Breast Feeding:

Is it just infant nutrition?

A healthy mother provides a continuum of nutrition for the foetus during pregnancy meeting his physiological requirement adequately ensuring proper growth. Biologically it is expected that this process would be continued uninterrupted by breast-feeding the infant under normal circumstances.

Breast milk is the nutrition the infant requires all in correct composition and it’s a very well known fact. But it’s not the only function that breast milk provides.

It also provides the immunological protection against infections, which mothers provide for their own babies. Foetus is in a protected sterile environment until its delivery when the neonate is exposed to quantum of infective agents.

Therefore, breast milk is an essential requirement for the healthy growth of the neonate. During the first 2-3 days, the breast secretes colostrums: which is a watery substance quite unlike in appearance which some mothers still regard as useless and sometime consider to be harmful milk.

On the contrary it’s the most important part of breast-feeding. It has a lot of proteins of which the majority consists is immunoglobulin which act as preformed protective agents common bacteria the baby might encounter. It also contains cells that can react to pathogens that the baby might encounter.

Also breast-feeding stimulates the growth of harmless bacteria in the babies gut preventing the colonization by more harmful pathogens. Also the breast milk contains substances which stimulate cell growth and division in wide range of body organs.

Therefore it is a known fact that it reduces the tendency to allergic disorders like asthma eczema in infants with family members having allergic disorders.

Also because breast milk is in the ideal composition it does not promote the development of disease in adulthood like obesity, hypertension and atheroma formation with arterial obstruction.

Therefore every mother is encouraged to breast feed the child not only to ensure adequate nutrition, bonding with the mother & psychological well being but also for the immediate and future protection of the health of the child.

     

 

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Why doedn’t my baby sleep?

After a hard days’ work, you switch off the lights and climb thankfully into bed, anticipating with pleasure the much needed hours of sleep.

You are just dozing off into the hazy world of dreams…… wahhhh. Baby decides to wake up just then. You get up groggily, wondering why your baby won’t sleep. Here are some possible reasons.

Your baby may not be getting enough food during the day. So she wakes up at night when she feels really hungry.

If your baby was premature, she may need to be fed longer at night than other babies.

Sometimes your baby might wake up at night because she is ill or has an allergy.

Your baby may be hypersensitive, reacting to the slightest possible changes in the environment.

Some babies may just need less sleep and might feel most wakeful in the middle of the night.

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Water Hazards

While swimming it is important to prevent the hair from the severe effects of the chlorine compounded by the effects of the sun, by wearing a cap, silicone caps are best as they don’t pull despite wearing a cap, the hair tends to get wet, so washing and conditioning the hair after every swim is necessary. Don’t hesitate to wash hair whenever it gets dirty, even if it means doing it everyday. Use a mild shampoo and condition the hair each time.

ON THE DIET

No amount of care will make a difference until your kid’s diet is healthy. Plenty of proteins and carbohydrates should be present in the food. Fresh fruits, vegetables and milk all contribute to good health, which is reflected by the skin and hair. Your child should avoid very greasy food, too many sweets, and refined carbohydrates. And she should drink plenty of water.

BRUSH WITH CARE

Wet hair is extremely weak and breaks very easily, so use a wide toothed comb to untangle hair.

Never use a brush on wet hair. Don’t forget to wash the combs and brushes every few days, or else the dirt and oils that accumulate on them will get back into the hair. Allow the hair to dry naturally as a hair dryer tends to dry out the hair from within and the hair gets brittle. If the hair is long, keep it loosely tied during the night to prevent it from getting knotted.

None of the care suggested should take up much time, effort or money. Use mild products, which contain the required ingredients. You can also use ingredients from your kitchen.

 

 

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