Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2017 i Mother & Baby India

DR KIRAN COELHO A succesful gynaecologist and practicing obgyn for the last 30 years. DR ANITA MADAN A doctorate in education, she is currently the Curriculum Development head with EuroKids International Pvt Ltd where she promotes a developmentally appropriate curriculum. DR GEETANJALI SHAH Popular Mumbai paediatrician, conducts holistic fitness workshops for pregnant women. NUTAN PANDIT Breastfeeding counsellor and natural birth therapist who’s been teaching in New Delhi since 1978. DR DHERANDRA KUMAR Consultant clinical and child psychologist, he is founder and director of Psyindia, and engaged in direct work with children. SONALI SHIVLANI Mumbai-based childbirth educator, certified by Childbirth & Postpartum Professional Association, USA. ANIKA PURI Childbirth educator, prenatal and postnatal massage therapist, certified counsellor, reflexolgist and a holistic practitioner of women’s health and fertility in Delhi. EFFATH YASMIN Founder…

tips Cleanliness is key when it comes to a healthy pregnancy. Make sure you wash your hands regularly, no matter how cold it is outside. Your body is vulnerable during pregnancy, hence you need to be careful. Share your pregnancy photos with us and you could Win exciting prizes! Send high-res images with your full name, personal address and contact details to mbeditorial@gmail.com marked ‘THE WHOLE NINE MONTHS’ in the subject line. Featured mums-to-be will receive a gift hamper from Himalaya, valuing 1000 each.…

For women, when it comes to fashion, it’s not what she wears, but why she wears it. There is always a thought and a concept when choosing a piece of clothing or accessory for an ensemble. Every outfit, piece of cloth or innerwear should be in sync with her body structure. This makes her feel comfortable and boosts her confidence level. Let’s face it—clothes enhance one’s personality and brings out the best in them. Intelligence and comfort must run parallel while choosing the right apparel for the body. From buying clothes to buying bras, one needs to look at a range of options to find the right fit. It is not about age alone; style and comfort factor in, too. It is imperative for a woman’s health to keep a…

How do you pack your entire life in a suitcase when you plan to travel for an entire year? If you are travelling with a child, this process becomes even more challenging. When my daughter turned one, early this year, my husband and I decided that we had to make fond memories of her childhood, rather than get caught up in the rut of routine life. Both of us have been travel junkies, so travelling was the easiest answer to living a fulfilling life. Anyone trying to pack up their house and life for a year away from the life they know, with a child along for the right, who thinks it is a piece of cake, has another thing coming. It is not! It is extremely exhausting to make…

A baby changes your life and in more ways than one. It makes you fall in love, makes you a worry wart and it also makes you very, very careful. You start looking at life very differently now that you are a parent. Let us start with some physical aspects: ● Your newborn is born a little bluish. This is because the blood is not yet oxygenated. Don’t be alarmed as the blood will get oxygenated a few minutes post birth. Then, your baby will take on a pinkish hue. The skin is also covered with a whitish substance called vernix, which is meant to protect the baby’s skin when in the womb. ● The head is slightly large and can appear conical. You also have two soft spots called…

It is a truth universally acknowledged that everyone who appreciates the good things in life must be in want of a piece of chocolate. While Jane Austen may have had another idea, modern day gourmands really do know that the good things in life usually boil down to one simple thing—chocolate! From exam worries and office deadlines, to cheery celebrations and pregnancy woes, this scrummy friend has always been there for us. And despite its debatable image, it has fought time and again to prove its health benefits for heart, skin, brain and our mood. Chocolate encourages feel-good endorphins in the body that justify our true love for it. In fact, a study by Katri Raikkonen at the University of Helsinki, Finland, has confirmed that women who consumed chocolates during…

My 15-month-old son is still learning to walk. In the process, he has bumped his head a couple of times which leads to long hours of wailing. He seems reluctant to walk there after. Should I be concerned of any long-term damage because of the bumping? Please advise. Thank you. ANHERI SHAH, MUMBAI Hi Anheri, Thank you for writing in. Let me assure you that bumps and bruises are all part and parcel of growing up. Young children are curious, and this makes them rather naughty when it comes to exploring and discovering the world around them. Children will find a number of things or objects catchy, and in order to reach the objects of their fancy, they develop different motor skills. Crawling, walking and running are just a few…

Parenting is the most important job in the world, and to do it right you need all the help you can get. When it comes to catering to your child’s needs—whether it’s the right diet, medical care, skin care, clothing or even getting the right shoes —a healthy understanding plays a vital role. There’s no doubt that it’s an absolute pleasure to observe your children attempting to explore their surroundings, and their first step is probably the best and most memorable of all. To protect your child’s delicate and rapidly growing feet, it’s supremely important to know the right shoes for them. From infancy, through toddlerhood, to when they begin schooling, you need to find the right shoe on their behalf until your children are old enough to make their…

Love Organically DEEPSHIKHA Deshmukh dons many hats—film producer, wife, mom and now—skin entrepreneur. With a vision to transform the world of skin nutrition, she has launched Love Organically, the country’s first range of skincare products for little ones and their families that are free from aggressive ingredients like sulphates, parabens and GMOs. Designed for kids that are 18 months+ to begin with, Love Organically promises to bring about the perfect synergy of ancient, time-honoured rituals and modern science to make skincare a worry-free ritual for mums everywhere. Enriched with pure botanical extracts and natural plant oils, the range uses the best quality ingredients, sourced from farms across the country and beyond. Divided on the basis of their core ingredients and functionality, the Love Organically product range comprises of Sleep with…

Dear readers, English poet and playwright, Robert Browing, had once famously written in his work The Inn Album, ‘Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.’ No truer words have been spoken and I understood this when I became an aunt last month. There’s no doubt about it, I’m in love and have been doting on my nephew from the time the nurses placed him in my arms. After holding him for the first time, there’s just one thing that came to my mind—this beautiful and innocent little baby was now completely dependent on his parents and family. That’s when I realised that no amounts of books can fully prepare you for what’s in store. The experience is absolutely blissful, and I believe that it’s definitely a blessing to be able…

It’s true what they say: the only thing predictable about life is its unpredictability. For Namrata, life was nothing but an unpredictable chain of events, each with a wonderful surprise in store. Having grown up in Mumbai, and being the only child to her Sindhi parents, Namrata enjoyed a life filled with abundant joys and laughter. “I am the only daughter, and understandably, have been totally pampered. My parents and close family members have always stood by me to ensure all my wishes are fulfilled,” she says. Tying the knot Their support certainly didn’t waver when it came to Namrata choosing the man she wanted to marry, despite their initial reluctance. Namrata met her now husband, Santosh, back in 2009 when he joined the organisation she worked at. “Me being…

The pregnancy belly is starting to show and the excitement for your new arrival continues to grow. But it still does take a whole nine months for your precious bundle to arrive. In the meantime, it is quite natural for partners to continue having a sexual desire for one another. A commonly-held opinion is that sex during pregnancy is a complete no-no. Depending on the grandmother myths that you are exposed to, these restrictions sometimes extend all the way up to a year post pregnancy as well. Fact is, sex during pregnancy is perfectly fine, provided certain basic aspects are taken care of. Here is what the experts have to say: Busting myths around sex during pregnancy Myth No. 1: No sex during pregnancy According to Dr Bandita Sinha, gynecologist…

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MEET THE EXPERT Karen Mayes is a paediatric physiotherapist based in North Yorkshire and a mum-of-two, kmpaediatric physio.co.uk There are some baby milestones that every parent is impatient to see: first smile, first word, first sleep-through-the-night. But nothing —nothing!—causes quite such a stir as that very first totter across the floor. “It’s exciting!” says paediatric physiotherapist Karen Mayes, not least because exactly when it will happen is anybody’s guess: “Every child develops at his own sweet pace, and will only walk when he’s good and ready!” The earliest a baby will start moving out of the crawling stage and begin trying to pull himself up is at around eight months old. But some babies don’t feel the need to get up on their feet until 18 months old. That’s a…

Rahul desperately tried to get the ball through the hoop. He kept missing and finally cried out in frustration, his face damp with sweat and tears. He threw away the ball and looked around despondently. His mother ran towards him and embraced him. She told him to keep trying because eventually, he would be able to sink the ball through the hoop. She reminded him of the days when he was unable to write his name. Rahul recalled that even though it was tiring, he was persistent in his efforts and he was eventually able to write his name. Such encouragement and positivity are essential building blocks for a child’s confidence. Children’s perceptions of themselves and the world are formulated at a young age. How a child thinks, what they…

Outdoor Classroom Day ACTION for Children’s Environments or ACE, an NGO and a charitable trust working towards creating safe, healthy, inclusive and resilient living environments, for children and young people called upon teachers across India to take at least one lesson outdoors on October 12, 2017, as a part of the global Outdoor Classroom Day campaign. The campaign was a response to the decline in the time that children spend outdoors. Research has found that 56% of children globally play outside for one hour or less each day—that’s less than the two-hour guideline for maximum security prisoners in the US. Furthermore, in India, 56% of parents believe their child has less opportunities to play than they did as a child. Outdoor learning improves children’s health, engages them with learning and…

Dear Editor, This is in reference to the article One bump or two? In the October 2017 issue of M&B. Raising a child is now a challenging job for parents, given the rising costs and the fact that parents want to give their child the best. This perhaps means that to be able to afford a decent lifestyle, couples now tend to have only one child. In my opinion, a single child means the child will have a few problems in later life. For example, a child might not learn to adjust, share, and might even feel lonely. While it is always going to be a personal choice, I believe that having two children will at least mean a child will have a friend for life, and will grow into…

Being a mother is serious business. Being a professional anchor is also serious business. The fact of the matter is that women today don’t really need to choose between the two. I’m sure you’ve, at some point, come across Rudyard Kipling’s famous words, “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” I believe that those words are in need of an update. The modern world has witnessed a shift and a new societal order solidifies itself, forever altering archetypal role definitions of that of a man and woman. There’s no doubt that many new shades of motherhood are emerging. From working mothers to the new-world mompreneur, the world is definitely moving forward from the times that Kipling speaks of. And whether you’re ready for it or not, this…

In most families, women are the primary care givers. Motherhood has no time gap in between. It is a duty which takes up almost all the time in a woman’s day. Taking time out for herself seems like a very difficult task for most mothers. However, a mother who takes care of herself is always in a better position to take care of others in the family. Need for me time: “Self-care is crucial for everyone, especially for moms. Since mothers have a lot on their plate, it becomes overwhelming and stressful,” says Nupur Roopa, founder, Bliss For Moms, a wellness site for mothers. “Today, mothers are extremely tired and sleep deprived. Having some ‘me time’ is essential to unwind, otherwise stress will eventually manifest as a physical disease,” she…

BEAUTY In the winter months, expecting mothers need to be extra careful in protecting their body and skin. Your ballooning belly increases the surface area of your body, which may leave you more susceptible to the cold. Keep yourself protected at all times. Haircare: Dr Gayathri Kamath, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Fortis Hospital, Bengaluru, says, “There is no need to change one’s shampoo when pregnant. It is better to avoid chemicals for permanent colouring and hair straightening as it contains formaldehyde.” Adding further, Dr Bandita Sinha, gynaecologist, World of Women and Fortis Hopital, Mumbai, says, “Oil your hair at least three to four times a week. Using natural hair oil is a great way to add some nourishment to your hair, help strengthen the roots and prevent hair fall. You…

I’ve noticed that my baby doesn’t seem to be properly digesting her milk. She’s two months old and has very recently been uneasy and cranky after a feed. I’ve been giving her gripe water to ease the pain. Could this be colic or lactose intolerance? Please help me. I don’t want my baby to go hungry. LAREENA PINTO, MANGALORE Dear Lareena, The situation you describe can be worrying for you when you are trying your best to ensure baby isn’t going hungry and also not becoming very uncomfortable. There could be several reasons why your baby may be uncomfortable after feeds and is displaying signs of crankiness, uneasiness and sometimes even spiting up or vomiting milk. Here are a a few of them: ● The experience of the birth can…

Dr Haim Ginott once famously said, “Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.” These impressions tend to last a lifetime. This is precisely why we need to inculcate and develop good qualities and habits in our children from a very early age. Of all the qualities and good habits that we, as parents, need to instill in our little ones, cleanliness is one of the first. Practicing cleanliness keeps children disease-free and happy. Children need to be taught to exercise cleanliness in all spheres. This way, the principles of good health and hygiene will come naturally to them. Even a slight negligence in following the cleanliness regime can lead to ailments, ultimately giving way to serious illnesses, such as, infections, allergies, etc. Therefore, it is…