Emotions and Stress

Emotions

Emotional wellbeing, although not always as evident as physical or psychological welfare, is also important. The two main categories of emotions are positive and negative. Good feelings include love, happiness, serenity, while bad ones are anger, hate, and envy. While most people would agree on the categorization of the above, other emotions, such as pride, vary in connotation according to culture.

The neuroanatomical substrates of emotion have been widely documented in the literature. The amygdala is usually the brain region most closely associated with affective states. Studies of fear conditioning have often involved these nuclei.

Social psychology has also taken interest in the emotional lives of the population. For example, frustration leads to aggression. Frustration is brought on by repeated thwarting of one’s desires by outside obstacles. The reaction is counterproductive, since anger clouds one’s judgement. Passion and logic have historically been seen as contrary ends of a continuum. The tradition likely is the rationale behind Romulans, who were once Vulcans but embraced their passions (Star Trek alien races). But neuroscientifically, if the emotional part of the brain is lesioned, decision-making is strongly impaired despite intact cognitive neural correlates (Salovey, 2010).

Memory types : Semantic, Episodic, Procedural, Declarative, Implicit, Explicit, Working, Long term. Photo by Elena

Most emotions have an impact on thinking processes, which introduces the concept of self-control. In a variation on Intellectual Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ) has made its entrance into the mainstream in the 2000s. Decades earlier, the Stanford Marshmallow Study by psychologist Walter Mischel in 1972, was carried out at the reputable American university, demonstrating that the ability to distract oneself to successfully delay gratification in order to receive greater satisfaction later, was more predictive of an individual’s success in life than intellectual factors. Additional character traits often cited as required for self-actualization are willpower, and the aptitude to manage one’s own and other people’s emotional states.

Serious deficiencies in these capabilities result in poor impulse control. As any impulsive person knows, such unanalyzed behaviour can bare quite undesirable consequences. Empathy may also be lacking.

A few illustrations of how emotional intelligence is used: business (e.g. incorporated into knowledge management), medicine and therapy (rapport establishing), academia (long term stress has been found to harm the hippocampus, inhibiting learning and memory) and the personal sphere (ability to form and maintain satisfying friendships).

A beginning of the 20th century study showed a sample of subjects with extremely high scholastic and standardized IQ test scores who failed to produce the stellar results expected much later in life. The logical conclusion may be that something else besides raw intelligence must be at play. A better explanation is proposed by the theory of multiple intelligences of Howard Gardner: interpersonal, intrapersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, spatial, naturalistic, logico-mathematical and linguistic intelligences. The same individual could be high on some and low on others of these types.

Schutte et al. (1998) examined a measure of emotional intelligence developed by Salovey & Mayer (1990). The model was found to be significantly associated with educational, social, academic, and everyday functioning and gender. Intelligence in the common sense, and one of the Big Five personality traits (openness to experience, but not conscientiousness, neuroticism, extraversion and agreeableness) were unrelated.

Stress

Stress is an important topic to psychologists and medical doctors alike. Stress impacts sleep, eating patterns, psychological well-being and so on… But what causes stress?

Common stressors include pressure, challenges, physical or psychological ailments, and relationship difficulties. Logically, a lot of worries come from the financial and job-related realms. Learning to deal with stress, anxiety and other mind states and emotions likely to impact your performance, is crucial. Interestingly, even positive change and success may cause stress, particularly in women (no sexism intended - it's just facts and it was only that one study!).

Ways to cope with stress include (paradoxically!) sleep, healthy eating habits, exercise (the release of endorphins contributes to reducing stress almost instantly), social support and other positive lifestyle attributes.

At an extreme, stressful situations can lead to trauma, such as in PTSD (or post-traumatic stress disorder). But luckily, those extremes are rare; while for everyday stressors, hey no one said it would be easy…

“I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” (Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray). Illustration: Megan Jorgensen.

References:

• Salovey, P. (2010). Emotional intelligence. Keynote Address IV.
• Salovey, P. & Mayer, J.D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9 (3): 185-211.
• Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J. & Dornheim, L. (1998). Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 25: 167-177.

Seltjarnarnes and Gardabaer

Seltjarnarnes and Gardabaer

Seltjarnarnes

Seltjarnarnes is a small town situated on tip of the Reykjavík peninsula, with remarkable views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Since much of the town is located within a beautiful nature reserve, many locals make use of its excellent recreational areas and the extensive walking and cycling paths encircling the entire peninsula. Its unobstructed views, of the setting sun and the impressive Shaefellsjökull glacier, make it a romantic destination and magnet for travelers and photographers alike. During the winter, the areas around the coastline are perfect for viewing the magnificent Northern Lights! The best known landmark is the old lighthouse on Grotta Island, with stunning seaviews and a wealth of birdlife. Note that during the nesting season (May 1st – July 1st) Grotta is closed.

A permanent art installation, Kvika by Olöf Nordal, made of dolomite stone with a round footbath carved into the center, is located on the northern side of the peninsula next to the shark-curing shed. People visiting are throughly encouraged to bring a towel and make good use of it by taking a relaxing footbath out in the open sea-air.

In case you'd like to warm-up more than just your toes, the town's thermal pool comes highly recommended and features a lap pool, several different hot tubs, a waterslide, a steam bath and toddler pool; all supplied uniquely with geothermal seawater.

Iceland's Landscape. Photo be Olga

Gardabaer

The Gardabaer town and municipality is an important part of the capital area near Reykjavík. It's a lively town with diverse landscapes, stretching from the beautiful Heidmörk Nature Reserve to the pleasant Alftanes peninsula.

The town has a rich historical background, which can be explored in great detail at the Hoffstadir Archaeological Park, where remains of a large farm from the settlement age are on exhibition. The site dates back to the end of the 9th century when Norwegian Vikings first settled this Arctic island. While visiting you can get the official story via their touch-screen display. Free admission and open 24 hours a day.

Iceland has a long history of art and design. Some of the creative results have been preserved in the Museum of Design and Applied Art at Gardatorg – the town center. The museum's objective is to collect, study and present Icelandic design and crafts dating from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day.

Situated on a low-lying peninsula just south of the city centre, Alftanes is a small community of about 2,500 people. One of its major attractions is the swimming pool, featuring the largest waterslide in the country and Iceland's only wave pool. If you're a fan of the outdoors, Alftanes is also a hikers' paradise with trails spanning 9 km (5, 1/2 miles) around the unique shoreline.

Those who are fascinated by the feathery residents of Reykjavík will also be pleased to discover that the shoreline is filled with clear ponds bustling with migratory birdlife.

Tale of the Heike

Tale of the Heike

(By Carl Sagan)

Let me tell you a story about one little phrase in the music of life on Earth. In the year 1185, the Emperor of Japan was a seven-year-old boy named Antoku. He was the nominal leader of a clan of samurai called the Heike, who were engaged in a long and bloody war with another samurai clan, the Genji.

Each asserted a superior ancestral claim to the imperial throne. Their decisive naval encounter, with the Emperor on board ship, occurred at Danno-ura in the Japanese Inland Sea on April 24, 1185.

The Heike were outnumbered, and outmaneuvered. Many were killed. The survivors, in massive numbers, threw themselves into the sea and drowned. The Lady Nii, grandmother of the Emperor, resolved that she and Antoku would not be captured by the enemy. What happened next is told in the Tale of the Heike:

The Emperor was seven years old that year but looked much older. He was so lovely that he seemed to shed a brilliant radiance and his long, black hair hung loose far down his back. With a look of surprise and anxiety on his face he asked the Lady Nii, “Wher are you to take me?”

She turned to the youthful sovereign, with tears streaming down her cheeks and comforted him, binding up his long hair in his dove-colored robe. Blinded with tears, the child sovereign put his beautiful small hands together. He turned first to the East to say farewell to the god of Ise and then to the West to repeat the Nembutsu (a prayer to the Amida Buddha). The Lady Nii took him tightly in her arms and with the words “In the depths of the ocean is our capitol”, sank with him at last beneath the waves.

A Japanese lady. Photo by Elena

The entire Heike battle fleet was destroyed. Only forty-three women survived. Only forty three women survived. These ladies-in waiting of the imperial court were forced to sell flowers and other favors to the fishermen near the scene of the battle. The Heike almost vanished from history. But a ragtag group of the former ladies-in waiting and their off-spring by the fisherfolk established a festival to commemorate the battle. This festival takes place on the twenty-fourth of April every year to this day. Fishermen who are descendant to the Heike dress in hemp and black headgear and proceed to the Akama shrine which contains the mausoleum of the drowned Emperor. There they watch a play portraying the events that followed the Battle of Danno-ura. For centuries after, people imagined that they could discern ghostly samurai armies vainly striving to bail the sea, to cleanse it of blood and defeat and humiliation.

The fishermen say the Heike samurai wander the bottoms of the Inland Sea still – in the form of crabs. There are crabs to be found here with curious marking on their backs, patterns and indentations that disturbingly resemble the face of a samurai. When caught, these crabs are not eaten, but are returned to the sea in commemoration of the doleful events at Danno-ura.

This legend raises a lovely problem. How does it come about that the face of a warrior is incised  on the carapace of a crab? The answer seems to be that humans made the face. The patterns on the crab’s shell are inherited. But among crabs, as among people, there are many different hereditary lines. Suppose that, by chance, among the distant ancestors of this crab, one arose before the battle of Danno-ura, fishermen may have been reluctant to eat such a crab. In throwing it back, they set in motion an evolutionary process: If you are a crab and your carapace is ordinary, they humans will eat you. Your line will leave fewer descendants. If your carapace looks a little like a face, they will throw you back. You will leave more descendants. Crabs had a substantial investment in the patterns on their carapaces. As the generations passed, of crabs and fishermen alike, the crabs with patterns that most resembled a samurai face survived preferentially until eventually there was produced not just a human face, not just a Japanese face, but the visage of fierce and scowling samurai.

All this has nothing to do with what crabs want. Selection is imposed from the outside. The more you like a samurai, the better are your chances of survival. Eventually, there come to be a great many samurai crabs.

This process is called artificial selection. In the case of Heike crab it was effected more or less unconsciously by the fishermen, and certainly without any serious contemplation by the crabs.

Icelandic Water

Icelandic Water

The Best in the World?

Icelanders have the good fortune of having access to an almost limitless and inexpensive supply of natural hot and cold water. In addition, Icelanders can be proud of the quality of drinking water, which is one of the purest in the world. The cold water from the tap is pure spring water, without any additives such as chlorine.

According to an OECD report from 2001, Icelandic drinking water is of high quality and without traces of contaminants or heavy metals. Stringent quality control measures ensure consistent quality and safety of the water.

In fact, Reykjavík Water Works, now a part of Reykjavík Energy, was the first Nordic company to receive the ISO 9001 quality standard.

Visitors to Iceland often ask why the hot water smells of rotten eggs. This is because the hot and cold water come from two different sources. It is true that the hot water sometimes smells of sulphur, which is due to the geothermal origins of the hot water, making it excellent for bathing, but not drinking. The hot water which is supplied by the geothermal power plants is best experienced in one of the many geothermal swimming pools of the city.

In order to enjoy the unique taste of the pure spring water, just remember to let the cold water run for a while from the tap before tasting, to ensure that no hot water is mixed in. The Icelandic spring water is safe, refreshing and tastes excellent. It is not without cause that Icelanders say their water is the best in the world.

Glacier Water in Iceland. Photo by Olga

Pools & Spas

Geothermal water is one of Iceland’s greatest natural resources. It’s used to heat houses and produce electricity, but most importantly, Icelanders love to swim in it. Pools and spas are a huge part of the Reykjavík lifestyle.

The country has over 170 pools – spread around the country and throughout all of the capital region’s neighbourhoods. Most swimming complexes include a lap pool, a hot tub of five and at least one steam room. If you’d like to treat yourself to Reykjavík’s loved spa culture, indulge in a trip to the local pool.

Thermal Pools included in the Reykjavík city card:

•     Arbaejarlaug – Fylkisvegur, Reykjavík
•     Breidholtslaug – Austurberg 3, 111 Reykjavík
•     Grafarvogslaug – Dalhus 2, 112 Reykjavík
•     Klebergslaug – Kjalarnes, 116 Reykjavík
•     Laugardalslaug – Sundlaugarvegur, 104 Reykjavík
•     Sundhöll Reykjavíkur – Baronstigur, 101 Reykjavík
•     Vesturbaejarlaug – Hofsvallagata, 101 Reykjavík

Other thermal pools in the Reykjavík capital area:

•     Sundhöll Hafnarfjardar – Herjolfsgata 10, Hafnarfjördur
•     Asvallalaug – Hringbraut 77, Hafnarfjördur
•     Kopavogslaug Borgarholtsbraut 17, Kopavogur
•     Salalaug – Versalir 3, 201 Kopavogur
•     Lagafellslaug – Laekjarhlid, 270 Mosfellsbaer
•     Varmarlaug – 270 Mosfellsbaer
•     Gardabaejarlaug – Bjarnastadir, 225 Alftanes
•     Sundlaug Seltjarnarness – Sudorströnd, 170 Seltjarnarnes
•     Loftleidlaug – Loftleidir hotel, 101 Reykjavík
•     Nautholsvik – Nautholsvegur, 101 Reykjavík.

Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics is the branch of economics that deals with the economy at large. Macroeconomics is concerned with how the economy of a country works, how the central bank of that country deals with its business cycles, GDP & GNP (Gross Domestic Product and Gross National Product, respectively), fiscal (taxes – government) and monetary (interest rates or money supply – central bank) policies and other related matters.

Introduction to Macroeconomics

Economics is a social science dealing with attempting to reconcile an unlimied amount of human needs with the limited number of world resources available. As such, economics can be subdivided into many disciplines, such as mircoeconomics, macroeconomics, finance, normative economics, financial econometrics and so on. Therefore, the following article covers some of the topics dicussed in macroeconomics, such as stagflation. Stagflation refers to a particularly unpropsperous economy in which high inflation is coupled with stagnant unemployment. As macroeconomics looks at economies as a whole, concetrating on central banking, nationa states, GDP, GNP and large international corporations, so unemployment is naturally an important topic in macroeconomic theory. Moreover, macroeconomic theory predicts business cycles and thus, economic recessions, as well as, economic expansions. Thus, during recessions growth is stagnant or lower, while unemployment is higher. Conversely, expansions correspond to spikes in production and lower unemployment. However, unemployment does not include everyone who is not employed. Hence, students, homemakers or persons who are not actively looking for a job (for example because they have given up), remain excluded from the national statistic for unemployed individuals. Additionally, central banks may attempt to manipulate the economy of a country through money supply. For instance, during an economic recession, a central bank may inject money into the economy, which then increases aggregate demand, which in turn stimulates the economy.

GDP equals consumption plus investment made by firms plus government expenditure plus exports minus imports. Investment in this case does not mean investing in securities or real estate (a house or a condominium is an investment, whereas a car is an expense), but investment of capital made by firms to increase, improve or maintain business operations.

GDP is calculated by adding all that has been produced within the borders of a country during a year. GNP is calculated by subtracting from that number all that was produced during that year by foreigners, and adding to the result all that was earned by the country’s citizens abroad. An important note to keep in mind is not to double and triple count, which is why second hand sales are not usually considered in the GDP computation. GDP does not measure everything; other aspects such as pollution, freedom and safety, and even happiness are important to quality of life as well.

Economics is everywhere, and understanding economics can help you make better decisions and lead a happier life. (Tyler Cowen). Photo: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Naturally, unemployment is likewise of interest to macroeconomists. During an economic contraction (recession) firms produce less, because of smaller aggregate demand, and tend to lay workers off. Laid off workers, in turn, lose their ability to purchase goods and services, and thus consumption goes down as well. Okun’s Law states that the country’s unemployment will move ½ of the percentage change of the GDP below or above potential GDP (at full employment).

During an expansion (boom) prices rise because people spend more. The central bank of a country has the responsibility to balance the economy. To achieve that, it can raise or lower the interest rate (which is then followed by commercial banks) or decrease or increase money supply. The bank cannot do both simultaneously.

Purchasing power parity has to do with the exchange rate between states, and refers to the notion that an equivalent basket of goods may be purchased in two countries if the money were exchanged at the agreed on rate. In reality, the equivalency does not always hold. A strong Canadian dollar would increase Canada’s imports, but reduce Canada’s exports, since other countries would no longer find Canadian prices competitive. Paradoxically, a strong currency can decrease a country’s GDP. Canada’s main trading partner is the USA, roughly 80% of total trade. Therefore, Canada’s economic health is greatly influenced by what is going on south of the border.

Macroeconomic Stability

There were two oil shocks, in 1973 and 1979; the following recessions (1974-1975; 1980-1982) have led to questioning about the causal link between oil price and economic slides (Clarida, Gali, & Gertler, 2000).

The authors discuss the pre-Volcker and Volcker-Greenspan eras (post late 1979), and test a New Keynesian model (reaction function). The backward-oriented Keynesian model is insensitive to fluctuation projections, elaborated on later in the manuscript. However, this may be acting through the intermediary of the resulting austere monetary policy. Along these lines, inflation was on the rise in the years preceding the oil crises. Price stickiness refers to prices that are slow motion in alteration. A self-fulfilling fluctuation is the phenomenon of upward trends in real interest rates as a consequence of a build-up of inflation. The anticipation forces downturns the rates South.

In economics, one of the most important concepts is “opportunity cost”- the idea that once you spend your money on something, you can’t spend it again on something else (Malcolm Turnbull. Photo: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

The authors render that with inflation lag below unity, the projected inflation Lower interest rates boost aggregate (total) demand inducing inflation to climb. The final picture proves the expectation hypothesis, similar to psychological concept of self-fulfilling prophecy, when our preconceptions of strangers make us behave in ways that elicit reactions from others than in turn confirm our initial mental schema.

The contrasting principle is the sunspot generalization effect. Supply shock affect inflation only when the gap is close to unity, theoretical application of the feedback rule. The argument stands that the Federal Reserve has been more tough on inflation in the Volcker-Greenspan epoch.

Reference

    Clarida, R., Gali, J., & Gertler, M. (2000). Monetary policy rules and macroeconomic stability: Evidence and some theory. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, February, 147-180.

Restaurants in Reykjavík

Restaurants in Reykjavík

Reykjavík has an excellent selection of top class restaurants, most of which are located in and around the city center.

Globalization has reached the city and can be seen in the wide range of tastes and flavours here. So if you like Asian, Japanese, Italian, Nordic, French or fusion cuisine, or would like to try something Icelandic, then head downtown and take your pick. Responding to the demand for vegetarian and vegan cuisine, more and more restaurants also offer meatless dishes on their menus.

You will find here a list of different dining experiences, ranging from fine dining at the top restaurants in the city to budget dining for those on the go. The combination of fresh ingredients and raw passion make it easy for chefs to create mouth-watering eating experiences in Iceland. Using only the best raw materials available, such as Icelandic mountain lamb, freshly-caught fish or newly-picked herbs, our chefs can create anything from a simple traditional dish to a masterpiece on a plate.

Good to know:

•     You can ask for a children’s menu, when dining out with little ones.
•     Tipping is not customary in Iceland since service is included in the price.
•     All restaurants, cafés and bars in Iceland are non smoking.

Fine dining is a must when on holiday and Iceland is no exception. Many of the restaurants in this category employ award-winning chefs, who have won praises for their cooking skills and innovative ideas. Fine dining includes top quality service, cosy ambience, unique menus and an excellent selection of wine.

Essensia

Hverfisgata 4-6, 101 R, tel: 517 0030

An authentic Italian – Mediterranean restaurant, also offering a good menu of tapas plates. A great selection of wines and cocktails. Make yourself at home. Great honest food, snazzy Italian design and a relaxed Nordic-meets-Mediterranean atmosphere – your search for the perfect Reykjavik restaurant stops right here. This stylish new kitchen, with a fabulous view, has been wowing discerning diners who are in the know for a few months. Now the secret’s out. Joyful plates for sharing The success of Essensia and its gorgeously Italian menu is all about a love of food, friends and full-on flavours. The dishes combine an Icelandic purity – a simple selection of fresh local ingredients – with the warmth and confidence of Mediterranean cuisine. Perfect by design Essensia is the bambino of head chef and owner Hakon Örvarsson, an award-winning chef (“Bocuse d’Or” no less!) with a vision. He has set out to create a comfort zone, where people come together to talk, eat and relax. Where Icelandic ingredients meet the flavors, simplicity and style of Italian Cuisine.

Fish. Photo by Olga

Kitchen & Wine at 101 Hotel

Hverfisgata 10, 101 R, tel: 580 0101

The restaurant is one of the trendiest places in town and serves great food, combining modern Icelandic and international cuisine. The lounge offers the opportunity to relax with a drink from a wide selection of cocktails, wine and spirits

Lobster House

Amtmannstígur 1, 101 R, tel: 561 3303

Gourmet nouvelle cuisine with exquisite courses, specializing in delicious lobster dishes. The historical premises create an ambience of warmth and elegance.If you want to enjoy gourmet French cuisine with a Nordic touch, then The Lobsterhouse is the right place for you. Our langoustine, is widely known for it’s great taste and is one of our most favored dishes. Dining with us is an experience full of warmth and history. The Lobsterhouse seats over seventy people and has banquet rooms available for smaller groups. Saved by the hippies: The Lobsterhouse was built in 1838 and is located at Bernhöftstorfa in down town Reykjavík. The house was built by Stefán Gunnlaugsson, a State Treasurer. By 1970, the houses in Berntöftstorfa were scheduled to be demolished for government offices. Before this came to be, a battle began for the preservation of the buildings. Customers say “Lovely spot, fine dining, excellent service. Food was amazing! We had the horse, puffin, and pork belly. It was all outstanding! Ambiance is fabulous. I am super happy to review this place.” (Trip Advisor). “Absolutely wonderful place, food was amazing. I had lobster and was cooked perfectly. Service was excellent. Highly recommend.”(Trip Advisor)

Seafood Grill

Skólavörðustígur 14

tel: 571 1100

An upmarket restaurant specializing in delicious fish dishes. Boasts an award- winning chef who serves up delicacies with ease. It was in 2010 that a young lad from Húsavík, a little fishing town in the north, was awarded the title “Chef of the year 2010”. The young chef, Gústav, and Master chef, Lárus Gunnar Jónasson spent months traveling around Iceland looking for the real taste of Icelandic food. Along the way they found a few things that are now key items decorating their new restaurant. An old freezing plant from Ísafjörður in the West Fjords, now serves as a backdrop for the bar at Restaurant Sjávargrillið. All around the restaurant you will find driftwood that the two friends, Lárus and Gústav, found on their travels. On the road Gústav came up with a menu like no other: Gústav’s Interpretation of the collective grill taste of his homeland, Iceland. Take a look at our menu. It will be our pleasure to fire up the old grill when you honor us with a visit. After years of study, strings of awards and having led kitchens of some of Reykjavík’s most esteemed restaurants, Gústav still sees him self as a kid from up north, with a life long passion for fish.

Skólabrú

Pósthússtræti 17, tel: 511 1690

Situated next to the Icelandic parliament in a charming old building. Specializes in Icelandic and international cuisine. Offers a variety of Icelandic lamb and seafood courses among other delicious dishes. Come enjoy the fuscious food based on the Icelandic cultural heritage and local culinary traditions.

Fish Company / Fiskfélagið

Grófartorg, Vesturgata 2a, tel: 552 5300

Variety of meat and fish courses with emphasis on the fish.

Geiri Smart

Hverfisgata 30, tel: 528 7050

Upmarket restaurant with a creative menu in a sophisticated environment.

Grillmarkaðurinn

Lækjargata 2a, tel: 571 7777

Offers a menu based on locally sourced Icelandic ingredients.

Kol Restaurant

Skólavörðustígur 40, tel: 517 7474

Kol offers trendy fresh food, made of quality produce.

Lækjarbrekka

Bankastræti 2

tel: 551 4430

Icelandic cuisine, most popular for their seafood and lamb.

ROK Restaurant

Frakkastigur 26a

tel: 544 4443

ROK offers classic Icelandic food, such as fish pie and cured lamb.

Local Food and Gourmet and the Countryside

Many visitors to the countryside are astounded by the quality of restaurants in the tiny villages and farms. In fact, many have been praised for their world-class meals and personal service.

Fresh rivers, nearby farms and fertile hillsides are the treasure chest from which country chefs get their ingredients.

Freshly-picked berries and herbs just add to the excellence of country catering.

Stríkið in Akureyri has an award-winning chef who serves up local delicacies such as duck and goose from nearby islets. Local food is often marketed under logos such as “Food Chest Skagafjörður” in the north-west of Iceland, guaranteeing that produce comes straight from the farm or a local fishing boat. “Vestfirðir – Local Food“ in the west fjords is the mark for fresh ocean products and in East Iceland where reindeer and goose make its way to the table, there is a movement called “Austfirskar Krásir”, guaranteeing freshness and quality. South Iceland is the most fertile area in the country, famous for its dairy products. Here, geothermal energy has made greenhouse farming possible, producing the majority of Icelandic organic vegetables. Rich fishing grounds have given rise to seafood restaurants such as Fjöruborðið in Stokkseyri, famous for its delicious lobster feast. In Eyrarbakki, Hafið Bláa and Rauða Húsið are also popular seafood restaurants. Salthúsið in Grindavík offers delicious seafood dishes, with salted cod, bacalao, being a firm favourite.

Kopavogur

Kopavogur

Kopavogur is Iceland’s second largest municipality. Just a stone’s throw from the centre of Reykjavík, the town boasts a number of remarkable sights and building including a modern dome-shaped church, a recital hall, a modern art museum and a natural history museum. Kopavogur is the perfect destination if you’re in the mood to get in touch with nature and we recommend taking some time to experience the coastal ecosystem and birdlife. After a long day of exploring, a visit to one of the capital area’s best swimming pools is the perfect way to relax.

Culture

Kapavogur’s Culture Houses are a collection of institutions dedicated to art and culture, conveniently located in a cluster of buildings at Hamraborg 4 – 6.

The Kopavogur Art Museum, Gerdarsafn, is a progressive museum focusing mostly on modern and contemporary art. The museum offers temporary exhibitions with works by Icelandic and international contemporary artists as well as displaying works from the museum’s collection.

The exhibitions are generally inspired by the museum’s status as the only Icelandic museum built in honour of a female artist, Gerdur Helgadottir (1928 – 1975). Gerdur Helgadottir was a pioneer of three-dimensional abstract art and glass art in Iceland and the museum collection holds over fourteen hundred works by Gerdur. Address: Gerdarsafn Art Museum Hamraborg 4.

Next door to the art museum is the Kopavogur Public Library. The library has an extensive selection of books and magazines, in English as well as Icelandic.

Salurinn Concert Hall was the first concert hall in Iceland to be specifically designed with regards to acoustics. It hosts all kinds of concerts.

The Natural History Museum hosts exhibitions, with an emphasis on geology and Icelandci wildlife, including the arctic fox and numerous species of fish and birds. It also has an “extraordinary” (ad described by David Attenborough, when he visited in 2005) exhibition of Japanese style Marimo lake balls. Science fans will also want to check out the Borgarholt coastal preserve just a short walk away. Address: Natural History Museum, Hamraborg 6A.

Black Beach, the sand is black because of volcano eruptions.

Health and Lifestyle

The Kopavogur swimming pool is well worth a visit. It’s a great place for young families, with an outdoor swimming pool, several hot tubs and a sauna. There is also a Nautilus gym on the grounds. Address : Borgarholtsbraut 17.

Another great place to make a splash is the Versalir thermal pool and gym. As one of the newst facilities in the capital area, it’s well worth a visit. If you’d rather work up a sweat, you could visit the Nautilus gym onsite. Address : Versalir Thermal Pool and Gym, Versölum 3.

In addition to the great facilities Kopavogur has to offer, the town is also rich in green areas, walking paths and bicycle paths, perfect for a day out in nature. Whether you feel like having a day out in nature, taking in some art and culture, going swimming, shopping or to the gym, Kopavogur is the perfect destination.

The Hamraborg area is serviced by buses no, 1,2 and 4.

Origin of Icelanders and the Icelandic Language

Origin of Icelanders and the Icelandic Language

Iceland was first populated in the 9th century by Norse settlers, a number of whom took Celtic slaves and wives from Ireland and Scotland along the way. There is evidence to suggest that the island’s existence had been known for centuries, and Irish monks may have come here to meditate and worship in solitude.

There are several recorded discoveries of Iceland, and the first one was by the Viking Naddoður, who drifted to the east coast of Iceland after getting lost, and named it Snæland (Snowland).

Hrafna-Flóki was the first Scandinavian who deliberately sailed here, and gave the island its current name after spotting some drift ice in the fjords during his winter-long stay. Subsequently the first permanent settler, Ingólfur Arnarson, left the shores of Norway with his family, slaves and livestock and made his home in Reykjavík. The rest is history as they say, presented in worldclass exhibits in the National Museum of Iceland, the Settlement Exhibition.

During the Viking Age, the North-Germanic language, Old Norse, was spoken by Scandinavians in their homelands and overseas settlements. Regional differences increased up to the 13th century and accelerated in the 14th century. Changes appeared in the Icelandic pronunciation that were not heard in the other Scandinavian languages, and the grammar became considerably simpler outside Iceland.

Due to the similarity between modern and ancient grammar and writing, most Icelanders are still able to read and understand the original Sagas, although most texts have been somewhat simplified.

South Iceland

Icelandic seafarers discovered America around the year 1000, sailing on open ships with one sail. They conquered the waves of the Atlantic by primitive means of navigating, sailing mostly by the sun and stars and the flight of seabirds.

The story surrounding this is in part a family drama. It begins with Eiríkur Rauði (Eric-the-Red), a troublesome man who was exiled from both Iceland and Norway “because of some killings”. He settled Greenland in 985, followed by several hundred Icelanders. That same year, an Icelandic merchant named Bjarni Herjólfsson was sailing for Greenland, but got blown off-course and reported seeing land to the west.

In the year 1000, Leifur Heppni (Leifur-the-Lucky), son of Eiríkur Rauði, went to explore the land that Bjarni had sighted. He discovered an area he named Vínland, “a land of mild climate, self sown wheat and grapes”. Leifur was the first European to set foot on the continent of North America.

Leifur’s brother, Þorsteinn, attempted to go there with his wife Guðríður Þorbjarnadóttir, without succeeding. After Þorsteinns’ death, Guðríður and her new husband, Þorfinnur Karlsefni, returned to Vínland to form a settlement.

Their son Snorri was the first European born in America. Initially the Vikings conducted peaceful trade with the native American tribes, but eventually conflict broke out. This drove the Icelanders back to Greenland, and successful voyages to Vínland are not reported after that.

In the year 1477, a young Italian sailor visited Iceland. Scholars believe he heard rumours of Vínland, giving him a daring idea of his own to pursue. The name of this man was Christopher Columbus, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Going on a Foreign Fling

Going on a Foreign Fling

American Depositary Receipt makes it easier than you think

Americans used to be innocents abroad when it came to foreign investing. Today, however, it`s getting easier and easier for Americans to invest overseas, even novices are joining in. The easiest way to invest abroad is to buy shares in a mutual fund that specializes in overseas companies. But increasingly investors are purchasing shares of individual companies in the form of American Depository receipts, or ADRs.

Thousands of foreign companies now trade on U.S. stock exchanges in the form of ADRs, dollar-denominated securities that represent a given number of company shares. Trading volume top trillion of dollars, more than thirty times what it was in 1990. There`s no addition to the billions of dollars of American investors poured into international equity funds.

It’s easy to understand the enthusiasm. Merrill Lynch`s ADR Composite Index has been chalking up impressive gains compared to the Standard & Poor`s 500 stock index, though no one knows whether that will continue to be the case. For some time now, however, many investment pros have felt that that U.S. stocks are pricey compared to bargains that can be found overseas.

You don`t have to leave home to buy an ADR. They are used by U.S. banks that hold the underlying foreign shares in custody, and ADRs are sold in U.S. dollars through brokers, just like stocks. All you have to do to buy one is pick up the phone or connect to Internet.

Art Nouveau in New Yorl. Photo by Elena

Getting timely information about the company whose stock you`re buying can be more difficult. About two-thirds of ADRs are listed on the “pink sheets”, a thinly traded part of the over-the-counter market that is exempt from the rules of the bigger exchanges. These companies do not have to file financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission nor are they required to send income reports to shareholders.

Pros generally counsel that average investors stick with the 300 or so companies trading on the big exchanges that meet U.S. standards of accounting and disclosure. In 1994, Chicago based Morningstar Inc., a publisher of mutual fund reports, started bi-weekly Morningstar American Depositary receipts. The report tracked initially more than 700 ADRs, with up to 10 years of data, business summaries, and market snapshots.

Accurate financial information doesn`t always shield investors from some of the risks inherent in ADR investing. Because the underlying stock is denominated in local currency, a strengthening dollars hurts ADR`s price. Investors in STET, one of Italy`s leading communication companies, for instance, may find that they take more than a passing interest if the Italian government falls, etc.

Healthy Lifestyle

Healthy Lifestyle

Many compare health to wealth. Health is crucial and today’s society focuses many efforts on health, medicine, lifestyles and natural ways to become and/or stay healthy. The present section discusses topics related to this aspect of human life.

Today’s society is almost obsessed with leading a healthy lifestyle. Surely, it is desirable, but what is it and how to achieve it? A healthy lifestyle has many benefits, increasing life expectancy, improving quality of life and reducing many health risks.

Nutrition

One of the most important aspects of a healthy lifestyle is adequate nutrition. While a nutrition specialist can provide accurate and personalized/customized advice, it is possible to eat healthy following a couple of simple rules.

The main ingredients of a healthy diet are proteins and vegetables. The benefits of fruits remain questionable. Fruits are rich in vitamins, but also contain a lot of sugar. Fructose, the type of sugar found in fruit, is better than regular sugar, but it’s still sugar. Biologists say that when blood sugar levels decrease after time has passed since the last sugar intake, it can produce a “down” or a slightly depressed mood.

Fitness

We think we are correct in saying that everyone knows that exercise is important. However, regular exercise demands will power, commitment and, of course, time. Regardless, it is not necessary to spend hours at the gym daily to reap the benefits of regular physical activity. 

Unless you want to be a professional bodybuilder and win fitness competitions, you might not even need to enrol in a gym. Jogging or even walking, if done often enough, is sufficient to strengthen your cardiovascular health. According to some personal trainers, as little as 20 minutes of cardio 3 times a week is enough.

Interestingly enough, cardio even improves cognitive function by improving blood flow to the brain. Exercise has other positive impacts on the brain as well. For example, fitness activities contribute to the release of endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural “feel good drugs”. Endorphins produce a kind of “high”, but unlike street drugs, have no negative consequences.

Mind body connection

As simplistic as it may sound, one of the most important principles of staying healthy is the mind body connection. When working out “feeling” or thinking about a muscle may help to target it. Results from working out do not always produce the desired effect on problem areas. YouTube has many video tutorials helping working on particular muscle groups.

Playing It Safe at Blood Banks

Playing It Safe at Blood Banks

The risk has some doctors advising patients t be their own donors

For those who need a blood transfusion during surgery, it can be very reassuring to bank and use your own blood or have a family member with a compatible blood type be your donor. In fact, some doctors now are recommending the procedure, known as an autologous blood transfusion, to their patients. Of the approximately four million blood transfusions that take place in the United States each year, the American Red Cross estimates that the percentage of people collecting blood for personal use has grwn from to 2 to 5 percent recently, and the organization expects the upward trend to continue.

Although most of the 2,400 blood banks around the country are safer than they have ever been, worrisome problems remain. Improved tests have reduced the risks of contracting the AIDS virsu from bloood transfusions from between 1 in 30,000 to 1in 225,000. More disconcerting, however, is the risk of getting hepatitis C, which can cause chronic liver disease. According to data gathered by the Food and Drug Administration, the risk of getting contaminated by hepatitis C is about 1 in 3,300 for one unit of blood. (The average-sized transfusion typically requires four units).

With over 20 millions units of blood donated in the United States annually, clerical errors in tracking blood samples are not uncommon. According to an investigation by U.S. News and World Report, the FDA compiled evidence of about 1,000 errors and accidents at blood banks every year. The number has increased tenfold since the end of the 20th century and has remained at similar magnitudes since.

Blood banks, are they safe? Photo by Elena

To donate your own blood, you must make arrangements with a blood bank at least a week before surgery. First your doctor writes you a prescription to donate your own blood, which you then take to the blood bank. Because your blood has to go through a separate tracking system to make sure it gets to the surgery site on time, the cost is somewhat higher – up to 300 dollars to donate your own blood, compared to about $150 or so to use blood from a blood bank.

In fact, doctors prescribe using your own blood more and more. Hospitals agree, is the safest transfusion.

Not everyone applauds this trend, however. A study in the New England of Medicine argued that the added expense of an autologous transfusion often is not justified by the small risk of transfusion-associated infection. The study also found that in the majority of cases more blood is collected than used and that the excess blood is usually discarded.

As an editorial in the same issue pointed out, however, cost should not be the only factor in determening a procedure’s worth – peace of mind is an unquantifiable, but important, consideration in any medical undertaking.

Blood you can use:

In your first month of life, your red blood cells build antibodies that determine what other red blood cells they will associate with. Group-O people (universal donors) can donate red cells to anyone but can receive only from other Os. Group-AB people (universal recipients) can receive red cells from anyone but can donate only to other ABs.

Recipient Group	Donor group A	Donor group B	Donor group AB	Donor Group O
A	Yes	No	No	Yes
B	No	Yes	No	Yes
AB	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
O	No	No	No	Yes

Kids and Vegetarianism

Kids and Vegetarianism: When Kids Don’t Like Meat

Vegetarianism poses a special nutritional challenge in the young

Kids and vegetarianism – Of the 15 million (or so) Americans who consider themselves vegetarians, no one knows how many have yet to celebrate their 21st birthday. Experts say, however, that adolescents make up the fastest-growing group of peopue who shun meat. But the nutritional needs of young people, particularly during growth spurts, may not be adequately addressed by some vegetarian diets. So what’s appropriate nutritionally and what’s not?

Is vegetarianism safe for children?

Well-planed vegetarian diets can be healthful for children over the age of two if they are carefully planned. These diet tend to be low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol and tend to be high i fiber and comlex carbohydrates, as well as high in fruits and vegetables for iron.

What precautions are needed for primary- school-aged children who are vegetarian?

Preschool-age vegetarian children on lacto-ovo (eggs and dairy products are allowed) diets, lacto-vegetarian (dairy products are allowed) diets, and semi-vegetarian (no red meat) diets rarely have problems, except occasionally for the lack of iron. The children more likely to have problems are vegans; they don’t eat any animal products at all, including milk or eggs. Nutrient supplement can help prevent these problems, though.

What about teen vegetarians?

Vegetarian adolescents who drink milk and/or eat eggs have few problems if they follow basic nutrition guidelines. Vegetarian diets also seem to have little effect on age of menarche. There may be some effect on the menstrual cycle of female vegans, although these findings have not been substantiated. A vegetarian adolescent may benefit from iron and, possibly, zinc and calcium supplements. All adolescents should keep their ascorbic acid and iron intakes high via whole-grain and fortified cereals to prevent iron-deficiency anemia.

Churchill Park in Toronto, dogyard. Photo by Elena

Do teenage girls who are vegetarians need to take special precautions?

Once again, there may be problems with iron or calcium. When weights are very low, menstrual cycling may be abnormal or absent. Calcium needs are very high, and they are very difficult to meet on vegan diets. It is also very difficult to plan vegan diets that meed the RDA for zinc.

Can, like, greasy food cause acne?

Recent medical research has refuted years of received adolescent wisdom that a diet rich in chocolate and other greasy foods guaranteed a horrific acne eruption. The research shows no evidence to support a link between diet and pimples, except in people allergic to certain food. The true cause is increased production of sebum (and oily secretion) by the skin – a natural response to increased hormone levels during puberty. But doctors caution that even though candy bars and other greasy foods won’t cause acne, they are still high in fat and shouldn’t be eaten in excess.

Physical Development in Adolescents

Physical Development: The Body’s Wonder Years

Most teens will probably tell you that “normal adolescent development” is an oxymoron. But despite the awkwardness that goes with the change from child to adult, the transition is usually a predictable one.

Physical development in adolescent girls

Age noticeable change usually begins and stops:

Increase in rate of growth – begins at 10 to 11 and stops at 15 to 16. If noticeable growth fails to begin by 15, see your doctor.

Breast development – begins at 10 to 11 and stops at 13 to 14. Noticeable development of breasts (one of which may begin to grow before the other) is usually the first sign of puberty. If change doesn’t begin by 16, see your doctor.

Emergence of body hair begins – Pubic: 10 to 11, underarm – 12 to 13. Stops at 13 – 14 (pubic) and 15 – 16 (underarm). Development of body hair is extremely variable and largely dependant on heredity. Pubic hair usually darkens and thickens as puberty progresses.

Development of sweat glands under arms and in groin: Begins at 12 or 13. Stops at 15 or 16. Sweat glands are responsible for increased sweating, which causes underarm odor, a type of body odor not present in younger children.

Menstruation: The change begins at 11 to 14 and stops at 15 to 17. Menstruation often begins with extremely irregular periods but by age 17, a regular cycle (3 to 7 days every 28 days) usually becomes evident. If menstruation begins before 10 or has not begun by 17, talk to your physician.

Adolescent Girl. Photo by Elena

Physical development in adolescent boys

Age noticeable change usually begins and stops:

Increase in rate of growth – begins at 12 to 13 and stops at 17 to 18. If noticeable growth fails to begin by 15, see your doctor.

Enlargement of genitals: Testicles and scrotum – change begins at 11 to 12 and stops at 16 to 17. Penis – 12 to 13 and 15 to 16. As testicles grow, the skin of the scrotum darkens. The penis usually lengthens before it broadens. Ability to ejaculate seminal fluid usually begins about a year after the penis starts to lengthen.

Emergence of body hair begins – Pubic: 11 to 12, underarm – 12 to 13. Stops at 15 – 16 (pubic) and 16 – 18 (underarm). Development of body hair is extremely variable and largely dependent on heredity. Development of hair on the abdomen and chest usually continues into adulthood.

Development of sweat glands under arms and in groin: Begins at 13 or 15. Stops at 17 or 18. Sweat glands are responsible for increased sweating, which causes underarm odor, a type of body odor not present in younger children.

Voice change: begins at 13 to 14. Stops at 16 to 17. Enlargement of the larynx, of voice box, may make the Adam’s apple more prominent. The voice deepens at 14 to 15, and may change rapidly or gradually. If childlike voice persists after 16, see your doctor.

(Source: American Medical Association Family Medical Guide, Random House).

Calendar for Kid’s Shots

Calendar for Kid’s Shots

The experts finally agree on an immunization schedule

For years, federal health officials at the Centers for Disease Control recommended a childhood immunization schedule that was followed in public health clinics, while the American Academy of Pediatrics put out a different one that was used widely by private practitioners. Now the two groups have finally issued a uniform timetable for vaccinating children (see below). The schedule clears up discrepancies over when to administer oral polio, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT); measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); and infant hepatitis B vaccines.

Since the late 1980s the number of vaccine doses recommended for children has increased from 9 to 15. What’s more, federal health officials recently approved a vaccine for chicken pox. The vaccine is reported to be only 90 percent effictive in preventing the childhood disease, but in nearly every case, says Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, “almost all of the vaccinated patients who got chicken pox had a milder form of the disease.”

The vaccine is expected to be administrated to children 12 to 15 months old and to people over 13 years old who have not had the disease already.

To promote universal childhood vaccination, the Clinton administration persuaded the Congress to pay for immunizing children who are uninsured, poor, or of Native American or Native Alaskan ancestry. Much of the states had elected to make vaccines available free through public health clinics while the other states are working through private physicians and reimbursing them. State Medicaid programs remain responsible for supplying vaccines to children enrolled inn Medicaid. For the situation in your state, contact your state health department’ immunization program.

Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule

The Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics are America’s leading authorities on childhood immunization. But until recently they disagreed about when children should be immunized. Below is their unified immunization schedule.

Vaccine, First Dose, Second Dose, Third Dose, Fourth Dose, Fifth Dose, Sixth Dose

Hepatitis B – Before 2 months, 1 – 4 months (1), 6 – 18 months.

Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT) – 2 months, 4 months, 6 months (1), 12-18, 4-6 years (booster) (2) 11-16 years.

H. influenza type B – 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12-15 months (booster). (3).

Polio – 2 months, 4 months, 6-8 months, 4-6 years.

MMR – 12-15 months, 4-6 years or 11-12 years. (4)

(1) – Allow at least one month after previous dose before administering next.

(2) – Allow at least five years after previous dose before administering next.

(3) – Children who get an H. Influenza vaccine known as PRP-OMP do not require a dose at 6 months, but still require the booster.

(4) Depends on state school requirements.

Newborn's Weight

Sizing Up the New Arrival

A newborn’s weight cannot be used to predict a child’s future size.

Ask any parent what she or he remembers from the birth of a first child and one of the first details likely to be recalled is the baby’s birth weight and height. What is to be made of these vital statistics that are so proudly reported? 80% of all infants born in the United States fall between 5 pounds 11 1/2 ounces and 8 pounds 5 3/4 ounces at birth. About 1 in 10 newborns weighs in above the range; an equivalent number is below the low end of this zone.

Where your child is on this continuum may depend on a number of factors. For instance, the longer a pregnancy goes on, the larger the infant is likely to be, while an unborn baby’s growth may be limited by poor nutrition or other complications during pregnancy. Smoking, drinking, or drug use by the mother during pregnancy can also stunt development.

Heredity also plays a part, though it’s no guarantee of how large an infant will grow up to be. While babies whose parents are unusually large or small may reflect their parents’ size at birth, an infant’s birth size should not be taken as a predictor of a child’s eventual size, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Babies whose birth size is larger or smaller than average may find life beyond the womb difficult at first. Large babies sometimes experience trouble with their blood-sugar levels and need extra feedings to avoid hypoglycemia. Small babies may find feeding difficult or have trouble maintaining proper body temperature.

A newborn’s birth size can be a tip-off to doctors and nurses that a baby will require special attention for a few days. But more often than not, these stats will be used mainly as benchmarks by parents and pediatricians in following an infant’s advance through childhood.

God`s Garden. The Kiss of the Sun for Pardon. The song of the birds for Mirth. One is nearer to God in a Garden than anywhere else on Earth (Dorothy Frances Gurney, dedicated to the Glory of God by friends of the St. James Park). Photo by Elena

Rating a Newborn’s Health

Within a minute of delivering a baby, the obstetrics team will check the newborn’s heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, reflexes, and coloration and record a score designed to reflect how that baby came through the delivery process. That rating, known as an Apgar score, is compiled by issuing a ranking between zero and two for each of the vital signs and indicators listed above, and then adding each of the numbers together to arrive at a single score. The process is then repeated five minutes after birth and the two sets of observations are compared to gauge the baby’s progress in adjusting to his or her new environment. But Apgar scores are not intended as a reliable predictor of a baby’s long-term health prospects, only of how the newborn is adapting to life outside a mother’s womb.

Component and Apgar Score

    Heart Rate Absent – Slow (less than 100 beats/minute) – More that 100 beats/min.

    Respiration – Absent – Weak; hypoventilation – Good, Strong cry.

    Muscle Tone – Limp – Some Flexion – Active Motion.

    Reflex Irritability – No response – Grimace – Cough or sneeze.

    Color – Blue or Pale – Body Pink; extremities blue – Complete pink.

When the Stork is a Midwife

When the Stork is a Midwife

Nurse midwives are better-trained and increasingly common today

The image of the midwife from medieval and pioneer times was not one to inspire confidence. But much has happened in recent years to professionalize the role of midwives in assisting childbirth, and today almost 1 in 20 births are attended by a registered nurse trained as a midwife. Kimberly Pool of the American College of Nurse-Midwives explains what a certified nurse-midwife can – and can’t – do.

What types of midwives are there? – The two basic categories are nurse-midwives and lay midwifes. Lay midwives are people who help women deliver their babies but are not necessarily nurses and differ widely in their level of education and experience.

Nurse-midwives are registered nurses who have completed additional training in obstetrics and gynecology. Often they are certified by passing a national exam administered by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. To qualify for the exam, they must spend a minimum of 18 months learning clinical midwifery skills and advanced obstetrics and gynecology for normal women, as well as newborn care and family planning.

What do nurse-midwives do? – By education and experience, a nurse-midwife is qualified to be the main caregiver for healthy women throughout pregnancy and childbirth, and to provide gynecological and family planning care throughout a woman’s childbearing years. In most states they have the authority to write medical prescriptions.

The nurse-midwifery policy is to consult with a doctor when a condition arises in pregnancy or labor that is considered to be medically dangerous. In most cases this means that the mother is not healthy, has high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, an abnormal metabolism, infections, or an improperly developed fetus or placenta.

Midwife. Photo by Elena

Where do nurse-midwives deliver babies? – Many people envision a birth at home when they hear the word “midwife.” Bust the vast majority of nurse-midwives work in hospitals – about 85 percent. Another 11 percent work in birth centers, and the remaining 4 percent attend home births.

What kind of backup do nurse-midwifes have if something goes wrong? – Whether a problem is apparent during the first prenatal visit or does not arise until the final hour of labor, a nurse-midwife is taught to call in a doctor as soon as the woman’s condition strays outside the boundaries of a nurse-midwife’s expertise. The mother may be referred to the consulting doctor for medical care, or the physician and the nurse-midwife may co-manage the care, depending on what the complication is.

Are doctors always willing to work with nurse-midwives? – Not all doctors think highly of nurse-midwives, but as the number of certified nurse-midwives increases, this attitude is decreasing. A policy statement issued by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American College of Nurse-Midwives states that the maternity car team should be directed by a qualified ob/gyn with written medical guidelines that define the individual and shared responsibilities of the doctor and nurse-midwife. These procedures include periodic and joint evaluation of services performed, including chart review, case review, patient evaluation, and review of data on the health of babies over time.

How do nurse-midwives differ from doctors? – Nurse-midwives are trained to treat normal, healthy women, and in that capacity they celebrate the normal. Doctors are trained to handle the emergency situation and because they have spent much more of their training on what to do if something goes wrong, they may be more likely to treat a normal pregnancy as if it were a high-risk situation waiting to happen.

Do nurse-midwives only deliver babies “naturally”? – Nurse-midwives use technology when it is needed to learn something about the pregnancy that they otherwise would not know. During labor, nurse-midwives induce labor, break waters, start intravenous lines, use fetal monitoring equipment, and prescribe analgesics when it is medically necessary, thereby minimizing side effects and often ensuring that labor progresses more quickly.

What is the record for nurse-midwives delivering babies? – Over the years nurse-midwives have maintained a superb safety record. Research shows that pregnancy, labor, and delivery for a healthy woman is as safe with a nurse-midwife as with a physician. Studies have also shown that the rate of Cesarean sections, episiotomies, infant and maternal mortality, and low birth weight are often much lower than average among women being cared for by a nurse-midwife.

In fact, government reports have called for an increased use of nurse-midwives as a safe way to improve maternity care.

How does the cost of using a nurse-midwife compare with using a doctor? – Having your baby with a nurse-midwife usually costs less than obstetrical care with a physician in a hospital. The cost of midwifery care usually varies with the setting; most costly is a nurse-midwife in private practice with a hospital birth.

The least expensive is usually a home birth, which may cost a fraction of the price of a hospital birth. Birth centers fall somewhere in the middle. These differences may be significant or minimal; it all depends on the community.

Are nurse-midwives’ fees covered by insurance? – All 50 states provide Medicaid reimbursement for nurse-midwifery care, regardless of whether the birth occurs in a hospital, birth center, or home.

In many states, insurers are required to reimburse for nurse-midwifery care, although not necessarily in all possible birth settings.

They Stand ad Deliver

A resource guide for those who are considering childbirth options

For more information on certified nurse-midwives:

• American College of Nurse-Midwives.

For information on lay midwives:

• Informed Homebirth/Informed Birth and Parenting;
• National Association of Childbearing Centers;
• Midwife Alliance of North America.

A girl. Illustration by Elena.