Heredity is one of the major factors in determining whether a child has an allergy. Tendency of a child towards allergy could be while being breastfed, during the mother’s pregnancy and while being introduced to foods. One can find out how allergies may be the cause of a child’s health problems.

Preventive measures during pregnancy:

Breastfeeding - Feeding babies with solid foods during their first six months of life could increase their risk of developing allergies. is The best way to prevent allergies later in childhood is to breastfeed them during the first six months.

Avoid unnecessary medicines - Unless and until it is absolutely necessary, a pregnant women should not risk taking any allergy medications. DO not take anything without your doctor’s permission.

Avoid herbs during pregnancy - Pregnant must avoid several herbs as they tend to cause skin allergies.

Special Formula May Reduce Allergies in Infants - By means of some of the same ingredients that are found in breast milk scientists have developed a new formula. This formula helps in preventing allergies in infants. The infants who are at high risk for developing the allergic condition are helped through this formula by reducing their eczema.

Over breastfeeding invite allergies:

A study on 200 mothers for a period of 20-years at the Helsinki Skin and Allergy Hospital in Finland, indicates that breastfeeding a child for nine months can increase the food sensitivity and the risk of allergies.

Peanuts during pregnancy - Peanuts are believed to cause allergies. They are avoided during pregnancy and lactation.

Avoid tobacco - Avoid tobacco and its products at the time of pregnancy.

Physical Exercise - Consult your doctor whether its OK to do some mild exercise as it has been observed that exercise at the later part of pregnancy can cause allergic reactions.

We hope you will find this information helpful. Needless to say, always consult your doctor before following these advices.

How many babies are you carrying? One in every 80 or so pregnancies results in twins, which brings its own unique challenges.

Twins can be identical (from one fertilised egg that splits) or non-identical (from two separate eggs). Identical twins are the same sex as they have the same genes. Non-identical twins can be the same sex or one of each. Fertility treatments make twins more likely.

How do I know it’s twins?

An ultrasound scan is the most likely way of discovering you’re carrying twins. Even if you haven’t had a scan, few women reach labour without knowing they’re carrying two babies.

First signs of twin pregnancy

You’re normally a lot bigger and routine antenatal care means the midwife is likely to hear two heartbeats.

Being pregnant with twins

Many mothers expecting twins say it’s harder and more tiring. You have a greater load to carry - not just an extra baby, but an extra placenta and extra amniotic fluid too. The added weight means backache and fatigue are more likely. Your blood pressure will probably be higher too.

You may need to rest more often and you may want to think about stopping work sooner.

Giving birth to twins

Although there’s a higher chance of twins being born early, most are born only a little before their due date, at about 37 or 38 weeks.

The birth of twins usually goes smoothly, with both born head down. However, caesarean sections are more common with twins. One or both of the babies may end up in a less than perfect position as that’s the only way they can make room.

One or both might be breech, coming bottom or feet first. Occasionally, one baby lies across the uterus, in which case a caesarean is essential. Twins can also be smaller and weaker than single babies and a caesarean might be the easiest, least stressful way for them to be born.

Because twin pregnancy and births have the potential to be more challenging, you’ll see an obstetrician more often and all aspects of your pregnancy, labour and birth will be carefully monitored.

Twins are more likely to need some time in special care after the birth. You’ll probably be advised to stay a little longer in hospital yourself, even if your twins are perfectly healthy (as most are).

This will give you the chance to become more comfortable with feeding and build your confidence about their routine, day-to-day care.
Breastfeeding twins

Your body can make as much milk as your babies need - twice the stimulation of the supply, means twice the amount made.

It’s the practical aspects that might be more tricky - how to hold them so you’re all comfortable, whether to feed them one at a time or together and so on. The babies may not have the same appetite and they may be hungry at different times, too.

You’ll need plenty of help with the other aspects of the babies’ care, such as bathing, nappy changing and washing clothes.

While the breastfeeding process exists to nourish a newborn and to provide everything that it needs to grow, breastfeeding is much more than food for a baby. The entire breastfeeding process provides significant benefits for both the baby and the mother.

1. Breast Milk Is A Living Substance

Babies do not have a fully functioning immune system until they are one year old. For the first year of life, a breastfeeding mother actually provides the immune response for a baby who is exposed to a cold or flu. If a baby were to suffer a cold, his mother would immediately start to increase her white blood cell production to counteract the bacteria or virus whether or not she experiences the baby’s symptoms. The baby would get these doses of immunity through breast milk. Breast milk contains many white blood cells (the blood cells that fight bacteria, viruses and parasites) and because of them, breast milk can actually sit on a countertop for 8 hours and be perfectly safe to drink.

2. Breastfeeding Improves Health

The proteins, carbohydrates and fatty acids in breast milk provide everything that a baby needs to grow strong bones, muscles and tissues. All of these components of breast milk exist in perfect proportion to a growing baby’s needs. Breast milk proteins are easily digested and breastfed babies feed often to build up their mother’s milk supply. The fatty acids found in breast milk help to support the growth of the baby’s brain and nervous system. The carbohydrates (or sugars) found in breast milk provide energy for the baby to play and interact with her world.

Breastfeeding provides great health benefits for the mother after birth, it helps to contract the uterus back to its pre-pregnant state. Mothers who breastfeed for longer periods of time experience less breast or uterine cancer later on in life.

3. Breastfeeding Promotes The Bonding and Attachment Process.

The hormone oxytocin stimulates the let down reflex when a baby starts to breastfeed; however, the role of oxytocin is not just for breastfeeding. In fact, oxytocin is called the hormone of love. Our bodies release high doses of oxytocin during the infatuation stage of love which creates the wonderful high that we experience when we first fall for someone. Breastfeeding creates this same feeling of infatuation every time a mother breastfeeds her baby. These continual doses of oxytocin enhance the bonding and attachment process to securely attach the mother/baby pair.

A Critical Period to Establish Breastfeeding

We all know that breast milk is best for babies. However, there is a vulnerable time for both the mother and the baby for the first month after birth as they learn to breastfeed. Some babies learn easily, others take their time. If a baby is continually fussy during this process a new mother can interpret the fussiness to mean that the baby has a specific problem with her, and that can influence her decision whether or not to keep trying.

With a calmer baby, there is a greater chance that the mother will continue to breastfeed, which helps to create a more bonded mother and infant and a relatively peaceful home life. With the reduction of crying and fussiness, the relationship between the mother and father is less strained in the transitional year to becoming a family, and that helps to bond the family unit more easily.

The Reason Behind The Baby’s Crying

When a baby fusses or cries, especially in the evening, the problem is usually that the baby is experiencing an adverse reaction to something that the mother is eating. If a breastfeeding mother can alter her diet on a short-term basis, the baby usually calms down and the breastfeeding process becomes easier for both mother and baby.

The main food source that a breastfeeding mother eats that causes babies discomfort are cow’s milk proteins. Small amounts of cow’s milk proteins end up in breast milk and can cause the baby to experience either food hypersensitivities or food intolerances. The resulting symptoms are gas, bloating, discomfort and crying. (Sound familiar?)