You’re Pregnant and Vegetarian: The Complete Guide to Healthy Eating is a great book. A must buy if you are planning to get pregnant or already are.

Kirsten Stewart is feeling the fall-out from her recent breakup

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Hair loss experts warn that stress-related hair loss is on the rise

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Could stress and heartbreak be the cause of Kristen Stewart’s hair loss woes? The Twilight star has been recently spotted with a large bald patch on the side of her head, fuelling rumours that she has been struggling to deal with the recent post break up stress from her ex, Robert Pattison.

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A recent study by Nourkrin, found that 89% of women questioned found stress had been a major influence on the health of their hair, with it causing thinning and in some cases major hair loss.

The photo provides a rare glimpse of the star’s natural hair – she is usually wearing a cap and hair extensions when filming or being seen in public.

 

It’s not only image-conscious stars like Kirsten relying on extensions to add volume to their hair. The survey also found that two thirds of UK GPs have seen a rise in the number of women distressed and seeking help with hair loss with 70% of these hair loss cases being down to an increase in stress levels.

Dr. Wendy Denning, a Harley Street GP with a specific interest in women’s health comments: “I have seen many cases of thinning hair and hair loss over the years. Although most people think of hair loss being a problem for men, it is surprisingly common for women after the menopause and increasingly in young women. Of course there are many reasons for hair loss including hormonal changes, poor nutrition and certain medications – but one of the most common reasons that is on the rise, is stress-related hair loss”.

Celebrity hairdresser Jo Hansford MBE, whose clients include Angelina Jolie and Gwynenth Paltrow comments “Many of my clients are concerned about hair loss, whether it’s due to stress, hormonal changes such as being pregnant, or general over styling issues. Whatever the problem, it feels good to help them by explaining the benefits of Nourkrin. This is a natural, scientifically proven supplement for thinning hair, hair loss and general hair maintenance. Over time I have really seen the difference that Nourkrin makes to encourage hair growth and to the renewed confidence it gives my clients.” 

Nourkrin Woman 60 Tablets are available here and from Boots or Superdrug.

Pregnant Halle Berry Spotted In LA With Daughter. Wears Gerard Darel Bag

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Pregnant and stylish, Halle Berry looked great with her daughter Nahla in Los Angeles. She was spotted carrying her new Gerard Dare Mini Simple Bag. The bag retails at £310. The Hollywood star is a huge fan of the brand.

The 47-year-old looked amazing taking her daughter to a play date. Halle can be seen soon in the new X Men film: Days of Future Past.

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What do you think? Does she look great?

 

Birth Made Easy Book Review

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birth made easyI have previously interviewed Paola Bagnall. She had a lot of great things to say about giving birth. Now, let’s get down to the book.

The book has a great overview of pregnancy, both Pre and Post. It also comes with a free self hypnosis CD. For those interested in hypnobirthing (and there are rumours that Kate Middleton has joined them) this book is great. Paola believes that pregnancy is not a medical thing but a natural thing that the body is supposed to do. Although I don’t agree that pregnancy is not a medical thing, her ideas are interesting and certainly have merit. She is a qualified hypnotherapist and healed her own shoulder using the power of her mind.

This book has a lot of great information in it for any mother-to-be. Chapter one is about hypnosis and other chapters are about breathing, the biology of the female body, and the biology of birth. They are all very informative and fascinating.

There is also a chapter on how to use the CD. In the getting ready for birth chapter there are a lot of great tips, followed by an entire chapter or problem solving in, ‘What To Do if You Have….’ Nausa and vomiting are covered. As are C-sections and having a large baby.

The books tells you how to use the three stages of hynothearapy for the birth in an easy to understand way and has an entire chapter on how to disassociate yourself from the feelings of the contractions.

The last two chapters are what to do after the birth, a great chapter with some exercises on how to get back into shape, health tips, and enjoying your time as a mother.

This is a very good book for women who want a natural birth, and even has great tips for those who don’t. I can’t say it has convinced me to have a natural birth when I decide to have children, but the information is there for those who do.

Birth Made Easy – The positive and enjoyable way to have a baby easily and naturally using self-hypnosis