Nosebleed (epistaxis)?

 Simple first aid to stop the bleeding.

• Sit up with your head bent forward.
• Using your thumb and index finger, pinch the nostril for at least 8-10 minutes.
• Breath through your mouth.
• Ice wrapped in a towel or plastic bag can be applied to the nose, while it is being pinched, to help stop the bleeding.
•  Don't blow your nose for at least 12-24 hours because that can dislodge the blood clot
• It is also important to remain quiet and not talk excessively, which could cause you to inhale blood
• Once the nosebleed has stopped, do not pick the nose or try to blow out any of the blood remaining in the nostrils. This may cause another nosebleed.
• Do not stuff anything into the nostril

Prevention of nose bleeds

1.     Staying well hydrated, drinking plenty of water.

2.     Nasal saline sprays are also helpful.

3.     Absorbent cotton or gauze to coat the interior of the nostrils with a gel or petroleum jelly

4.     Avoid forceful nose blowing.

5.     To control nose-picking in children, keep their fingernails cut short.

VACCINE/IMMUNITY

As a parent everyone must have heard the word Immunity /Vaccine?

But what is it ?

What is immunity ?

Immunity Protects us From Disease.

Immunity is the body’s way of preventing disease.  Children are born with an immune system composed of cells, glands, organs, and fluids located throughout the body. The immune system recognizes germs that enter the body as "foreign invaders” (called antigens) and produces proteins called antibodies to fight them.

The first time a child is infected with a specific antigen (say measles virus), the immune system produces antibodies designed to fight it. This takes time. usually the immune system can’t work fast enough to prevent the antigen from causing disease, so the child still gets sick.  However, the immune system “remembers” that antigen. If it ever enters the body again, even after many years, the immune system can produce antibodies fast enough to keep it from causing disease a second time. This protection is called immunity.

What is vaccine?

Vaccines contain the same antigens that cause diseases. For example, measles vaccine contains measles virus. But the antigens in vaccines are either killed, or weakened to the point that they don’t cause disease. However, they are strong enough to make the immune system produce antibodies that lead to immunity. In other words, a vaccine is a safer substitute for a child’s first exposure to a disease. The child gets protection without having to get sick. Through vaccination, children can develop immunity without suffering from the actual diseases that vaccines prevent.

Simply put, vaccines save lives!

You have the power to protect your baby!

As a parent, you work hard to protect your baby, and vaccines are a valuable tool in your ongoing efforts to keep your child healthy and safe. Vaccines offer the best-known protection against a number of devastating illnesses, but they must be administered on a timely basis in order to protect your children at the earliest possible opportunity; protecting them when they are most vulnerable.

Here are the 14 diseases that can be prevented with routine childhood vaccination:

Diphtheria

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Hib ((Haemophilus influenza B)

Influenza (flu)

Measles

Mumps

Pertussis (Whooping cough)

Pneumococcal Disease

Polio

Rotavirus

Rubella

Tetanus

Varicella (chickenpox)

Maximum diseases are covered under the National immunisation programme of all countries but vaccines for the following diseases are optional and you can discuss with your doctor to protect your child from them

Hepatitis A

·         Caused by Hepatitis A virus

·         Spreads by Personal contact, Contaminated food or water

·         Signs &symptoms- Fever, stomach pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting, jaundice, dark urine. 

·         Complications - Liver failure, death   
    From 1 yrs onwards   ,2 intramuscular shots second dose  within 6 to 18mnths.     

Influenza (flu)
·         caused by Influenza virus
·         Spread by Air, direct contact                   
·         Signs & symptoms Fever, muscle pain, running nose, cough
·         Complications Pneumonia,Reyesyndrome,myocarditis, death
 Recommended for high risk children with asthama and chronic lung infection,
  Every flu season when ever vaccine becomes available , intramuscular or nasal spray,2 shots ,second dose 28 days after the first dose

Rotavirus
§  caused by Rotavirus virus
§  Spread by Through the mouth
§  Signs &symptom  Diarrhoea, fever, vomiting   
§  Complications Severe diarrhoea, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, kidney and liver disease, death.

From 2mnth onwards ,oral drops given in 3 doses at ages 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months.

Varicella (chickenpox) 

•  caused by  Varicella Zoster virus
•  Spread by Air, direct contact
• Signs &symptom Rash, fever
•  Complications Bacterial infections, meningitis, encephalitis, pneumonia, death. 
•     From 1 yr onwards,2 shots , subcutaneous ,second dose after 3 mnths of first dose in less than 12 yrs and within 1mnth in children  more than 12 yrs .

     HPV (Human Papilloma virus)

•          Certain human papillomavirus (HPV) types cause cancer, including: cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal (base of the tongue, tonsils and back of throat) cancers.
•          Spread by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity with another person. It is possible to have HPV without knowing it, so it is possible to unknowingly spread HPV to another person.
•          HPV vaccine is a strong weapon in prevention.
•         Doctors  recommends that all 11 or 12 year old girls get the 3 doses (shots)  of HPV vaccine at 0,2 and 6 mths interval  to protect against cervical cancer.

  

WEANING -   Introducing solids to your baby

Introducing solids is important for helping your baby learn to eat, giving him experience of new tastes and textures from a range of foods, developing his teeth and jaws, and building other skills that he’ll need later for language development.

  Solids don’t replace breastfeeding or infant formula. Your baby needs breast milk and/or infant formula along with solids until at least 12 months.

When your baby needs them?

Signs your baby is ready for solids include when your baby

•   Has good head and neck control and can sit upright when supported 
•  Shows an interest in food – for example, looking at what’s on your plate
•   Reaches out for your food  
•    Opens his/her mouth when you offer her food on a spoon.
•  These signs happen at different times for different babies, but most babies    will show signs by around four to six months.
• When you’re first introducing  solids, it’s a good idea to offer solids when you and your baby are both happy  and relaxed. 

How to introduce solids?

Food texture- First foods can be mashed, smoothed, pureed or offered in soft pieces – it’s up to you.

Food types- All new foods are exciting for your baby.You can introduce solids in any order. 

There’s no need to introduce just one food at a time. But if you’re worried about a family history of food allergies, then you can introduce one new food at a time, wait 5 days - then introduce another to make sure you can be aware of any food allergies that come about .This can help with identifying allergic reactions. High allergenic foods include: eggs, wheat, gluten, soya, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, seeds etc.

When to introduce?  

    4-6mnths 

•   Breakfast and bedtime should be breast milk or formula milk.
•       Try new food at midmornings and mid-afternoons as this time your baby   is in his best moods both happy and relaxed
•   Start with mashed fruits, daal water, smooth silky watery rice porridge .
•   Start with 1 or 2 tablespoon and gradually increase the quantity.

What to introduce?

  

1.Fruits

•  Mashed bananas: Bananas should be mashed, and then given plain or mixed with cream or milk. Start with quarter banana, and increase it every week until the baby accepts it.
• Boiled and mashed apples: Take an apple and cut it into pieces, taking care to remove the center core.  Boil it and then mash it either with a spoon or in a mixer.  Start with half an apple and increase it to the limit accepted by the child. 
•   Other seasonal fruits: Other seasonal fruits like pears (to be prepared like apples), chikoo (simply mashed), papaya (simply mashed), and mango (simply mashed) can also be given. It has been observed that papaya helps soften stools if the baby is constipated.

2.Mashed and well-cooked vegetables:

·         Vegetables should first be boiled, then mashed in a blender.

·         Carrots ,peas and pumpkin are very healthy.

·         Until your baby is seven month stain your vegetable puree as too much fibre can cause bloating in infants less than seven month.

3.Porridge:

There are several ways of offering home-made porridge:

-Oats porridge ,soak oats and boil it with milk .

-Suji kheer (rava kheer) roast semolina add milk cook till done.

-Rice kheer (rice porridge) boil rice with milk and cook till done.

-Dalia from broken wheat-soak and boil dalia add water or milk as u like.

-Raagi (or nachni) with milk

 4.Mashed and well-cooked khichri ( daal and rice)

•  Take equal quantity of rice and masoor or moong daal ,coarse grind and     store in a jar. (easy for your daily  use)
• Heat 1/4teaspoon ghee, roast this  mix , add water and cook till soft
•  Vegetables like carrot,beans,peas ,potato etc  can be added, avoid adding too much salt .
•  Initially, you should put the cooked khichri in a blender so that it is easy for the baby to swallow.

5. Curds/yogurt:

  When the child is about 6 months old, curds can be introduced in the child's diet.  Start with about 2 teaspoons and then gradually increase. Avoid adding sugar or other sweeteners to the curds.

6.Soft boiled egg:

Egg can be added to the baby's diet when the child is about 6-7 months.  The egg should be boiled in water for three minutes, and then cooled in running water.  First begin with one teaspoon of the yolk (yellow portion), and then gradually introduce the white portion of the egg.  The white is very high in proteins, but can also cause allergic reactions in some babies.

7.Fish, minced meat/chicken

In the case of non-vegetarians, these foods can also be introduced, in the soup form initially.  It can later be steamed, minced and offered to the child.

Plan your Childs meal:

Breakfast         - 8am

Mid-morning     -11am

Lunch              - 2pm

Mid-afternoon   -5pm

Dinner             -8pm

Bedtime          -10pm

Example of vegetarian food plan

Vegetarian meal plan: six to eight months

Breakfast - breast or formula milk

mid morning - breast or formula milk or stewed apple

lunch - mashed rice mixed with breast or formula milk

mid afternoon - breast or formula milk

dinner - breast or formula milk

bedtime - breast or formula milk

Vegetarian meal plan: eight to ten months

Breakfast - breast or formula milk

mid morning - mashed banana

lunch - mashed khichdi with carrots (gajar) and pumpkin (kaddu)

mid afternoon - breast or formula milk

dinner - mashed vegetable soup with potatoes

bedtime - breast or formula milk

Vegetarian meal plan: ten  to 12 months

Breakfast - breast or formula milk

mid morning - stewed pear

lunch - mashed khichdi with vegetables and fruit or mashed idli with curd and vegetables

mid afternoon - breast or formula milk

dinner - mashed vegetable soup with potatoes or mashed khichdi with vegetables and fruit

bedtime - breast or formula milk

(Gradually increase portion sizes).

                                                     HEALTHY DIET

-Explain your child about  food pyramid.
-Encourage him to eat healthy food with this healthy food chart.
-Take a print out of this food chart and stick on your fridge(fridge magnet) 
-Healthy food will be fun this way .
-What r u waiting for !!!



- Download your healthy food chart from the link below

http://www.avivaallen.com/resources/resources/Aviva%20Allen%20Kids%20Healthy%20Chart%20-%20new.pdf

*Each day, check off a circle for every serving consumed per category and recieve 1 point when a category has been completed.

* Encourage your child to try new foods! They will receive 1 bonus point each day for trying something new.

* Total up the points at the end of each day. If their points for the week total 30 or more, they will recieve a reward.

* At the start of each week, decide on the reward* for your child if they achieve the goal. Choose something that will be a strong motivator for them to complete the chart.

*Make sure this is a non-food reward.

7 Habits for Great Health

1.  Always wash hands for 20 seconds or use antiseptic gel.
2.  Cover your cough with tissue or cough in yr sleeves not your hand.
3.  Avoid crowded places.
4.  Avoid hugging if you have cough or upper respiratory infection.
5. Visit nearest physicians when having influenza like symptoms.
6. Vaccinate against flu & Pneumococcal if you have chronic diseases. 
7. Stay healthy with balance diet, daily activity &enough sleep.

Sleep –Best gift ever for a mother

Being a mother, especially a mother of an infant or toddler, can be exhausting. Your sleep habits are no longer your own but rather dictated by your child you want to nurture. In these situations, quality sleep recommended 7 to 9 hours becomes nearly impossible!

 Todays mother is just not a mother, she is a multifaceted women who has to be a cook, a teacher, a wife, and on top of it she has her own profession as well to look after. Donning all these roles to the best of her capacity she usually neglects herself be it personal grooming, health, or sleep.

Lack of sleep lowers cognitive flexibility—a person is less capable of switching between tasks and understanding multiple perspectives when they have a sleep debt. Sleep deprivation impacts emotional health in romantic and family relationships as well .Sleep is crucial for personal and professional success.

Make a Commitment to Self-Care this Mother’s Day.

Here are 7 ways you can increase your quality of sleep today.

1.Ways to put your baby to sleep.

 Before bedtime

 - Offer your baby the opportunity to eat or drink

 - Give your baby a warm bath.

 - Change the baby's diaper, if necessary.

 - Soothe the baby, tell or read baby a story .   

 - Rock the baby in a rocking chair or glider

    -Dress baby for bed. Be sure clothing is not too warm or cool.

    -Sometimes gently rubbing babies between the eyes, on the bridge of their nose, can relax them enough to fall asleep.

 2. Lose the stimulants- While caffeine temporarily makes us feel more awake and alert, consumption can lead to insomnia, irritability, and disturbed sleep. For better sleep, keep your caffeine intake at a moderate level.

3. Build a good sleep environment- Create the best environment for sleep by keeping the room cool and dark; it should be a relaxing place without distractions like TVs.

4. Unplug- It can be tempting to browse the Internet and catch up on email when you’re waiting for that magic moment of sleep to come.Charge your phones in another room other than your bedroom, it will help to keep you present in your bed.

5. Meditate- You don’t need to become a yogi to get these benefits. Short intentional mediation practices, 5 to 10 minutes a day, can be enough to support quality sleep.

6. Create a sleep routine- consistent implementation of the routine will signal to your body that it is time for sleep, relaxing you and inducing drowsiness.

7. Cut your afternoon naps.

8.Have a balance diet