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Diet Plan for 19 Month 4 Week Old Toddler
Introduction:
Hurrah! It’s the last week of the month, and your child inches over to being two years old. We’re sure you noticed that the meal plan gives you more flexibility each month, allowing you to customise meals in the diet chart, without changing the nutritional value too much. Make sure to get creative and introduce new flavours and ingredients, so your toddler doesn’t fuss too much during mealtimes. After all, the more fun you have with your food, the more your child is likely to eat anything you put in front of him. This week’s plan introduces some new dishes and retains favourites and essentials from the previous ones. Here’s week four of the diet plan for your 19-month-old toddler.
Food Menu & Schedule for 19 Month 4 Week Old Toddler
Diet for a 19-month-old – Week 4, Day 1
Breakfast
Dalia (broken wheat) upma with grated carrot and milk
Mid-morning
A few slices of pineapple or apple
Lunch
Roti + dal + a sabzi of choice + a few slices of cucumber + hand pounded rice
Evening
Anjeer (fig) and walnut ladoo
Dinner
Mixed vegetable raita + vegetable pulao + moong (green gram split) dal (lentil) soup
Diet for a 19-month-old – Week 4, Day 2
Breakfast
Banana- walnut pancakes and chocolate milk
Mid-morning
Pear
Lunch
Multigrain roti + dal + a sabzi of choice + a few slices of boiled carrot + curd rice
Evening
Boiled corn
Dinner
Vegetable pulao + palak (spinach) soup
Diet for a 19-month-old – Week 4, Day 3
Breakfast
Scrambled eggs with toast + chikoo (sapota) milkshake
Mid-morning
Orange
Lunch
Roti + dal + a sabzi of choice + a few slices of cucumber + hand pounded rice
Evening
Banana sheera
Dinner
Chole and paratha + pumpkin soup
Diet for a 19-month-old – Week 4, Day 4
Breakfast
Moong (green gram split) dal (lentil) – spinach dhokla with green chutney
Mid-morning
Guava juice with chaat masala
Lunch
Paneer (cottage cheese) pulao with pumpkin soup
Evening
Roasted poha (flattened rice) chivda (without whole nuts) + milk
Dinner
Chicken or paneer (cottage cheese) curry with rice
Diet for a 19-month-old – Week 4, Day 5
Breakfast
Sattu (barley) with milk, almonds, and dates (sieved)
Mid-morning
Any melon
Lunch
Multigrain roti + dal + a sabzi of choice + a few slices of boiled beetroot + hand pounded rice
Evening
Chana (chickpea)-murmura (puffed rice) chaat
Dinner
Methi (fenugreek) thepla with potato sabzi + curd
Diet for a 19-month-old – Week 4, Day 6
Breakfast
Idli with chutney or sambar
Mid-morning
Chikoo (sapota)
Lunch
Besan-methi paratha with carrot palak raita
Evening
Seviyan (vermicelli) porridge
Dinner
Chole puri + lassi
Diet for a 19-month-old – Week 4, Day 7
Breakfast
Mango lassi + murmura (puffed rice) chikki
Mid-morning
Pineapple raita
Lunch
Roti + dal + a sabzi of choice + a few slices of tomato + hand pounded rice
Evening
Chikoo (sapota) milkshake
Dinner
Pongal with vegetable soup
Conclusion:
Did your child look forward to his meals last month? We ensure that each week’s meal plan has a balance of all the nutrients essential for your little one’s growth and development. You’ll see that your little one can eat more of the same meals as you next month, but make sure to go easy on the spices you add. Have the meal plans made your life easier each day? Click here for next month’s meal plan, as your child turns 20 months old. Read more
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Can Painful Periods Affect Your Ability to Get Pregnant?
Mild to moderate menstrual discomfort is a common phenomenon most women experience while having their monthly cycles. In some women, this pain or discomfort reaches a different level - they experience severe pain during their periods.
However, if you are a woman who suffers from dysmenorrhoea or period pain, you might want to know if this pain will hinder your ability to get pregnant. Read on to find out more.
Causes of Period Cramps
Prostaglandin is a chemical that is present in different parts of your body including your uterus, which is responsible for causing your period cramps too. The main function of this chemical is to regulate body temperature, regulate inflammation, aid cell growth, muscle dilation and constriction.
When you have your period, this chemical causes contractions in your uterine muscles and also helps in expelling the uterine lining. However, in the case of higher amounts of the chemical in your body, more severe contractions occur.
These severe contractions lead to severe menstrual pain and cramps. Dysmenorrhoea is further categorized into two types - primary dysmenorrhoea causes mild to moderate pain and is usually related to the shedding of the uterine lining only. Secondary dysmenorrhoea, on the other hand, could cause severe pain and could be indicative of an underlying medical condition that can affect your fertility or ability to get pregnant.
Can Intense Menstrual Cramps Affect Your Fertility?
Intense menstrual cramps or secondary dysmenorrhoea may indicate the following medical conditions, which could adversely affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant or conceive:
1. PID Or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease is usually triggered by (untreated) sexually transmitted infections or STIs; however, in some cases, PID may get triggered by unrelated infections of reproductive organs too. One of the most common problems with this condition is that it sometimes becomes difficult to detect because the main symptoms such as unusual vaginal discharge and pain during sex either go unnoticed or are not present. Sometimes this condition may not cause severe pain, but it can still affect one's fertility. This is because untreated sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis or chlamydia may cause scarring in the reproductive organs (fallopian tubes, ovaries or uterus) and thus affect the fertility of a woman.
2. Endometriosis
This condition is one of the most common reasons of intense menstrual cramps that also affect a woman’s fertility. Endometriosis occurs when the lining, which usually grows inside the uterus, starts growing on other reproductive parts such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries. The lining growing on other reproductive organs weakens them, resulting in infertility issues. Endometriosis can be easily diagnosed through a laparoscopic procedure. If you experience pain in your lower back, pain after having sex, or nausea, there are chances that you may have this condition. However, it is important to remember that having severe menstrual cramps does not mean that you have this condition, or conversely, that if you have endometriosis, you won't be able to conceive. In other words, if you have painful periods and can’t get pregnant, it is not necessary that you have endometriosis.
3. Adenomyosis
This condition is somewhat like endometriosis, but in this case, the inner uterine lining starts growing on the uterine walls instead of on other reproductive organs. This medical condition can be characterised by lower abdominal pain, painful cramps and bloating during periods. There are several studies being conducted to understand why this condition occurs in women. Some studies indicate that it may be caused due to hormone fluctuations in the body, which include progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and oestrogen. Adenomyosis causes intense menstrual cramps. However, there is limited evidence available on whether there is a connection between heavy, painful periods and fertility in this scenario.
4. Fibroids And Ovarian Cysts
Approximately 30 per cent of the women in the age bracket of 30 to 45 years may have fibroids, which are noncancerous tumours. These tumours are present either inside or close to the uterine lining. These benign growths usually obstruct the flow of blood, causing severe pain during periods. Your ability to become pregnant depends on the severity of the condition, which means that the size and location of the fibroid may hamper your fertility. In some cases, if a woman has fibroids and conceives, it can sometimes lead to an abortion or miscarriage.
Ovarian cysts, as the name suggests, are fluid-filled sacs that are present in the ovaries. Like fibroids, ovarian cysts are noncancerous too. They usually get better on their own; however, if they are big in size and present in places like fallopian tubes or the ovaries, they might cause a hindrance in the process of conception.
Does Treatment of Painful Periods Cause Infertility?
If you are in severe pain, there is no point waiting for your ordeal to get worse. Seek professional help for the same. In most cases, your doctor may advise you to take hormonal birth control pills to ease your pain. However, that may not be recommended in case you are trying to get pregnant. Some of the readily available over-the-counter or OTC painkiller medicines can prove to be helpful too, but many women fear that taking such medicines can affect their ability to get pregnant.
Some available research suggests the negative effects of taking medicines such as ibuprofen on fertility. Also, in one of the studies, the effect of naproxen was found to the delay ovulation in women, and further delays were noted in women who took higher doses of the same medicine. The impact was not that severe, but it was substantial.
Some women may have to go for surgical procedures to get relief from the painful periods. However, before the decision for surgery is made, it is important that you talk to your reproductive endocrinologist to know the effect of surgery on your ability to conceive. If your doctor gives you the go-ahead, then it may be a good decision to go in for the surgery as it may not only help you to get rid of the annoying period cramps but it may also increase your chances of getting pregnant.
If you are experiencing any kind of severe menstrual cramps, it becomes important that you bring it into your doctor’s notice to check whether it may affect your chances of getting pregnant or not.
Also Read:
Antidepressants and Fertility
DHEA and Fertility
Eating Figs to Boost Fertility: Is It Safe? Read more
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How to Prepare for Going Back to Work After Maternity Leave
Returning to work after having a baby is something that most women would love to do, but are apprehensive about. Looking after your child is definitely a soul-filling, satisfying job to do- but that does not mean that you are under an obligation to do just that for the years to come. Going back to work is always a great idea, provided you have made the right arrangements and are prepared for it.
It is not as easy as it sounds- you will definitely be anxious and worried always when getting back to work after maternity leave. However, you are sure to calm down once you get to grips with the situation, and you will soon find yourself enjoying life even more. However, the important thing is to ensure that you have made the best arrangements for your child, and are prepared- both physically and emotionally- to get back into the real world. Here are ways to transition back to work after maternity leave smoothly.
Tips for Going Back to Work After Delivering the Baby
Some of the tips are:
1. Trustworthy Childcare
The answer to the question of who is going to look after your child has to be sorted out as early as possible. It has to be somebody you can trust to take care of your baby so that the baby is never harmed. If you have family members to look after your child, you are lucky - else, start searching for a good daycare facility. It is also important to remember that no time is too soon- especially considering that many great daycare facilities now even have a waiting list. So start searching for a good place as early as possible, even if that is before the child is even born - it plays a huge role in your mental well-being.
2. Plan Breastfeeding
Remember to check whether there are clean, empty areas at your workplace for breast pumping. Tell your employers about your situation, and make sure that you have the required facilities at your workplace, so as to be comfortable while breastfeeding. Another thing you can do is to start practising the new breastfeeding schedule as early as possible so that your child gets used to it by the time you return to work.
3. Stock Up
When you return to work after your maternity leave, you have to have a few essentials with you. This includes a breast pump, nursing pads and healthy snacks so that you are never hungry. A good breast pump not only does half the work for you but also reduces the hassle of breast pumping. Nursing pads are a must too, as a dress stained with breast milk is not something that you would love to show off! Snacks are important, as you may have been snacking more than you know when you are home caring for your child - all of these can make the transition very smooth.
4. Keep a Photo of the Child
You are definitely going to miss your child when you are at work, even if it is only for a short duration. After having had the child in close proximity for such a long time, mothers can be affected by separation anxiety really hard. So remember to keep a photo of the child with you always, so that you feel more comforted when you look at it- but remember to not look at it always, as you will end up missing your baby even more! Smartphones have definitely made our lives easier with regard to this aspect, haven't they!
5. Flexibility
There is no harm in asking, so ask your employer for flexibility regarding work matters if you can. Ask as early as possible, perhaps even before you give birth. This can give them time to prepare for it, and you might get flexible timings or even work-from-home options to help you care for the child better.
6. Set a Date
Set the date of returning to work to somewhere in the middle of the workweek. This can help you get to grips with the situation better, and you can ease back into your workplace much smoother.
7. No Changing Childcare
No matter how appealing the childcare you heard from your friend seems, do not change your current childcare. This is because babies take time to get comfortable with a person, and changing the facility frequently can result in the child being unsettled and anxious. Also, the relationship between the mother and the childcare is an important one too, so that you can discuss how your baby is doing and about her progress.
8. Quality Time
When you get back to work after your baby is born, the prospect of taking work back home to be near your baby can be an appealing one. However, this is counterproductive - not only are you too distracted to work properly, your baby will not get the attention he deserves either. So devote the time you spend at work to completing it, and ensure that your child gets quality time with his mother when you are back home.
9. Always Have Backup
No matter how well you have laid out plans regarding your child, they can all unravel in a jiffy. Your baby might get ill, or your babysitter might get ill - it all results in your plans being thrown to jeopardy. So always have a Plan B, which is sure to come in handy sometime or other. It can be a friend, family or even another babysitter.
10. Make a Cooking Plan
Cooking at home can be difficult once you start working, as you will want to spend that time bonding with your baby. So make up a cooking plan, and spread out cooking over the week. You can cook in bulk during the weekends, and use the time you get after work to better effect. It is best to split cooking duties with your partner so that both of you get time with the baby.
11. Sleep
Sleep is important for a mother, even if she is not going to work. You will soon find out that juggling between work and your child is harder than you think, so stock up on your sleep as much as possible - you will need it.
12. Don’t Make Big Decisions
The first few days of getting back to work are overwhelming - you will feel out of control with the situation and feel that everything is moving too fast for you. At this time, you might think that the whole thing was a mistake, and worse, you might even take the huge decision of quitting. So before taking any decisions you may regret, try to navigate the new environment for a few days.
13. Make An Effort
You might think that new clothes or putting on some makeup are not a big deal, but they influence you more than you know - it has been proven that women get a massive confidence boost through such simple tasks.
Getting back to work after pregnancy can feel overwhelming, and you might feel that caring for the baby is the right thing to do at such an early stage. Guilt is common among working mothers, but there is nothing to be guilty about - your child is a blessing, and should never be something that weighs you down! Work will be better for you in the long run, and you do not have to feel guilty at all if you have made the best arrangements for your child.
Also Read: Breastfeeding At Work Read more
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Teaching Kids to Tie Shoelaces - When and How
As a parent, you might ask what age should a child learn to tie their shoes? And what is the best way I can help my child to do that? Let’s see how.
Why Is It Important to Teach Your Child to Tie His Shoelaces?
Tying shoelaces can teach your child important skills like following directions, sorting, sequencing, and planning.
When you teach your child how to tie shoelaces properly, you are also helping them learn how to listen and follow given directions.
As your child uses their fingers to tie the laces, they will learn dexterity which will help them in holding a pen properly and other such activities in the future.
The entire process of putting on a shoe and tying the laces will help them understand sequencing, like for example, the socks go first, followed by the shoe and then the tying of the shoelaces.
They will learn to classify and sort objects while listening to you talking like how there are certain shoes for the summer and certain others for the winter.
Also, it is one job less for you when you are taking your child outside!
How Do Kids Develop their Shoe-Wearing Skills and When Can They Learn to Tie their Shoe Laces?
Most children start learning how to tie their shoelaces by the age of six.
At 12 months, babies are able to stick out their feet to put a shoe on them.
At 2 years, toddlers can remove low top shoes
At 2.5 years, many toddlers can somehow wear their shoes with some help
At 3.5 years, kids can put their shoes on the right foot and take them off too, including untying the shoelaces.
At 6 years, kids can tie and untie their shoelaces by themselves after seeing it demonstrated a few times.
Skills that Affect How Children Learn to Tie the Laces
Sometimes, our children may not have developed some of the underlying skills that are needed to tie their laces. Let’s look at a few skills which they need:
Hand-Eye Coordination: The eyes need to guide the hands in tying shoelaces. Catching a ball, neat handwriting and cutting on a line are few skills that require hand-eye coordination. If your child might be having trouble with that, you can do some hand-eye exercises that might help.
Fine Motor Skills: If your child seems reluctant with paper-pencil tasks and using scissors to cut paper, then he or she may be struggling with developing fine motor skills. It would be good to work on these skills first so that your child can strengthen his or her hand and finger muscles.
Bilateral Coordination Skills: If your kid finds it difficult to get both hands to work together, then tying shoelaces can be hard. Any difficulty with skills like using a knife and fork, fastening buttons, and scissor cutting can be a major clue.
Visual Perception: If your kid struggles to see which lace is which and if both seem to merge or overlap around each other, then he or she may have trouble with visual perception. Simply, this means that the brain does not make sense of what the eye sees. Using dual coloured shoelaces or textured shoelaces can help.
Tactile Perception: This skill basically helps your child to know what his or her fingers are doing without being able to see what they are doing. Your kid needs to feel how and where the laces overlap and pull them through without really seeing what the fingers are doing. If your kid has poor tactile perception skills, there are many fun activities and solutions to help them with that.
Activities to Strengthen Skills Required for Shoe Tying
Before you teach your child to tie shoelaces, there are a few fun exercises he or she can practice to master visual perception, hand dexterity and finger manipulation, bilateral coordination and the ability to logically think and execute a new motor skill.
1. Bead Threading
Take some different beads in hand
Take some coloured pipe cleaners
Ask your child to choose the beads that match the colours of the respective pipe cleaners
Tell him or her to now thread the beads through the pipe cleaners
2. Rings and Pins
Take some cloth pins and rings in different colours.
Ask your child to attach the pins on the rings corresponding to their colours
3. Cardboard Weaving
Cut heart-shaped pieces out of a cardboard box
Ask your child to paint the hearts in different colours
Punch two holes in each heart once the paint is dry
Ask your child to thread the hearts together using some yarn
Your child can hang the hearts in his or her room.
Simple Shoelace Tying Method for Kids
Let’s look at a few below which your kid can practice.
1. Circle Method for Tying Shoes
Put the shoes on the flat ground and spread the laces on each side
Tie the laces into a simple knot
Make one more knot but keep it very loose. There will be a circle formed by this knot. Hold it in place and let it stay flat.
From the front, put one of the laces inside the circle. Keep the string loose but do not let it slide out of the circle.
From the back, put the other shoelace inside the circle. Now you have two loops on each side of the knot.
Pull the loops tight, and you’re finished!
2. Beginner’s Knot
Put the shoes on the flat ground and spread the laces on each side
Take the laces and make a basic knot by crossing them one over the other and pulling them tight.
Keep both sides of the lace over your fingers
Keep your right thumb and forefinger under the lace on one side and the left thumb and forefinger over it on the other side.
Grab the opposite sides with your fingers and pull tightly to make a knot
3. Bunny-Ears Knot
Put the shoes on the flat ground and spread the laces on each side
Take the laces and make a basic knot by crossing them one over the other and pulling them tight.
Make a bunny ear loop with one of the strings by grabbing it between your thumb and first two fingers
The loop will be small and the rear end long
Form another bunny loop with the other shoelace string
Cross the loops over each other and bring one from below
Pull the loops tightly, and you’re finished!
4. Ian Knot technique
Put the shoes on the flat ground and spread the laces on each side
Take the laces and make a basic knot by crossing them one over the other and pulling them tight.
Use your right thumb and forefinger to make a loop with one of the shoelaces with the loose end on the front
Use your left thumb and forefinger to make a loop with the other shoelace with the loose end on the back
Pass the loose ends through each other’s loop. Pull and tighten.
Tips to Consider while Teaching Children Tying Shoelaces
How to teach children to tie shoelaces? Luckily, we have the below tips:
Eliminate distractions. Teach them in a quiet room.
Teach one method at a time. Don’t overcrowd their minds.
Use cotton flat laces and mark the laces with colours to make it easier.
Sit next to your child, not opposite to teach from the same vantage point.
Work in 20-minute intervals
Practice constantly
The teacher should have the same dominant hand as the child
Don’t get fooled and buy shoe tying toys.
If you want to get your kids Velcro shoes, stick to teaching them how to tie their shoelaces. It’s a necessary skill and above all, fun!
Also Read: Communication Skills for Kids – Importance and Activities to Improve Read more
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How Much Sleep Do Children Need - Guidelines for Parents
With the advent of digital devices, children’s sleep hours have become erratic and keeping a tab on those has become more than necessary. Many parents keep wondering how much sleep do kids need and if their child has had enough sleep since most children are a bundle of energy whether they have slept the required amount or not. Irrespective of how they behave, it is necessary for kids to get a specific number of hours of sleep for healthy physical and mental growth.
Benefits of Adequate Sleep for Kids
Here are some undeniable benefits of a good night’s sleep for kids.
1. Physical Growth
Medical research has revealed that the growth hormone in our bodies is highly active when we are in deep sleep.
2. Mental Development
Even when we are asleep, another part of the brain continues to work in the background, keeping things organized, protecting memories, storing information for long-term retrieval. This is necessary for the brain to operate optimally.
3. Strengthening the Immunity System
With children, the better sleep they get, the stronger their immune system becomes in fighting away the usual illnesses of a cough and cold and other infections, too.
4. Alertness and Vigilance
A good sleep reduces lethargy in the day and keeps one alert, allowing you to function to the best of your ability.
5. Reduces Mental Problems
Lack of sleep can result in psychological issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and many others.
6. Emotional Stability
When your child has had a good night’s sleep, they will rarely be cranky through the day and be upbeat and excited to go to school and explore around.
7. Energy Recharge
Relaxation is key to re-energizing the body. With a good sleep, your body produces glycogen which provides the energy and helps you live the next day actively and happily.
8. Weight Regulation
Obesity has been directly linked to lack of sleep. This is primarily because lack of sleep might lead to lethargy and exhaustion through the day, preventing any physical activity. This consequently leads to putting on weight.
How Many Hours of Sleep Do Children Need?
Recommended sleep for children varies from age to age. Therefore, you need to ensure that your child is getting the right amount of sleep that’s adequate for his age.
Age
Recommended sleep (for a period of 24 hours)
4 months to 12 months
12 to 16 hours
1 and 2 years
11 to 14 hours
3 to 5 years
10 to 13 hours
6 to 12 years
9 to 12 hours
13 to 18 years
8 to 10 hours
12 Tips to Help Your Child Get Sufficient Sleep
Here are some tips for parents to ensure kids get enough sleep.
Prioritize Sufficient Sleep on a Family Level
Rather than advising your children to sleep well, make it a habit that the entire family has to follow. Make sleeping well on time a habit just like brushing your teeth or taking a bath.
Set a Daily Routine
Fixed times for general activities will help children feel secure that they are on track. Waking up at the same time, eating at the same time, taking a nap, playing outside, all these activities when scheduled at fix times, help the body to set itself in a rhythm as well. For sleeping, establish a routine such as brushing your teeth, reading a book, and then heading for the bed. This preps the body into a sleep mode and has less trouble falling asleep.
Active Daytimes
The sleep at night will be relaxing and satisfying when the day is filled with a variety of interesting activities. Ensure that your children get a lot of physical activity, outdoor time, and exercise to come back home in the evening and wind down.
Strict Device Usage Policies
Ensure there are no devices inside your kid’s bedrooms. If your child wants to use digital devices, keep a restricted time limit on the usage and ban all screens after a specified time at night.
Sleep Supportive Environment
Nobody likes to sleep in a noisy fully-lit room. Keep the lights minimal and low as bedtime approaches. Keep the bedrooms minimal without any distraction. A safe calm place in the bedroom is conducive to falling asleep easily.
Age-Specific Sleep Requirements
As your child grows, their adequate sleep times might increase and so will their daily responsibilities in school. Therefore, it is necessary to track whether they get adequate sleep and time to complete their activities as well.
Avoid Baby Food before Sleep
Feeding juice, milk, formula or anything else can cause it to stay present in the baby’s mouth throughout sleep and lead to decayed teeth. Once you are done with the feeding, put them down and, at most, keep a bottle of water if needed.
No solids before 6 Months of Age
Solid food needs extra energy to be digested. In a baby less than 6 months old, their body takes extra time to digest the food and can sometimes lead to stomach ache. This may cause them to awaken in the middle of the night and fail to get the required amount of deep sleep that’s essential for growth.
No Overscheduling
Reduce the number of activities your child commits to towards the evening. Allow for some downtime that helps calm down.
Recognize Sleep Problems
Be aware of children awakening in the middle of the night, snoring or breathing heavily while sleeping. Nip these problems in the bud.
Check on Day Alertness
Have a word with your child’s teacher to get an idea of how alert they are through the day. If they nod off in class, they are probably not getting enough sleep.
Check with Your Doctor
Discuss any sleep problems your child has with your doctor. They might suggest treatments or ask you to observe their habits further.
Sleep is the single most activity required by any human being in their entire lifetime. And with children, it contributes to their growth like nothing else. By ensuring a good and healthy sleep, their future is ensured to be healthy and energetic as well.
Also read: How To Make Baby Sleep At Night, Nightmares In Children - Causes & Solution Read more
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Myths and Facts About Breastfeeding and Parenting
I never thought that breastfeeding would be a big issue in life. I never realised that a small thing like this can be so important and can change someone’s life. The day I became a mother to a wonderful angel, reality struck me so hard in various ways.
Since two months of giving birth to my baby, my breastmilk supply is low. I keep listening that my baby is not getting enough milk and my baby is lean. My baby cries and does not sleep. I am told that I am torturing my baby by giving her solids only once a day. I was made to believe that I am an incompetent mother who was unable to meet her baby's needs. People tend to overburden mothers. They make them believe in myths about breastfeeding. I was no different - so here are some myths and facts about breastfeeding to help you understand better.
Myths
Mothers can’t be wrong, they have to be perfect.
If a baby is crying or not getting enough sleep, it is his mother's fault. If the baby has colic or is unwell, then she must not be getting enough breastmilk.
Breast milk is not as important as solids. So a mother should start giving solids and cow's milk to the baby as soon as possible.
If the baby wants to be with the mother, it is his mother's fault. A baby should not spend so much time with her mother alone or she will be addicted to her mother and breast milk and won't go to someone else. In the future, it will be impossible to leave the baby.
A baby does not start with solids because she has too much breast milk.
There are so many things that people say that depress mothers. A new mother is already nervous. Whatever she does, she thinks, "If she is doing it right?", "Is she starving her child?"
I was worried too, but I am blessed with few angels (to whom I am connected through an online group), whose guidance, support, and affection have helped me.
Yes, mothers need love, affection, support, and guidance. Mothers are also human beings, who can be wrong and are not perfect. Even mothers make mistakes. A single word of concern can also make a drastic change in their breastfeeding journey.
At this point, I can confidently say that what is said above are all myths and misconceptions. Always trust yourself and your baby. Now read about some facts about breastfeeding and parenting.
Facts
All mothers are capable of breastfeeding unless she has a serious medical condition.
A baby's health is the best indicator of your breast milk supply.
You don’t need any supplement for breast milk. There is no connection between breast size and breast supply.
A baby can cry for various reasons. They don't cry when they are hungry. They can keep track of their activities and pee counts.
There is no need for cow's milk or buffalo milk if the baby is being breastfed and has another source of nutrition. Nothing before 6 months not even a drop of water or ghutti. For example, If we want to have a particular food and are forced to eat something else, we won't like it, right? Babies feel the same way. If your baby is comfortable with breast milk, don't force solids on her until she is ready.
Breastfeed your baby for as long as you can. Extended breastfeeding has its own benefits.
Babies don't get addicted to breast milk. They will wean when they want to. Don't lose hope - be patient and keep feeding.
Breastfeeding helps mothers along with babies.
After getting knowledge of the facts and when I went deep into this issue I felt sad and disheartened that mothers are misguided. They get depressed because of the pressure by society. If a mother is happy, she will be able to breastfeed more. Yes, it is true. When I am happy, I get a good supply and when I am stressed, my supply decreases but that does not mean that I can’t feed my baby.
Today I stand as a strong mother and a strong human being. Please shower your blessing on my baby.
I have promised myself to help mothers and provide them with affection and every kind of help as much as possible, and I will do this till my last breath.
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Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
10 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
9 hours 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
9 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
why baby vomit
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
9 hours 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
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 1 month
9 hours 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
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
4 hours ago
A. You should have proper consultation with your treating doctor , as some examination or investigations may be needful, so that proper medications can be given And the treatment can be done very properly.
needs proper follow-up for this
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
9 hours ago
Q. I am 9 week pregnant and I have runny nose very badly can I use cetirizine tablet?
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
4 hours ago
A. use nasal drops , that acts faster .
You should have proper consultation with your treating doctor , as some examination or investigations may be needful, so that proper medications can be given And the treatment can be done very properly.
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
8 hours 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..
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
4 hours ago
A. since the follicle size is 18 to 20 mm your ovulation may occur within 24 hours also so if you have intercourse with in that time it will be more effective to get conceived
your endometrial growth is not good enough for conception but still you can just try
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
8 hours ago
Q. Hlw dr its my 6th month pregnency can i intimate with my partner
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
7 hours ago
A. Hello dear! If your pregnancy is going on fine without any high risk factors then it’s okay. Still, would advise you to check with your doctor once before going further. Maintain a good personal hygiene routine and a healthy lifestyle
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