Posts

WHAT SHOULD BE THE FIRST DROP ON THE PALATE OF THE NEWBORN, HONEY OR WHAT ELSE?

For centuries,  people have been putting a drop or two of honey on the tongues of the newborns. Someone may prefer using a holy water or some blessed fluid instead! This first food of the baby is called a GUDTI in this part of India where I exist, it must have different names elsewhere. The practice have different modalities among different community settings. It's justifications may also differ. But the fact remains: It is an altogether useless and potentially harmful practice. We don't know anything about it's origin and we are not bothered about! NOTHING and I repeat,  NOTHING should be given to the newborns as a 'first taste', other than the breast milk. So, all the babies should be put to the mothers' breast as they demand feed,  soon after birth. That brings me to another crucial question very commonly put up by the family of the baby. Many a times, it is felt that the mother will not be able to produce enough milk during the first few days and babies shou...
3 comments
Read more

First Post- Why I am starting a blog

Image
   I am a Consultant Pediatrician in the beautiful city of Chandigarh, for the last 34 plus years and am witness to many changes and developments in various health areas and our standard of living as a nation having undergone a sea change all these years. Childcare, vaccination and family planning, all have contributed towards better health of our children. Parents these days, are more committed to give their babies everything best possible. But, in spite of all this, there are still many myths and misconceptions regarding child health, prevalent in our society. This is more so when a new baby arrives in a family. A newborn looks very tiny, a very vulnerable creature. Many a times, the parents and the family, get easily confused and unduly worried about many a situation. It may be a weird looking swelling, or blood spots in the eyes, swollen nipples of the baby with milk dripping, or actual presence of blood in the diaper of a newborn baby. Fortunately, most of these...
14 comments
Read more