A wailing newborn is every parent’s worst nightmare come true. Of course, all babies cry since it is the only way they can communicate. They cry when hungry, sleepy, wet, uncomfortable, in pain, or just like that. Sadly, newborns do not come with an instruction panel that indicates the specific reason they are crying for. And parents are often left with a bawling baby and little clue about what should be done. Listening to a crying newborn can be tough but deciphering why the child is distressed is tougher.

As you bond with your little one over the weeks, you will be better able to spot the cause behind these tears and resolve it. In the meantime, here are some check boxes you can tick off mentally when trying to soothe a crying infant.Why Does Babies CryHunger is the most common reason for a baby’s crying about? Since they have small stomachs, newborns need to feed often. Whenever the baby is wailing, check whether the baby wants to be fed. And always remember to burp the child. Sometimes kids who don’t burp after a feed might sense discomfort and will complain vociferously. The other major irritant for newborns is wet nappies or uncomfortable clothing. Whenever your baby cries,

check if the diaper needs to be changed or whether any article of the clothing is irritating the skin. Also, check if the attire is season appropriate. Too many layers of clothes in the summer can make the baby sweaty and uncomfortable, while a thin vest and nappies in the winter can leave them feeling cold.Sometimes, babies might protest loudly if the lights in the room are too bright or if a sudden loud sound startles them. Just pick the little one up and gently rock the baby while making soothing sounds. Your child will feel comforted and safe and will gradually settle down.Craving the Human Touch,It has been noticed that some children cry incessantly during late evenings or nights. That could either be a sign of tiredness or irritation in the tummy. Thankfully, doctors believe this to be a passing phase and your child will outgrow it within weeks. However, it might be a good idea to avoid over-stimulating the baby. If several people play with the baby throughout the day,

the newborn might get tired and cranky, and will cry inconsolably.Then there are times when babies just want to be held, especially by the mother. So, whenever your newborn cries, hold the child snugly in your arms and pace around the room murmuring comforting words. In most cases, the baby will calm down and doze happily.However, if your baby cries incessantly and cannot be soothed, it is a good idea to visit your doctor. The healthcare practitioner can identify if the baby is suffering from some issue, like colic, and offer appropriate remedy.As a parent, you share the strongest bond with the newborn. So, you are the best judge in deciphering whether your baby is crying for food, warmth or comfort. Over time, your baby will communicate with you through eye contact and other body language signs. Until then, lavish lot of TLC on your baby and soon the sniffles will turn to gurgles of joy.

Choose a time of the day when your baby and you are relaxed, be it early morning or before you both settle down for the night. Organize everything you need for the bath in advance, including the massage oil, soap, shampoo, warm water, towels, moisturizer, etc. This will ensure you don’t have to keep getting up whilst bathing your child.

Select a comfortable position so you can hold the baby firmly. You can bathe the newborn either in a bathtub or on your outstretched legs. Rub a little soap between your palms and lather it on your baby’s body. Wash off with some warm water and then pat dry the baby before dressing up.

Chances are your baby will be happily nodding away by this time, so a quick feed can help the little moppet doze peacefully.
In the beginning, massaging and bathing your baby might look like an intimidating affair. You can ask a family member to be with you when during this routine initially till you feel more confident. Before you know it, your baby and you will both look forward to this daily bonding session.

It is that precious moment you keep imagining many times in your mind. Your baby is born, and you will finally hold your infant in your arms. However, after the baby’s birth, your pediatrician will need to examine your newborn and run some basic tests. It is therefore best that you discuss these tests beforehand with your doctor, so you are prepared for this brief interlude, when the time comes. Immediately after birth, a pediatrician will conduct a thorough physical examination of your baby to check breathing, behavior, activity,

posture and skin color. It takes newborns some minutes to adjust to the changes in the new environment and they often do not need any medical intervention. However, in case the child has difficulty in drawing breaths, the doctor will take necessary steps to stabilize the baby before handing the little one to the mother.Once confident that the child is breathing fine,

the pediatrician will next record the weight and measure the circumference of the head, besides checking that the body temperature is normal. A quick test follows to check the newborn’s reflexive responses to touch, sound and light. The doctor will also check the inside of the mouth and put a finger in the mouth to see if the baby can suckle well.Next, the genitalia is examined, along with

overall muscle tone, pulse and heart rate. The doctor will count and check the digits on the hands and feet verifying that the newborn is placing the feet and ankles correctly at rest. This helps the doctor negate the presence of clubfoot or other anomalies.

Ultrasound scans might not be able to detect metabolic, developmental or genetic diseases. Only obvious anomalies or physical defects are noticed during this scan. Newborns therefore are suggested screening tests so that the doctor can detect any metabolic disorders.
These days, a blood test is also conducted to rule out any metabolic disorders that can interfere in the proper functioning of the body. This test’s results will help the doctor determine if the newborn has any inherited or congenital medical conditions that need medical attention.
The doctor might conduct a painless hearing test to check your baby’s hearing. In case any anomalies in the heart are detected, your doctor might recommend that your baby go for tests to rule out critical congenital heart defect (CCHD).

Many newborns also suffer from jaundice, which occurs when the bilirubin builds up faster than a newborn’s liver can break it down and pass it from the body. All infants are screened for jaundice these days. In most cases, it resolves by itself within a few days. However, the doctor will keep monitoring the baby’s bilirubin count, because extremely high levels could cause deafness, cerebral palsy, or other forms of brain damage in some babies.

Don’t worry; you don’t need to memorize all these details about your baby’s health. Your doctor will enter this information into a baby wellbeing file, which will be handed over to you upon discharge from the hospital. These test results will not only give your little one a clean bill of health but will guide you on taking better care of your angel.

While noting down the immunization dates for your newborn, have you wondered why babies need vaccines? An infant’s immunity system is not robust enough to tackle certain ailments, making medical intervention in the form of vaccines necessary. Vaccines fortify your child’s internal defense mechanism to fight against serious diseases. Since it is not possible, or advisable, for Vaccination at one go, your doctor will draw up an immunization schedule. Let us get acquainted with the mandatory vaccines that will feature in your child’s well-being calendar: After Birth: Hours after your baby’s birth, your doctor will administer a BCG shot, which protects against tuberculosis, as well as the first dose of Oral Polio drops and Hepatitis B vaccine. Between 6 to 8 Weeks: When your infant is a month and a half old, the first dose for DTP, HIB, and PCV vaccines will be administered. DTP vaccine builds immunity against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; while HIB counters Hemophilus Influenza. PCV which is an optional vaccine offers protection against pneumonia and meningitis caused by the pneumococcus bacteria. Recently, the WHO recommended the inclusion of the Rotavirus vaccine, which is again optional, in the schedule, which reduces diarrhea and dehydration. It is dispensed along with the second dose of Oral polio drops and Hepatitis B vaccine.Between 10 – 14 Weeks: When your baby is around 10 weeks old, your doctor will give the second round of DTP, HIB, PCV and Rotavirus doses along with the third dosage of Oral Polio drops. The third dosage of these vaccines is given when your baby is around 14 weeks. Between 9 – 18 Months: Before your baby’s first birthday when they complete their 9 months, the doctor will give a shot of the measles vaccine and the fifth dose of Oral Polio drops. The next vaccine, to prevent Hepatitis A, is given when your baby is a year old after the first birthday. Between 15 – 24 Months: Your toddler will get booster doses of DTP and HIB as well as immunization against MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella) between 15 to 18 months. Before turning two years old, your young one will be due for a booster dose of Oral Polio drops and the second dose of the Hepatitis vaccine. Optional VaccinesIn addition to these mandatory vaccines, there are some optional vaccines available too. For instance, there is an Injectable Polio vaccine given in addition to Oral Polio drops, as well as an Influenza injection that minimizes the occurrence of the common flu and also covers H1N1. The optional vaccine to stave off chickenpox is considered very important, as is the meningococcal vaccine that protects toddlers from four strains of meningitis. Discuss these options with your pediatrician, who can share more insights on how these can benefit your child.

Eating right before, during and after pregnancy is important. ADVAMED creates a healthy diet as per your specialized nutrition requirements to help you conceive and deliver better. Being well-nourished at the time of conception is a great way to ensure a healthy pregnancy. The doctors at ADVAMED are dedicated to your well-being and provide solution to all of your health-related questions. Nutritional imbalances during pregnancy could have an adversarial effect on foetus development. We help you avoid such situations by creating a customized nutrition plan. Also, avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs while planning a pregnancy because development in your baby’s body starts right after conception. We also provide postnatal services to help improve the mother’s milk supply and assist in getting back to shape after pregnancy.

• Pregnancy Diet Mysteries
• Superfood During Pregnancy
• Eating for Two
• Recovery from Birth
• Weaning

Pregnancy Diet Mysteries – What Is Food Aversion In pregnancy

A food aversion is a mere opposite of a craving. Instead of deeply wanting to eat a certain food, you don’t want to eat a particular food or any food at all. Just like cravings, many pregnant women have food aversions or a new sense of repulsion at the very thought of a food that they previously enjoyed. Certain smells and tastes tend to get repulsive to you. Even a slight whiff or a sniff of it may trigger your nausea and morning sickness to strike while at times it could take tantamount proportions. Cravings and Aversions can be Unpredictable and often unavoidable too. It is better that you know about these as you tread on your wonderful journey of womanhood to the blessed

motherhood! What Causes Them? Most think the culprit behind these reactions to food is hormonal. Progesterone and Estrogen are quite elevated during pregnancy and are probably to blame. Stress can heighten the reactions and improper diet can exacerbate symptoms as well. Food Aversions and their crazy cousins Cravings disappear or at least subside or get toned down usually by the second trimester. But this is not the last word. For some women,

it may continue. Risks of AversionsNausea and food aversions during pregnancy may range from mild to very severe. Aversion is a mild word for such a strong response. They’ll also send you running from foods that contain important baby-friendly nutrients such as Iron, Vitamin B12, Omega 3 Fats, Calcium, etc., While you only need an additional 300 calories while pregnant, you do need to choose all your calories with ideal combinations of Calorie and nutrient-rich foods. If you have an aversion to certain things, you may need to substitute something else to make sure there are no gaps in your diet. Let us take this with examples –
 

• Can’t drink Milk – substitute with Yoghurt, fresh Curds
• Can’t eat Chapattis, at least try broken wheat, germinated wheat powder mixed into porridges, or while making soups
• Can’t eat Fish or rather started hating Fish/Meats – eat a small fistful of Nuts, try different Dals, legumes such as chickpeas, black peas, kidney beans, etc., to compensate.

Pica is a condition in which pregnant women get strange cravings for things that aren’t edible. The word “Pica” is Latin for magpie which is a bird notorious for eating almost anything.“Don’t think you’re going CRAZY if it happens to you”. After all, everything comes with a price. What Causes Pica? The exact cause is unknown, but it could be one of, or the combination of, different conditions/factors like:
 

• Deficiencies in iron, calcium, zinc, and other nutrients (like thiamine, niacin, vitamins C and D)
• Mental or physical illness
• Malnutrition and hunger due to an eating disorder or poverty.
• Women who experienced Pica in childhood
   

Symptoms

• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Recurrent infections and/or parasitic infestations
• Dental injuries
   

Common Pica CravingsSome women develop a craving for non-food items, like
Clay, limestone, laundry starch, chalk, dirt, burnt matches, stones, charcoal, mothballs, toothpaste, soap, sand, plaster
Ice, cornstarch, coffee grounds, baking soda
Newspapers, toilet paper, cigarette ashes, coal, stones, sponges, paint chips, glue, hair, buttons, etc.
Try to eat a balanced diet with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein, carbohydrates, and plenty of water – don’t think that I am being impractical in suggesting this one, but where it is possible allow your willpower and discretion to take the upper hand. Are you one of the blessed candidates going through PICA? – No worries yield to your craving in moderation and try to eat healthy where and when possible.

Bringing a new life into this world is an exciting experience which requires a close look at your inputs from the nutritional front. Contrary to the old adage “eating for two,” pregnancy doesn’t mean eating twice as much. Whether you’re completely refuse certain foods or constantly crave others, the choices you make play a vital role in having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Plus, studies show what you eat during pregnancy will influence what your child likes to eat when he or she older. You don’t need to go on a special diet, but it’s important to eat a variety of different foods every day to get the right balance of nutrients. This topic can be highly deceiving – since in this interestingly important phase it is not possible to rate one healthy food over the other since all are more or less equally healthy varying in their health benefits. Hence, only a few have been discussed below.

Green Leafy Vegetables

• Different types of greens as palak, Malabar spinach, Fenugreek/methileaves, drumstick leaves, Mint, curry leaves, coriander, amaranth leaves, beet leaves, celery, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower.
• Recent studies have shown that Vitamin K plays an important role in preventing osteoporosis, arthritis, and diabetes: Green Leafy Vegetables being a good source of Vitamin K.
• Calcium; magnesium; molybdenum; vitamin K; Riboflavin (B2); Folate; most B vitamins except B12; vitamin A; vitamin C. Phytochemical that is vital to your baby’s skin, bones, eyes, and cell growth.
• Rich in fiber, negligible fat, and carbohydrates -prevents constipation, and improves digestion.
• Dark green leafy vegetables and cabbage family provide important nutrients that increase breast milk output.
   

Yogurt

• “Probiotics” has been researched extensively and lots of benefits have been attributed to inclusion of Probiotics in the diet. Even home-set curds can be considered as Probiotic products.
• Even to those who prefer a meal plan without milk, in pregnancy, Curd is a safer, better bet. Maintenance of the gut integrity is one of the attributes of Curd.
• Food items such as Cottage Cheese made by curdling milk with fresh Curd. Whey water, preparations made with Sour curd called as “Khadi” in Hindi or even Sooji Idly is ways of including Curd in the diet.