Reduced milk production can be due to pain through breast pump, infection, or poor latching, any breast surgeries you’ve had, stress, high blood pressure, insulin dependent diabetes, obesity, or thyroid. If your baby was born prematurely, it might be a while before your little one gets the knack of proper feeding. And because your baby takes a while to adjust to breastfeeding it too impacts your milk supply. Do not feel guilty about low milk supply as most of the factors are out of your control. Following are the ways which will help you to increase your breast milk production: <ul><li>Evaluate Your Baby’s Latch: Make sure the baby is latching on your breasts correctly.</li><li>Continue to Breastfeed: Your body works on the principle of demand and supply. As you keep feeding, it will produce enough milk. If your milk supply is low, try to express at least 8 times in 24 hours and at least once overnight. Milk producing hormones are secreted the highest at night, so do not skip the night-time expressing.</li><li>Stimulate Your Breasts: Use a breast pump or a hand expression technique to stimulate your breasts after you finish breastfeeding your baby. The extra stimulation will tell your body that you need more breast milk.</li><li>Use a formula supplement: When the milk flow is low or slow, the child may refuse to suck so you can use a formula supplement.</li><li>Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes: Smoking, taking a combination of birth pills, stress and fatigue can also adversely affect milk production.</li><li>Breastfeed Longer at Each Feeding: Your newborn should be breastfeeding for at least 10 minutes on each side. If (s)he falls asleep, try to wake him/her up gently to continue nursing. The more time your baby spends at the breast, the more stimulation you're getting.</li><li>Breastfeed From Both Breasts at Each Feeding: During the first few weeks, breastfeeding from both sides during each feeding will help to build up a stronger supply of breast milk.</li><li>Try to Keep Your Baby Awake During Feedings: Yes! When you are feeding your baby try to keep your child awake and actively sucking so that there is stimulation which helps in milk production.</li><li>Spend Some Time in Direct Skin-to-Skin Contact: The&nbsp;kangaroo care technique that is skin to skin connection between the newborn and mother stimulates their bodies and has a very positive impact on the baby and the mother.</li><li>Eat Well: Eat some milk boosting food such as oatmeal (porridge or upma), spinach, fenugreek, garlic, apricot.</li><li>Drink Plenty of Fluids: Breast milk is made up of about 90 percent water. Drinking about 6 to 8 glasses of water or other healthy liquids such as milk, juice, or tea proves beneficial.</li><li>Try to Get Some Rest: Exhaustion and stress can have a negative effect on your milk supply. Try to take a nap when the baby is sleeping, and know that it's OK to ask for help.</li></ul>

It is very rare that mothers have to deal with less breastmilk production. Nevertheless, there are always ways to deal with it.

Low Breastmilk Supply

Samiksha Choithani

One way to make sure that your child is latching properly during feeding is by observing the following pattern in your baby’s stool during the first week after birth: <ul><li>1 day after birth – 1 wet diaper, greenish-black stool colour, stool smears</li><li>2 days after birth – 2 wet diapers, greenish-black stool colour, 1-2 stools</li><li>3 days after birth – 3 wet diapers, yellow and soft stool, 2-4 stools</li><li>4 days after birth – 4 wet diapers, yellow and soft stool, 3-5 stools</li><li>5 days after birth – 5 wet diapers, yellow and soft stool, 3-5 stools</li></ul> If you observe a similar pattern is similar, there is no need to worry. If that is not the case, there are ways to improve latching and efficiently feed your baby.

Improper latching leads to an underweight child. Hence it is important to make sure that your child is latched well.

Proper latching during breastfeeding

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects your ability to read, spell, write, and speak. Kids who have it are often smart and hardworking, but they have trouble connecting the letters they see to the sounds those letters make. Some people are diagnosed early in life. Others don't realize they have dyslexia until they get older. Kids with dyslexia are just as smart as their peers but they struggle more in school because it takes them longer to read. When children learn to read, they first figure out what sound each letter makes. For example, "B" makes a "buh" sound. "M" makes an "em" sound. Then, they learn how to put those sounds in order to form words. Finally, they have to figure out what words mean.For kids who have dyslexia, the brain has a hard time connecting letters to the sounds they make, and then blending those sounds into words. So to someone with dyslexia, the word "saw" might read as "was." Because of these mix-ups, reading can be a slow and difficult process.Dyslexia is different for everyone. Some people have a mild form and eventually learn how to manage. Others have a little more trouble overcoming it. Even if children cannot fully outgrow dyslexia, they can still go to college and succeed in life. Causes: Dyslexia is caused due to genetic reasons. Symptoms in Preschoolers:<ul><li>Hard to learn or remember the letters of the alphabet.</li><li>Mispronounce familiar words.</li><li>Mixing up letters. For example, mistaking "t" for "d."</li><li>Trouble identifying rhyming patterns.</li></ul> Symptoms in Grade Schoolers:<ul><li>Read more slowly than other kids their age</li><li>Can't tell the difference between certain letters or words</li><li>Don't connect letters with the sounds they make</li><li>Write letters or numbers backwards, such as "b" instead of "d"</li><li>Have trouble sounding out words when they read</li><li>Can't always understand what they've read</li><li>Write slowly</li><li>Misspell words - even easy words like "and" and "dog"</li><li>Say that words on the page appear to blur or jump around</li><li>Struggle to follow a series of instructions</li></ul> Middle and high school students with dyslexia:<ul><li>Have trouble writing clearly (make errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation)</li><li>Take a long time to finish their homework or complete tests</li><li>Have messy handwriting</li><li>Speak slowly</li><li>Avoid reading aloud</li><li>Use the wrong words - like "furnish" instead of "finish" or "lotion" for "ocean"</li></ul> Common symptoms in children with dyslexia:<ul><li>Frustration</li><li>Anger</li><li>Disinterest in studies</li><li>Disobedience</li><li>Lower self-esteem</li></ul> Diagnosis:Dyslexia is usually diagnosed during elementary school. In some cases, it doesn't become apparent until a child is older and is expected to read and comprehend longer and more complex material. Dyslexia is formally diagnosed by a reading specialist or psychologist, through a comprehensive evaluation either at school or in the community. Managing Dyslexia:<ul><li>Once diagnosed, a child usually works with a specially trained teacher, tutor, or reading specialist to help children in learning how to read, spell, and write.</li><li>Once a child starts working with trained academic professionals, (s)he can overcome dyslexia and lead a normal life. Children with dyslexia should be offered the maximum support of their loved ones.</li></ul> Risk factors:<ul><li>A family history of dyslexia or other learning disabilities.</li><li>Premature birth or low birth weight.</li><li>Exposure during pregnancy to nicotine, drugs, alcohol or infection that may alter brain development in the fetus.</li><li>Individual differences in the parts of the brain that enable reading.</li></ul> Prevention: Dyslexia cannot be prevented. FAQs about Dyslexia:What is dyslexia?Dyslexia is now called Specific learning disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that influences the brain's ability to efficiently perceive or process verbal and nonverbal information.It is characterised by persistent difficulty in learning academic skills like reading, written expression, or mathematics. Dyslexia begins in early childhood and is inconsistent with the overall intellectual ability of a child. Children with specific learning disorder often find it difficult to keep up with their peers in certain academic subjects, whereas they may excel in other areas. How can I confirm that my child has dyslexia or not?You may suspect that your child has dyslexia when the IQ of your child is normal yet your child lags behind in some areas of academics or when (s)he does not score well even though (s)he learns very well.&nbsp;What is the treatment of Dyslexia?Treatment for Dyslexia depends on the area in which a child lags behind. Teaching specific learning skills through different behaviour therapies or software-based therapies are helpful. Is there any medicine for Dyslexia?NO. There is no medication for dyslexia; the treatment for this condition is through behaviour-based and software-based therapies. If the child has other co-morbid conditions like ADHD or other psychological problems then medicines can be given accordingly. Can a child with dyslexia study?Yes. A child with dyslexia can study normally if the area of problem is identified and interventions are done timely.

Here are Dyslexia Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Management, Risk factors, Prevention, and FAQs.

All about Dyslexia

Newborns and infants cannot inform when they are hungry. Some of these signs are subtle hints that will tell you when the child is hungry:<ul><li>The baby is putting fingers in mouth</li><li>Sucking lips or tongue</li><li>Making little crying sounds</li><li>Getting restless</li><li>Avoids other family members and only wants to be with mother</li></ul> Some babies are too sleepy and do not show any signs of hunger, but wake them up and feed the baby at least 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Babies often get hungrier than usual (every hour) during the growth spurt. Growth spurt is the time when the baby is physically growing; it lasts for 2-3 days. Growth spurts occur periodically, within 7-10 days of birth, 2-3 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months.

Irritability is probably the most common signs among babies that indicates a child is hungry.

Signs that indicate babies are hungry

Ravina Sewani

Wool is a clothing material containing natural oil called lanolin, which is the cause of many children's wool allergies. Children who are allergic to lanolin will show allergic reactions to other products containing lanolin. Symptoms:<ul><li>Skin Irritation - rashes and hives</li><li>Eye irritation - redness, itching and puffiness of the eyes</li><li>Nasal Problems - runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion</li><li>Narrowed airways</li><li>Trouble in breathing</li><li>Drop in blood pressure</li><li>Asthma</li><li>Ear and lung infections</li><li>Anaphylaxis (in more severe cases)</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>Wool allergies are sometimes misunderstood with wool sensitivity. To know whether your child is allergic to wool or just sensitive, you can try to make him/her wear a layer of clothing between their skin and the wool clothing. If your child does not experience any allergic symptoms, it's clear that your child is only sensitive towards wool. Your child can use wool products as long as they don’t come into contact with their skin.</li><li>Wool allergy is confirmed when your child develops an allergic reaction even if the wool didn't come in direct contact with your child’s skin. To confirm the allergy, you need to take your child to a doctor who will ask for your child’s medical and health history, your family’s medical history, and perform either a skin-prick or blood test.</li></ul> Wool Allergy Sources:<ul><li>Wool clothing - sweaters, scarves, bonnets, socks and gloves</li><li>Wool wax</li><li>Cosmetic products and personal products with lanolin</li></ul> Treatment:There's no permanent cure for wool allergy. Your child can, however, be given antihistamines and allergy shots to subdue the symptoms of the allergy. Guidelines to soothe your child’s skin after an allergic reaction:<ul><li>Keep the skin clean and moisturised with a gentle, fragrance-free lotion</li><li>Let the skin be exposed to air as much as possible</li><li>Avoid hot baths or showers, which may further irritate the skin</li><li>Try to stop scratching, which can make the rash worse</li><li>As a precautionary measure, avoid using woollen clothes or products containing lanolin for your baby.</li></ul>

Wool allergies are quite common but are often confused with wool sensitivity hence it is important to get a proper diagnosis done by an allergist.

Wool allergies

Chewing may start around 6-9 months. By 10 months, your baby should be given textured food and opportunity to chew. Babies can do light chewing till 1.5 years as they still lack molar teeth. There can be several reasons behind a child not chewing its food properly:<ul><li>Late introduction of food</li><li>Delayed development of motor skills (jaw, tongue, swallowing)</li><li>Disinterest in food because of test, texture, or flavour</li><li>Boredom of same food</li><li>Allergy</li><li>Consumption of milk three times</li><li>Big portions</li><li>Distraction</li></ul> Please refrain from the following behaviour:<ul><li>Generally, parents put on child's favourite cartoon or TV programme and feed their child. For parents, the only concern is to make the child eat sufficient amount of food so as soon as this is done, they think that their part of duty to feed the child is over.</li><li>This is where children get into the bad habit of eating while watching T.V. When a child eats in front of the screen, (s)he does not know what (s)he is eating. The child will also not chew the food properly.</li><li>If a child observes that his/her parent is taking a sandwich in their hand while going to office and eats moving around the house or watches television while eating, the child will learn the same. The child models their parents’ behaviour and thus (s)he doesn’t chew properly. Either they eat too slow or just gulp without chewing.</li></ul> For improvement, take the following steps:<ul><li>When a child eats food on their own, proper chewing habit develops easily. This way the child becomes independent and learns to do his/her own thing. So encourage them to eat their food on their own.</li><li>Make it a point to have a family meal time where everyone eats together.</li><li>Vary the type of food, food's texture to keep the food interesting for your child.</li><li>Instead of a screen, tell them stories or talk to them while feeding them.</li><li>Make sure there is sufficient gap between meals. When the child is not hungry, (s)he does not chew the food properly. Take this as a sign that your child is not hungry.</li><li>You can constantly keep telling them about the importance of chewing process and help them develop this habit by following it yourself.</li><li>Eat with them, but in a different plate. When a child watches you eating calmly and properly, (s)he learns the same.</li></ul>

Kids tend to skip chewing and try to swallow the food directly. Do not get angry, try to be patient and address the problem.

Helping child to chew food properly

Few allergic reactions are known to worsen existing conditions like asthma and a few are known to cause asthma problems.Not all children develop asthma due to allergies. Children with a family history of asthma or children with eczema are at a higher risk of developing asthma.Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the smaller air passages in the lungs. The common triggers of asthma:<ul><li>Cold or flu</li><li>Allergens like dust or pollen</li><li>Cigarette smoke or other irritants</li><li>Gastrointestinal reflux</li><li>Stress, continuous crying or laughing, physical activities are also known to trigger an asthma attack.</li></ul> Diagnosis of asthma is based on symptoms, family history and medical history of your child, previously known allergies, etc. followed by medical asthma tests which may include x- ray, blood tests or allergy tests. Please note, it is important to get your child diagnosed of asthma problem only by a healthcare expert. Symptoms of Asthma include:<ul><li>Coughing</li><li>Wheezing</li><li>Shortness of breath</li><li>Uncomfortable tightness in the chest</li></ul> Seek medical attention immediately if you notice these symptoms in your child:<ul><li>Gasping for breath or trouble speaking</li><li>Deep breath/inhalation that shows the abdomen sucked in</li><li>Increased rate of breathing</li><li>Given the close link between allergies and asthma, it is important to identify the source of allergy and manage it effectively.</li><li>Allergy shots (Immunotherapy) may be advised if your child's asthma is due to allergens like pollen or pet dander.</li><li>Asthma treatment is based on the severity and frequency. An inhaler with a holding chamber/spacer may be prescribed by your child’s paediatrician for a quick relief during an asthma attack. Always seek medical help if you think your child might have asthma.</li><li>According to studies, omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil are known to reduce inflammatory conditions like asthma in children. For children with fish allergies, an alternative source for omega 3 fatty acids is algae.</li></ul>

Asthma and allergy are closely related hence it is important to take proper precautions.

Asthma and Allergy

Palak Vyas

Vomiting in young babies and small children is not rare. Vomiting is very common during early weeks when you have just introduced solids into their diet. But if your baby looks happy and healthy, you should stay assured that nothing is serious. Vomits can be either of the following three:Spitting up:<ul><li>Young babies tend to spit up milk or solids as soon as they are fed.</li><li>This is normal and there is nothing to worry about if the content that they spit is less.</li><li>As the oesophagus of children is still developing, milk can leak back up after a feed and come out of the baby's mouth or nose.</li></ul> This kind of vomiting resolves on its own as the baby grows and his/her digestive system matures. In case of frequent vomiting, paediatrician’s prescribed oral hydration solutions should be used. Reflux vomiting:This is due to the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Factors like obesity, eating spicy food, excess caffeine intake, overeating also contribute to GERD. Little tips to avoid or reduce reflux:<ul><li>Hold and feed your baby while (s)he is seated or in an upright position. Avoid feeding baby in a lying down position.</li><li>Feed your child in smaller portions.</li><li>Ensure that your baby doesn’t jump or bounce immediately after eating food.</li><li>Give your baby milk or water after feeding to reduce acid or indigestion.</li><li>Avoid giving spicy or fried food to your child.</li></ul> Projectile vomiting:Projectile vomiting is when the entire amount of last feed is forcefully vomited out. This could be due to a blockage caused by thickening of the muscle of the stomach. It could be due to some gastric infection or even the common cold.In any case, do not give over-the-counter medication to your baby. Consult your child’s paediatrician as early as possible. Causes of vomiting:<ul><li>Stress</li><li>Motion sickness</li><li>Gastroentritis (also known as stomach flu; caused by viruses)</li><li>Food poisoning</li><li>Food allergy</li><li>Concussion</li><li>Migraine</li></ul> You should consult the doctor in the following conditions:<ul><li>Vomiting for more than 12 hours.</li><li>Blood or bile in the vomit.</li><li>If your baby is losing weight or not gaining weight.</li><li>If there is persistent indigestion.</li><li>If the baby generally seems unwell.</li><li>If the baby remains fatigued all the time.</li></ul> Diagnosis: Physical examination, medical history, and in some cases blood tests help with the cause of vomiting. Treatment and Remedies:Give doctor's prescribed oral electrolyte solutions (ORS) to prevent dehydration and loss of nutrients in children.Usually medicines are not prescribed unless it's stomach flu.Do not give your child milk or milk products.Give them liquid diet. Example - fruit juices diluted with water, broth of vegetable or pulses (consult your child's paediatrician first). Prevention:<ul><li>Develop regular habit of washing hands in your child.</li><li>Check the food ingredients to see that the food doesn't have anything that might trigger your child's allergy.</li><li>Store and cook food properly to avoid the chances of food poisoning.</li></ul>

Here are Vomiting Causes, Types, Diagnosis, Treatment, Remedies, and Prevention.

All about vomiting

If your baby has green, foamy or frothy, explosive stools and pain, it might be a case of lactose overload. Lactose overload can happen when your baby gulps a very large quantity of breastmilk either due to a long gap between the feedings or due to an oversupply of milk. Healthy babies are able to break down the lactose in normal volumes of milk. The presence of fat in the milk ensures the slow movement of milk through the gut. But if your baby consumes a lot of milk that is relatively low in fat, it can rush through the digestive system without being digested. This can cause the problem of gas causing pain and frothy stools. If you suspect lactose overload, try to check your baby's latch. Try different positions to feed your baby if you have a problem of oversupply of milk. Try frequent feeds as your baby to avoid build up of watery low fat milk. If the problem persists, you know what to do, head straight to your doctor.

insect sting allergy health concern

Following article(s) will help solve your concern.