THE CRISIS OF PARENTHOOD

After her return home, three to 10 days after childbirth,  a  woman may become increasingly isolated particularly if it is her first child and if her  relatives  live at some distance. Because of high cost of land ,houses and rent, most young couples have to live in the newer suburbs of cities where transportation  may be inadequate and shopping may not be easy too.

SUPPORTED CHILDBIRTH

ANALGESIC-SUPPORTED CHILDBIRTH - An  analgestic is a drug which reduces or eliminates pain without  clouding the consciousness of the person to any significant extent.  The  principle behind this  method is that women in labour should have the  pain of labour reduced by being given sedatives or analgesics at appropriate intervals, but the dose of the drugs should be regulated to avoid  damaging the fetus.

CHANGES IN AN EXPECTANT MOTHER

While the development of the embryo and fetus is progressing in the dark confines of the uterus, all the functions of the  expectant mother's body are  adjusting to the needs of  pregnancy. The basis of all these changes is the effect of the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are  manufactured by the  cells of the  placenta from its  earliest  days. The  changes start very early in pregnancy,  and most of them anticipate the demands that the  fetus will make on its mother for oxygen, for food and to get rid of its wastes

SIDE EFFECTS OF THE ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS.

The following  side- effects have been associated with the use of the oral contraceptive pills.
1. Ache- This  increases in some women who take the pill.
2. Blood pressure- About one woman in every 20 taking the pill experiences a small rise  in blood pressure.
3. Depression/ mood changes.
4. Headaches/ migraine.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

Family planning is available to help individuals and couples to choose if and when they will have a child,  or to choose the number of children that they will have. The  choices depend on a complicated mixture of social, cultural and psychological influences and lately men and women  have reliable methods to enable them to make that choice freely and easily.

SEXUAL PROBLEMS

It is impossible to calculate the frequency of sexual problems which may mar or destroy a  relationship as until recently, people were ashamed to seek help.
In men and women, four sexual problems occur.  In  men the  problems are 1. Inhibited sexual desire. 2. Premature ejaculation 3. Retarded ejaculation  and  4. Erectile failure.

OSTEOPOROSIS

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones.It means that the bones are thin and brittle.
As people grow older, they begin to lose bone and the bones become  brittle. Women lose bone more rapidly than men, particularly in the 5-10 years after menopause. Osteoporosis which is a thinning of the bones has become  a major health problem.