Bangalore Birth Network

What Everyone Should Know about Breastfeeding Deeksha Sharma Like all mothers you can successfully breastfeed your baby, which is the most natural way to feed babies. Breast milk is complete nutrition (i.e. food and drink) for an infant for the first six months of life. During this period, an infant needs exclusive breastfeeding and no other food or drink, not even water, is required. Newborn babies need to be given to the mother to hold immediately after delivery. They should have skin-to-skin contact with the mother and begin breastfeeding within one hour of birth. Colostrum, the first yellowish mother's milk that comes during the first 2-3 days after birth is the first immunization. Nothing should be given before the first breastfeed. Babies should be breastfed unrestrictedly, day and night, and on demand. Breastfeeding the baby frequently causes production of more milk. Breastfeeding helps protect babies and young children against dan...

Venetia Kotamraju When I was at school, at a mixed boarding school in England, many if not most of us were on the pill by the time we left aged 18. Once you turn 16 in England you are entitled to a free supply of the contraceptive pill, subject only to a routine and regular check up by your GP. Some were on the pill to regulate periods or to clear up acne, but for many of us it was just something we started to take as soon as we entered the realm of sex. The terrible spectre of teenage pregnancy was forever before us. It would mean the end of our education, the end of our career prospects, and that pretty much meant the end of life as we knew it. So if there was even the slightest chance we might get into some kind of sexual situation at some point, even if it was just a drunken fumble on the walk back from the pub, it was better to be safe than sorry. Condoms too but you couldn't rely on them nor on the testosterone-fuelled teenager you were with, so to the pill we tur...