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Being involved during those nine months is the best way to show how much you enjoy being a dad-to-be. Here is what to do:

1. Be By Her Side

Be there for the first check-up and the subsequent ones. Know the schedule: ultrasound scans, shots and routine check-ups. Keep a track of the growing foetus: See the scans, hear the baby’s heartbeat, feel her first movements - it will bring you closer to your baby. Find out about the diet, supplements or medicines your wife will need for a healthy pregnancy. Learn about the discomforts that accompany pregnancy from the doctor, friends or the Net, and help her cope with those. Put a cushion under her feet to avoid swelling and tiredness - and earn the tag of ‘the sweetest husband’.

2. Lend a Hand

If you haven’t been helping around the house, then start right away. Take on everything from those strenuous chores like grocery shopping to anything that involves aerosol sprays or cleaning fluids - products that may be harmful for the mother and the baby. Remember your wife is sensitive to smells at this time, so keep the garbage out and if you have a pet, clean its much yourself.

3. Love Her Changing Body

As your wife’s pregnancy progresses and she puts on those extra kilos, she may begin to feel unattractive. You can make her feel good by assuring her that you love the way she looks. Encourage her to dress the way she used to before she was pregnant and take pictures to record how her bump grows, inch by inch.

4. Get Healthier

Your wife is trying to follow a wholesome diet and lifestyle and you can contribute by sharing in those. Cut down on alcohol, quit smoking, avoid bad-for-baby food that might tempt her and pass up junk food. Treat yourselves to healthy habits - go for light walks with her and turn in early: Research has shown that regular exercise and sound sleep reduces stress.

5. Baby Her

Your wife loves being pampered and she will love it all the more when she is pregnant. Serve her breakfast in bed to start her day with a good dose of love. Call her during the day to find out what she’s eaten and if she is keeping well. Tuck her in at night. Cheer her up with gifts: a book on pregnancy, a magazine for parents and flowers. And don’t forget to fulfill all those middle-of-the-night food cravings - everything from ice cream to pickles to a cheese sandwich.

6. Be Prepared For Changes

If you are one of those couples who do everything together, then be prepared for times when your wife may not feel up to it or simply does not have the time. Also understand that while her love for you will not reduce, she may not be able to give you the attention she did before pregnancy or childbirth. Still feeling left out? Just get yourself involved in caring for your baby to share the joys of parenthood.

7. Understand Her Mood Swings

With all those hormonal theatrics in her body, your wife will be prone to highs and lows. Drive away those blues by doing little things she likes (playing her favorite music) and avoiding those she hates (talking for ages on your phone after you get back home). Be there when she needs you - remember that any kind of stress will only add to the lows. Cut out the formalities - if your wife does not feel up to chatting or socializing don’t force her.

8. Take Decisions Together

Discuss everything: shopping for baby clothes, choosing the color of his room, tackling the rising finances, arranging for help after delivery and handling an emergency - there are a lot of things moms and dads-to-be need to talk about and settle.

9. Make Love, Gently

You can enjoy having sex even while your wife is pregnant, but understand that her sex drive may be dampened by concerns of her baby, apprehensions about her pregnancy and hormonal fluctuations. Talk to find out what is making her anxious and try to dispel her fears. Also, check with your doctor about the precautions you need to take to avoid complications. Remember that sex is not the only way to feel good: cuddle up, share your baby dreams, give each other a massage or have a relaxing bath together.

10. Teach Yourself

Sign up for antenatal classes if you can. Learn everything from holding your baby to changing her diaper, to feeding her, to cleaning her poop and spitups, to giving her a bath… You will be able to participate completely in raising your baby. Besides, it will take a lot of load off your wife’s shoulders and help her cope better with post-partum exhaustion.

As an expectant parent or a paediatrician treating a baby, there are a few preventive steps that can be taken to ensure good health for your little one in the future. Vaccinating the baby being one of them and the other being Newborn Metabolic Screening (NMS). The NMS is a novel method by which one can detect problems (Inborn errors of metabolism) even before signs of the condition become apparent, so that in some cases early treatment can be commenced, leading to normal growth and development of the child. The current form of the NMS, screens the baby for more than 40 different metabolic conditions which if undetected or untreated can lead to severe developmental delay or unexpected death of the infant. The most novel aspect of this screen is all these 40 conditions can be tested for using only 4 drops of blood from the baby’s foot!

The newborn metabolic screen is done to detect babies with a complex group of disorders known as Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). IEM is a group of genetic conditions that prevents the baby from processing food properly. This leads to an accumulation of toxic chemicals in the blood harmful to the baby’s normal development. If the condition remains undetected and untreated at birth, it can cause mental retardation or death in the baby. It is extremely difficult or next to impossible to pick up clinical signs or symptoms of these conditions in the newborn period and by the time they become apparent to the parents or the treating clinician it is usually too late. IEM screens newborns for about 40 disorders and if tested positive in quite a few instances the line of treatment is inexpensive involving dietary modifications or adding trace vitamins and hormones.

Almost all developed countries across the world have implemented universal newborn screening programs which have been tailor made to suit their needs and budget. Some countries screen babies for 40 different conditions whereas some screen them for 5-6 conditions only, based on local prevalence of these conditions and economic restraints. The Newborn Metabolic Screen is an ideal screening test because it is accurate, easily accepted by parents (only 4 drops of blood from the baby’s heel), can be easily performed by a health worker (does not need a doctor) and most important - diagnoses the condition before onset of clinical signs!

Although it is known as metabolic screen, the same test can also diagnose other conditions such as congenital hypothyroidism, G6PD deficiency, Congenital adrenal hyperplasia and other diseases which are not classified as metabolic conditions but have similar consequences, if not diagnosed and treated early in life. These conditions are much more common than the IEM, for example congenital hypothyroidism alone affects 1 in 1500 babies. The importance of diagnosing this condition as early as possible cannot be stressed, since if this condition is detected at birth, it can be completely treated by thyroxine replacement (inexpensive). If this condition goes undiagnosed after birth, the child is almost always going to have problems with their mental development.

The process of diagnosing all these 40 different conditions can be screened using only a few drops of blood, obtained by pricking the baby’s heel. After the infant’s heel is pricked the drop of blood that forms is placed on a special filter paper and allowed to dry. Once it is dried, it is sent to the lab for testing.

Parents who are healthy or have already had healthy children, don’t expect any problems and they are almost always right. Since these disorders are not very common, the chances are excellent that your child may NOT have one of these disorders. However, the few children who are born with these problems are generally from healthy families. Most babies born with these conditions are healthy at birth and signs of ill health may become apparent only after a few days to few months after birth, depending upon the underlying conditions. By screening every baby after birth, we can be sure that each infant who has a disorder can be identified and started on early treatment. The NMS goes a long way in addressing the basic medical philosophy of prevention is the best available treatment.

Pregnancy can be a difficult time for the expecting mom - both mentally and physically. Not only is your body changing in a million different ways that are totally new to you, but every little twinge can throw you into a state of panic, making you worry that something is seriously wrong. Relax, say the experts. “Women need to remind themselves that the vast majority of pregnancies go smoothly”, says Dr. Bruce Flamm, M.D., an ob-gyn in California, US. Still, pregnancy problems can - and do - happen. That is why it is important for every expecting mom to know the warning signs she should look out for and never ignore. Some symptoms require an immediate phone call to your gynecologist.

1. Extreme Vomiting

Most cases of morning sickness are annoying - but not harmful. But if you are throwing up so much that you can’t keep liquids down or if you are not urinating, you need to let the doctor know. “This can lead to severe dehydration, which is not good for you or your baby”, says Isabel Dr. Blumberg, M.D., an ob-gyn in New York City, US. It can also be a sign that you are suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a type of extreme morning sickness that can last throughout your entire pregnancy. Also call if you haven’t been able to keep food down for two days straight, if you think you have food poisoning or if the vomiting is accompanied by a high fever. In these cases, you may need to be given IV fluids.

2. Intense Pain in Your Abdomen

If you are less than 12 weeks pregnant, you are feeling sharp cramps on one side of your stomach and you are not yet to get an ultrasound done, your doctor will want to rule out an ectopic pregnancy (one in which the egg has implanted itself in the fallopian tube rather than in the uterus). Later on in your pregnancy, call if the pain is intense or recurrent, since it could be anything from contractions to appendicitis.

3. Watery Discharge or Contractions

If you are near the end of your pregnancy, this discharge probably means you water has broken, so head to the hospital. But if you suddenly experience a gush of fluids anytime before 37 weeks, call your doctor pronto. It might be a sign that your amniotic sac has ruptured and you are going into preterm labour. Still, don’t assume the worst. “Many women think their water has broken too early, when the baby may have just kicked their bladder hard and they lost some urine”, says Dr. Flamm.

Contractions may be another sign of preterm labour. So if you suddenly feel them coming on when you are between 24 to 36 weeks pregnant, pick up the phone.

4. Bleeding

Talk to your doctor immediately if you have vaginal bleeding. “In your second or third trimester, it could mean you have a tear in your placenta or another problem that should be diagnosed by an ultrasound”, says Dr. Flamm. Don’t panic: Bleeding during pregnancy does not always lead to long-term problems. If you are in your first 12 weeks, keep in mind that many women spot in the first trimester, so bleeding doesn’t always indicate a miscarriage.

5. Severe Headache or Swelling All Over Your Body

If you get a bad headache in your first trimester or regularly suffer from migraines, it is probably no big deal. Ditto if you have some swelling in your ankles as your pregnancy progresses - that just means you are retaining fluid. But, if you suddenly get a splitting headache in your second or third trimester, or if your hands and face swell like crazy and won’t go down, you could be suffering from preeclampsia (pregnancy induced high blood pressure) and need to see your doctor immediately. Another possible sign of preeclampsia to tell your doctor about: Your vision suddenly becomes blurry.

6. Lack of Foetal Movement

If you have not felt much in the way of kicking for about an hour, no need to call right away. Instead, drink a glass of fruit juice (the sugar in juice will make your baby’s blood-sugar levels jump, increasing the chances that he will start kicking), then lie on your left side in a quiet room for half an hour. “If you don’t count three to four movements within that time frame, give your doctor a call”, says Dr. Blumberg. “Usually it is nothing - the baby is just being especially still - but your doctor will probably want you to have an ultrasound to make sure there aren’t any problems”.

When Rachel from Detroit, MI learned she was pregnant after battling infertility for three years, she was thrilled. But soon, her excitement vanished. All she could do was lie in bed and stare at the ceiling. She stopped eating and lost three kilos in her first trimester. She even began to wish she wasn’t pregnant.

“I don’t recognize myself”, Rachel says. “I told my husband I didn’t want the baby anymore. He had no idea how he could help me. I couldn’t stop crying. After all that we had been through to have a baby, it was a terrible blow”.

Confiding in her ob-gyn didn’t help. “At ten weeks, I told her I was afraid of what I was doing to myself. But she kept telling me I’d be okay”, Rachel says. It wasn’t until the hormonal surge of early pregnancy stages began to subside at around 14 weeks that she started to feel better. The experience haunts her: “I still feel guilty that I wasn’t more joyful in those early days”. It was only after Rachel switched to a new ob-gyn and gave birth that she learned she’d suffered from prenatal depression - and could have got help.

Her experience isn’t rare. “Major depression is one of the most common complications in pregnancy stages”, says Dr. Shaila Kulkarni Misri, M.D., author of Pregnancy Blues: What Every Women Needs to Know About Depression During Pregnancy. At least 10 percent of pregnant women are likely to get the blues during pregnancy (and many will go on to have post-partum depression), yet two-thirds go untreated, according to a study at the University of Michigan Depression Center, US.

“SHAMEFUL” SYMPTOMS

The signs of prenatal depression are often similar to those of post-partum depression - extreme fatigue, irritability, anxiety, crying, sleep problems, decreased energy, appetite changes, lack of excitement about having a baby, disinterest in activities, obsessive thoughts and worries, lack of concentration, feelings of guilt, worthlessness and hopelessness. “The most troubling symptom is probably the feeling of detachment from the baby”, says Child advisors. Many pregnant women are , however, either unaware of the significance of these symptoms or are too ashamed to ask for help. “So many people believe that pregnancy protects women from depression”, says Sonia Murdock, Executive Director, Post-partum Resource Center, New York, US. “They say, ‘Why would a woman be miserable during such a happy time?’” Many depressed moms-to-be never discus their emotions with anyone because they are afraid of being ridiculed, or worse, judged. Post-partum depression, considered less taboo, receives much more attention - even celebrities talk about it.

Some experts believe the medical community doesn’t screen vigorously enough for depression in expectant moms. They argue that most prenatal visits are focused on how the mother and baby are doing physically, even though depression affects a woman’s overall health. “Psychological issues get attention only when they become severe”, says Dr. Misri. “Doctors and patients usually dismiss symptoms of depression”.

THE IMPACT ON MOM AND BABY

Keeping moodiness and anxiety a secret - or brushing them off - can have serious consequences for both the mother and the baby. Depressed women may not seek regular prenatal care and are more likely to self-medicate with alcohol, cigarettes and even drugs; in extreme cases, they may even consider terminating the pregnancy or become suicidal”, says Dr. Diana Lynn Barnes, Psy. D., founder of the Center for Post-partum Health in California, US.

One-third of women who are diagnosed with post-partum depression in pregnancy stages, also struggle with the blues while they were pregnant. Experts believe that post-partum depression cases could be avoided if prenatal symptoms are identified and treated. And it is not just the mother’s mental and physical health that’s at stake. Research shows that a woman’s depression affects her unborn child (since they share the same bloodstream - and the same elevated levels of stress hormones), increasing the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. “A baby born to a depressed or anxious mother is also more likely to suffer from anxiety after birth”, says Dr. Misri. Prenatal depression can interfere significantly with mother-infant bonding and cause developmental delays and behavioral problems in the child.

ARE YOU AT RISK?

Pregnancy itself probably doesn’t cause depression, but it can be a trigger in women who are already genetically prone to it. The most vulnerable women are those with a family or personal history of depression or those with previous post-partum depression. Other risks include an nonsupporting partner, an unplanned pregnancy, infertility treatments and problems prior to pregnancy like a miscarriage. “Sometimes the stress of pregnancy brings on depressive symptoms”, says Dr. Joanne, “Physical discomfort due to water retention, morning sickness, aches and pains as well as a sense of exhaustion are contributory factors”. Hormones play a big role (depression tends to emerge during the hormonal surges of the first and third trimesters), though experts aren’t yet sure of the exact nature of how or why this happens and why depression hits some expectant mothers and spares others.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Since almost all women feel tired and emotional during pregnancy stages, it can be hard to know whether you have prenatal depression. “But if your symptoms last for at least two weeks, interfere with work or affect your relationships, you should see your doctor”, says Dr. David Fassler, M.D., co-founder of the Walden Behavioral Care in MA, US. Fortunately, prenatal depression is treatable. Your ob-gyn will examine you to rule out other health issues and then refer you to a psychiatrist or another mental-health professional. If you have mild or moderate symptoms, therapy alone may be enough. But in moderate or severe cases, antidepressants may be necessary. This could seem scary, considering news reports about how the drugs might affect a foetus. Experts don’t know that these medications are 100 percent safe to use during pregnancy stages: Recent studies show that some newborns experience hypertension or withdrawal symptoms. “However, the risks of antidepressants are small compared with the negative impact of untreated depression on you and your baby”, says Dr. Misri. Ultimately, you should talk to your doctor to make the decision that’s right for you and for your unborn baby.

Blocks are considered the perfect creative learning toys, since they allow children to build without direction or boundaries. In a recent study at the University of Washington in Seattle, US, researchers gave families with toddlers a set of wooden blocks and suggestions for “blocktivities” they could do together. Six months later, the kids with the blocks scored 15 percent higher in a language-development test than a control group of children who did not have them. But building toys are just one way to unleash your child’s imagination. To raise a creative child, you need to think out of the box yourself.

1. Schedule downtime

Set aside at least an hour a day for unstructured play with your child, even if it means cutting down on his other activities. Do not set an agenda - let your child lead you.

2. Be a Curious and Adventurous Family

Spice up dinner time by serving a new food once a week. Visit a new park in your town instead of the same old playground. Walk the long way home from the market and point out surprising things you see along the way. When you approach the unknown with curiosity and a keen eye, you will teach your kids to do the same.

3. Try Reinventing Everyday Objects

Ask your child to help you get together some empty cardboard cartons. Have her pile them up to make a fort or a building. Put some pulses in a bottle and let her use it as a noisemaker. Or make a puppet out of an old sock. Soon your child will start coming up with her own creative play possibilities.

4. Get Out of Your House and Explore

Take a barefoot walk across different surfaces - damp grass, warm pavement, dry sand - and ask your child how each one feels. Or have your little explore look under leaves and rocks and describe what he finds. Take along a box so he can save his booty for future art or science projects.

5. Unplug Her Play

To reduce TV viewing, keep your set in a closed cabinet and stash the remote out of reach. Cut down on the electronic toys too. Basic games are best: Play peekaboo with your baby and let her bang pots and pans to make music. Cut window flaps in a cardboard box so your toddler can pretend that it is a house or a bus. Or put some water in a small plastic bucket and leave out some washable baby dolls, a towel and fresh outfits so your preschooler can pretend she is bathing her baby.

6. Tell Tales

Hearing you make up stories gives your child the tools and inspiration to come up with his own flights of fancy. Use different voices for each character. Once your child knows a tale well, have him invent a new ending. Or make up a story together - you start and have him take over when he is ready.

7. Set a Silly Example

Wear a plastic tiara when you do the laundry or a chef’s hat when you cook. Change your voice and behavior to match the costume. Seeing you having fun will encourage your child to try on different personalities too.

8. Get Together With Other Kids

By age two and a half, your child is ready to play with children, not just alongside them. Children around her make her explore her own fantasy world, negotiate for toys and turf and make friends on her own. Do not plan activities or interfere with her play unless it is really necessary (such as when one child is being too rough).

9. Expose Your Child to The Arts

Taking your toddler to a museum can get him excited about drawing his own masterpiece. Music provides a creative outlet for a child’s emotions and helps coping with the stress.

10. Choose a Preschool Very Carefully

There is nothing wrong with teaching a preschooler the ABCs and 123s. But stay clear of programs in which
kids spend most of the day following a set curriculum, Young kids do best in a play-based learning environment - says David Elkind, Ph.D., author of The Power of Play. Make sure your child has lots of choices - such as making art projects, putting together puzzles and building castles. Ask the teacher about her philosophy, she should avoid stepping in and suggesting what to do unless a child asks for help.

11. Teach Your Child Emotional Resilience

Teach your child to look at the funny side. Blunders happen but that should not bring a quick tear. When 6-year-old Franny Perl’s ice-cream soda - a root-beer float - was knocked over by the wind at the beach, her mother, Erica, came up with a word to describe the event: ‘a floatknocker’. “Someone shared his drink with Franny, but what really cheered her up was using the word ‘floatknocker’ over and again”, says the mom from Washington D.C., US. By using humor creatively, Erica showed her daughter how to bounce back from disappointment. You can be equally witty and tickle your child’s funny bone. Smile and say, “That’s what I call a real butterscorch” when your child is upset that her butterscotch ice cream has melted in the heat or “pudding puddle” when she has accidentally split her pudding on the floor.

12. Take Toys to the Park

Playgrounds are great for getting your kids exercise, but they may not have the tools to spark their imagination. So pack colored chalk for drawing on the pavement, soap bubbles for blowing and toys for sharing. You might also bring along face paint so you can transform your child into his favorite animal and have him act out the part.

13. Nurture Your Little Picasso

Art helps to bring out your child’s creative potential so encourage her to draw and paint. But pre-cut shapes and coloring pages are not always a great idea because they tend to restrict a child’s imagination. It is a good idea to set aside an area where your child can draw, paint and sculpt whenever she wants. Beth Lerman turned part of her garage into an art studio when her daughter turned 3. “There’s a big workbench with paint, rolls of white paper, glitter, glue sticks, brushes, markers, crayons and other supplies”, says the mom from Dallas, US. “It is Jamie’s favorite place, because she can be creative and make a mess”.

Give yourself a break with this easy at-home manicure. Sit back, relax and paint your worries away.

Shape

Remove any leftover polish. The Revlon Extra Gentle Nail Enamel Remover is acetone-free and great for frequently painted sensitive nails. Use a nail file from the outer corner of the nail towards the center in single strokes - don’t saw. Stick with an end-of-fingertip length for a smart look.

Soak

Fill a small bowl with warm, soapy water and a few drops of skin-softening essential oil. We like the mild Essence Aromathologia Lavender. Relax and soak hands for several minutes to soften them. Wipe with a soft towel.

Clean

Rub a cuticle softener into your nails, then push them back with an orange stick or a washcloth. The Bourjois Soin Cuticles Serum has a roller-ball applicator so the gel goes on just where it should, not all over your hands. Finish by cleaning beneath your fingernails; then trim the excess skin and hangnails with a pair of manicure scissors.

Scrub

Whip up a fresh scrub. Combine 1/3 cup raw sugar, several squirts of lime juice and 1 tsp to 1 tbsp olive oil in a bowl and mash with a spoon. Add more olive oil if the consistency is too grainy, more sugar if it is too watery. Massage into hands to remove dead skin. Wipe off with a warm, damp washcloth. Spa tip: Before you start your manicure, nuke a wet towel in the microwave, then place it in a plastic bag so it is ready after you have exfoliated with the scrub.

Massage

Slather hands with a luxe lotion. The Collagenese Intensive Hand and Nail Moisturizer from Boots tightens and hydrates the skin on your hands. We also like the Almond Oil Daily Hand and Nail Cream from the Body Shop which moisturizes for softness all day. Wipe the lotion from the nails with a dry cotton ball, otherwise the polish won’t stick well when you paint your nails.

Paint

Bright orange for the bold and baby rose for the beautiful are the hottest hues for the season, and we love ooh-la-la orange from Inglot and the pretty pink from YSL. After you have applied a clear base coat, brush on two thin layers of polish, letting each dry well. Finish with a clear topcoat. Use an ear bud to wipe smudges from cuticles.

Though mothers have been breast feeding for centuries, problems may crop up. A paediatrician can sort them out for you.

Your baby is born and you are looking forward to bonding with her. And of course, you want to start your baby on what’s best for her: your own milk. However, breast feeding doesn’t always work out easily. Some mothers may have a problem with breast feeding right from the start, while others may develop one after some time. You may be caught in that difficult choice between your own milk and formula, which ever doctor and parent wants to avoid. One of the most common reasons for the failure to initiate or maintain breast feeding is maternal anxiety and stress. Like most of our body functions, the milk moms produce too depends on having both a healthy body and a happy mind. Being aware of common breast feeding problems and their solutions will ensure that your baby gets a good feed each time.

You’re not making enough milk for the baby

If your body is not producing enough milk, your baby may not get the amount she needs for optimum growth.

An average newborn needs about 300 to 500 ml of milk daily. Though this cannot be measured when breast feeding, you can make out by the fact that your breasts are not completely full between feeds, your baby cries and is restless between feeds, your baby doesn’t pass enough pee and poop, and seems lethargic.

The possible causes of these problems are maternal anxiety, stress, a premature breast feed, lack of awareness about the right feeding techniques, fear and false beliefs that breast feeding will be bad for your figure, and the convenience of bottle feeding formula to your child may be a few of the causes of poor milk production and let-down.

Being aware of breast feeding during pregnancy itself can go a long way in having a normal milk supply. You can learn proper techniques and good latching positions for the baby from your paediatrician or neonatologist. Having someone to help with the breast feeding for the first few days, staying relaxed, eating balanced meals and sleeping enough will all help in having a good supply of your own milk for your baby.

You’re producing too much milk for your baby

Some mother produce so much milk that it tends to leak out in between feeds too.

Too much milk can make many babies struggle to handle the excess milk, and they often tend to choke. Since their swallowing mechanisms are weak, premature and low-birth-weight babies are more prone to choking than normal bewborns.

There is no one cause for this situation: its an individual variation.

What you can do: Use good breast feeding techniques: Hold and compress your breast to control the excessive flow, and keep the baby’s head higher than the rest of the body. Express excess milk between feeds and avoid feeding while lying down. As the baby grows older, the capacity to suckle and swallow large quantities of milk will improve, and the problem will go away within a few weeks.

Your nipples feel sore

Many mothers. especially those with babies who breast feed vigorously, complain of sore or cracked nipples. It can be quite painful and obstruct proper feeding.

As the baby feeds, many parts of the nipple which are stuck to the underlying tissues get stretched and stressed, resulting in blisters, cuts or soreness. In the case of open cuts, the baby tends to swallow a little blood along with the milk. Though not dangerous in itself, this can irritate the baby’s stomach, making her vomit the blood, which may frighten a new mother.

Most often, this is due to the tenderness of the skin in the nipple and breast area, along with the wetness, friction, and vigorous sucking action of the baby.

To avoid such a situation, keep the breasts and nipples as clean and dry as possible between feeds. Applying nontoxic nipple creams, which basically contain lanolin, between feeds helps to heal the soreness. Do wash off the cream before breast feeding or its taste may make your baby reject your milk. Applying breast milk to the sore nipples and letting it dry also helps. You could use a nipple shield, or express milk and feed it to your baby from a boggle or with a spoon. Using as breast pump helps to pull the nipples out gently.

You have ‘inverted nipples’ and find it hard to breast feed

In many women, nipples are not projecting, but flat; in some they turn inwards and are embedded in the breast tissue.

Your baby cannot get a grip on flat or inverted nipples and you struggle to breast feed. As the breast gets more and more filled up with milk, the nipples tend to get more buried in the breast. Some mothers may have one inverted and one normal nipple.

The possible causes: Its congenital: Many women are born and grow up with this condition. Using breat shells or caps during and after pregnancy helps to push back the breast tissue and release the nipples forward. Breast pumps and manual stimulation - by stretching the base of the nipples, or holding the nipples between the forefinger and thumb and pulling it out gently, or pulling the back of the breast tissue as the baby latches on - may help in varying degrees. In many cases, however, the nipples remain stubbornly embedded, and you may have to use a shield or a pump to express the milk. Luckily, many babies learn to take a big chunk of the breast in the mouth, rather than just the nipple.

You’re not sure what to eat while you’re breast feeding

One common question that nearly all mothers ask is - What should my diet be when I’m feeding my baby?

The anxiety that whatever you eat will mix up with your breast milk and find its way to your baby.

Most of the raw material that is needed for milk production has already been stored by the mother during the nine months of pregnancy. However, there are many myths and misconceptions about what the mother should and should not eat.

The simplest advice for the mother is that she should eat a normal balanced diet, without overeating or under eating any food. Very few foods are known to affect the baby adversely: The list includes an excess of coffee, tea, chocolates and colas besides alcohol. You should drink plenty of water and include enough calcium, iron and vitamins in your diet. Try not to eat out too often. The world over, the diets of mothers are very varied: there isn’t any single prescribed diet for the new mother.

You are uncertain about taking medication

Taking medication while breast feeding can make a new mother anxious, for fear that the medicine might be secreted in the breast milk while breast feeding.

Mothers who are sick either don’t take the necessary medicines and suffer, or they stop breast feeding for a while, assuming that it is dangerous for the baby. Mothers know that medicines are chemicals that can get secreted into the breast milk, causing temporary or permanent harm to their babies.

While most common medications that are used to treat colds, coughs, fever, stomach upsets, headaches and simple infections are harmless to the baby, its advisable to consult your paediatrician before taking them. Certain categories of medicines, like those used to treat severe infections like malaria or typhoid, should be strictly avoided.

Your breasts are engorged

It is the initial few days of breast feeding and your breasts feel swollen, tender, lumpy and uncomfortably full. Engorgement is the overfilling of the breast with milk. This is very common when you start or stop breast feeding - and it is painful. You may have temperature too. Sometimes the swelling extends all the way to the armpit. In rare cases, this can lead to mastitis, plugged ducts and abscess.

Engorgement is usually the result of an imbalance between how much milk the mother produces and how much of it the baby consumes. This normally occurs in the early days after birth, when the baby is not feeding well or emptying the breast well. It can also be because the baby is not latching on properly, or inverted nipples are preventing her from doing so. It can also happen if the baby is premature or low-birth-weight, or sick, and doesn’t suckle well. Waiting too long after the baby is born to breast feed, feeding incompletely, bottle-feeding between breast feeding or skipping feeds are common issues.

To avoid breast engorgement, once the baby is born, start breast feeding as soon as possible. The baby should be made to latch on well, and empty both breasts during feeding. If not, you should empty out the breasts in between feedings, either manually or with a pump. This is usually a temporary problem and once the baby is feeding frequently and effectively, it will pass. Warm packs, massaging and mild anti-inflammatory medicines help to prevent engorgement and the discomfort it causes.

Your breasts are inflamed

Mastitis is inflamation of the breast tissue and may quickly develop into an infection. It is common in the first two or three weeks after the baby is born.

Mothers with mastitis have heaviness, redness, swelling, and sever pain, usually in one breast and with an accompanying fever. The milk from the affected breast may become thicker, saltier, and may be stained or mixed with blood or pus, making it difficult for the baby to feed. Mastitis can also lead to the formation of a big pus pocket or abscess in the breast.

The most likely reson for this inflammation is plugged ducts or engorgement. Lack of local hygiene and cracked or sore ipples may be the starting point. Pressure from clothes, breast pads, nipple shields, sleeping in a prone position and infrequent feeding may all contribute to mastitis. In some cases the infection may be caused by bacteria.

To avoid breast inflammation, wear loose clothing and empty the breasts in between feeds, to prevent congestion. Consult a doctor at the first sign of redness or pain: Your doctor my prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory medicines, antibiotics or surgical intervention, depending on the severity of the condition. Using a hot compress or dipping the affected breast in a bowl of warm water and Epsom salt, and taking frequent hot showers will help. You can feed the baby, but it is likely to be very painful.

Your milk ducts are blocked

If you find a painful, swollen, hard lump in your breast, sometimes with a red and inflamed patch on the skin near the lump, it may be a plugged milk duct. That means a tube that carries the breast milk may be blocked.

A plugged milk duct may occur when a hole in the nipple or a tube deeper in the breast tissue gets blocked. With time, redness and pain can set in. The discomfort is at its worst before feeding and reduces on feeding. Occasionally, fever may develop; it might eventually end up in mastitis and a breast abscess. A plugged duct may lead to decreased milk output from the affected breast. It may also change the character of the milk due to pus formation and release of certain chemicals due to the inflammation.

Most often, a plugged duct results from engorgement, infrequent feeding, pressure from a nipple shield, tight clothing or sleeping in a prone position. Inflammations and infections of the skin around the nipple can also be a starting point for plugged ducts.

The treatment is similar to that for mastitis: Frequent feedings, hot compresses, soaks, massages, rest and in rare cases, anti-inflammatory medicines and antibiotics. Manual expression of excess milk also keeps the ducts open.

You have thrush

Thrush is a fungal or yeast infection in the breast that is passed on to the baby. This fungal infection of the breast and surrounding areas is caused by a fungus called Candida. It makes your nipples feel sore and itchy. Breast and nipple thrush may be a part of thrush in other areas of the body.

Fungal infections are common in tropical climates and when breast hygiene is poor. Heavy antibiotic usage by the mother during and after the baby is born ( true of C-sec deliveries) can also cause them. The use of breast pads, cups and tight clothing also aggravate them.

To avoid thrush, Take your doctor’s advice: The mother may need anti-fungal medicines and the baby too may need to be treated for oral thrush with child-safe anti-fungal lotions to prevent the spread of infection back and forth. Keep your breasts and nipples clean and dry. Vitamins and probiotic supplements may also help.

Back from work early? Baby Asleep? Child at playdate? Moms and dads, take a break.

1. REVIVE A HOBBY
Revisit a hobby you had set aside when the baby was born or the kids were growing up, like a craft, playing a musical instrument, or gardening - anything you used to enjoy. Go on - paint a pot, compose a new tune, click a few table-top photographs or plant a succulent that will tolerate a little forgetfulness.

2. GIGGLE, CHUCKLE, LAUGH
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers and makes you feel good. Pick up a joke book, watch a recorded stand-up comic show, or try any of these sites:

3. DAYDREAM WITHOUT A DOUBT
Swing away in the kid’s park and make your wish happen in your head first. In book Positive Imaging, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale says that visualizing is a kind of “laser beam of the imagination … in which the desired goal or outcome is pictured so vividly that the unconscious mind accepts it and is activated by it”.

4. TAKE A WALK
Take a walk without a wallet, without a shopping bag, without a destination, without worries. Stroll along, people-watch, notice the trees and grass, the shape of the clouds in the sky. Hold hands, just enjoy the journey.

5. CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS
Have a long, uninterrupted heart-to-heart with a friend or make quick five-minute catch-up calls to three or four different friends. When did you last do that without having the TV or the children as background noise?

6. ESCAPE TO YOUR LOO SALON
Pamper yourself now that you have the chance. Apply a facial mask, lather your hands with a moisturizer, soak your feet in a tub of warm water and then slather them with foot cream too. Put an eye-pack on and lie back in the recliner for 15 minutes. Then shower it all off. Dads, just laze and gaze at her.

7. MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR
It takes women 10-20 minutes and married men seven minutes to reach an orgasm, on an average, say studies. If you are not that goal-oriented, take time off anyway for reconnecting in bed.

8. DRAW A DREAM HOUSE
Seriously, put it all down on a sheet of paper - room by room, wall by wall, door by door - marking out the details for future use. Or do it just for fun. There is always a great chance of learning something out of your rough sketches and drawings. The reason: when you think that you are putting down something just for fun, your mind gets involved greatly and set-aside your worries and expenses involved. You purely listen to your heart and do what you feel like doing NOT what you ‘can do’.

9. TONE YOURSELF IN TWENTY
“Side stretches and upper body twists are great for stress relief and a tired back”. Stand with your feet hip-distance apart and your arms stretched above your head, keeping your fingers overlocked. Stretch and bend to the right and then to the left. Repeat 12 times. Lower your arms to shoulder level, stretched out to the side. Twist your body to the right and then to the left. Repeat 12 times.

10. MAKE A SHORT VIDEO
Upload all those photos hibernating in your computer along with the music you want on www.animoto.com. The website marries the photographs and the music, creating a sharable video. Short videos are for free. For putting together a simple slideshow, log on to www.flickrshow.com and www.picasa.google.com.

11. TELESCOPE YOUR LIFE
Imagine your life is over and take stock of what you have achieved. Write down your biggest achievements and how you think the world will remember you or think of you: This will help you focus on what else you like to accomplish.

12. CENTER YOURSELF
“Usually your body is in one place and the mind elsewhere: Meditation is about making your mind rest and be one with the body”. Enjoy a green tea meditation: Make a cup of green tea, very mindfully, being aware of every little action, the textures, the fragrance … When you sit down to sip it, think of where the tea leaves came from (earth), where the water came from (rain), where the cup came from … and you will feel ‘one’ with the whole universe.

13. SERVE IT UP
Whip up a fruity smoothie, a mango smoothie or hot chocolate just for yourself. The good part? You don’t have the kids demanding to share it.

14. PLAN THAT FANTASY VACATION
Outline your dream vacation. It will be something to look forward to on tough days. Call your travel agent and ask him to check hotel and travel options for your chosen destination, or visit CheapCarribean.com to check some out yourself.

15. WRITE A LETTER
The old-fashioned kind. With paper and a pen. Think of who you want to write it to - grandmother, an aunt, a childhood friend, a nephew or even your spouse. Writing can be therapeutic.

16. FEED YOUR BRAIN
Go for some ‘mindercises’. Read a short story, look at optical illusions, solve a puzzle, take a quiz. Test your spouse. Keep collecting photocopies, cut-outs or printouts of interesting articles and mind-bogglers in a folder for an opportune 20 minutes.

17. DANCE AWAY
Loosen those limbs. You need some ‘dancercise’. Put on some music and get jiggy with it. Want to learn belly-dancing or hip-hop? Goto DDRgame.com and get into the groove with all the right moves.

18. BE GOOD AND FAMOUS
On www.freerice.com, you match words with meanings in a multiple-choice format and for every word you get right, the site donates 20 grains of rice through the United Nations to end world hunger. Then goto www.makemymag.com to see your face on the cover of a magazine.

19. MAKE A TIME CAPSULE
Put into a jar or a box all the things that symbolize your life at this stage - a broken alarm clock? A school report? A hair clip? A tiffin box? - and hide it somewhere. Next year, do this again. You will be surprised at how priorities can change.

20. LEARN SOMETHING NEW
Want to learn yo-yo skills, how to paint a portrait, wear red lipstick or barbecue like a chef? Experts on www.monkeysee.com tell you everything from how to braid your hair to how to solve the Rubik’s Cube.

Being pregnant changes everything, your size, wardrobe, social life, eating habits, your relationships. Its the time when you have absolutely no control over all these overwhelming changes within and outside you. You will have the perfect family depicted in advertisements and movies but there shall be difficult times filled with a number of tough decisions too. For the first time parents it is an even tougher challenge because they are venturing into an alien territory and just learning how it is to think about someone else’s needs before their own every time. It helps to be well informed about all aspects of the birth process and have a plan in place. But before you become too fond of that plan, remember one thing, this is one venture where date, time schedules and deadlines nothing is sanctified. Your child’s due date is not its exact time of birth. It is just an approximation of when that bundle of joy will be coming home. So do plan as there is a lot to plan for even before the baby wails for the first time. Her is a list of things which would be helpful for you to plan and deal with maternity and assist you in having a healthy comfortable and happy pregnancy.

MATERNITY WEAR : Clothes are something you need to stock up on because with each passing month you shall be wearing a different size. Choose clothes that are made from durable, high quality fabric and have 1-2% spandex, which will expand with comfort for the next nine months. Buy stretch denim with side panels and buckles that are adjustable. A low waist jean is more preferable. Get flat footwears with plenty of space to accommodate your swollen feet.

EXERCISE : It prepares the body for a natural delivery, keeps it supple and flexible. A mix of exercises including yoga , physiotherapy, stretches and meditation helps the mother to be fit, relaxed and happy. It is always advisable to have a supervised workout, designed specifically keeping the pregnancy in mind. Rigorous exercising should be avoided as during pregnancy a hormone called relaxin is released which brings about relaxation in the joints and ligaments making your body susceptible to strains and sprains.

NUTRITION : A nutritious and well balanced diet is one of the most important requirements for an expecting mother. One should increase the intake of folic acid, iron and calories. An average woman does not need any extra calories for the first six months of pregnancy and only about 200 extra calories per day for the last three months. Your own appetite is the best indication of how much food you need to eat and you may find it fluctuating during the course of your pregnancy. Raw or undercooked meat (white or red) is a possible source of bacteria and should be avoided. Caffeine should also be avoided as research has linked consuming more than 300 mg of caffeine a day with an increased risk of miscarriage and low birth weight. Try to eat healthy and organic food, avoiding semi processed and canned food. Include a lot of fruits and nuts in your diet.

MEDICATION AND SHOTS : Folic acid is one supplement that is particularly important to take before you conceive and during the entire course of pregnancy. Studies have shown that lack of folic acid in the first trimester can increase the risk of spinal tube defects and lip and palate deformities in the baby. Iron and calcium supplements are recommended during the later part of your pregnancy to ensure required intake if these key minerals. Your iron levels will be checked periodically during your pregnancy and your doctor will advice you about your individual needs. Iron-fortified multivitamin supplements especially formulated for pregnancy and lactation are also available. Although most supplements are over the counter medicines, it is always advisable to check with your gynecologist first. Some of the conditions routinely checked for in most normal pregnancies are Aids, Hepatitis B, Down’s syndrome, Neural Tube Defects, RH Incompatibility and Rubella. The doctor can test for all these conditions with blood samples, taken at different times in the pregnancy. Tetanus injections (I and II) are given twice during the course of the pregnancy. The first one is usually given immediately after the pregnancy is detected and the second follow a month later.

AILMENTS : The pleasures of pregnancy are accompanied by a lot of discomforts like stretch marks, nausea, swollen feet, acidity, insomnia and bleeding gums. It is helpful to be aware of them and check with your doctor for possible cures and medication. If your doctor has not prescribed a stretch marks cream, you must request him for one. To help you with your morning sickness there are quite a few options to choose from like milk and crackers, peanuts, juice popsicles or ginger ale . Try them and pick the one that helps your cause. Bleeding and swollen gums is also experienced by expecting mothers, to avoid such discomfort, schedule a periodic dental check up with your dentist. To avoid acidity and heartburns minimise intake of extremely spicy food. A glass of cold milk also helps to neutralise the burning sensation. During pregnancy many women face sleepless nights despite suffering from numerous aches and pains and being totally exhausted. An early dinner, a warm bath and book to read in bed helps a lot.

FINANCE : Having a baby is an expensive affair. The tests, doctor visits and the hospital expenses sure will make a big dent in your annual budget. It is a sensible option to obtain an estimate of the expected expenditure and ensure that you are covered with relevant maternity benefits via health insurance or employer. To avoid inconvenience on the d-day always book your bed in advance and get all the documentation required to claim medical benefits in place.

MATERNITY LEAVE : Working mothers need to plan their maternity leave sensibly by extending the leave start date as far as possible. unless instructed otherwise by the doctor mothers can and should work almost until the due date. This provides you the required physical exercise and also gives you much more time to spend with the baby after the deliver. Before the baby comes it is good to appoint a nanny or help to take care of the baby. During the course of the maternity leave you would get an opportunity to train the nanny so that once you rejoin work your baby is in safe and capable hands.

BABY SUPPLIES : It is sensible to avoid age old superstition of shopping after birth and collect your baby trousseau in advance. During the course of pregnancy there is always chance of doctor restricting your movement or advising you bed rest and after having the baby mobility shall be restricted in the initial few days. So make a list of baby items like crib, toiletries, clothes, diapers, pram, toys, swaddling blankets and stock them in advance so that when the baby comes all its supplies are in place.

Have you found yourself wanting to tear your hair out at the smallest provocation, at certain times of the month? Or felt so low that even the news of a hefty raise at work, or a surprise gift from your husband hasn’t cheered you up? And then there are the times when you just can’t wait for a tumble in the bed with your man. Baffled by your constant ups and downs? Blame it on your hormones. The hormone levels in your body rise and fall during your monthly menstrual cycle and affect the way you feel-and even look. But the menstrual cycle doesn’t have to be a drag; it’s actually a sign that your body is functioning properly. We have experts unraveling the mysteries behind the mood swings and physical changes happening inside you-and suggesting ways of tackling the hormonal surges and ebbs.

WEEK 1

YOUR PERIOD ARRIVES
Oestrogen and progesterone, the star hormones in your body’s monthly theatrics, are at their lowest levels; prostaglandins, the hormones that trigger uterine contractions, are at their peak.

How you feel : With oestrogen in short supply, your are exhausted; you may also have cramps and even diarrhea, thanks to your soaring prostaglandins. “You just feel yucky”, says Dr. Elizabeth lee Vliet, M.D., author of It’s My Ovaries, Stupid . Women with asthma, arthritis, or skin problems like psoriasis or eczema may find that their symptoms flare up now (eating foods rich in vitamin C and zinc can help), and blood sugar levels tend to drop too.

Your state of mind : You may feel like you have completely lost it. “Many women complain of forgetfulness or brain fog during this week”, says Dr. Scott Isaacs, M.D., author of Hormonal Balance .Low oestrogen levels may affect your ability to think clearly. Without the calming influence of progesterone and the energising effect of oestrogen, you may also be more sensitive to stress.

Smart moves : Indulge in some R&R - rest and red meat (or, if you are a vegetarian, spinach) for energy and to replenish iron stores depleted during a heavy period. Take anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) to block cramp-causing prostaglandins. And if you are stressing over everything from your grocery list to a deadline at work, try yoga, meditation or a massage - they are proven stress relievers.

WEEK 2

LOVING YOUR “OVULATION HIGH”
Oestrogen is rising slowly and steadily, stimulating production of the uterine lining to prepare your body for a possible pregnancy. Towards the end of the week, levels of lutenising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) surge, which prmpts your ovaries to release an egg around day 14. Progesterone remains low until the end of the week, while the “male” hormone testosterone hits a high point.

How you feel : Right now, you look as good as you feel - and you feel pretty awesome. High levels of oestrogen, without the tranquilizing effect of progesterone, send your energy soaring. Your skin is at its clearest all month. “Oestrogen supports the skin’s fluid and salt retention, so you look dewy and healthy”, sasy Dr. Susan M. Lark, M.D., author of PMS: Self Help Book . Can’t seem to keep your hands off your man? Thank testosterone, which gives you a jolt in the libido department. Not so coincidentally, you are at your most fertile now, especially toward the end of the week when ovulation (release of ovum or egg) occurs.

Your state of mind : Think of oestrogen as a kind of hormonal Prozac (an antidepressant). “It improves serotonin and other chemical messengers’ function, just like antidepressants do”, explains Dr.Vliet. With oestrogen on the upswing, you feel focused and upbeat. You are also less likely to suffer from withdrawal symptoms now, making this the ideal week to start your quit-smoking program or to cut back on your caffeine habit.

Smart moves : This is your highest energy week of the month, so take advantage of it: Plan your preschooler’s birthday party, clean out a jam-packed closet, go for heavy duty grocery shopping or tackle a big project at work. With testosterone in your corner, you are feeling more assertive than usual; now’s the time to have a tough conversation you have been dreading.

WEEK 3

MELLOWING OUT ON PROGESTERONE
Oestrogen starts to plummet at the same time that progesterone surges, creating a blissful balance.

How you feel : When ovulation occurs at the end of week 2 and into week 3, your body temperature spikes a degree or two. The result: Research suggests that you get a little metabolism boost. Your burning desire will start to cool, but if you are trying to get pregnant, keep having sex! “You may still be fertile for two or three days after you ovulate”, says Dr. Isaacs. This is also a good time to get your gynae check-up - by next week, you will be more sensitive to pain; the week after that, you will have your period.

Your state of mind : Your positive mood persists. Progesterone peaks toward the end of the week, giving you a serious dose of serenity and calmness.

Smart moves : Take advantage of your revved up metabolism and have a little chocolate. Or, make a real effort to stick to your diet and get to the gym. “If you are trying to lose weight , this is the time to make the most of it”, says Dr. Isaacs.

WEEK 4

MAKING THE BEST OF PMS
At the beginning of the week, progesterone is at an all-time high, then plunges. Your oestrogen levels continue to nosedive.

How you feel : You know the deal - this is the week of headaches, insomnia, bloating, bad skin and carb cravings. Blame high progesterone levels early in the week for many of the physical woes associated with PMS. Progesterone also increases your appetite and relaxes your muscles; your stomach poofs out and you feel bloated. Plus, it triggers the sebaceous glands in your skin to produce more oil, which causes all those pimples.

Your state of mind : Even if you don’t pay much attention to your cycle, you know what week this is because of the way you have been reacting to everything. You have screamed at your kids over something trivial and picked up a fight with your husband - and it isn’t even 9 a.m.! Blame those rapidly dropping progesterone levels for your irritability and crazy mood swings.

Smart moves : Exercise to soothe the blues and eat small frequent meals to keep your blood-sugar levels steady. Avoiding carbonated drinks and salty foods will limit bloating and cutting back on caffeine can ease insomnia and fatigue. To reduce moodiness, water retention, food cravings and pain, Dr. Lark recommends taking 1,000 to 1,200 mg of calcium daily, along with 500 to 600 mg of magnesium. Finally, remind yourself that this, too, shall pass - when your period starts and the cycle begins all over again.

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BLISS OUT DURING YOUR WORST WEEK WITH THESE SIMPLE SOOTHERS:

Turn up the heat : Old-fashioned, but it works! Relax your cramping muscles with a heating pad or a hot-water bottle. Or let a warm bath soothe your body and mind.

Indulge a little : Dying for chocolate? Give in to temptation. Or dig into some chilled ice cream that also has the PMS-fighting calcium.

Try meditation and yoga : Meditation is a good way to focus on yourself and forget about worries. And yoga can help tame those annoying cramps and lower back pain.

Get some sleep : Sleep helps your body to renew its energy and also rebuild essential cells and tissues. Plenty of rest will keep your physical and emotional PMS symptoms under control.

Get a massage : Go to the beauty parlor or ask your husband to give you a gentle back rub. Or heat some almond oil and massage it on your lower abdomen.

Relieve your stress : Stress will only make your mood fluctuation, depression and fatigue worse. Exercise moderately, eat small meals and be happy.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU?

You can get the iron essential for making haemoglobin in the body in two forms: haem and non-haem. Haem iron is found in red meat, fish and poultry. Iron from plants-lentils, beans, leafy vegetables and fruits-is the non-haem type. Haem iron is far more ‘bioavailable’ than non-haem iron, which means that the amount of iron absorbed by the body from haem sources is more (about 10-35 percent) than from non-haem sources (about 1-10 percent)”, says nutritionist Rohini Saran, M.Sc. But vegetarians needn’t worry; your kids are no more likely to suffer from anaemia than meat-eating kids are. But you do need to include iron-rich foods in your child’s diet-kidney beans, spinach, broccoli, wholegrain bread, apricots and raisins-to rule out the risk of iron deficiency and anaemia.

MIND THE MILK

“Some kinds of food promote the absorption of iron by the body, while some may inhibit it”. Milk is a rich source of calcium that is essential for your child’s growth, but the calcium in milk also tends to hinder iron absorption. So an overdose of milk, yogurt or cheese may not make your child stronger. Combine milk with fruits in a smoothie or milkshake to get the benefits of fruits as well.

THE ‘C’ FACTOR

Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron. In fact, doctors advise vegetarians to pair food high in vitamin C content with their iron-rich food (in the same meal) to boost the bioavailability of iron. Tomato salad with rice and wheat, vegetables and lentils will help your child get the most iron out of the meal. Do include fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C, like oranges, kiwis, limes, melons, tomatoes and red, yellow and orange bell peppers in your child’s diet-even if you are non-vegetarian.

FORTIFY YOUR FOOD

While some foods have a lot of natural iron, to some-like cereals and biscuits-it’s added synthetically, Breast milk has enough iron for babies under 6 months; but if breastfeeding is not an option, there’s iron-fortified infant formula. iron-fortified baby food is great for infants above 6 months and instant oatmeal and breakfast cereals are excellent sources of iron for growing kids. Combining cereals in milk with a glass of fruit juice offers the comprehensive benefits of iron, calcium, vitamin C and antioxidants that combat body damage and diseases.

SUPPLEMENT SUPPLY

When your child’s body doesn’t have enough iron and haemoglobin count is low, your child is likely to feel weak and tired. Dietary iron may not be enough to replenish the depleted stores and she may need iron supplements in the form of pills or tonics. Supplements are a quick way to refuel the body’s iron needs, but consult your doctor first. If he recommends an iron supplement for your child, remember: iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach; never combine iron supplements with milk, yogurt, calcium supplements or caffeinated beverages like tea, coffee or cola; include plenty of citrus fruits and vitamin C rich vegetables in your child’s diet for good iron absorption; and look out for side effects, such as constipation and nausea.

TOP 5 RECIPE BOOKS: MUST HAVE

1. Jane Kinderlehrer’s The Smart Chicken and Fish Cookbook.
2. Cara Hobday’s Kid’s Healthy Lunchbox.
3. Kirsten Hartvig’s The Big Book of Quick & Healthy Recipes.
4. 500 Best Muffin Recipes by Firefly.
5. Cafh Foundation Inc.’s Once Upon a Kitchen.

10 IRON BOOSTERS

Include these in your child’s diet to build up your child’s iron stores without worrying about an overload. Our body has its own controlling mechanism: It absorbs only as much dietary iron as it needs, rejecting the rest as waste.

• Red meats, especially liver.
• Fish like tuna mackerel.
• Kidney beans.
• Lentils like chickpeas.
• Leafy veggies like spinach and mustard leaves.
• Vegetables like broccoli.
• Whole wheat bread.
• Fruits like watermelons, pomegranate and bananas.
• Dried fruits like raisins, dates and apricots.
• Fortified cereals.

Antenatal care is the care that you receive from health professionals during your pregnancy. A healthy diet and lifestyle during pregnancy is important for the development of a healthy baby and may have long-term beneficial effects on the health of the child. It is also important for a pregnant woman to have regular checks with an obstetrician throughout pregnancy, to ensure that any conditions that may pose a risk to you or the baby’s health can be identified and treated. Regular antenatal care is important to ensure that both you and your baby are well.

The major goal of focused antenatal care is to help:

• Identification of pre-existing health conditions.
• Early detection of complications arising during the pregnancy.
• Health promotion and disease prevention.
• Lifestyle management counseling.
• Preparation for birth and possible complications.

A good antenatal care program should be designed in such a way that it detects problems of pregnancy that might need treatment - such as anemia, infection, vaginal bleeding, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and abnormal fetal growth. It should also incorporate a comprehensive screening program to detect fetal anomalies such as heart and brain defects and also screen for conditions such as Downs Syndrome. Hence it is important to have regular ultrasound scans done by ultrasonologists specially trained in fetal medicine. The program should also incorporate a multidisciplinary team involving an Obstetrician, Ultrasonologist and a Neonatologist so that the results of the screening tests can be discussed and appropriate actions taken when necessary. Oxford Medical Publication’s book A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth is a complete guide to take best care of your life, ensure the best for you and your unborn child.

Counseling and health promotion is a very important but often forgotten aspect of antenatal care. Counseling should begin as early as possible and in fact preconception counseling should be offered at all maternity centers where women wanting to conceive are advised about the importance of taking folic acid to prevent congenital anomalies. Preconception counseling should also include providing information leaflets about the Do’s and Dont’s of pregnancy, especially during the immediate period following conception. For example women should be advised not to take Vitamin supplements and medications without consulting their doctor during the first trimester since it can result in malformation of the heart and nervous system.

Following conception it is very important to discuss with the obstetrician about lifestyle habits such as exercise, smoking, alcohol and any medications that may affect your developing fetus.

In addition to the above a good antenatal care program should involve the services of a dietitian and physiotherapist. The importance of a healthy, nutritious diet in pregnancy cannot be stressed more "A nutritious and wholesome diet is the key to a healthy baby ". You should make it a point to spend time with the dietitian to tailor make a diet that is healthy but also acceptable to you.

A value add to any antenatal care package would be a child birth instructor who would be able to explain to you what happens during labor and birth and also teaches you exercises to keep you fit during pregnancy and help you during labor. Out of many books I read when I was first pregnant, I remember a very good book The Baby Care Book: A Complete Guide from Birth to 12-Month Old by famous Jeremy Friedman, helped me take initial precautions and prepare for the little one. The book gave me a clear picture of what to expect at the time of delivery and how to take care of the child after birth.

Finally, it’s always useful if your antenatal classes are held in the hospital where you would be delivering your baby. It gives you a chance to familiarize yourself with the surroundings so that when you arrive for the delivery, you do not feel out of place. It also gives you a chance to visit the labor ward as well as the other medical facilities in the hospital such as the nursery.

Pregnancy is an important time of your life, ensure the best for you and your unborn child by availing good and safe antenatal care during this period. I think good antenatal care is not an option but a basic necessity to ensure a bright future for your child.

Do you, like me, find your voice suddenly sounding shrill and strident when you are ticking off your child, like a peacock frantic for rain? Of course, we all want our kids to be disciplined, but, admit it-we tend to overshoot. I have found an easy way to check this: Count how many times you say "No!" to your child in a day. Sigh, I’m guilty off and on. For those days and every other, this site will bring you cheer and ease to yes-and-no issues with children. Reading other fun mom’s experiences (get any book by writer-columnist Erma Bombeck ) helps you take the sharp edge off parenting.

Then again, it gets tough to be a funny and sunny TV parent after a hard day, coming home to yo-yo kids (one of them wants to play name-place-animal-game; the other one wants to make a Scooby Strings necklace). Often my day at work runs full tilt into my home time with only the car ride in between, during which I catch up with friends on the phone. It’s hard to find those 20 minutes to unwind.

It’s not easy being the mother of two bundles of energy and a wife of top-of-the-pops. Then the saying, "One kid is fun; two are more fun. It’s a nonstop comedy of errors!". Ever wonder why toddlers try to open the same locked cupboard day after day? Or why, when you see her heading for the floor lamp and say, "No, honey, that’s dangerous," she starts running in a desperate attempt to get there before you do? The explanation is simple: One-year-olds are fueled by an insatiable curiosity about the world around them. "Exploring helps them learn and feeds their brain development," says Dr. Harvey Karp M.D., author of The Happiest Toddler on the Block . Discovering new things also helps your child feel in control, which helps to boost her confidence. Chances are your child is already blazing her own trails. But there’s plenty you can do to make it more fun and educational. Those things which may be ’same old jobs’ for you, but to your child they are fresh and fascinating.

FOLLOW YOUR KID’S LEAD

Toddlers/kids investigate things at their own pace and according to their individual interests. But many 1-year-olds like to dawdle-for good reason. "They are trying to make sense of things, so they take their time examining them", says Dr. Robin Gaines Lanzi , PH.D., Assistant Professor of Human Science and Research Director, Center of Health and Education, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., US. Let your child discover things on his own and learn new skills (such as pushing the buttons on a toy). And don’t rush him.

STIMULATE YOUR KID’S SENSES

"Toddlers explore with their whole body", says Andrew Ackerman, Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, New York, US. Take advantage of this by utilizing your child’s sense of touch, which is especially important at this age. Point out and identify various textures ("Feel how rough the tree bark is" or "The dog’s fur is so soft"). Look for ways to stimulate her other sense too: "The flowers smell very sweet" or "Whoa, that drum is loud" or "Let’s name all the different colors in that sunset".

GO ON AN ADVENTURE TOGETHER

Taking your little explorer outdoors is one of the best things you can do. A park or a hiking trail will spark his curiosity in a boundary-free environment. But you don’t even need to go that far. A simple stroll can turn into an adventure if you stop along the way to jump into a rain puddle or look at fallen leaves. Hunting for differently shaped and colored pebbles is another good idea of a great outing to the park in the evening. No matter how ordinary those pebbles may look, but it’s a treasure for your kid. Once your kid realizes that he/she is not supposed to put them in mouth, it’s fun to discover with him how interesting ordinary stones can be.

LET YOUR KID SAFELY EXPLORE (IN THE HOUSE)

There’s a reason to lock cupboards: To a toddler, the urge to find out what’s inside closed bins is irresistible. But instead of making them all off-limits, Dr. Lanzi suggests setting aside one drawer is okay for your child to investigate. Fill it with things that are safe and age-appropriate, such as light pots and pans, plastic bowls and spoons, bits and pieces of cloth and shells. "You might also leave out some boxes your child can climb on, crawl in and stack", says Dr. Joanne Baum, Ph.D., author of Got the Baby Where’s the Manual ?.

GIVE YOUR KID AN OPPORTUNITY TO PEOPLE-WATCH

Your toddler is aware that he’s a separate being and he’s interested in watching what other people do. Demonstrating actions in front of him (such as picking up the phone, using a toothbrush or throwing a ball) will help him learn to imitate them. Your child will also benefit from seeing other toddlers at the park. Even if he doesn’t join in, he will enjoy observing his peers. Also, let him watch you do chores, such as whipping up an omelet, hammering a nail into the wall or cleaning the aquarium. Remember, it’s all new, fresh and fascinating for your kid, may be ’same old job’ for you.