Costometic

Give yourself a break with this easy at-home manicure. Sit back, relax and paint your worries away.

Shape

Remove any leftover polish. The Revlon Extra Gentle Nail Enamel Remover is acetone-free and great for frequently painted sensitive nails. Use a nail file from the outer corner of the nail towards the center in single strokes - don’t saw. Stick with an end-of-fingertip length for a smart look.

Soak

Fill a small bowl with warm, soapy water and a few drops of skin-softening essential oil. We like the mild Essence Aromathologia Lavender. Relax and soak hands for several minutes to soften them. Wipe with a soft towel.

Clean

Rub a cuticle softener into your nails, then push them back with an orange stick or a washcloth. The Bourjois Soin Cuticles Serum has a roller-ball applicator so the gel goes on just where it should, not all over your hands. Finish by cleaning beneath your fingernails; then trim the excess skin and hangnails with a pair of manicure scissors.

Scrub

Whip up a fresh scrub. Combine 1/3 cup raw sugar, several squirts of lime juice and 1 tsp to 1 tbsp olive oil in a bowl and mash with a spoon. Add more olive oil if the consistency is too grainy, more sugar if it is too watery. Massage into hands to remove dead skin. Wipe off with a warm, damp washcloth. Spa tip: Before you start your manicure, nuke a wet towel in the microwave, then place it in a plastic bag so it is ready after you have exfoliated with the scrub.

Massage

Slather hands with a luxe lotion. The Collagenese Intensive Hand and Nail Moisturizer from Boots tightens and hydrates the skin on your hands. We also like the Almond Oil Daily Hand and Nail Cream from the Body Shop which moisturizes for softness all day. Wipe the lotion from the nails with a dry cotton ball, otherwise the polish won’t stick well when you paint your nails.

Paint

Bright orange for the bold and baby rose for the beautiful are the hottest hues for the season, and we love ooh-la-la orange from Inglot and the pretty pink from YSL. After you have applied a clear base coat, brush on two thin layers of polish, letting each dry well. Finish with a clear topcoat. Use an ear bud to wipe smudges from cuticles.

Though mothers have been breast feeding for centuries, problems may crop up. A paediatrician can sort them out for you.

Your baby is born and you are looking forward to bonding with her. And of course, you want to start your baby on what’s best for her: your own milk. However, breast feeding doesn’t always work out easily. Some mothers may have a problem with breast feeding right from the start, while others may develop one after some time. You may be caught in that difficult choice between your own milk and formula, which ever doctor and parent wants to avoid. One of the most common reasons for the failure to initiate or maintain breast feeding is maternal anxiety and stress. Like most of our body functions, the milk moms produce too depends on having both a healthy body and a happy mind. Being aware of common breast feeding problems and their solutions will ensure that your baby gets a good feed each time.

You’re not making enough milk for the baby

If your body is not producing enough milk, your baby may not get the amount she needs for optimum growth.

An average newborn needs about 300 to 500 ml of milk daily. Though this cannot be measured when breast feeding, you can make out by the fact that your breasts are not completely full between feeds, your baby cries and is restless between feeds, your baby doesn’t pass enough pee and poop, and seems lethargic.

The possible causes of these problems are maternal anxiety, stress, a premature breast feed, lack of awareness about the right feeding techniques, fear and false beliefs that breast feeding will be bad for your figure, and the convenience of bottle feeding formula to your child may be a few of the causes of poor milk production and let-down.

Being aware of breast feeding during pregnancy itself can go a long way in having a normal milk supply. You can learn proper techniques and good latching positions for the baby from your paediatrician or neonatologist. Having someone to help with the breast feeding for the first few days, staying relaxed, eating balanced meals and sleeping enough will all help in having a good supply of your own milk for your baby.

You’re producing too much milk for your baby

Some mother produce so much milk that it tends to leak out in between feeds too.

Too much milk can make many babies struggle to handle the excess milk, and they often tend to choke. Since their swallowing mechanisms are weak, premature and low-birth-weight babies are more prone to choking than normal bewborns.

There is no one cause for this situation: its an individual variation.

What you can do: Use good breast feeding techniques: Hold and compress your breast to control the excessive flow, and keep the baby’s head higher than the rest of the body. Express excess milk between feeds and avoid feeding while lying down. As the baby grows older, the capacity to suckle and swallow large quantities of milk will improve, and the problem will go away within a few weeks.

Your nipples feel sore

Many mothers. especially those with babies who breast feed vigorously, complain of sore or cracked nipples. It can be quite painful and obstruct proper feeding.

As the baby feeds, many parts of the nipple which are stuck to the underlying tissues get stretched and stressed, resulting in blisters, cuts or soreness. In the case of open cuts, the baby tends to swallow a little blood along with the milk. Though not dangerous in itself, this can irritate the baby’s stomach, making her vomit the blood, which may frighten a new mother.

Most often, this is due to the tenderness of the skin in the nipple and breast area, along with the wetness, friction, and vigorous sucking action of the baby.

To avoid such a situation, keep the breasts and nipples as clean and dry as possible between feeds. Applying nontoxic nipple creams, which basically contain lanolin, between feeds helps to heal the soreness. Do wash off the cream before breast feeding or its taste may make your baby reject your milk. Applying breast milk to the sore nipples and letting it dry also helps. You could use a nipple shield, or express milk and feed it to your baby from a boggle or with a spoon. Using as breast pump helps to pull the nipples out gently.

You have ‘inverted nipples’ and find it hard to breast feed

In many women, nipples are not projecting, but flat; in some they turn inwards and are embedded in the breast tissue.

Your baby cannot get a grip on flat or inverted nipples and you struggle to breast feed. As the breast gets more and more filled up with milk, the nipples tend to get more buried in the breast. Some mothers may have one inverted and one normal nipple.

The possible causes: Its congenital: Many women are born and grow up with this condition. Using breat shells or caps during and after pregnancy helps to push back the breast tissue and release the nipples forward. Breast pumps and manual stimulation - by stretching the base of the nipples, or holding the nipples between the forefinger and thumb and pulling it out gently, or pulling the back of the breast tissue as the baby latches on - may help in varying degrees. In many cases, however, the nipples remain stubbornly embedded, and you may have to use a shield or a pump to express the milk. Luckily, many babies learn to take a big chunk of the breast in the mouth, rather than just the nipple.

You’re not sure what to eat while you’re breast feeding

One common question that nearly all mothers ask is - What should my diet be when I’m feeding my baby?

The anxiety that whatever you eat will mix up with your breast milk and find its way to your baby.

Most of the raw material that is needed for milk production has already been stored by the mother during the nine months of pregnancy. However, there are many myths and misconceptions about what the mother should and should not eat.

The simplest advice for the mother is that she should eat a normal balanced diet, without overeating or under eating any food. Very few foods are known to affect the baby adversely: The list includes an excess of coffee, tea, chocolates and colas besides alcohol. You should drink plenty of water and include enough calcium, iron and vitamins in your diet. Try not to eat out too often. The world over, the diets of mothers are very varied: there isn’t any single prescribed diet for the new mother.

You are uncertain about taking medication

Taking medication while breast feeding can make a new mother anxious, for fear that the medicine might be secreted in the breast milk while breast feeding.

Mothers who are sick either don’t take the necessary medicines and suffer, or they stop breast feeding for a while, assuming that it is dangerous for the baby. Mothers know that medicines are chemicals that can get secreted into the breast milk, causing temporary or permanent harm to their babies.

While most common medications that are used to treat colds, coughs, fever, stomach upsets, headaches and simple infections are harmless to the baby, its advisable to consult your paediatrician before taking them. Certain categories of medicines, like those used to treat severe infections like malaria or typhoid, should be strictly avoided.

Your breasts are engorged

It is the initial few days of breast feeding and your breasts feel swollen, tender, lumpy and uncomfortably full. Engorgement is the overfilling of the breast with milk. This is very common when you start or stop breast feeding - and it is painful. You may have temperature too. Sometimes the swelling extends all the way to the armpit. In rare cases, this can lead to mastitis, plugged ducts and abscess.

Engorgement is usually the result of an imbalance between how much milk the mother produces and how much of it the baby consumes. This normally occurs in the early days after birth, when the baby is not feeding well or emptying the breast well. It can also be because the baby is not latching on properly, or inverted nipples are preventing her from doing so. It can also happen if the baby is premature or low-birth-weight, or sick, and doesn’t suckle well. Waiting too long after the baby is born to breast feed, feeding incompletely, bottle-feeding between breast feeding or skipping feeds are common issues.

To avoid breast engorgement, once the baby is born, start breast feeding as soon as possible. The baby should be made to latch on well, and empty both breasts during feeding. If not, you should empty out the breasts in between feedings, either manually or with a pump. This is usually a temporary problem and once the baby is feeding frequently and effectively, it will pass. Warm packs, massaging and mild anti-inflammatory medicines help to prevent engorgement and the discomfort it causes.

Your breasts are inflamed

Mastitis is inflamation of the breast tissue and may quickly develop into an infection. It is common in the first two or three weeks after the baby is born.

Mothers with mastitis have heaviness, redness, swelling, and sever pain, usually in one breast and with an accompanying fever. The milk from the affected breast may become thicker, saltier, and may be stained or mixed with blood or pus, making it difficult for the baby to feed. Mastitis can also lead to the formation of a big pus pocket or abscess in the breast.

The most likely reson for this inflammation is plugged ducts or engorgement. Lack of local hygiene and cracked or sore ipples may be the starting point. Pressure from clothes, breast pads, nipple shields, sleeping in a prone position and infrequent feeding may all contribute to mastitis. In some cases the infection may be caused by bacteria.

To avoid breast inflammation, wear loose clothing and empty the breasts in between feeds, to prevent congestion. Consult a doctor at the first sign of redness or pain: Your doctor my prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory medicines, antibiotics or surgical intervention, depending on the severity of the condition. Using a hot compress or dipping the affected breast in a bowl of warm water and Epsom salt, and taking frequent hot showers will help. You can feed the baby, but it is likely to be very painful.

Your milk ducts are blocked

If you find a painful, swollen, hard lump in your breast, sometimes with a red and inflamed patch on the skin near the lump, it may be a plugged milk duct. That means a tube that carries the breast milk may be blocked.

A plugged milk duct may occur when a hole in the nipple or a tube deeper in the breast tissue gets blocked. With time, redness and pain can set in. The discomfort is at its worst before feeding and reduces on feeding. Occasionally, fever may develop; it might eventually end up in mastitis and a breast abscess. A plugged duct may lead to decreased milk output from the affected breast. It may also change the character of the milk due to pus formation and release of certain chemicals due to the inflammation.

Most often, a plugged duct results from engorgement, infrequent feeding, pressure from a nipple shield, tight clothing or sleeping in a prone position. Inflammations and infections of the skin around the nipple can also be a starting point for plugged ducts.

The treatment is similar to that for mastitis: Frequent feedings, hot compresses, soaks, massages, rest and in rare cases, anti-inflammatory medicines and antibiotics. Manual expression of excess milk also keeps the ducts open.

You have thrush

Thrush is a fungal or yeast infection in the breast that is passed on to the baby. This fungal infection of the breast and surrounding areas is caused by a fungus called Candida. It makes your nipples feel sore and itchy. Breast and nipple thrush may be a part of thrush in other areas of the body.

Fungal infections are common in tropical climates and when breast hygiene is poor. Heavy antibiotic usage by the mother during and after the baby is born ( true of C-sec deliveries) can also cause them. The use of breast pads, cups and tight clothing also aggravate them.

To avoid thrush, Take your doctor’s advice: The mother may need anti-fungal medicines and the baby too may need to be treated for oral thrush with child-safe anti-fungal lotions to prevent the spread of infection back and forth. Keep your breasts and nipples clean and dry. Vitamins and probiotic supplements may also help.

Back from work early? Baby Asleep? Child at playdate? Moms and dads, take a break.

1. REVIVE A HOBBY
Revisit a hobby you had set aside when the baby was born or the kids were growing up, like a craft, playing a musical instrument, or gardening - anything you used to enjoy. Go on - paint a pot, compose a new tune, click a few table-top photographs or plant a succulent that will tolerate a little forgetfulness.

2. GIGGLE, CHUCKLE, LAUGH
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers and makes you feel good. Pick up a joke book, watch a recorded stand-up comic show, or try any of these sites:

3. DAYDREAM WITHOUT A DOUBT
Swing away in the kid’s park and make your wish happen in your head first. In book Positive Imaging, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale says that visualizing is a kind of “laser beam of the imagination … in which the desired goal or outcome is pictured so vividly that the unconscious mind accepts it and is activated by it”.

4. TAKE A WALK
Take a walk without a wallet, without a shopping bag, without a destination, without worries. Stroll along, people-watch, notice the trees and grass, the shape of the clouds in the sky. Hold hands, just enjoy the journey.

5. CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS
Have a long, uninterrupted heart-to-heart with a friend or make quick five-minute catch-up calls to three or four different friends. When did you last do that without having the TV or the children as background noise?

6. ESCAPE TO YOUR LOO SALON
Pamper yourself now that you have the chance. Apply a facial mask, lather your hands with a moisturizer, soak your feet in a tub of warm water and then slather them with foot cream too. Put an eye-pack on and lie back in the recliner for 15 minutes. Then shower it all off. Dads, just laze and gaze at her.

7. MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR
It takes women 10-20 minutes and married men seven minutes to reach an orgasm, on an average, say studies. If you are not that goal-oriented, take time off anyway for reconnecting in bed.

8. DRAW A DREAM HOUSE
Seriously, put it all down on a sheet of paper - room by room, wall by wall, door by door - marking out the details for future use. Or do it just for fun. There is always a great chance of learning something out of your rough sketches and drawings. The reason: when you think that you are putting down something just for fun, your mind gets involved greatly and set-aside your worries and expenses involved. You purely listen to your heart and do what you feel like doing NOT what you ‘can do’.

9. TONE YOURSELF IN TWENTY
“Side stretches and upper body twists are great for stress relief and a tired back”. Stand with your feet hip-distance apart and your arms stretched above your head, keeping your fingers overlocked. Stretch and bend to the right and then to the left. Repeat 12 times. Lower your arms to shoulder level, stretched out to the side. Twist your body to the right and then to the left. Repeat 12 times.

10. MAKE A SHORT VIDEO
Upload all those photos hibernating in your computer along with the music you want on www.animoto.com. The website marries the photographs and the music, creating a sharable video. Short videos are for free. For putting together a simple slideshow, log on to www.flickrshow.com and www.picasa.google.com.

11. TELESCOPE YOUR LIFE
Imagine your life is over and take stock of what you have achieved. Write down your biggest achievements and how you think the world will remember you or think of you: This will help you focus on what else you like to accomplish.

12. CENTER YOURSELF
“Usually your body is in one place and the mind elsewhere: Meditation is about making your mind rest and be one with the body”. Enjoy a green tea meditation: Make a cup of green tea, very mindfully, being aware of every little action, the textures, the fragrance … When you sit down to sip it, think of where the tea leaves came from (earth), where the water came from (rain), where the cup came from … and you will feel ‘one’ with the whole universe.

13. SERVE IT UP
Whip up a fruity smoothie, a mango smoothie or hot chocolate just for yourself. The good part? You don’t have the kids demanding to share it.

14. PLAN THAT FANTASY VACATION
Outline your dream vacation. It will be something to look forward to on tough days. Call your travel agent and ask him to check hotel and travel options for your chosen destination, or visit CheapCarribean.com to check some out yourself.

15. WRITE A LETTER
The old-fashioned kind. With paper and a pen. Think of who you want to write it to - grandmother, an aunt, a childhood friend, a nephew or even your spouse. Writing can be therapeutic.

16. FEED YOUR BRAIN
Go for some ‘mindercises’. Read a short story, look at optical illusions, solve a puzzle, take a quiz. Test your spouse. Keep collecting photocopies, cut-outs or printouts of interesting articles and mind-bogglers in a folder for an opportune 20 minutes.

17. DANCE AWAY
Loosen those limbs. You need some ‘dancercise’. Put on some music and get jiggy with it. Want to learn belly-dancing or hip-hop? Goto DDRgame.com and get into the groove with all the right moves.

18. BE GOOD AND FAMOUS
On www.freerice.com, you match words with meanings in a multiple-choice format and for every word you get right, the site donates 20 grains of rice through the United Nations to end world hunger. Then goto www.makemymag.com to see your face on the cover of a magazine.

19. MAKE A TIME CAPSULE
Put into a jar or a box all the things that symbolize your life at this stage - a broken alarm clock? A school report? A hair clip? A tiffin box? - and hide it somewhere. Next year, do this again. You will be surprised at how priorities can change.

20. LEARN SOMETHING NEW
Want to learn yo-yo skills, how to paint a portrait, wear red lipstick or barbecue like a chef? Experts on www.monkeysee.com tell you everything from how to braid your hair to how to solve the Rubik’s Cube.

Being pregnant changes everything, your size, wardrobe, social life, eating habits, your relationships. Its the time when you have absolutely no control over all these overwhelming changes within and outside you. You will have the perfect family depicted in advertisements and movies but there shall be difficult times filled with a number of tough decisions too. For the first time parents it is an even tougher challenge because they are venturing into an alien territory and just learning how it is to think about someone else’s needs before their own every time. It helps to be well informed about all aspects of the birth process and have a plan in place. But before you become too fond of that plan, remember one thing, this is one venture where date, time schedules and deadlines nothing is sanctified. Your child’s due date is not its exact time of birth. It is just an approximation of when that bundle of joy will be coming home. So do plan as there is a lot to plan for even before the baby wails for the first time. Her is a list of things which would be helpful for you to plan and deal with maternity and assist you in having a healthy comfortable and happy pregnancy.

MATERNITY WEAR : Clothes are something you need to stock up on because with each passing month you shall be wearing a different size. Choose clothes that are made from durable, high quality fabric and have 1-2% spandex, which will expand with comfort for the next nine months. Buy stretch denim with side panels and buckles that are adjustable. A low waist jean is more preferable. Get flat footwears with plenty of space to accommodate your swollen feet.

EXERCISE : It prepares the body for a natural delivery, keeps it supple and flexible. A mix of exercises including yoga , physiotherapy, stretches and meditation helps the mother to be fit, relaxed and happy. It is always advisable to have a supervised workout, designed specifically keeping the pregnancy in mind. Rigorous exercising should be avoided as during pregnancy a hormone called relaxin is released which brings about relaxation in the joints and ligaments making your body susceptible to strains and sprains.

NUTRITION : A nutritious and well balanced diet is one of the most important requirements for an expecting mother. One should increase the intake of folic acid, iron and calories. An average woman does not need any extra calories for the first six months of pregnancy and only about 200 extra calories per day for the last three months. Your own appetite is the best indication of how much food you need to eat and you may find it fluctuating during the course of your pregnancy. Raw or undercooked meat (white or red) is a possible source of bacteria and should be avoided. Caffeine should also be avoided as research has linked consuming more than 300 mg of caffeine a day with an increased risk of miscarriage and low birth weight. Try to eat healthy and organic food, avoiding semi processed and canned food. Include a lot of fruits and nuts in your diet.

MEDICATION AND SHOTS : Folic acid is one supplement that is particularly important to take before you conceive and during the entire course of pregnancy. Studies have shown that lack of folic acid in the first trimester can increase the risk of spinal tube defects and lip and palate deformities in the baby. Iron and calcium supplements are recommended during the later part of your pregnancy to ensure required intake if these key minerals. Your iron levels will be checked periodically during your pregnancy and your doctor will advice you about your individual needs. Iron-fortified multivitamin supplements especially formulated for pregnancy and lactation are also available. Although most supplements are over the counter medicines, it is always advisable to check with your gynecologist first. Some of the conditions routinely checked for in most normal pregnancies are Aids, Hepatitis B, Down’s syndrome, Neural Tube Defects, RH Incompatibility and Rubella. The doctor can test for all these conditions with blood samples, taken at different times in the pregnancy. Tetanus injections (I and II) are given twice during the course of the pregnancy. The first one is usually given immediately after the pregnancy is detected and the second follow a month later.

AILMENTS : The pleasures of pregnancy are accompanied by a lot of discomforts like stretch marks, nausea, swollen feet, acidity, insomnia and bleeding gums. It is helpful to be aware of them and check with your doctor for possible cures and medication. If your doctor has not prescribed a stretch marks cream, you must request him for one. To help you with your morning sickness there are quite a few options to choose from like milk and crackers, peanuts, juice popsicles or ginger ale . Try them and pick the one that helps your cause. Bleeding and swollen gums is also experienced by expecting mothers, to avoid such discomfort, schedule a periodic dental check up with your dentist. To avoid acidity and heartburns minimise intake of extremely spicy food. A glass of cold milk also helps to neutralise the burning sensation. During pregnancy many women face sleepless nights despite suffering from numerous aches and pains and being totally exhausted. An early dinner, a warm bath and book to read in bed helps a lot.

FINANCE : Having a baby is an expensive affair. The tests, doctor visits and the hospital expenses sure will make a big dent in your annual budget. It is a sensible option to obtain an estimate of the expected expenditure and ensure that you are covered with relevant maternity benefits via health insurance or employer. To avoid inconvenience on the d-day always book your bed in advance and get all the documentation required to claim medical benefits in place.

MATERNITY LEAVE : Working mothers need to plan their maternity leave sensibly by extending the leave start date as far as possible. unless instructed otherwise by the doctor mothers can and should work almost until the due date. This provides you the required physical exercise and also gives you much more time to spend with the baby after the deliver. Before the baby comes it is good to appoint a nanny or help to take care of the baby. During the course of the maternity leave you would get an opportunity to train the nanny so that once you rejoin work your baby is in safe and capable hands.

BABY SUPPLIES : It is sensible to avoid age old superstition of shopping after birth and collect your baby trousseau in advance. During the course of pregnancy there is always chance of doctor restricting your movement or advising you bed rest and after having the baby mobility shall be restricted in the initial few days. So make a list of baby items like crib, toiletries, clothes, diapers, pram, toys, swaddling blankets and stock them in advance so that when the baby comes all its supplies are in place.

Have you found yourself wanting to tear your hair out at the smallest provocation, at certain times of the month? Or felt so low that even the news of a hefty raise at work, or a surprise gift from your husband hasn’t cheered you up? And then there are the times when you just can’t wait for a tumble in the bed with your man. Baffled by your constant ups and downs? Blame it on your hormones. The hormone levels in your body rise and fall during your monthly menstrual cycle and affect the way you feel-and even look. But the menstrual cycle doesn’t have to be a drag; it’s actually a sign that your body is functioning properly. We have experts unraveling the mysteries behind the mood swings and physical changes happening inside you-and suggesting ways of tackling the hormonal surges and ebbs.

WEEK 1

YOUR PERIOD ARRIVES
Oestrogen and progesterone, the star hormones in your body’s monthly theatrics, are at their lowest levels; prostaglandins, the hormones that trigger uterine contractions, are at their peak.

How you feel : With oestrogen in short supply, your are exhausted; you may also have cramps and even diarrhea, thanks to your soaring prostaglandins. “You just feel yucky”, says Dr. Elizabeth lee Vliet, M.D., author of It’s My Ovaries, Stupid . Women with asthma, arthritis, or skin problems like psoriasis or eczema may find that their symptoms flare up now (eating foods rich in vitamin C and zinc can help), and blood sugar levels tend to drop too.

Your state of mind : You may feel like you have completely lost it. “Many women complain of forgetfulness or brain fog during this week”, says Dr. Scott Isaacs, M.D., author of Hormonal Balance .Low oestrogen levels may affect your ability to think clearly. Without the calming influence of progesterone and the energising effect of oestrogen, you may also be more sensitive to stress.

Smart moves : Indulge in some R&R - rest and red meat (or, if you are a vegetarian, spinach) for energy and to replenish iron stores depleted during a heavy period. Take anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) to block cramp-causing prostaglandins. And if you are stressing over everything from your grocery list to a deadline at work, try yoga, meditation or a massage - they are proven stress relievers.

WEEK 2

LOVING YOUR “OVULATION HIGH”
Oestrogen is rising slowly and steadily, stimulating production of the uterine lining to prepare your body for a possible pregnancy. Towards the end of the week, levels of lutenising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) surge, which prmpts your ovaries to release an egg around day 14. Progesterone remains low until the end of the week, while the “male” hormone testosterone hits a high point.

How you feel : Right now, you look as good as you feel - and you feel pretty awesome. High levels of oestrogen, without the tranquilizing effect of progesterone, send your energy soaring. Your skin is at its clearest all month. “Oestrogen supports the skin’s fluid and salt retention, so you look dewy and healthy”, sasy Dr. Susan M. Lark, M.D., author of PMS: Self Help Book . Can’t seem to keep your hands off your man? Thank testosterone, which gives you a jolt in the libido department. Not so coincidentally, you are at your most fertile now, especially toward the end of the week when ovulation (release of ovum or egg) occurs.

Your state of mind : Think of oestrogen as a kind of hormonal Prozac (an antidepressant). “It improves serotonin and other chemical messengers’ function, just like antidepressants do”, explains Dr.Vliet. With oestrogen on the upswing, you feel focused and upbeat. You are also less likely to suffer from withdrawal symptoms now, making this the ideal week to start your quit-smoking program or to cut back on your caffeine habit.

Smart moves : This is your highest energy week of the month, so take advantage of it: Plan your preschooler’s birthday party, clean out a jam-packed closet, go for heavy duty grocery shopping or tackle a big project at work. With testosterone in your corner, you are feeling more assertive than usual; now’s the time to have a tough conversation you have been dreading.

WEEK 3

MELLOWING OUT ON PROGESTERONE
Oestrogen starts to plummet at the same time that progesterone surges, creating a blissful balance.

How you feel : When ovulation occurs at the end of week 2 and into week 3, your body temperature spikes a degree or two. The result: Research suggests that you get a little metabolism boost. Your burning desire will start to cool, but if you are trying to get pregnant, keep having sex! “You may still be fertile for two or three days after you ovulate”, says Dr. Isaacs. This is also a good time to get your gynae check-up - by next week, you will be more sensitive to pain; the week after that, you will have your period.

Your state of mind : Your positive mood persists. Progesterone peaks toward the end of the week, giving you a serious dose of serenity and calmness.

Smart moves : Take advantage of your revved up metabolism and have a little chocolate. Or, make a real effort to stick to your diet and get to the gym. “If you are trying to lose weight , this is the time to make the most of it”, says Dr. Isaacs.

WEEK 4

MAKING THE BEST OF PMS
At the beginning of the week, progesterone is at an all-time high, then plunges. Your oestrogen levels continue to nosedive.

How you feel : You know the deal - this is the week of headaches, insomnia, bloating, bad skin and carb cravings. Blame high progesterone levels early in the week for many of the physical woes associated with PMS. Progesterone also increases your appetite and relaxes your muscles; your stomach poofs out and you feel bloated. Plus, it triggers the sebaceous glands in your skin to produce more oil, which causes all those pimples.

Your state of mind : Even if you don’t pay much attention to your cycle, you know what week this is because of the way you have been reacting to everything. You have screamed at your kids over something trivial and picked up a fight with your husband - and it isn’t even 9 a.m.! Blame those rapidly dropping progesterone levels for your irritability and crazy mood swings.

Smart moves : Exercise to soothe the blues and eat small frequent meals to keep your blood-sugar levels steady. Avoiding carbonated drinks and salty foods will limit bloating and cutting back on caffeine can ease insomnia and fatigue. To reduce moodiness, water retention, food cravings and pain, Dr. Lark recommends taking 1,000 to 1,200 mg of calcium daily, along with 500 to 600 mg of magnesium. Finally, remind yourself that this, too, shall pass - when your period starts and the cycle begins all over again.

- x -

BLISS OUT DURING YOUR WORST WEEK WITH THESE SIMPLE SOOTHERS:

Turn up the heat : Old-fashioned, but it works! Relax your cramping muscles with a heating pad or a hot-water bottle. Or let a warm bath soothe your body and mind.

Indulge a little : Dying for chocolate? Give in to temptation. Or dig into some chilled ice cream that also has the PMS-fighting calcium.

Try meditation and yoga : Meditation is a good way to focus on yourself and forget about worries. And yoga can help tame those annoying cramps and lower back pain.

Get some sleep : Sleep helps your body to renew its energy and also rebuild essential cells and tissues. Plenty of rest will keep your physical and emotional PMS symptoms under control.

Get a massage : Go to the beauty parlor or ask your husband to give you a gentle back rub. Or heat some almond oil and massage it on your lower abdomen.

Relieve your stress : Stress will only make your mood fluctuation, depression and fatigue worse. Exercise moderately, eat small meals and be happy.