MOM YOU ARE IN CHARGE!

YOU ARE IN CHARGE!

 Managing Your Career and Breastfeeding

Mom, welcome to yet another challenge! As a working woman you would have faced innumerable challenges and your success in surmounting them has placed you where you are. If you are expecting a baby or have an infant at home, you have a life defining chance to shape your baby’s life.  Breastfeeding. It is the right way to nurture your baby.

Why should you breastfeed your baby?

ü  Less illnesses, diseases & disorders

ü  Antibodies (that fight infection) in breast milk

ü  Better developed nervous system

ü  Better IQ than non breastfed babies

ü  Breast milk is tailor made for the babies need. If your baby is pre-term the composition of the milk changes to suit the needs of the baby.

ü  Readily available no need for any preparation

ü  Intimacy and better bonding with the mother due to skin to skin contact

What it means to you the mom?

ü  A health baby means less anxiety, less number of off from work, focus on career and reduced medical expenses.

ü  Decreased postpartum bleeding

ü  Earlier return to pre-pregnancy weight

ü  Delayed resumption of ovulation

ü  Reduced risk of ovarian cancer and reduced premenopausal breast cancer

ü   

SO BE FIRM ON BREASTFEEDING YOUR BABY EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF LIFE and continue breast feeding along with complimentary feeding. Once YOU DECIDE there is NO STOPPING.

During the last trimester of your pregnancy, enroll for prenatal class that counsels on breastfeeding. During the first few weeks after delivery, get your baby to feed from your breast. Depending upon your work life and the number of holidays you get post pregnancy, work out a feeding plan. Invest in a good breast pump and learn to express and store the milk. Feed your baby the expressed milk and from your breasts alternatively. Initially it may be trying for both you and your baby, but things will settle down quickly. Make your baby comfortable with the feeding plan before you resume work. Take the right amount of nutrition and nutritional supplements. If you have issues with breastfeeding, you always have the guidance of professional lactation consultants who will help you resolve your issues.

Remember it is YOU who can decide on breastfeeding and being a mother it is but natural for you to want to breastfeed your baby. Let not hurdles or deterrents come your way. The ONUS is UPON YOU and YOU are in-charge!

Issued in the public interest as part of World Breastfeeding 2013 campaign by MILC Centre.

www.smrthipediatriccare.com

YOU SHOULD KNOW THESE ABOUT DENGUE

1. How do I know if my child has dengue? How soon should I see a doctor?

If your child has fever, headache, chills, joint pain, pain when moving the eyes, go see your doctor AVOID SELF MEDICATION. Some medications can lead to decreased platet counts, bleeding and may be mask fever which may be misleading. Your doctor  may be able to pick up early signs of dengue and decide the further course of action. Usually blood tests are done to confirm the diagnosis.

2. How dangerous is it?

Dengue can be dangerous in children under 10 years of age as they can contract Dengue Hemorrhagic fever which can be life threatening. Children develop abdominal pain, bleeding and circulatory collapse. Usually this requires hospitalization and constant monitoring.

In general, early detection and proper supportive care can restore the patient back to good health. The acute phase of the illness lasts for about 1-2 weeks. But recovery to good health takes several weeks following the acute phase.

3. What are the treatment options?

There are no curative medicines or vaccines for dengue. As of now, only symptomatic relief can be provided and there are no medicines to fight the virus. Adequate hydration and rest must be taken. Use of medicines must be under the direction of a doctor as aspirin and other non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs can be dangerous.

4. Can the illness repeat?

This disease is caused by one of the 4 sero types of the virus. So if once infected with one sero type of the virus, you get lifetime immunity against that serotype only and you are still vulnerable to the other 3 serotypes.

5. What preventive methods can I adopt?

Dengue is not spread directly from man to man. Instead, if a particular variety of mosquito (aedes mosquito) bites an infected person and then bites another person, it transmits the virus. So mosquito eradication and preventive methods can help you stay safe.

Here is what to do:

Avoid stagnant water. As dengue breeds in rainy season, ensure water that gets filled in pots, open pits is drained. Also in urban areas, this mosquito breeds in cool interiors such as cupboards, under beds, curtains etc so make sure to keep them clean. As this mosquito is more active during sunrise and sunset, avoid exposure to mosquito bites hours around these times. But remember this mosquito can bite any time of the day. Wear covered dresses; apply mosquito repellent creams to escape mosquito bites.

 Dr.S.Subramanian M.D