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Birthday Cake Ideas for Your 1-year-old Baby
Everything is set, right from the guest list to the birthday outfit, but the one thing you can't decide for your little one's first birthday is the 'Cake' - the most important part of a birthday party. Well, many parents find themselves in this dilemma but we have your back. Here are a few cake ideas for your 1-year-old's birthday party.
20 Creative Ideas for Your Baby's First Birthday Cake
Kids can be choosy and since it’s your baby’s first birthday, it’s alright to spoil your little one. Although he won't really pick a cake for his first birthday, you will want it to be a special one for him. To get that perfect cake, you need to first figure out what fascinates your baby. Is it the brand new toy car you bought last week? Or maybe the new princess Elsa doll that your child simply refuses to part with. Identify what piques your baby’s interest, and opt for a cake that will excite them.
The choice and interests of girls and boys differ right from the beginning, so make sure you get a cake that appeals to them.
1. A Super Hero Cake
Your little one is a superhero and getting him a superhero-themed cake will surely get him excited on his first birthday. You can choose from several options, like Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, Super Woman, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk. Get your baby a cute little outfit of his favourite superhero to make the experience even better. Nowadays, cakes can also be customised. You can get your baby's photograph printed along with his favourite superhero on the cake. Or, even better, get it customised to show your little one saved the superhero.
2. A Car Cake
This idea is especially for children who love cars. If toy cars are a major part of your baby's toy collection, you can get a customised cake that replicated his favourite car. If just a car cake doesn't sound impressive, you can add a racing track and some more colourful cars. maybe even replicate a hot wheels collection.
3. A Mickey Mouse Cake
If you have seen your baby drop whatever he's doing, every time the "Mickey Mouse Club House" theme song starts rolling, you don't have to think any further. Get him a Mickey Mouse Cake - he'll love it. Mickey is one cartoon character that almost everyone loves, thanks to his adorableness. Get this cake and your baby will be overjoyed. If your son loves the other characters in this show, you can incorporate their figurines as well and have a Micky Mouse theme party to compliment to cake.
4. A Bike Cake
Just like cars, if your one-year-old has a toy bicycle or a bike that he completely adores, you can get a stunning tiered cake with a chocolate bicycle or bike on it. You could also get a cake that has a print of your baby boy's favourite bike. If you want to go a step further, you may get a dirt bike, mountain bike or a quad bike-themed cake.
5. A Favourite Fruit Cake
If your baby likes a certain fruit, then go ahead and incorporate his favourite fruit in a cake. If you are still confused, you may go for flavours that kids generally love, like mango, blueberry, pineapple, and grapes. You can ask the bakers to drop chunks of fruit in it so that it adds to the nutrition value.
6. A Blue Cake
This is for the babies who love the colour blue. You could make this an ombre-frosted cake, that starts at the bottom with blue and gradually fades to a white cream frosting on top. The base cake could be flavoured with your child's favourite fruit, but if he loves blueberry, the cake will be the star attraction of the party!
7. An Ocean Cake
If you want to take the blue-theme a step ahead, you can go for an ocean-themed cake with waves and some fishes that your baby can identify. These cakes can also be made on themes like 'Little Mermaid', 'Sponge Bob and Square Pants', and 'Finding Nemo' to make it even more interesting for your little one.
8. A Lion Cake
Lions are majestic creatures, and they are synonymous with strength and power. Also, if your son loves Madagascar movie, then a cake that has 'Alex' on it will make your son smile, because who doesn't love Alex! This can be a tiered cake with Alex sitting majestically or in his usual quirky manner on the top.
9. A Mobile Phone Cake
Kids these days are tech-savvy, their age doesn't matter. They love gadgets right from a young age. If your mobile phone has already got your little one's attention, you may want to use it for cake ideas. You can order a customized cake in his favourite flavour that replicates your smartphone. This will grab the interest of your baby, just like your phone does, and he’ll love it!
10. A Suit and Tie Cake
This cake idea might not go with everybody, but if you desire to have a 'black-tie event' sort of a celebration on your little one's first birthday, this could be a great cake to have. You could even dress your baby to suit the theme.
11. A Barbie Doll Cake
If your baby's Barbie doll has a special place in his heart, you must go for a Barbie doll theme cake. A three-tiered cake works best, with the layers resembling her gown. This one comes with two options, one with a plastic doll bust and the other with a completely edible doll. You can choose the one that you like the most and go for as many colours as your kid likes.
12. A Princess Cake
The specialty about princess-themed cakes is that it can accommodate all the important accessories that a princess would usually wear. It cake can have a tiara on top, and several layers decorated with frosting, sugar candies that replicate diamonds and jewellery too. Make sure you use all the regal colour we associate with royalty.
13. A Minnie Mouse Cake
Minnie Mouse is another popular animated character kids love. If your baby has taken a liking towards her, you must get a Mini Mouse birthday cake for him. The colours of the character - red, pink, and black can also be used to decorate the house on your little one's 1st birthday. It could also be the theme and you could give Mini Mouse headgear to all your guests. Make sure the boombox rolls the “Mickey Mouse Club House” track as well!
14. Favourite Animal Cake
Does your baby have a favourite animal by now? If yes, go for a cake with her favourite animal sitting on the top and a complete cake made in the shape of the animal. The most common animal-centred cakes are kittens, dogs, ponies, bears, unicorns, and bunny rabbits. You can also go for bird-themed cakes. Just make it colourful and your baby will love it!
15. A Flower-Themed Cake
Now, who doesn't love colourful flowers? Choose your baby's favourite fruit-flavoured cake and have it decorated with loads of his favourite flowers in your preferred sizes. It will not just be delicious, but a feast to the eyes as well. You can opt for daisies like the one in the picture, roses, or sunflowers also to make it colourful and cheerful.
16. A Unicorn Rainbow Cake
This one is for the kids who are smitten by unicorns and rainbows. If your baby is one of them, you must get him a three-tiered rainbow cake with a pretty unicorn on top of it. Go for pastel colours and match your baby's birthday apparel also to suit the theme.
17. A Cinderella Cake
This is for all those children who enjoy listening to the story of Cinderella without understanding a word of what their parents say. If your little one has a picture book with the story, you can take his favourite scene and get it printed on a cake. You can also add a slipper made from sugar and a pumpkin carriage on top to complete the theme.
18. A Pink Cake
Just like the blue cake, if your little one loves the colour pink, you can go for a stunning cake in your preferred shades of pink. The base cake can also be pink in colour and have a frosting with an ombre effect, pink roses or pink macarons all over it.
19. A Strawberry Cake
This one can be teamed up with a pink cake if your baby also loves strawberries. You could ask the bakers to leave a few chunks of the fruit in the cake as well. This will increase the richness of the cake and add to the nutrition value of the cake.
20. A Teddy Bear Cake
This one is for all the teddy bear lovers. You can for an entire cake in the shape of the teddy bear or a two-tiered cake with a teddy bear sitting on top. Choose the flavours and the colours that your little one is most like to get attracted to. Animated characters like Yogi Bear, Baloo and Boo Boo can also be added to this theme.
Choose from these ideas, and make your baby's first birthday a real blast! Your child will thank you later when he grows old. Click loads of pictures and cherish the memories forever.
Also Read: Return Gift Ideas for 1st Birthday of Your Baby Read more
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How to Increase Immunity in Babies
A newborn baby’s immune system isn’t as strong as an adult's and thus their frail bodies are incapable of fighting diseases and illnesses. However, nature has bestowed mothers with the power to pass on their antibodies and immunity to babies. Through breastfeeding and immunization, improving baby immunity is possible. This is especially essential during the first few months when the baby’s health is most vulnerable.
What is the Immune System
The human immune system is a complex network of proteins and cells that is capable of defending our body against infection. When foreign bodies like viruses or bacteria attack our body, the white blood cells in our body recognize them as 'non-self' and as a response to the infection, produce antibodies. Antibodies are basically infection-fighting proteins that prevent us from getting sick. The basic task of our immune system is to protect us by recognizing foreign bodies and responding to it accordingly.
When Does a Newborn’s Immune System Develop
The mother passes on much-needed antibodies to its baby through the placenta during the last quarter of the pregnancy. This immunity provides enough protection for the baby to survive the birthing process. The mother’s own immunity levels will determine the amount and type of antibodies that will be passed on to the baby.
At birth, the baby benefits from the bacteria present in the mothers’ vagina during the birthing process. Due to this, the baby’s gut is filled with large quantities of bacteria and this enhances the baby's immunity further. Breastfeeding and immune system development are closely connected and play an extremely valuable role during the initial months of the infant’s life. Babies who are breastfed immediately after birth receive a fresh infusion of immunity through it. Colostrum, which is the first milk supply produced by the mother after delivery, contains powerful antibodies that can fight infection.
How Long do Babies Carry Their Mother's Antibodies
Although most mothers are aware of breastfeeding immunity, how long it can protect the baby from illnesses, is a question that needs clarity. The baby builds up passive immunity when the mother passes antibodies to it through the placenta. This generally happens during the last three months of pregnancy and is passive because the baby does not produce the antibodies itself. The mother’s immunity decides which antibodies will be passed on. Let us assume you have had chickenpox in the past, then your baby will receive some of the antibodies needed to fight chickenpox. However, if you haven’t suffered from the disease earlier, your baby won’t be protected.
Immunity in new-borns is temporary and reduces as the baby becomes a few weeks or months older. It is therefore important to begin with the necessary vaccinations as soon as your little one becomes two months old. Immunizations for HiB (Influenza Type B) and whooping cough should be first on your list since immunity to these diseases reduces the quickest. The MMR vaccine (for Measles, Mumps, Rubella) can be given at year 1 since the passive immunity acquired from the mother can hold up till that time.
How to Increase Immunity in Babies
There is a silver lining to every cloud and parents can take heart from the fact that every time your little one falls ill, he is developing newer antibodies. These will be used to fight the same illness in the near future. In the meanwhile, the following tips can help increase immunity in babies:
1. Breastfeeding
Breast milk is fortified with all the right ingredients in the right quantities like fats, proteins, sugars, probiotics, and antibodies, essential for supporting your baby’s immune system. All the antibodies developed by the mother to fight germs are passed on to the baby through breast milk. Unfortunately, life-threatening diseases like polio or measles need medical attention and breastfeeding cannot contain them. Also, sometimes mothers are unable to breastfeed due to certain complications and baby food is the only option left.
2. Supplements
Gut bacteria, which are extremely important for immunity, can lose their potency if antibiotics are taken. Probiotics are a recommended option for boosting immunity post an antibiotic course. From the safety point of view too, probiotics are safe during late pregnancy and post-delivery phase. But it is best to discuss with your doctor before starting any kind of supplements for the baby. Generally, breast milk and baby food are enough to provide all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
3. Vaccination
One of the most effective and safe ways of protecting babies from serious diseases is to vaccinate them. Vaccination triggers an immune response in a manner similar to that a bacteria or virus would. Simply put, your baby’s immune system will identify the germ when it comes in contact with the baby in the future. It will then deliver a response that will prevent any serious complications from developing and fight the disease.
4. Proper Nutrition
A healthy diet is the key to strong immunity in babies. By including fruits and vegetables, your baby can receive all the necessary nutrients and have a robust immune system. Vitamin C and antioxidants are needed to fight diseases and this can be provided through immunity boosting agents like strawberries, grapefruits, and guava. Broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, and potatoes can be added to a baby’s diet through juices and purees.
5. Physical Activity
Your baby’s immune system can be boosted through physical exercise or play. As toddlers, your baby can start with activities like swimming, gymnastics or simply giving them space to run around can be enough. Babies who are physically active are better equipped to fight bacteria and germs and do not fall ill as frequently as others.
6. Sleep
It has been observed that babies who do not sleep for the necessary number of hours become irritable and also tend to fall prey to diseases. Your baby should take proper naps throughout the day and sleep well during the night too. Sleep deprivation is often the cause of babies’ becoming susceptible to infections and diseases. It is necessary to boost their immune system, regain their lost energy and enhance their brain power. You can create an environment that is conducive for your tiny tot to fall asleep (16-18 hours as a new-born and 13-15 hours from 1 year onwards)
7. Germ-Free Environment
By creating a clean and hygienic environment, you will be able to protect your baby’s immune system from being attacked. Make sure your home environment is kept squeaky clean. Wash your baby’s hands and feet often and also ensure that those handling the baby do the same. Babies at this age have a penchant to put everything in their mouths and this allows germs to enter their bodies orally.
8. Smoke-Free Zone
Though smoking is hazardous for all of us, the health of young kids is at great risk as it can damage their health through attacks on the respiratory systems. Smoke toxins are also known to cause damage to the little one’s immune system. Breathing difficulties, asthma, bronchitis and ear infections are risks that your baby could face if it is exposed to smoke regularly.
Immunity Boosting Foods for Babies
The following are common foods to increase immunity in babies and should form an important part of your baby’s diet:
Garlic: This super food has excellent anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral capabilities which gives it a great ranking as an immunity-boosting food for babies.
Almonds: This tasty snack contains Vitamin E and can boost immunity in babies.
Broccoli: Supercharged with Vitamins A, C, and E, broccoli contains many antioxidants and can be fed to babies as a puree or with other meals.
Bone Broth: Made from chicken or fish, it is useful to help build strong bones and your baby will love its taste too.
Breast Milk: Studies have proved time and again that breastfed infants face fewer infections and bounce back from illnesses quickly as compared to formula-fed babies. This is the reason why breast milk is a must when it comes to immunity-boosting foods for infants.
About Premature Baby's Immune Systems
Premature babies are always at a higher risk of falling prey to infection because their immune systems aren’t fully developed when they announce their arrival. They do not receive enough antibodies from their mothers since they are delivered earlier than others.
Your baby is new to the external environment yet and will face a challenging time when it comes to remaining immune to infections. Keep a close watch and make sure you inform the doctor if you notice signs like fever, dehydration, breathing issues or change in skin or lip color.
Also Read: Healthy Foods for Infants Read more
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This is How I Make Sure My Baby is Always Comfortable and Happy While Travelling
"Beta, being a mother is no cakewalk. When you become a mother, you will realise", those words always resonate in the ears of all us women who have recently attained motherhood. Your mom, aunt, grandmother etc. would have, at some point, imparted these words of wisdom to you as a response to your misbehaviour, mischief, disobedience or sheer reaction to your statement "Mom please! I am not a kid anymore".
Well, now as a new mom, I realise that I was nothing but a kid till I became a mother myself. Motherhood is a mixed bag of emotions. While you burn yourself out taking care of this new soul suckling on your bosom, you cannot think of parting from this bundle of joy that redefined you as a woman. This is why I feel that when a child is born, it’s not just a newly born child to a mother, but also a newly born mother to a child.
This evolution of womanhood, from being a woman to being a mom, comes with a lot of responsibilities. Since the very beginning, you make sure that everything is right and on point for the baby. No one is perfect, but you try and do the best for your kid. In doing so, we are bound to get confused. Is raising your child in the old school way of moms and aunties better or should one adopt the modern techniques prescribed by Google? Should we consider old thoughts as myths and go ahead or are we simply experimenting on a little soul?
When I conceived Abeer, I was quite particular about what I ate, my physical activities, and above all, my sleep! With him, our passion to explore and soak in different cultures increased multi-fold. And why not, we wanted Abeer to begin his journey to experience the world as early as possible. We thoroughly believe that there is no better school than the world itself.
While this is what we planned, reality shook us with the responsibilities that came along with parenthood. Travelling now needed more planning than just the perfect itinerary, experiences, bookings etc. It required pumped breast milk, perfect storage of it, extra clothing, wet wipes, sterilised bottles, and to top it all- a comfortable and a happy baby who equally enjoys the adventure as his parents do.
a) Long Naps at Night - A new born baby has a tummy the size of a fist. They drink, they pee, and are parched again. This actually leaves you with no option but to feed them on demand. Little ones also tend to fall sleep while feeding, leading to a half filled tummy. I had generally faced more difficulties during night time because by then I used to feel restless with all the travelling during the day. Slowly, I learnt that Abeer sleeps for longer if he is sleeping on me, keeping his nose closer to my neck. The mother’s smell makes them feel comfortable and wards off the feeling of being alone. This also makes the mother-baby bond grow stronger. All you need is a good back support!
b) Crying Out Loud - While on a journey or even at home, he used to get cranky quite often. Little ones make you paranoid when they start to cry. You can’t put your finger on whether it’s hunger or acidity. When Abeer was inside of me, I used to listen to and hum a few specific songs everyday. So while travelling, I used to hold him closer to my cheek and would hum the same song very softly and sway him in my arms. This always calmed him down. He always appreciated my voice, no matter how badly I sang.
C) Puke and Poop - When we travelled with Abeer for the first time, he was merely a month old. For a sapling this little, you ought to be extra cautious and extra prepared. Without exaggeration, I had actually packed in 25 pairs of clothing for a five day trip. You don’t know how many changes a baby would need during the day. All new moms will definitely relate to this dilemma because along with giving emotional support, physical comfort is also pertinent.
While we did manage an extra bag, which were full of Abeer's essentials, what we focused most on was carrying a sufficient number of diapers. I don't know if this bothers you as much, but as travel bloggers and travel influencers on Instagram, we are constantly bogged by long flights, hectic shooting schedules, etc. In this chosen fast paced life, we faced multiple diaper malfunctions, plus leakages that led to a cranky baby with a bad rash. "Diapers are not good beta. Switch to cotton nappies as they are softer on the baby's skin", went the Google aunties, but that is neither conducive nor practical in today's world. Also, nappies, though soft, do not ensure perfect hygiene for the child.
Before I move on to that, let me ask you a question. Do you know,, it’s a myth that diapers lead to rashes? It has always been baby’s poo which is quite acidic, initially. Their skin being super sensitive develops rashes because of the acid. Abeer is December-born, and would pee quite often due to the cold weather. Hence, when my parents and in-laws asked me to keep him in nappies, it ultimately caused discomfort to the baby and interrupted his sleep quite frequently because of the dampness and my urge to change the nappy after every second pee, which would happen every 10-15 minutes. Every new mom can very well relate to this, I believe.
This sticky situation led to experimenting with various brands of diapers, both Indian and the ones masis send from 'foreign', but nothing was working out. Either the diapers were soft but didn't have the capacity to absorb for long or vice versa. We were on the lookout for something that’s like second skin to the baby and can withstand long travelling hours that came with our aspirations. Not to forget, when it’s your baby’s first trip and you have an in-house photographer and the perfect backdrops, you tend to go overboard on baby pictures. Sitting with a cranky, discomforted baby in the forefront makes no story worth telling.
A comfortable baby is a happy baby. We take all the necessary steps to ensure that the baby is relaxed and snuggled well, and hence, were getting desperate to find the perfect solution for our little gypsy. In fact, if the diaper is chosen wisely, it can solve most of the problems. I had done a lot of research while choosing the best diaper for my little one. The product had to be soft for baby’s skin that is super sensitive. In the start, the baby tends to poop more and it’s always a runny one. Babies pee a lot more times than you can even think of. At times, I realised that a few diapers did not suit Abeer’s skin because they would tend to stick to his skin after a couple of hours.
After trying a lot of brands, I got my hands-on Huggies Newborn Baby diapers. These were super soft for my baby’s sensitive skin and super comfortable, even when we were travelling and couldn’t change the diaper immediately when he pooped. The runny poop did not spread to his clothes, which saved me the hassle of changing his clothes multiple times in a day. There is also a wetness indicator that let me know the right time to change the diaper. When the blue line disappears it’s time to change, See, it’s that simple. You can read more on https://www.huggies.co.in/en/products. They are also available in the pant style, saving you from the hassle of sticking the ends too loose or too tight. The diapers range from XS to XL, perfect for your baby’s growing age. We saw an immediate change in Abeer. Not once was he in any discomfort while we were travelling. He happily smiled at the onlookers, slept in my arms being coy, and woke up fresh to the next set of adventures. As Anush puts it, his HiPOOshima and NagasaPEE (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) days are over and he is officially turning into the little Gypsy we always wanted him to grow up to be.
Above all, Huggies has given us utmost piece of mind. It’s hygienic, safe, and baby friendly when it comes to comfort. Thankfully, our diaper troubles were put to rest with this choice of diapers.
If as a new mom you are scouting for the best diaper brand or planning a trip with your little one, Huggies Newborn Diapers should be your go to brand, as it keeps the baby comfortable and happy.
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.
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Cervical Cancer During Pregnancy
Unlike most other types of cancer, cervical cancer is a type of cancer that can be treated if it is detected and prevented early-on. Many countries include a cervical cancer diagnosis before providing consultations for pregnancy, thus lowering the risk of cervical cancer and ensuring a hassle-free pregnancy. Cervical cancer, by nature, does not affect the baby or influence the delivery in any way in the early stages, however, in the later stages treatment becomes a necessity as it has been known to be harmful to mothers during its advanced stages.
What is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer is basically cancer of the uterus. The ailment starts when the cells in the cervix start multiplying unhindered. They grow and reach a pre-cancerous stage, from where they soon begin multiplying rapidly. In some cases, these cancer cells multiply to an extreme stage really fast within a year, while usual case reports indicate that it takes years for the cells to go from pre-cancerous to cancerous stage.
How Common is Cervical Cancer During Pregnancy?
The odds of developing cervical cancer in pregnancy is small and, usually, 3% of pregnant mothers find themselves having cervical cancer during pregnancies after a diagnostic test. More than 11,000 mothers in America are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year.
Stages of Cervical Cancer
The stages of cancer are diagnosed by the extent to which tumour cells mature and spread within the cervix. Here are the stages of commonly seen in cervical cancer
Stage 1 - This is the earliest stage when the cancer is found in the neck of the womb. It is divided into two sub-stages:
Stage 1A – Here the growth of the cancer is very small and is only found through examination under a microscope.
Stage 1B – In this stage, the cancer is in the cervical tissues but hasn't spread out any further to other internal organs.
Stage 2- This is the stage when cancer begins to spread outside from the cervix to surrounding healthy tissues. Stage 2 is also divided into two sub-stages:
Stage 2A – Here, cancer spreads out over to the top of the vagina
Stage 2B – In this stage, cancer affects the surrounding tissues of the cervix
Stage 3- This is when cervical cancer progresses from the cervix into the surrounding structures of the pelvic area. It is further divided into:
Stage 3A – This is when cancer spreads to the lower region of the vagina
Stage 3B – Here, cancer grows into the pelvic wall and blocks the tubes that drain the kidneys
Stage 4- This is the advanced stage of cervical cancer. This is when cancer spreads to internal organs outside the womb. This stage is further divided into:
Stage 4A – Here cancer spreads to nearby internal organs like the bladder and rectum
Stage 4B – At this stage, cancer spreads over to organs which are far from the womb area, such as the lungs.
Causes of Cervical Cancer in Pregnancy
In a healthy system, cells divide and die. When cells stop dying and start multiplying rapidly they cause abnormal growth. Lumps form in the cervix and eventually mature into tumour cells. These cells become cancerous later on, thus leading to cervical cancer in women.
There are several causes of cervical cancer in pregnancy. They are:
Having multiple sexual partners
Becoming sexually active early on
Weak Immune System
HIV or AIDs
Self-destructive behaviours like drinking/drugs and long-term mental stress
Several pregnancies
STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) like Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis
Early pregnancy beforehand (usually before the age of 17 years)
Smoking
Taking birth control pills
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Infections
There are 100 types of HPV infections and 13 of these are known to contribute to the development of cervical cancer.
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Symptoms of cervical cancer range from:
Pain during sexual intercourse
Pain in the lower belly and pelvis
Abnormal Vaginal bleeding during douching, sex, or in between menstrual periods
Abnormal vaginal discharge
Diagnosis
Cervical cancer is diagnosed during pregnancy through a pap smear test. The doctor uses a special magnifying instrument known as the colposcope to scrape for cells from the cervix which are then tested. Women aged 21 and below usually undergo a diagnostic test to check for precancerous cells, irrespective of pregnancy.
For obtaining tissue samples, your doctor may use:
Punch Biopsy - A sharp tool is used to pinch out small samples of cervical tissue
Endocervical Curettage - A curet (spoon-shaped instrument) or thin brush is used to scrape off tissue samples from the cervix
Electrical Wire Loop - A low-voltage electrical wire is slipped into the cervix for collecting tissue samples. Local anaesthesia is used in this method.
Cone Biopsy - A procedure that goes into the deeper layers of the cervix for collecting tissue samples for laboratory testing. It is performed in hospitals under general anaesthesia.
Another form of diagnosis is the HPV DNA Infection test which scans for abnormalities in cells that match with any of the types of HPV infections. HPV infections are known to lead to cervical cancer and testing for HPV abnormalities in cervix cells is the second type of diagnosis.
If your doctor detects cervical cancer through laboratory testing or hospital diagnosis, then a further diagnosis will be carried out to determine the stage and extent of your cervical cancer. Common staging exams are:
Imaging Tests - X-rays, CT scans, Magnetic Resistance Imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) for determining how far cancer has spread from the cervix.
Visual Examination - Special scopes are used for scanning areas inside the bladder and rectum to check the extent and condition of cervical cancer
What is Cervical Dysplasia?
When abnormal cell growth occurs in the outer lining of the cervix, this condition is referred to as a Cervical Dysplasia. Cervical Dysplasia is a precancerous stage and is heavily associated with the sexually transmitted Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. It is known to develop at any age and commonly found in women aged 30 and below. Cervical Dysplasia usually has no symptoms and is detected through routine Pap tests during pregnancy.
Cervical dysplasia, when left unchecked, later transitions into full-blown cervical cancer.
What Happens After Diagnosis?
Treatment after a diagnosis depends on the severity and extent of cervical dysplasia. For mild conditions, continued routine monitoring with repeat Pap tests ensue while for severe conditions, treatments such as cryosurgery, Electro-cauterization, and laser surgery are used.
After treatment, follow-up with respective doctors is necessary along with a repeat Pap test or an HPV DNA test between six to twelve months.
Can Chemotherapy Affect the Unborn Baby?
Chemotherapy during the first trimester of pregnancy is harmful to the foetus as the organs are developing during that stage. Chemotherapy does not affect the baby during the second trimester as the placenta acts as a barrier that protects the baby from the side effects of chemotherapy treatment and prevents certain drugs from entering the bloodstream.
During the later stages of pregnancy, chemotherapy may indirectly harm the unborn baby by causing side effects in the mother.
Risk Factors
Risk factors associated with chemotherapy treatment include:
Loss of foetus
Birth defects in newborn
Low blood cell count during delivery
Increased risk of cervical infections
Treatment Options
Alternative treatment options for chemotherapy treatment include:
Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy treatment
Herbs and certain vitamins
Changing your diet
Acupuncture and massage
Clinical trials
Clinical trials involve special untested procedures used in research studies to discover alternative methods of cancer treatment. Although useful, they may also prove to be dangerous.
Do speak with your doctor or concerned medical specialist before opting for any of these alternative treatment methods as some of them are complementary and may not be medically-approved.
Treatment of Cervical Cancer Based on Different Stages of Pregnancy
The treatment of cervical cancer is based on the location of the tumour, the stage of cervical cancer, your overall health, and the particular trimester of pregnancy you're currently in. Here are following treatment modes for the different stages of pregnancy for mothers affected by cervical cancer.
Treatment of Cervical Cancer in Early Stages of Pregnancy
Routine Pap tests followed by a biopsy are used for the treatment of cervical cancer in the early stages of pregnancy. Surgery may be done during this stage which involves removing the tumour and surrounding healthy tissue in the cervix. This is non-invasive and poses little risk to the mother and the baby.
If your cervical cancer is in its earliest stages during pregnancy, your doctor may postpone treatment after a healthy delivery due to no threat to the pregnancy. After pregnancy, you may be subject to a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) based on how far cancer has progressed after your pregnancy.
Treatment of Cervical Cancer in Second and Third Trimester
Chemotherapy may be combined with radiation therapy to provide the necessary treatment during this stage. These treatment methods are usually safe and do not harm the foetus during the second and third trimesters.
Pregnant Women Who Have a Small Tumour
For small tumours, there are two treatment options available for mothers-to-be: a cone biopsy, and a trachelectomy. Since a trachelectomy poses a risk to the unborn baby and may cause foetal demise during the operation, it is avoided during pregnancy. A cone biopsy is the preferred method. In this method, a conical section of tissue is removed from the cervix for examination and diagnosis.
Pregnant Women Having Large Tumour
Your doctor will recommend chemotherapy for treating large tumours. You will either be advised to opt for early delivery or wait until the second or third trimester to start with this treatment.
Precautions
There are no treatment methods known for completely treating cervical cancer in pregnant mothers. Treatment methods will vary based on the stage and extent of cancer along with the overall health of the patient. Findings from studies and data from clinical trials performed on previous non-pregnant cervical cancer victims are used to assist with treatment or delay cervical cancer therapies during pregnancy.
Your doctor may advise you to abort the pregnancy if your cervical cancer has progressed to the most advanced stages of your pregnancy.
Prevention
There are many ways to prevent cervical cancer from developing. The primary method is treating it as soon as it is detected, if possible, before the pre-cancerous stage and not letting it mature any further. The most common methods of prevention are:
Using condoms during sexual intercourse
Avoiding early sexual contact or not having sex with multiple partners
Eliminating smoking/drug abuse
Avoiding skin-to-skin contact with someone who already has an HPV infection
Routine HPV vaccination starting between ages 9 to 12
It is recommended that every woman should undergo routine Pap testing (Pap smear) or HPV DNA Testing to diagnose signs/symptoms of cervical cancer. Routine vaccination is even recommended for those who have sex with multiple partners even beyond the age of 21 and above to prevent pre-cancerous stages from developing.
Make an appointment with your doctor and attend regular Pap screening tests to prevent the chances of cervical cancer from developing. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, not smoking, and ensuring you're not sexually active before 21, you will greatly diminish the probability of Cervical Dysplasia from occurring. Routine vaccinations are also important for the prevention of HPV infections and cervical dysplasia.
During treatment, you may ask your doctor for palliative care which is known to provide relief from pain and other symptoms of serious illnesses.
We recommend you ask for a second healthcare provider's opinion when considering attending an examination for the diagnosis of cervical cancer. Sit with your doctor and ask about the treatment options available to you if you are diagnosed with cervical cancer during pregnancy since treatment methods differ according to individual medical profiles.
Also Read: Uterine Fibroids During Pregnancy Read more
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Oedema Swelling during Pregnancy - Causes and Relief
Pregnancy is a boon to women. God has blessed us with immense strength and courage to carry a human life inside us. Motherhood is surely the best experience a woman can have. Dealing with all unwanted symptoms and body changes, a woman forgets everything she went through when she holds her baby in her arms. A famous saying goes, "No pain, no gain" which is very true. All women suffer a lot during pregnancy but for their ultimate joy, their baby. Pregnancy can make you super excited at times as well as very disappointed or frustrated due to unwanted hormonal changes and mood swings. If you were very light on your feet before being pregnant, pregnancy can make you feel heavier. This is because of extra body fluids sinking to your feet especially if you spend a lot of time on your feet.
What Causes Oedema?
All women suffer from Oedema during the 5th month which increases in the 3rd trimester. Swelling in the feet and ankles is caused due to extra fluids in the body and pressure from the growing uterus. This could be very bothersome for women but you get used to it as your pregnancy progresses.
What to Do for Relief?
For some relief, prop up your feet while sitting and avoid crossing your legs. Avoid standing for too long. A swollen foot is not harmful for you but it can make you very uncomfortable. Usually, swelling in the feet and ankles goes away by time as you deliver your baby.
In nutshell, pregnancy body changes take time to go away after delivery. I guess that is why in India when you get pregnant, it is said: "Paon bhari hai" which means "You have heavy feet." Stay happy and enjoy every bit of being a mother.
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
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Awesome board books for toddlers which can help in development of child towards books.
“Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything” – Plato
Someone has rightly said a learned child can have a bright future and an impact on society as they grow. Reading books has its own benefit to an individual and introducing books at a very early age is one of the best gifts you can give to your child. There are lots of benefits when it comes to early reading for your child. Parents should encourage early reading habits. Here are a few benefits of reading to your kids.
• Development of communication skills: when a child starts to read it is exposed to different words and every word has different meaning in different context this helps a child develops a good communication skill.
• Development of vocabulary: Reading helps develop vocabulary as the child is introduced to new words. This will help them understand the use of right word at right context from very early age.
• Brain development: Reading is like exercise to the mind. Reading at early age helps a child to gain more knowledge. Reading makes a child smarter.
These are few benefits of reading, but the question arises what kind of books a child should read. There are amazing board books that you can buy for your child. They are as follows:
• The very hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle: This book is one of the best board books to introduce to your child. This book is illustrated and written by Eric Carle. The concept of transformation and representation in it is fun and colourful way.
• Dear zoo by Rod Campbell , Another book which is a very popular board book among parents and toddlers. The classic lift the flap book makes it perfect for small hands.
• Peek a who by Nina Laden : This is small sized colourful book with simple rhyming text is perfect for your curious toddler. Its amazing book for bed time story.
• Good night moon by Margret Wise Brown: This bed time story book gives a smooth transition from wakefulness to sleep. In this book the rhyming of words and beautiful illustration makes it perfect bedtime stories.
• Ten little fingers and ten little toes by Mex Fox: The beautiful illustration and rhyming text make this book one of a kind. After you finish reading the book you want to read that for your child again.
• Where is Amma? by Nandini Nayyar: The is best bed time story book it’s illustration and the projection of messy house is beautiful. This is relatable to kids as the book story is about a child looking for his mother everywhere.
• The very lonely firefly by Eric Carle: This book is every child’s favourite book as it is not just because of the story but the board version has the flash light at the end. This book is another board book which a child can connect too.
You can buy these books online available at different sites. Please any further queries please feel free to ask in comment section. Read more
POOJA KOTHARI has added a new answer
Mom of a 7 m old child
10 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts What diet to give for 6+ months Babues
POOJA KOTHARI
Mom of a 7 yr 1 m old boy
2 hours ago
A. Food for 6 Months Old Baby :
Start with very dilute purees and gradually thicken them as your baby gets used to it. -Fruits such as banana, apple, papaya, chikoo, apricots, prunes, mango, peaches are necessary for the overall growth and development of your baby.
Mohammad amin has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
10 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts can i go for long trips with my 7 months old baby
Mohammad amin
Guardian of a 3 yr old boy
4 hours ago
A. if you are comfortable then go
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 4 months
7 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts plz suggest me medicine for toothache
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
6 hours ago
A. A proper assessment is required here so regarding this it is vmore favourable to contact your local doctor and accordingly he will guide in a proper manner.
If any more queries you can tgake online consultation on the platform for a detailed discussion .
shilpi Bhandari has added a new answer
Mom of a 3 yr 5 m old child
6 hours ago
Q. 3.5 saal ki bacchi ko vomitab syrap kitni or kab den khane se phle ya khane ke bad??
shilpi Bhandari
Mom of 2 children
3 hours ago
A. hello dear u can give it before but if child is vomiting regularly then don't keep on giving medication like this u need to know the reason it might be infection so please consult with the doctor for that
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 9 months
2 hours ago
Q. i missed my periods 3 days ago today I checked then this result come. but when I checked yesterday afternoon the result is the second attachment . why this is happening I am confused 😕
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. you had to wait few days this can be delayed periods. 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
Expecting Mom due in 9 months
2 hours ago
Q. i missed my periods on 5 my result is attached but when I checked in the yesterday afternoon it was little bit dark why this is happening and what to do
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. at present it is negative please wait few more days. 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
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