Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that can be acquired from soil, cat faeces and raw meat. It is an infection present in birds and animals. It is also a common dormant infection in humans, more so in hot and humid climates. If a woman is infected before she becomes pregnant, her baby will not be [...]

French doctors Dr. Papa and Dr. Labro have written a book, Boy or Girl? Choosing Your Child Through Your Diet (ritana Books, New Delhi). Doctors in Canada and France who have been advocating the diet theory feel that there is an 80% chance of success. Both partners need to adhere to a particular kind of [...]

When you want to stop feeding, if you pull and drag the baby off the breast, it might give you sore nipples. So instead, you must break the baby’s suction by putting the tip of your finger in the corner of the mouth, and then take him off the breast. Or, pull the chin of [...]

Labour may begin in either of the three ways mentioned below, or two of the following may appear together.   (1) A week or more before labour begins, you may notice a thick mucus discharge which could be white, pink or brown in colour. Sometimes it may even have some bright red blood mixed in [...]

Mother’s milk takes 2 to 3 days to come in the breast. Before that colostrum is present in the breast – it is a clear fluid, very rich in immunities, fat and protein. On drinking colostrums, the baby may not ask for a feed for 6 to 8 hours, since colostrum is very rich and [...]

When a mother breast-feeding, her diet should be nourishing. Spicy food is avoidable. She should also avoid cigarettes, strong or excessive intake of tea, coffee or alcohol. Some mild tea, or decaffeinated coffee or some mild beer or wine are permissible.             Traditional beverages, like those made from boiling herbs or spices in water can [...]

This situation is called postpartum psychosis. Such a woman will cry easily, sleep with difficulty, be tired and irritable, experience fear or inadequancy.   Depression may also creep in when you recall the kind of birth experience you have had or if overburdened with work and have no help. Discuss these feelings with a trusted [...]

            If labour does not start by approximately 2 weeks after the estimated date of delivery, the placenta (the organ that nourishes the baby) may start to get less efficient in supporting the baby inside the uterus. This could deprive the baby of nourishment and the doctor may decide to have the baby delivered.             [...]

            Some woman may develop diabetes in pregnancy, while others may be diabetic to begin with.             Diabetes that starts in pregnancy is called gestational diabetes, and is more likely to occur in the last 3 months of pregnancy. A high glucose level in early pregnancy could mean that the mother was diabetic before pregnancy [...]

            All food that comes out of cans or packets is best avoided. Unseasonal food is avoidable. Food products that are highly refined, e.g. maida and sugar based are avoidable. Alcohol is to be avoided. Food with ajinomoto, i.e. mono sodium glutamate mostly present in soup powders, chips packets and Chinese cooking is also not [...]

            There is strong belief that an unborn child is affected during an eclipse, which is why a woman is asked to go to bed alone and sleep through an eclipse, or just be in bed.             This sounds like grandma’s advice but it has scientific basis. Increasinghly time is proving that much of grandma’s [...]

Earlier 9 kilos used to be considered the permitted weight gain in pregnancy. However, now it is considered to be 12 to13 kilos. If you were underweight when you conceived or if you are going to have twins, you are likely to cross the permitted weight gain. Fried foods and sweets can lead to unnecessary [...]

             There are various methods by which ovulation can be detected in a woman. The cheapest, easiest and the most natural way is the temperature method. Before ovulation a woman’s body temperature dips slightly and when ovulation occurs, it rises slightly. A dip in the temperature signifies that the ovum is ready for release. A [...]