What’s the Best Customer Service During a Recession?

Posted on 12. May, 2010 by admin in Customer Service

Have you read the articles in the papers about the status of our economy? I am not sure that we are really in a recession or even in a depression, as some pessimists seem to indicate. May that be decided by the historians in a few years when all the data is available and analyzed.

Have you heard about the relatively low confidence readings by the public? You yourself might have asked yourself how to continue to pay for $4/gallon gas at the pump, ever increasing prices for food, and many other daily necessities.

Officially we have an inflation rate of about 1.5 – 2 % but when I look at most of what we consume, it has increased easily by 20% or 30%, and in some cases even 40%, not to speak of the 100% increase when filling up the tank of my car.

Do you feel the same pain? If so, you might ask yourself what you can do. You might also ask yourself what your organization can do, as your place of work is probably the one resource you can’t afford to loose in these challenging times.

With unemployment racing towards 6% nationwide, there is an increasing fear among the workforce about job security. The overall mood of the population is suppressed by the jump in prices, the war that doesn’t seem to end, the negative economic news, the unending stream of reports about foreclosures. It almost looks like everything is on a negative downslide right now.

Individually we can’t change the fundamentals of the economy and the associated political decisions. What we can do is get back to the very basics of doing business. One of these very basic things is customer service.

I strongly believe that the trend we currently see in many organization is going to be regretted when the dust of all the turmoil settles. When companies want to reduce cost, they typically look at those parts of the organization that don’t deliver obvious returns on investment. These include, almost on equal levels, expenses for training, and expenses and salaries for customer service.

One of the additional fallacies is the believe that a reduced number of customers coming into stores or visiting your website means you don’t need as many people providing services. The opposite is actually true.

When you want to maintain reasonable sales figures and thereby secure the jobs in your organization, you need to be better in customer service than most everybody else.

Many people who would have been customers a year ago are prospects right now. That means they might be interested in what you have to offer in products and services, but they have a generally negative state of mind. You know the reasons from reading all the bad things above.

To convert a prospect with a negative frame of mind into a buying customer, you will have to find out what they need, and show them all the benefits of what you have to offer. In these times, customer service becomes a needs satisfaction task, not a pure sale.

If you can satisfy the needs of a prospect by clearly showing how he or she will benefit from spending the little money they currently have with you, you have a much better chance to actually make a sale.

The second and almost more important task for your customer service providers is the transformation of a customer into a client. When the economy is restarting and the general mood will turn more optimistic, those organizations able to convert lots of prospects into customers and ultimately into clients, will be in a prime position to accelerate even more.

Never forget that a customer buys once (maybe because you just happened to have what they were desperately looking for). A client buys over and over again and builds a relationship with you that is often stronger than the lure of a lower price your competitor might offer.

To have a lot of clients, you want to determine what the needs of your prospects are, what the benefits of your solutions are, and then bring the two together in a smooth, caring, supportive way. If you can trigger the urge of a prospect to fill a need by buying what you offer, you will have a seamless sale.

If you keep serving your customer well after the sale, he or she will turn into a long term client and no recession in the world can change that.

Make sure that everybody in your organization understands that customer service is even more important in these challenging times than it is during a boom. You might even want to change the term from customer service to client service.

If that becomes the frame of mind of everyone working with and for you, your chances of flying through this demanding economy are way better than any of your competitors.

Make sure you don’t save at the wrong end of your business and invest in the skills of those among you who deliver the all important client services. That will secure the longevity and prosperity of your organization automatically.

Long Runs During Marathon Training

Posted on 28. Mar, 2010 by admin in Running

There seems to be so many theories about long runs during marathon training. How often should you run? How far to run? How many long runs? How fast? It is my turn to give some opinions and theories about this topic.

I believe that building mileage for a marathon is the biggest robber of performance. Training for weeks and weeks plus adding mileage leaves a person worn out. Weeks and weeks of long runs add to this exhaustion.

I consider a long run to be over 15 miles in length. When the length starts approaching 20 miles even more stress is added to your training. I prefer to run long runs two weeks in a row. Resting the third week and taking one additional day of complete rest.

Example: Week 1 – Sunday Long
Week 2 – Sunday Long
Week 3 – Sunday Rest, Monday Rest

The next controversial topic is how far to run? My own experience from running 15 marathons has taught me that I need to run one 23 or 24 mile long run in training approximately three weeks before the actual race. I recommend this because, of the confidence that I receive and the time spent on my feet. Every time I tried to run just 20 mile long runs I always hit the wall at 20 miles. Going beyond 20 miles and increasing to 23 or 24 miles always prevented the wall form happening.

Pacing for marathon long runs should be very comfortable. The reason for your marathon long runs is purely aerobic. Other aspects of your marathon training will address marathon pacing etc. I recommend using a heart rate monitor for all training, especially during long runs. Keep your heart rate below 75% of maximum. Going above 75% will lengthen the recovery time of your long run.

How many long runs? I prefer to train 20 weeks for a marathon. I don’t believe training plans less than this are very effective. The body needs time to adapt and become stronger. Most injuries incurred during shorter training plans are caused by adding to much stress in a short amount of time.

I will not begin my marathon training until I have finished training for a half marathon in the early spring. After running a half marathon my long runs will be over 15 miles. This is a good point to begin adding runs over 18 miles. I will try to run 6 or 7 long runs of 20 miles during marathon training. My last long run of 23 or 24 miles will be done three weeks before marathon race day. Then I will begin my taper.

Choosing The Right Club During A Game Of Golf

Posted on 20. Mar, 2010 by admin in Golf

When you are playing a game of golf, one of the ways that you can ensure good performance is to have a good discretion when it comes to picking out the right golf club. In any given situation, you are faced with 14 different choices. The trick to being an expert golfer is being able to spot these situations when they come up, and decide which club to use from there. This is how you begin to truly improve your game, since each club has a very specific hitting ability. There are many different factors to observe when picking a golf club. Here are the main ones, and how you can analyze them to choose a golf club.

The distance between you and the target is the biggest factor in choosing the club. Since you can pretty much line them all up from the least to the greatest hitting power, you will be able to choose one that is in the correct range. Irons and Wedges are usually best if you are closer. They don’t have as much hitting power as the long-range clubs, but they have the higher accuracy that you will need to hone in on your target. However, if you are still close to the beginning of the course (perhaps in the par-six or par-five zones), you will want to pick the long-range clubs. These include the Fairway woods, or the driver. These will allow you to really put your muscle into the swing and hit the ball a long way.

The wind is something that the real expert golfers really take into account, although often its importance is lost on the newer golfers. If the wind is blowing particularly hard in the direction that you wish to hit the ball, you can drop down to a less powerful club in order to allow the wind to pick up the slack. The same goes if the wind is coming forcefully towards you, in the opposite direction of your target. You will have to hit the ball extra hard in order to make up for the undesirable wind conditions, so choose a club that reflects this change. Usually it can be very hard for a beginner to determine how the wind strength and direction will affect their shot, so don’t worry if the concept is lost on you at first. It just takes experience to start to make the connections.

Besides the horizontal distance between you and the target, you also need to consider the vertical distance. Hitting to a plane that is higher than your current one requires more club power, which means that you should probably switch to the club that is one rank above the one you would have chosen. The same goes if the ground is lower. If you use a regular club to hit to a target that is 10 feet lower than you, chances are you are going to overshoot it. By using a smaller club according to the change in elevation, you will avoid quite a few lakes and sand traps. Always plan out your shot thoroughly, and consider all of the elevations and the general shape of the golf course.

The surface of the golf course is the final thing that you want to consider, and is probably the easiest. If you are in difficult terrain, your top priority is not necessarily to get the ball to the hole, but rather just to get onto better terrain that will allow a better shot. Therefore you shouldn’t try to choose the more powerful clubs. Instead, stick with the smaller ones and get yourself back into the game as best as you can. High loft irons are good for this purpose, instead of drivers or fairway woods. It may be difficult to remember all of these factors at first, but as you get more involved with golfing you will become very familiar with them.

Discount Golf Clubs

Top Cruise Destinations during the Spring Months

Posted on 15. Mar, 2010 by admin in Destinations

Spring is such a wonderful time of the year to get out of the house and enjoy a good vacation. The weather is usually mild and pleasant which means that there is room for plenty of outdoor activity – hiking, boating, sailing, biking, and even water sports. The spring months fall right after the hectic holiday season and right before the hot summer months when the kids gear up to take their summer breaks. Spring falls right in the middle, it is an ideal time of year to consider a cruise getaway.

While most people want to take a cruise to a tropical destination during the cold, harsh winter months, prices can really get you. The same goes for the summer months, when the kids are off from school and families try to do the annual summer family fling. The spring allows for you to get the best of both worlds: mild weather and mild prices for many top cruise destinations. But how do you know which destinations are the best for the spring months? This guide should help you set your sails in the right direction.

Caribbean Destinations

The Caribbean is a beautiful and incredible place to be, any time of the year. But in the spring, its idyllic beaches, warm waters, and swaying palm trees are just as beautiful as they are in the winter months but at half the price. Look for a cruise itinerary that takes you island hopping throughout the region. This will allow you to soak up the sun and experience as many islands as possible on your trip. Popular destinations include St. Lucia, Margarita, Barbados, and Jamaica.

Transatlantic Destinations

Who says that in the spring you have to stay on one side of the ocean? When it comes to taking a cruise, it is very much about the journey as well as the destination. A transatlantic cruise will allow you to experience a trip out to sea and some very exciting destinations once you reach them! Imagine enjoying wonderful spring weather with no sign of land on the horizon, watching the sun set over the majestic Atlantic ocean? Obviously the itinerary will depend on the cruise line, but you’ll have a chance to see locations such as Morocco, Bermuda, Brazil, Florida, the Caribbean, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom all in one fell swoop.

Hawaiian Destinations

If you have never wanted to go to Hawaii, stop reading now! Seriously though, who hasn’t wanted to go to Hawaii at some point in their lives? The tropical state welcomes visitors with its unique natural beauty, active yet gentle volcanoes, and exotic flora with some glorious mountains in the backdrop. Hawaii, in the spring, is a haven of relaxation, waterfalls, lush rainforests, and exhilaration. The weather is perfect during the spring months to enjoy Hawaii in all of its glory.

Dutch Tulip Cruises

Many people will answer, “Tulip” when asked to come up with a flower they associate with the spring season. There is no place on earth more famous for its tulips than the Netherlands. If you want to escape the cabin fever that set in during the cold winter months, a bright, exciting spring cruise to the Dutch tulip country may be just what you need. Holland in the spring is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. A Dutch tulip river cruise will bring you through huge displays of tulips and other gorgeous spring bulb flowers which are simply breathtaking.

As long as you do a little research before setting sail on a spring cruise, you should have the time of your life at a fraction of the cost. In today’s waxing and waning economy it makes complete sense to bargain hunt for vacations just as you would other major purchases such as a home, computer, or car. A spring cruise is definitely a bargain but with high rewards. Often, the cruises take you to great destinations but without all the crowds of tourists.

If you are considering taking a cruise during the spring months, talk to your travel agent. He or she will be able to tailor a cruise itinerary that works best for you, your family, and your budget. Go to your travel agent with a little research behind you and with a list of questions of which popular spring cruise destinations are the most affordable and when, and what activities would be made available to you. Happy cruising! Happy Spring!

Cervical Alterations During Pregnancy in Small Ruminants

Posted on 13. Mar, 2010 by admin in Pregnancy

Cervical alterations during pregnancy in Small Ruminants

P. Goswami and G. M. Wani

Directorate of Extension Education,

SKUAST-K, Shalimar Srinagar

The cervix uteri is a thick walled fibromascular tube connecting the body of the uterus and vagina. It a muscular organ composed of connective tissues predominantly elastic fibres. In the non pregnant ewes, the cervical canal is impassable except during oestrous. Five or six hard prominences within the canal assist the sphincter effect of the cervix (Nickel, Schummer & Seiferle, 1973). During the course of gestration, the length of cervix increases and in late pregnancy the wall becomes thicker, with an overall increase in the compliances of the tissues (Cloete, 1939; Abusineina, 1969). This may be related to disaggregation of densely packed collagen fibre in the cervix of pre-partum ewe. This paper will focus some of the important physical and microscopical changes occurred in the cervix of small ruminants during pregnancy

Anatomy of the cervix:

The cervix separates the uterus from the vagina. During pregnancy, it seals and protects the embryo and fetus from the external environment. The gross and microscopic anatomy of the cervix has been studied by various workers. The casts of the inside of the cervical lumen shows its convulated structure consisting five to six circular folds and the second fold being eccentric  to the other concentric folds and acting as physiological barrier. The cervical fold in small ruminants varies from five to six folds. In cow four large circular and 15-25 longitudinal primary folds each with many secondary and tertiary folds are present. Cervical mucosa is generally characterized by longitudinal primary fold and most of which maintained continuity throughout the cervix.  Superimposed on these secondary folds which is varied in length and depth. Abundant shallow uniformity and parallel longitudinal grooves covers all surface.

Morphological changes in the cervix:

Three major changes generally observe in cervix during pregnancy. These are described as growth (physical increase in length and breadth). Softening (changes in tensile properties) and dilation to allow passage of the foetus. The study carried out by different workers showed that ovine cervix shows an increase in width and length in the later stages of pregnancy. The analysis of the constituency of cervices shows increase softening from the mid pregnancy and there after firmness of cervix losses.

A small increase in the degree of hydration of the cervix or dry weight at different gestrational stages has been reported by Fosang et. al. (1994), ward 1968. This may be due to increased tissue mass rather than increase in size of water content. However some author reported no significant changes/differences in water content of the cervices from non pregnant to pregnant animals. The physical chemical and histological properties of cervix are constant throughout the length of cervix. However, Basset (1958) reported morphological changes in the fibroblast of the broad and sacro-iliac ligament by the 60th day of pregnancy but this information is not supported on ultrastructural studies.

Light Microscopical changes: 

Morphologically the most prominent feature of non pregnant cervix is heavy, densely packed collagen fibre interspersed with fibroblast (fig.3 ). Small blood vessels are present throughout the depth of the tissue, but most numerous in deepest layer. Smooth muscle bundle are running both longitudinally and transversely in the middle and deeper layer. The figure represents a wall of non pregnant cervix. The lining epithelium is low columnar and secrets neutral  mucin. The sub epithelial connective tissue is vascular and contains variety of cells including eosinophil, macrophages, mast cells and plasma cells. The greater proportion of cervical wall is composed of dense fibrous connective tissue consisting of compactly arranged collagen fibre with some fibrocytes and occasional fibroblast embeds in sparse ground substance. The individually arranged smooth muscle fibre forms an incomplete muscularies of which the outer fibre is longer and more prominent than inner fibre. The electron microscopically the collagen fibre shows very compact in arrangement and the scarcity of the ground substance and the presence of fibrocytes. Fosang et. al . opined that there is no significant changes observe between proximal, middle and distal portion of cervix irrespective of stain used. The best stain normally use for differentiation between collagen fibre and the smooth muscle bundle are Massons’ Trichrome stain, where the alignment of the collagen fibre along with villi shows projecting towards lumen. In general collagen fibre are large and closely spaced and are organized either longitudinally or obliquely. Section stained with Toludine Blue stain revels metachromatic staining along the collagen fibrils with strong staining of epithelial cells associated mucus. The morphological changes donot become apparent until quite late in the gestration period. The description of non pregnant cervix applied equally to the connective tissues observed in the early stages of pregnancy even to 100 days.  

Fig. Pregnant cervix showing

Fig: Dense Collagen fibre, inner circular & longitudinal muscular layer with epithelium H&E 4X

Fig. Central cervix Transverse section Loosening of epithelium and collagens layer H&E  (pregnant)

The histological section at 100 days of pregnancy revels no virtually distinguish alteration from that of non pregnant cervix (Calder et. al).  The tall columnar cervical epitheliums are the only changes represents in pregnancy and the secretions are a mixture of acid and neutral mucin. Acidity increases with the pregnancy age. Tissue breakdown and destruction of collagen networks is evident at 140 days of pregnancy. The cells are more widely spaced (empty area) and the collagen fibre losing their organization exposing smooth muscle cells. This can be best seen with Massons’ Trichrome. The infiltrating cell at this stage are lymphocytes and monocytes and few eosinophils. In late gestration increased fibroblast activity, smooth muscle hypertrophy, vascular edema and dissolution of collagen fibre bundle are reported by various worker. These findings contrasted with the rigid fibromuscular tissue observe in the non pregnant animals. The appearance of thinner fibre and empty areas between fibres in late pregnancy is lead to decrease concentrations of hydroxyproline in tissue. Collagen fibre dissolution in pregnant cervix has been extensively reported in several species and many authors have reported that active collagenolysis occurring during pregnancy may be the underlying mechanism of cervical softening. Ellowed et al (1981) have shown that ovine cervical explants produce both latent and active collagenase activity, with greater yields of activity in parturient tissue compared with the late pregnancy after 3-5 days in culture. Inflammatory cells invading cervix towards late gestration provide a potential source of collagenase and neutral protinease activity. Eosinophils also have been described as potential bearer of specific collagenase which may be responsible for collagen catabolism (Basset, 1972). At the term the disruption of collagen fibre are more even pronounced with virtually no large fibre remaining. In Haematoxyline & Eosin stain sectioned it sometimes appears very little or no collagen at all. But very little and small fibrils arranging random pattern are seen in Massons’ Trichrome stains. In this stage there is heavy infiltration of inflammatory cells among which eosinophils predominant. An area of haemorrhage is also a constant finding along with infiltrating cells. In late pregnancy there is complete network of subepithelial capillaries with a marked increase in the size of the vessels in the outer part of the cervical wall.

Ultrastructure feature:

Ultrastructuraly, non pregnant cervix reveals the typical dense connective tissue with collagen aggravated in closely packed fascicles and fibrocytes embedded in sparse ground substance. The ultrastructural characteristic in late pregnancy are presence of rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria,plasmalemmal vesicle and extensive branching of individual fibres in contrast to the absence of these feature in muscle fibres of the non-pregnant cervix. This description is also similar to early pregnancy stage. The ultrastructural analyses of the cervical connective tissue reflects active changes in tissues, with a reorganization of the cervix prior to the functional changes at parturition.

Changes in collagen concentration:

The biochemical analysis of hydroxyproline in tissue can be used for collagen concentrations. Study carried out by Regassa et al. (1983) shows the total collagen content of cervix at all stages of pregnancy is significantly greater than that of caruncular mean and the intercaruncular areas. The concentration of hydroxyproline is not changed in cervix during Ist trimester of pregnancy. However the concentration of hydroxyproline progressively decreases at days 100, 140 days and in post partum tissues as compared to the non pregnant tissue(Fosang et. al 1984). The concentration is same between proximal, middle or distal region of the pregnant and non pregnant cervix.

In conclusion it is summarized that uterine cervix of small ruminants became softer during the pregnancy and that some associated changes first appear in early gestartion. There is no significant changes in water content through pregnancy although light increases is associated with cervical size and softening of the tissue. Physical and histological properties are identical in all section along the length of cervix. The changes associated with increasing length of gestration are absolute increase in width and length, relative increases in fibroblasts, smooth muscle and softening; relative decreases in collagen and fibrocytes. But increased vascularisation without any white cell infiltration of the tissue is specifically associated with late gestration.

REFERENCES

Abusineina M.E. (1969) Effect of pregnancy on the dimendions and weight of the cervix uteri of sheep. British Vet. J 125, 21-24

Amanda J. Fosang, Christopher J. H. Vivien S., Dennis A. L. and Geoffery D. T. (1984) pregnancy related changes in connective tissue of ovine cervix. Biology of reproduction 30, 1223-1225

Aughey, E, Munro, C. D., Calder, A. A., Coutts, J R. T. & Fleming, R (1981). The histology and ultrastructure of the pregnant sheep cervix uteri. J. of Anatomy 132, 448

Basset, E. G. (1958) Gestational changes in connective tissue. Nature 181, 196-197

Cloete, J.H.L. (1939) prenatal growth in the merino sheep onderstepoort journal  of veterinary science & animal industry 13, 417-543

Calder A.A., Aughey E. Coutts J. Fleming R and Munors C.(1983) Changes pattern of cervix on pregnancy J. Anat (1983) 136, 2 389-399

Ellwood D.A., Anderson, ABM, Mitchell and Turnbill A.C. (1981) Prostanoids, collagenase and cervical softening in sheep. Am. J. Obst. Gyneol. 10:281-287

Hollingsworth, M. (1981) Softening of rat cervix during pregnancy. In the cervix in pregnancy and labour- clinical and biochemical investigations (ed. D. A. Ellwood & A.B.M. Anderson) pp.13-33 Edinburg

K. June Mullins, R. G. Saacke (1988) Study of the functional anatomy of bovine cervical mucosa with special reference to mucus secretion and sperm transport Journal of Reproduction and Fertility (1979) 57 261-266

Karen Sohan , Rebecca Wiggins and Peter Soothill (1999), Cervical Physiology in pregnancy and labour. Foetal and Maternal Medicine review 11: 135-141 Cambridge

 More J (1984) Anatomy and Histology of the cervix uteri of ewe: A new insight Acta. Anat (basal) 120 (3). 156-9

Nickel, R., Schummer A. & Seiferle E., (1981) The viscera of domestic animals pp.358 and 361 berlin verlag Paul Pavey.

Regassa F. and Noakes D. E.(1983) Changes in the weight, collagen concentration and content of the uterus and cervix of ewe during pregnancy. J Biology 73, 221-25

Comparison Sites: the Solution to Mobile Phone Buying During the Recession

Posted on 06. Mar, 2010 by admin in Mobile Phones

Reigning-in the Purse strings

Aside from the recession affecting house prices, interest rates and unemployment, the smaller sacrifices that people are being forced to make are the more noticeable ones, for instance, cutting back on luxury holidays, takeaway food and trips to the theatre. These are just a few common past-times taking a blow in recent months. The multimillion pound mobile phone industry however, appears to be one of few that are not suffering in the current financial climate.

Mobile phones: a necessity for modern living

It is hard to imagine a world where the mobile phone isn’t an integral part of everyday life – modern society sees the mobile phone as indispenable at limbs or vital organs. Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 It is no wonder then that the majority of the UK’s population have boosted the mobile phone to the top of their priorities list when it comes to deciding what to spend their hard earned money on.

Not all doom and gloom in the mobile market

Although people are being more frugal when it comes to spending money on mobile phones, the ever increasing amount of choice available means that the consumer has the power to call the shots and watch as the retailers fight over their custom. But with so many different options including: network providers, handsets, models, tariffs, and offers, it is no wonder that many end up confused by the whole process and just opt for the first deal they see (which in most cases, is neither the cheapest nor the best match for their requirements).

This is where mobile phone comparison sites offer the perfect solution. With so much choice available and the majority of consumers not having enough time to compare all the offers in an attempt to find the best deals themselves, comparison sites do all the hard work of shopping around; taking the hassle out of finding your ideal mobile phone.

Top 10 Mobile Phones is the top mobile phone comparison site in the UK, offering the widest range of handsets and the cheapest deals on the web. Top 10 Mobile Phones is part of the comparison portal Top10.co.uk that also includes the UK’s largest broadband comparison site Top10-Broadband.co.uk

What the good comparison sites offer, in general, is impartial information on all the latest deals on mobile phone handsets and tariffs, catering for all mobile phone users; whether you are a Company Director looking for a long-term business contract with a high call allowance and email, or a young teenager buying their first Pay-as-you-go phone with a snazzy-looking handset and text allowance. The Top10 comparison site offers all this and more, with up-to-date mobile phone news on all the latest mobile technology developments, and comprehensive mobile phone guides on choosing your mobile phone and connecting your mobile phone to the internet (to name but a few).

Hassle-free mobile phone shopping

Shopping for your mobile phone online is the future. Not only do you get a realistic idea of what you are purchasing (thanks to high quality images and accurate descriptions), you also get to browse at you leisure without being accosted by an overly friendly sales assisted, clearly working on commission. Because the mobile phone is such a frequently used device, you need to be well informed when choosing the right phone for you; therefore the more information available, the better.

At Top 10 Mobile Phones you are given extensive information and specifications on every handset available, as well as videos demonstrations and images (to give you a good idea of what you’re getting). The Top10 comparison site has a clear, easy to understand interface, with straightforward search menus allowing you to search by network provider, mobile phone manufacturer, handset, or phone type (i.e. pink mobile phone, camera phone) to make the experience of shopping for your perfect mobile phone easier and quicker than ever before. Top 10 mobile phones search through all the deals on the web to find all the latest mobiles phones as well as cheap mobile phones, to make finding the ideal phone a walk in the park.

So if you’re looking to buy a new mobile phone, don’t contend with the crowds and compromise on choice by hitting the High Street, put the kettle on and shop from the comfort of your armchair using the mobile phone comparison site with the widest choice of offers, Top 10 Mobile Phones, where you will find the best deals in seconds!

Implantation Bleeding During Pregnancy is Scary. Reassuring Facts About Implantation Bleeding

Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by admin in Pregnancy

What is implantation bleeding?

It is not unusual that some women experience implantation bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy. Any vaginal bleeding outside implantation bleeding of pregnancy is classified as a threatened miscarriage, meaning the pregnancy is threatening to miscarriage. About 25% of all pregnancies are actually miscarried but 50% of all threatened miscarriages settle down and a normal pregnancy happens.

When does implantation bleeding occur?

Implantation bleeding occurs very early in pregnancy as a direct result of the fertilized egg (your growing baby) burying and snuggling its way into the lining of your womb. Implantation bleeding occurs about 10-14 days after the egg has been fertilized or when conception occurred. This is also around the time when your menstrual cycles would be expected.

Signs of Implantation Bleeding:

Signs of implantation bleeding can vary from one pregnant woman to another. It normally mild in nature and is much lighter than a normal menstrual period.

The color of implantation bleeding:

The color of implantation bleeding can vary form bright red to brown implantation bleeding. Bright red implantation bleeding means that there is an active area of bleeding within the womb and blood is flowing from the site of implantation to the vagina very quickly. It may indicate that implantation has just occurred.

Brown implantation bleeding is the color of old blood. When you get brown implantation bleeding it normally means that when the fertilized egg buried it way into the womb, a little blood was released. The bleeding that occurred at the moment of implantation stayed in the womb for some time so by the time you see it on your underwear or when you wipe yourself it showed up as brown implantation bleeding.

How long does implantation bleeding last?

Most cases of implantation bleeding last for a few minutes to a few days. If implantation bleeding lasts more than a few days then it may be a sign of vaginal infection or a threatened miscarriage.

How heavy is implantation bleeding?

Heavy implantation bleeding is unusual. The only thing you might notice with implantation bleeding is a pinkish or brown discharge when you wipe yourself after you go to the bathroom.

Cramps with implantation bleeding:

Cramps with implantation bleeding can happen. You may even experience cramps with or without bleeding. The reason you may experience cramps with implantation bleeding is because as the fertilized egg buries into your womb, it caused the muscle of your womb to contract. These contractions press on nerve endings and may result in mild to moderate menstrual like pains for 24-48 hours.

What to do if you have signs of implantation bleeding:

Don’t panic if you have any of the above signs of implantation bleeding. Remember 50% of all cases of implantation bleeding end up in a normal pregnancy.

Know your blood type. Depending on your partner’s blood type and if you are a rhesus negative blood type then it may be necessary to have an Rh-immune globulin injection within 24 hours of any pregnancy bleeding.

If you suspect you may be pregnant and your bleeding is from implantation bleeding then do a home pregnancy test. This home test should remain positive. If it is positive and you do not know your blood Rhesus factor, then call your provider for consultation for possible Rh-immune globulin.

Never insert a tampon, douche, or have sexual intercourse while you are bleeding.

Keep track of whether the bleeding is increasing or decreasing and how many pads you are using.

If you feel your pregnancy bleeding is heavier or lasting longer than the above ranges then call your health care provider for consultation immediately.

Bleeding during pregnancy is scary. Your fear is picked up by your unborn child. Intra uterine fear can stay with your child for a lifetime, so constantly reassure your baby that he or she is wanted and loved. Want to know more about how pregnancy is like from your babies viewpoint then check out my Birth, A Conscious Choice. at http://www.PregnancySuccessCoach.com

You may also be very interested in an amazing message that was telepathically dictated to me for humanity from my son when he was seven-weeks old. Yes you read correctly! I have the ability to communicate with baby’s emotions from inside and outside the womb. Down load this AMAZING MESSAGE FREE at http://www.PregnancySuccessCoach.com/Message_For_Humanity.html

If you wish to ask me a personal question about your pregnancy or an issue in your life then visit http://www.PregnancySuccessCoach.com/Ask_Hannah_Section.html

Hannah Bajor. C.N.M.,M.S.N.

Certified Nurse Midwife

Pregnancy Success Coach

Facts About Small Businesses in Ireland During 2008

Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by admin in Small Business

This report presents a comprehensive picture of the contribution of small enterprises in Ireland. The report contains data on the contribution of small businesses in industry, services and construction, as well as statistics on the labor, the knowledge-based economy and workforce. It also includes international comparisons.

In the report, a small business is defined as an enterprise which employs fewer than 50 people. Statistics on medium (50-249 persons) and large enterprises (250 or more people) are included for comparison.

Highlights of the report are:

Industry: Production and employment dominated by medium and large enterprises

* In 2005, four of the five industrial companies (81%) were small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. This company employs 50,000 people, slightly more than one fifth of total industrial employment. * The larger companies (50 or more persons) employed 181,100 people in 2005 and generated 93% of the total turnover in the industry. * The vast majority of small industrial firms were Irish owned (95%). Nearly 42% of larger companies are foreign-owned.

Services: More than 380,000 employees of small businesses in the service sector

* In the service sector, almost all companies (98%) were small. There were 82,100 small businesses, employing over 380,000 people in the service sector in 2005. That was more than half of total employment in this sector. * Small businesses account for nearly half (49%) of total turnover in the services sector, and generates a turnover of nearly ? 81.6bn in 2005. * Nearly half of small businesses in the service sector are the property of the family (47%). The vast majority of these family businesses employed fewer than 10 people.

Construction: Small businesses occupied two thirds of all people who work in construction

* According to the Quarterly National Household Survey, there were 253,200 employed in construction in the fourth quarter of 2005. Of these, 211,000 have indicated that they worked in small businesses (fewer than 50 employees), while 24,500 have indicated that they worked in large enterprises (50 or more employees). A further 17,600 not specify the number of employees to their jobs.

* Among the 253,200 people employed in the construction industry, more than 65% worked for very small concerns employing less tha ten people.

Salaries and wages: 54% of private sector employees in small firms earned between ? 10 – ? 20 per hour in 2006

* The average hourly wage in small businesses were ? 15.22 in 2006 compared to ? 19.38 in companies with 50 or more workers in 2006.

* The average annual salary for employees in a small business amounted to ? 32,453 in 2006. The average wage in large enterprises was ? 44,794 per year.

Knowledge-based economy: the larger companies have shown higher levels of e-government activities

* Small businesses generally not more modern information and communication technology than larger companies.

* Almost all companies with 10 or more employees were connected to the Internet that two-thirds of businesses with fewer than 10 employees to use the Internet.

Size of work: almost 56% of employment in small workplaces

* In all areas, 56% of jobs in workplaces where fewer than 50 persons were employed in the second quarter of 2007. A total of 1175800 people worked in small workplaces. Of these, 839,300 were employees, 216,600 are self-employed and 107,900 are self-employed with employees. These figures include agriculture and the public sector and the economy.

* Among the 316,300 non-Irish nationals in employment in the second quarter of 2007, less than half (47%) worked in small workplaces.

EU comparison, the value added in small construction firms in Ireland was three times the EU average in 2005

* Almost three-quarters of production in Ireland turnover was generated by large companies, while the EU average was 60%.

* In 2005, Ireland is recorded but the gross value added per employee of ? 51,600 in the distribution of services. The EU average was ? 33,000 per employee. * The gross value added per employee in the construction industry in Ireland was significantly higher than the EU average for all types of employment dimension.

Constipation in Pregnancy & Constipation Relief During Pregnancy

Posted on 02. Mar, 2010 by admin in Pregnancy

 Constipation in pregnancy can cause bloating, pain and even pre term labor. Read on to see what options pregnant women have for constipation relief during pregnancy.

Constipation relief during pregnancy is a question many pregnant women ask. Approximately half of all women experience constipation in pregnancy.

Why do women get constipation in pregnancy?

 The pregnancy hormone progesterone has a relaxing effect on the intestines and this slows the movement of the bowel causing pregnancy constipation.

The growing fetus needs as much vitamins, minerals and nutrients as possible. Therefore the increasing hormone levels of a pregnant woman cause food to move slower through the bowels. This results in constipation but also gives the body more time to absorb extra nutrients.

Pregnant women need extra water for the extra blood volume required for pregnancy. Therefore the mother will absorb more water from the bowel than normal which will result in a harder, dryer bowel movement resulting in constipation.

The longer food stays in the intestines, the more water is reabsorbed from the bowel into the body to accommodate for the extra blood volume required during pregnancy.

All prenatal vitamins contain iron which is known to cause constipation in pregnancy.

 Constipation relief during pregnancy:

Drink at least 8-10 glasses of oxygen rich purified water a day.

 Increase fiber in your diet such as whole grains and brown rice.

 Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly prunes (which can be taken via prune juice).

 Peppermint tea or peppermint water can help with gas or bloating pains.

 Try to reduce stress in your life as stress can cause constipation.

 You may have to switch you prenatal vitamins over to a different brand. Even though they all have iron, some brands may be less pregnancy constipating to you than others.

 Add a little more exercise to your daily routine. If you do not normally exercise then start with 10-15 minutes walking every day. If you routinely exercise change your exercise routine slightly to see if you can stimulate bowel activity.

 Mangosteen juice Mangosteen juice has been shown to have a positive effect on all systems of the body including bowel mobility. Mangosteen is a fruit and is very effective in preventing pregnancy complications.

 Consult with a homeopath for a pregnancy safe homeopathy remedy for constipation.Avoid over-the-counter laxatives as they can stimulate uterine contractions resulting in miscarriage or pre-term labor.

 Prevention of constipation is the best place to start. Many of my pregnant clients have experienced a constipation free pregnancy by taking mangosteen and minerals on a daily basis prior and during pregnancy. Mangosteen is present in different quantities in different products. Wondering where to get more information about a high quality mangosteen and mineral product? Mangosteen is present in different quantities in different products, so do your research.

 I urge you to act at once. Read for yourself, an amazing message for humanity from my son when he was seven-weeks old. Yes you read correctly, he was seven weeks old! I have the ability to communicate with baby’s emotions from inside and outside the womb. Read it! Enjoy it! Share it!

Computer Certification tips: 4 Tips to start Performance along during your Exam

Posted on 01. Mar, 2010 by admin in Computer Certification

At that place is enough from books come out of the closet at that place around however to educate because an computing device certificate examination.  Even so, in that location is besides matters you dismiss arrange to growth your adventures from winner along test daytime on the most all important character from the whole cognitive process — the sentence that you are in reality adopting the examine.

I have accepted more a documentation examination all over the a long time, and assisted several other people preparation because theirs.  Present is the basketball team matters you essential answer along test daytime to maximise your causes.

1.  Demonstrate improving during fourth dimension.  Yep, I acknowledge everybody enjoins that.  The trying out center of attention desires you in that location thirty mins former.  In order how come arrange and then a lot of campaigners appearance improving lately, or successful an belt along?  Whenever you’ve an break of day examination designation, acquire the dealings into accounting.  Whenever thems an character from township you do not generally beat back inward on charge time of day, you mightiness constitute amazed at however a great deal hits you consume to belong through and through.  Be after beforehand.

Two.  Apply the earphones.  Just about prospects successful the way on you realise that they had better button up.  Unhappily, not completely from it arrange.  Tasting mumble, gumming to themselves (cheap plenty because you to get a line, although), and a different brief makes noise give notice actually get on duty your brasses successful what costs already an press position.  Inwards one and only specific examining center on I employ, the room access to the examination board consumes unmatchable arranging: “flap down”. 

As luck would have it, that centre of attention in addition to births an headset attending at all examining post.  Call off forwards to assure whenever yours answers.   Around centres of attention consume it merely do not allow for it at the examination places.  Breaking phones on the test follows an bang-up know-how to growth your barons from density. They allow for you to block up come out of the closet totally make noise and irritations, and behave what you came in to arrange — come about the examination.

Trey. Educate because the “HMM??” Doubt.   No more substance however well-prepared you is, in that respect belonging to constitute one and only head on duty whatsoever test that exactly blows out of the water you.   Them power make up off-topic, inwards your impression. Them could constitute an call into question that would acquire twenty from your left over twenty-five mins to respond. Them coulded represent an call into question that you do not flush experience however to get down replying.  Whatsoever the understanding, they are the enquiry that bears you calling up, “hmm??”  I consume babbled out on prospects who amazed to such as an head and cost plainly and then cast off cancelled that they did not answer considerably on duty whatsoever from the continuing doubts, either.

In that respect comprises exclusively one and only matter to arrange successful these position:  shrug them away.  Comparison yourself to an majors ewer.  Whenever he applies improving an family break away, he camber belong along them. He’s amazed to expression a different knock about.  Cornerbacks inwards football game facial expression the corresponding trouble. Whenever they bring about improving an farseeing TD authorise, they bank pass the following twenty minutes of arc calling up around them.  They cause to shrug them away and embody at the ready as the following bet.

Do not concern just about becoming an complete grade during the examination.  Your bear on comprises authorizing. Whenever you arrive an doubt that looks silly, unresolvable, or come out of the closet from blank space, leave about them.  They are caused.  Move along to the following doubt and complete them.

Four.  Complete on an expand.  10 inquiries of the closing from your test, admit an fifteen to thirty minute break off.   You can not take the air around the examining board, only you force out outdoor stage and stretch along.  Away these charge inwards the test, prospects be given to comprise a brief mentally fagged out.  Possibly you are calm down calling up around the “BIG HMM??” Head.  Do not headache almost the inquiries you have already replied  they are answered.   Adopt an walk-in breather, call up wherefore you are at that place to to authorize these examination — and sit back up consume and breeze through the final stage 10 calls into question to the surround. 

Earlier you acknowledge them, your communicating grade comes out along the CRT screen.