Author: Fernandez Hospital

Benefits of Coconut Water during Pregnancy

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Introduction

Extremely refreshing with a slight sweet taste, coconut water helps you to keep hydrated. Rich in electrolytes and essential nutrients like potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, vitamin C and certain B vitamins, coconut water helps in giving you instant relief from fatigue and tiredness by reviving the salts lost by your body.

Coconut water is produced naturally in the fruit and contains 94% water and very little fat. It should not be confused with coconut milk, which is made by adding water to grated coconut meal. Coconut milk contains about 50% water and is very high in coconut fat.

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Is it safe to drink coconut water during pregnancy?

Coconut water helps a pregnant woman to get refreshed as she often suffers from dehydration and exhaustion. These occur due to rapid physical changes, increased fluid requirement and the additional needs of the developing baby in the womb.

As a healthy oral rehydrating fluid, it is safe for pregnant women. It is recommended that it be had in moderation so that you gain all the nutritional benefits. Fresh and tender coconut water could be the perfect alternative to sodas or caffeinated fluids. Even though drinking coconut water is safe during pregnancy, consulting your doctor/nutritionist is always advisable.

 

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Benefits of coconut water during pregnancy

  • Keeps you energised: Rich in electrolytic content, coconut water helps refuel your body with essential nutrients keeping you energised when you feel exhausted or suffer from diarrhoea.
  • Boosts immunity: The presence of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants strengthens the immunity of the Mom-to-be. So, consuming coconut water during pregnancy can help both mother and baby be healthy.
  • Prevents constipation and heartburn: As digestive problems are common during pregnancy, consuming coconut water helps in preventing acidity, maintaining pH levels and relieves nausea. It also helps in soothing and preventing heartburn during pregnancy.
  • Maintains blood sugar level: Coconut water contains sugars which can help raise your blood sugar level when you’re hypoglycemic, and reenergise you. It is a natural isotonic fluid.
  • Prevents urinary tract infection: It has been found that consumption of tender coconut water helps during urinary tract infection which occurs in most pregnant women.


Conclusion:

Though there are numerous health benefits of coconut water during pregnancy, it doesn’t act as a medicinal cure for severe and chronic diseases. Take your doctor’s/nutritionist advice about the quantity of water to be consumed.


Images Courtesy:

http://www.beingtheparent.com/

http://www.coconut-info.net/

 

 

FERNANDEZ STORK HOME ENDORSES KMC CONCEPT

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Original Story – “Kangaroo Care Helps Preemies And Full Term Babies, Too”

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Salma Shabaik holds her newborn son, Ali. When he was born, she held him naken against her bare skin, a practice called kangaroo care. Ali is wearing an ear cap to correct a lop ear.

When Ali Andrew Li was born on Jan. 7, he was gently placed on his mother’s chest, where doctors cleaned and examined him and covered him with a warm blanket. “I just loved it,” his mother, Salma Shabaik, a family physician who lives in Los Angeles, says. “It was really nice to have the baby right there beneath my eyes where I could feel him, touch him, kiss him.”

Read this story at : http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/01/23/510465435/kangaroo-care-helps-preemies-and-full-term-babies-too

FERNANDEZ STORK HOME ENDORSES KMC CONCEPT

Fernandez Hospital totally endorses the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) concept for premature and low birthweight newborn babies. The benefits are undeniable for both baby and Mother. The natural skin to skin contact is conducive to immediate breastfeeding and weight gain. We also encourage the Father or another caregiver to do skin to skin contact with the baby inside the NICU and get involved in this low-cost yet effective procedure to improve the baby’s overall health. Fernandez initiated KMC way back in 2004. Our full-fledged KMC Ward has well-trained staff and lactation counselors and is supported by a human milk bank.

Baby Feeding – From Months 1 to 12

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Breastfeeding is the best way to feed and nurture your infant as breast milk contains all the nutrients required for your baby to develop in a healthy manner. Breast milk gets digested easily and helps in protecting your baby from infections and diarrhoea. Moreover, breastfeeding helps in burning the extra kilos you gained during pregnancy.  It also creates a special bond between you and your baby.

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Signs of your baby feeling hungry

Being a mother for the first time, it is very hard to know when your baby is hungry. You should spend as much time as possible with your baby so that you get to know how your baby reacts at different times. If your baby is hungry he/she will do the following things:

  • Sucks fist
  • Cries
  • Makes faces as if getting irritated

Signs of your baby being full

It is very important that you don’t overfeed your baby. If your baby does the following things, it is a sign that he/she is full:

  • Stops sucking
  • Closes lip
  • Turns the head away

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Month-wise summary of baby feeding:

As your baby starts growing, apart from breastfeeding you can give your baby different types of food. You can consult your doctor, if you have any doubt. Below is a month-wise summary:

Birth to Month 6 – Exclusive breastfeeding

From the time of birth till your baby becomes six months old, your baby should be breastfed. As the digestive system is still developing, it can digest only milk. Mothers who cannot breastfeed may go for formula milk.

Month 6

It is better that during this period you continue breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby. You should not be in a rush to start solid foods as your baby is still not ready for this. But you can go for pureed vegetables, pureed fruits or semi-liquid cereals.

Months 7 to 9

By the time your baby becomes seven months, teeth will start appearing. This varies from baby to baby and in some cases, teeth may appear even before. Some babies may have no teeth till the end of a year. Whatever the case, you can start giving your baby semi-solid foods. So, instead of pureed foods you can give mashed food.

Months 10 to 12

By the time your baby is around ten months, you can give it finely chopped foods while continuing to give mashed foods till your baby becomes a year old. When you change the texture of the food, remember to watch your baby carefully and see whether he/she is adapting to the change or not.

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Tips for baby feeding:

  • While feeding pureed, semi-solid or solid foods, you should always start with small amounts. At each feeding, your baby will let you know if he/she requires more or not.
  • In order to prevent your baby from choking or tooth decay, avoid putting your baby to bed with a milk bottle in the mouth.
  • Support your baby’s head till the time he/she can hold the head on its own.

Images Courtesy:

https://similac.com/baby-development/nutrition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_food

 

Morning Sickness and How to Cope With It!

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What is morning sickness?

Most pregnant women suffer from morning sickness which occurs in the first three months of pregnancy. Also known as nausea, pregnancy sickness or vomiting in pregnancy, it is caused due to the high level of pregnancy hormones that are produced in your body. Though morning sickness makes you feel lousy, it doesn’t have any effect on the baby.

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In the early weeks of pregnancy, human chorionic hormone (HCH) provides the nutrients required for the foetus. When the placenta starts nourishing the foetus with the required nutrients, the level of these hormones drops resulting in elimination of morning sickness. During the first trimester, most women are susceptible to smells that leads to vomiting. In some cases, morning sickness is mild, but this not the same for all. By the end of the first trimester, morning sickness settles down, though in some women, it continues a little bit longer.

How to tackle morning sickness?

Though it is difficult to prevent morning sickness completely, following these tips might help minimise the effects.

  • Take rest: Taking rest as much as possible helps in reducing morning sickness. Ensure proper sleep at night and keep yourself relaxed and stress free. Tiredness and stress may worsen morning sickness.
  • Eat little but frequently: It is very essential to keep your stomach full. And for that you have to eat in small amounts but frequently. It will also help in keeping your sugar level controlled and lower the chances of experiencing morning sickness. If your stomach remains empty, the acids will work on the stomach lining resulting in vomiting.
  • Remain active: During pregnancy, it is very important to keep yourself fit and active. Even if you feel lousy, you should try to keep yourself physically active. This helps in lowering nausea to a great level.
  • Get up slowly: If you are pregnant, you should always remember to get up slowly from sleeping or sitting positions. Always take your time to get up.
  • Eat healthy food: You should include protein rich food. Food containing vitamin B and other healthy options is good for both the mother and baby. Try to avoid junk and unhealthy food as these may trigger nausea and vomiting.
  • Stay hydrated: Staying hydrated with fluid intake is one of the best options to keep you healthy during pregnancy. Your nausea may worsen if you stay dehydrated.
  • Ginger tea: Having a cup of ginger tea is found to be helpful in minimising nausea. Ginger helps in soothing your stomach.
  • Lemon: The aroma of cut lemon can help in reducing nausea. You can even add slices of lemon to tea or water to get relief from nausea.

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Seek your doctor’s advice if morning sickness is severe

If you are pregnant and suffering from mild morning sickness, you can adopt the above tips to minimise it. But if it worsens, it is better to consult your doctor. Normally, nausea goes away at the end of the first trimester. Taking good care of yourself is a key to healthy pregnancy.

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Images Courtesy:

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/

https://www.health4life.net/

http://www.brit.co/

Role of Folic Acid during Pregnancy

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Folic acid is very important for all women during pregnancy. Also known as folate, folic acid is a B vitamin and plays a vital role in the production of red blood cells. There are lots of folic acid rich foods but only dietary source of folic acid is not sufficient during pregnancy. So, folic acid supplement is necessary along with folate rich foods for a healthy pregnancy. In fact, it should be taken before you are pregnant, though on the recommendation of your doctor who will know better how much folic acid your body needs before, during and after pregnancy.

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Dietary sources of folic acid include:

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  • Green leafy vegetables – Rich sources are amaranth, ambat chukka, spinach, mint
  • Oilseeds like gingelly (til) and soya bean
  • Orange Juice
  • Chickpeas
  • Other legumes like green gram and red gram
  • Broccoli
  • Peas
  • Asparagus
  • Black-eyed beans
  • Okra
  • Cluster beans
  • Enriched grains

Since, folates get dissolved in water, boiling the vegetables and draining off the water will destroy all the folates they contain. So, it is better that the vegetables are steamed or cooked in a microwave to help you to get all the nutrients.

Benefits of folic acid during pregnancy:

  • Produces red blood cells
  • Protects your baby from neural tube defects like spina bifida
  • Prevents your baby from birth defects like cleft palate
  • Protects you from suffering from anaemia
  • Prevents your baby from brain defects like anencephaly

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Most of the defects occur during the first month of pregnancy when most women don’t even realize that they are pregnant. It is better to plan your pregnancy and have the required amount of folic acid before getting pregnant or during the childbearing age. But consuming more than recommended may be harmful to you and your baby’s health. So, take folic acid supplements as recommended and have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Images Courtesy:

http://www.pregnancydietplanhq.com/

http://www.babystepsfit.com/blog/

http://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/

Skin Care During Pregnancy

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Pregnancy is a phase in a woman’s life during which your body undergoes different type of changes. These changes occur as your body produces hormones such as progesterone and estrogen. Changes on your skin also occur as a part of pregnancy. If you are lucky enough, you will look luscious and beautiful. But in some, the effect is just the opposite resulting in varied types of skin problems.

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During pregnancy, the area around your chin and mouth are the most common areas affected. Due to the baby bump, stretch marks also occur on your skin. So, it becomes very essential that you take care of your skin during pregnancy. From the foods you eat to products you use on your skin, all have effects on your baby. Though most of the skin products are safe, there are some which may be harmful to your developing baby.

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You can combat stretch marks by using cocoa butter which is safe to use during pregnancy. It helps in diminishing blemishes, as well. You may also notice darker skin in certain areas, especially around the areolas due to hyper pigmentation. In order to make the dark patches fairer, you can use lotions which are safe to use during pregnancy.

You can also opt for natural and oil-free skin products during the gestation period. Such products don’t contain harmful chemicals which are not good for the baby in the womb. There are some products especially made for pregnant women. Otherwise, you can consult an experienced dermatologist to treat different types of skin problems that occur during pregnancy.

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You should avoid using skin products that contain the following ingredients:

  • Benzoyl Peroxide
  • Salicylic Acid
  • Any type of Retinoid

Make pregnancy the most beautiful phase of your life by eating well and taking care of your skin. You will definitely like playing the role of mom-to-be. Stay happy, and your pregnancy will definitely be beautiful!

Images Courtesy:

http://cameocollege.com/
http://www.babycenter.com/
http://hrelate.com/

Amniocentesis

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The foetus is surrounded by a water-like fluid known as amniotic fluid. This fluid contains the live cells of the foetus and other substances which are helpful in determining the health of the baby before birth.

Amniocentesis is a specialised medical procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is taken out from the womb to perform a laboratory test. Usually, it is done between the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy. When done before 15th week of pregnancy, the chances of miscarriages or other complications increase. It is performed on those women who have the risk of genetic disorders.

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Need for amniocentesis

With the help of amniocentesis, the following things could be determined:

  • Genetic disorders or chromosomal abnormality: Genetic disorders like Down’s syndrome and sickle cell anaemia can be detected. Down’s syndrome has adverse effect on the mental and physical appearance of the baby and  in sickle cell anaemia the red cells are abnormally developed and lyse(break )easily.
  • Infection: It also helps to detect any kind of bacterial or viral infection in suspected cases

How is amniocentesis  done?

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Prior to amniocentesis, an ultrasound is performed which helps in detecting the position  and condition of the unborn baby .

Then under ultrasound guidance, a thin needle which is inserted into the uterus through the abdomen. And approximately 15 to 20 ml of amniotic fluid is withdrawn

The sample of the amniotic fluid is then tested in the laboratory.

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Risks of amniocentesis

Though amniocentesis is helpful in detecting the health of the unborn baby, it includes some risks to the mother. Following are some of the complications which may occur in pregnant women or in the baby:

  • Miscarriage: If amniocentesis is performed before 15 weeks of your pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage is higher.
  • Amniotic fluid leakage: It is very rare that the amniotic fluid leaks. And if it so happens, normally it stops within a week without having any effect on your pregnancy.
  • Injury during needle insertion: While performing amniocentesis, the unborn baby might move its leg or arm and get a little hurt. But it doesn’t cause any serious injury to the baby.
  • Transmission of infection: If you are suffering from any kind of infection like toxoplasmosis, hepatitis C or HIV, these infections may get transmitted to the foetus during amniocentesis.

Image Courtesy: www.manchesterob.com

 

Multiple Pregnancy (having more than one baby) at Fernandez Hospital

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2001-2015

One of the well-known speciality hospitals for women and babies in Hyderabad, Fernandez Hospital has been providing personalized care with a high level of professionalism since its establishment in 1948. More than one and a half lakh babies have been delivered since its inception.

Apart from single babies, the doctors at Fernandez Hospital have also very successfully delivered multiple babies. Though multiple pregnancies with twins are common, triplets and quadruplets are not only rare but also complicated cases. Maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, preterm birth and low birth weight are some of the complications related to multiple pregnancy. At Fernandez Hospital, if any complication arises during pregnancy they are handled very properly by skilled doctors making critical deliveries possible with normalcy.

Multiple pregnancies are known to be associated with the likelihood of pregnancy loss, preterm births, low birth weight babies and prolonged hospitalization. The expectant mother may develop high blood pressure or diabetes. In 2004, Fernandez Hospital found that there was enough evidence to support the need for a weekly special Out Patient Twins Clinic devoted to these mothers.

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The outcome of multiple pregnancy is much better with these dedicated clinics offering close monitoring and counseling. Fernandez Hospital presently provides two clinics a week as part of its obstetric care.  The Clinic screens monochorionic twins for TTTS and has successfully followed up patients post photocoagulation.During 2016, from January till October, 221 twins were delivered successfully at Fernandez Hospital. In fact, it’s a matter of pride that during this period, 8 sets of triplets and 1 set of quadruplets were also delivered. Handling such cases is not like the normal ones; they need extra monitoring along with specialists’ care and treatment. The doctors and other team members at Fernandez are so experienced and good at work that they make sure that no complications arise during childbirth and the delivery process is smooth keeping both mother and newborn healthy. The work of Fernandez Hospital doesn’t end here; proper postnatal care is taken till they are discharged from the hospital. Fernandez Hospital truly symbolises the epitome of mother and child care.

During 2016, from January till October, 221 twins were delivered successfully at Fernandez Hospital. In fact, it’s a matter of pride that during this period, 8 sets of triplets and 1 set of quadruplets were also delivered. Handling such cases is not like the normal ones; they need extra monitoring along with specialists’ care and treatment. The doctors and other team members at Fernandez are so experienced and good at work that they make sure that no complications arise during childbirth and the delivery process is smooth keeping both mother and newborn healthy. The work of Fernandez Hospital doesn’t end here; proper postnatal care is taken till they are discharged from the hospital. Fernandez Hospital truly symbolises the epitome of mother and child care.

Human Rights in Childbirth – A Global Movement A word from Dr. Evita Fernandez

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why-human-rights-in-childbirth-matter-cover-pageOver the past seven years, my views on childbirth practices have taken a 180 degree turn. Today, I am convinced we obstetricians in India need to UNLEARN a lot of what we have been taught, and we need to LISTEN more to the women we are privileged to serve.

I realized, to my horror and shame, that we have indeed been violating a woman’s human right with regard to childbirth. Every time we fail to share/offer honest evidence based information, fail to give her the freedom to make a choice, prevent her from having a birth companion, refuse to let her birth in the position she finds most comfortable, we are violating her rights.

With a birth rate of 22 million a year, India has an overwhelming volume of laboring mothers, in overcrowded, poorly staffed hospitals. With institutional deliveries being made mandatory, the majority of our women are subjected to “obstetric violence,” which translates into physical and verbal abuse by healthcare workers, who are ignorant and insensitive to woman-centered care. I admit to being that myself (ignorant and insensitive) particularly in my early years of training and as a young obstetrician. Compounding all of this is the utter lack of privacy, loss of dignity and respect. Our women, especially the voiceless poor, birth in appalling environments.

Human rights in childbirth has today become a global movement which is gaining strength, and rightly so. Women, doctors, lawyers, midwives and activists are coming together to offer solutions to help protect the basic human rights of birthing women. We in India need to wake up. All levels of health care workers involved in maternity services, need to wake up. We need to reflect, rethink, and change our attitude and understanding of childbirth practices.

Rebecca Schiller in her well researched and well written book “Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter” says “Looking at how a society approaches childbirth, how it constructs a system around it, the rituals, the rites and the way it treats the key protagonist – the birthing woman – is akin to taking the temperature of that society. Nothing says more about the communities we live in than how they treat their most vulnerable at this extraordinary time.” – Rebecca Schiller, Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter (Pinter & Martin Why It Matters 9)

India is hosting the International Human Rights in Childbirth Conference in February (2 – 5th) in Mumbai. I hope, it will help bring about the much needed change in attitude, practices, and more importantly, help build a network of support for women birthing in our country.

For more details about the Conference, please visit : http://www.humanrightsinchildbirth.org/event/india-2017/

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Human Rights in Childbirth – A Global Movement A word from Dr. Evita Fernandez

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why-human-rights-in-childbirth-matter-cover-pageOver the past seven years, my views on childbirth practices have taken a 180 degree turn. Today, I am convinced we obstetricians in India need to UNLEARN a lot of what we have been taught, and we need to LISTEN more to the women we are privileged to serve.

I realized, to my horror and shame, that we have indeed been violating a woman’s human right with regard to childbirth. Every time we fail to share/offer honest evidence based information, fail to give her the freedom to make a choice, prevent her from having a birth companion, refuse to let her birth in the position she finds most comfortable, we are violating her rights.

With a birth rate of 22 million a year, India has an overwhelming volume of laboring mothers, in overcrowded, poorly staffed hospitals. With institutional deliveries being made mandatory, the majority of our women are subjected to “obstetric violence,” which translates into physical and verbal abuse by healthcare workers, who are ignorant and insensitive to woman-centered care. I admit to being that myself (ignorant and insensitive) particularly in my early years of training and as a young obstetrician. Compounding all of this is the utter lack of privacy, loss of dignity and respect. Our women, especially the voiceless poor, birth in appalling environments.

Human rights in childbirth has today become a global movement which is gaining strength, and rightly so. Women, doctors, lawyers, midwives and activists are coming together to offer solutions to help protect the basic human rights of birthing women. We in India need to wake up. All levels of health care workers involved in maternity services, need to wake up. We need to reflect, rethink, and change our attitude and understanding of childbirth practices.

Rebecca Schiller in her well researched and well written book “Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter” says “Looking at how a society approaches childbirth, how it constructs a system around it, the rituals, the rites and the way it treats the key protagonist – the birthing woman – is akin to taking the temperature of that society. Nothing says more about the communities we live in than how they treat their most vulnerable at this extraordinary time.” – Rebecca Schiller, Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter (Pinter & Martin Why It Matters 9)

India is hosting the International Human Rights in Childbirth Conference in February (2 – 5th) in Mumbai. I hope, it will help bring about the much needed change in attitude, practices, and more importantly, help build a network of support for women birthing in our country.

For more details about the Conference, please visit : http://www.humanrightsinchildbirth.org/event/india-2017/

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Dr. Evita Fernandez’s response on the article – “Can We Please Stop Telling Pregnant Women This?

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Original Article – “Can We Please Stop Telling Pregnant Women This?”

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I’m currently 29 weeks pregnant and have already lost track of the amount of times I’ve been told by people that ‘everything will be fine.’

Read complete article at:

Can We Please Stop Telling Pregnant Women This? | The Huffington Post

Dr.EvitaDr. Evita Fernandez’s response on the article – “Can We Please Stop Telling Pregnant Women This?”
When I was a young obstetrician and not as wise as I am today, I often spoke these lines “don’t worry- everything will be fine” believing at the time that it was. Indeed the truth.

Today, I LISTEN very very carefully to the unspoken words of the young mother before me. I do my best to understand her fears and help her work through it all. I have learnt to believe in maternal instincts; learnt to listen to women when they express a fear repeatedly. I also know that a pregnancy can go horribly wrong. Sometimes there are tell-tale signs to warn and prepare both sides. Sometimes, one does not get the luxury of time to prepare for a loss or morbidity affecting the mother or her newborn.

It is important for us obstetricians to give women the freedom to ask questions, to clarify doubts no matter how small they may appear and more importantly, to LISTEN and become aware of the unspoken fears.

May this article help us understand a different perspective. May it induce us to reflect and initiate change wherever necessary.

Lactation Techniques

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Breastfeeding is a natural process for women and provides a precious experience. However, breastfeeding your baby properly needs patience and practice to make the process enjoyable. Breastfeeding helps in building a special and intimate relationship between mother and baby. If you are a new mom, it is very essential that you know the right lactation techniques so that your baby gets fed properly.

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Proper positioning along with proper latching are the vital factors to make breastfeeding effective for both mother and baby. For the first few days, it might be a challenge for you to get the proper position for successful nursing. But as time passes, you will be able to achieve the right position which will help your baby to achieve the proper latch and feed properly. Good positioning will help you achieve the following things:

  • It will let your baby milk the breasts effectively.
  • Effective milking helps in stimulating the breasts, letting your body produce the exact amount of milk your baby needs.
  • Right positioning while breastfeeding helps in minimizing sore nipples and various other complications.

Normally, there are four positions that are used while breastfeeding a baby :

  • Traditional or cradle position: This is the most convenient position for most nursing mothers.
  • Cross-cradle position: This position is quite similar to the cradle position but the only difference is that it offers more control of the baby’s head.
  • Football or clutch hold: This position is very helpful for nursing mothers who have undergone C-section during childbirth.
  • Side-lying position: Though somewhat awkward, this position allows the mother and the baby to relax more, and even end up dozing off while breastfeeding.

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Based on the above mentioned positions, below are some lactation techniques that are helpful for breastfeeding your baby the right way:

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  • Sit comfortably on a chair with a back support and put your feet on a stool. It will help you to get a good posture, and prevent your neck and shoulders from getting strained. In this position, a proper latch could be attained allowing better breastfeeding.
  • While breastfeeding, relax your shoulders and bring your baby to your breast not your breast to your baby.
  • You should hold your baby close to you so that her nose touches your nipple, chin with your breast and bottom to your tummy.
  • While breastfeeding, provide support to your baby’s neck and shoulders with your hand so that your baby’s head does not push back.
  • You should support your breast underneath with the help of your fingers with touching the areolas and on top with your thumb.
  • While breastfeeding your baby, you should keep in mind to place the nipple at the centre of your baby’s mouth.
  • Make sure that your baby takes in not only the nipples but also areolas, as much as possible.
  • As your baby starts sucking the nipple, you can relax your shoulders but make sure to hold your baby close to you.
  • Once your baby starts learning the skills of milking, you can lie sidewise on bed with pillows around your head to support your shoulders. In this position, you can relax more while breastfeeding your baby.

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