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Using Diapers Safely for Newborns and Babies
As your little bundle of joy arrives in the world, one thing is sure that your days and nights will be extremely busy. All your tasks will revolve around your baby's routine. You will do everything to make sure your baby is happy. For a few months to come, a baby's job is to drink breastmilk and urinate and poop. And this increases your duties in turn. You will have to frequently check, whether he has wet his crib or not, if yes, then clean him and make him feel comfortable. It can be cumbersome, that is why nowadays new parents have resorted to disposable diapers to keep their babies dry and comfortable. But, how safe are these diapers for newborns? Do you know?
Are Diapers Safe for Infants?
There are mixed opinions about the usage of diapers. Elderly people are against using diapers and think that mothers use it for their convenience, avoiding the hassles of frequent cleaning and washing. Baby Diapers cause rashes and infections, and so its excessive use is not a healthy practice. However, young mothers argue that diapers are specially designed for babies with utmost care. So, they are typically safe to use.
What are Diapers Made of?
There are cloth diapers and disposable diapers. Cloth diapers are typically the ones that are soft and reusable. You can wash, dry and reuse them. However, disposable diapers are made of different materials, which are as follows:
1. Sodium Polyacrylate
It is a polymer used in diapers and is an absorbent. To ensure that it is not directly in contact with the baby's skin, this polymer is placed in the core of the diaper and packed with layers of other materials. Acrylic acid mixed with this polymer can cause irritation in some babies.
2. Dye
Some diapers have wetness indicators. Dyes are used in these indicators. They are also used as a part of coloured patterns outside the diaper and the leg cuffs. Dyes can cause skin rashes in some babies.
3. Volatile Organic Compounds
Fragrances are sometimes used in the diapers to prevent bad odour. However, these fragrances emit volatile organic compounds that are harmful to the baby. Compounds like toluene and xylene can cause skin irritation.
4. Dioxins
When wood pulp is bleached and used to make diapers, it produces dioxins. Remnants of dioxin can be present in the diaper. It is considered to be less harmful, but it is always better to be aware about the presence of dioxins.
Now that you are aware of the components of diapers, it is advisable to choose the diapers for your baby, wisely.
Precautions to Take Before Using Diapers for Babies
Diapers are in direct contact with a baby’s skin, so it is advisable to take precautions before using diapers for babies. Following are some precautions to take:
Check the baby’s skin to ensure that there are no rashes. Some babies are very sensitive and can develop rashes.
Specially designed overnight disposable diapers can be used at night.
Avoid heavier diapers during the daytime. Use gel-based diapers or diapers with skin creams or cloth diapers.
Change diapers once in two to three hours to avoid rashes and infections. When babies pass stool, ensure that you change the diaper immediately.
After removing the diaper, don't make your baby wear another diaper immediately. Allow his skin to breathe, let it be free for some time.
Clean your baby’s skin with baby wipes or cloth after removing the diaper. You can use baby lotion, coconut oil, moisturizers, and baby powder. All these accessories help in maintaining good hygiene.
The initial phase of motherhood is hectic because you strive to give the best to your baby. While diapers can make things easier, using diapers for longer periods generates heat. So, frequently changing diapers is the key to ensure that your baby is dry, comfortable, and healthy.
Also Read: Home Remedies for Diaper Rash in Babies Read more
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Homemade Soap, Shampoo and Body Wash for Baby
Every mother loves to see her baby enjoy the first moments in the water and then start playing around with enormous excitement. Taking care of your little one is your utmost priority and you would go out of your way to purchase the best baby shampoo or body wash available in the market. But no matter how safe they say it is, there is always a chance of it containing some chemicals. Having a baby shampoo made of natural substances is not difficult when you can literally make the same at home with a few ingredients.
Why is it Good to Use Homemade Baby Products for your Child?
Although you might choose to opt for baby cleansing products from well-established brands right off the bat, it is in your best interest to switch to a homemade version of the same as soon as you can.
Commercial products get expensive as they get safer and more convenient for your child.
Even the so-called “organic” products tend to make use of artificial preservatives and fragrances.
The manufacturing process could introduce certain chemicals into the solution.
Homemade products are more gentle on your baby and take care of his hair as well as his skin.
The fragrances and aromas used to remind the baby of a homely place and can be relaxing and sleep-inducing for your child, too.
How to Make and Use these Homemade Products for your Baby?
In order to get you started with making your very own homemade baby care products for your child, we have put together a few basic recipes that can are easy and convenient to proceed with.
1. Baby Soap
With this homemade baby soap recipe, you can make a nice bar of customized soap for your kid.
Ingredients Needed
Coconut oil, 90g
Jojoba oil, 30g
Olive oil, 750g
Lye, 120g
Distilled water, 300g
Essential oils, 15g
How To Make
Block the sink and fill it with cold water and ice to act as a cooling bath.
Wear rubber gloves. Take a pitcher and add distilled water to it. Follow it up by pouring in the lye very slowly. Do it outdoors since fumes will rise and it will heat up. Place this in the cooling bath until it reaches a temperature of 38 degrees.
In parallel, put together the oils in a pot and heat it to the same temperature. It is necessary for both elements to be at 38 degrees at the same time.
Then, pour the lye mixture into the oils and keep stirring until lines start forming in the mixture. This takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Add some more oils to this mixture and stir again.
Pour this mixture into a mould and let it cool down to form the soap.
How To Use
The soap will take some time to harden and reduce its alkaline nature. This needs to happen for around 6 weeks or so.
Once cured, the soap can be used by creating lather in your hands and then applying to the baby. The soft creamy nature of the soap is extremely comforting to the child.
2. Baby Shampoo
The various ingredients used in making the baby shampoo at home, work together in forming a solution that is great to smell, moisturizes the skin, as well as cleanses the body properly.
Ingredients Needed
Liquid castile soap, 1 cup
Vegetable glycerine, 1 teaspoon
Lavender oil, 15 drops
Coconut oil, 2 tablespoons
Water, 1 cup
How To Make
Take a plastic jar and add water to it.
Follow this up by pouring in the liquid castile soap into it gradually. Mix the entire solution together as properly as possible.
For added softness and aroma, pour in the glycerine and follow it up with the lavender oil drops. These need to be stirred into the mixture.
Store this solution in a dispenser or another container.
How To Use
Before dispensing any, make sure you shake the bottle or the dispenser properly.
Take a small amount of the solution on a sponge or a cloth used to clean the baby.
Use your hands and some water to create a nice lather before rinsing your little one. Too much solution can make his skin greasier than usual
3. Baby Body Wash
Some people prefer using a baby wash instead of a soap because it is much more convenient to use and tends to have a better texture than any other soap.
Ingredients Needed
Distilled water, 1 cup
Dispenser
Castile soap, 2 tablespoons
Organic coconut oil, 1 tablespoon
How To Make
It might be necessary to melt the coconut oil before beginning the process since organic coconut oil can solidify quite easily.
With all the ingredients in place, take a bowl and add them one by one into it. Make sure you stir the mixture after each ingredient is added to create as homogenous a mixture as possible.
Once the mixture is prepared, open the dispenser and pour the mixture into it.
Make sure you use a dispensing mouth that has a foaming installation on it.
How To Use
Prior to your baby’s bath, wet his body a little to create a nice base.
Shake the dispenser well and take a small amount of the solution on your hand.
Rub the solution in your palms to create the initial lather and then apply it to the baby.
Rinse gently so that more lather is formed and the body is cleansed properly.
Once you know how to make homemade baby shampoo and other cleaning products, you can get started on creating customised aromatic soaps and washes for your little one and give him a bath that he enjoys the most.
Also Read:
Home Remedies for Baby Skin Care
How to Wash Your Infant's Hair?
How to Trim Baby Nails Safely? Read more
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What it's like to be a pregnant Millennial- the journey from a shock to love before first sight!
What It’s Like To Be a Pregnant Millennial
Like the (intended) readers, I am a millennial working professional who never gave a serious thought about getting pregnant within a couple of years of holy matrimony, until one day I was.
Today, thirty-eight weeks later, I am conformable and at the peak of my pregnancy - it is now that I have the luxury to share my journey - what I enjoyed, learnt, wish I knew and what can be expected in the roller coaster that is the nine months of baby - baking!
Spoiler alert- This personal reflective piece is not my (veiled) attempt at convincing you to get pregnant; it’ll help you get acquainted with life before the arrival of the pair of little feet!
T’ was last August, the night after our first anniversary so understandably love was in the air, little did I know that confusion would soon follow - I realised I was late! Isn’t that the very definition of panic for most of us (married or otherwise)? Albeit being closely acquainted with each other for over a decade, we had, after a year of marriage, just begun to settle into a comfortable place, a routine of physical and mental peace. Needless to say, we had taken reasonable precautions. Turns out we were careless this one fateful time or maybe, the method failed us (for those who have seen F.R.I.E.N.D.S. know that condoms are safe only 98% of times!).
To Keep or Not to Keep!
Did you know that you are pregnant from the date you had your last period and not the day you had unprotected sex (or conceived) [formally known as LMP]? I didn’t. Consequently, the time you discover that you are pregnant (after you miss your next period), you are inevitably in around the 6th week of your pregnancy. Now this is crucial because the clock is ticking on the decision- whether you (both the mother and the father) want to continue this pregnancy!
I do not wish to comment on whether the biological clock is ticking but I will identify for you the factors that may influence this decision and how. The Gynecologist’s recommendation, if you are between the age of 22-32 (ergo, most fertile age for conception starts in your teenage- the female body has not caught up with evolution as much) and this is your first pregnancy, is that you carry the fetus to term, provided that there aren’t any other complications. Irrespective of everyone else’s opinion, the only one you must heed to is of the twain who contributed to this pickle-in-the-jar (mum ‘n’ dad). Others’ opinions, despite best intentions, must be taken with a pinch of salt.
The decision was the toughest phase of my pregnancy. Reminder when you find out, you are already around six weeks pregnant and hence, the hormones have started their tango. Imagine taking a life-altering decision in a magnified PMS bubble with the hormones hell bent on partying hard inside your body! What helps, is the bond and the sensibilities of your partner and his ability to reason whether the two of you want it or not (yellow pad, and a pros and cons list is a savior). Just like the decision you made about getting married (if you did), except here the woman has a veto power and is legally allowed to abort the pregnancy if required without the consent of the partner.
There are some good articles (on various digital and physical repositories) that may help you decide but it all boils down to what you want? Do you ever want to have a child? Ask this question to yourself a thousand times over and if you ever answer in the positive- remember now is as good a time as any other time!
I was 29 when I was faced with this decision and I kept going back to how I wanted two more years to life, to career and my marriage before becoming a mother! This was obviously not Plan A for me but I realized that perhaps even after two years, I would not be completely ready (we keep aiming for the next promotion, the exam, the conference, the dinner, the next holiday or everything else). What needs to be understood is that none of these reasons will ever cease to exist but be merely deferred to the next time you are faced with the same decision.
There are a lot of reasons why you may not want to carry to term and please let no one guilt trip you into otherwise (every mother and mother in law has a story of your cousin who did not conceive a baby on time and regretted later when she was standing at the IVF clinic). It is not fair to you, your partner and your baby that you continue only out of fear.
There is only one good reason to stay pregnant and it is that you and your partner want to have a baby together! Of course it is scary, but also an adrenaline rush comparable only to five hundred sky dives rolled into one - the ultimate human experience, the one that has sustained life forever.
Be aware that this decision is time sensitive because if you do not wish to continue your pregnancy, the easiest method of aborting the mission is through pills which can be used safely till the 10th week calculated from your LMP. After that, an abortion is still possible, medically safe and legal but only through the clinical vacuuming process. Either way, the best thing to do is to visit a gynecologist who will prescribe an Ultrasound (USG) to confirm your pregnancy (This could have all been an ugly joke by Mother Nature). Note that in India you cannot get an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy without a prescription of the doctor and an Identity Proof.
The Ultrasound Experience
This first ultrasound may be done internally but is not painful at all, rather feels like an experiment with a new ‘toy’ (if you know what I mean!). The Radiologist may show you the screen but despite your best maternal instincts, it is impossible to identify the fetus. It is hardly the size of a cumin seed and looks at best like a cashew, but magically (depending on when you get this ultrasound done) may have a beating heart.
I won’t romanticise this moment as it will be a unique experience for everyone but it is definitely one that stays with you - this moment lets you witness the flutter of a heartbeat from a life you are creating! Remember this is standard procedure even if you wish to terminate your pregnancy and it might be mentally draining if you do not decide soon! Whatever you choose the two people that are important to be by your side are your partner and a good gynecologist.
By the time you arrive here, the first trimester is half spent. Another important thing learnt is that pregnancy in modern medial terms, is measured in weeks, contrary to the popular notion of nine months. Full pregnancy is of 40 weeks and it is roughly divided into trimesters. The second half of the first trimester may be messy but not like how they show in movies. You do not necessarily wake up one day and start puking or fainting. Only about forty percent of women in India actually puke in the first trimester. However, with such a momentous change, your body will show signs - one or the other and those will be hard to miss. I, for instance, was perpetually farting and burping through the first trimester! Yep, not a pretty vision, but a real one alright!
The Announcement!
An important question that you will be faced with here is, whether ‘to tell or not to tell?’. The general Indian notion is to not disclose the pregnancy till the first trimester. The logical reason behind it, is that the chances of a miscarriage are relatively higher in the first trimester and the announcement may make it stressful for you to retract in case it happens.
I realized that the bigger problem with disclosure is the tsunami of advice that follows the announcement. As soon as you tell anyone that you are pregnant, like your mom or your maid or even your colleague from work who has never been pregnant, they flood you with endless advice! This is obviously done with the best intentions, but for millennials, like you and me, an excessive flow of ‘dos and don’ts’ can be overwhelming. To be told that you have to be careful all the time, eat certain things, restrain from others, especially at a time when you are still digesting the big news, can become too much to handle.
What I learnt is that the news should be shared selectively. You may be dying to tell your best friend but if she has never been pregnant, she may not understand much and start treating you a little differently. It may be smarter to share it with the good friend who recently had a baby; she knows what you are going through and may also help you with practical advice like which gynaecologist you should consider, checking on your insurance cover and so on.
What to Do and What Not to Do
Telling your family may help you emotionally and the happiness that the news will bring to them may help you through some gloomy days full of mood swings. A word of advice here - there will be a constant check on you to ‘be careful’ and you do need to be careful to the extent that all the pending lifestyle changes that you were procrastinating, will have to be done now. The only restrictions your doctor will ask you to observe is to not lift weights and to refrain from smoking, drinking, taking unprescribed drugs, and eating ppapaya and ppineapple (oh and no sushi/ raw fish). You may also be advised (depending on the position of your placenta) to abstain from sex for some time (otherwise it is perfectly safe and even enjoyable to have sex throughout your pregnancy).
The mantra that will take you a long way is that “You are pregnant and not sick!”. You may feel morning sickness and tiredness but that is just your body coping with this huge change and it does not indicate that you should give up on your routine. Again, I am no doctor to comment but unless he/she tells you otherwise, you should continue with your regular life and healthy habits. Instead of giving up on going to the gym, driving or going to work, you must focus on giving up smoking or drinking and even unhealthy food.
Rujuta Diwekar (whose book on pregnancy I will highly recommend) says that you can continue the level of exercise you did when you got pregnant but not start some strenuous exercise routine during your pregnancy. The greatest example is Serena Williams winning a grand slam during her first trimester (to which my response is that it was only possible as she did not have desi relatives). To sum it up, your life is not over but will continue to remain the same but your body and mind will demand you to live better- sleep better, eat better and only then will you feel better.
As poetic as it may sound, your pregnancy is as easy as you make it! Focus has to be on being happy; fake it till you feel it happy (It is generally only tough during the first-trimester. I promise, it will get better). You have to remind yourself that it is a miracle that you are experiencing even when you do not feel like it. The fetus is selfish, the gynecologist told me, it will take away everything good from your body; all the nutrients. That is the biological reason you may feel low and tired at this point before you start your supplements.
Just one more mantra before I start to sound like a guru is that - “Each pregnancy is different”. This is something I recommend be your standard response for unsolicited advice. Women hold pregnancy very dear to their hearts and love to narrate their experience and believe that how they felt/what they did is what you should! This is tricky since every pregnancy is different and it is perfectly fine if you do not feel like eating achaar or pani puri, your taste buds may or may not change at all. Whatever it is will be a communication between you and your body and no one else; you need to act accordingly.
Eating can be tricky when you are pregnant- apart from your taste buds drastically changing, everyone around you has a conspiracy theory around pregnancy foods. You can take the most innocent of ingredients/food and perform this experiment- for example- eggplant- there will be someone or the other who will say that it is not supposed to be consumed because someone they knew ate it and had a miscarriage. There is no point of trying - you’ll go bonkers if you start listening to everyone and everything!
If you consult nutritionists or your dadi/nani, you will be told to eat as per the season, eat what is locally grown and avoid it only if it produces too much heat in the body. The rule is to only listen to your gynaecologist and she will encourage you to eat balanced nutritious home cooked meals. Your baby is a few grams right now so remember you do not have to eat for ‘two’. Pregnancy is not a pity party where you drown yourself in cupcakes and blame your husband for not feeling the same emotions. This will hurt no one but you! Recap for the importance of owning your decision and embracing the change.
Dealing With the Changes
You will wake up one morning and feel better; that morning is not defined and may come at different times for each pregnant woman - this is when you have entered the beautiful second trimester. Your body has now accepted the fetus as its welcome host and the fetus is also stronger and more comfortable to live inside you. You may still not feel the fetus at all and you will have to adopt your own means to try and connect with the baby.
You can adopt your own means of enjoying your pregnancy; I say journal it! There will be days in your second trimester where you feel so comfortable that you might forget you are pregnant. Since you have the comfort of time now, you can use it to fill in your pregnancy journal (you can easily buy it online), take some nice pictures (you will want to see the progression of how your body changed later), share the news with family and friends, choose baby names (it is more challenging than it sounds), etc.
This is the time you will have to start taking iron and calcium supplements and your skin will glow, hair will shine and nails will grow without cracking. You deserve to feel beautiful. If you maintain a healthy lifestyle, you would not have gained more than a couple of kilos in the first trimester but will gain at least 3-4 kgs in the second trimester (As per World Obstetrics standards, you should not gain more than 12 kgs during your pregnancy). Around this time, you will progressively stop fitting into your favorite clothes! Instead of sobbing about it, you must gloat about the fact that (at least, for the first time for me) there is a perfectly beautiful reason for the weight gain.
For Indian women, the advantage is that you will continue fitting into Indian clothes like churidars and anarkalis but you will need to shop for western/ causal office wear. There are different brands (and even online stores) which sell leggings and pants with expandable bands which will accommodate the expanding belly. I will recommend that you find the perfect maternity pant/jeans which will be your comfortable companion throughout pregnancy and even after. Remember, maternity shopping (including undergarments) is not a luxury but a necessity and if your attic is of an improper size, it might cause you discomfort and even pain as you grow bigger.
What might disturb you while your belly expands a little every day is the stretch marks that come with it. There is no scientific way to stop it but it can be controlled by oiling. Oiling the belly (and nipples in the third trimester) is also suggested for general well-being of the skin which gets stretched as the uterus expands. What will overcompensate for the stretch marks is the moment you feel the baby move inside you for the first time. You’ll be tired at the end of a long day and still in a difficult meeting when suddenly you will feel like a butterfly fluttering inside your belly (no, it is not a kick). It feels like first love (this time before the first sight) and you will not be able to help yourself but smile.
Prenatal Classes
I took pre-natal classes (birthing and baby care classes) in my third trimester but was informed that the best time to learn is the second trimester as you are not as anxious during that time. These classes are important for three reasons:
The most important is that they educate and involve your partner. Most men are very confused and uninformed about pregnancy (blame Bollywood) and they can learn so much more from practical classes which explain the body changes, biological processes and the ultimate labour experience than they can from reading any books or watching YouTube videos. Nature is unfair to men in a way that they do not get the transition period of nine of months when, as a woman, your body and mind prepares for parenthood. Men, on the other hand have a moment, one fateful ‘lamha’ when they turn from the usual good man into a father!
My husband who is an empathetic man and has been a constant support for me throughout this time, almost cried in the first birthing class. The instructor was explaining how the uterus muscles work harder during the short time of labour than most other muscles of a man’s body would work throughout its lifetime. It touched him to know such details in relative terms, and he was grateful later that we took the classes. I could see more men in the room look at pregnancy differently after the class.
The second reason is that you meet other women who are in the same boat as you and the interaction is healthy and beneficial. You will find out about the options of delivering at different hospitals, ultrasound centres, japa maids and everything else you might or might not have considered as yet.
The third and the most obvious reason is to learn and to connect to your baby and the body. There is a lot of information about birthing and baby care out there on the internet. But it is satisfying to interact with people who are medically qualified to advise you on something as scientific as breast-feeding.
The Babymoon and Mid-Pregnancy Ultrasound!
Before the trimester ends, I will suggest that you travel or indulge in other ways with your partner. This will give you both some time to spend with each other without worrying. Babymoon now or regret later- for travel is restricted and not recommended after the second trimester.
The Ultrasound in this trimester is special nevertheless, I would recommend a 3D/4D Ultrasound (available in all big cities at select radiologists) where you will be able to see the face of the baby quite clearly. This will again be very special and will allow you to connect with your baby and imagine him or her while you talk to him or her the next time. Yes, by this time your baby listens and listens to your voice enough to recognise who mom is later. It is recommended that you listen to classical music for the baby’s brain development or spiritual literature like the Bhagwad Gita or you can just listen to what makes you happy and sing along!!
The Last Leg!
It will be no time before you step into the third trimester and everything will start feeling more real. In terms of routine, not a lot will change, you can continue working till the day the baby arrives (as long as your gynaecologist does not advise bed rest). You can also continue with the same supplements and healthy diet/lifestyle but with a focus on more protein intake and a lot of slow paced walking.
Walking and even other activities might tire you out earlier than usual but staying active is imperative. It is very normal to feel anxious at this time. It is called the ‘nesting’ phase where your body and your mind are continuously preparing for the arrival of the baby. I frequently dream about the baby and wake up with a list of things still to be done, while some other women find it difficult to sleep at all because of the anxiety (you may also want to start using a pregnancy pillow which will help you elevate your leg while you sleep on your side).
Your pregnancy cannot be missed at this time and so everyone around you now, knows! This is also a good time for your friends or you and your partner to throw a baby shower. Traditionally, in India, a godh bharayi takes place in the seventh month and also involves food, games, singing, dancing and accepting gifts. It may be a good idea to maintain a gift registry (specially for close friends) so that the gifts you receive are only things that you need and are not repeated.
It is very tempting to shop for the baby but you must exercise restraint and diligence. Ask your friends/other mothers for suggestions. Do extensive research. Every baby is different and may not use something you bought at all. It is also smart to use hand me downs since babies outgrow what you buy in no time. Shopping for the baby serves two purpose - you are walking and you become happier!
As you approach the due date, the hospital and your doctor will explain what the signs of labour are, when you need to start squatting, what to keep in your hospital bag and how you can choose your delivery plan. Labour and delivery are not so far right now and no matter what you or I read, we will not know till we experience it. So, before I leave you, I will share what helped me relax. The simple fact that the baby has to come out; the force of life is bigger than any fear in the mind. Women, or rather females, from every species deliver everywhere; it is a natural process. Women who have conceived the baby are biologically engineered to deliver it. It is also comforting to know that the development of medical science has made its contribution to the delivery room. Options like epidural can help you reduce the pain you feel while delivering. You must discuss all such options with your doctor and hospital. I am still to make my delivery story. Hence, I will save it for the next time.
Nobody ever regretted making a baby, I wonder if that is true for any other human act!
With love,
The Mother-to-be!
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It is Possible to Stay Positive When Life is Sh**ty! Here are 5 Ways to Do It!
Life is an amazing mix of good and bad, and as a human being, it is important to learn to accept both. Learning how to stay positive in negative situations is one of the best ways to handle life's curve balls.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This is the mantra you should apply to your life when you come across difficulty. Though not easy, it can have a huge impact on your outlook and can decide how well you handle the downs of life. Being negative is a normal reflex when you encounter a bad situation, but overcoming it is a sign of inner strength.
Important Tips For Staying Positive in the Worst Situations
1. Count your blessings
The glass can be half empty or half full; it’s all in your perspective. When a crisis occurs, it can be taken as an opportunity that leads to something bigger and better, or you can sit and cry about it. How you tackle the situation plays a key role in determining how you handle future problems.
2. Train your mind
Life is all about change. If today is good, tomorrow might be bad and vice versa. You cannot avoid problems, but a must-do for everyone, young or old, man or woman, is to train the mind to be positive in a negative situation. Learn to conquer emotions like self-pity, sorrow, frustration and lack of confidence. Looking at the bad side and visualising the worst is a vicious cycle and it can be tough to come out of it. Meditation and positive thinking help the mind and heart stay calmer.
3. Be in the company of inspiring people
Spending time with a friend or a loved one who keeps inspiring you with positive thoughts is a great way to temper negativity. Instead of looking for a shoulder to cry on all the time, look for someone who instils new confidence and will power in you. They’ll help you come out of a rut with a more positive outlook.
4. Engage in things that make you happy
When you face an adverse situation in life, try to steal moments of happiness by indulging in activities that make you happy. Exercise is a wonderful way to find solace as it not only boosts your health, but also refreshes your mind and makes you mentally stronger to cope with tough times. Reading, listening to music, walking through nature and spending time with children can also act as therapy.
5. Accept and move on
The loss of a loved one is one of the worst times in life. The fact that you can’t do anything about it only makes everything seem futile. One way how you can stay positive in negative situations is to accept what’s happened. Grieve however you choose to and as much as you want to. The good news is that time eventually heals everything.
Positivity is something you have to cultivate within yourself and it is only you who can nurture it. Keep your outlook sunny and see how much more at peace you feel. If you’re a mom, this peace can keep you from getting overwhelmed when dealing with your children too! Read more
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Fruit & Nut Bars
The Fruit & Nut bars are ideal after school snacks. Unlike processed sweets, this bar packs in a lot of nutrition. Customize the bar according to your preference for fruits and nuts. Flavorful, hearty and just the right amount of sweetness - a perfectly healthy sweet snack!
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
2 People
10-15 Minutes
25-30 Minutes
Ingredients
20 g cashews
20 g almonds
20 g pistachios
20 g macadamia
20 g walnuts
20 g pitted prunes
20 g pitted cranberries
20 g seedless dates
20 g cherry, pitted
20 g figs, pitted
20 g raisins, pitted
20 g blueberry, pitted
20 g apricot, pitted
Method
Step 1
Combine the nuts and dried fruit in a food processor or blender
Step 2
Keep pausing in between to check the consistency of the mixture. The mixture should just be broken up and not churned completely
Step 3
Put the mixture into a thick glass bowl lined with butter paper and press into a firm layer.
Step 4
Chill for at least 3-5 hours
Step 5
Divide into bars
Step 6
Wrap each bar in plastic wrap or wax paper and store in the fridge
Nutritional Information
Calories
434 Kcal
Proteins
10.4 g
Fat
27.8 g
Carbohydrates
44.6 g
Cholesterol
0 mg
Sodium
5 mg
Potassium
671 mg
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Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
10 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts what to do if the baby’s nose is blovked
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
10 hours ago
A. Nasal blockage is very common, specially in small children because of the narrow nasal cavity. Any kind of saline drops like nasal clear will be helpful in dissolving the stuffy secretions, which can be taken out by vnasal aspirator gently also steam inhalation will be helpful also, try to avoid keeping the child directly under the fan.
Ankita Mehta has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 4 months
7 hours ago
Q. 22 week pregnant,baby konse month me or din me kitni baar move kartaa he ,pls bataye abhi sirf 2, 3 baar hi hota he
Ankita Mehta
Mom of a 8 yr 7 m old girl
5 hours ago
A. hi
yes it's enough
and the frequency and timing may vary as we all are different
but yes, the frequency of feeling baby movements will increase now
please go for regular check-up to your gynecologist
and follow his or her suggestions
Rashmi has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
7 hours ago
Q. hi
need help and advice
my RT 18x16mm and LT 10x16mm ET 6.59
and did ovulation rest also showing fertility test C as if now , pls advice if we intercourse tomorrow then when will be my ovulation start.
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
6 hours ago
A. You can check with an ovulation kit if it is positive then you can certainly go ahead with the conception because ovulation kit is going to give you 100% clarity whether you are ovulating or not with that you can try practising if you can conceive the same time
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. Bread feeding mother can have green tea
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. absolutely no problem to have green tea 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
2 hours ago
Q. In my growth scan doctor found that 2 round cord has been partly around baby necks. Is there any problem with this. will I get normal delivery?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
2 hours ago
A. A lot of times normal delivery is actually seen in these cases also if the doctor is quick and the child cooperate then yes normal delivery is very much possible but some doctors don’t take a chance with the health of your child and so they normally suggest C-section so let’s see what’s your situation by the end when you are into your labour
Sunita Mahato has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 m old child
36 mins ago
Q. #asktheexperts How to increase quantity of milk production?
Sunita Mahato
Mom of 3 children
34 mins ago
A. to increase milk take latction supplement as lactare...
take green papaya bottle gourd bitter gourd fennel seeds garlic oats ragi dalia sabudana ...
regular pumping increase milk use Babyhug electric breast pump...
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