The truth about baby pees and poops

Often times we can get to know a lot about our baby’s health just by looking out for signs in their urine and stool. Some quick things to check for when you change your baby can help diagnose issues faster:

Baby pee: 

• During summers babies perspire more and may produce a little dark urine. If the pee is very dark or pinkish there may be blood in the urine or some other issue. 
• A little smell of ammonia is common when you change a baby after long, especially in the morning. However if it’s very strong and persistent your baby might be suffering from UTI. 
• As babies grow older they don’t pee as frequently. Some babies stop peeing at night very early on. However if you baby is less than 6 months of age and hasn’t peed for more than 6 hours during the day, he might be dehydrated. 

Baby poo: 

• Slightly formed, yellow to brown to green stools are normal for breastfed and formula fed babies. However if they’re watery and much greener than usual, then it could be diarrhea. Black poop may be due to iron consumption. If the poop is like hard pellets and makes the baby cry out in pain, your baby may be constipated. 
• Baby poo colour, texture, smell and frequency change when a baby starts solids. It is common for high fibre foods to come out as is in the poop for a baby on solids. Generally mucous in the poop isn’t a cause for concern but sometimes it could signify some infection. Babies on solids have smellier and more solid poops. 
• As far as frequency is concerned, every baby has a different pattern. But generally breastfed babies poop more often than formula babies, with the latter sometimes going days without pooping. It doesn’t always mean they’re constipated. However you may consider giving prune juice or suppositories to babies who haven’t pooped in a long time, as recommended by the doctor. 

Keeping these pointers in mind whenever you change your baby’s diaper is helpful. But whenever in doubt, do not hesitate to call your doctor – better be safe than sorry.

Diaper bag essentials: What to pack?

So, are you ready for your first outing with the baby? Make this exciting trip memorable, but for the right reasons. If you’re not adequately prepared, you may end up having a nightmare. Some essentials that you must carry to ensure a smooth day-out experience:

• Diapering needs – carry enough diapers, factor in unexpected poops. Make sure you have wipes, disposable bags, diaper changing mats, rash cream etc. if you’re visiting a mall etc., look out for baby rooms – changing and feeding babies there is much easier. 
• Breastfeeding aides – if you breastfeed, carry a cloak to cover up if you’re required to feed in public. If you express, make sure you carry pumped milk in clean containers in an icebox to maintain its shelf life. 
• Formula needs – if your baby is formula fed, ensure you carry enough boiled and cooled water, formula and sterilised bottles. If you’re carrying fewer bottles than you might need, ensure you have means to sterilise them if required to re-use. Else buy disposable inserts. 
• Clothes etc. – carry an extra change of clothes, or two. Carry extra napkins, bibs, burp cloths, and a blanket or wrap to cover or swaddle the baby with, if required. . A cosy baby is a happy baby. 
• Toiletries and medication – you may want to carry baby sunscreen/moisturiser or mosquito repellent cream if going out. A few emergency medications, like nasal drops, crocin, colicaid, etc. can come in handy, and so can anti-bacterial/fungal ointments and thermometers. It may be highly improbable your child will need all this but better be prepared. 
• Food – if your baby has started having solids, you can carry some easy to feed finger foods like carrot sticks, rotis or sandwiches, homemade cookies etc. You may also consider ready-to-eat baby food jars or cereal if there are no other alternatives. Ensure the food is packed hygienically in airtight/clean bags/boxes and leftovers are discarded immediately. For older babies remember to carry a sippy cup (if they have started using one) to keep them hydrated. 
• Miscellaneous - It helps to carry some toy or rattle as a form of entertainment or distraction for the babies, especially when they’re ready to throw a fit. You may also want to stash a sling in there as an option if there’s space – carrying a baby in that is easier than holding him. Mommies can also store their wallets/phones or maybe a snack or two in the spacious pockets. 

It might take a few tries but soon enough you will be a pro at packing the perfect diaper bag for you and your baby!

(image courtesy www.freeimages.co.uk)

Tips for conception

For women, understanding basics of conception and your body will lead you to achieving your desired results faster and more efficiently, sans the emotional stress.

For starters, track your menstrual cycle, and understand ovulation, the key to conception. In simple words, ovulation is the phase of the menstrual cycle where partially matured eggs are released by the ovaries for fertilization by sperm. It is a time in you cycle when chances of intercourse leading to pregnancy are highest.

Typically for a 28 day cycle, ovulation occurs between day 10 and day 16, from the day the period started. Some women know when they are ovulating, due to symptoms like whitish discharge, body temperature, heightened sexual drive etc.

But if you are not one of them, all is not lost. There are other ways to know your dates. You can use an ovulation calculator (link) or an ovulation kit available OTC at most chemists these days. In case that doesn’t help, or you are still not sure, you can try intercourse after your periods end, for 2 weeks.

Tips for intercourse: Do it every alternate day, instead of every day. It gives time for sperms to regenerate, and anyway sperms are alive inside the woman for up to 48 hours and eggs are alive for 72 hours.

As far as positions are concerned, it is suggested that using the missionary position, and lying still for at least 10 minutes post intercourse, helps in better transportation of sperms into the uterus. However do not worry too much about positions. It is more important to enjoy the act than lose sleep over technicalities/

At the end of the day, trust yourself and listen to your body – you will know when to do it, and you will also be the first person to know you have a little peanut inside you! Good luck!

Dealing with infertility

Whenever you plan to have a baby, it comes with a lot of emotion. Before you are even pregnant you might have already started thinking of decorating the baby room, finalising names, thinking of your life ahead with the little one… and it is disappointing when you realise you haven’t become pregnant the first time you tried. 

Most people, even perfectly healthy ones, can take up to a year to get pregnant. But there is a good chance you already know that, so you try again. And again. And again. But no good news. At this point, it’s a good idea to take medical help to conceive. There are a number of options available which the doctor will consider based on the results of the various tests and physical examinations of the couple, like:

• Lifestyle modification: the female is asked to get her weight in check - for every kg lost, the chances of conception increase dramatically 
• Fertility drugs: women typically take prescribed medicines for 5 days starting from the 3rd day of the menstrual cycle. Even men may be prescribed supplements for increasing the mobility and production of sperms if the need be 
• Removal of tubal blockage: Fallopian tubal blockage can be diagnosed by methods like using dye or saline water injections. Laparoscopy is done to remove blockage if any 
• Follicle Egg Monitoring: The monitoring is done via ultrasound to ensure ovulation and intercourse are timed correctly 

But every now and then there are cases of people who are perfectly ok but still can’t conceive. In such cases, many couples opt for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). IVF is a treatment for fertility where eggs and sperms are extracted from a couple’s bodies, fertilised in a laboratory, and reinserted in the uterus for maturing. IVF services are available through many clinics across all major cities. However, do ensure you choose a reputed fertility clinic, as assisted reproductive methods are time consuming and expensive, and lack of results can lead to further frustrations.

There are cases where IVF is not possible, desirable or affordable, or where medically it’s not possible for either partner to reproduce. In such cases there are other options, like surrogacy, artificial insemination and adoption available.

If you are going through infertility, discuss it with your partner and your doctor for choosing the right option for you. Many doctors believe that apart from medication, a stress free life is extremely critical for conception as stress can make the hormones run haywire. Therefore, simply enjoy the intimacy with your partner and don’t let the treatment become a chore.

If required, take counselling sessions to deal with your emotional trauma, exacerbated by social pressures of India, so that once you do have a baby through any method, you are healthy and happy to receive it. Remember, irrespective of whose sperm/eggs are used, or which uterus the baby matured in, the moment you have a baby, it is yours and yours alone, and you are a parent, for life. Don’t let anyone take that away from you!

(image courtesy www.freeimages.co.uk)

Readiness Checklist for Pregnancy

Once as a couple you have decided to go for a baby, the most important aspect of preparation is getting your body ready for conception. Though it is the woman who conceives and carries a child for 9 months, there are certain responsibilities of the man as well. Men and women should tick off the following from their to-do list before they start trying for a child:

1. Quit smoking and drinking, cut down on caffeine – consumption of alcohol and cigarettes, as well as caffeine adversely affects ability to conceive.
2. Control chronic diseases like diabetes, thyroid issues, hypertension etc. to improve your chances and avoid complications. If you’re suffering from any conditions, like UTI etc. get them cured before you start trying.
3. Achieve ideal weight in case you’re overweight – the more you lose, the more your chances increase to conceive.
4. Find a good doctor/gynaecologist, check your family and pregnancy history and scan for potential issues. Get a genetic screening done if required and update your immunizations.
5. Visit the dentist and ophthalmologist– pregnancy aggravates dental problems and some women may even experience vision changes. Best to get both eyes and teeth checked before you conceive.
6. Start eating healthy, take multivitamins and avoid any stress – a healthy lifestyle will go a long way in helping you during and post pregnancy. Chart out low sugar/salt etc. diet if you foresee chances of/ suffer from hypertension/diabetes etc.
7. Get rid of the contraceptives – throw out the pills or devices a couple of months in advance so that your body get used to its natural cycle.

Most importantly, stay positive and be patient. A happy mind leads to a healthy body, healthy pregnancy, and a healthy baby. Good luck!!

(image courtesy www.freeimages.co.uk)

Tiger Mom Vs Dino Mom : Where do you stand?

A friend of mine recently shared this interesting post by a fellow blogger -

Tiger mom - to be or not to be | Blog Post by Tanu Shree Singh | two boys and a mad mum | mycity4kids

Reading the post made me smile. I've read the famous "Battle hymn of the tiger mom" book. Its a fun read and talks about one perspective of parenting. But when it comes to parenting, it's hard to say what is right and what is wrong. Parenting is highly subjective.

 




My parents were never strict with us as far as academics/sports/extra curriculars were concerned. Frankly they did not care as long as they were not getting any complaints. They did not push us unnecessarily. Our cable connection was not disconnected during exams, our parents did not make us burn the midnight oil, or push us to attend 1000 classes like sports and performing arts and tuitions.

But I guess I did not need pushing. I was a good student (never came first but was always top 5), very active in extra curriculars, the teacher's pet and popular at school. Out of my own choice I took judo, swimming, theater, dance, cooking, language and singing classes. Never really excelled in anything to make it a career, but was happy to dabble and enjoy.

I feel good that I wasn't forced to only study or pushed hard for sports etc. But I do wish, a little, that my parents pushed me harder to try to come first, to learn to play a music instrument, to hone some skill/art, and definitely be interested in sports (I'm zero in sports). I was always a chilled out girl who was more of a smart worker than a hard worker. And since I always did well at school, no one complained or bothered. I was content and so were my parents so things stayed status quo. But I feel a little pressure from them would have gone a long way into getting me to get out of my comfort zone and try harder, and God knows what I could have, would have, achieved.

I know it's not fair to blame everything on them. It sounds like it but I don't mean that. We and only we are responsible for the choices we make in life. And I never bothered to have a serious passion, which I regret very much today, but it's all my fault for being so casual and lazy.

Bottom line is.. I want to go one step ahead of my parents and encourage my children to be passionate about something and work hard on it. I would like to expose them to all options in skills/sports/academics etc, and let them choose what catches their fancy. And then be after them to not get lazy about their chosen passion. I know it sounds nasty, but at the cost of being labelled a strict/bad/dominating/hitler mom by my peers or family, this is one thing that I have decided I will do.

Apart from of course. . My house my rules.. for 18 years my kids HAVE to live by my rules. Which means I decide schedules and permissions and possessions etc. If its acceptable well and good, if not you are free to leave. My mom was a strict mom who didn't coochie coo us at all. While I may be a little more affectionate towards my kids, I'm gonna be a strict disciplinarian for sure, the bad cop. And I don't mind. I think it's required. One has limited control over children, especially these days. You have only a few years to mould them into responsible, disciplined individuals. Once they grow up they're on their own, forever.

So I guess I'm neither a proper Tiger mom nor a Dino mom, but somewhere in the middle, maybe leaning towards Dino mom :-)

Tackling the bottle: Tips for bottle feeding babies

Breast is by far the best food for your baby. But for whatever reasons if and when you shift partially or fully to formula feeding, one of the most popular ways to feed formula is through a feeding bottle. Once you have chosen to introduce bottle feeding, you should get some bottle feeding basics right, so that you and your baby become comfortable with the whole process.

Choosing a bottle and nipple: 
From glass to plastic, there are a number of materials and brand option in the market today.  Choose a material you can afford and maintain hassle free. Bottles are long lasting and you can easily use them for 3-6 months depending on the care. Nipples need to be changed at least every 3 months, not just for size but also hygiene.

Maintenance and storage:
Bottles and nipples need to be cleaned with a baby stuff cleanser and brush every day, and sterilized before every use for best results. For sterilization, you can use an electric or microwave sterilizer, sterilizing liquid/tablets or boil in water traditionally, though that may lead to yellowing of nipples/bottles. After sterilizing, you can store bottles in your room in a comfortable temperature, or in the fridge.

Tips for bottle-feeding:

1. Try to give warm milk instead of room temp or cold – babies prefer warm to cold. At the same time don’t get them too used to it that they don’t drink until its warm – could be a problem when travelling.

2. Don’t let the baby sleep while feeding; keep tickling them to wake them up. Also, keep tapping the bottle on the side or bottom and keep rotating the bottle every now and then to remind the baby to drink.

3. Choose the flow of the nipple as per age and comfort with feeding speed of the baby. Sometimes when a baby doesn’t feed for too long and therefore doesn’t get enough nutrition, choosing a faster flow nipple helps.

4. Like the breast, a bottle nipple also should also be completely in the baby’s mouth. Ensure that to maintain a steady feeding rate. However, keep removing the nipple every now and then to tackle vacuum build-up.

5. Raise the head slightly for easy feeding, especially for babies less than 4 months/those who don’t have neck control yet.

6. Always prepare more formula than the baby’s regular amount. If s/he finishes and wants more, you will waste time making again but by then their hunger will be gone.

7. Talk or sing to the baby, encourage and appreciate him/her while feeding so they feel good about feeding and feed well instead of throwing tantrums or being fussy.

8. Burp the baby well enough so that s/he doesn't feel unwell or gassy, and refuses to feed due to that. Make the baby do gas relieving exercises and in worst cases, use colic medication as per your pediatricians advice.

9. You can feed expressed breast milk through bottles as well. Just ensure you refrigerate the milk if you want to store, and use within 24 hours. You can also freeze breast milk for longer storage. You can milk breast milk and formula, but if the baby doesn't finish the feed, remember the leftover breast milk goes waste.

Always listen to what your baby needs. Go with the flow. Keep the basics and tips in mind and you will definitely have a smooth sailing feeding experience!