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While a NICU is rarely part of a birth plan, knowing what neonatal services are available at the place where you are giving birth, should something be required, can help put parents at ease. For example, it is much easier for the neonatal team to communicate with obstetricians and maternal fetal medicine doctors a lot before the baby is born. This communication continues as the baby receives care from many specialists in the hospital, and then follows the infant after being released from the hospital, easing the transition of care from medical specialists to the baby’s new paediatrician.
Every parent’s experience in the NICU is different and hospitals support NICU parents. One thing that mothers recall from their NICU days is that when they started the journey, they just didn’t know what to expect once they got there. Some common tests that the parents might notice their baby undergoing are the bilirubin test, oxygen level tests, sugar level tests, blood tests, and urine tests. Even though these tests can be daunting to parents, try and remind yourself that they are necessary for your baby’s advancement and proper growth. Infants get measured every day.
Breastmilk can often help babies that are born early. Sometimes mums whose babies are in the NICU are not yet strong enough to nurse, but mums can still pump milk and have their babies consume it. The hospital often has staff that can help new mums pump milk or even try nursing if their NICU babies seem healthy enough. There are certain NICU units which also have a milk donation center where other mothers donate their breastmilk to tiny infants in need of the power.
NICU doctors and nurses play an important role in monitoring the baby’s growth and development. The Newborn Baby Care at the CK Birla Hospital provides expert neonatologists to ensure that the treatment is as comfortable for the baby as far as possible. Research has shown that babies nursed with Development Care approach are healthier, develop faster and go home earlier.
Consult top neonatologists at the Department of Neonatology & Paediatrics to learn more.
In India, menstruation has proven to be a bit of a taboo. Considered dirty and impure, women avoid speaking about their periods in public and shopkeepers package sanitary napkins in opaque black plastic. Yet, all women experience the emotional and physical ebbs and flows of the menstrual cycle. For some women, their periods can feel like the worst part of the month. Ladies far and wide find themselves curled up under blankets, cradling hot water bottles in attempts to soothe the pain.
What causes period or menstrual cramps?
On the most part, cramping is considered a normal part of the menstrual cycle. A common experience, three out of four women report having cramps during their period. The likely cause of most menstrual cramps has been linked to hormone-like compounds called prostaglandins that are released as the uterine lining begins to shed. Although prostaglandins facilitate the uterine contractions that help expel the uterine lining, they can cause extreme pain when produced in excess.
Severe menstrual cramps can also be caused by medical conditions such as endometriosis or adenomyosis. If your cramps are particularly bad, you should reach out to your doctor. Since female pain is often overlooked and under-treated, we encourage you to advocate for yourself and seek out treatment from an OB/GYN healthcare provider near you.
Five well known methods you can try to soothe your cramps at home: –
Heat
In the face of livid menstrual cramps, heat compresses through hot water bottles and warm baths are a tried and tested method for relief. Some studies have shown heat to be as effective as NSAIDs and aspirin for menstrual cramp pain.
Ginger
It seems ginger may also be as effective as common painkillers, some clinical trials suggest. Ingestion of an eighth of a teaspoon of ginger three times a day during one’s period is reported to be helpful for cramps and reduction of bleeding.
Exercise
Certain low stress workouts have been found to ease bloating, back and leg pain caused by menstruation. Increasing blood circulation in the affected area while also strengthening it contributes greatly to pain relief.
Lifestyle (Alcohol and Tobacco)
During one’s period, it is recommended to refrain from the use of drugs such as alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. All are known to increase inflammation and can lead to worsened pain.
Orgasm
The release of endorphins such as oxytocin and dopamine through sexual activity is a strong line of defense against period pains. The power of endorphins in reducing pain is as strong, if not stronger, than many over-the-counter painkillers. Although a pain relief method that is slightly off the beaten path, it is surely worth considering.
Fertility is a natural process to produce an offspring. Usually, a man’s fertility is linked to its sperms. The treatment for male infertility has changed very minimally over the years and is still provided as an extension of female infertility, to be accessed when treatment for the female partner has not resulted in conception. Sperm count is one of the factors which determines men’s fertility.
Men are most likely to be fertile if at least 15 million sperm per milliliter is present in the semen discharged in a single ejaculation. Too little sperm count in an ejaculation indicates low fertility. Sperm movement or motility is also an important indicator of male fertility. Sperm must move through a woman’s cervix and uterus to reach and fertilize an egg.
Motility of sperm indicates fertility while movement less than 40% indicates low fertility. Various factors like, environmental, genetic, and medical can affect men’s fertility. Some more factors which affect fertility in men are: Improper functioning of the pituitary gland can affect fertility. Pituitary gland signals the testicles to produce testosterone and its inactivity can cause lower fertility. Sperm transport disorders. Testicular disease. Aging also plays an important role in fertility. Sperm motility and sperm count decrease with age especially after age 50 which causes lower fertility.
While it is difficult to prevent infertility entirely, the following measures can be taken to lower the risk:-
The degree of fertility decreases with age for a woman and also for a man but in different ways and different stages. One of the most important factors that determine fertility is age. One of the reasons why fertility decreases with age has to do with the volume and quality of the sperm. For a start, semen volume decreases with age. The amount of semen that you produce as well as the sperm’s ability to move towards an egg, decreases continually starting at the age of 20.
Semen consists of mobile sperm cells and seminal fluid that transports the sperm cells and enhances their fertilization abilities.
Extreme stress, excessive alcohol consumption, excessive smoking and the use of hard drugs can gather together to worsen your sperm count. If any of these habits are part of your lifestyle, working toward changing them could increase your chances of remaining fertile. Fertility specialists are not only beneficial for women. In cases when you and your other half are finding it hard to conceive, a specialist can help you combat age-related fertility issues. As far as treating infertility is concerned, most healthcare providers first guide the patient with the conventional route of cure:
In the rest of severe cases, doctors suggest treatments such as Artificial insemination, In vitro fertilization (IVF), or Donor sperm procedure.
We strive to provide you the best treatment with utmost care and our Department of Fertility has one of the largest IVF centres in Gurgaon with a combined team experience of over 100 years and a 55% IVF success rate.
In case you need more guidance on this concern, feel free to connect with one of our Fertility and IVF expert, the Southend Fertility & IVF centre, CK Birla Hospital. Book Appointment today.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the blood clot formation that forms in one or more of the deep veins in the human body, usually in the legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain or swelling, but also can occur with no symptoms. The formation of a blood clot within the blood vessel is a deadly situation because it prevents blood from flowing normally through the circulatory system.
Deep vein thrombosis develops when an individual has certain medical conditions. It can also happen if people do not move for a long period of time, such as after surgery or an accident, or when they are confined to a bed.
Deep vein thrombosis can be very serious because blood clots in the veins can break loose, travel through the bloodstream and lodge in the lungs, blocking blood flow (pulmonary embolism).
As far as the symptoms of Deep vein thrombosis are concerned, these include swelling in the affected leg. Rarely, there’s swelling in both legs. Some more symptoms are:-
Barring the visible symptoms, it is important to note that Deep vein thrombosis can also occur without noticeable symptoms. It is advised to seek immediate medical help if anyone develops signs or symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism — a life-threatening complication of deep vein thrombosis.
While it is difficult to detect DVT beforehand, here are some of the risk factors you must be aware about:
Advanced protection, also called prophylaxis, for DVT is a lot comforting than treating it. Patients are taken under evaluation for risk of DVT and are treated with appropriate prophylaxis while in the hospital. Prophylaxis can possibly include:
The goal of treatment is to prevent the clot from getting bigger and to stop it from breaking loose and causing pulmonary embolism, avoid complications of DVT and also prevent possible medication-related complications.
The CK Birla Hospital in Gurgaon strives to provide you the best treatment with utmost care.
Connect with our team of experts from the Advanced Surgical Sciences Department today!
Babies begin experiencing the world right from the time they are in their mother’s womb. As much as their tiny bodies are still developing, some of their senses begin working when they are still inside their mom’s womb. They can perceive sound, light, touch, and a lot more when they’re in there. Babies also drink the amniotic fluid surrounding them, so when they do this, they can have a taste of what mom has eaten.
Growing fetuses develop likes and dislikes when they are still in the uterus and they can express their feelings to mom. They mostly communicate by moving in different ways while in the mother’s womb. A mom-to-be should take care of herself because more often than not, her baby will experience what she is experiencing. She should try to engage in activities that she knows makes her baby happy. Babies clearly recognize their mother’s touch while still in the womb, helping them to bond even before birth. Babies are most likely to reach out and touch the wall of the uterus when their mother caressed her bump. The response is nowhere near as strong when strangers or even the child’s father rubbed the mother’s stomach. This proves why mothers often feel their babies moving around and about when they touch their stomach only for it to stop suddenly when a partner or friend tries to feel it. Some researchers believe that the unborn babies response in a better way to touch in the third trimester, suggesting this is a key period for the development of a child’s self-awareness. Unborn babies also respond more and better when their mother talks to them, helping them learn to recognize her voice after birth. A gentle touch during pregnancy also plays a similar role. This familiarity between baby and mother is most likely due to the engagement of the mother with the developing foetus during the times of her pregnancy. A mother’s touch is in company of the movement of her whole body. It can also be the style of touch and the familiarity of the touch. A lot of women feel guilty admitting that they hate pregnancy. Others feel awful admitting that they were not as excited when they saw those two lines on the pregnancy test. Still others struggle with not feeling overwhelming feelings of affection for their newborn. Pregnancy and postpartum are physically and emotionally demanding times. A woman’s hormones fluctuate a lot more during this time, and it’s not realistic to expect yourself to feel the way you normally would in your usual routine. Yet still, the choices a mom makes during pregnancy affect the health and development of her baby. Therefore, it is vital for pregnant women to eat healthily, take prenatal vitamins, avoid anything deemed harmful to them, and keep off certain foods like raw and rare meats, fish, raw eggs, and unpasteurized milk as they contain harmful bacteria. They should also remain stress-free.
A famous saying quotes that “every pregnancy is different,” and it’s as true as it gets. No two experiences of pregnancy (even in the same woman!) are at all similar. Your best friend, sister, mother or grandmother may have had few symptoms and been able to maintain their usual schedule during pregnancy. You can make your own schedule that best suits you and your newborn, and continue bonding with your unborn.
The CK Birla Hospital in Gurgaon strives to provide you the best treatment with utmost care.
Connect with Dr. Aruna Kalra, expert obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Book an appointment today to learn more about our special antenatal and maternity packages.
The loss of one thing often results in the gain of another.
Such also seems to be the case with our sensory systems. When an individual loses their eyesight or hearing, their remaining senses can become extraordinarily sensitive. Since blind individuals depend frequently on touch for perception, constant reliance and practice cause their sense of touch to become highly developed. Tactile Breast Examination, or tactilography, harnesses the heightened sense of touch of visually impaired individuals for precise and effective detection of tumors in the breast.
These superpowers, per se, and their medical importance, were first recognised by Dr. Frans Hoffman, a German gynecologist. Hoffman theorised that visually impaired women would be brilliantly suited to carry out breast examinations on patients. The evidence supporting this theory was incontrovertible.
CK Birla Hospital for Women, in partnership with the National Association for the Blind, brings this newly developed method of breast cancer detection to India. Using a standard system based on Braille strips, Medical Tactile Examiners are trained to conduct safe, repeatable, and accurate clinical breast examinations without any radiation or side effects. During 30-60-minute-long examinations, trained examiners find 50% smaller, and 30% more tumors than doctors administering standard examinations.
Tactile Breast Examinations benefit not only the patient being examined but also the professionals trained to carry out the examinations. The process provides vocational and educational opportunities to visually impaired women, allowing their difference to be recognised as a strength rather than a disability.
In India, 80% of women identify and report their breast cancer at advanced stages. At these stages, chances of cure are significantly reduced. This late identification can be attributed to the common inability to conduct BSEs and discover breast cancer in its early stages. The lack of day to day discourse surrounding the subject also plays a large part in individuals’ lack of knowledge. Processes such as the Tactile Breast Examination provide preventative measures that could identify breast cancer well before it reaches advanced stages, and would also give women an opportunity to learn how to conduct Breast Self-Exams (BSE) for themselves.
At the CK Birla Hospital for Women, we are currently offering Tactile Breast Examinations, as well as BSE training by tactilography professionals for free. For women under 40, the Tactile Breast Exams will be accompanied by a complimentary ultrasound, while women over 40 will be offered a complimentary mammogram screening.
To speak with one of our expert gynecologists or women’s healthcare providers in Gurgaon and to learn more about MTEs, visit our Department of Gynaecology at your convenience.
Eat more complex (“slow”) carbs and avoid highly processed ones.
Your body digests processed carbs (like cookies, cakes, white bread and white rice) quickly, and turns them into blood sugar. Complex carbs (those containing fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains) are digested slowly and limit insulin. High insulin levels appear to inhibit ovulation.
Trans fats (found primarily in foods such as commercial baked and snack foods, animal products, french fries and some margarines) increase insulin resistance.
High insulin levels cause a lot of metabolic disturbances that affect ovulation
Plant protein (from beans, nuts, seeds) comes with healthy fats and is relatively low in calories
| Eat more | To gain |
|---|---|
| Whole grains | B vitamins, vitamin E, fiber |
| Fruits, vegetables | Vitamin C, antioxidants |
| Lean meats, beans | Protein, zinc, iron |
| Low-fat dairy | Protein, calcium |
| DHA/Omega-3 (Fish,nuts,) | Benefits baby’s brain and nervous system development; reduces risk of premature birth |
| Multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid | Reduces risk of spinal cord and brain defects, especially in weeks before conception and first trimester of pregnancy |
It helps to reduce harmful gene effects that may result in birth defects, also is important for brain function, among other benefits. Egg yolks, beef liver and Cauliflower have very high choline content.
Bonus: Move it.
Getting plenty of exercise during your pre-natal and ante-natal phase will improve your chances of having an easy and comfortable pregnancy. This can help avoid back pain, swelling and excessive weight gain.
By Ms. Prachi Jain, Dietitian/Nutritionist at the CK Birla Hospital in Gurgaon.
Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder caused when an error in cell division results in an extra full or partial 21st chromosome. It is also called trisomy 21. It is not an illness but a term that describes the features resulting from this change.
The extra chromosome can affect the physical features, intellect, and overall development of an individual. This might result in impairments in cognitive ability and physical growth, developmental disabilities, and a higher risk of some health issues.
A multitude of tests is available to screen and diagnose Down Syndrome before and after birth. The incidence varies according to maternal age, wherein chances of having a baby with Down Syndrome increases as the mother’s age rises.
Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder and one of the most common causes of intellectual disability. It is essential to conduct a screening for Down’s Syndrome in children. It’s important to know whether the pregnancy is harboring Down’s Syndrome or not.
To check this, a sample of fluid is taken from around the fetus. Testing is not possible in every case, hence screening is done via different methods such as ultrasound to examine parameters and determine treatments.
She also talks about non-invasive prenatal screening to check Down’s Syndrome in the baby.
Table of Contents
In normal circumstances, at the time of conception, a baby inherits genetic information from the parents in the form of 46 chromosomes: 23 from the mother and 23 from the father.
In most cases of Down Syndrome, a child gets an extra chromosome 21 — and hence has a total of 47 chromosomes instead of 46.
It’s this extra chromosome that causes the physical features and developmental delays associated with Down Syndrome.
Screening tests include:
Screening is a cost-effective and less invasive way to determine if more invasive diagnostic tests are needed. They are offered as a part of routine investigations to pregnant women.
However, unlike diagnostic tests, they cannot confirm whether Down syndrome is present.
Diagnostic tests can more accurately detect Down syndrome and other problems. They are usually performed while the baby is inside the uterus.
They include obtaining a sample by the following means and checking the number of chromosomes.
Down Syndrome can also be diagnosed after a baby is born by inspecting the infant’s physical characteristics and checking the number of chromosomes in a blood sample (karyotype).
People with Down Syndrome often have distinct physical features, unique health issues, and variability in cognitive development.
Physical characteristics of down syndrome include:
Individuals with Down Syndrome usually have cognitive development profiles that suggest mild to moderate intellectual disability. However, cognitive development and intellectual ability are highly variable.
Children with Down Syndrome often reach developmental milestones later than their peers. There may be a delay in acquiring speech. A child may need speech therapy to help them gain expressive language.
Fine motor skills may also be delayed. They can take time to develop after gross motor skills have been acquired. There may also be problems with attention and a tendency to make poor judgments.
Sometimes, there might be general health problems that affect an organ system or bodily function. About 50% of those affected with Down Syndrome have a congenital heart defect.
There may also be a higher risk of respiratory problems, hearing difficulties, Alzheimer’s disease, childhood leukemia, epilepsy, and thyroid conditions.
However, there also appears to be a lower risk of hardening of the arteries, diabetic retinopathy, and most kinds of cancer.
A person with Down Syndrome will be able to do many of the things that other people do. Children may take longer to acquire skills such as walking and talking, but with stimulation, they can acquire key life skills and attend school and, in some cases, college.
Depending on how the syndrome affects the individual, it is often possible for someone to work and to live semi-independently with Down Syndrome.
Like anyone else, people with Down Syndrome need a social life in terms of friendship and relationships. Some will live with a partner or get married and have an independent life.
Average life expectancy is around 60 years, and many people with Down Syndrome now live into their 70s.
Every year, 21st March is celebrated as World Down Syndrome Day to raise awareness and support those living with Down Syndrome.
Body Fat Analysis is a procedure to know body fat percentage, lean mass and bone mineral content in the whole body.
When we go for body composition analysis, there we see body fat and fat free mass
By knowing your percentage of body fat:
Too little body fat is linked to problems with normal, healthy functioning in both men and women. It can also lead to problems with reproduction in women. Excessive body fat increases your risk of many diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and certain cancers.
There are several ways to get an estimate of your body fat percentage like bio electrical impedance, skin fold measurement, Dexa scan, hydro static weighing and Body fat calculators.
Can be also calculated if you know your BMI (wt in kg/Ht in m2)
Child body fat% = (1.51 ﾗ BMI) － (0.70 ﾗ Age) － (3.6 ﾗ sex) + 1.4
Adult body fat% = (1.20 × BMI) + (0.23 × Age) − (10.8 × sex) − 5.4
where sex is 1 for males and 0 for females.
According to American counsel of exercise fat distribution is classified as under
| Description | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Fat | 10% to 13% | 2% to 5% |
| Athletes | 14% to 20% | 6% to 13% |
| Fitness | 21% to 24% | 14% to 17% |
| Acceptable | 25%to 31% | 18% to 24% |
| Obese | over 32% | over 25 |
By Ms. Prachi Jain, Dietitian/Nutritionist at the CK Birla Hospital in Gurgaon.
