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Head Lice during Pregnancy - Treatment & Preventive Measures
Pregnancy is one of the most difficult times in the life of a woman. After the initial euphoria of learning that a baby is on the way, pregnancy starts to affect the mother in ways she'd never imagined. A whole lot of hormones are released into the bloodstream, and this time is also accompanied by physical and emotional changes. In short, worrying about louse eggs or lice is the last thing that any person would want during pregnancy.
There are many lice treatments on offer and are available in the most basic medical stores. However, as an expecting mother, the only thing that will be on your mind will be whether these lice treatments are safe for your child. Chemical shampoos may contain pesticides, which have been linked towards brain damage and autism in the unborn child if used- the choice as to how to treat lice is an important one.
In this article, let us take a look at what lice infestation means, and how it can be treated without bringing about any harm to your child.
What are Head Lice?
Head lice refer to small insects that live on the scalp and bite you around the scalp. These insects feed on the blood it retrieves by biting the scalp. In most cases, lice do not carry any sorts of diseases or germs- they simply cause irritation and itching by biting the scalp. Adult female lice attach themselves to the root of the hair and lay eggs there within 7 to 10 days of being born.
It is extremely easy to contract a lice infestation, as it spreads via the slightest head-to-head contact in most cases. If a person is infested by lice, it is important to ensure that she does not have any common bombs, towels or even hats- those are all medium through which the infestation spreads.
Is it Safe to Use Lice Treatment during Pregnancy?
After a woman is found to be pregnant, doctors advise her to check before consuming any sort of medication- this is because the medicines have to be vetted, and checked to find out if they cause any harm to the child. However, in the case of lice, women simply rush to the nearest medicine shop and ask for a lice treatment shampoo, often forgetting that the shampoo might be made up of harsh chemicals. These chemicals may contain significant amounts of pesticides, which can affect the health of the pregnant woman and the unborn child adversely. Therefore, it is best to try out natural lice treatments instead of opting for chemical shampoos.
How to Treat Head Lice in Pregnant Women?
You can either use natural substances and items to treat the lice, or go the medicine way:
Medical Treatment
Medicines are preferred only if you try out natural remedies first after they have failed to treat the situation. Most lice shampoos and crème rinses are not very effective, so sprays and lotions are your best bet. A 4% Dimethicone lotion has been approved for use by pregnant and breastfeeding women, so you can procure that from the drugstore. Even then, make sure to check the label before buying the product, to see if there are any warnings against use by pregnant women. You can also consult the doctor if any doubts remain. You might have to use the product twice so that all the remaining louse eggs after the first usage also get killed.
If you observe that the problem does not go away even after using the lotions, prescription medications must be obtained. You have to visit the doctor and let him know that you are pregnant before getting his prescription.
Natural Ways to Treat Lice
Tea tree oil in its pure form can get rid of lice without causing any harm to your fetus. You will need to mix a few drops of the oil in baby shampoo and apply it on your scalp while bathing. According to the extent of the infestation, massage it into the scalp. Let it stay on the hair for around half an hour, after which you can rinse your hair thoroughly. You can repeat this method as many times as required.
Nitpicking is another great way to help you get rid of lice. First, divide the scalp into eight manageable areas, and then comb each one thoroughly to get rid of as many lice as possible. Then, you can use your fingers for a more thorough search. Repeat this after a week to get rid of the lice from the hatched eggs.
Lavender oil, neem oil, eucalyptus oil and clove oil are also great to combat lice infestation.
Tips for Preventing Lice during Pregnancy
After you have gotten rid of the lice in your head, you can kill any remaining lice in the mattresses and clothes using heat. Just let them bake in the sun for a few hours, so that all remaining lice are killed.
If the items are big, you can use chemical sprays- this is useful to get rid of the lice in sofas and couches. Make sure that you get somebody’s help, and not breathe in the pesticides yourself.
If you observe someone around you scratching their head, take preventive measure at the earliest to stop it from spreading.
When to Consult a Doctor?
If you have tried natural remedies and over-the-counter sprays and nothing has worked, you might have to consult the doctor to get rid of the lice infestation. Do mention that you are pregnant so that you get only medicine that is safe for the growth of the child.
Lice are more of an irritation than a disease and can worsen the mood of an expecting mother. Treating lice is not difficult, but prevention is the best way however, you must consult a doctor if you are unable to treat the infestation yourself.
Also Read: Hairfall during Pregnancy Read more
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This Common Household Item Can Make The Inside of your Baby's Nose Black
As parents, you leave no stone unturned to make sure your baby is safe, healthy and growing up in comfortable surroundings. This is why you don’t let anything harmful come in contact with your baby and keep anything even remotely dangerous miles away. But despite your caution, there could be one household item you have always thought harmless that could actually be doing irreversible damage to your baby! What happened with this mom and her little infant is a warning you must heed and share with everyone you know!
Her baby was still very little . She was working around the house, doing the many chores that mothers have to complete. Several hours passed by without event. When night came, both mother and her baby drifted off to sleep, oblivious to what had transpired silently. The next morning, Meghan went to feed her baby and held him close to her. She was in for the shock of a lifetime. Her baby’s nose had developed horrific black spots - overnight! For the life of her, she could not understand what had triggered these spots and it did not seem like a skin problem. Her doctor then diagnosed the real problem. The culprit was a household item she hadn’t even realized could be dangerous.
Scented Candles
The day before, when she was working around the nose, Meghan had lit two scented candles. She simply thought they would make the air fragrant and didn't think anything more of it. What possible harm could scented candles do, right? She had them burning for six or seven hours. With time, the black soot given off by the candles accumulated inside her baby’s nose. This led to the formation of black specks, very much like the soot associated with chimneys and factories, all near the infant’s still underdeveloped nasal tract! Not only could this have interfered with his breathing but some studies have revealed something even more disturbing: if you burn these candles for more than three hours, they begin to react with elements in the air and emit a cancer causing substance!
[caption id="attachment_170810" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Source: https://www.littlethings.com/[/caption]
Seems odd, doesn’t it, that common household candles could be so dangerous? Some studies have confirmed that limonene, an ingredient commonly used to give candles their aroma, changes into formaldehyde when burned. And formaldehyde has been listed as an official cancer causing substance. The candles that you thought were keeping the air fresh could be posing a life-threatening cancer risk to the one dearest to you.
Meghan and her baby were fortunate that she noted the problem well in time. She has shared her experience via the internet to warn other mothers and we can't help but be thankful. If her baby’s exposure to this smoke had continued, who knows how his gentle body and respiratory system might have reacted!
Here’s How You Can Ensure Your Baby is Safe
While this incident happened in New Jersey, it could happen to any of us, anywhere. Scented candles are very popular in many households as they make the air fresh and resplendent. They can also be very relaxing to look at. But does this shocking incident mean you should stop using them completely? No. The National Candle Association in the US has commented on the incident stating that the soot in household candles isn't dangerous for adults. What you have to do is keep these considerations in mind and your baby will be safe from potential danger:
Extensive and prolonged use of these candles around infants should be restricted. You must limit their usage to a couple of hours at most.
Ensure that your house is well ventilated and open the windows and doors for a number of hours each day.
Make sure your baby’s room (nursery, bedroom, etc.) is airy and free from dust or smoke particles in the air. Use an air freshener if required but prefer only natural and baby-safe formulations.
Inspect your baby’s nasal and ear tract everyday to check for accumulation of foreign particles. You should keep these tracts clean with gentle buds and cleansers.
Keep air-purifying houseplants at home that have been proven to absorb formaldehyde. Lavender and spider fern are good options to consider and pose no risk to your child.
Babies are little humans who are still learning to cope with the big world. Their bodies and immune systems are not yet fully equipped to fight dangers that adults can easily deal with. Being warned of potential risk factors and learning from others’ experiences is the best way to guarantee a happy childhood for your darling! Read more
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Father of a 3 yr 1 m old girl
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9 Habits You Should Break To Be More Professional At Work
A good reputation is a vital factor for success today and it remains elusive when people make a display of unprofessional behaviour in the workplace. Here's a list of all the attributes, which can disrupt your professional reputation forever.
Employers measure your professional calibre based on both your ability as well as your conduct at work. A single unprofessional instance at work can tarnish your reputation and credibility forever. Behavioural patterns that don't seem like a big deal in your personal life can wreak havoc on your career!
Some Bad Work Habits You Should Avoid
1. Lack of Punctuality
Not being on time, not adhering to deadlines and not fulfilling commitments, can be a black mark on your professional reputation. Punctuality, on the other hand, communicates that you are serious about your work and commitments.
2. Disorganisation
Tough as it can get, being organised is the key to success in professional career. Handling thousands of e-mails and messages daily can be demanding, but being disorganised can ruin you and enable your employers to pass you over for promotions and incentives.
3. Irresponsibility
Being irresponsible is another way to be unprofessional at your workplace. Not completing the tasks assigned to you or failure to adhere to deadlines can spoil your impression.
4. Leering
Another habit which can make you look uncool at work is to cast leering glances at others, however, attractive they may be. As human beings, we are programmed to react that way, but you have to observe utter self-control to save your face.
5. Over-Optimism
To be optimistic is one thing, but being unrealistic can be another reason some people can be considered unprofessional. If something has gone wrong, and you still insist that everything is as great as it used to be, you will be labelled as a liar and an unrealistic fool.
6. Use of Foul Language
If the F-word is continuously finding a place in your regular speech, then you are probably inviting trouble at the workplace and doing no good to your personal as well as professional reputation. So you better avoid it!
7. Secrecy
You are not being mysterious and cool when you act secretive and hide facts and information from clients and co-workers. In fact, this could be a matter of dishonour if you get caught in the act. Remember that trust takes years to build and only a single moment to destroy.
8. Lying and Cheating
Being dishonest is the worst professional mistake that you can make in your career. Lying and cheating not only destroys your career, but it could also get you a black mark in the industry - with a lifelong stigma of unprofessionalism.
9. Being Over Promising
Being confident is a good sign but being over promising and not being able to fulfil them later gives a signal that you are being unprofessional at the workplace. You may achieve a little in the beginning this way, but end up losing your reputation, which is definitely a massive price to pay.
If you consistently exhibit unprofessional behaviour in the workplace, you are likely to cause big damage to yourself. Avoid all these blunders and build your professional reputation. Read more
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Dr Disha Patel has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
17 hours ago
Q. can I take medicine pcm n citrazene in pregnancy fir sore throats n fever
Dr Disha Patel
Ayurvedic Physician
11 hours ago
A. dear mom.
better to take tab pcm for time being n do take steam inhakation couple of tines a day, follpw good home renedies for cold, taje more rest .
Swati Kar Samanta has added a new answer
Mom of a 9 m old child
10 hours ago
Q. hi everyone good morning,
sorghum can I give to my 10 month baby is it safe or not please revert I waiting for your reply
Swati Kar Samanta
Mom of a 2 m old girl
8 hours ago
A. Yes but first give in very small quantity to judge the reaction of your baby.
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
8 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts is it okay that the baby is kicking less than usual?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
8 hours ago
A. Yes it is the what part is that your child is kicking if you feel that there is a movement of your child whether it is a cake or slight movement also you know that your child is doing fine so there is no problem in that if the movement is less it’s completely alright
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
7 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts what to do if the baby’s nose is blovked
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
7 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
5 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
2 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
4 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
3 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
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- Infant0 to 6 Months
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