Miraculous Facts about Pregnancy

Pregnancy still creates an aura of mystery and wonder for some. After all, how many people were once told that a stork was responsible for their existence? Many question why women who endure being pregnant give off an unearthly glow, make frequent trips to the lavatory, and enjoy strange cravings. Life is stranger than fiction, and there are definitely some weird and wonderful tidbits about the miracle of life.

That’s Mr. Mom to You, Buddy!

Seahorses are one of the only creatures on planet Earth where the males store fertilized eggs in a pouch and later give birth to thousands of fully-formed babies. The pipefish is the only other creature where males are the ones to give birth.

An Extra-Late Delivery

The year was 1945. At age 25, a normal healthy woman named Beulah Hunter didn’t give birth until after 375 days. That’s a little over year being stuck with a bun in the oven!


Test Tube Miracle
After trying to conceive a child unsuccessfully for nine years, a couple turned to science. The result was the birth of the first successful “test tube baby.” Louise Joy Brown was born in Great Britain in July 1978, after her mother Lesley Brown used Dr. Patrick Steptoe’s now widely accepted, experimental fertilization procedure. This is now commonly known as IVF, or In vitro fertilization.


A Surefire Way to Twins

Ladies be advised. Women who are overweight, very tall, or over the age of 35 are more apt to have twins. Also, the rate of twins being born is on the rise thanks to IVF treatments.

 Giving Meaning to Being Fruitful and Multiplying

The wife of a Russian farmer named Feodor Vassilyev, gave birth to an astonishing 69 children in the 18th century. 67 of their offspring managed to survive, and several medical journals were intrigued by the results. The mother successfully gave birth to 16 sets of twins, 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets!

No Worries, Just Push the Pause Button

Kangaroos are one of the only animals on the planet that is typically, almost always pregnant. Luckily for these marsupials, they can pause their own pregnancies and delay birth. Guess that leaves some room in that pouch for other stuff, when a Joey isn’t around.

Eat This for Twins

Among the Yoruba people, who are found throughout Nigeria, Benin, and other West African countries, the consumption of yams leads to a greater likelihood of being pregnant with twins. Apparently, yams contain certain chemicals that encourage the release of more than one egg, and increase the overall chance of having twins. Benin has one of the highest rates of twin births in the world. There are 27.9 twins born every 1,000 births in the country. The town of Igbo-Ora, in Nigeria, is known as the Twin Capital of the world. Move over fertility pills, pass the yams please!

Baby to the Rescue

If a pregnant mom suffers damage to her organs, stem cells of the fetus can migrate to the mother and repair damaged tissue. Babies are a mom’s hero.

 Baby is not the Only One Growing

In addition to baby’s growth and development, a pregnant woman’s uterus increases up to 500 times its original size. Also, a pregnant lady typically gets an enlarged heart, increased breast size, and grows a size larger in their shoe size too. This is usually reversed after the baby is born, and things go back to normal. Some ladies do end up with permanently larger feet though. Don’t you dare call them boats or clown shoes.

 Talk to the Bump

Babies can hear and feel what is going on around them in the outside world, which means that they actually can respond to parents talking to the baby bump. Babies start picking up on their mother tongue as early as 6 months in the womb. Babies also enjoy moving around to music, and react to their mom’s movements too.

Oh-Dear! What’s That Smell

There’s a reason why women who get pregnant have an uncanny and seemingly over-developed sense of smell. No, that mom-to-be is not imagining things, that stinky cheese and fish sandwich smells really potent. This is a biological feature, ensuring that the mother uses her sense of smell to avoid food and other dangerous items, which could cause harm to her unborn child.

 Pass on the Pain Management Please

In the 1900s, doctors got the zany idea to put ladies to sleep during childbirth. This was to cut down on the amount of hysterics from pregnant ladies thrashing around when being strapped down during labor. It was a standard practice for the time. Unfortunately, the “Twilight” treatment had a downside. Sometimes the ladies and the babies being delivered never managed to wake up.

 Don’t Fear the Big O

It is perfectly normal and safe for most pregnant ladies to still get it on while pregnant. Having an orgasm can bring on contractions, but they most likely will not induce labor. Surprisingly, nipple stimulation is the only proven “soft induction method” to bring about a delivery.

 Please Excuse Me, It’s Just My Mommy Brain

The phenomenon nicknamed “mommy brain” is a real thing where hormones can actually cause a mother to forget things more easily. Even after giving birth to her child, a mom still might deal with fuzzy memory and rampant forgetfulness.

 Never too Old to be a Mom

Rajo Devi Lohan, of Hissar, India, used IVF treatments at the age of 69 years of age. She nearly died from delivery complications, but both she and her daughter survived. Rajo was determined to have a child, and she successfully gave birth to a healthy girl, named Naveen.

 Cravings for Paper and Dirt

“Pica” is the name given to describe the desire to consume non-foods. This happens a lot to some pregnant women, who may not realize that their craving for paper, shampoo, dirt, or another non-food item is because of a possible nutrient deficiency.

 Not Always an Arrival to the Finish Line

Sadly, 10 to 25% of pregnancies actually end in miscarriage. Usually, a woman may not even realize she was ever pregnant. A miscarriage can take place within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.

 Milk on Tap and Busy Keeping it Moving

Pregnant ladies and mom’s who have recently given birth will almost always automatically produce breast milk at the sound of an infant crying. Mother Nature’s way of not making a baby have to wait too long for the food, right?

Babies don’t just spend their time eating, drinking, and sleeping in mom’s womb. Babies practice crying, wave, and even masturbate. Maybe Freud was on to something.

Warning Signs That Show Your Liver Is Full of Toxins

The liver is the largest organ in the human body. Its main job is to filter the blood that comes from the digestive tract before it is passed to the rest of the body. Every minute, it receives about 30% of the blood that circulates through your body, making it the hardest working organ. There is always a risk that there are toxins in your liver.
Having a healthy diet will help your liver. Despite the liver being able to break down most chemicals in the bloodstream, it can be damaged because of them. Constant exposure to harmful chemicals can put your liver in harm’s way.
Because your liver’s sole job is to convert toxins into healthy waste, it’s important to realize when those toxins are not converted. The following are signs that your liver could be full of toxins.

Pain In Your Liver: The first direct sign that your liver is full of toxins is a pain in that general area. The liver is located on the upper right portion of your abdomen, under your stomach and beneath your diaphragm. As you can see, it is extremely large. The pain that you will feel can be compared to a dull pain. However, depending on how much toxin is in it, the pain can become unbearable. Remember, if your liver is suffering from a disease, it cannot operate properly. So it sends out warning signs that it is full of toxins.

Your Ankles and Legs Will Swell: The worst thing you can do is ignore your liver issues. If you do this, your liver will be forced to try and repair itself by forming scar tissue. Increased scar tissue makes it extremely tough for the liver to function properly. This will eventually lead to portal hypertension. Portal hypertension is the increased blood pressure within the portal veins. This will cause fluids to pile up in your legs. The swelling is painless, but it is a direct sign that your liver may be overloading with toxins.

Weight Gain: This can be an easy sign to notice, especially if you live a healthy and active life. If you exercise on a daily basis and have a healthy diet, weight gain should be a red flag for you. If you notice that you’re gaining weight, and it’s not from overeating or a hormonal imbalance, go see your doctor. When the liver is unable to deal with all the toxins coming through, it has to store the unfiltered toxins in fat cells. The only way to start losing weight again is if you help clean out your liver.

Allergies: In a lot of cases, your liver being overloaded can cause an allergic reaction. The reason is that there are too many substances entering the bloodstream, and the brain will recognize them as allergens. The brain will immediately release antibodies and chemicals that cause itchy rashes. However, if your liver is healthy, it will clear away any potential harmful allergens.

Yellow Eyes and Skin: Unless you were born with yellow eyes and skin, this sign is an immediate red flag that there is something wrong with your liver. Unnatural yellow eyes and skin mean you’re suffering from jaundice. It’s not an illness but it’s a symptom that your liver is damaged. Jaundice usually occurs when the liver allows the system to accumulate high amounts of bilirubin. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is created by the breakdown of dead red blood cells in the liver. So when the liver is unable to get rid of bilirubin and the red blood cells, you turn yellow!

Chronic Fatigue: This is no normal fatigue. If you have been suffering from constant fatigue for at least 6 months, you could be diagnosed with chronic fatigue. The whole reason why you’re chronically fatigued is that your liver has become toxic. Your liver is one of the main organs that contribute energy to the body. One of its tasks is to turn glucose into glycogen and to store it away. If you have a healthy liver, it will release glucose whenever your body needs energy. A toxic liver can barely produce any glucose and will have little to no space to store it.

Now that you’re aware of how dangerous a toxic liver can be, it’s time to care for it. You can start by refraining from consuming large amounts of alcohol. Alcohol can severely damage your liver cells which can lead to scarring and swelling. In some cases, this can lead to cirrhosis, which can be deadly! Your liver will also thank you if you exercise and eat healthily. Your liver is already the hardest working organ in the body, give it a break and feed it healthy nutrients.

Another way to protect your liver is to be careful when taking supplements. Certain supplements will tell you that they will restore your liver. This includes milk thistle seed and chanca piedra. There is currently no strong supporting evidence to back up these claims.

Jonghyun's secret love life and his battle for perfection: SHINee fans reveal private struggles of talented singer

The 27-year-old singer of one of the biggest K-pop boy band's is being laid to rest this week

Jonghyun battled cruel taunts about his love life and was desperate to achieve perfection, fans have revealed in the aftermath of his suicide.

The lead singer of Korean K-pop boyband SHINee was just 27 when he took his own life on December 18, leaving millions of fans devastated.

While the manufactured band's management kept strict control of their young charges' careers, little snippets of Jonghyun's life cast light on what he may have been going through.

Jonghyun - real name Kim Jong-Hyun - was a founding member of SHINee in 2008 and became one of the most enduring artists within the industry.

But the pressure to be seen as perfect while living life as a normal twenty-something took its toll on the star.

Korean pop is one of the most influential music industries in the world, boasting hundreds of young and hungry artists who not only sing, but must also dance and act to jet themselves into the entertainment world.

A handful of record companies are responsible for the careers of scores of bands, and will work with them on breaking into the Japanese and Chinese markets by learning the local languages and better sell records across national borders.

Young teens idolise K-pop artists and bands, whose members can often run into the double figures, and talent shows spit out new combinations of talented singers every cycle. Fans are encouraged to vote out singers of popular groups if they no longer believe the singer deserves a spot.

Genghis Rules

Genghis Khan was born with the first name Temujin. He earned the name Genghis Khan – Khan means ruler, and Genghis is based on the Mongol word Tenggis which means ocean or wide-spreading.

Blood Oath

Legend has it that Genghis Khan was born with a blood clot clenched in his fist, foretelling his emergence as a great and powerful leader. Looks like he had blood on his hands from the very beginning.

Man Of The House

When Genghis Khan was just 10 years old, his father Yesugei was poisoned by a rival tribe (Tatars) for stealing and marrying Genghis Khan’s mother, Hoelun.

Sharing Is Caring

One of the many legends surrounding Genghis Khan’s early years was that he killed his brother Bekhtar for not sharing his food after a hunt.

Now You See Me

No one knows what Genghis Khan looked like. The only images of the Khan started appearing after he died, so it’s unclear how accurate they are to his likeness.

Solitary Cemetery

No one knows where the great Genghis Khan was buried. There are no official records, and anyone who knew where it was took the secret to their graves. He ensured this by having his entire funeral procession killed by 800 soldiers after he was buried. Later, those 800 soldiers were killed.

Cry Me A River

Genghis Khan is said to have had those he trusted most to divert a river over his final resting place to ensure no one would disturb his eternal slumber. Now he sleeps with the fishes.

The Onon river, thought to be where Genghis Khan was buried.

No Man’s Land

Before Genghis Khan united Mongolia under a single banner, it was nothing more than warring, nomadic tribes.

It Was Written

Genghis Khan adopted the Uyghur script as the official written language of Mongolia. He did the write thing.

You Shall Not Pass

Ikh Khorig, or Great Taboo, is a 240 square kilometre piece of land in the Khentii province of Mongolia that was declared holy by Genghis Khan. Only an elite tribe of warriors called the Darkhad and the Mongolian royal family were allowed to enter, and anyone else caught doing so was put to death. It’s rumored that Genghis Khan was buried somewhere in Ikh Khorig. Who’s up for a scavenger hunt?

You’ve Got Mail

Genghis Khan created the first international postal service, allowing people to mail parcels and letters to friends and family in other countries without having to hire specialized couriers. The postal service was similar to the American Pony Express and used over 50 000 horses.

Live Your Truth

Genghis Khan was tolerant of individual beliefs, encouraging religious freedom amongst his subjects. It didn’t matter who you believed in, because Genghis Khan believed in you.

Financial Advisor

Yelu Chucai, one of Genghis Khan’s most trusted advisors suggest that Khan tax people instead of just killing them. This became a cornerstone of Genghis Khan’s conquests. Death and taxes indeed.

Charity Case

Genghis Khan was a brutal warlord, but also a generous ruler. He was among the first global leaders to exempt the clergy and the poor from taxation.

Show Me The Money

Genghis Khan’s face appears on Mongolia’s currency. Mongol, more like Mongoals!

Be fruitful and multiply

Genghis Khan is the most successful biological father of all time, with nearly 16 million direct descendants.

Foresight

Genghis Khan believed the strength of a man was measured by the amount of children he left behind. That explains the why of the previous fact, but not the how. Who has that much time? Conquering must be easier than it sounds.

Father Figure

Nearly 8% of Asian men are descended from Genghis Khan. That’s nearly 350 million men with one common ancestor.

Influential In India

Shah Jahan, the Indian Shah responsible for building the Taj Mahal was a descendant of Genghis Khan.

Like Father…

Genghis Khan had 4 legitimate sons, all of whom heavily participated in the Mongol conquests. His third son, Ogedei became the Khan when Genghis finally died, and continued his father’s conquests of Asia and Europe. Don’t you hate it when your parents force you into the family business?

Marriage Proposals

Ghengis Khan would often marry his daughters off to local rulers, and use his daughters to rule in his stead.

Empressive

Though Genghis Khan took many wives throughout his life, his only Empress was his first wife Börte.

Mr. International

Genghis Khan’s Empire spanned many modern countries, and even continents. From Eastern Asia into Eastern Europe, Genghis Khan amassed one of the largest empires history has ever seen. His tinder profile would have read “Loves To Travel/Conquer.”

Game Plan

Genghis Khan was a master tactician, often employing clever tricks to defeat his enemy. Some examples include false retreats to bait enemies into ambushes, and tying sticks to their horses’ tails to kick up dust storms equal to those kicked up by large armies.

Never Tell Me The Odds

Genghis khan was almost always outnumbered during battles, but found creative solutions to obtaining victory.

Asian Sensation

Genghis Khan invaded China with 90,000 troops and defeated an army of 1 million plus soldiers. He killed nearly 500,000 soldiers while a great many more, including generals and high ranking officers defected to the Mongols. It’s now about the size of your army, but how you use it.

Nopetism

Genghis Khan believed in being rewarded for hard work and operated on a meritocracy over nepotism. Many of his highest ranking officers and generals had earned their way to those positions, instead of simply being born to a particular family.

Frenemies

Most of Genghis Khan’s most trusted generals were his enemies at one point or another.

Cold Hearted

Genghis Khan’s armies killed an estimated 40 million people. In fact, his armies killed so many people that he cooled the planet and reduced the carbon footprint of human beings. While effective, this is definitely not the solution to climate change.

Revolutionary

Khan often used spies to incite civil wars and revolutions within opposing empires to weaken them for his invasions.

Hard Feelings

Genghis Khan never let a slight go unpunished. The Khwarezmid Empire killed his messengers when he offered to open up trade routes. As a result, he decided to decimate the budding Persian empire, killing nearly 90% of the Persian population at the time. You could say Iran was caught between Iraq and a hard place.

Iran Away

Genghis Khan killed so many Persians (modern day Iranians), that the population of Persia didn’t return to pre-Mongol numbers until the 1900’s, nearly 700 years later. The Khwarezmid Shah fled the Mongol advance, but later died on an island in the Caspian Sea.

Killing It

Genghis Khan killed more people than Josef Stalin and Adolph Hitler combined. He also did all this killing when the Earth’s human population was much lower than it was when Stalin and Hitler were in power.

Horsin’ Around

Genghis Khan was once shot in the neck during a battle. When the enemy army was defeated, he asked which of the enemy soldiers had shot “his horse.” The archer responsible stepped forward, and even corrected Genghis Khan by saying he shot him in the neck. Valuing the archer’s courage and skill, Genghis Khan recruited the soldier, who would go on to be a great general under Khan.