Category: Health

Meningitis is a condition that causes inflammation in the meninges, which protect the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is one of those diseases which are relatively rare but can become fatal quickly and can severely affect the quality of life for the surviving patient. Babies under 2 months of age are at greater risk of getting meningitis.

What is Meningococcal Meningitis?

According to the World Health Organization, meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial form of meningitis, a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The disease can affect anyone of any age, but babies, preschool children and young people are at higher risk of this infection.

Meningitis is one of those diseases which are relatively rare but can become fatal quickly and can severely affect the quality of life for the surviving patient.

Most of the people carrying the meningococcal bacteria do not show any symptoms of the disease and are also known as carriers, meaning they can still spread the infection.

How Does Meningitis Spread?

Meningitis is a contagious disease which can spread via respiratory droplets generated due to coughing or sneezing. Although it does not spread as easily as common flu and other respiratory illnesses, it is far more dangerous in comparison.

While this infection is fatal, about 10 -15% of the survivors suffer from life-long impairments, like, amputation, scars, deafness or brain damage.

What are the Symptoms of Meningitis?

Symptoms of Meningococcal meningitis could be similar to common flu, which makes it difficult to identify early. Some of the symptoms may include fever, chills, fatigue, vomiting, rapid breathing, stiff neck, confusion, increased light sensitivity and Diarrhea. In the later stages, dark purple skin rash may also appear.

Thus, discuss with your paediatrician if a combination of the above symptoms shows up in your child.

Acting fast is essential in meningitis as this disease can claim a life in as little as 24 hours.

How to Stay Safe From Meningitis?

The spread of Meningitis can be prevented, practicing good hygiene, covering your mouth and staying healthy. Vaccination is a safe  and effective way to prevent meningitis. Vaccination for meningococcal meningitis is available in India from 9 month onwards.

Seek medical attention immediately if your child shows signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease. These symptoms may first appear as a flu-like illness and rapidly worsen. 

Discuss with your paediatrician on the need of the vaccination in your family, as the vaccine is generally recommended for the high-risk groups in India.

Hope you found this article helpful in taking precautions and preventive steps about this serious illness and I sincerely hope that I have been able to help in a healthier future for your child.

The first year of being a mum was completely different to how I ever imagined it. It is a complete rollercoaster of emotions that nobody fully prepares you for, but I would not change it for the world.

The first year of being a mum…

When Reuben was born, I was with his dad and we lived at his parent’s house, so I always had help if I needed it. I struggled massively with having our own routine, to fit around everyone else’s. Someone always wanted a cuddle and I constantly battled between wanting to cuddle my own baby, but not wanting him to be in someone’s arms all the time.

I loved the newborn stage, it is probably my favourite stage. I just loved the sleepy cuddles, the cute little outfits. Reuben was quite an ‘easy’ baby. I say easy, but no baby is easy. However, in comparison to some of my friends’ babies, I know I was quite lucky with him!

One of the toughest times I had with Reuben was when he was a month old. He would not sleep anywhere but my arms and as soon as I put him down, or gave him to anyone else, he would just cry. It was heart-breaking.

Hearing him cry was and still is one of the worst noises I can ever hear.

We had about 3-4 days of this. It was exhausting and I just broke down. I have always known babies can cry for no reason, but I hated not knowing how to make him happy. I would cry for hours every day, until I realised all he wanted was me, he felt safe with me and wanted my touch. This feeling never ever gets easier, even one year on.

Sometimes, I still break down, I still struggle…but I have learnt that it is okay.

I love to cook, so weaning was super fun and I loved watching Reuben explore new tastes and textures. I used a mixture of baby led and normal weaning. He absolutely loved getting messy and will eat pretty much anything you put in front of him, so in that respect, I am incredibly lucky.

We moved out of Reuben’s grandparents in November of last year and I started to really struggle. Reuben’s dad was not the most helpful around the flat and I was basically doing everything myself, which had a massive effect on my physical and mental health.

I started to not enjoy being a mum, I would cry and feel guilty for not enjoying being a mum. In reality, I was so stressed, anxious and overworked. I was looking after Reuben all day and going to work in the evening until about 2am, and then waking up at 6am with Reuben. All whilst trying to keep the flat tidy, eat properly and make time for myself. It just was not do-able.

A cook, a cleaner, a waitress in a hotel, I was not me.

My relationship with Reuben’s dad has never been good, he was very controlling and abusive, so this was something I was dealing with whilst being a new mum, which was incredibly difficult. He was not abusive whilst I was pregnant, but it started incredibly early on in our relationship after he isolated me away from my family, who I did not speak to for almost 3 years.

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Just before Reuben turned one, I found the strength to leave his dad. It was by far one of the most difficult things I have ever done but I knew if I wanted to find myself again, this was what I had to do.

A year after having Reuben, I finally feel like myself again, I have time to myself. I can relax, do things I enjoy. I also enjoy being a mum, although I still massively struggle with my anxiety, I feel a million times better than I did at the start of this year. I have started getting back into makeup and doing things I enjoy

We all know that exercise is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Regular physical activity lowers blood pressure, helps you maintain a healthy weight, lowers cholesterol, boosts energy, and improves sleep. But exercise is also a great way to reduce any COVID-19 related stress and anxiety. One could also argue that regular exercise is especially important now that we are all quarantined at home watching Netflix for 16 hours a day – no judgment, and eating cereal for every meal – again, no judgment. The recommended amount of physical activity is 20-30 minutes 3-5 times a week. So, here are a few family-friendly tips on staying active during quarantine.

Ages 0-6 months:

Your newborn is still small and needs proper support so the best way to fit in exercise in this age range is to get outside and take a walk (avoiding close contact with other people). Whether you choose a stroller or a carrier, make sure your baby’s head is fully supported. As a bonus, babies who get fresh air and sunshine each day actually sleep better at night!

Ages 6 months-2 years:

Children in this age range love to crawl, climb, and be lifted so why not make that your exercise? Lift your little one over your head, do some squats, army crawl around the living room, you name it. Better yet? put on some tunes and let your little one lead you in a dance or two.

2-5 years:

By this age, your little ones can follow small amounts of direction which means you can play games. Stick with games that have minimal instruction but maximum movement: tag and all variations thereof: (freeze tag, shadow tag, TV tag, etc.), kick the can, capture the flag, kickball, hopscotch, red light green light, Simon Says, and musical chairs.

5 and up:

By this time the sky really is the limit when it comes to exercising with your kiddos. Riding bikes, going on hikes, playing at the park, yoga, karate, or dance, playing sports like baseball, basketball or soccer…really anything that you and your children enjoy doing together.

We hope you’ve found these family-friendly tips on staying active during quarantine helpful. We think these strategies are a great way to show your little ones that exercise can be fun and don’t we all need a little more fun these days? Having your children join you in your workout routine can also lead to a stronger relationship between you as well. Imagine having 90 to 150 minutes of designated time each week to spend laughing and playing with your kiddos?

Your body is amazing. Not only did it grow and birth a human, but it is also capable of exclusively nourishing that human through the first six months of their life. Did you know that as your baby grows and changes, your breast milk grows and changes, too? Yup, that’s right. Your body knows exactly how to create the perfect, most nutrient-rich formula to protect and help your little one grow. So today, let’s spend some time getting to know the three phases of breast milk.

Phase 1: Colostrum

Colostrum, otherwise known as “liquid gold,” is the precursor to your milk supply and produced for only 2-5 days postpartum. A nutritionally dense superfood for babies, colostrum contains white blood cells and immune-boosting support. Colostrum is high in protein but low in sugar and fat, making it easier for your newborn to digest. Colostrum is so beneficial to your newborn, you should make giving it to them a priority, even if you don’t plan to breastfeed.

Some women can produce colostrum throughout their pregnancy but don’t worry if you don’t notice any. Once the placenta is expelled from the uterus, hormonal shifts signal to the breasts that it’s time to start production. Colostrum is noticeably different from breast milk. It is thick, creamy, and typically gold/yellowish in color (but it can be clear). One thing you may notice is that you will produce far less colostrum than you will transitional or mature milk.

A feeding for your newborn will consist of about 1-1.5 teaspoons of colostrum. While this sounds like a dramatically small amount, your newborn’s stomach is quite small and does not begin to stretch until around day three. By this time, your baby will be capable of eating more per feeding, and, luckily, this is when your transitional milk will come in.

Phase 2: Transitional Milk

Typically, between days 3-6 postpartum, you will begin to produce “transitional” milk, the bridge between colostrum and mature milk. Your newborn is growing rapidly during the first few weeks of their life, and amazingly, your breast milk adapts to meet their changing needs. During the time of your transitional milk, your breasts are learning how much to supply based on how much your newborn is eating.

The content of your milk at this stage is changing, too. Compared to your colostrum, transitional milk has a higher content of fat and lactose (sugar), which helps give your baby energy. The protein content of your transitional milk changes, too. Casein and whey now play important roles in digestion and satiety. Whey proteins, which are rich in antibodies and remain liquid in your baby’s stomach. This makes them easily and quickly digestible. Casein protein, however, curdles when it mixes with the acid in your baby’s stomach, helping them feel fuller longer. If you begin to notice chunks in your baby’s spit-up, this is why.

Your breast milk changes the most during this transitional phase as your body learns how to match the changing needs of your growing newborn. By the end of your first month postpartum, your milk supply will transition into your mature milk.

Phase 3: Mature Milk

Your final stage of breast milk transition is your “mature” stage, typically reached by four weeks postpartum. At this point, your milk has made almost all of the changes and adaptations necessary to meet your growing baby’s needs. Your mature milk is especially effective at protecting your little one against bacteria. Perfect timing, too, as we’re sure you’re noticing your little one putting more objects into their mouth! Interestingly, your mature milk is so specifically suited for your unique baby, scientists are still having trouble fully understanding exactly which cells, antibodies, etc. breast milk is made of and how it works to protect babies. Amazing.

Mature milk is delivered to your baby during feedings in two stages: foremilk and hindmilk

• Foremilk is the milk that comes out at the beginning of your feed. It is thinner, sweeter, and typically lower in fat. 
• Hindmilk is the milk that comes in gradually as your baby continues to feed. It is more nutritionally dense and higher in fat.

Your mature breast milk not only satiates your baby’s hunger, but it also helps build their gut bacteria, boost their immune system, and feeds their rapidly growing brain. On top of that, your mature breast milk contains stem cells and hormones that help build the foundation for your baby’s health throughout their entire life!!

As we celebrate World Meningitis Day this month, let me take some time and tell you a personal story and why you should take this name seriously.

About five years ago, when I had just got married and not even planning for a child, an untimely death occurred in my husband’s family. All that I remember now that it was due to meningitis and happened within 24 hours

Today when I was looking for some information about vaccines, I came across the term ‘meningitis’ and the memories of that incident came back to me.

On further research, I found that some bacterial forms of the disease are vaccine-preventable

Vaccine-preventable means you can get vaccinated and develop immunity against the disease. 

On discussing the disease in detail with my doctor here is what I learned, and why I feel every parent should know this:

What is Meningococcal meningitis?

Meningococcal Meningitis is a bacterial infection. Almost 1/10th of the healthy adults can carry the bacteria in their nose or back of the throat. Most uninfected carriers wouldn’t even know it as bacteria as its mere presence doesn’t cause any symptoms. The most common forms of this infection are:

• Infection of covering of the brain, which is called ‘meningitis’ and
• The infection of blood or ‘blood poisoning’ which is called septicemia

Although the bacteria may spread via droplets just like flu, the infection is rare but much deadlier than common flu. It may claim a life in just about 24 hours unless diagnosed and treated quickly enough.

What are the Symptoms of meningococcal Meningitis?

Identifying the disease quickly is important yet could be challenging, as it’s initial symptoms can be very similar to common flu. Fast diagnosis and antibacterial treatment are key to survival if infected.

The symptoms which are most common but not restricted to, are:

• Fever
• Headache
• Stiffness in the neck
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• High sensitivity to light

The disease deteriorates rapidly and therefore it’s crucial to receive treatment as soon as possible. Even the family members and anyone in close contact with the infected should receive antibiotics as a preventive measure.

Can You Prevent Meningococcal Meningitis?

Fortunately, yes, some forms of bacterial and viral meningitis are preventable through vaccination. Meningococcal meningitis is one of those vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis. Available vaccines may provide protection from single serogroup to 4 serogroups i.e monovalent vaccine to quadrivalent vaccine. In India, parents may opt to provide vaccination for infants above 9 months of age against this deadly disease

I had decided to vaccinate my baby against meningococcal meningitis and protect her from this serious disease.

Feeding baby is the most critical of newborn basics. Many mothers choose to breastfeed for a variety of reasons, and breastfeeding can be one of the most wonderful initial experiences for mother and baby. It can, however, take work to establish a successful breastfeeding practice. Here are a few breastfeeding basics suggestions to guide you in your nursing journey!

In the hospital

• To start out, you can’t feed baby too often, but you can feed too little. Newborns who are getting the hang of nursing will need to eat often. It is important to wake baby to nurse in the first couple of weeks, as newborns are very sleepy. Aim for feeding 8-11 times per 24 hours.
• The first milk that Mom produces is called colostrum. It is a superfood that is very concentrated and high in antibodies and fat. The amount of colostrum you produce may seem small, but it is just right for baby until your milk comes in. Baby’s stomach is very small and can only handle so much volume at once.
• Get as much help as you need while in the hospital, especially if this is your first baby. While breastfeeding is natural, it isn’t always easy in the beginning. The lactation consultants are so knowledgeable! Even if things seem to be going smoothly, it never hurts to get some extra guidance. Babies can go through ups and downs with nursing so get as much information as possible while you’re surrounded by the experts.
• With breastfeeding, it can be tricky to know if baby is getting enough in those first few days and weeks. Things to look for will be: the number of wet and poopy diapers as well as baby’s weight loss/gain. It is normal for baby to lose a small amount of weight (up to 10% of birth weight) in the first few days. A healthy time frame for baby to be back to and over birth weight is within the first two weeks.

Going Home

• Your milk will come in around day 3 or 4, possibly earlier if this isn’t your first baby.
• When baby begins to suck in the beginning of a feed he will trigger a hormone called oxytocin which will cause a “let-down”. This is when the milk begins to flow freely, making feeding easier for baby.
• Most experts recommend on demand feeding in the early weeks. This means you follow baby’s cues for hunger rather than watching the clock. This ensures that baby is getting enough milk, whether or not every single feeding goes well.
• Keep in mind that while the seemingly constant breastfeeding can be tiring, baby is getting more than just nutrition. They also receive comfort and nurturing!

Hush Hush Little Baby’s newborn professionals can help breastfeeding moms in major ways! We offer everything from 24 hour care, night care, postpartum doula, lactation consultants, as well as sleep training. We can bring baby to you for night or day feeds, so you can enjoy the time breastfeeding, but still be able to sleep or get work done during off times. This can truly make breastfeeding and adjusting to life with a newborn go smoothly and seamlessly!