Posts

Are figure enhancing herbal supplements safe?

Today I would like to talk about one of the most debilitating fads of our times – The inexorable pressure to look good. While studies after studies have shown that an internally healthy body also looks “good”, more often than not young women are encouraged to take the short cut via peer pressure, TV ads etc. Apart from concerns about pimples, wrinkles, obesity or thin body frame there are more persistent body concerns that may have serious long term health impact. Let me tell you about a case I got few months back. A young girl of about 25yrs had come to me for infertility. During the course of investigations all her routine tests were normal but the liver enzymes were found to be high. More investigations were done, number of gastroenterologists and other specialists were consulted but neither any reason was found for such high levels nor did the levels come down with time. One fine day during a casual chat she mentioned that her friend had got her some ‘herbal pills

Vaccines in pregnancy

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If one were to ask educated pregnant women in the major cities about their immunisation status, their usual reply would be that they have been vaccinated in their childhood. Hardly anyone knows beyond the two shots of tetanus in pregnancy. But there are a number of vaccine preventable diseases that can harm the baby. Apart from the lack of knowledge of these vaccines, women hesitate due to concerns regarding their safety in pregnancy or the belief that they won’t fall prey to such diseases. As far as safety is concerned, all vaccines are checked for purity, safety and potency in a number of trials before they are recommended . While there are few vaccines which are recommended for all pregnant mothers others are to be given in selected cases only where the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks of the disease to the baby. For women who feel they wont need it, its like saying you don’t need helmets and seat belts. Even though the diseases may not be very common the harm

Towards Natural Delivery: A week with Dr Rick Porter and Professor Lesley Page

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Last week I got the opportunity to spend some time with Dr Porter and Professor Page . Dr Rick Porter is a renowned obstetrician in London and Professor Page is the President of the Royal College of Midwives in UK. They both were here to share their rich experience with us at #SitaramBhartia hospital. Discussion focused on some unique clinical cases, some suspicious CTGs. Obstetricians often have to take difficult decisions eg. in preterm babies. We got an insights on how they approach such situations, how they communicate, how an open door policy exists in keeping parents involved during the pregnancy while keeping in mind the medico-legal aspects. Our pregnant mothers too had an interactive session with Professor Page. She along with our team of physiotherapists and educators guided the expecting parents on different postures, massages and exercises during labour, that substantially help reduce labor pains. Pregnant mothers emerged from the workshop confident and fear

Pregnancy is Unpredictable: Be Prepared

Pregnancy is a normal physiological process through which most women go through without complications. Yes there are certain complications that are diagnosed   during the routine checkups but they can be subsequently managed on OPD basis. On the other hand, Obstetricians world over can vouch for the unpredictability of pregnancy. There are complications that arise suddenly even when all prior tests and checkups are normal. At times there maynot be any physical symptoms.   Such situations are hard to grapple with, not only for the patients and their families, but also for the Doctor . It is hard to convince the patient the urgency of the follow up actions, needed to decrease further complications. I will highlight such a case that occurred in the recent past. .   A pregnant patient who was registered at the hospital and coming for regular checkups, came to the emergency early morning with a history of bleeding. She was in her 27 th week of pregnancy. It was known th