How to select the right soap for your baby

Posted on August 6, 2013 by admin

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As you know there are so many baby soaps and soap washes available in India and abroad. Here in India Johnson’s products have become a home name for baby products. Now slowly Himalaya and Chicco are building their brand names.

I stated off with Johnson baby moisture wash (made in US). It was mild, but I noticed my baby tanning a bit. Also, it could not wash off heavy oils such as coconut or sesame oil.

So I next moved to Johnson baby head to toe wash, it was a part of a gift set given to me by a lot of friends and relatives. Again I stopped because of some kind of tanning and complexion changes. Continue reading →

Next I moved to Himalaya soap, it worked very well on my baby. As it was summer it was a great soap and I used it for 2 months. Even cost wise it was perfect.

The weather started changing in Bangalore weather, and it started drying my baby’s skin. and the soap did sting the eyes. So next…

I used Johnson baby soap, same effect.. so next..

Tedibar soap. This was suggested by a friend of mine who is a doctor. It has the perfect PH balance, made by Curatiohealthcare. It worked like magic on my baby’s skin. Im going to continue using this soap for a long long time.

Some more suggestions: I heard Cetaphil also makes very good soaps, if your baby has eczema I suggest Cetaphil Moisture wash.

Two other popular brands now are Chicco and Pigeon.

If your not looking at cost Mothercare has excellent soaps and bodywashes.

We tried the besan haldi thing but it dried out my baby skin and my baby is allergic to turmeric.

Summary:

  • Always buy a small unit and try for a day or two
  • Every baby is different
  • Check for a Ph neutral soap
  • Choose soaps with little or no perfume
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Home remedy for constipation in infants

Posted on August 6, 2013 by admin

betel

It’s totally normal for infants below 3 months to poop once in 3-7 days. Breastfed infants don’t face issues with constipation. It happens mostly with formula fed infants. Whatever it is, it’s very common and easily treatable.
My baby was mostly breastfed and used to be formula fed once in 2-3 days. She was a colic baby and colic used to get worse when she does not pass her stools for more than a day.

Home remedy we used was dipping a betel leaf with castor oil and placing it on her stomach. Continue reading →

Castor oil is known for its cooling properties and used to relieve stomach pain. You can find it turning black in sometime.
Ok now that’s a remedy just for the stomach pain.

For constipation my doc suggested us to dip the stalk of the betel leaf with castor oil and dipping it into the anus. This was a good remedy and within hours she used to pass out her stools.

You can try Elcarim drops which is completely herbal daily to avoid colic. Elcarim drops is reviewed on the blog.

P.S: Always heat the castor oil and use. Just 30 seconds heating in the microwave will do.

Hope this helps!!!

Image source:

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Pregnancy Experience

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Guest

 

summary

I had a hectic nine months which was one of the toughest times in my life due to my past history of miscarriages. Once you have a negative experience it is very difficult to get back and every step becomes a big milestone to cross.

I used to fear every scan till the end and worry every minute. The happiest day in my life was when my baby was born. I was relieved. Till then I used to observe every move of my baby in my womb and safeguard my pregnancy. Only people who have gone through miscarriages will know what a tough phase this can be.

The day I got a confirmation on my pregnancy I was excited and at the same time nervous. I knew it was a big task ahead of me. I had to cross the 13 weeks benchmark. I had my miscarriage at 12 weeks. So every day for me was very difficult and I could not take my mind away from the pregnancy. Continue reading →

I was put on heparin injections after my first scan. Heparin treatment review here,

It is very painful to inject your own body but eventually, you get used to it. Also, with that, I was given progesterone.
Once I crossed 13 weeks, I was happy but still nervous and anxious. Next trimester was very smooth sailing. All the nausea was gone. But I had to take another weekly progesterone injection called maintain. Muscular injections are very painful but I used to always tell myself that this too shall pass.

Otherwise, everything was good. Since I had very less activity and was advised rest, I put on a lot of weight during pregnancy. During the 8th month, I developed gestational diabetes.
More about gestational diabetes, here:

I ate too much sweets in the 7th month as it was Diwali time. Then added to all my injections, I had insulin to take. I bought a big whiteboard and put down all the injections and medicines that I had to take. My god it was very challenging.
But then believe me it’s all worth it.

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How to administer heparin injections

Posted on July 29, 2013 by admin

If you have recurrent pregnancy loses heparin injections are prescribed. Heparins are basically blood thinners.
I was on enoxaparin (enoxarin) once a day. They are prefilled syringes and are quite expensive too.

It can be taken in the legs stomach or love handles.
I injected it daily on my thighs. I used my inner thighs. It needs to be injected in the fat.
Thanks to god that I have a lot of fat in my body. Continue reading →

Site on a chair and select a portion of the inner thigh that is loose and hanging.
Just pinch it and poke the injection straight. Then press the injection. You can use surgical spirit before injecting, but I used to inject directly. Most of the time there was no blood discharge.

If a few drops of blood oozes out, wipe it and apply some dettol or antiseptic solution.
Tips: hold the injection straight and poke right in, first the needle then you inject. The needle has to be perpendicular to the surface.

Dont freak out this is temporary.

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Gestational diabetes during pregnancy

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Guest

 

diabetes

I don’t want to write about gestational diabetes here, there is a lot of Wikipedia to read.
I can write about my experience with gestational diabetes.

How to prevent it:
I had a complicated pregnancy and hence was advised bed-rest. For those who can walk, it is the best way to burn sugars. Walk regularly.
Avoid eating refined sugars after 6 months. During the last trimester many families in India would feed you with loads of milk sweets and ghee as the baby grows the maximum during the last trimester. So does gestational diabetes. Continue reading →

My experience:
My doctor noticed a little extra amniotic fluid and suspected gestational diabetes. After doing my glucose tolerance test we noticed that my sugars after fast were a little high.

My doctor put me on a 2000 calorie diet and asked me to monitor my sugars. The diet was the usual diabetic diet with half a liter of sugarless milk. I hate milk so had to skip that step, I made up with yogurt.

But then my sugars kept fluctuating, and since mine was a high risk pregnancy. I was put on insulin directly. I was given two insulin guns one for the day and one during the night. Also, I maintained a very strict diet with no sugar or rice.

It’s not very painful to take these shots; I used to take them on my hand. Try to avoid muscles, just pinch the flesh and click the pen.
I would say if your doctor advices you go for it.

My diabetes was gone immediately after my baby was born. So till then yes it will always be behind your head that something is wrong or might go wrong. I can only say be positive and follow the first few points and prevent gestational diabetes if you can if not take it seriously and follow your doctor.

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Lactation classes Cloudnine hospital

Posted on July 29, 2013 by admin

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I attended a lactation session during my stay at Cloud nine. I had to take my baby with me. The only problem was that it was held only one day after surgery so I was very tired to concentrate.

They told us the importance of breast feeding and how to breastfeed. I am one person who wanted to do everything perfectly and messed up the most. Continue reading →

I think it’s better to take it slow and let the baby do its part. Not be too conscious about the 1/3 breast latch etc etc.

The lactation consultant was very helpful in coming to my room to help me again. But the problem is that we don’t have recliner beds at home.

If such classes are provided by the hospital then fine but there is no need to go in search of one.

Sadly we don’t have many qualified lactation consultants here in India. Do contact La leche league leaders for support, you can see our page on Breastfeeding.

Image source: cloudninecare.com

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Baby Sleep patterns

Posted on July 29, 2013 by admin

By Jaishri
sleep

Baby sleep patterns must be one of the most searches topics on Google. Even I used to search everywhere and wonder how this thing is going to resolve.
But the simple answer to this is “patience”.

Babies have very tiny stomachs and to create a schedule for them so that you can sleep is not correct.

I would agree feeding them every 2-3 hours is essential. But you can’t expect them to sleep at night.
They will stay awake at night for 3-4 months and then things will get better, they will understand the difference between day and night. They will wake up only 1-2 times for feed. Continue reading →

Meanwhile you just have to sleep when the baby sleeps; this is your only mantra. I think acceptance is better than trying. During the night they cry due to two reasons, one they want to play and they are craving for your attention. While you’re busy trying to make them sleep.

Second it must be colic, they develop these gas pains. My baby was a colic child and nothing used to help her till I gave her colic drops called “Colicaid”. Few drops and then the gas would pass out. They will feel much better.
Remedies for colic, here.

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Antenatal class Cloudnine hospital Bangalore

Posted on July 29, 2013 by admin

By Jaishri

cloudnine

Antenatal class By Cloudnine hospital was held at Taj Residency Bangalore. The place was fully crowded and we could not see the speakers.

There were exercise sessions, Lamaze session, nutrition sessions, talks on stem cells and a nice chit chat with Dr Kini from Cloudnine.
It was a nice session with a lot of positivity. Lunch/snacks were light and nice. It was good to see similar crowd. Just that there were too many people. Try sitting in the front rows. Continue reading →

It was a nice day out with my hubby. We had fun.

The class was complimentary with our package, I think they charge for non members.
Image: cloudninecare.com

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Home remedy for nipple sore

Posted on July 29, 2013 by admin

By Poonam

Nipple sore is a horrible condition for some. Many people give up breastfeeding because of the pain.
You have this throbbing pain and at the other end you have this darling baby waiting to be fed.

Breastfeeding is very essential and nipple sore can treated, here are some home remedies: Continue reading →

• Using lanolin creams such as Nipcare for basic sores

• If it’s worse try not feeding on the side which is bad and use only one side. Hand express from the bad side. Let it heal and then you can continue. You can get lopsided, but things will get back to normal

• Contact la leche league leaders close to your area. They are ready to help through phone. They are a breast feeding support organization and they are doing a great job. Contact me if your looking for numbers to call.

• Use a nipple shield.

• Apply apricot oil.

And here is the best and most effective remedy:

• Burn dry coconut (Kopra in Tamil) on direct flame till it chars. Take a stone or on a hard surface. Apply ghee and rub this charred dry coconut, till you get a paste. Apply this on the sore nipples and let it dry.
Wash before the baby feeds. Even if there are some traces it is safe so don’t worry.

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What to pack in a hospital bag

Posted on July 29, 2013 by admin

By Jaishri

bag

Some things that I packed:

2 nightgowns- I didn’t use as hospital provided it

Body wash and shampoo

Comb/towel/toiletries

Tissue paper

Lipbalm, compact as I hate an oily face. Continue reading →

Camera

Medicines such as thyroid/insulin

Stem cell kit

Baby kit- basic dress, towel, wrap,socks, mittens, cap

Sweater/ shawl/ socks- even in summer you will need it

Flask

Home slippers

Feel free to add things I missed in the comments section.

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Food that increases lactation

Posted on July 28, 2013 by admin

By Jaishri

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Food that increases lactation. I’m including only food that has worked for me:

• Shark meat: We boil the shark, remove cartilage, and use the flesh. Cooked in the same way as egg burji. This was the most effective, but my baby turned a little colic.

• Dill leaves/Sabakki soppu/sozhi keerai: this is also effective. Make a basic sabji. It already has a lot of salt content, don’t add to much salt.

• Gourds: All form of gourds, bottle gourd, snake gourd etc Continue reading →

• Cluster beans/ avarekkai

• Roast and Powder jeera, pepper, pumkin seeds, methi. Boil 1 litre water with 1 spoon of powder and drink daily.

• Mother Horlicks: I hate milk and added to that horlicks, but then I drank 1-2 times. For people who like it it works.

• Legiyams : they are some kind of chawanprash, you get it in ayurvedic stores. It has so many ingredients which is suppose to help in lactation and healing.

• Milk: I hate milk but it’s very good for people who can drink it.

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C section story

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Guest

c section

Mine was a precious pregnancy so the doctors were very particular that everything moved smoothly and so we opted for a C section.
I had Homocysteine (link) and gestational diabetes (link) added to that. After I had gestational diabetes, I knew every day was a threat and I had read a lot on stillborns. With diabetes the fetus grows a little bigger and faster. Also, there was a lot of water in the womb.

I was restless towards the end of pregnancy and was literally waiting for the safe time to deliver the baby, once I crossed 36 weeks I started bugging my doctor to perform a C section.
I don’t suggest this to anyone. Anyways when I got the final clearance after my baby was full term and my C section was scheduled. Continue reading →

I packed my bag, I made a checklist, and kept my stem cell kit with that. I’ll talk about what to pack in your hospital bag, and Stem cell storage in a separate post here.

I was asked to stop eating or drinking water the previous night at 8. Since I was on thyroid meds, I could take one tablet in the morning with a little water.

Ok then came the day, surprisingly I was not that nervous, see that’s the advantage of planned C section, your well prepared. We reached Cloudnine hospital, (review here) at 6 in the morning. The otherwise bright and active place was all quiet and empty. We were received by a guy at the reception and taken to our room. Just like checking into a hotel. We left all our belongings there.

I was made to change into the hospital gown and they did a stomach wash for me. Then they strapped the fetal ecg on my hand. It was all fine and we saw huge jumps when my hubby used to speak to the baby 

I was taken inside the operation theater and again I was not nervous, I was surprised myself. Guess I went through so much during pregnancy I really wanted a break from this. Then the anesthetist asked me about my allergies and then injected some meds, god knows what.

There were many women in the recovery room and I could hear my doctor choosing me first. Then I was taken to the OT. I was looking around; it was a small room with a black board (just like school) with all my details. I was really scared of the injection on the spine. Thought it would really hurt, but it was fine. I was made to bend and it was fast. It numbed my entire lower body.

Then the doc came in with her big smile and I could feel some pushes and pulls. Before I could know tadaaaa my little princess came into this world.
What to expect after c setion here..

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