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Postpartum Thyroiditis Postpartum thyroiditis is a condition in which the thyroid gland becomes inflamed after childbirth, causing hormone levels to become unbalanced. It’s relatively common and often temporary—but it can affect your energy, mood, and overall well-being. What Is It? An inflammation of the thyroid gland that occurs within the first year after giving birth. It often causes two phases: ...
### %uD83E%uDD31 **Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby and Mom** --- ### %uD83D%uDC76 **For Baby:** * **Perfect Nutrition:** * Breast milk contains the ideal mix of proteins, fats, vitamins, and antibodies for your baby’s growth and development. * **Boosts Immunity:** * Provides antibodies that help protect against infections like colds, ear infections, diarrhea, and pneumonia. * **Reduces Health Risks:** * Lowe...
### %uD83E%uDD31 **Preterm Labor: What It Is and Why It Matters** --- ### %u2705 **Definition:** **Preterm labor** is when your body starts preparing for birth **too early—before 37 weeks of pregnancy**. If labor leads to delivery, the baby is considered **preterm or premature**. --- ### %uD83D%uDCCA **Preterm Categories (based on weeks):** | **Type** | **Gestational Age** || ----------------- | ----------...
Preparing for **postpartum recovery** is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby. Here's a practical, step-by-step guide to help you feel more prepared, supported, and comfortable after birth: --- ### %uD83D%uDECF%uFE0F **1. Set Up a Rest & Recovery Space** * Create a cozy feeding/changing station near your bed or lounge.* Keep essentials within reach: maternity pads, nappies, water, snacks, burp cloths, and a phone charger.* Use pillo...
### %uD83D%uDC41%uFE0F **What Can a Newborn See?** Newborns **can see from birth**, but their vision is limited and develops over time. Here's what you can expect: --- ### %uD83C%uDF7C **Visual Range:** * **8–12 inches** (20–30 cm) is the ideal distance—they can clearly see your face when you're holding or feeding them.* Anything beyond that is blurry at first. --- ### %uD83C%uDFA8 **Color Perception:** * **Black, white,...
It’s normal to have times during pregnancy when you don’t feel your baby move, especially in the earlier stages. Here are some common reasons: --- ### %uD83D%uDD50 **Gestational Age Matters:** * **Before 20–24 weeks:** Movements may be light and inconsistent, like flutters or bubbles.* **After 24 weeks:** Movements should become more noticeable and regular, but some variation is still normal. --- ### %uD83E%uDDF8 **Baby's Sleep and Ac...
### **Flexibility in Newborns:**- **Natural Flexibility:** - Newborn babies are highly flexible, primarily because their bones and joints haven't fully matured yet. - This flexibility helps facilitate passage through the birth canal and allows for the rapid growth they experience after birth. - **Bone Development:** - At birth, babies have approximately 300 bones, many composed of cartilage, which gradually hardens and fuses into the 206 bones ...
Newborn babies have several unique physical adaptations that help them transition from life in the womb to life outside: ### 1. **Fontanelles ("Soft Spots"):**- **Description:** Soft, flexible spaces between skull bones.- **Purpose:** Allow baby's head to pass safely through the birth canal and accommodate rapid brain growth after birth.- **Closure:** Gradually fuse and close over 12-18 months. ### 2. **Lanugo Hair:**- **Description:** Soft, fine hair cov...
Newborns are born with several natural reflexes—automatic, involuntary responses to stimuli—that help them survive, adapt, and develop. ### **Common Newborn Reflexes:** - **Rooting Reflex:** - **Trigger:** Touching or stroking baby's cheek. - **Response:** Baby turns head towards the touch, opens mouth, and searches for nipple or food source. - **Sucking Reflex:** - **Trigger:** When an object (finger, nipple, or pacifier) t...
- **Vision Development:** - **Blurry at Birth:** Newborns initially have blurry vision; they can best see objects that are about 8–12 inches away, which is perfect for viewing their caregiver’s face. - **High Contrast Preference:** They are drawn to high-contrast patterns (like black and white), as these are easier for their developing eyes to distinguish. - **Gradual Improvement:** Over the first few months, their vision im...
