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Is It Safe to Take Steroids during Pregnancy?
Steroids during pregnancy may sound too scary. However, they’re absolutely safe. Expecting mothers can take steroids (only on prescription) for numerous pre-existing health conditions like asthma, lupus and skin problems. They are mostly prescribed when the doctor feels that the pregnant woman may go into pre-term labour. The use of steroids in such a case helps the baby’s lungs, brain and intestine to mature quickly.
Why Do Steroids Become Necessary During Pregnancy?
In early pregnancy, steroids are given for treating recurring miscarriages or foetal abnormalities. Doctors often prescribe steroid drugs known as corticosteroids for preterm labour. Babies born before the full term (i.e. 37th week) are at a risk of respiratory distress and death due to underdeveloped lungs. The use of steroids expedites the development of the lungs of preterm babies and increases their chances of survival.
Steroids also lower the risk of brain haemorrhage and a serious bowel disorder called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature babies.
What Do Steroids Do?
Steroids are believed to have numerous benefits. Some of them are:
They can delay a preterm delivery, thus reducing the risk of respiratory morbidity.
Steroids help to develop the various organs and body parts of preemies faster.
They can do wonders for women who have a history of miscarriage.
They are beneficial for pregnant women with health problems like asthma, lupus and skin disorders.
Consuming steroids also lowers the risk of brain damage and Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS) in premature babies.
The intestines of a preterm newborn are underdeveloped and weak. Therefore, steroids help in protecting the baby from intestinal infections and bowel issues.
What Is the Recommended Dosage?
Steroids during pregnancy are safe if prescribed by a gynaecologist. The dosage is:
In case of unexpected preterm labour, a minimum of two doses are given, 12 or 24 hours apart.
If necessary, the dose may be repeated after it has been taken more than a week before.
As per doctor’s advice, the steroid can also be taken weekly for a long duration.
Who Can Take Steroids?
Steroids can be taken:
From the 24th to the 36th week of pregnancy
If preterm labour is imminent.
By women having asthma or bronchial infections
For recurrent miscarriages or foetal abnormalities.
Who Shouldn’t Take Steroids?
Women who suffer from diabetes or chorioamnionitis shouldn’t take steroids.
Side Effects of Taking Steroids During Pregnancy
There are two sides to a coin. Here are some side effects of taking steroids:
Steroids aggravate blood pressure.
A condition called pulmonary oedema (water retention in the lungs) occurs if the person is taking steroids with medication to prevent preterm labour.
A person with diabetes or gestational diabetes should not take steroids since it could increase the blood sugar level.
In some cases babies born of mothers who took steroids during pregnancy, weigh less when born.
The risk of cleft lip is 6 times more in newborns when the mother takes steroids in the first trimester.
It is also said that multiple doses of steroids during pregnancy can have a negative effect on fetal intrauterine growth.
It can also result in a decrease of the foetal heart rate variation.
Multiple doses of corticosteroid can cause an increase in infections like endometritis.
Antenatal steroids (ANS) like corticosteroids have a lot many benefits; they have been successful in saving many preterm babies from the jaws of death. However, the use of steroids during pregnancy can also have serious and long-lasting effects on the baby and the mother. So, never take this medication without a prescription.
Also Read: How to Prevent Preterm Labour Read more
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Famous Free Verse Poems for Kids
Free verse poems have no defined set of rules or patterns that need to be followed while writing the poem. There are so many free verse poem ideas, and this article is all about learning how to write free verse poems and know about the most famous free verse poems.
What Is a Free Verse Poem?
Free verse is an open form of a poem, which in simple terms means that there is no set length or determined structure to the poem. Since there is no rhyme scheme and no pre-determined metrical design or pattern, free verse poems do not follow any rules. Many free verse poems are so short that these poems do even resemble poems.
During the early 20th century, a group of individuals who termed themselves as Imagists wrote some spare poetry concentrated on concrete images. These poets did not use any obscure symbols or abstract philosophies. Many times they also let go of punctuations. “The Red Wheelbarrow,” written by William Carlos in 1923, is an example of a free-verse poem. This poem can be categorized as free verse based on the Imagist tradition. The poem has only sixteen words, and in these sixteen words, Williams gives us an accurate picture, confirming how vital it is to capture small details. Other free verse poems successfully express powerful emotions using hyperbolic language, run-on sentences, rambling digressions, and chanting rhythms. Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl,” written and published in 1956, is perhaps the best example of a free-verse poem about love. This poem was written following the tradition of the 1950’s Beat Movement, and the poem is of nearly 2,900 words. This poem is special because it can be read as three extraordinarily lengthy run-on sentences.
Highly experimental poetry can also be written as free verse. The poet may concentrate on word sounds or images without paying any attention to syntax or logic. Mystical by Rose H. Plane is a beautiful free-verse poem about nature. The poem has extraordinary word arrangements.
Critics state that since free-verse poems do not comprise any meter or rhyme, these poems are glorified prose. However, free-verse poems have their undeniable charm.
How to Write a Free Verse?
A free-verse poem may seem to be one of the easiest poems to write. However, writing a free verse poem can be challenging. The best way to write a free-verse poem is to associate the rhythm of the subject with the rhythm of one’s natural voice. A normal poetic voice is metrical and lyrical, with pauses and accents as predominant as those written with stringent classic forms of verses. One may wonder what the elements of free-verse poetry are. Free-verse poems differ and do not follow a strict set of elements. Some elements of free-verse poems are rhythm, strophes, strophic rhythms, stanzaic patterns, cadences, or rhythmic units.
1. Select a Subject and Start Writing About It
Try and write down all that you feel about the subject. Get it all out. The trick here for the poet is to try and stay true to the rhythm.
2. Go Through and Study the Rough Poem
A rough read helps ensure that you have not missed writing anything. If you feel that you have missed adding a simile, metaphor, stanza, or line, go ahead and add it.
3. Ensure to Read the Poem Aloud.
Free verse is nothing but a rhythmic dance with words and voice, so keep reading the poem aloud, check the order of lines, and ensure that the flow has been maintained throughout the poem.
4. Editing and Proofreading
The next step is to move through the poem with an editor’s pen and ensure that you have chosen the words that provide the perfect cadence and accent to the poem.
5. Read the Final Draft Aloud
Keep reading the poem aloud until you feel that it flows like water and you can feel the poem from within. Once this is completed, you are sure to have written a beautiful free-verse poem.
Best Free Verse Poems for Children
Life is nothing but a fairy tale with no rules to follow. Free-verse poems are just like children who live in a world of their own. Following are some of the best free verse poems for kids. These poems are beautiful and creative yet simple to read.
1. Follow The Moon by Marie Tully
“I followed the moon,
Or did it follow me?
I turned a corner;
It was still there, you see.
I tried to trick it.
In the shadows I hid,
But the moon kept on watching.
That’s what it did.
A cloud passed before it.
Now was my chance,
But the stars in the sky
Never could lie.
I walked on through the night.
The moon followed me home,
Or did I follow the moon?
I don’t quite know.”
2. Zig-Zagging by Kelly Roper
Zig-zagging down the road
Trying not to stray over the center line
Or hit a curb
Or break an axle
Or flatten a tire
Or wind up in the next surprise sinkhole.
Driving in Toledo is not a sport
For the timid or the sane or the under-insured.”
3. Real Silence by Atticus
“I longed for real silence
the kind you can’t find
but stumble upon
in some cabin
somewhere
on a lake without a moon
where you hear the cigarette burn
and the candles flicker
and your mind dances alive
to the symphonies in the black.”
4. Up Above by Becki B
“Up above
Sits our nanny
In her rocking chair,
She’s smiling down upon us.
It’s nice to know she’s there
Her star is shining brightly.
We find it every night,
The big one in the middle above our house at night.”
5. No Celebration by John P. Read
“What’s the point of celebrating
When the ones you loved have gone?
It’s only the beginning of another year,
Another year of struggling alone.
Nothing new will happen.
Nothing old will ever change.
The past has left its scars.
Now only old memories remain.”
6. Autumn by T.E Hulme
“A touch of cold in the Autumn night—
I walked abroad,
And saw the ruddy moon lean over a hedge
Like a red-faced farmer.
I did not stop to speak, but nodded,
And roundabout were the wistful stars
With white faces like town children.”
7. The Pool by H.D.
Are you alive?
I touch you.
You quiver like a sea-fish.
I cover you with my net.
What are you—banded one?
8. Risk by Anais Inn
And then the day came,
when the risk
to remain tight
in a bud
was more painful
than the risk
it took
to blossom.
9. You Took The Last Bus Home by Brian Bilston
you took
the last bus home
i still don’t know
how you got it through the door
but you’re always doing amazing stuff
like the time
when you caught that train
10. Angels by Mary Oliver
You might see an angel anytime
and anywhere. Of course you have
to open your eyes to a kind of
second level, but it’s not really
hard. The whole business of
what’s reality and what isn’t has
never been solved and probably
never will be. So I don’t care to
be too definite about anything.
I have a lot of edges called Perhaps
and almost nothing you can call
Certainty. For myself, but not
for other people. That’s a place
you just can’t get into, not
entirely anyway, other people’s heads.
I’ll just leave you with this.
I don’t care how many angels can
dance on the head of a pin. It’s
enough to know that for some people
they exist, and that they dance.
Free verse is not mandatorily difficult to interpret. Various contemporary poets have written free-verse narratives using the language of general speech. Ellen Bass’s “What Did I Love” is one of the best free-verse poems about life. The poem could be considered prose if it were not for the line breaks.
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Essential Training Tricks to Teach Your Cats
Every dog owner knows that dogs can be trained to behave well and perform some amazingly complex tasks; cats, however, are given a free pass due to their “take me as I am” attitude. The truth is, cats can also be trained. They may not respond as well as dogs do, but they can be taught basic behaviours to make life easy for their owners.
Why Is It Necessary to Train Your Cat?
Cats are known for their cheekiness and disobedience. They leave their owners without many options than to conform to their ways. It is important however to train cats so that a healthy relationship can be fostered with them for the long term. Training is also needed to help with inculcating behaviours that are non-destructive.
One example of this is scratching; cats have an instinctive urge to scratch things just like their urge to climb and seek hiding places. An untrained cat can wreak havoc in your house and leave it in a mess by the time you return. Similarly, potty training to use the litter box, responding to your calls and returning to you are important behaviours they need to learn.
5 Essential Things You Can Train Your Cat to Do
Although cats can’t be trained to obey commands are well as dogs do, they can be given basic training that is essential for them as pets. Here are five of them:
1. Litter Box Training
The most basic of them all is how to train cats to answer nature's call. This is needed to establish definite boundaries and let the cats have their own private place to do their thing. Since they’re naturally tidy, litter box training is relatively easy. To get your cat to poop in the litter box, follow these tips
Set up a clean litterbox in a room that will be their permanent place for nature calls. Let them have their food and water in the same room and plenty of time for themselves.
When they poop outside the box, move the mess into the litter box, so they will learn that the litterbox is where they need to go. This may take a few trials, but they will eventually get it.
If it still doesn’t work, place your cat in the litterbox after each meal and scratch the sand/ clay with your fingers to trigger their instincts.
If they are still not going in the litterbox, try changing the sand or switching litter brands.
2. Training to Come When Called
The second essential behaviour is training cats to come to you at your command. Most cat breeds enjoy outdoors as they like to hunt and feel free to roam about. You have to allow them to go out or they will inevitably find a way to do so. You’d rather have them trained to come back to you than to dash outside into an unsafe situation and not know how to return home. This training might even save their life someday. Follow these steps
Training them to come to you works by positive reinforcement. Call them by their name in relaxed, positive situations while you pet or cuddle them. You could combine saying their names with other sound cues such as tongue clicks.
To begin with, reward them every time they acknowledge you. Even if they glance towards you as a response, pet them or give them a scratch behind the ears.
Once the first step is established, reward them with a treat if they come to you when called. Repeat this step often, so it is imprinted firmly into their memory.
3. Training Them to Sit
Training cats to sit is another skill that is not as hard as it sounds and it acts as a building block for others to form. It works on positive reinforcement, similar to the previous one.
Start with a treat held above the cat’s head, a few inches above the ears and grab their attention.
Move the treat over to their back which will leave them with no choice but to sit so they can take a look at the treat.
Reward them by allowing them to have the treat as soon as they sit. Repeat this over and over again while you say the word “sit” so they can associate the action with the word.
4. Leash Training
Cats that are used to being indoors can feel overwhelmed by the outside world. With leash training, you can get them accustomed to going out with confidence and get all the benefits of exercise and enjoying nature. Getting them to accept a leash has to be done systematically like all other skills.
It’s best to get a body harness rather than a collar as it is more comfortable and secure. Place the harness in familiar places your cat goes every day to get it accustomed to the harness.
Step two is to drape the harness over it without fully attaching it. Let it stay freely and offer the cat a treat every time you do it.
Once the cat is comfortable, attach the harness to its body and leave it on for a few minutes. Reward with a treat for having the harness on.
Go about with incremental steps and attach a leash to the harness and walk them inside the house. Eventually, move to the yard and then the outdoors.
5. High Fives
With a little practice every day, you can train your cat to give high-fives. The training uses positive reinforcement in the form of praises, pets and treats for performing tricks. Start by holding a treat over them such that they will have to raise their paw to reach it. As they reach for it, touch the paw and say “High Five!” Reward them afterwards. Once the high five is mastered, you can modify that a little to teach a handshake.
Using positive reinforcement methods, you can train your cat to master a number of important skills and some fun tricks. Although cats aren’t instinctive learners like dogs, they can be trained with patience and perseverance.
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Time, Love, Laughter, Hugs and Kisses, Memories, Modern Age Parenthood
Disclaimer: This is in no way meant to make my husband look bad :)
Ishaan's dad is currently the sole breadwinner of the family, which means he is away most of the times. In a day, he hardly gets few minutes to spend with Ishaan. Me on the other hand, is the lucky parent to literaly be next to him all the time. Well, almost all the time. Ishaan is 5 months old now and thanks to the lockdown, my husband gets to spend some time with him. It was late at night and I had put Ishaan to sleep and went to the kitchen to get on with my pending chores. My husband was lying on a recliner next to the bed and busy watching some random fb video. I heard Ishaan's cry and I ran back to the room to find him being held by my husband. He was trying to calm him down. I quickly switched on the light to see if he is okay. The moment he looked at me, he smiled with tears welled up in his eyes and leaped towards me. I will never forget this mental picture in my life. Such moments are what makes everything worth it. I held him close to myself and patted him saying he was safe and okay. He instantly calmed down. My husband felt a little bad which I totally understand. Showing love to a baby is not in what kind of clothes or toys we get them. What matters the most to them is when we show them how much we love them and how much they mean to us, by actually spending time with them. My everyday routine is mostly tedious, but no matter what I try to always greet him with a smile and warm soothing sounds or words whenever I am about to lift him. It really does have an impact and his warm smile in return just melts my heart. Being a mom is hard, I know. But when it comes to our kids, they grow up so fast we hardly get the time to capture memories that are meant to be etched in our hearts forever. Just remember, you don't need to be a perfect mom, just a happy one! At the end of the day, a mom can never be replaced. Read more
Sarika gupta has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
19 hours ago
Q. Am craving to have a burger at McDonald’s. Am 15 week pregnant.
Is it safe to have
Sarika gupta
Mom of 2 children
7 hours ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much and it is better to avoid this at this time and also if you want to eat burger then it is better to make it a home . Thanks and take care
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
18 hours ago
Q. It's my 12th week of pregnancy but last night I noticed some bleeding. So, my doctor prescribed Duphaston for 2 weeks. Is there anything to worry about? Please guide me.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
18 hours ago
A. at present take rest and use medicines as advised by the doctor. 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 Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 3 months
12 hours ago
Q. I am 7 month pregnant with second baby I have severe abscess pain in armpit and buttocks pls tell me remedy for this ...Dr recommend antibiotics and ultracet pain tablet I have taken some doses of it but worried about the foetal development..does it hurt my baby
Read moreDr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
10 hours ago
A. You should have proper consultation with your treating doctor , as some examination or investigations may be needful, so that proper medications can be given And the treatment can be done very properly.
continue antibiotics regularly
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
6 hours ago
Q. Hello dr meri beti 6 days ki hai or use feed karwane ke bad nose or muh se milk bhar aa raha hai to aesa kyu kr rahi hai….me kya Dr ko dikhau kya???
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
6 hours ago
A. Hello dear parent! Keep your baby’s heart in a little elevated position while you’re breastfeeding. Burp your baby after every feed. Keep Babyhug tummy roll on handy. Consult your doctor for further assistance
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
6 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts how to reduce belly fat after pregnancy and skin was loose .two year passes but problem is persist.How can reduce it
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
6 hours ago
A. For weight loss diet is good in intermittent fasting a good and but if your body is loose or you feel you really do tighten up your body then gymming or yoga both the things are going to be very good both the things are going to be helpful in tightening up your body and muscles at the same time but it is time consuming we just have to have patience
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. my baby is one month old and have cold symptoms. can I consume buttermilk?
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
4 hours ago
A. yes u can further you can contact with your doctor and you can get thhje the solution for this by discussing with him he will guide you for more details if required .
Its always better to take the guidance by the concernged person with the geniune advice ...
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