How long can you breastfeed ?

If you breastfeed your baby for simply a couple of days, he/she will receive your foremilk, or early milk. By providing certain anti-infective factors like antibodies and other types of food the baby’s brand new body expects, breastfeeding provides your baby his/her initial and best ‘immunization’. It also helps in getting the baby’s system to operate in a seamless way. It additionally helps your own body recover from post-pregnancy pain. Given how little it takes to offer it, and how much your baby stands to gain, it makes good sense to breastfeed for at least a day or two, even if you plan to bottle-feed after that.

·     If you breastfeed your baby for 4–6 weeks, you will have eased him/her through the foremost vital part of his infancy. Newborns who do not seem to be breastfed are way more seemingly to get sick or be hospitalized, and have an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) than breastfed babies, explain health practitioners at AMRI Hospitals, one of the best maternity hospital in Kolkata. After 4-6 weeks, you'll probably have worked through any early breastfeeding issues, too. Build a significant goal of breastfeeding for a month and seek advice from a qualified breastfeeding expert, if you have got any queries. These will help you to be in an exceedingly higher position to make your mind up whether continuing breastfeeding is ideal for you or not.

·       If you breastfeed your baby for 3-4 months, his/her digestive system will have matured a great deal, and he/she will be ready in a far better way to tolerate the foreign substances. Giving nothing but your breast milk to the baby for the first six months will help to safeguard the baby against various types of infections.

·     If you breastfeed your baby for 6 months without any other food or drink, you will help in ensuring good health throughout your baby's initial years of life, reduce the little one's risk of infections, and cut back on your own risk of breast cancer. Exclusive breastfeeding throughout the first six months, if your periods are yet to come back, provides 98 effective contraceptive methods. The World Health Organization and other well-known medical organizations suggest waiting for a minimum of six months before starting on solid foods.

·   If you breastfeed your baby for nine months, you will have nourished him/her for his/her quickest and most vital brain and body development on the food that was designed for the baby — your milk. Weaning could also be fairly natural at this age but then, so is breastfeeding! If you wish to avoid weaning this early, make sure that, from the beginning you breastfeed willingly so that your child is comforted and not simply fed.

·    If you breastfeed your baby for one year, you will be able to avoid the expense of feeding formula to your child, when it is a fact that your baby’s one-year-old body will be able to handle most of foods consumed by your family on a normal basis. Breastfeeding will give your kid several health benefits, which will last throughout one’s whole life, suggest doctors at AMRI Hospitals, best child care hospital in Kolkata. He/she is going to be less likely to want treatment and have a reduced risk of some childhood cancers like leukemia. Experts recommend breastfeeding for a year, or for as long as a mother and baby needs. As a result of this, it helps ensure the traditional nutrition and health for your baby.

·        If you breastfed your baby for 18 months, you may have continued to supply nutrition, comfort, and sickness protection for your baby, at a time when illness is very common in weaning babies. Your baby is perhaps well established on family foods, too. He/she has had time to create a solid bond with you, which is a healthy start line for his/her growing independence, too. At 18 months, the baby is of the right age when you can begin weaning him/her off breast milk, but at a pace that the baby can handle.

 In cultures where there's no pressure to wean, youngsters tend to feed for a minimum of two years, the World Health Organization and UNICEF strongly encourage breastfeeding throughout a baby’s days of being a toddler: Biologically human beings seem geared to of weaning age he age of 30 months and seven years. It is smart to make our children’s bones from the milk that was designed for them. Your milk provides nutrients, anti-infective factors and different protecting substances as long as your kid continues breastfeeding. 

The World Health Organization says that mothers who feed their babies for a relatively longer time have a lower risk of developing breast cancer. Breastfeeding is an essential parenting issue that has been related to a kid’s emotional development, particularly in developing the bond between children and their mothers. Breastfeeding eases each of you through the tears and tantrums that are an integral part of babyhood, besides helping to ensure that the effect of many diseases are milder and much easier to deal with.

Are there any negative effects of prolonged breastfeeding?

According to the obstetricians at AMRI Hospitals, prolonged breastfeeding does not have any effect on the baby, instead carries a positive effect. A significant positive for prolonged breastfeeding is that it helps mothers to reduce their post pregnancy weight, helps her maintain her normal figure, eve helps in weight loss. It also helps a mother to fight diseases like breast and ovarian cancers. Prolonged breastfeeding produces prolonged lactation, which helps in contraception simply by preventing it. Further, prolonged breastfeeding helps in strengthening the bond between mother and baby, subsequently helping in a child’s mental development. Babies who are breastfed for a long time achieve the developmental milestones earlier than babies who are breastfed through bottles.

Breastfeeding for an extended period is one of the most precious gifts that you can give to your child, especially during his/her first year, when it plays an essential nutritional role. After that period, the baby’s overall requirement for milk will start to dwindle, although breast milk will continue to provide excellent nutrients, immune strengthening benefits, and emotional security. It’s because of this emotional value that weaning can be tricky, particularly if there have been slight changes or stress in the family. 

If you’ve been breastfeeding for a prolonged period, it is quite natural that you might have to start to plan the weaning process of your baby, advice health practitioners at AMRI Hospitals, best maternity hospital in Kolkata. However, every parent must take note that, breastfeeding becomes so fast and easy over time it is actually quite right for you take the decision to continue nursing. One must keep in mind that there is nothing wrong or abnormal with extended breastfeeding, more so since society is changing and so are its norms.

There is practically nothing wrong with your baby breastfeeding for a longer period in time and a look at the child’s digestive enzymes will reveal that the baby was designed to be breastfed for at least two to three years or more. If the baby has been breastfed for a minimum period of nine to 18 months, he/she will be undoubtedly very reluctant to stop but this does not mean the baby is spoilt. It simply means the baby knows what is best for the self. Ultimately, how long one should breastfeed is up to the mother and the baby. There are certain advantages in both cases -- if the mother breastfeeds only for a few days, or if the baby is breastfed for years -- for both mother and child.

BREAST FEEDING-MYTHS & TRUTHS

Breast milk is undoubtedly the best food for a new-born baby. This is because a new born has various types of nutrient requirements, which include proteins, minerals and vitamins. All these nutrients are present adequately in breast milk.

There are two types of proteins present in breast milk - whey protein and casein. Breast milk is rich in whey protein and less in casein protein. Whey protein is good for infant health because it is easier to digest, explain healthcare practitioners at the Department of Obstetrics &and Maternity at AMRI Hospitals Kolkata. On the other hand, casein is a little difficult to digest. We can elaborately discuss on the two types of proteins:

Casein and Whey

Whey proteins are liquid and extremely simple to digest. Apart from it, whey protein contains certain antibodies, like lactoferrin, and muramidase, which fortifies a baby’s immunity system to repel infections.

Casein protein levels are relatively higher and these have additional complicated macromolecule molecules, which are tougher to digest. Soon after your baby is born, your breast milk contains 90% whey protein and almost 10% casein proteins. Once your breast milk comes in and becomes mature milk, it has 60% whey and 40% casein. And with the passage of time, the whey macromolecules continue to drop till there is a uniform quantity of both whey and casein later, during lactation.

If we talk about other sources of milk such as cow’s milk, then the constituency of the two types of protein is slightly different. In the case of cow milk, whey protein is less and casein is higher. Whey protein is definitely beneficial for babies, but casein is harmful because babies have difficulty in digesting it, and leads to other allergic manifestations as well, suggest medical practitioners at AMRI Hospitals, one of the best maternity hospital in Kolkata. 

This is why breast milk is always healthier than outside milk. Apart from all the proteins, vitamins and minerals in breast milk, there are some other components like lactoferrin and immunoglobulin, which are protective factors that are directly transmitted from a mother to a baby, through breast milk. And this helps in generating the inherent immunity system of babies. This immunogenicity not only helps the baby during the initial 6 months, but also protects the baby from various types of diseases like diarrhoea, allergies, etc at a later stage.

Nutrients present in breast milk

Water

Breast milk is formedfrom90% water, and also the rest of its nutritious contents are found in that water. The physical body desires water for nearly everything. Among other alternative things, it keeps a baby hydrated, helps in managing blood heat, lubricates joints, and protects organs.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the body's best supply of energy. The primary sugar in breast milk comes from a form of lactose, known as disaccharide.

Compared to cow's milk, there are way more disaccharide in human milk. Disaccharide not only provides your baby with a serious supply of energy for growth and development, it also helps in developing the brain.

Other carbohydrates found in breast milk, like oligosaccharides are required to push healthy microorganism within the intestines. These microorganisms defend your baby's gut and help fight back diseases such as infant diarrhea.

Lipids (Fats)

Lipids may form only around 4% of breast milk on its own, but supplies50% of the calories that your baby gets from breast milk

Lipids are a serious source of energy, sterol, which help in controlling cholesterol, and essential fatty acids like DHA. According to the obstetricians at the maternity department of AMRI Hospitals, lipids are necessary for the development of baby's brain, central nervous system, and vision.

Lipids are liable for your baby's weight gain as he grows. Your breast milk contains all the lipids that your baby wants. However, if you are on a feeder diet, discuss along with your doctor whether or not you must take a DHA supplement, to make sure you are getting enough of lipid intake.

Proteins

Proteins build, strengthen, and repair the body. They are additionally required to form hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. The protein in your breast milk is very easy for your baby to digest and your kid desires protein to grow and develop. One vital protein in breast milk is lactoferrin.Lactoferrin moves iron through your baby's body and also helps in guarding the newborn's intestines from infections.

Immunoglobulins (Antibodies)

Immunoglobulins are antibodies, which fight back germs that cause ill-health and unwellness. Your breast milk is like your baby's initial immunizing agent. It contains antibodies that fight back bacteria, viruses, fungus, and parasites. The immune properties found in breast milk can also help protect your kid from respiratory illness, ear infections, vomiting, diarrhea, and different dangerous infections that have an effect on newborns and infants.

The main protein in your breast milk is secretory immunoglobulin (IgA). Immune serum globulin coats your baby's lungs and intestines. It seals them to stop germs from coming into your baby's body and blood. The antibodies in your breast milk are even more important if you have got a preterm baby or a baby,that the World  Health Organization can move to childcare.

Hormones

Hormones have many roles within the body; they control growth and development, metabolism, stress, pain, and vital signs. The hormones in breast milk are lactogen, thyroid hormones, growth factors, relaxin, endorphin, glycoprotein, cortisol, leptin, oestrogen, progestogen, and many more. Scientists are still conducting research on hormones that are present in breast milk, making an attempt to find out more about these hormones and how they function in a baby, suggest leading doctors at AMRI Hospitals.

Enzymes

Scientists have found more than 40 different enzymes in human breast milk, which are all unlike each other. Some enzymes help in digestion by breaking down fats or proteins, while others defend your baby from germs and sickness. There are some enzymes about the functions of which scientists are not yet certain. While we are yet unaware about the functions of all enzymes, we, however, understand that they do play a crucial role in the health and development of your child.

Vitamins

Vitamins contribute to healthy bones, eyes, as well as skin. They additionally facilitate to prevent diseases like scurvy and rachitis or rickets. The vitamins and minerals in breast milk are necessary for your baby's health as he/she grows. However, the amount of vitamin D, folate, or Vitamin B6 (depending on your diet) could also be lower in some female babies. Therefore, refer to your doctor and your baby's paediatrician concerning the suggested aliment supplements that you may require while breastfeeding.

Minerals

Breast milk is full of minerals, including iron, zinc, calcium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, and selenium. Vitamins are required for healthy growth and development. They help in building sturdy bones and building red blood cells so that these can move oxygen through the body, keeping muscles and nerves functioning properly.

Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Once the protein is digested in your baby's abdomen, it breaks down into amino acids. There are more than 20 totally different amino acids found in breast milk.

Taurine is one among such, which is found in giant amounts in breast milk but not at all found in cow milk. Studies show that taurine has several functions, in combination with bile acids and plays a crucial role in the development of a baby’s brain and eye.

Some of the other amino acids found in breast milk include aminoalkanoic acid, cysteine, lysine, essential amino acid, tyrosine, and essential amino acids.

Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is a part of whey protein. It's an iron-binding protein, which attaches to iron and transports it throughout the body but that is not the sole function of lactoferrin. It also stimulates the system and helps breastfed babies fight back organisms that may cause bacterial, viral, and flora infections of the digestive tube.

It has been observed that prolonged breastfeeding protects a child from several diseases like: diabetes, diarrhoea, cancers, etc, especially in the later stage of a baby’s life. In all these aspects, leading obstetricians at the maternity department of AMRI Hospitals Kolkata say that breast milk is the most ideal food for the baby and feeding the baby directly from the breast is always advisable, as there are important vitamins and minerals in breast milk. However, if problem persists, then mothers can feed milk from a bottle or a bowl, but this simultaneously exposes the kid to all types of infections. So, mothers should try and feed their babies directly from the breast.

What is Osteoporosis and how it can be treated?

Our bones are complex living tissue comprised of a thick outer shell (known as the cortex) and a strong inner honeycomb mesh of tiny cross-members (known as the trabeculae). This structure enables our bones to be strong, lightweight and somewhat flexible. These properties are important because they allow our skeletons to support us while being able to cope with the stresses and strains that we impose upon them in the course of day-to-day life.

During the first two decades of life our skeleton grows, reaching what is termed Peak Bone Mass – the point when our bones are at their most dense – in our early 20s mentions AMRI Hospitals. In the middle period of life, a continual process of repair is ongoing which ensures that old worn-out bone is replaced by fresh new bone.

In later life or when specific medical conditions occur in people in their middle years – the balance between old bone being broken down (known as resorption) and new bone being made (known as formation) can be lost. When there is more resorption than formation, the total amount of bone in the skeleton begins to decline and bones become more fragile. This is particularly common for women who have experienced the menopause, because oestrogen plays an important role in maintaining the balancing act of this process known as bone remodelling. For significant numbers of men it should be noted that, after 70 years of age, loss of bone density is also an issue.

When a person’s bone density drops below a specific level a diagnosis of osteoporosis will be made.

Treatment of osteoporosis

Calcium

Calcium is an important component of bone. Therefore, it is important that we eat sufficient calcium to maintain our skeletons, but there is no evidence that taking more than this is helpful. There is controversy regarding what is an adequate intake, recent evidence suggesting that as little as 500 mg/day (2 servings of dairy products) is sufficient in adults, though some experts still recommend 1000 mg/day, or more. Many older people find it difficult to take 1000 mg/day in their diets, so use supplements. However, there are now several safety concerns related to calcium supplements, and the consensus is that calcium from the diet is to be preferred. People ingesting at least 2 servings of dairy products daily are likely to be receiving enough calcium.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a substance made in the skin as a result of sunlight exposure. It facilitates absorption of calcium from the diet. When vitamin D levels are very low, mineralisation of bone is impaired. Individuals who never go outside (e.g. frail elderly), those who are veiled, and those who have dark skin are at risk of vitamin D deficiency, so might benefit from a vitamin D supplement. The use of supplements by those who are not deficient does not improve bone health. Most healthy European New Zealand adults living independently do not require vitamin D supplements.

Bone problems women face during pregnancy

Bone problem during pregnancy is a commonly occurring problem because the growing baby in the mother’s womb needs plenty of calcium. Bone problems are especially at peak during the last three months of pregnancy. Most commonly occurring bone problems during pregnancy include joint pain, pubic pain and tailbone pain mentions AMRI Hospitals. 

Joint Pain during Pregnancy

Joint pain during pregnancy is characterised by soreness, stiffness or pain the elbows, knees, finders, hips and other joint areas. One of the main causes of joint pain during pregnancy may be attributed to pregnancy weight gain, which can put strain on the joints. Joint pain is usually common in women, who are pregnant with their first child. Exercising a lot may also put pressure on the joints. Another reason for joint pain during pregnancy could be hypothyroidism.

Pubic Bone

When the body of a woman prepares for child birth, it releases a hormone named relaxin, which softens and loosens the ligaments. In the process, ligaments in the pelvis get stretched and loosened up in an attempt to create space for the baby’s head. Pubic pain is usually felt during pregnancy when there is a misalignment of the pelvis or there is excessive movement of the pubic symphysis. Usually, the midline cartilaginous joints create a 2-3 mm gap, which at pregnancy widens up to 9mm and causes discomfort and pain. The weight of the baby puts strain on the muscles causing severe pain.

Tailbone Pain or Lower Back Pain

Tailbone pain or coccydynia is usually experienced by pregnant woman when the fetus has grown enough to put pressure on the tailbone area to cause them to move beyond their limited range of motion. A major reason for this pain is the release of the hormone relaxin. The loosening of the joints causes the tailbone to shift from its position, thereby causing pain. Tailbone pain may be at its peak a few weeks or days before delivery as the baby’s head may put extra pressure on the bone.

Remedies for Bone Problem during Pregnancy

•  Doing certain types of yoga asanas can help in preventing or reducing bone problems during pregnancy. Consult your physician or a yoga expert to know the kind of yoga asanas you should practise for tailbone pain. 

•  Using hot compress and ice bags can help give some relief to the bone. 

•  Using herbal oil to massage the painful area can help relieve the pain.

5 tips for healthy teeth

Your oral health should be a priority not only because it helps prevent conditions of the mouth but because it can help prevent and manage many other health issues, including certain types of cancer and diabetes. Staying on top of your dental health before any of these issues arise can go a long way in maintaining your overall health. 

AMRI hospitals share four simple tips that will make a big difference in your oral health:

Floss

Flossing is an oral hygiene habit that many people skip because they don’t enjoy doing it, but it is essential to removing food and plaque that gets stuck in between your teeth or beneath your gum line. If stuck food remains under the gum line, you may end up with gum disease or extensive tooth decay. Flossing just once a day, at bedtime, can make a huge difference in your oral health by removing any food that may be left behind from the day.

Drink Fluoridated Water

Dentists have known since the 1940s that drinking water with natural fluoride levels of about one-part fluoride to a million parts water can significantly decrease the occurrence of cavities. In addition, fluoride can not only prevent tooth decay, but it can reverse some of its effects.

All major cities have now supplemented their drinking water with fluoride to help improve the dental health of their citizens. Some have expressed concern that there may be a link between fluoridated water and some types of cancer but there is no research to support those concerns.

Next time you’re feeling thirsty, remember that tap water can improve your dental health in ways that bottled water cannot.
few simple tips to help you brush your teeth more effectively.

`1. Position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle from your gums.

2. Move your brush back and forth gently across your teeth.

3. Don’t forget to brush the ridges, back, and front of each tooth.

4. Tilt the brush vertically and make strokes up and down in order to brush the back of your teeth.


Avoid Enamel Wear

Did you know that the enamel on your teeth is the strongest thing in your body? But it can still become damaged by eating foods that have a high concentration of sugar or acid, or even from brushing too hard. Tooth enamel protects the sensitive interior of the tooth so it is important that it remains intact.

You may have worn down enamel if you experience:

·        Pain when eating hot or cold foods

·        A shiny surface on your teeth

·        An uneven edge on the tooth

·        A yellow coloring of the teeth

You can prevent tooth enamel wear by:

·        Brushing your teeth gently

·        Brushing twice daily

·        Chewing sugar-free gum in order to reduce the acid in your mouth

·        Cutting back on drinks that are high in acid, like soda and fruit juices

·        Drinking water

·        Eating cheese after a meal to balance the acid from the food

·        Flossing

·        Using toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride

·        Using a soft brush

·        Having regular checkups with your dentist

Stop Smoking

Quitting smoking now will improve your oral health as well as your overall quality of life.