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Seven Ways You Can Start Loving Your Post-Partum Body
After a full-term pregnancy, when you’ve welcomed your baby into this world, the hormonal changes could steal the joy of having a cute little new member in your family. While the changes are normal, they may affect you emotionally and mentally. To deal with these feelings, you have to start with accepting your changing post-partum body, and then embrace it and treat it the way you would treat someone you love. In other words, you’ve got to love yourself!
‘But I hardly get any time!’, you might say, and we don’t deny it either, because there could be too many things on your plate – nursing, baby care, infinite cleaning, an endless pile of laundry, etc., and to top it all, an erratic sleep pattern. We get it, and we got you. Babysteps does it! Here’s how you can extend some care and love to your post-partum body in little but effective ways.
Seven Ways to Start Loving Your Post-Partum Body
The post-partum phase will bring about major external as well as internal changes in your body. Tackling external issues first might prove to be a quick way to feel good about yourself. Check out how you can do that and then dive into more ways that can help you to start loving your post-partum self.
1. Post-Pregnancy Hair and Skin Care
Hormonal changes can take a toll on your hair and skin health throughout pregnancy and post-partum. It is therefore important to have a skin and hair routine that works best for you. Keep your scalp clean by using a mild shampoo, oil and condition your hair to improve its strength, and moisturise your skin to hydrate it and give it a healthy glow.
Your skin will have borne immense shifts during pregnancy, and most likely developed stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks, lower back, and breasts. While it is difficult to make these marks vanish completely, you can reduce their appearance by moisturising your skin with specialised products like Bio-Oil. The hydrating formula of Bio-Oil is light and easily absorbed to ensure your skin regains elasticity and plumpness.
Bio-Oil is a winner of 419 skincare awards in more than 25 countries. It is a clinically proven and dermat-recommended oil to prevent stretch marks and scars, and cure uneven skin tone, dry skin, wrinkles, and fine lines. Needless to say, if Bio-Oil is also used during pregnancy well before the stretch marks develop, you are likely to experience fewer post-partum skin issues.
And hey, there’s nothing like a few minutes a day to pamper your skin and body with a gentle massage; is there?
You may consult your physician before using any product to ensure it suits your requirement.
2. Every Meal - A Plate Full of Health
Diet plays an important role in your physical and mental health. While you do need plenty of energy to care for your baby, exhausting all of it on her might not be the best thing to do for your post-baby body. Therefore, always ensure that your meals provide the right amount of nutrition you need throughout the day. Your body needs the fuel more than ever right now.
3. Rest and Recovery
Your body will need weeks or months to completely recover from pregnancy and childbirth, depending on the type of delivery you’ve had. Try to find pockets of rest during the day. Some mums try and adapt to their little one’s sleep schedule. By sleeping when your baby is asleep, you can catch up on rest at several points during the day and still be fresh and alert enough to tend to her. Rest is one of the highest forms of self-love, so don’t skimp out on it; your body and mind will thank you.
4. Move Your Body
After you’ve developed a rhythm with your diet and sleep pattern, you can begin exercising to build muscle strength and boost your confidence.
Gentle post-natal stretches and light yoga are great ways to strengthen core muscles and alleviate back and lower body pain. If these seem a little tough or intimidating to do, you can start by increasing your step count during daily activities, such as walking your baby and running errands.
Where’s the time or energy? Don’t be too hard on yourself. Start with smaller workouts through the day, 5-7 minutes at a time. Your body will begin to release endorphins that will push you out of that low-energy phase!
5. Target the Stress
Stress is a natural part of this demanding journey. You, like many more new moms, may find yourself in a state of frustration with way too many thoughts, sometimes jumbled, crowding your mind, and inducing stress. Practice taking slow deep breaths when you wake up and whenever you feel anxious. Think of some hobbies or activities that truly relax you, and try and indulge as often as you can. Baking a batch of cookies calms you down? Go for it, take in the aromatic experience. Feel like a massage? Book yourself one! Or have your spouse volunteer to give you one. A massage with a nourishing oil like Bio-Oil will release the pent-up stress and also repair your skin’s elasticity. Two birds with one stone!
6. Perspective and Affirmations
Your physical, mental, and emotional states have altered during pregnancy and childbirth, in ways you probably hadn’t imagined. Many women experience lowered self-esteem and loss of confidence due to this. But you must never forget that you birthed a little human. That’s not an easy thing to do. This thought alone could give you an expansive perspective on life. And while you’re at it, make affirmations a part of your routine. It’s a great way to challenge and overcome negative thoughts, and remind yourself that you can handle everything within your control, thus boosting your confidence.
7. It’s OK to Not Be OK
This new phase of life might feel unusual at first. Things might seem overwhelming, and you might find yourself struggling through the day. But, tomorrow will be different, and it is alright to not feel OK today. So, take your time, fail, learn from your mistakes, and be kind to yourself in this journey.
Change is constant – it should be expected. Enjoy the ride while it lasts, and make memories that you can cherish all your life. And don’t forget to love and pamper yourself every chance you get.
Participate in the #NoStretchMarks Challenge
Also Read:
Difference Between Doula And Midwife
Postpartum Doula – Importance and Role
Mother’s Apron Belly After Pregnancy – Causes and Remedies Read more
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Before a Workout- What to Eat and When
You work out really hard, driven by various reasons that keep you motivated to exercise. It may be the desire to attain that amazing beach body for the summers, the wish to get rid of those love handles or the passion for building the coveted 6-pack abdomen. It could even be training to achieve a specific body shape or a level of fitness. Whatever is the motivation behind your pursuit, the most important part of maintaining fitness is the diet. What you consume is much more important than your exercise regimen.
Why Is It Important to Eat Before a Workout?
This may sound counter-intuitive, but it is very beneficial to have a good, balanced meal before your workout session. A pre-workout meal helps you get the desired energy required for working out effectively and also repairs your muscles to fuel muscle growth. Working out on an empty stomach makes you extremely lethargic during the day. This can also cause slow repair of muscle fibres, resulting in increased recovery times and potential injuries.
What is an Ideal Pre-workout Diet?
This is logically the next question that you would have. It makes sense that a pre-workout meal should be beneficial to you. Now, the ideal pre-workout diet would depend mainly on your goal of working out, the intensity of your workout and your current body type.
The following should be taken a couple of hours before your workout for best results, depending on the form of workout that you are planning to do:
1. Carbohydrates
Carbs help in providing the energy required for workouts, especially for workouts involving high-intensity exercises. The body burns glycogen derived from carbohydrates only for extremely intense activities during the day. This makes it ideal to consume carbohydrates before an intense workout session.
2. Proteins
Proteins are the nutrients that act as building blocks for the body. Every exercise involves the tearing of muscle tissues in the body. The synthesis of proteins creates new muscle tissues that grow in place of the old ones. This helps in enhancing the muscles and increasing the muscle mass of the body. As the basic objective of every workout should be stronger muscles, proteins are essential to any pre-workout diet plan.
3. Fats
Believe it or not, fats are beneficial in certain cases. Especially when you are doing low-intensity exercises, fats are the preferred sources of energy for the body. Hence, it would be beneficial to consume fats when you are doing low-intensity workouts.
4. Water
Although water is not a nutrient, numerous studies have linked ingestion of water to increased performance during workouts. It is recommended that you drink at least 0.5 litres of water 4 hours before the workout and 0.3 litres of water 15 minutes before the workout.
An ideal pre-workout diet for weight loss should include a balanced mix of complex carbohydrates with a punch of lean proteins. It can be a bit difficult to maintain the right balance between carbs and proteins in this case. You should carefully select what carbs to eat before a workout and what not. An apple with peanut butter or half a cup of oatmeal with blueberries or raisins would be ideal for a workout aimed at weight loss. On the contrary, a rich diet of proteins and carbs answers what to eat before a workout to gain weight.
A good pre-workout snack for bodybuilding should consist of lean proteins with light and easy-to-break-down carbs. This is because anyone who is aiming to increase their muscle mass with their workout should focus on getting energy from carb sources that feel light on the stomach teamed with proteins that help in the creation of new muscle tissues. Oatmeal with low-fat turkey or egg whites would be a great pre-workout meal for a person who is aiming at doing bodybuilding. Equal parts of lean proteins with carbs ideally answers what to eat before weight lifting workout.
How to Eat Balanced Pre-workout Meals?
The timing of your pre-workout meal is extremely crucial to have an effective fitness plan. A balanced meal before a workout consists of a mix of proteins and carbohydrates, most of the time. The perfect mix also depends upon the timing of the meal.
1. Diet Before 3 Hours of Workout Start Time
This early before the workout, it is advisable to eat a protein- and carbohydrate-rich diet with some amount of fat in it.
An ideal diet would be boiled chicken and brown rice with roasted vegetables.
2. Diet Before 2 Hours of Workout Start Time
During this period, an ideal balanced diet would be a mix of protein-rich foods with simple carbohydrates.
A good meal at this point would be a protein smoothie that consists of milk, whey powder, bananas and berries.
3. Diet Before 1 Hour of Workout Start Time
It is best to have simple carbs that can provide a boost of energy to the body an hour before working out.
Fruits like bananas or apples are recommended as a meal at this stage.
Apart from this, you can always consult a professional dietician on what to eat 30 minutes before a workout for the best results.
Best Pre-workout Foods
There are a variety of food items that are rich in the nutrients mentioned above.
Here are 10 best food items that you can consider eating for best results before an intense workout session:
1. Bananas
Full of carbohydrates and potassium, this is a favourite snack among fitness freaks and amateur gym-goers alike. The fruit is very filling as well as extremely light on the stomach. Moreover, it is a powerhouse of energy.
2. Oats
One major reason why oats are a must-have food item in every pre-workout meal list is amazing.
Oats have high fibre content, which makes the synthesis of carbohydrates slower. This results in higher bouts of energy per meal, allowing for a longer and more strenuous workout. Oats are also good as they are a source for Vitamin B.
3. Greek Yoghurt with Fresh Fruits
This is one of the best combos that could ever be invented. Greek yoghurt is an extremely low-fat, low-carb, protein-rich food item and fresh fruits are the best sources of simple carbohydrates like fructose that break down into pure energy easily. This makes the snack yummy to taste as well as healthy for a pre-workout meal.
4. Dry Fruits
Dry fruits like dried raisins, berries etc. are good sources of easily digestible carbohydrates. They also contain essential vitamins, making them a favourite choice of a snack before a hardcore workout.
5. Boiled Chicken, Broccoli and Sweet Potato
Simply put, this meal contains lots of protein, vitamins and good carbohydrates. This combo helps in making you build your muscle mass better and in training harder. There is no wonder why athletes prefer this meal before their extremely intense workout sessions.
6. Banana and Peanut Butter Smoothie
A good smoothie consisting of milk, banana, peanut butter, oats and flaxseeds has it all. Banana and oats are a rich supply of carbs, milk and peanut butter are a rich source of protein as well as fats. Therefore, a good pre-workout breakfast smoothie acts as a complete meal before a taxing workout.
7. Apples, Almond Butter and Raisins
Dried fruits like raisins act as rich sources of simple carbohydrates, which can be easily broken down. Add to that the fibre in apples, and it makes the meal power-packed. Moreover, the monounsaturated fats in almond butter make the meal the perfect hunger-buster. They are a good source of proteins too.
8. Homemade Fruit Juice
Instead of going for a packaged sports drink with added sugars and preservatives, it is always better to fix up a fruit juice in your kitchen. A mix of orange juice, water, sea salt and honey makes sure you have a yummy and carbohydrate-rich pre-workout meal. This pre-workout fruit juice also does the job of maintaining the electrolyte balance in your body before a strenuous workout.
9. Oatmeal with Raisins
This is a classic pre-workout meal which can be fixed up in a matter of minutes. Add oats and raisins, to provide a rich source of good carbohydrates and proteins. This meal ensures that you can get the essential nutrients in the least possible time, without sacrificing on the taste.
10. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
The classic PB&J sandwich is a power-packed source of carbs.This makes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich an ideal and yummy pre-workout snack for some days in your workout calendar.
FAQs
Below, we answer some questions you may have about pre-workout meals.
1. Which Foods Must I Avoid Before a Workout?
Your stomach does not get a lot of blood during workout sessions. Hence, you should avoid the following:
Foods that are difficult to digest, highly fibrous vegetables like beans, cauliflower, etc.
Bad carbs and fatty fried foods.
Spicy meals.
Complex sugars like carbonated drinks and desserts.
2. What are the Consequences of Working Out on an Empty Stomach?
Exercising without proper nutrients causes your body to use up stored fats and carbs for the workout. This causes depletion of proteins, further causing a loss in muscle mass and difficulty in recovering from post-workout pains. Eating before a gym workout in the morning or evening is essential for good health and fitness.
3. What Should I Drink for Energy Before a Workout?
Homemade fruit juice with sea salt (electrolytes) ensures that you have enough carbs to provide energy for the workout as well as keep you well hydrated.
4. What Supplements Can I Have Before Going for a Workout?
The following supplements are beneficial if you have them before a workout:
Creatine
Beta Alanine and
BCAAs
These supplements have proteins or essential amino acids that can help the muscles with more effective protein synthesis.
5. Which Foods are Good for a Weight Loss Workout?
Complex carbohydrates with lean proteins are the way to go for a weight loss workout. Bananas with almond butter or apples with peanut butter work the best for weight loss pre-workout meals. A balanced meal of carbs and proteins is what women should eat before a workout. Ideal meals include Greek yoghurt and fresh fruit smoothies.
You work out to achieve a body that is fit, sound and healthy. Having essential nutrients before difficult exercises ensures that your body is cut out for performing them and has an adequate amount of energy. Skipping a pre-workout meal will not allow you to recover fast enough and get back to training again. Moreover, it depletes energy that you would require to function throughout the day. Hence, a balanced pre-workout meal plan works wonders for your body and accelerates you towards your fitness goals.
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Overweight and Trying to Get Pregnant?
It is a very widely known fact that chances of getting pregnant increase manifold if you are healthy and follow a healthy lifestyle. Being overweight lowers the chances of getting pregnant because of the fluctuating hormone levels. This affects the ovulation cycle of women and also the quality of eggs. Excess weight is known to interfere with the ovulation cycle, causing irregular periods. Though obese people do get pregnant without the need of any medical intervention, the more the weight increases, the less regular is the menstrual cycle.
Does Obesity Affect Female Fertility?
Can being overweight cause infertility? Well, yes it does. The lifestyle we follow and the choices we make are responsible for us being healthy or otherwise. A healthy pregnancy is the key to a healthy newborn. Being overweight undoubtedly affects the chances of having a healthy pregnancy. Let us look at the effect of obesity on fertility when trying to get pregnant:
1. Hormonal Imbalance
There are a lot of hormones that the body produces to ensure the smooth functioning of all the organs. Excess weight causes an imbalance in the hormone levels which in turn affects the way the body functions. Overweight women tend to have higher levels of Leptin - a hormone produce mainly by the fatty tissues of the body and plays a major role in disrupting the hormone balance of the body.
2. Irregular Periods
Due to the hormonal imbalance, the brain is tricked into believing that the periods are not due anytime soon. This results in an irregular cycle of menstruation. This has a cumulative effect. Apart from the mood swings that the hormones cause, the release of eggs also becomes irregular. This makes it extremely difficult to time your intercourse in order to maximise your chances of pregnancy.
3. Quality of Eggs
The quality of eggs that the body produces is largely dependent on the health of the woman. A healthy body would produce a healthy egg, simultaneously, if you are overweight, the quality of your eggs will get compromised. Obesity is also responsible for anovulation, which means the ovary does not release any eggs in the uterus for a successful pregnancy.
4. Insulin Resistance
Overweight is associated with an increased resistance level of insulin, a phenomenon where more insulin is produced by the body to keep the blood sugar at a normal level. Women with a higher concentration of fat in the abdomen are susceptible to this problem. The rise in the insulin level in the body causes a fall in the hormone binding protein, Globulin, which is responsible for regulating the hormones oestrogen and androgen.
5. Affects Fertility
An irregular period coupled with irregular production of eggs reduces the chances of getting pregnant. Being overweight or obese has a significant impact on your fertility, and it can also increase the chances of your IVF being unsuccessful.
Tips to Get Pregnant If You are Overweight
Overweight and want to get pregnant? We are here to help you. It is not a difficult task to get pregnant even if you are on the higher side of the weighing scale. We offer some tips to help you have a successful pregnancy.
1. Healthy Lifestyle
Avoid alcohol, smoking, and drugs. Eat healthy food. It is time for you to start preparing your own meals so that you know what you are eating and you can control the ingredients used.
2. Pre-conception Checkup
Most of the women who are overweight have been found to have small cysts in the ovary, also known as PCOS, that is caused due to hormonal imbalance in the body resulting from being overweight. Losing weight and taking medications have been successful in reducing PCOS.
3. Time it Right
Excess weight causes irregular ovulation cycles. Use the ovulation kits that are available at the medical stores to correctly time your intercourse and increase your chances of pregnancy.
4. Exercise- Lots of it
Women with a BMI of 30 or more are at a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes or gestational hypertension. Exercise at home or go out to the park more often to increase your chances of being healthy and getting pregnant.
5. Go for Whole Foods
Whole foods keep you satiated for a longer time. They are healthy and bursting with nutrients that enrich your body and immune system. This will help you maintain a healthy weight to support your pregnancy.
Healthy habits go a long way in having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Don’t let your weight ruin your dreams of becoming a mother. If you plan your pregnancy well in advance and work on addressing your weight issues, it is just a matter of time before you have a successful pregnancy.
Also Read: Getting Pregnant Without Ovulation: Is It Possible? Read more
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Chronic Cough in Children - Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
A cough that persists for more than 4 weeks is considered chronic. While cough is a symptom of common respiratory infections, it usually clears up soon without causing much distress to the child. In some cases, the cough persists for a month or more, causing concern for the parents, classmates, and other people who regularly interact with the child.
Cough, when left untreated, can lead to the worsening of the underlying condition and create long-term complications. If your child has had a persistent cough for more than a month, then this article might offer some clues to the conditions that usually cause a chronic cough.
What Is Chronic Cough?
A cough is a natural reaction to an infection or blockage that irritates the passage from the lungs to the trachea, pharynx, larynx, or nasal passages. An acute cough that accompanies a cold or a respiratory virus clears up within a month. If the cough persists for longer than 4 weeks, it could mean a much more severe underlying issue.
Studies indicate that coughs caused by acute respiratory infections settle within 25 days in 90% of children. Therefore a cough that continues for more than a month is considered chronic and needs to be checked by a doctor.
How Common Is Chronic Cough in Kids?
According to surveys, chronic cough is relatively common, with the prevalence being high in children who live in areas with intense traffic. Some risk factors include children born before 37 weeks and with underlying medical conditions such as wheezing.
Causes of Chronic Cough in Children
Here are some of the most common conditions that can lead to chronic cough in children:
1. Allergies
If you notice that your child gets cough, itchy eyes, and a running nose at the same time of the year, it is a sign of a seasonal allergy. They could be allergic to pollen, spores, or microbial allergens in the air at specific months every year. Allergies caused by pets or moving to a new place can also cause a chronic cough.
2. Common Cold
There are hundreds of viruses that can cause an infection of the upper respiratory tract leading to a cold and chronic cough. Most children can get close to ten colds a year, and most of them last from five to seven days. Sometimes when children have back-to-back colds caused by different viruses, the cough can persist for more than a month.
3. Whooping Cough
Pertussis, a bacterial infection, is commonly known as whooping cough. It causes people to cough uncontrollably. Whooping cough is a serious infection that can be life-threatening to children. The excessive cough often causes the person to go out of breath and make a whooping sound when they inhale. Some cases of chronic cough in a toddler can be caused by this disease, especially in communities that are not vaccinated against it.
4. Blockage in the Airway
Sometimes chronic cough in a child with no other symptoms can be because of foreign objects stuck in the airway. The object could continue to irritate the airway causing continuous cough without secondary symptoms. The asymptomatic period can stretch for weeks before any complications such as pneumonia.
5. Asthma
Asthma is often associated with wheezing and blocked airways that make breathing difficult. The condition can also present only as chronic cough in some children. If the child continues to cough even after falling asleep, it suggests chronic cough asthma children. This can happen because the cortisol levels decrease in the night leading to asthmatic bronchospasm.
6. Acid Reflux
Although acid reflux is accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms such as acidity, heartburn, and vomiting, a persistent dry cough can also be a symptom of the condition. Acid reflux by itself may not cause chronic cough but exacerbate an underlying upper respiratory tract infection and make the cough worse. Chronic cough associated with acid reflux is seen during daytime and when the child laughs excessively. GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), also characterized by acid reflux, is a chronic cough in infants causes. GERD causes infants to gag, spit-up, and act fussy, along with chronic cough.
7. Aspiration
Aspiration is frequent coughing while the child is eating or drinking. One of the other tell-tale signs is coughing with a history of pneumonia caused by foods that pass into the lungs. These children might suffer from neurological conditions that cause decreased sensation in the upper airway. Therefore the food or drink passes more easily into the lungs.
8. Sinusitis
Sinusitis is caused by the inflammation of the mucus lining of the sinus cavities. The symptoms can be persistent cough and thick yellow-green nasal discharges. In addition to chronic cough, it can also cause other symptoms such as bad breath, nasal drip, puffiness of the eyes, and low energy.
9. Habit Cough
This type of cough remains long after the original cause of the cough has resolved. The sound is different, and the "honking" sound stops when the child is distracted.
Signs and Symptoms Chronic Cough in Kids
Here are some of the frequently observed signs and symptoms of chronic cough in kids:
Runny nose and nasal congestion caused by phlegm
Shortness of breath caused by blocked nasal passages or inflammation
Wheezing - a high pitched sound that can be heard when the child breathes
Post-nasal drip or the feeling that the child frequently feels like clearing the throat
Sore throat
Hoarseness of voice
Chronic Cough Diagnosis
The diagnosis of chronic cough is done through observational procedures and tests. They are as follows:
The doctor asks for the child's medical history and the parents to look for underlying conditions that might give rise to chronic cough.
Observations regarding the duration of the cough, intensity of the cough, the characteristic sound are made.
They will ask the parents about the events leading up to the cough, the things that improve or worsen the cough, environmental factors, and the child's health before the cough.
Imaging tests such as X-rays and CT scans may be performed to check for the health of the lungs and look for signs of pneumonia, lung infections, or sinus infections.
If asthma is suspected, pulmonary function tests such as spirometry may evaluate lung functioning.
The mucus would be tested for bacteria that can cause lung infections.
Bronchoscopy is an endoscopic technique used to look into the lungs using a small optical fiber endoscope containing a camera. The procedure would give the doctor a view into the lungs for diagnostic purposes.
Medical Treatment for Chronic Cough in Kids
Medical treatment for chronic cough involves treating the underlying condition that causes the cough.
Kids with asthma are treated with anti-inflammatory medication that aggressively treats the condition to ease the symptoms.
Acid reflux is treated using a combination of medication and posture improvements while feeding, sitting, and sleeping to reduce the chances of a spit-up.
Children who have sinusitis or respiratory tract infections are treated with antibiotics.
Nasal and airway blockages are treated decongestants to reduce postnasal drip and coughing.
When to Call a Doctor?
If the chronic cough is caused by seasonal allergies and appears to be getting better over time, it is not a cause to be alarmed. However, if the cough is accompanied by thick green mucus, fever, and lethargy, it is crucial to call the doctor. Breathing difficulties and vomiting after vigorous coughs are also warning signs that should not be ignored.
Chronic cough can be a result of several underlying conditions. The treatment involves resolving the underlying condition or managing it to provide symptomatic relief. If the causes of chronic cough are seasonal allergies or infections, then it is possible to treat it at home. The sudden onset of the condition needs to be checked by a doctor.
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Hepatitis and Breastfeeding
When you embrace motherhood and start breastfeeding your baby, you realise that these moments spent with your child will always be special to you. Breastfeeding a baby ensures his good health and also bonds the two of you. But if you are suffering from a transmittable disease like hepatitis, it can be heart-breaking as you cannot be sure if you can breastfeed your child or not.
What Is Hepatitis?
When a virus causes an inflammation of the liver, it is known as hepatitis. There are five types of hepatitis - Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. A few of its types can be caused as a result of some medication, toxins, drugs and alcohol, whereas 'autoimmune hepatitis' occurs when the body produces antibodies against its own liver tissue. Hepatitis A is an acute and short-term disease, Hepatitis B, C, and D can become chronic. However, hepatitis E is usually acute.
Common Symptoms of Hepatitis
Chronic and infectious forms of hepatitis do not show any symptoms in the beginning, and they only show once the liver has already been damaged. For acute hepatitis, symptoms appear very quickly. The symptoms are as follows:
Fatigue
Flu symptoms
Pale stool
Dark urine
Abdominal pain
Unexplained weight loss
Loss of appetite
Yellow skin and eyes; symptoms related to jaundice
Can You Breastfeed with Hepatitis?
Though it has been concluded that it is safe to breastfeed your child if you have hepatitis, it is always safe to take certain precautions to prevent it from affecting your child. The 'American Academy of Paediatrics' considers breastfeeding good for the development and the good health of their newborn children. But one should first determine the type of hepatitis they have and how it gets transmitted. You should always speak to your doctor if you have hepatitis, before breastfeeding your baby.
How Do Different Hepatitis Infections Affect Breastfed Babies?
It is based on the severity of your case and the type of hepatitis you are suffering from that will decide whether or not you can breastfeed your child safely. Here are some of the ways in which different hepatitis infections can affect breastfed babies:
1. Hepatitis A
Here we look at HAV and how it fares with breastfeeding.
What Is It?
This virus is commonly known as HAV and is mostly spread through the faecal-oral way. This means that consuming contaminated food or water or indulging in oral or anal sex can lead to contracting the disease. Any other way through which the faecal matter passes from one person to another is also responsible for transmitting the disease.
Risks To Baby
Babies or kids under the age of six years, usually do not show any symptoms of Hepatitis A, so it is hard to tell if they have this disease or not. However, if they do, the disease can still pass on to those who are not vaccinated, especially their parents or caregivers.
2. Hepatitis B
Here we look at the relationship between hepatitis B positive mother and breastfeeding.
What Is It?
Hepatitis B is transmitted through contaminated blood. The virus carrying hepatitis B can be present in other body fluids, but it becomes infectious when there are high levels of virus in the blood, saliva or semen. It is spread through needle sharing and sexual intercourse with someone who is infected.
Risks To Baby
Hepatitis B can be very serious and life-threatening in babies. Newborn babies who get infected have a 90% chance of becoming carriers of the disease and passing it onto others. Once they reach adulthood, they carry a higher risk of developing liver cancer or cirrhosis of the liver, eventually leading to death.
If you have this condition and want to breastfeed your child, make sure that you do not have cracked and bleeding nipples as this will cause your child to be infected.
3. Hepatitis C
Here we look at Hepatitis C and breastfeeding. Let's find out if you can breastfeed if you are hepatitis C positive.
What Is It?
Like HBV, HCV can be transmitted through blood. It is very rare for it to be passed through sexual contact as it is not present in the semen or vaginal fluids. The main route of transfer is through injecting drugs, especially when the needles are shared.
Risks To Baby
Children do not show the symptoms of HCV and about 40% of children outgrow the disease by the age of two. Some may take longer, but the disease will not affect their growth or development. However, their liver will need to be monitored as they grow. Babies that are bottle-fed too have the same rate of infection as those who are breastfed, so if you want to breastfeed your child, consult your doctor.
4. Hepatitis D
Here the relationship between Hepatitis D and breastfeeding is explained.
What Is It?
HDV is a type of Hepatitis that is transferable only when HBV is present, and it happens in the same way that the HBV is transmitted from one person to another.
Risks To Baby
The symptoms of hepatitis D are similar to the symptoms of hepatitis B, only its presence makes them worse, putting your child at a higher risk for liver damage. Mothers who have HDV can breastfeed their children, keeping in mind the precautions that need to be taken in case of cracked nipples. It is important that the baby is given the HBV shot at birth.
5. Hepatitis E
This is the type of hepatitis that can become quite deadly in pregnant women.
What Is It?
Prevalent in parts of Africa, Asia and Central America, its virus is transferred through oral-faecal routes, similar to HAV. Pregnant women who have HEV can develop acute liver failure and should be especially careful.
Risks To Baby
About 15% - 50% of infants born to mothers with HEV in India have died within the first week of birth as there is an extremely high risk of transferring the disease to the baby if proper care is not taken.
Mothers with HEV are generally considered safe to breastfeed their children. However, if they have a higher viral load, there is a chance their breast milk will be infected. In such cases, mothers should opt for bottle feeding formula milk to their babies.
Points to Remember for Hepatitis Positive Moms while Feeding Infants
Here are some points that you need to keep in mind when it comes to dealing with Hepatitis and nursing your newborn:
If you are suffering from cracked nipples, talk to your doctor about a safe nipple cream that you can use soothe your pain. You can ask about using Aloe Vera gel as it is extremely moisturizing and does not have any chemicals in it.
Find out what tests can be done in order to help diagnose a hepatitis infection.
Always maintain hygiene as it can help curb the spread of the infection.
Be careful in public washrooms and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly.
The advantages of breastfeeding surpass the risks involved in a mother who has a Hepatitis infection. For the most part, mothers are free to, and even encouraged to breastfeed their baby. Always ensure to keep up with all your doctor’s appointments, whether they be yours, or your little ones. This will ensure maximum safety as you will always be aware of the virus present and will be able to take whatever precautions are necessary under the guidance of your doctor.
Also Read: Hives While Breastfeeding Read more
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Motherhood = Don't Care About Others! Enjoy Your Child's Baby Phase
I am a first-time mom having a one-year-old kid. For the past one year, I have grown fed up of hearing lots of suggestions and comparisons especially about the sleep pattern and eating habit of my child. My child is a shallow sleeper by birth(from her day one she never slept at night even in the hospital she woke up at night and slept only for fifteen hours in the morning) and having development spurt now, she rejects most of the food I offer.
I often heard words like "you should have trained your baby to sleep sharply by nine at night" come on she is just a year old baby!!"I have never seen such a fussy eater in my life!" so what? That's my problem I am the one serving her, feeding her and am not having any problem with that.
I tried convincing my in-laws whenever they compare, but the result is ZERO. The only one person who always stands by my side is my husband. He never allows anyone to compare my baby with others.
We know that each kid is different from other. One kid loves being only with their mom, and others love to be social like my baby is of social type. She loves being with many people which in turn paved the way for comments like "seems like your baby needs more nurture from you. She is not satisfied with your cuddles that's why she wants attention from others."
So finally what we did is we made sure that no one comments or compares in front of her so that her self confidence won't get affected and we completely accepted our baby and her schedules as it is.
I personally advice all the moms here is STOP WORRYING ABOUT OTHERS COMMENTS AND ENJOY YOUR BABY'S CHILDHOOD.people here always comments on us whatever it is! Be bold and be strong.
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Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
9 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
9 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
9 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts what to do if the baby’s nose is blovked
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
9 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
6 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
4 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
6 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
5 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
1 hour ago
Q. Bread feeding mother can have green tea
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
1 hour 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
1 hour 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
1 hour 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
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