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4 Dangers of Bottle Feeding Your Baby in Bed - Make Sure You Follow These Precautions!
Not many parents realize the dangers of bottle-feeding a baby in bed. Read on to find out why you shouldn’t put your baby to bed with a bottle in her mouth. These facts are not to frighten you away, but to help you be aware of the harms that a seemingly innocuous task of bottle-feeding your baby in bed might cause her.
Danger of Choking
Bottle feeding in bed works very well for you and your little one. You can relax while your little one is propped up in his crib as you hold the bottle with a steady stream of milk gushing into his tiny mouth. But there is a glitch here - more of a potential danger. Sometimes the liquid flows fast, and your baby is still tiny and cannot swallow milk at this rate. This is when there is a risk of the baby getting choked. There is also a threat of milk entering the wind-pipe, or even the lungs and making the situation worse.
Danger of Suffocation
Are you using all those soft, brightly- coloured pillows as props in your baby’s crib when you give him the bottle? Your little one might love playing with all those attractive colours when awake, but once he falls asleep, there is a risk that he might wriggle and shift, and as a result bring all those soft props upon his face and nose, causing suffocation.
Risk of Tooth Decay
Tooth decay does not sound as scary as the previous two, yet it has its downfall. You wouldn’t want your baby’s smile to suffer. In addition, once he starts eating solids, you would want him to bite, munch, chew, all those power-packed nuts which you stock exclusively for him. Your baby might fall asleep before he swallows the last gulp of milk. The sugar in the formula would coat your baby’s gums and tiny teeth. Of course the teeth are only temporary, but according to American Dental Association, they also provide space in his mouth for permanent teeth. You wouldn’t want this space to be permanently damaged.
Risk of Ear Infection
An ear infection is painful and can make your baby cranky. He is helpless because he is unable to tell you about his aches. As a parent or caregiver, you might feel as helpless as him because you do not know why your little one is crying. Did you know bottle feeding in bed is one of the primary causes of ear infection? This is because sometimes your baby might not swallow the milk down to the last gulp. This last gulp of milk might pool inside his mouth, which might steadily trickle into his ear causing bacteria to get into his Eustachian tubes.
However, all these risks should not deter you from feeding your baby with a bottle. All you need to do is exercise a little caution and take a few precautionary measures:
Never let your baby fall asleep with the bottle in his mouth.
Always wipe his mouth dry after every feed.
Make sure the nipple hole is of the right size.
Never forget to burp your baby after every feed.
Remember, bottles by themselves never pose as potential hazards for your baby. It’s the way the bottle is held, and the way the milk gushes into his mouth that creates risks for him and nightmares for you. Follow the above steps and ensure that your baby is always well-fed and happy, because these moments with your little one are never going to return. Make the best of bottle feeding and create a bond with your baby. Read more
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Pneumonia in Pregnancy - Causes, Signs and Treatment
Sometimes a small cold or a cough can lead to a very serious illness such as pneumonia if not treated immediately. Pregnant women can occasionally contract pneumonia due to a variety of factors. If you are pregnant, the best thing to do is to take proper rest, get exercise and avoid contact with those who have a cold or a cough.
What is Pneumonia?
It is a type of lung infection that is often a severe result of a cough or cold which gradually spreads to the lungs. If you are pregnant and you develop pneumonia, it is called ‘maternal pneumonia’.
Causes of Pneumonia during Pregnancy
Maternal pneumonia can occur due to a number of reasons. Here are a few for your easy reference
A viral or bacterial infection such as cold or a cough
Chickenpox or varicella
Influenza
Respiratory distress syndrome
Suppressed immune system leading to susceptibility to pneumonia
Symptoms of Pneumonia during Pregnancy
Pneumonia primarily starts off with flu-like symptoms and hence sometimes it is difficult to identify it, to begin with. If conditions like a headache, cold and chest pain worsen, it could potentially be pneumonia.
Here are a few symptoms which can indicate pneumonia
A severe cough with a phlegm
Difficulty in breathing
Chest congestion and severe pain
Shivers
Tiredness or listlessness
Fever
Vomiting or severe nausea
Loss of appetite
How does Pneumonia Get Transmitted during Pregnancy?
Pneumonia can spread in many ways. The bacteria and viruses that cause pneumonia primarily are air-borne which are transmitted by sneezing or coughing without covering your mouth. Blood can also be a carrier of the infection, and this is fairly common to contract after birth.
Common Types of Pneumonia during Pregnancy
There are several types of pneumonia that one can get, and they are classified on the basis of their origin.
1. Bacterial Pneumonia
This one originates from a bacteria carried by someone and is the most common one. The bacteria that cause this include Haemophilus influenza, Streptococcus pneumonia, mycoplasma pneumonia
2. Viral Pneumonia
The viral one can be due to respiratory infections like influenza, varicella or acute respiratory syndrome which can be threatening to pregnant women
3. Fungal Pneumonia
This type of pneumonia is very uncommon, and it is primarily due to a fungal called ‘coccidioidomycosis’, and it can happen in the third trimester. It can affect immunity and stimulate effect on progesterone in the affected women.
Who are at Risk of Developing Pneumonia during Pregnancy?
If you are pregnant, your body is already undergoing a lot of changes and a lot of energy is spent on nourishing the baby. Hence the immune system of a pregnant woman is a bit weak increasing the changes of pregnancy.
Apart from this, here are a few other risk factors
Smoking
If you are anaemic
If you are chronically ill
If you have asthma
If you work with young children who are also likely carriers.
Complications of Maternal Pneumonia
If you are carrying, you may be wondering ‘can pneumonia affect pregnancy?’. There are several dangers both to the mother and baby if the woman gets pneumonia.
A few of them for the mother is
Dropping levels of oxygen due to congestion can lead to a condition called ‘empyema’ where fluids can amass around the lungs.
The infection can spread from the lungs to the other organs.
It can be fatal if not treated immediately.
Some complications for the baby may be:-
Low birth weight
Lung or respiratory failure
Miscarriage
Premature delivery/ birth
How is Pneumonia Diagnosed?
If your cough or cold persists and you experience severe chest pain, the first step is to call the doctor. A doctor will then diagnose maternal pneumonia by using chest x-rays, listening to your breathing and also collecting a sputum sample (spit or phlegm). The doctor may reference your medical history before making the prognosis.
Treatment of Pneumonia for Pregnant Women
There are several techniques of infection management of pneumonia during pregnancy.
If it is bacterial pneumonia is diagnosed a doctor can prescribe antibiotics which need to be taken over a course.
Painkillers or over the counter pain relievers may be prescribed by the doc to relieve congestion and fever. This is usually acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Proper rest and good nutrition is also recommended.
Finally, since the body will be dehydrated, it is advisable to have lots of liquids in the form of water, juice or milk.
How can you Prevent Pneumonia during Pregnancy?
The most effective way to avoid risks of pneumonia during pregnancy is by avoiding anyone who has the flu or any other infection in addition to maintaining good hygiene. Pregnant women especially need to get a full night sleep, good nutrition and wash their hands regularly to avoid contracting pneumonia.
Effective Natural Remedies for Maternal Pnuemonia
Honey
A fusion of honey and warm water can be consumed daily to help symptoms subside. Honey is full of antibacterial, antifungal medicinal properties and is used for various treatments.
Camphor
2-3 drops of camphor oil can be added either to jojoba or olive oil and rub gently on the chest and back. It is a decongestant which will do wonders to get rid of the phlegm.
Dandelion Tea
The roots are used to treat ailments & have a variety of health benefits. It is anti-inflammatory in nature. It can be made into a hot tea with turmeric and honey and consumed daily.
Turmeric
The greatest remedy in Indian household for a variety of ailments is turmeric. It has antiseptic, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties and can be consumed with warm milk at night to reduce congestion.
Garlic
This is the best antibiotic readily available in your kitchen for a cough and cold. It can reduce chest pain as it has anti-irritant properties and a small quantity of it can be applied on the chest daily (in paste form).
Liquorice
Anyone suffering from pneumonia knows the terrible coughs that accompany it. The best way to relieve this is by using liquorice which helps build a protective mucus in addition to being anti-viral and antibacterial.
Sesame Seeds
If you have a huge build-up of phlegm, sesame seeds can be boiled in water and consumed after straining to get relief from phlegm.
Ginger
This one is an age-old remedy which every grandmother recommends when one is suffering from cold and cough. Ginger tea or soup is a good option to relieve congestion and pain.
Steam Bath
The best thing to do when you have severe pneumonia is to take a hot shower and use a few drops of essential oil such as lavender, camphor or eucalyptus.
Parsnip Juice
The vegetable contains many vitamins and potassium that is great for treating pneumonia.
Now that you are aware of the signs, causes and symptoms take necessary precautions to avoid pneumonia during pregnancy and keep yourself and your baby healthy.
Also Read
Bronchitis during Pregnancy
Tuberculosis during Pregnancy Read more
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Eating Less But Gaining Weight? Here's How You Change That!
Why am I not losing weight? My metabolism is just slow! Sounds familiar? Well, every time you blame your body's metabolism for your weight problems, you are actually missing an opportunity. You could be actually using it to your advantage to get your dream body!
We all know someone who eats a lot yet seems to be losing weight. Then there are those poor souls who seem to be gaining weight for every morsel of food they eat. This vast difference is because of how differently the body’s metabolism functions and consequently affects the number of calories you burn and the body fat you retain.
Metabolism is a term used for a series of biochemical processes in your body which maintain the functioning of everyday bodily systems from breathing to digestion.These processes require energy to function efficiently and this necessary energy comes from calories in your food.
So, why do you need to know this? Understanding your body's metabolism is the foolproof way to lose weight and get the body you want!
What is Metabolic Rate?
The metabolic rate is the rate at which our body burns calories to produce energy for the various metabolic processes. Certain factors affecting this include:
1. Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
BMR is the number of calories burned to run bodily functions like breathing and blood circulation, while the body is at rest. This is the most important determinant and accounts for 60% to 75% of an individual’s daily calorie expenditure.
Genetics: Your genes probably have the most influence on your basal metabolic rate.
Body Size: The weight, height, and surface area determine the size of the body and are directly proportionate to the metabolic rate of the body
Body Composition: The higher the lean muscle mass, the faster the metabolic rate.
Gender: Men tend to have a faster metabolism rate as they tend to have more muscle mass than women of similar size.
Age: As you get older, the metabolism slows down because the amount of physical activity and lean muscle mass decreases.
Sleep: The amount of sleep you get affects the body’s ability to metabolise your sugar/glucose. So, when you don't get enough sleep your body’s metabolism slows down
Health: conditions like injuries, fever, etc can double the basal metabolic rate
2. Thermic Effect of Food
The thermic effect of food is the amount of energy used by the body to digest and absorb nutrients from the food you consume. This factor generally uses a total of 5-10% of your calorie intake. However, there’s more to the thermic effect of food:
Meal Size: If you consume more nutrients in one go, then your body expends more energy processing them, therefore increasing the thermic effect of food.
Meal Composition: The composition of the meal (macronutrients like carbohydrates, fat and protein) has a direct effect on thermic effect of food. 25% calories of Protein consumed are burned due to the thermic effect of the food, while only 5% calories of fat or carbs consumed is burned due to the thermic effect of food. Therefore, even if you have the same amount of calories, you'll burn calories when you eat protein-rich food as compared to high-carb or high-fat food.
Body Composition: Your body fat percentage is inversely proportionate tot he thermic effect of food.
Consistency in Meal Pattern: A consistency in the meal pattern (same number of meals every day at the same time) helps increase the thermic effect of food.
3. Physical Activity
The amount of daily physical activity you indulge in also determines the metabolic rate. The higher the amount of physical activity, the higher the number of calories burned. The type of physical activity too, helps in determining the increase in metabolic rate in the long run. For e.g.: Building muscle via weight training helps increase BMR over a period of time as compared to only cardio as a physical activity.
Metabolism and the Link to Weight Loss
Here comes the interesting part about metabolism. Now we all know people who blame their slow metabolism for their lack of weight loss. However, unless you have a medical condition like Cushing’s syndrome, metabolism can be easily managed to manage weight. The body stores fat as an efficient way to burn energy and therefore, the basic principle for weight loss remains the same regardless of your metabolism rate. Consume lesser calories than you burn for weight loss and vice versa for weight gain. However, you can make your weight loss program more effective by working to boost your metabolism to burn fat faster. Once you understand the type of metabolism you have, you’ll be able to better understand how to boost your metabolism if you want to lose weight.
Is Your Metabolism Fast or Slow?
Check the signs below for each type of metabolism to understand what type of a metabolism you have.
Myths About Metabolism
You’ll often see advertisers promote products with claims that the product will boost your metabolism. However, the effectiveness of these products could be questionable. Similarly, there are quite a few misconceptions about metabolism that are propagated by the power of the Internet. Bust some myths about metabolism and know the difference right here.
Myth 1: Metabolic Rate is Genetic and Can’t Be Changed
This myth is partly false. While your basal metabolic rate is based on your genes, it can be changed through physical exercises to build muscle and you can prevent it from further slowing down with a healthy diet to support muscle gain.
Myth 2: Metabolism is the Same for Men or Women
This is completely false. Men tend to have a higher amount of muscle mass as compared to women of the same size. Additionally, age plays a factor as well, when determining metabolism, so two people of different ages, regardless of gender, will also have different metabolic rates.
Myth 3: Hot Peppers and Green Tea Will Speed Up Your Metabolism
Unfortunately, false. While green tea is said to help boost metabolism temporarily, it doesn't have an effect on the metabolic rate in the long run. However, green tea has other benefits that help aid weight loss even if they don’t directly affect metabolism. Similarly, hot peppers and spicy food are said to boost metabolism by generating heat, but this boost is a spike and not a permanent change.
Myth 4: Eating One Big Meal Per Day Will Boost Metabolism
High-calorie meals might require more energy to process but skipping meals and then indulging in one big meal may be counterproductive. This is because when you take big gaps between meals (in order to eat just one big meal, your body goes into ‘starvation mode’. As a result, it converts most of your ‘big meal’ into stored fat, in anticipation of another ‘starvation period’ till the next meal. An ideal way to go about this is to have a higher number of smaller meals at regular intervals. This will not only help boost metabolism but also curb your cravings and keep the body consistently nourished.
Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/5-metabolism-myths-debunked
How to Boost Metabolism to Burn Fat?
While a major factor that determines your metabolism rate is genetics, you can work with your metabolism to burn fat and lose weight. However, there's no easy way to lose weight. Losing weight and maintaining your goal weight requires a disciplined lifestyle which has a balance of physical activity and a healthy diet. Certain things to keep in mind that will help you boost your metabolism to burn fat include:
1. Eat Protein With Every Meal
As mentioned earlier, 25% calories of protein consumed are burned due to the thermic effect of the food. Therefore, you burn a higher amount of calories than you would if you had high-carb/ high-fat foods. High protein foods include tofu, whey, salmon, etc.
2. Dairy is a Necessity
Low calcium can slow down metabolism and a recent study suggests that having dairy products helps reduce fat absorption by the body – thus aiding weight loss.
3. Get Some Omega 3s
According to a recent research, fish oils with Omega 3s help increase metabolic rate and fat oxidation. Get your share of Omega 3s regularly for a host of benefits in addition to a fast metabolism through a range of cold water fish.
4. Drink Lots of Water
According to a study conducted at the University of Utah, drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day can be effective to promote a fast metabolism.
5. Get Tons of Sleep
In a study published in the journal Lancet, sleep debt (sleeping just 4-6 hours a night) not only has a harmful impact on carbohydrate metabolism but also may increase the severity of age-related chronic disorders. About 8 hours of sleep will keep your metabolism at a healthy pace.
6. Workout to Gain Muscle Weight
Muscle, as mentioned earlier, uses more energy to maintain and according to the National Health Service, those with a higher muscle to fat ratio tend to have a higher Basal Metabolic Rate
These measures will not only boost your metabolism but also help you maintain a healthy lifestyle in the long run. Understanding metabolism just reaffirms what we already knew to maintain a healthy weight. It's time to take this knowledge and turn it into action - all the best! Read more
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Learning Styles of My Children
A few days ago, my husband and I attended the orientation programme at my daughter's school. There we met a person who was promoting his company. From his presentation, we came to know that he can help parents identify the abilities of their children through their fingerprints.
He gave a presentation on the same for about 1.5 hours to all the parents. My husband and I were in a dilemma - should we go for this test or not? The person said one line which had an impact on our minds. He said, "Generally whenever we go to some mall, we spend a lot of money on our kids, then why don’t you think of spending it for their better future." He was somehow right and it connected all the dots very well.
After that, my husband and I agreed to go for this assessment. We gave them the fingerprints of both our kids. After 1 week, we got a call from that person and he requested us to give our two and a half hours to him so that he can discuss all the things with us. We decided to meet in a cafe to discuss. He gave a detailed description of our kids. The two points (solutions) which interested me a lot were about the ways to increase my children's vocabulary and making them learn new things. Here is what he suggested:
To increase the vocabulary of my younger child: He suggested that we should make a list of common words like table, table tennis, table mat and help her to learn them. It will help increase her vocabulary.
To make kids learn new things: He said that usually, kids memorise the things quickly either by listening to audio or by watching videos or by both. Similarly, there are few kids who memorise words quickly if they are written in bold with black ink and there are some who can memorise words written in different colours.
My children have a different learning pattern. So it is challenging for me to make them read or learn in different styles, but I am happy that I am at least aware of their learning pattern.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
Sarika gupta has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
19 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
Am 25 weeks pregnant with Twins, and cervix of 25mm. got cerclage done at 21 weeks. please suggest precautions so that I can smoothly continue ue my pregnancy and avoid premises.
Sarika gupta
Mom of 2 children
19 hours ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much and please have coconut water on daily basis and also have more green leaves vegetables fruits and dairy products in diet and also home made food. Also go on regular check ups. Also be happy and stress free .
Thanks and take care
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
18 hours ago
Q. what does this mean
"There is a funneling of internal os with effective cervical length (measures ~2.8 cm on TVS) "
in 29 weeks 5 days pregnancy?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
18 hours ago
A. small cervical length 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
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
8 hours ago
Q. my baby approximately weighs only 2.4 kgs in my womb what are all the foods that can increase baby weight?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
7 hours ago
A. normal traditional foods if you are having deficiency of hemoglobin can take iron supplements calcium etc. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. sas lene me kiu problem ho raha hai
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
5 hours ago
A. iska janch karna hai shayad spasm Ho sakta hai. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Father of a 6 yr 4 m old child
3 hours ago
Q. my son is now 7 yrs and and last 3 three days ,he is complaining that he had bad and negative thoughts and this is too hilarious that.
we r too worried ,pls suggest 🙏
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. it is quite natural small babies will be having different moods different types of behaviour please continue to interact the baby engage activities like drawing painting even clay sculpture o k
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
55 mins ago
Q. Hi this is pooja I am 6 weeks 3 days pregnant n m 31 yrs old my doctor prescribed me this interjection called choriotec 5000 once a week for a month .. I have already took two times but now my lil scared so can u pls tell me anyone here is it safe to take more ??? It’s not harmful nah ??? Pls ans dr
Read moreRashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
54 mins ago
A. Your doctor must have given it to you for a particular reason so I’m just going to advise you to follow what she says yet if you have a doubt or you’re scared about anything then why don’t you just prospect with your Dr as to what what purpose are you taking this and what is meant to be done in case you do not take the injection or you do not want to take
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