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Blood Pressure (BP) during Pregnancy
Women with high blood pressure are more likely to have complications during the childbirth. It could risk the life of both the mother and the to-be-born child. A keen eye for subtle differences in the body and a few changes in lifestyle may go a long way in keeping you healthy.
What Is Normal Blood Pressure Level/Range/
Normal blood pressure range is when the systolic pressure shows between 90 to 120 and diastolic pressure between 60 to 80. Blood pressure readings are expressed in millimetres of mercury. If blood pressure is in the normal range, then no medical intervention is required.
The blood pressure changes during pregnancy. For a woman, the normal blood pressure when pregnant should be between 110/70 and 120/80. If the pressure readings go up to 121/80, then you are likely to have a high blood pressure, and if it is below 90/50, then you may have low blood pressure.
It is essential that you get your blood pressure examined during pregnancy. Blood pressure levels may indicate potential problems which can occur during pregnancy. Most women may not develop high pressure during this time. However, some women might develop high pressure or hypertension. A mild increase is most often observed. Sometimes the high blood pressure may become severe, causing harm to both the mother and baby. 8% women experience high blood pressure during pregnancy instead of low blood pressure, which is quite natural.
How Is Your Blood Pressure Measured?
Blood pressure is measured by capturing the systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) number.
The systolic number (top number) is the amount of pressure in your arteries when the heart muscles contract. This is called systolic pressure. The diastolic number (bottom number) refers to your blood pressure when your heart muscle is between beats. A normal reading will show a top number between 90 to 120 and a bottom number between 60 to 80.
Your doctor will use a small monitor to measure your blood pressure during your regular checkup. You will be required to remove any tight clothing from the arm and to wrap a cuff above the elbow; he will start pumping air into it. This makes the cuff tighten. Then the air in the cuff is released. This cuff is attached to the monitor which calculates the blood pressure and shows the reading. The reading will look like a fraction, for example, 110 (systolic number)/70 (diastolic number).
Why Is Blood Pressure Measured During Pregnancy?
Monitoring of the blood pressure during pregnancy is important to eliminate any risks and complications that may the affect the mother and the baby. Women with mildly high blood pressure may have a normal pregnancy. The blood pressure falls slightly during early pregnancy and then returns to pre-pregnancy in the 3rd trimester.
However, the higher the blood pressure, the greater the problems during pregnancy. There is a risk of other medical conditions like diabetes or kidney related diseases if the pregnant woman has severe high blood pressure.
How Does BP Change During Pregnancy?
It is normal for the blood pressure to change during pregnancy. This is part of the cardiovascular changes during pregnancy. Pregnancy causes the volume of blood to increase slowly by about 40-50% which in turn increases the heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output.
Monitoring BP
During pregnancy, the BP is monitored every time you visit your doctor for a checkup. However, it is also important that BP is checked at home, which will help monitor any changes in blood pressure that may go unnoticed otherwise. Risk preeclampsia may develop during pregnancy. Therefore, doctors advise to track BP is tracked at home as well.
High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Blood pressure may be present during or before pregnancy and comes at different stages. The following are the types of high blood pressure during pregnancy:
Chronic hypertension is also known as pre-existing high BP, it is the pressure of the blood 20 weeks before pregnancy. This occurs in women who have developed high BP before pregnancy. In this condition, the BP remains high even after conception.
Gestational hypertension or pregnancy hypertension refers to high BP developed in the 20 weeks post-pregnancy. Though this is not a major problem, you may consult your doctor for special care.
Preeclampsia is a condition where there is a high amount of protein in the urine and high BP even after 20 weeks of pregnancy. This should be treated else it leads to major complications for the mother and the baby.
Low Blood Pressure During Pregnancy?
Hypotension, also known as low blood pressure, is when you have a reading of 90/60 or lower. This is a dangerous condition because it stops the supply of oxygenated blood to your body and heart.
Few causes of hypotension are:
Heart ailments: Several heart ailments such as malfunctioning of the valves of the heart, a very low heart-rate, heart failure and heart attack can cause low blood pressure.
Dehydration: Inadequate quantity of water in the body can cause a drop in the volume of vlod, causing low blood pressure.
Pregnancy: The increased need for blood in the body leads to rapid expansion of the circulatory system. This usually causes a drop in blood pressure.
Loss of blood: An injury which causes excessive bleeding or an internal haemorrhage can lead to low blood pressure.
Severe infection (septicemia): Cause by the seeping of infected blood into the blood stream, septicemia casues dialation in the arteries. This leads to septic shock which is characterised by persistent hypotension.
Anaphylaxis: An allergic reaction to insect venoms, medcations, foods and latex, anaphylaxis can be a reason for low blood pressure.
Malnutrition: A lack of Folate and itamin B-12 lead to anaemia can cause a drop in blood pressure.
Endocrinal problems: Low blood sugar, thyroid conditions, diabetes and adrenal insufficiency can lead to low blood pressure.
Medications of certain kinds: Alpha blockers, Water pills, anti-depressents, beta blockers, and drugs for Parkinson’s disease are among the medications which may cause low blood pressure.
Complications Occurring Due To High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Some women may have high blood pressure or preeclampsia during pregnancy. It comes with some risks such as:
High BP reduces the blood flow to the placenta, which reduces the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the baby, affecting the growth of the baby and increases the risk of low weight of the baby at the time of delivery.
A condition known as placental abruption may occur. This means premature separation of the placenta from the uterus depriving the baby of oxygen and causing heavy bleeding in the woman.
Increases risk of premature delivery which could lead to life-threatening complications.
Women who develop preeclampsia are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases later in life.
Signs of preeclampsia include:
Affects vision (blurred vision, sensitivity to light, flashing lights and vision loss).
Persistent headaches.
Pain in the upper abdomen.
Increase in weight abruptly, more than 2.3 kg within a week.
How To Control High Pressure During Pregnancy?
High blood pressure can be controlled by following a few simple steps. Following are a few treatments, home remedies and ways to prevent it.
Treatments
A doctor prescribed medication can bring down the blood pressure if diagnosed with moderate or severe hypertension.
In cases of severe BP problem/fluctuation, you may be hospitalised to bring down the pressure with constant monitoring. Once the BP falls, you will be discharged. However, there will be BP checking, urine examination and blood test twice a week.
Home Remedies For Controlling High BP During Pregnancy
Consumption of herbs like Arjuna bark, Hawthorne and olive leaf extract also help in lowering high blood pressure.
Five cups of hot cocoa per day help in controlling high BP. Cocoa has anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Garlic helps in lowering blood pressure if taken regularly.
Prevention Of High Blood Pressure
Know your blood pressure level from the primary stages of pregnancy.
Control the intake of salt in your diet or use a salt substitute.
Physical activities like walking, swimming, relaxation techniques in yoga.
Changes in diet like increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables and low dairy products and low consumption of fat, red meat, sweets and beverages containing sugar helps keep the BP under check.
Regular prenatal checkups.
Don't smoke or drink alcohol.
Conclusion
Keeping the blood pressure within the normal range is crucial for preventing complications. This can be easily accomplished by the combination of a healthy lifestyle and medications. A single blood pressure reading does not indicate health issues. However, readings taken over time are most accurate. Read more
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Child Neglect - Causes, Effects And Prevention
Childhood is a period when memories form, emotional, social, and cognitive development happens, and when children become sensitive to their surrounding environments. Their experience later shapes up who they become as adults and influences their well-being, career, and life, in general.
Child abuse and neglect are considered some of the leading causes of fatalities and death in the world. Most often, there is no single contributor to child neglect but rather neglect stems from multiple factors such as environment, communities, parents, inadequate policies, and poverty. Societies and communities experience higher rates of crime and violence through an increased number of cases related to child abuse and neglect.
In this post, we'll be discussing what child neglect is, what you can do to prevent it, and how to identify signs and effects of child neglect. Let's get started.
What is Child Neglect?
Globally speaking, about 2/3rds of reports coming to Child Protective Services constitute child neglect, according to community surveys in 2006. Child neglect has substantial long-term effects on a child's mental health and physical/cognitive development.
Simply put, child neglect is when a child undergoes abuse related to having their basic needs not met such as a lack of adequate healthcare, the deficit in nutrition and educational needs, and a lack of personal safety/security.
Child neglect hinges on parents' behaviour toward their children. Parental failure associated with not being able to provide or a meet child's needs is also classified as child neglect.
Causes
The different causes of child neglect are -
Poverty
Alcohol or drug abuse by parents
Parents who are facing depression, unemployment, loss of insurance, or life-related stress, which are then directed towards children as child neglect or abuse
Adults who grew up being victims of child abuse/neglect, thus considering child neglect as normal
What Are Its Different Types?
A child left in the apartment while a parent goes drinking, or a child deprived of medication are common portraits of child neglect; however, it doesn't just stop here.
Here are the different types of child neglect you should be aware of-
Emotional Neglect - When a parent is too busy to care for his/her child due to career-related issues or employment needs, it amounts to emotional neglect. An alternative scenario is when a parent withholds emotional affection from children and treats it as a form of discipline. Indifference and a lack of attention to a child's psychological state or emotional needs also fall under this criterion.
Educational Neglect - When a parent is unwilling to pay for a child's education or does not provide the necessary academic environment at home, thus hindering their child's academic performance, it counts as educational neglect. Allowing a child to constantly skip school and not seeking special educational help for children with learning problems are also considered to be different types of educational neglect.
Physical Neglect - Abandoning a child in empty places, leaving a child with a medical condition unsupervised, failing to administer medical attention or prescriptions to a child all fall under this category. Physical neglect is also associated with failing to seek appropriate medical care, malnourishment of a child, or not providing food/basic livelihood necessities to children.
Hitting and verbally abusing children are associated with child neglect too. Screaming, yelling harsh words, or making a child feel inferior or out of character falls under verbal abuse.
Allowing children to be subjected to alcohol or drugs are different forms of psychological neglect.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of child neglect are categorized into two - physical and emotional. Emotional signs include behavioural symptoms as well. Watch out for these signs in the classroom and outdoor environments to spot child neglect or abuse.
Physical Signs
The physical signs of child neglect are interchangeably linked to abuse. They are:
Slower-than-normal development from an emotional, social, and academic context. The child may even regress to poorer performance and experience a decline in learning skills in the classroom and outside as well.
Failure to achieve appropriate height and weight gains according to age is a common sign of child neglect through malnutrition and lack of care at home.
Suspicious or unexplained injuries on the child's body, such as injuries denoting certain patterns or appearing on parts of the body in protected areas like the genitals, inside of the arms, and buttocks. If a child refuses to explain the reason behind the injury or if the reason doesn't sound believable, then it is a possible sign of physical neglect or abuse.
Emotional and Behavioural Signs
Emotional signs of child neglect are linked to behavioural patterns inside and outside the classroom. Common signs and symptoms of childhood emotional neglect are-
Being scared to talk about a parent or showing fear when a parent's name is brought up in conversations.
Low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression
Suicidal thoughts
When the child says nobody is at home to care for him/her half the time
Difficulty focusing during class hours or studies
Being withdrawn from social activities or being extremely obedient without question
Not wanting to go back home
Effects of Child Neglect
The effects of child abuse and neglect result in long-term consequences when they go unnoticed. Long-term neglect in children shapes up personalities into abnormal types if left unchecked. When a child grows up into an adult, he/she may see the world in a skewed perspective as a result of long-term neglect.
Given below are the common long-term effects of child neglect.
Interpersonal Relationship Problems
Young children and infants exposed to abuse and neglect experience insecure or abnormal attachment problems with caregivers. Trusting caregivers becomes hard for children who are primarily meant to be a source of warmth and comfort.
This translates to interpersonal relationships problems later on such as withdrawing from social conversations, avoiding active participation in communities, having trouble interacting with peers, and similar associated issues stem from long-term child neglect. A child may have trouble holding conversations as well due to neglect.
2. Learning and Development Problems
Lack of focus in the classroom, not being able to keep up with homework, and falling behind school peers and curriculum requisites are linked to childhood emotional neglect at home. Poor academic performance, difficulty in developing expected speech and language patterns according to one's age, and negative scores associated with reading and math are linked to learning and developmental problems in neglected children.
Mental Health Issues
Maltreated children develop mental health disorders like PTSD, ADHD, anxiety, stress, and depression. "Complex trauma" disorders, psychotic disorders, and conduct related disorders also fall under this. Eating disorders like anorexia and binge-eating disorders may also be linked with childhood emotional neglect by parents.
Suicide
Research studies suggest that child neglect or abuse equates to an increased risk of suicidal attempts in kids. For children who have a history of sexual abuse or exploitation, the risk of suicide is higher due to the internal feelings of shame and guilt that they experience and bottle up within themselves.
5. Usage of Alcohol and Other Drugs
Higher levels of substance abuse like drugs, tobacco, and alcohol are linked to increased childhood emotional neglect. Children turn to drugs and alcohol when they no longer find an outlet or person they can talk to about their feelings. Since their only source of comfort disappears, they find comfort in substances, to numb emotional pain and unwanted feelings.
Behavioural Problems
Children who belong to families with a low level of education or a history of drug or alcohol abuse experience chronic behavioural problems like anxiety, AHDH, low self-esteem, and being depressed or socially withdrawn in nature. External behavioural problems like being hyperactive or aggressive in daily encounters are the result of long-term neglect in children.
7. Violence and Criminal Activity
Research suggests that children exposed to physical conflicts and exposure to pain through neglect and abuse are more likely to manifest aggressive behaviours and inflict pain on others. Youth violence and criminal activity are strong indicators of child neglect in the past. Teenage pregnancies are accompanied by increased substance abuse and mental health disorders as a result of violence and sexual assault faced at home.
Physical Health Issues
Brain damage, loss of hearing, and injury to the spinal cord are common physical health effects faced by children who experience neglect in the early year. Children who face adverse experiences of neglect are more than likely to experience assault related issues like Shaken Baby Syndrome, or even die during the course of neglect due to developing physical health issues.
Homelessness
Children who experience abuse or neglect at home experience homelessness as adults when they are moved to out-of-home care, and forced to leave after turning 18. A lack of social support networks, poor academic achievements, and unemployment issues faced after leaving out-of-home care can contribute to homelessness in children with a history of neglect. Domestic violence and neglect at home may also drive kids away from home, thus leading to homelessness.
Fatal Abuse
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 31,000 children between the ages of 15 and younger die every year due to homicide. Reports suggest that children die due to incidents of fatal abuse such as falls, assault, and maltreatment by parents. Most cases go unreported due to a lack of sufficient investigation and a failure of running post-mortem examinations.
Prevention
Prevention of child neglect early on through extended care and enhanced educational services will benefit both children and parents. Here are the following ways to prevent child neglect/abuse in households early on:
Providing early education to the youth and catering education to parents related to how to cope with the daily stressors of life, family planning, and teaching parents how to provide a nurturing environment for their kids. Services that strengthen families and provide emotional/mental support will play an enormous role in child neglect prevention.
Mental health services to parents who face depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders will mitigate stress and enable parents to come out of their problems and care for children. By enabling parents to be sound and healthier emotionally/psychologically, they become better caregivers as their children grow.
Increasing public and social awareness of child neglect in communities will be pivotal towards the change that's needed to prevent it. Policies should be drafted and resources must be allocated to programs that implement the changes necessary to prevent child neglect through poverty, malnutrition, and ill-treatment at home. When the public becomes an ally, child neglect is tackled right from the beginning through necessary large-scale actions.
Child abuse and neglect are a result of a combination of factors or may even due to be single parenthood. Educating the children, parents, and bringing community awareness about the situation will play a great role early on towards the prevention of child neglect. Where education is concerned, ensuring children and parents are provided necessary education is key towards the prevention of neglect. Counselling and therapy are recommended for parents who have a hard time psychologically caring for their kids at home.
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Why Bedtime Stories are More Important Than You Think
Between cuddling with the kiddies and reading them their favourite fairytales, did you ever stop to think why it is important to read to children? Bedtime stories are food for the soul. It’s necessary to make them a routine if you want your child to grow in spirit and mind.
There are numerous upsides attached to bedtime stories. This activity helps you bond with your kids after a long day at work, feeds their imagination and makes their brain fertile. It’s an important aspect of growing up and one that no child should miss out on. Here’s why:
The Numerous Benefits of Reading to Children
1. Time to reconnect
There’s no better time than bedtime to bond and reconnect with your kids over a fairy-tale or two. It’s probably the only time you and your child get to do something interesting together. More importantly, you get to see inside her mind by the comments she makes and the impressions she forms about the plot, characters etc.
2. Time for relaxation
Every child needs some kind of 'time-off' from sibling fights and scoldings, playgroup activities and homework. Bedtime stories relax their minds allowing them to momentarily escape into a fantasy world away from their kiddy woes.
3. Cultivate the habit of reading
It’s unfortunate that books don’t attract children much these days, thanks to a bevy of electronic gadgets. Reading to your child is the first step towards cultivating the habit in them. If you make it an everyday routine your child will look forward to it. It will increase her love for reading and will surely give her an edge at school.
4. Expands vocabulary and attention span
Reading out loud to children holds their attention more than if you were to leave them to their devices. It improves their language and vocabulary manifold. If they're not sure of a certain pronunciation or meaning of a word, you will be there to answer questions. Since bedtime stories stay with children for a long time, so will the words they have learnt.
5. Morally sound
Fables make for great stories with a moral at the end. They are fun, entertaining and teach lessons that are relevant to everyday life. Lessons on honesty and morality will certainly help them evolve morally.
6. Excites the imagination
Reading stories, especially without the aid of pictures, stimulates their imagination and thought processes. Likewise, reading stories with colorful pictures helps to encourage their creative and artistic abilities.
7. Fills the void which technology can’t
TV, computers, video games and other such entertainment will only hold their attention for so long. Books on the other hand, don’t require electricity or batteries to keep them going. Bedtime stories provide a gratifying and lifelong enriching experience. It gets them hooked onto books, which are a never-ending source of entertainment. Plus bedtime stories for kids are a great way to get them to sleep.
We hope you can now understand why stories are important for children. Just half an hour of storytelling time at night is essential for their future success at school, work, and life. Stories help them relate better to life’s big and small issues. Above all, it’s your chance to win your child’s heart just like the fairy-tale characters in the stories always do. Read more
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15 Scientifically Proven Ways to Raise a Well-Rounded Child
In today's competitive world, the focus of parents seems to be more on how to raise smart kids, as opposed to raising well-rounded individuals. A well-rounded child does not only perform well in academics, but also maintains successful relationships with people in his life, an approach that will take him far on the path of success.
The Pressure on Kids to Be The Best
As a parent, nothing can bring you as much joy as your kids succeeding in their endeavours, giving you the opportunity to show off their victories! But while his great report card might bring you immense happiness, your child may not have been at peace in his pursuit of the top grades in his class. Owing to the growing level of competition in today’s world, kids are constantly under pressure to do well. While raising kids to be successful and encouraging them to meet their potential is the responsibility of the parents and is absolutely necessary, pushing them to achieve unrealistic heights is what makes them buckle under pressure.
Success Cannot Be Attributed to Intelligence Alone
Achieving success is often credited with possessing intelligence, which is a misunderstanding. A child’s IQ usually measures his ability to solve theoretical problems, which means that it does not measure the child’s emotional quotient, his imagination, or his creativity. It was seen through a study conducted over more than three decades and reported in the Scientific American, that children who believed that they were smart did not see room for improvement. This limited their learning and their possibility for development too; whereas those who understood that their intelligence had to be challenged constantly with new learnings had more of a ‘growth mentality’, which means they focused on self-improvement and adapting to the situation around them. Intelligence, therefore, is a bonus factor; possessing other qualities whether social or emotional over and above his intellectual abilities as measured in the form of IQ, is often what helps the child work in the direction of his goal and do well at it. Raising a successful kid, therefore entails more responsibilty than simply helping to enlarge their intellect.
Side-effects of the Pressure to Be an All-Rounder Kid
Today, children are not just expected to outshine their peers in their studies, but in every field, be it sports, or co- and extra-curricular activities. Putting undue pressure on a child to do well in everything he participates in, adds to the burden already weighing down on his little shoulders. What makes it worse is when parents focus only on the academic or achievement track record of their child, without checking whether if their kids are growing up to be good people; street-smart, practical, and with a willingness to help others. Excessive pressure from parents could also give rise to the following problems in the long run:
If your child feels that he cannot afford to disappoint you, he may feel the need to resort to unethical methods to achieve his desired results, such as cheating on a paper to ensure a higher grade. This could, in turn, lead to serious problems as he advances in age, such as resorting to alcohol and substance and abuse if the stress is too high for him to deal with.
He learns to comply, but not to take his own decisions. When a child is subjected to his parents’ demands of continuous studying and following the path they carve out for him in every matter, they learn to respond to commands, but not situations. Since the real world doesn’t come with ready-made instructions, it challenges these kids in the future when they have to make their own choices, and rely on themselves.
When you get overly involved in every activity of your child, you limit his participation in that activity. This takes control of the situation away from the child and his learning is also inhibited. In the future, this can lead to poor judgment, or lashing out by not controlling his impulses.
Another potential side-effect of parental pressure is when your child grows up with the mentality that failure is not an option. When growth is not the focus in the child’s mind, he refuses to accept defeat in what he does. This becomes more harmful further down the line, as even when he is on the brink of failure, he may feel trapped but would rather suffer, than to reach out and admit that he is in trouble.
Constant pressure throughout childhood can also manifest in the child as a need for validation. His self-esteem is determined by someone else’s acknowledgement of their work, as opposed to the amount and quality of work he has put in. Any criticism passed on to such a person could be perceived as destructive, rather than a motivation to do better.
Watch: #ReleaseThePressure - Open Letter from Kids to Parents
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7NikXE0T8M
Key Takeaways:
Mirinda came up with the hashtag #ReleaseThePressure, in this video below, where they have dramatized content based on open letters by teenagers to their parents.
A few teenagers write letters to their parents on how the pressure to succeed in their studies has left them feeling completely helpless.
They mention that they feel less close to their parents, and are terrified of disappointing them too.
Another important point brought up by one student was how comparing her to somebody else affects her too.
The video is an eye-opener to the effects of pressuring kids to achieve academic success.
Do it Right - 15 Tips to Raise Well-Rounded, Smart, and Successful Kids
A well-rounded person is someone who is capable or knowledgeable about different things, and is a success in his personal life as well. Pressure and comparison, while providing negative motivation, will not help to bring out the best in your kids while they strive to achieve success; neither can it guarantee that they grow up to be well-rounded individuals. There are much healthier methods by which you can raise your kids to become smart and kind folks, who are assets to society.
1. Become Your Little One’s Strongest Support System
Build a conducive environment at home for your child to fearlessly explore his interests. Your child should feel confident about his abilities, his ambitions, and most of all, grow to understand the way to pick himself up even if he has failed. This helps him grow as an individual, discover various facets of his identity, understand that the cliched ‘failure is the stepping stone to success’ is true, and that he always has you to fall back on.
2. Let Your Kid Find His Own Identity
Start early - right from a young age, let him explore various choices and interests on his own, provided that they are age-appropriate and safe. Don’t restrict your child from treading into activities which are conventionally gender-specific. A boy can like plenty of worse things than the colour pink! Keep calm and stay patient as he experiments and understands what he enjoys and can identify with best. The media today provides an influx of information which kids see and incorporate in their life, which can distort the way they form their identity. Ensure that you are aware of the digital information your child is exposed to, to ensure that he establishes his identity in a healthy manner.
3. Applaud Efforts, Not Abilities
When you praise your child’s dedication and his efforts in accomplishing something, as opposed to his innate talent, it gives him the impression that as long as he works hard towards what he wants, he can achieve that goal. Whether or not he has a natural ability for it becomes immaterial to him, as he will put in additional hours and efforts if required. This makes him more well-rounded and more confident, as he becomes open to trying out several different activities.
4. Keep His Curiosity Alive
Kids are forever wondering about the how’s and what’s of the world around them. Never let this wonderful trait subside, as it encourages learning and makes for great teaching opportunities. Don’t dismiss his questions or shush him; instead, answer him respectfully, or ask his opinion on what he thinks - and slip in a lesson or two, if possible!
5. Get Started on Reading Habits - It’s Never Too Early
Reading opens up worlds of imagination like nothing else. Not only is it a necessary life-skill, but reading to your child daily creates a wonderful bond between you both, promotes the development of their language and literacy skills, and it becomes a session for both of you to look forward to! Introduce him to stories with morals and teach him why it’s necessary to do the right thing through story-telling. For the tech-savvy parents out there, there are kid-friendly YouTube videos and channels that you can watch with them as well; just ensure that it doesn’t become a substitute for reading books!
6. Understand Different Learning Styles
Not every child has a photographic memory; neither can they all take to fractions the very first time. Kids have different learning styles and while it’s difficult for teachers to focus on each child in school, you can revise your child’s lessons with him in a style that suits him. Whether visual, auditory, or tactile techniques, or a mix of the three, you’ll see that your child takes more interest in the learning process once he’s able to relate to it!
7. Encourage Communication
Keeping lines of communication open between you and your child is critical, because he should feel like he can approach you for any matter without fear or embarrassment. Communication is a two-way street; kids should be taught how to talk, as well as to listen to others. With pre-schoolers or slightly older children, you can ask them to repeat what you’ve said to ensure that they were listening. Even if they weren’t, let them tell you that they didn’t hear what you said. Growing up, listening becomes a valuable quality in any environment.
8. Ensure Healthy Bedtime Habits
Young ones need their rest in their developing years. Make sure that your child gets the necessary hours of sleep recommended for his age, as it plays a major role in developing his cognitive abilities. Identify if your child seems to be facing any sort of sleep-related difficulty, however minor it may be, as it can impact his cognitive abilities.
9. Make Them Participate in Team-Sports
Apart from the exercise that games provide to get your little one moving, they also teach him to abide by rules, play as part of a team and be responsible for his actions, and develop qualities of sportsmanship. It teaches him to lose gracefully, and instills the importance of practice to become good at what he does.
10. Teach Him The Value of Friendship
While competition should be encouraged among kids, ensure that it is kept healthy and does not teach your child to damage relationships with his peers. Teach him that friendship is valuable, and that ego or the need to do better should not come in between him and his friends.
11. Teach Them to Be Respectful of Others
This involves setting boundaries from a very young age regarding several matters, be it talking to someone; letting someone else talk and learning to listen; accepting feedback even though it may not always be praise; helping around the household; being polite to not just elders, but everyone around him; and so on. Children observe their parents very carefully and tend to mimic their actions; so ensure that you’re setting the right example for your child!
12. Introduce Him to the Field of Arts
Whether its music, dance, drawing, or any such art form, it provides for a creative outlet through which the child can express himself and also boosts his auditory and cognitive development. In fact, some studies show that babies who had listened to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” while they were still in the womb responded to the original song once they were born, which showed that they recognized and remembered the tune. Growing up, he can pursue it further if he is interested or has a natural affinity for this. One thing to remember here is to never pressurise the child into enjoying something, as this can ruin his interest. It should be treated as a fun extra-curricular activity and as a break from the routine of school subjects.
13. Provide Exposure to Various Cultures and Environments
As much as possible, travel with your child. Teach him how there are different kinds of people living in different conditions, and how he can learn from them. Let him develop his knowledge of the world and learn not to become judgmental of something that he is not familiar with. As he grows up, these experiences prove to be a solid foundation for his interactions with the world around him.
14. Shower Him with Affection
Being a positive force in your child’s life and showing signs of your affection builds their confidence and optimism. It helps them know that they are safe in your hands and can come to you with any problems that they face. The positivity they receive from you becomes a character trait in them, that they can share with the world around them. Studies have shown that adults who had received warmth and affection from their parents in their childhood are now happier and less anxious than the adults who weren’t raised with affection.
15. Do Not Be An Overprotective Parent
While your natural instinct may be to ensure that your child is doing fine in everything he does, sometimes it’s best to watch from the sidelines, even if it means your child fails. By doing so, it helps him realise that challenges are part of life and that he has to learn to cope with them. Don’t lose to them on purpose at board games, or run to him as soon as he trips on the playground. You’ll be surprised to see how resilient kids truly are!
8 Things to Do During Pregnancy to Get a Brilliant Child
It’s common knowledge that your behaviour during your pregnancy can affect your child in numerous ways. This is applicable to everything you eat, drink, feel, and even think! You can start creating a bond with your baby while he is the womb and can do certain things that will contribute to his mental and physical development.
Your baby can hear and respond to sound within the womb. Talking to him gently, rubbing your belly fondly, playing light music, smelling fruits, flowers and other pleasant aromas; all of these stimulate the baby’s different senses and helps in his brain’s development. This is also a way to bond with your little one from early on.
Omega 3 fatty acids contribute to your baby’s brain development significantly. Make sure to include plenty of Omega 3 rich fish, eggs, walnuts, flax seeds, or even supplements. Iron, which helps the flow of oxygen to the baby’s brain, can be found in leafy vegetables.
Keep a check on your weight, as overweight pregnant women can give birth prematurely. A foetus requires the 40-41 weeks in your womb for its whole and healthy development, for which care must be taken by the mother to have a healthy diet.
Smoking and drinking are to be completely avoided while pregnant as it can considerably harm the baby’s brain cells.
Consider basking in the sun in the early hours of the morning when its rays are not too harsh. Vitamin D is a great source for healthy bones, and a lack of it can be harmful to the mother and baby, both physically and mentally. Turn to the sun for your daily dose of this nutrient.
Keep a check of your thyroid levels too, as too much or too little is a problem. A deficiency can lead to a lower IQ of the baby. Sodium rich foods, iodized salt, yogurt, and milk can contribute to healthy thyroid levels.
Working out for a minimum of 30 minutes daily releases moderate amounts of the stress hormone called cortisol, which has been seen to boost the developments of the baby’s brain and several other organs.
Don’t forget about the necessary supplements that can help your baby. Consult with your doctor to understand what your body requires, and incorporate them into your daily routine.
How Being a Well-Rounded Child will Help Your Kid in Future
As mentioned earlier, success is not linked only to intelligence or brain-power. When the child is able to dabble in different activities, works hard to achieve his goals, rises again after failure, and use his strengths to help the people around him as well, he can be called a well-rounded child. Such individuals ensure that they are not stunted by resources and make the best of opportunities that come their way, while also contributing to the community around them. They are able to identify what they are good at, and can bank on their support systems to keep them going too. When it is time to face the real world, such kids will be able to take on the challenges that come their way, and be positive about it as well! Read more
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Panic Attack During Pregnancy
Pregnancy will be an ecstatic experience for a new mommy-to-be. However, that may not be the only emotion she may be overladen with, because pregnancy is a life-changing experience, and negative emotions like worry and anxiety may bother the mommy-to-be too. While feeling joyous and happy is good for the mother’s overall health and well-being, any kind of negative feelings and emotions may have an adverse impact on her health. Interested in knowing how to deal with a panic attack during pregnancy? We recommend that you go through the following article, where we shall be discussing the causes and symptoms of a panic attack during pregnancy. We'll also provide various tips to control panic attacks during pregnancy.
Are Panic Attacks Normal During Pregnancy?
It is very normal for a would-be-mommy to feel all concerned about the well-being of her unborn child, and sometimes these concerns (if too many and too frequent) may result in a panic attack. It is observed that almost 10 percent of pregnant women experience a panic attack during their pregnancy journey. Even if you have never experienced any panic attack before in your life, there may be a possibility that you may experience it during pregnancy.
Who is At Risk of Suffering Panic Attacks While Pregnant?
Wondering if you are at a risk of having a panic attack? Well, as discussed above, panic attacks are very common and extremely normal during pregnancy. It may affect any woman, irrespective of the fact that she may have experienced it before or not. However, it is seen that women who may already have had three or more babies are more likely to get affected with this condition. But this surely does not mean that first-time mommies or women who do not have any past history of panic attacks may not suffer from this condition.
What Causes Panic Attack in Pregnancy?
Following are some reasons that may cause this situation during pregnancy:
1. If You Have Experienced It Before
It is quite likely that if you have suffered a panic attack in the past, you may suffer it during your pregnancy too. This may happen because the anxiety and other triggers of the attack may be present during pregnancy too, and thus, may make you more prone to it.
2. Your Changing Hormones
Pregnancy makes your body undergo many changes, and it affects your hormonal balance too. The hormones are directly related to emotions and thus, changing hormones during pregnancy may be one of the major contributors towards these attacks.
3. Your Age or Phase of Life
It is seen that if you get pregnant around a certain age or the phase of your life where you may usually be more prone to panic attacks, then it is quite likely that you may have one during your pregnancy too.
4. Increased Anxiety During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time that may make any woman anxious and concerned about the well-being of her unborn child. Where some woman may take these anxiety issues in their stride, others may get too tensed, which may lead to panic attacks.
Symptoms of Panic Attacks When Pregnant
Here we shall be discussing some pregnancy panic attack symptoms, which may help you understand whether you may be suffering from this condition too:
You may experience increased or rapid heartbeat.
You may feel all shaky, or you may tremble.
You may experience heartburns or chest pains.
You may feel dizzy and may experience headaches.
You may feel that you are not able to breathe.
Will Panic Attacks Affect Your Baby?
A panic attack may not be good for your baby during pregnancy. This is because you may feel nauseous or dizzy in such a condition, which in turn may hamper with the blood supply to the placenta. The reduced blood supply may result in low oxygen to the placenta, which may lead to low birth weight babies or premature babies. Also, a mother who experiences a panic attack during pregnancy may be more prone to baby blues after the birth of the baby.
Tips to Deal with Panic Attacks While Pregnant
Wondering how to control panic attacks during pregnancy? Well, here we have some tips that may help you deal with a panic attack during pregnancy:
1. Know More About Panic Attacks
It is important that you understand this condition better so that you may be better prepared to deal with it. If you have had panic attacks before pregnancy, then it will be a good idea to understand what may be the possible triggers for it. Once you know your triggers, you may be better prepared to deal with the situation during pregnancy. Also, if you have not experienced it before, then pregnancy in itself is a good enough reason for you to know about it. For example, hyperventilation is known as one of the main reasons behind panic attacks during pregnancy. If you know more about this condition, it may help you to stay calm and positive when it may an attack may occur.
2. You Should Go for Regular Check-Ups
Panic usually occurs when you may not be sure of what is going with your health or your baby’s health. However, if you pay regular visits to your doctor and know how your pregnancy may be progressing, you may not hit the panic button that easily. Also, seeing your doctor on a regular basis may help you solve or deal with your various pregnancy concerns or queries.
3. You Should Spend Time on Self-care
As soon as you become pregnant, your focus may shift from your well-being to your baby’s well-being, which may be very natural. However, you need to be taking care of yourself too. It is important that you spend time in taking care of yourself, which not only means physical health but emotional health too. Taking care of your needs may help in keeping stress and anxiety at bay, which in turn may help in battling a panic attack too. Some self-care activities may include meditation, yoga, enough rest, stress management skills, etc. You may consult your doctor before you plan on doing any physical activity.
4. Have a Good Support System
There is no denying that family and friends are your true saviours in the time of need, and dealing with a panic attack during pregnancy is no exception. Just knowing the fact that you have your partner, parents, siblings or friends by your side may give you much-needed peace of mind. Also, if you feel that you may require them by your side, you should not shy away from giving them a call. Emotional support is imperative in dealing with any kind of panic-stricken situations during pregnancy.
Panic attacks are a very normal phenomenon during pregnancy, and with proper medical guidance and care you may be able to handle this situation better, and have a healthy and hassle-free pregnancy.
Also Read: Heart Palpitations in Pregnancy Read more
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Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. ninth month mein kab tak delivery ho sakti hai
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
5 hours ago
A. anytime after full term ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. my last period date Dec 26 pregnancy test date January 31 check panen apom 37 days ipom enaku evlo weeks and days what ?..
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
5 hours ago
A. I don’t understand your language can you please post your question once again in English or Hindi whatever language you are more comfortable with because anybody on this only we can give you response on that
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. which good formula milk or baby food for 4 months old baby
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
5 hours ago
A. no complementary foods below 4 months can use any branded formula milk. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
5 hours ago
Q. Iam 9month pregnant and having very painful condition due to constipation and gastric issues
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
5 hours ago
A. during pregnancy better not to take medicines for constipation take lot of water green leafy vegetables seasonal fruits you can try suppository if the problem is more o k o k
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
3 hours ago
Q. hi Doc,
eating raw mango, chapathi or any heat producing foods cause miscarriage during first trimester?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. no relation ok c. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
3 hours ago
Q. Hi Doc,
I'm getting cramps on my right side of lower stomach. is this normal or do I have to visit doc?
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. without examination it is difficult to tell proper treatment as well as advice so you should visit the doctor5 for health assessment as well as examination.
whether any investigations is required or not will be told by the doctor5
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