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Iodine Requirement in Babies: All you Need to Know
Babies need iodine for their healthy growth. By giving them food rich in iodine, you can safeguard your baby from health problems arising out of iodine deficiency.
Iodine is one the most important minerals necessary for a baby’s development, especially for a healthy thyroid. The thyroid gland controls the release of hormones essential for metabolism, regulating growth, body temperature, blood cell production, as well as nerve and muscle function. Iodine deficiency in babies can lead to many health hazards; hence it should be an important part of their diet.
Iodine deficient babies can have an enlarged thyroid gland or goitre which can further lead to following health risks:
Insufficient hormone production
Breathing and swallowing difficulties
Hypothyroidism which is the major cause for weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, intolerance to cold and depression
Lower intelligence levels, stunted growth and other impairments due to improper brain development
Other Facts about Iodine
Infants up to 6 months need an iodine intake of 90 micrograms per day, and from 7 month till 12 months, they need around 110 micrograms
Breast milk is the only and best source of iodine for babies. Breastfeeding also helps in development of their brain and nervous system.
Iodine deficiency can be diagnosed by urine or thyroid function test.
Iodine deficiency once detected needs to be monitored and corrected. Consult your doctor in such cases to know about ways to increase your iodine content. Breastfeeding mothers might be recommended iodine supplements to ensure that the baby is getting enough iodine.
Iodised salt needs to be preserved in glass or plastic airtight containers to preserve the iodine content as excessive exposure to sunlight and moisture can destroy the same. It is advisable to consume iodised salt within 12 months of packaging.
Sources of Iodine
Iodine does not get stored in the body, so babies need some iodine on a daily basis from external sources. While mother’s milk is the best source of iodine for babies, you can include other foods that are rich in iodine in your baby’s diet as he grows.
Eggs, Meat and Dairy products
All these products contain iodine and should constitute the diet of your child. Soya milk is also a good option.
Packaged Bread
Organic, salt-free bread or bread mixes have good iodine content in them. So start using these kinds of breads for your baby during breakfast or snack times.
Seafood
Seafood is rich in iodine contents, such as tuna or salmon fish. However, many people especially kids get allergy from seafood, hence it should be properly chosen.
Natural Resources
Cereals, pulses or fresh foods that grow in soil are the best sources of iodine, which can be introduced to babies gradually.
Iodised Salt
This is the easiest source of iodine that can be included in day to day food. Use iodised salt for making any food for your child as well as your family. Sometimes we cut down on the intake of salt due to blood pressure issues, but the right amount of iodised salt is good for health.
Iodine Supplement
Certain iodine supplements are also available in the market which can be given to your babies after consulting with your pediatrician.
The body requirement of iodine changes with age, and also it is different for pregnant women. As per your baby's age, right proportions of iodine need to be included in his/her diet. Excess of iodine intake is equally harmful for babies. Most of the iodine we consume is passed out of your body with urine.
Regular intake of iodine in any form is important for your baby’s thyroid gland, and his/her overall development. Read more
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10 Best Tips for Managing Parenting Stress and Anxiety
Raising a child is not an easy job and it would not be completely wrong to associate the two words - 'stress' and 'anxiety' with parenting. As parents, you are likely to worry about the well-being of your child. The day to day issues that concern your child can even make you stressed and anxious. The important thing that will convince you is that these feelings will go away once you know how to deal with them effectively. Any kind of unnecessary worrying will do no good to you or to your child. Therefore, you need not stress yourself for no reason. Here is how you can deal with parenting stress and anxiety.
What Is Parenting Stress and Anxiety?
Parenting stress is associated with feeling that parents may develop regarding various aspects related to their child’s life. Here are issues that may evoke parental stress:
Whether a child is achieving various developmental milestones in time or not.
If a child is spending too much time at the daycare centre.
If a child is friendly enough or does he have enough friends.
If the child is getting good grades in the class or not.
Whether a child is good at extra-curricular activities or not.
Whether a child is getting enough nutrition or not.
The above-mentioned are some of the issues that we pointed; however, there can be numerous such issues that can cause stress in parents.
What Causes Parenting Anxiety and Stress?
Where some parents may get all stressed about certain aspects concerning their kid’s life, others may not and hence they may not create hoopla over the situation. The question here is why parents get all stressed up or anxious. Here are some common causes that may lead to anxiety and stress in parents:
The constraint of time and the guilt of not spending adequate time with the child.
When other relationships take a back seat and parenthood becomes the prime focus.
Being uncertain about your parenting duties.
The protective instincts of parents toward their kid may make the parents anxious.
The growing financial expenditure of the kids and meeting up their demands may cause stress.
Lack of personal time and space may make the parents anxious too.
How to Cope With Parenting Stress and Anxiety
If you are also dealing with parenting stress, then you need help. Here are some parenting stress management techniques that will help you deal with parental anxiety and stress:
1. Plan Well
Every stage of parenthood brings along a different set of challenges with it. The things that you could earlier do with ease and within your planned time, may take days to finish. You may find yourself struggling to do the same things and the inability to get the tasks done in time may trigger panic. Therefore, it becomes important that you prioritise things and postpone the lesser important things. Planning in advance will come handy when you have a child in your child.
2. Ask for Help
Don’t behave like a superman or super-woman, thinking that you have it all under control. It is okay to seek help from your partner, family, and friends too. If you can afford house help or hire a maid, you should do that. If someone can share your household responsibilities to ease out the feelings of frustration, it would be a bonus.
3. Talk to Your Partner
The best way to feel relaxed and calm is by talking to your partner and sharing your feelings. This is because it is your partner who is on the same journey as you are and he may be able to relate better to your problems and concerns. Sometimes you may not be looking for solutions but just wanting somebody to listen to you tirelessly and your partner is the best person to share these feelings with.
4. Get Professional Help
It is looked with raised eyes, whenever someone thinks about taking help for their issues. Don’t mind what others say, what matters here is you and your children. Getting professional help and guidance will help you deal with your issues in a better way and thus may help you become a better parent.
5. Pamper Yourself
From the time you become parents, your kids become your first priority and your needs take a backseat. But don't let that happen. Prioritising your child is fine, but along with that, you need to prioritise yourself, too. Pamper yourself, take care of your needs. When you will do things that make you happy, your stress or anxiety will go away.
6. Manage Work and Home Well
Easier said than done! When you are a working mom, and you have a child and a house to look after too, things can go crazy. However, the best you can do is either look for work from home job options, or you can opt for a job that offers you flexible timings. You can rely on a family member, or you can hire some help to take care of your kid and household chores.
7. Meditate
The best way to get rid of stress is to meditate. Breathing and concentration techniques work wonders in making one feel calm and relaxed. Seek professional help to learn the correct way of mediation. Once you learn it, meditate regularly and keep the stress at bay.
8. Listen to Music
Listening to some soothing music can help you relax and lower your stress. Music is the food for your soul and may help you feel calm in no time. Take out time for yourself and enjoy the music of your choice.
9. Spend Time with Friends
Going for a cup of coffee or movie with your friend can be an ultimate stress buster. When we become parents, we usually forget that friends hold great importance in our lives. Hold on to your friends who are always there for you. Socialise with them often, as it will shift your focus from and help you de-stress too. You will feel happy after spending some quality time with your friends.
10. Eat Healthy and Exercise
Apart from fuelling your mind with happy thoughts, you should also fuel your body with good food. Exercise is also necessary to keep the mind and body healthy. If you feel healthy physically, you will be able to handle any kind of emotional issues more effectively. So, eat good food and make some time for exercise.
Parenting is difficult but don't let any kind of negative feelings like stress and anxiety shatter your confidence. Refer the above-mentioned ways to get rid of these feelings and enjoy your time with your kids.
Also Read: Ways to Enhance Your Parenting Skills Read more
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Painless delivery ....What's that Exactly???....Expert talk by Gynecologist...
In day to day practice, we see that for many Moms to-be, the joy of giving birth is coupled with many fears about labour pains. Most of them hear not so encouraging stories of pains in delivery from friends and relatives. This all makes them very apprehensive.

Pain is a part of natural labour process. Pain tolerance in labour varies from women to women. Some moms have low pain thresholds, that they demand ceserean very early in labour.
At this point it is important to stress that there are safe and effective options available for pain relief during labour. Every patient has the right to know about them. Talk to your doctor about your birth plan and pain relief in labour.
Epidural block or analgesia is a commonly used procedure for pain relief in labour. It can be used in patients when injectable painkillers like tramadol offer little relief.
The goal of epidural block is pain relief with full consciousness and active participation of patient in delivery process.
An anesthetist will explain the procedure to patient. It is given in lower back in a small area below spinal cord called epidural space. The patient is asked to lie down on one side or sit. Skin is cleaned with antiseptic. A local anesthetic agent is injected in skin where needle is to be passed.Then a needle is put in epidural space through which a very thin tube or catheter is passed.There will be little tingling, numbness or heaviness in lower body at this stage. The catheter is then fixed. A mixture of painkiller drugs is then injected through the tube at regular intervals to reduce pain. Low doses are used to minimize side effects.
The patient is fully conscious. She can move from side to side but may not be allowed to walk. The pain is reduced significantly. Patient becomes more comfortable. She feels less exhausted. She can use that energy later when pushing is required. At the same time contractions are still felt and pushing is fully possible. Little Pain will also be felt when doctor examines for dilatation. The lower part of birth canal becomes numb and even taking stitches after delivery causes no pain.
Simultaneously a injection is started to augment contractions under strict fetal heart rate monitoring. Artificial rupture of membranes at good dilatation also hastens the process. It is also good practice to reduce dose in the end when pushing by patient is required.
The side effects which can occur sometimes are reduced blood pressure in mother which slows baby's heart beat, for which good amount of intravenous fluids are given before the procedure.
It is best to use epidural at 3-4 cm cervical dilatation and start of active phase when chances of normal delivery seem good. If in any case ceserean is required it can be done through same anesthesia.
There are few myths among patients related to this procedure. One that it causes chronic back pain for years which is not true. Studies show incidence of backache in women is no different with or without epidural. Rarely there can be a headache due to spinal fluid leakage which is treatable. Other myth is that patient cannot feel pain so can't push so it increases chance of Ceserean section. It again is not true as she is fully aware of contractions and can push.
It makes birthing experience more enjoyable.
Most patients who use epidural block in first delivery ask for the same in subsequent delivery.
In our country it is slowly and steadily gaining popularity. The main hurdles in its use are prevalent myths mainly among family elders. A good counseling helps.
Disclaimer - these are the views of a qualified doctor and author. These are general suggestions and do not replace actual check up by a doctor. Any resemblance to anybody is coincidental.
Author information - Dr Harita N Kothia, Obstetrician and gynecologist, Mumbai
Visit www.familygynaec.com Read more
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
3 hours ago
Q. can we get all item in one parcel which I orderd
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. This is a place which is associated with parenting if you have any questions associated with parenting I can help you with that but if you have any associated with your orders kindly check with the concerned department that they can give clarity about these things
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
2 hours ago
Q. hi have one question
LT 10x18mm and RT 18x20mm and ET 6.5
what it mean??? and should I start intercourse
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
1 hour ago
A. since you are right follicle is 18 mm yes of course you can start with your intercourse for conception as in 1 to 2 days
their maybe rupture of the follicle by which your sperm should be present there for conception
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. #asktheexpert
why baby vomit
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. for babies less than 6 months may not be a problem. small babies will be having lot of gas because of various reasons it is advisable to do burping of the baby immediately after feeding please give colimex DF drops to the baby they are safe
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 1 month
1 hour ago
Q. i am 35 weeks 3 days pregnant... my ultrasound report shows that "fl and hl are shorter compared to bpd"... is this anything to worry
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. I cannot assist you on that because other things are also associated with the particular particular report so I think it’s better that once a gynaecologist is available she’s going to take up your query and she will be able to give you a better clarity as per the situation
Abhaya Rajput has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. I am 9 week pregnant and I have runny nose very badly can I use cetirizine tablet?
Abhaya Rajput
Mom of a 14 yr 4 m old boy
1 hour ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much. Please do not take any medicine without consulting with your gynaecologist. It is advisable to get yourself evaluated by a doctor and follow doctors advise properly. You can also book online doctor’s appointment on FirstCry where the doctor can help you and guide you properly.
Thanks and take care
Rashmi has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
1 hour ago
Q. hi,
my LT 10x18mm and RT 18x20mm and ET 6.5 , what if I intercourse after 2 days, can I do intercourse in ovulation day can become a pregent .
on ovulation day if we intercourse can become a pregent..pls advice..
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. Actually on the ovulation time only you can conceive so yes if things are right with you you can go ahead with the conception but with what the details you have mentioned it would be better to have a discussion with your gynaecologist prior to you proceed to your ovulation and conception
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