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 cancer: What you didn’t know

Cancer is a leading cause of death among Americans, second only to heart disease.
Researchers are unearthing cancer’s genetic secrets and, with it, potential new treatments.
Their efforts have seen the cancer death rate for men, women, and children fall year after year between 1999 and 2016.
The 21st century has been, and will continue to be, shaped by cancer. Although heart disease remains the United States’ number one killer, cancer is quickly closing the gap and may soon surpass it. Some oncologists claim a cure is five, 10, certainly no more than 20 years away. Others aren’t so sure because, in a way, cancer is the price we pay for evolutionary success.

It is no coincidence that the very genes that allow our embryos to grow — our hands to grow, our feet to grow — if you mutate them in inappropriate contexts, [they] will ultimately release the disease that kills us.

Whether for five years or forever, cancer won’t be going anywhere any time soon. Yet, the more doctors and scientists discover about it, the better we can learn to live with it.

Average age of breast cancer diagnosis

A person’s risk of developing breast cancer increases as they get older. As people age, abnormal changes in their cells are more likely to occur.

Breast cancer is most common in females over the age of 50 years. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), doctors most often diagnose breast cancer in females aged 55–64 years.

Based on data from 2012–2016, the median age of diagnosis in females with breast cancer was 62 years old.

Risk for different age groups
Although females are more likely to develop breast cancer after they reach the age of 50 years, younger women can also develop this condition.

According to the NCI, the risk that a doctor will diagnose breast cancer in a female in the United States within the next 10 years is:

• 1 in 227 (0.44%) for those aged 30 years
• 1 in 68 (1.47%) for those aged 40 years
• 1 in 42 (2.38%) for those aged 50 years
• 1 in 28 (3.56%) for those aged 60 years
• 1 in 26 (3.82%) for those aged 70 years

The NCI also report that of the 437,722 females that doctors diagnosed breast cancer in between 2012 and 2016:

• 1.9% were aged 20–34 years
• 8.4% were aged 35–44 years
• 20.1% were aged 44–55 years
• 25.6% were aged 55–64 years
• 24.8% were aged 65–74 years
• 13.7% were aged 75–84 years
• 5.6% were aged 84 years+

Further inquiry, visit AMRI Hospitals 

Why to avoid too much sugar in diet ?

• Sugary drinks cause an 83% increase in developing type II diabetes
• Sugar is also associated with acne - Foods ranked high on the Glycemic Index such as sugar and refined carbs have been associated with greater amounts of acne on the face and body
• People who eat sugar are at a much higher risk of cancer- There has been a direct link seen between breast, and colon cancer with sugar consumption.
• This is likely due to the fact that insulin is one of the key factors behind the growth and multiplication of cells, and sugar spikes insulin to abnormally high levels.
• Sugar is the premier definition of empty calories- It has no real nutritional value, no nutrients, no minerals, no proteins, and no fiber. Because of this lack of nutrients.
• Sugar blocks leptin and raises insulin to supernatural levels- Leptin is the hormone in charge of telling us we’re full and need to stop eating. It also tells us we have energy and should go out and use that energy. Sugar consumption blocks this hormone from doing its job and from reaching the brain.
• Sugar also spikes insulin, making it very hard for the body to access and burn the stored fat on our bodies
• Sugar causes belly fat- Numerous studies have shown direct links from sugar to increased accumulation of belly fat

For more information - https://www.amrihospitals.in/

Don't miss these foods if you want healthy bones

Did you know the human skeleton undergoes a bone dissolving and remodelling process every 10 years? But for this to take place, your bones need to be strong. If the bone build-up lags during bone breakdown, you are likely to suffer from osteoporosis. Your body needs two essential minerals for keeping pace with bone breakdown – calcium and vitamin D. The daily recommendation for calcium in adults (upto age 50) is 1,000 milligrams and vitamin D requirement is 200 international units (IUs) as per AMRI Hospitals. If you want to have strong bones, include these seven foods in your daily diet.

1. Fish: Fish like salmon and sardines are rich in calcium. Moreover, just 3 pieces of salmon fish can provide you with the entire daily recommended allowance of vitamin D. They are also rich in omega 3 fats, which help in lowering the rate of bone loss. Read more about health benefits of salmon fish.

2. Green vegetables: Green and leafy vegetables like spinach (palak), spring onions, fenugreek (methi), cabbage (gobi), broccoli are the best sources of calcium for people who do not consume much of dairy products like milk, yoghurt and cheese. Just one katori of cooked leafy vegetables like spinach can give you about 25 percent of your daily calcium requirement. Spinach is also rich in vitamin K which helps in boosting the bone mineral density.

3. Eggs: Eggs are one of the cheapest sources of good protein. But they are also rich in vitamin D. Egg yolk can provide you with almost 6% of vitamin D that your body requires every day. Read more: eggs–good or bad for health

4. Oranges: Although oranges are mainly consumed for their richness in vitamin C, they can also help to
build healthier bones. Vitamin C or ascorbic acid plays an important role in the absorption of calcium.

5. Nuts: Nuts like almonds and groundnut have higher amount of potassium, which plays a role in preventing loss of calcium through urine. Walnuts are known for their richness in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fats are crucial for slowing down the rate of bone loss and enhancing the process of bone formation. Nuts are also fair sources of protein and some other nutrients that contribute to stronger bones. Read more about health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids and health benefits of walnuts.

6. Prunes: A handful of prunes or dried plums is a must have for women who suffer from osteoporosis. They contain a fibre called inulin, which helps in calcium absorption in the body and bone strengthening. They also help in curing arthritis. Here are more benefits of prunes.

7. Bananas: Bananas are rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium. All three nutrients help in bone strengthening.

Know All About Gastritis – Causes, Cure and Prevention in 5 Minutes!

Know All About Gastritis – Causes, Cure, and Prevention in 5 Minutes!: Gastritis is an inflammation, irritation or erosion of the protective stomach lining. It can occur in both short-term (acute), as well as long-term (chronic), if an acute case of gastritis is left untreated, warn health experts at AMRI Hospitals.

Causes
Gastritis can be caused due to excessive abuse of alcohol, chronic vomiting, stress or the use of some medicines and inflammatory drugs. It can also be caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which if left untreated, can lead to ulcers or stomach cancer. Bile reflux (backflow of bile into the stomach from the bile tract) or some other bacterial and viral infections could be other reasons for gastritis.

Symptoms
Dr. Bhaswati Acharya, Paediatric Gastroenterology specialist at AMRI Hospitals in Kolkata, suggests that symptoms can vary from person to person. Also, in rare cases, there are no symptoms.

Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Vomiting
• Indigestion
• Bloating
• Pain in the abdomen
• Nausea
• Upset Stomach
• Loss of Appetite
• Vomiting blood or coffee ground-like material
• Burning sensation in the stomach between meals or at night
• Hiccups
• Black and tarry stools

Diagnosis
According to Dr. Acharrya, it is important to know the personal and family medical history of the patient suspected of gastritis. This is followed by physical evaluation. The doctor may recommend undergoing the following tests:

Upper endoscopy – a thin, camera-installed tube is inserted through the mouth down to the stomach lining. The doctor will check the inflammation and may perform a biopsy (a tiny sample of tissue is removed for laboratory analysis).
Stool Test – to check the pressure of blood in the stool (a symptom of gastritis).
Blood test – counting the red blood cells, H. pylori and pernicious anemia with various other blood tests.

Treatment
Dr. Acharya suggests treatment procedure, which involves the following measures:

• Taking antacids and other medications (proton inhibitors or H-2 blockers) to reduce stomach acid.
• Avoid spicy and hot food.
• Gastritis caused by H. pylori, several antibiotics, including acid-blocking drugs is prescribed.
• Gastritis caused by pernicious anemia, B12 shots will be given.
• Eliminating foods such as lactose from dairy, gluten, and wheat from the diet.

Precaution
Doctors at AMRI Hospitals in Kolkata emphasize on the fact that prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, you must avoid alcohol, coffee and tea, whole milk, citrus fruits and juices, and anti-inflammatory medications that make you more prone to gastritis.

Visit www.amrihospitals.in for more information and best treatment options!