The older members of our family are an amazing source of knowledge and wisdom that can help us during our day to day lives. Everyone would love to support these important people in our lives better and help them in any way we can. But how we can help them?
The moment you found out you were going to have a baby a million things suddenly popped into your head. You started thinking about potential colour schemes for the nursery and the types of clothes you were going to buy. Your mind became a whirlwind of thoughts which spanned from baby baths to nursery furniture. One of the biggest decisions you and your partner have to make is what type of pram to invest in. There are so many different options on the market it can be very difficult to narrow them down. Consider some of the following ideas and your choice of pram may become much clearer.
It's been a while hasn't it? I didn't actually intend to be gone for any period of time, but slowly over the years I got a little preoccupied with living my life rather than writing about it. I'm hoping I've now found a bit of a balance to do both, even just starting this post I feel how cathartic blogging is for me, a feeling I've missed. A lot happened since I last personally blogged, the boys are now in Year 3 and 1, I couldn't be prouder of them and how they've handled everything - they're both excelling in school. I was in quite a tough and emotionally draining relationship which I thankfully left, I've spent a lot of time working on my self and enjoying time with my friends and family and I've also took on some additional social media work that isn't blogging. For the first time in, well, I don't actually know how long, I can say every part of my life seems to be thriving and I couldn't be happier. I guess that's the thing isn't it, that when you have a lot going on in life that's very personal, you don't actually want to write about it. But now I'm in such a better place - here I am.
Picture the situation. Your partner has a job offer abroad. The company promises to help organise the move and secure the accommodation for the family. They will also pay for the relocation, which takes a burden off your shoulders.
Perhaps, you even find that moving abroad would be a great new start for the family. It will be an amazing experience for the children and yourself. Besides, after a long lockdown, it can be exciting to discover new horizons. However, despite the foreign company’s support, there are still a lot of things you worry about. A change of horizon and air can be great. But what about the administrative hassle that it includes?
Stage 1 pressure sore treatment often involves a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure that the pressure sore both heals and does not deteriorate and become more serious. Treatment at this stage lessens healing time and can reduce the risk of the recurrence of pressure ulcers in the future.
At stage or grade 1, pressure sores treatment will include drawing up an appropriate repositioning timetable. The main cause of pressure sores is sitting or lying in one position over an extended period of time and therefore restricting blood flow and increasing moisture or friction in the area. Repositioning the body regularly allows pressure to be more evenly distributed and friction to be lessened.
The patient may also be assessed for more appropriate cushions or mattresses that can relieve pressure and improve airflow, in order to keep the affected areas free of the moisture that may encourage the growth of bacteria.
Additionally, the patient should undergo an in-depth assessment of their general health and wellbeing. Such consultations can take place online today. Treatment can also be ordered online. From the numerous pain medications to the various STD treatments online, it is easier than ever before to get the assistance required.
This will include aspects such as personal care needs, toileting and nutrition. If the individual is dehydrated, this will make it harder for your skin to cope with pressure and friction and increase the risk of more severe ulcers.
Dressings may be applied to pressure sores that are showing early signs of moving to stage two. This type of wound care will ensure that the risk of the skin breaking down and infection being introduced to the wound is limited. Dressings may also encourage healing of the affected skin and may include the use of lotions or ointments to improve skin health.
Risks Associated With Grade 2 Sores
Treatment for pressure ulcer sores, once they reach grade 2, becomes more complex. The wound begins to take on its ulcerated form and the risk of complications is increased. Treatment at this stage needs to happen quickly and address a number of care issues simultaneously.
A grade 2 pressure ulcer is defined as one that has deteriorated to the point that the outer surface of the skin has experienced some damage. This damage may also be present in the deeper layers, but is not consistent throughout the layers or yet affecting the whole area. At this stage, the damage is visible and the area presents as an open sore or ulcer.
Wound care is of paramount importance at this point to prevent further deterioration and the possible infection by bacteria in the wound. Careful covering of the wound with special dressings designed to draw out moisture and any pus may be applied, alongside the use of healing ointments. If there is evidence of dead skin, then debridement can be used to stop this from affecting healthy skin in the surrounding area. The wound will be kept clean and dry, and the patient will undergo an assessment to minimise the risk of further complications.
Pressure sores treatment include careful examination of the rest of the body to look for other potentially problematic ulcers or sores; a timetable for turning or repositioning the patient; and a health and lifestyle assessment. The purpose of the assessment is to look for any lifestyle changes that can be made to prevent deterioration.
Pressure Ulcer Stage 3 Treatment Options
Pressure ulcer stage 3 treatment options are decided on based on a number of factors, including the wellbeing of the patient and the length of time that the pressure ulcer has been present. Treatment needs to minimise the possibility of the ulcer moving onto the next stage and becoming potentially life-threatening.
A grade, or stage, 3 pressure sore appears as an open or ulcerated wound. There is severe skin loss throughout the thickness of the skin and damage to the surrounding tissue. At this grade, there is no damage to the bone or muscle, but action is required to stop this from occurring. Any signs of infection need to be dealt with swiftly through the use of antibiotics and, where necessary, through debridement. This will remove dead skin and tissue, allowing the healthy cells to grow and improving blood flow in the area.
One of the debridement pressure sores treatment options is larval therapy. This is preferred to surgical methods because it is relatively painless and carries fewer associated risks. Wound care will also involve the regular cleansing of the wound and changing of the dressing. Progress will be monitored carefully to ensure that the pressure ulcer does not develop into a later stage.
Treating The Most Severe Ulcers
Treatment of stage 4 pressure ulcer needs to be swift and decisive if life-threatening complications are to be avoided. At this grade, ulcers pose a threat to future limb mobility and life too. The correct treatments need to reduce this possibility and promote a good rate of healing.
Grade 4 pressure ulcers are classified as such once there is severe damage to skin and tissue, including necrosis. There may also be damage to underlying muscle and bone, as well as infection. At this stage, the patient is at risk of developing life-threatening bacterial infections that can lead to gangrene, blood poisoning and even bacterial meningitis. Pressure sores treatment looks to avoid these eventualities by stopping the spread of infection, promoting healthy cell growth and reducing the risk of prolonged recovery.
TNP, or Topical Negative Pressure Therapy, may be used to draw infectious materials and moisture away from the wound. This decreases the risk of the infection spreading and accelerates healing. Where there is skin necrosis, debridement will be introduced to remove dead skin and tissue. The type of debridement used will depend on the scale of the necrotic tissue and in very severe cases, surgical removal may be required.
BRH Therapy, using low-frequency ultrasound and modulated electro stimulation, increases blood flow to the affected area and improves circulation to encourage new cell growth of healthy tissue. This treatment may be used in conjunction with other forms of wound care.
During the cold bout of weather we had last month, the lovely people over at Nissan reached out and asked if we'd like to try out their Qashqai, and of course I jumped at the chance. I'm not normally someone who takes much interest in cars if I'm totally honest, I'd be lying if I said I could recognise most car makes and models, that is definitely more my other halves forte. But the Nissan is an exception, their Juke and Qashqai have always caught my eye and since lockdown I have mulled over getting a new car which I think testing out the Qashqai has definitely given me that little extra push to do so. That and the fact after a week of driving the Nissan in the cold, my poor little Peugeot did not like restarting and took some persuasion, something I never had to worry about when getting in the Qashqai.
For many parents, the question phase of a child's life is a time of exhaustive discovery. Children come out with tons of questions one after the other, and we're torn between wanting to run away with our hands over our ears to wanting to foster their desire for learning. Children love to learn - especially when they are young, but trying to keep that going isn't always easy. You were a child once, and you remember what it was like to not want to go to school and just want to curl up at home. For most kids, that's not about the lessons and more about the environment.
Parenthood is grand, isn't it? When you're pregnant, you're already a parent eagerly awaiting the arrival of a brand new little life. It's an exciting thing to be a part of and while it's the most challenging thing that you ever do, it's going to be full of interesting lessons for the rest of your life. As a soon-to-be parent, you're going to receive a ridiculous amount of advice about pregnancy, parenting a newborn, how to duck away from a toddler and how teenagers need you. You're going to hear all about what your baby should be doing and when, what milestones you should hit as a family and what to look for when they're not feeling well. Parenting is tough and is full of questions, and the brand new life entering yours is going to change everything for the better. You'll learn a lot when you start out with a newborn baby, and much of what you earn will come from a mix of "as you go" and from books and (mostly) solicited advice from friends. There is a lot that you will learn about newborns along the way, but the things we'll tell you below may be stuff you've never heard before! So, with that in mind, let's jump right in and learn some stuff!
