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Articles by Riddhi Roy
Applying Kajal to Babies: Tradition vs Medical Advice
Parents love applying “kajal” (Surma) to their babies to enhance their beauty and protect them against the evil eye and negativity. But doctors are clearly against this traditional practice. Here’s why! Unfortunately, many Kajal products contain heavy metals, artificial colours, and chemicals that can pose a serious threat to your little one’s eyes. Consequently, babies can experience severe side effects, such as eye irritation, redness, allergies, or infection.
Baby Skincare in Indian Weather: Tackling Heat Rashes and Dryness
It’s your baby’s bath time, but the moment you're just taking their clothes off, you notice red, itchy bumps on their shoulders, hands, and chest. Sounds scary, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, the credit goes to unbearable summers, high humidity, and sometimes, the chilling winter season! Due to the little one’s sensitive skin, they are prone to developing heat rashes, dry patches, and itchy red bumps.
Safe Sleeping Practices for Babies in Indian Homes
Your baby is yawning, and you finally breathe a sigh of relief, whispering, “Thank God”! Now, you’re going to sleep beside your little one. While co-sleeping (sleeping with babies) is common in Indian homes, you’re unknowingly increasing the risk of suffocation, discomfort, overheating, and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Sounds scary, doesn’t it? Remember that your little one doesn’t need just “sleep”, they need “safe sleep”.
Here’s How You Can Manage Your Nutrition and Recovery After Abortion
Even though abortion is safe from a medical point of view, it can be hard on the body and mind. Your body goes through hormonal changes, loses blood, and gets tired, so eating well is very important for recovery. A balanced diet after an abortion can help you get your energy back, rebuild tissue, and balance your hormones. A lot of women in India skip this step and go back to their everyday lives too soon, but your body needs time, care, and food to heal fully after an abortion.
Dealing With Emotional and Mental Health After An Abortion Original
The truth is that there is no "right" way to feel. Every woman has a different experience, and taking care of your mind and health after an abortion is just as essential as taking care of your physical health. Sadly, talking about how to deal with abortion in India often comes with a lot of shame. This silence can make it harder to heal emotionally.
A Practical Guide for Indian Moms on How to Store and Express Colostrum Before Birth
Let's look at how you can safely prepare, express, and store this 'liquid gold'. Understanding this process will not only make you feel better but also more prepared, knowing that you are ready to give your baby the best. What is colostrum, and why is it important? Colostrum, often referred to as your baby's first vaccine, is the initial type of milk your body produces during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Common Myths vs Facts About Colostrum in India Original
Colostrum, or "liquid gold," is the first type of milk that a mother makes after giving birth. Colostrum has many unique benefits that no other milk can match. It is thick, yellowish, and full of antibodies that keep your baby safe. But there are still a lot of breastfeeding myths about colostrum in India that are common in Indian homes.
Why Taking Folic Acid Before Getting Pregnant Is Important for Spina Bifida
The health of your future baby starts even before you get pregnant. Adding folic acid before you are pregnant is a little but powerful thing you can do. This essential B vitamin helps your baby's brain and spinal cord grow properly, lowering the chance of spina bifida and other neural tube problems. Sadly, many women in India begin taking folic acid only after confirming pregnancy, by then, the baby’s neural tube has already started developing.
Your Baby Is Practising Breathing Movements in Week 24
You’re just one step away from entering the final big trimester. As an expecting mother, have you ever wondered what happens inside your body in each trimester? For 9 months, you and your foetus go through amazing changes and growth. And each month, babies grow and achieve major milestones, preparing to see the world. By week 24, that major milestone is babies get ready to breathe. No, babies don’t really breathe inside the womb, as your uterus is filled with amniotic fluid.
Here’s What Week 23 Of Your Pregnancy Will Look Like
Week 23 of pregnancy is a major phase, as you will see rapid foetal activity and changes in your body. At week 23 of pregnancy, you are well into your 6th month. Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters, and at week 23, you are in the second half of the second trimester. The initial phase of nausea and dizziness will be replaced with a heightened sense of connection with their unborn child.
Shaving Baby’s Head (Mundan): Myths, Benefits, and Precautions
Shaving a baby’s head (also known as “Mundan”) is one of India’s oldest rituals, believed to purify the negativity from the baby's past life. Some families celebrate it as an auspicious cultural ritual, while others perform it for healthy hair in babies. Though the procedure is performed safely on babies, many parents have reported medical complications, like redness, cuts, rashes, infections, and irritation. Now, the question arises- How to honour the tradition without risking your baby’s life?
Colostrum: Your Baby's First Immunity Booster and Why It's So Important
What Is Colostrum? Colostrum is a golden liquid that is the first form of breast milk, appearing in late pregnancy and continuing for a few days after birth. It's often called liquid gold because of its powerful health benefits.Although only a few spoonfuls are produced, they are enough to nourish and protect a newborn. The first milk contains antibodies, proteins, and enzymes that defend against germs.
Childhood Diarrhoea in India: The ORS Debate Every Parent Should Know
Diarrhoea in children under five, a top cause of illness and death in India, is largely preventable. Each episode, if not appropriately managed, can lead to dangerous dehydration, nutrient loss, and long-term growth setbacks.The good news is that a very low-cost solution exists: ORS with zinc therapy. But despite this, many children do not receive this treatment in time or at all.
Do Babies Need So Much Stuff?
Let’s start with debunking the infamous myth buzzing around every Indian parent! “The more we provide, the better our baby will grow”! From fancy toys and gadgets to decorative clothes and strollers, parents really bombard their little ones with excessive items due to peer pressure and societal comparison. But is it really necessary? Do babies need much stuff?
Understanding LH and Progesterone: What They Are and Why They Matter
Your reproductive system is intricate, with many changes happening throughout your menstrual cycle and pregnancy. At the core of these changes are hormones like LH (luteinising hormone) and progesterone. These hormones play a crucial role in regulating your cycle, triggering ovulation, and supporting pregnancy. Each hormone has its own specific job, working together to keep your body in balance. What matters most is understanding their balance, function, and effect on your body.
Luteal Phase vs Follicular Phase: What You Need to Know
Your menstrual cycle isn’t just about your period. It’s a monthly rhythm with distinct phases, and each one affects how you feel, think, and even function. The two key phases you might hear about the most are the follicular and luteal phases. They may sound technical, but once you understand the difference, you’ll notice how much your body changes across the month. Let’s break down the differences in the simplest manner below: What Is The Luteal Phase?
10 Tips to Lose Weight Safely While Trying to Conceive
Your fertility journey depends heavily on maintaining a healthy weight when you plan to become pregnant. Being overweight disrupts the normal functioning of ovulation and hormonal balance and deteriorates egg quality. The combination of obesity and pregnancy can elevate the chances of developing gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. Try to keep your weight goals realistic and healthy to avoid putting stress on your hormones.
Why Retinol/Retinoids Are Harmful During Pregnancy
Pregnancy brings new changes and sensitivities, including those affecting your skin. Products that once provided clear, radiant skin may now raise concerns. Retinol and retinoids are among the ingredients that require extra caution. These vitamin A derivatives are celebrated for their powerful skin-renewing effects, but during pregnancy, their benefits come with serious risks. Switching products isn’t just about skincare; it’s about protecting your baby’s development.
Main Causes of Embryo Implantation Failure
Implantation is when the embryo attaches to the lining of your womb, marking the start of pregnancy. Without this step, pregnancy can’t continue, even if the egg and sperm have joined successfully. Some people struggle with implantation, often without knowing the reason. Factors like womb health, hormone levels, and embryo quality can affect implantation. Stress, lifestyle habits, and certain medical conditions may also play a role.
Two-Week Wait (TWW) While You Are Trying To Get Pregnant: All You Need To Know
When you are planning to conceive, the journey towards pregnancy is filled with excitement and anticipation. Most of the emotional turmoil happens during the Two-Week Wait phase, that is, the time between ovulation and your expected period date. This phase can be intense, and you may feel a mix of hope and uncertainty. Hormonal fluctuations are common during this time, so it's normal to experience changes in your body.
Understanding Pseudocyesis Or False Pregnancy
Pregnancy is certainly an exciting journey for parents-to-be, but it doesn’t always lead to the anticipated outcome. In rare cases, you may think you are pregnant, only to learn that a real pregnancy did not cause the symptoms experienced. False pregnancy or pseudocyesis is a condition where you actually believe you are pregnant when you are not carrying a baby. Healthcare professionals believe that hormonal and psychological factors might cause it. What Is Pseudocyesis?
Pregnancy Bladder & Bowel Problems: Causes & Tips
Have you constantly felt an urgency to pee, especially during pregnancy? Are you always terrified about being constipated or having Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), even though you only eat at home? Don't worry, you are not alone. When you are pregnant, your body changes in a way that makes it difficult to hold in urine. Bladder and bowel issues, if underestimated, can lead to incontinence and other serious illnesses.
Haemorrhoids During Pregnancy: What You Should Know
Pregnancy is considered to be one of the happiest phases in your life, bringing many physical and physiological changes. You encounter many symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, and hormonal fluctuations. But you may overlook dealing with haemorrhoids during this time. Almost 35% of pregnant women deal with this problem during pregnancy. The sudden rise of progesterone (a sex hormone) is the reason behind constipation during pregnancy.
Everyday Foods That Boost Hormonal Balance and Fertility Naturally
Your hormonal health and fertility are closely linked to your diet. The foods you consume daily can influence hormone production, balance, and reproductive function. Nutrient-rich foods give you the vitamins and minerals your body needs to support hormone health and ovulation. Research shows that diets high in antioxidants from fruits and vegetables can improve sperm quality and lower oxidative stress, a key factor in fertility.
Pregnancy Dreams: What Science Says About Your Nighttime Visions
Dreams are mental experiences that occur naturally during sleep and often involve images, thoughts or sensations. During pregnancy, these dreams can feel more intense and full of emotion. They are driven by body changes, hormone shifts and mental stress. Rising hormones such as progesterone, oestrogen, and cortisol affect the brain activity and your sleeping pattern. Progesterone helps you relax, but it also causes sleep fragmentation.
How to Read Food Labels When You Are Pregnant
A food label helps you pick the right food when comparing similar products from different brands. You can choose healthy food by reading labels for essential nutrient information. While you are pregnant, maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet is crucial for you and your baby’s well-being. Your diet should include various foods that fulfil your nutritional requirements. Therefore, reading and understanding the food label carefully can make it easy to make the right choice.
Exploring Stem Cell Therapy for Fertility: A Promising New Approach for Infertility Treatment
Stem cell therapy is a promising area in reproductive medicine that brings hope to many couples facing infertility. Globally, an estimated 60 to 80 million couples struggle with this condition. In India, around 15 to 20 million couples are affected. Infertility in women is often linked to conditions like premature ovarian failure, endometriosis, PCOS or damage to the uterus and fallopian tubes. Standard treatments like hormone therapy, surgery or IVF do not help every patient.
Food Aversions in Pregnancy: What You Need to Know
Food aversions during pregnancy can impact up to 60 per cent of pregnant women. These aversions can make certain foods, smells, or textures that were once enjoyed seem unpleasant. The main cause is hormonal changes that increase sensitivity to taste and smell. Common triggers include meat, fish, eggs, dairy, spicy foods, and strong-smelling vegetables like onions and garlic. However, every pregnancy is different, and triggers can vary.
Why the Third Trimester Is the Most Challenging Stage of Pregnancy
The third trimester of pregnancy lasts from week 28 to week 40. This stage is usually the most challenging for expectant mothers, both physically and emotionally. Around of pregnant women experience more discomfort during the third trimester, mainly due to physical changes such as leg cramps, weight gain, back pain, and swelling in limbs. Over of women have trouble sleeping in the third trimester. This is mostly due to frequent urination and active foetal movements.
10 Safe and Effective Ways to Stay Active During Pregnancy
An active lifestyle during pregnancy is healthy and beneficial. Even if you are someone who has never been physically active before pregnancy, you can start now. However, there are certain things that you must be careful about. It is best to consult with your doctor before starting a routine. The right activities can help you reduce pregnancy discomforts and improve your mood. Some of these activities help during the labour period.
Dealing With Pregnancy Allergies: What's Safe and What's Not?
Pregnancy is a unique journey full of hormonal, mental, and physical changes. Some of these changes, such as morning sickness or tiredness, are expected; others could surprise you. One such unexpected development is allergies. Whether you are experiencing allergies for the first time or have a history of them, it is imperative to gather the right knowledge. Understanding Allergies During Pregnancy Your immune system changes while you are pregnant to support your developing baby.
The Hidden Impact of Pollution on Pregnancy
Pollution is a major environmental problem that can seriously harm your health. If you are pregnant, both you and your unborn baby are especially at risk. Heavy traffic, industrial waste, and even household chemicals release dangerous particles into the air you breathe. Breathing in these particles can cause inflammation and stress in your body. This might affect the way your pregnancy progresses.
The Surprising Role of Dental Hygiene in a Healthy Pregnancy
While pregnancy brings excitement and expectation, it also calls for increased awareness of health and wellness, including dental care. Understanding how pregnancy can affect your oral health and the reasons behind regular dental appointments are crucial as you get ready for the arrival of your little one. This article seeks to highlight the particular dental difficulties experienced by expectant moms and offer practical advice on preserving ideal oral health during pregnancy.
Intermittent Fasting And Fertility: All You Need To Know
Have you ever considered whether changing your eating habits could affect your chances of getting pregnant? Intermittent fasting (IF) isn’t only a tool for weight management but also affects metabolic and hormonal functions that are crucial for fertility. Because reproductive health relies on a hormonal balance, even a slight change in energy intake and timing can have a significant impact. IF is being studied for its possible impacts on ovulation, menstrual cycles, and sperm quality.
Why Sun Protection is Crucial for Pregnant Women
During pregnancy, the body goes through many changes. In a country like India, the sun can be harsh, so protecting your skin becomes more important than ever. Expectant mothers need to take extra care as their skin becomes more sensitive to sunlight. Using proper sun protection helps prevent damage and keeps the mother and the baby safe. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can trigger a rise in melanin production, mainly due to higher levels of oestrogen.
Ovulation Test Strips: Here's All You Need To Know
Ovulation is the process by which a mature egg is released from one of the ovaries every month. If you're trying to conceive, understanding the basics of your cycle is crucial. During ovulation, the peak fertility occurs within this 12-24 hour window. Timed intercourse can increase your chances of conceiving successfully. However, the cycle isn't set in stone and changes every month.
Heightened Senses During Pregnancy: What They Mean and Why They Happen
Many pregnant women report heightened senses, especially when it comes to smell and taste. This is mostly linked to hormonal changes. The increase in oestrogen and higher levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) play a major role. As these hormones rise, the senses can become more heightened. These hormones influence how the brain processes sensory signals. As a result, certain smells can feel more intense or even unpleasant. This stronger sense of smell is known as hyperosmia.
Frequent Yeast Infections During Pregnancy: What To Do
Are you experiencing persistent itching or unusual discharge during pregnancy? Are these symptoms recurring despite treatment? Yeast infections are a significant concern for pregnant women. These are often triggered by hormonal changes and other factors related to pregnancy. Usually harmless, however, if left untreated, it can cause discomfort and complications for both mother and baby. Understanding the causes of yeast infections, how to identify them, and the treatments is important.
The Role of Progesterone in Successful Conception: What You Should Know
Often referred to as the pregnancy hormone, progesterone is one of the most common female hormones found naturally in the body. This hormone is vital both before and during pregnancy. Progesterone is often prescribed during Assisted Reproductive Therapy for IVF. It is best to consult a healthcare expert to keep a check on the progesterone levels. Progesterone regulates the menstrual cycle and is meant to get the uterus ready for pregnancy.
Baby’s Brain on Board: How to Support Cognitive Development from Week 13
It’s Week 13. Your bump might be starting to show, your cravings are getting interesting, and that little flutter in your belly? It’s the start of something magical. Behind the scenes, your baby’s brain is doing the heavy lifting, developing at lightning speed. Although many would think of brain development as a later pregnancy or early childhood phenomenon, what’s surprising is how early it begins! So, what can you do to ensure your baby’s brain starts out healthy and strong? A lot, actually.
Guide to Preparing for Labour and Delivery
Preparing for labour can help you feel more confident if you are nearing the end of your pregnancy. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eight antenatal check-ups for pregnant women. These check-ups monitor maternal health and foetal development. They also provide parents with important guidance to prepare for delivery. Knowing the signs of labour is also important. One of the main signs is contractions. These are cramps that get stronger over time and signal the start of childbirth.
How Smoking Impacts Female Fertility and Effective Ways to Quit Safely
If you're planning to conceive or struggling with fertility issues, understanding how smoking affects your body is an important step forward. Cigarette consumption at any frequency leads to extensive and detrimental impacts on your capacity to reproduce. Several women overlook the fact that cigarette smoke contains damaging substances which attack their ovaries, modify hormone output and disrupt their cycles.
Top Ways to Regulate Blood Sugar When Trying to Conceive
Blood sugar balance is often overlooked when you're trying to conceive. Most focus goes to ovulation and hormone levels, but unstable glucose can quietly affect fertility, even if you don’t have diabetes. It can throw off hormone balance and interfere with reproductive functions at several stages. Keeping your blood sugar steady isn’t just about cutting sweets; it also supports hormonal stability, which can improve your chances of conceiving.
Understanding and Managing High-Risk Pregnancy
A high-risk pregnancy means there is a greater chance of health complications for the mother, the baby, or both. In India, more than of pregnancies are considered high-risk. Such pregnancies can arise due to pre-existing maternal health issues or from complications that develop during pregnancy. Hearing that your pregnancy is high-risk can feel scary. You might start to panic or worry, but you are not alone in this.
Understanding Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Severe Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
Nausea and vomiting affect nearly 80 per cent of pregnant women and are considered common during pregnancy. These symptoms usually begin between the 4th and 8th week of gestation, and often ease by the 16th to 18th week. In most cases, the condition is mild and resolves on its own. However, a small group of women may experience a more intense form called Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). This severe condition affects about 0.3 to 2 per cent of pregnancies.
Headline: What to Do If You Aren’t Excited About Being Pregnant (And Why That’s Okay)
For generations, pregnancy has been painted as one of the most magical times in a woman’s life. With the cute baby bump, the pampering and the thrill of new beginnings, it should be a happy journey, right? But what do you do when it’s not? If you’re pregnant and not too happy about it, take a deep breath because you’re not alone. And, more importantly, it’s okay to feel the way you’re feeling.
Body Image Changes During Pregnancy and How To Manage Them
Pregnancy is a time of major physical and emotional change. As the baby grows, the body adjusts to support this development. Weight gain is natural and necessary. Your breasts become fuller, the belly grows, and hormonal shifts affect skin and mood. The body goes through these changes to help prepare for childbirth and breastfeeding. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as mentioned in their booklet for expecting mothers, the average weight gain during pregnancy is 9 to 11 kg.
Viable Pregnancy and a Nonviable Pregnancy: Here's All You Need To Know
What is a viable pregnancy, and what does it mean? Can you tell if your pregnancy is going as it should or not? The answer is yes; a pregnancy can be nonviable without symptoms. These are just some of the many questions expectant parents have when responding to uncertainty in the early days of pregnancy. Understanding the difference between a viable pregnancy and a non-viable one can be complex and overwhelming, but it is crucial to understand to make informed decisions.
What the Ultrasound Doesn’t Show: The Emotional Side of Prenatal Care
Pregnancy is often described as a glorious journey of transformation replete with glowing skin, little kicks and, finally, that precious ultrasound image. And as great care is taken to monitor the physical form, bodily changes, and health screenings, what we don’t often discuss, and what is perhaps even harder to mention, is the emotional havoc that many women battle quietly during this time.
How Your Sense of Smell, Taste and Emotion Changes With Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a magical experience, but it also brings a rollercoaster of changes, both seen and unseen. While lots of expectant mothers prepare for physical changes like a growing bump, morning sickness or swollen ankles, not enough is told about the internal ones, particularly the ones that affect how you feel, taste and smell. The good news? These shifts are completely normal and are typically transient. The not-so-good news?
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