Why this mother donated her breast milk?

This is my story...a chapter from my motherhood...

I was never keen on breast feeding. I was quite comfortable with the idea of formula. I had seen my twin niece and nephew being fed both breastmilk and formula and they have turned out just fine. Bursting with energy, sharp and extremely lovable munchkins!

In hindsight, I was ignorant of the benefits and the acute importance of breastmilk. My prenatal and lamaze classes gave me an insight into why breastfeed. How even a few drops of colostrum is nectar. How breastmilk protects the baby and its endless advantages. With so much information floating all around, my grey cells went for a rather happy jig down the alley.

However, I was still not averse to formula. Infact before my baby was born, while prepping up, I had listed down feeding bottles. Steriliser, Hot water flask et al. I was a pro at mixing formula- small, large & patiala pegs!  I even called for an expensive breast pump, in case I was unable to breastfeed directly. I wanted nothing amiss.Amidst all this planning and preparations, my sister asked me one simple question-

"If you want to exclusively breastfeed, then why are you arranging for an alternative? For an option? Why do you want to be able to reach out to a feeding bottle and make formula? Why do you want to pump milk and feed via a bottle?"

My Lamaze teacher looked at us in a session and mockingly questioned us, "Do you not have any confidence over your body? Your ability? Your capability?" Ouch! That hurt! 

Of course, I was confident yet hesitant enough to keep my back -up options open.

Answer was to throw caution to the wind and simply dive into EBF (exclusive breastfeeding). I read up all about it. And was convinced that it was the right thing.

Think of it-

EBF saves you loads of money which otherwise would be spent on formula, expensive feeding bottles! 
EBF saves you the effort of washing and sterilising bottles a million times a day and checking each bottle, nipple, cap for any residues!
EBF ensures you travel light-hell all you need is a feeding poncho or a dupatta and you are sorted!
EBF magically burns away all the excess fats!!!!
EBF is said to aid in preventing breast cancer.

So there I was determined. I was given a new monicker- guy mata/cow/mooooo...! All in my stride!

And yes EBF made my life simple. And over the months, I realised the marked difference between EBF and formula feeding.

My sister’s twin babies would always spit out excess milk. I recall converting a towel into a cape and always wearing it. My twins would frequently be gassy. My twins unfortunately often fell sick and we had to resort to antibiotics quite early. And we could never never travel sans a huge duffel bag! 
While Sabyasachi, now 8 months old, barely threw up excess milk. We have had only 4 incidences of gas. And touchwood, we have stayed away from medicines. Yes. I have seen the difference it makes. It makes me happy. I have seen my breast milk heal his eye infection. I believe in the power of breast milk coz when you feed the child you ain't just feeding but also sending out vibes, energy and blessings. So there I was enjoying EBFing my baby.

And one late evening I received a message- a mom had delivered a wonderful girl but since the child has to undergo an emergency surgery, the mother is grappling with the situation physically, mentally and emotionally. Her breast milk supply is affected. Can anyone express and share their breast milk?

I did not need to think. Ponder over. I pinged back and offered. There was simply no way a newborn 5 day old baby would be sans breast milk. A part of me cringed at the very thought of needles and tubes passing through her small frame. Lying alone in the NICU when all she wanted and needed to be in her mom’s arms. She needed it. It would heal her. Period.

I spoke with Nabonita, we figured out a time when she would come and pick up the milk, giving me sufficient time to express twice since by then my supply had adjusted to my child's demand and I didn't want to disappoint Mia, the child. And then I spoke to my husband and my mom and told them about my decision. And am glad they understood and were extremely happy and supportive! My mom started me on a "increase milk" diet!

I gave Nabonita about 60ml and I felt guilty that it was such a less quantity. She surprised me! She said, "Ritu, this is more than sufficient for 2 feeds!" I was dumbstruck! Really?! Coz when EBFing, you never quantify milk! I saw her smile. And we hugged. And I knew my daughter in the hospital was going to be just fine!

We continued this for a few days until Nabonita was able to feed Mia independently. And today Mia is one naughty hale & hearty Angel!

But, let me ask you- if all a newborn requires anywhere between 10-120 ml of milk, why aren't more breast feeding mothers coming forth? Why do we not want to share our milk, our energy with a child? I shared and in no way I saw my supply dip or deprive my child of his feeds. In no way, Mia caught an infection from my milk. If anything, Mia today has a Maasi and I have a daughter.

Mothers, get rid of your inhibitions! Debunk the myths! Breast feed your child and share the milk with another child in need. You are the best healer a child can ever have! Hold hands and support a mother who is unable to feed her child instead of judging her! Motherhood is beautiful when we share it with another mother. Our milk is a blessing, share it. 

Mother’s milk is BEST for the BABY even if it is not of the biological mother’s herself!

This is Nabonita Banerjee's Story, in her own words. 

I was born to fight this battle and my daughter taught me to win it. I knew I am a strong WOMAN but on 18th December, 2015, when I was about to get discharged with my 3-days-old daughter I was told by my paediatrician that the green vomit of my daughter is not good and they need to keep her back. While she was taken away for ultra-sonography, CT scan and finally admitted to the NICU I broke down and I knew my strength will be tried and tested once again. 

My daughter was diagnosed with a congenital intestine issue, medically known as malrotation of the gut and the only solution was a surgery. And from then until the 29th of Dec my husband, my parents and I spent hours outside the NICU hoping for the day when she will not spit out anymore green fluid. This also meant that I couldn't breastfeed from the 18th and my breasts were engorged. Doctors gave me medicines and asked me to express milk, not get stressed, eat well, sleep well but nothing worked and I could express at the max 10 ml a day. I was really worried as to how will I provide her breastmilk once she is taken out of Intravenous support as I didn't want doctors to give her formula. I would sit in the NICU and express but it was never sufficient. Seeing my daughter attached to various machines broke me every time I walked into the NICU. 

Then there was a day when the doctors told me that we need to give her more milk and I just thought is there a Breast Milk bank anywhere? First thing that came to my mind was my network, my yoga group and my yoga teacher Rolly mam. The moment I made that call and she told me not to worry, I knew something will work. She helped me connect to a few moms and Ritu was the only angel in my life who was so forthcoming to share with me her breastmilk. I request all the women in this room to break their glass ceilings and not have any inhibitions and not be always worried about societal perceptions but be bold to bring about a change in one’s own life and in the society. 

I still remember the long ride from Hiranandani hospital to Ritu’s house and there she was with a big hug at the door. I can’t thank you enough Ritu, but thank you for sharing as that day your 80 ml breastmilk was the best medicine for my daughter. We have exchanged empty milk bottles vs filled up bottles in the midst of traffic just because we both believed breastmilk is the best for a child during the initial days. This gave me motivation to express and soon I could express 100ml in a day. I just hope one day we have breast milk banks readily available just like blood banks. Believe me, there is always a road not taken and that's the road that's tougher but also greener.

NOTE: This story originally appeared on www.BabyChakra.com

http://www.babychakra.com/learn/1415-mother-s-milk-is-best-for-the-baby-even-if-it-is-not-of-the-biological-mother-s-herself

The pictures are from Nabonita's personal album

Joys of Breast Milk Sharing

World Breastfeeding Week: While breast milk banks have been around for a long time, the concept is yet to gain popularity among new mothers

Barely three days after giving birth to her daughter, Noyonika, Mumbai-based investment banker Nabonita Banerjee was informed about her bundle of joy's congenital intestinal problem that would require surgery. The infant braved the surgery and was recovering, but stressed after the ordeal Nabonita realised that she was barely producing enough milk for her newborn. That's when she thought of reaching out to her immediate group — family and other expectant mothers from the yoga class she attended.

"My yoga teacher connected me with Ritu Mukherjee, who was prompt. We discussed the logistics and soon I was picking up milk that she had expressed and stored in a container," said Nabonita. The two mothers began coordinating their schedules to ensure that both their little ones were given breast milk. For Ritu, an entrepreneur whose son Sabyasachi is now 10-months-old, it was an instinctive decision to agree. It helped that her husband extended his full support. "It was her maternal instinct that I responded to. I put myself in the shoes of the recipient and thought what if it was my baby needed the milk and no one responded," Ritu explained.

She would express milk after feeding her child and store it in a stainless steel container and freeze it. Nabonita would drive down to pick it up from her home. While the concept of breast milk donation is not popular in India yet, breast milk banks have been around for decades. While the Lokmanya Tilak Hospital in Sion was the first hospital to set up such a facility, breast milk banks are also present at KEM, Cama and Albless and the Sir JJ Group of Hospitals in Mumbai.

"There are blood and semen banks that are managed safely. In the same way, breast milk bank can also be handled well," said Dr Nikhil Datar, medical director and senior gynaecologist at Cloud Nine Hospital, adding most infections are not passed through breast milk and the donor can be screened to reduce the chances of any infection to the baby.

For Nabonita though donor breast milk was a boon as it helped her daughter recover faster after the surgery. "Soon, after that I also felt better and I started producing enough milk for my baby," Nabonita added. Ritu now wants to go a step forward is planning to create an informal group that will bring new mothers together so that they can help each other. "Many of us, mothers who want to donate milk are coming together. This would be a group where the older ones will exit and the ones who have just given birth will enter," Ritu added.

Nabonita Banerjee​ with her daughter (left) and Ritu Mukherjee with her family.

About breast milk donation

• The breast milk can be expressed manually or using a pump
• If frozen immediately it can be saved for as long as 6 months
• Breast milk helps new born build immunity
• WHO recommends exclusive breast feeding for first six months
• Breast milk banks store milk from donors at several govt hospitals

NOTE: This story originally appeared in the DNA Newspaper & has been reproduced here.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-world-breastfeeding-week-joys-of-breast-milk-sharing-from-mums-mouth-2242317

The 1^st One

She had a spring in her step, a smile on her face & carefree were her days. She loved the fact that she was popular with her friends (Girls & Boys), excelled at sports and was one fun daughter of mine!

Such is teenage life! And along comes puberty & the discovery of physical changes in one’s body, be it the hair growth or the evident presence of breasts. Breast Growth- sign of a woman, assets which became a liability for my girl. I could provide her with solutions for the excessive hair via waxing however I stumbled with probably the most important physical development which affected her emotionally. In some ways, it was unfair, because she was not as conscious as her friends as they noticed it, laughed at her & made lewd remarks, especially when she played her signature smash shots during volley ball matches. My bright happy girl stopped playing sports, avoided her favourite fitted tees and started to leave her hair loose on her shoulders. Something in her was not so happy and I failed to understand! The search mode came on and I googled with all possible key words. Initially I assumed, she was having issues with her friends but having taken her out for a drive and ice cream, I realised that was not the case. In more and more hours spent on trying to find a way out, I came across Teens & Bras! For a few days I keenly observed my daughter going about her routine and yes, there was an evident bounce which her existing bra didn’t seem to support. I also realised that at times, I could notice the bulge of her breasts even when she wearing a dark top. So this is what was troubling my angel. I searched more, spoke to experts in the field and obviously took my daughter on multiple shopping trips spending hours in a trial room! I had to bring back the smile in her life.

So here I am, post my research sharing with you tips & tricks I came across in choosing the 1^st bra for my teenage daughter!

1.      Ideal Materials: Teenagers lead hectic lives with school, classes and evening time with friends, running all over! So ideally one can pick cotton mixed hosiery as children find it easier to relate to it, are soft & comfortable. Given that our girls these days wear lots of party wear too, I also picked a few cotton + Lycra mixed to go with her fancy tops! What I really kept in mind was my girls comfort.

2.      Bra Style:

a.      My 1^st choice was sports bra/Tee-shirt bra. It is the most comfortable one to slip on & spend an entire day in. Often it’s akin to putting on a tee & yes, they provided complete coverage of the bosom too.

b.      2^nd choice was the multiway bra which could be worn in multiple combinations as strapless, racer back and halter depending on what my girl was going to wear over it. Definitely a money saver too!

c.      Cami top Bra: I would highly recommend this as it takes care of the need of a bra as well as a camisole. It is available in Cotton mixed fabrics & that is boon for translucent tops & the Indian summer season!

d.      Fashion Bras & Lacy ones are really not required at this age especially since they are in a growing phase. So for now, I skipped this one all together, though yes my girl has her eyes on few!

3.      Colours: We fought over it! Yes, she wanted neons, polka dots and all that jazz! I put my foot down. Given my daughters skin tone & her wardrobe, the safest colours are Skin, Nude, Black, light pink, grey and yellow. Though yes, I did pick a few others too, but my daughter herself has come to realise their utility when the polka & the stripes show through and has started to carefully pair her bras with her tops.

4.      The Right fit!

a.      There are essentially -2- parts to consider: Under Bust (band size) & Over Bust (cup size)

                                                    i.     Under Bust: this is that part of the bra that runs across the upper chest and around her back. Band sizes are generally 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and so on.

                                                   ii.     Over Bust: Cups are what hold the bust. Cup sizes are alphabetic like A, AA, B, C, D, DD and so on.

So a size of the bra is a combination of the above 2. For example, 34B. It is extremely important to get both these sizes right for the perfect fit, coverage & support. I realised in my trials with my daughter that she was wearing the wrong cup size! Hence the bulge & lack of support!

5.      Signs of a wrong fit:

a.      The Bra band feels tight and uncomfortable around the ribcage.

b.      The band is too loose & rides up her breasts.

c.      Breasts are compressed and hence the awkward bulge/swell on the chest due to small sized cups.

d.      Large cup sizes wrinkle & create creases under the top and prevent a finished look!

So will all trials, experiments, hours in the trial room and google search I drew my check list for finding my daughters perfect fit!

6.      -2- Finger Test: Once she tried on a bra, I would ask her to insert -2- fingers just behind the hooks or at the centre of the bra on her back. If -2- fingers fit in comfortable, it was proven that the bra was neither too loose nor too tight!

7.      The band passed through the middle of the back & didn’t rise up creating an inverted V.

8.      Cups were comfortable, neither suffocating her nor allowing a freeway.

9.      I made her do her PT exercises of raising hands in all directions to check for spillage or bulges! Wanted to make sure my girl was completely covered!

10.   The straps should not dig into her shoulders leaving their mark behind.

11.   Now my daughter is a bit busty. Hence I also picked an under wire bra wherein the wire extended from the centre to the underarms to ensure full support—so yes, when your little angels grow, it will be time to invest in a good under wire bra too!

12.   Minimizers! Now this is where one has tread carefully! So because my girl was super conscious of her assets, she wanted a bra which would make her appear smaller. However, I had my concerns! It is like making Lemon Pickle where you try & squeeze in too many lemons in a jar hoping they will juice out and compress over time!

13.   Last but not the least, I learnt one major lesson—Maximum support to our assets must come from the band and not the straps! One mistake I too had been committing all my life!

The spring in her walk is back, she seems more confident, she is back in the game with her smash shots and friends no more mock. My girl is back to being the carefree angel she was, all because of a Bra! Yes, always seemed like the last pair of clothing to give much thought to but now I know better. Beautiful inside is Confident outside.

High Chair - An Indian Brand which makes it's mark: R for Rabbit 

Finally it makes sense. Why most of us have just one child. Consumerism has ensured that babies are an expensive business and simply mind boggling! The choices available can confuse even the most systematic research oriented parent. Especially when you know that the baby will soon outgrow it or may just not take a liking to it. Add to it the contradicting opinions & beliefs thrown at you, seeked by you and observed. My mom never used a high chair to feed her 3 babies and all 3 of us are well and enjoy meals! And knowing my mom I don't think she ever tolerated any sort of mess so I doubt she practised baby led weaning. 

The elders in the family were aghast when I offered a whole banana to my munchkin! I was insisted upon to feed him purée! So there I was a confused mommy pulled apart by wanting to try BLW and yet ensure the baby was being fed! Anyway, that is another story all together!

So there I was waiting for S to start sitting up on his own so I could get him the high chair! His own chair on which he would happily eat any and every thing I'd present to him! (Grand plans I had!) and that kickstarted my hunt for an ideal high chair. By default the hunt begun on Amazon and boy! I was honestly taken aback at the options- available-brands, colours, features, style & the damage on my pocket! It only made my decision harder Coz I was even more lost!

Almost all seemed similar! So how does one decide which to pick?! It was time to get down to some basics! I sat with my pen & paper & made a list of questions running through my mind to make things easy.

Q1-what purpose does the high chair fulfil?

A1- a comfortable & safe chair for the baby to sit on while I feed him, approximately 40 minutes thrice a day.

Q2-who will be using it more? And how?

A2- S & Me & other family members. S struggling to get out of it, preferring to sit underneath it. Me trying to be a cool mom & for me to stand or sit by the dining table to feed him.

Q3-where will I be using it most?

A3 - At home, by the dinning table or the terrace.

Q4-what potential difficulties will  I or the baby face when using it?

A4- Call me crazy but the only major difficulty I can think of is cleaning it!!! stability of the chair being the other concern.

Q5-how long am I hoping to use this high chair?

A5- Hopefully until S is 3 or 4 years old or until he can sit on a chair table suited for him & self feed.

Q6-does it need to be trendy?

A6- Errmm...yes...no! Be practical! uff!

Q7-price?

A7- I will not spend more than Rs.5000/- on a high chair simply because I don't know if S will actually allow me to strap him into it & feed him and i do not want meal times to be intense Maa-Beta Drama! 

So, there I was, with some clarity, I listed down my minimum requirement list as follows:

-No Cushion or Removable Cushion (Cushions manag to develop fugal growth because of left over food & the humidity)

-Round edges to ensure S doesnt hurt himself when he crawls underneath it or around

-5 Point Harness

-Stable widely spaced legs for better balance

-least number of crevices to prevent food collection & decay

-Wide food tray (I do a mix of traditional weaning & baby led)

-super ease of cleaning

-Leg Divider under the food tray to ensure S doesnt slip down

-multi utility

-Ease of assembly, dismantling & storage  

Yes, I consciously kept away from listing down the frills! Its the same approach I adopt when buying new machinery for my factories- Keep it simple, add ons can always be added on later when the need arises. Stick to functionality!

Now most of the available high chair brands are imported and easily served all my questions. If you are to compare most available brands (imported & Indian) you will find them almost similar. Ultimately it comes down to pricing which starts from Rs.5000--Rs.1 Lac! Yes!!!! 

Going by above parameters, I zeroed down on a relatively new on the block Indian brand called R for Rabbit. Primarily Coz I have a thing for all things Indian. Secondly the pricing was super affordable so even if S didn't take to it, it wouldn't hurt as much. Thirdly it fit the bill of functionality perfectly. 

R for Rabbit: Cherry Berry The Convertible High Chair (Green colour)

(Claim a 20% Discount on all R for Rabbit Products on their website. Use SPECIAL20)

I placed an order on the company website which was rather simple & quick like other eCommerce sites. Infact the company communications system is very prompt & efficient & they offer an option of COD also! perfect!

Assembling it was a matter of 10 minutes even with S being the man meddling in. (They have a super short simple video explaining the assembly). It's light weight (approx 3.5kgs) allows you to easily carry it with one hand while holding your munchkin in the other & drag it between rooms. Even sans the baby you can easily carry it to the bathroom for a wash down. I keep moving it between the dinning room, terrace, kitchen & the bathroom. The edges are extremely well rounded moulded finishing ensuring zero harm to baby. They feel soft. The legs are wide & have a rubberised wide capping ensuring stability & grip. The chair is fixed atop the table quickly with a very simple click. The 5 point safety harness is removable making it easy to scrub it & decently sturdy. What I truly loved about it was the simple design minus the fan fare which enables me to literally wash it down with a hand shower after each meal and yet it's all dried up and ready to be used for the next meal! This was of utmost importance to me! Even though i bought a cushioned high chair I don't use the cushion. As the cushion if washed once will take a day or two to dry off plus on my experience any foam cushions tends to develop fungal growth when there is food on it and it's a pain to clean. A big plus with this high chair is that it can be used 3 ways:

1. A mounted high chair

2. A chair with a food tray

3. Table & Chair 

this multi utility makes it absolutely paisa vasool at Rs. 4950/- Perfect Value for Money. 

The leg divider is also removable & easy to clean up.The food tray is wide, however I personally would have appreciated for it to be a little more wide but I wont complain. 

It's height cannot be adjusted nor is the seat a reclining one. However I have not felt the need for these features. It does not have wheels however the rubberised caps allow it be dragged sans much noise.

So yes, in all, I'd say, R for Rabbit High Chair is a brilliantly designed in India, Manufactured in China, Shipped from Gujarat High Chair. It is functional to the T, its multi utility ensures its used either ways & is priced just right for a baby product. Indian brands are great & I love them! 

So if you are a pragmatic parent not wanting to spend a bomb on a high chair, I'd highly recommend the R for Rabbit High Chair! Worth every ruppee!

P.S:

What I wish it would have:

-Hooks behind the chair to hang bibs ;)

PPS:

Claim a 20% Discount on all R for Rabbit Products on their website. Use SPECIAL20 

Valentines, Three Decades later...

It was just another day, another date. One more Sunday morning, the same old doorbell with the Milkman, Dhobiwala et al. She sat with her morning cup of tea just like any other day, her only “me time” before the day started with all demanding her attention. The newsprint was filled with the colour red & heart shaped paraphernalia. Ofcourse! Its February 14- St. Valentine’s Day! The day to celebrate love. She skipped through most of the pages, skimmed through her whatsapp messages which again reminded her of Valentine’s Day via the forwards. It didn’t mean anything to her. It was just another day. 

The kitchen clock struck 9 o’clock & she knew the maid would ring the door bell. She turned towards the kitchen to refill her cup of tea when indeed the bell rang, she opened the door expecting to see her sleepy maid but wait, she didn’t! Instead who she saw was a girl in pink, smiling & greeting her, “Good Morning Ma’am!” Must be a mistake. As irritated as she could be, she looked at the girl questioningly, only to be told, “Ma’am, I am Hema from Belita - Salon comes Home. You have an appointment with us right now.” Wooaah! What happened to my morning? She wondered! Before she could ask the girl to check the apartment number, her otherwise nonchalant husband of 30 years, shocked her by hugging her from behind & whispering in her ears, “Happy Valentine’s, My Love”. She could not believe her ears & turned to check if it was indeed him & not a dream! 

The Belita therapist was let in & she went about her work- Disposable soft sheets were laid out on the bed, Newspapers were spread out on the floor on which very swiftly the pedicure tub, tools & equipment & the various creams etc. were laid out. A disposable gown was laid out for her. Quickly, her otherwise sleeping kids put on some spa music in the room, aircon set to an ambient temperature and some air mist sprayed, curtains drawn, Her Spa was all set to welcome her. The husband led her into the room, presented a red rose & planted a kiss to say, “I don’t need a Valentine’s day to tell you about my love for you, but I do need you to forget it all, sit back & enjoy this spa treat, because you deserve it”. She blushed just like a teenager. It was indeed love! Before closing the door, he winked & asked her to be ready for a surprise! 

She was nervous. She didn’t know what to expect from this “Spa”! The Belita therapist politely explained it all to her, the various treatments that had been booked for her, be it the spa Facial, Manicure-pedicure, Swedish Body Massage et al! She sat back & for once forgot all her daily routine & allowed herself to soak in the beauty treatments!

Three hours later, rejuvenated, she stepped out of her personal spa to find her bag packed, a dress & two tickets to Goa. #pamperyourlove

What is your Valentine's Day Story? - 

You will find this heart touching story on:  Belita India - Salon Comes Home

Blocked Nose | Cold | Congestion | Infant

The Desi Way

So my raj dulara, aankhon ka tara, jigar ka tukda, my son S, has had a mild cold & congestion pretty much since day one. All three paediatricians (yes, 3, no am not paranoid, I have 3 coz I delivered at one end of the city, live in another & my mom resides in another) stated it’s normal. Kids will have it plus it’s the winter season! So there we were, listening to S breathe hard. Nasomist (saline water) drops being the only relief. But only so much! Cleaning up the mucus from the nose was another scary task I had, though now it’s pretty simple! Doc recommended we use a nasal aspirator. I will admit, it was a beginner’s luck that I managed to extract the troublesome gooey mucus. Post that a handmade cotton twig is what does it best! Here is how I do it: Safest Way to clean a Baby's Nose

If you are wondering how to best use a nasal aspirator, here is the link: Using a Nasal Aspirator

 If you wish to know which brand of nasal aspirator I use, you can pick it from here : Nasal Aspirator

The congestions started to get bad. I spoke to my doc again. He simply said, “There is no cure for cold. I can prescribe antibiotics which will relieve the symptoms. It’s your call, though I would want you to avoid antibiotics as S is only few weeks old.” Sigh! Glad I was that my doc was being realistic yet I couldn’t see my heartbeat with a congestion. To top it all, S was throwing up milk which had a very sticky consistency i.e. was trying to throw up his mucous along with milk & was very cranky. A frantic phone call to my mom and sister (mother of bratty little twins) & I had a list of things to do- The Desi way-The Ayurvedic way.

Yes. Home remedies work best, as kids & as adults. I tried it all. It worked! It piqued my curiosity even further to understand why home remedies work & how are they better!

So here I am sharing these remedies with you. Please know they worked for me over a period of days & I believed in them with all my heart.

Cold & Congestion Home Remedies:

1.   Ajwain (Bishop’s weed) Potli – a must have at the bed side.Roast the ajwain in an iron pan until it starts to give away its aroma. Tie up the seeds in a muslin cloth thereby making an ajwain potli/ajwain bundle. It’s always nice to have someone to help you with the next step. Heat up the iron pan real hot. Carefully place it on the floor or a table at a safe distance from you. Lay the baby in your lap. Heat the seeds in the muslin cloth on the pan, check its temperature on your hand and then softly place it on the baby’s chest for a few seconds and the move to another spot on the chest. This is to ensure the baby does not get a heat burn. Make sure the baby is wearing a light shirt/top. Do this for a good 7-10 minutes on the chest. You can also do this on the baby’s back during tummy time. Once done, swaddle the baby & insert the potli into the swaddle so that it continues to provide warmth & aroma. I simply put the potli into his sleep sack. Ajwain works at two levels-provides heat to the body helping the congestion melt & also helps open the airway. 

2.   Ajwain (Bishop’s weed) Paste – worked instant wonders! Roast ajwain seeds on an iron pan. Crush them in a mortar pestle. Mix with some lukewarm coconut oil. Apply this paste on the baby’s chest & back. Cover it up with a layer of cotton so that it stays in place & does not soil the baby’s shirt/top. Put on a fitted vest followed by another fitted layer of clothing. This is to ensure the paste stays in place & keep the baby warm. This also ensures that the heat generated by the paste stays within, helps melt the congestion. After few hours, wash it off with luke warm water. This worked like magic in S’s case! I could see a marked difference within 2 days!

3.   Sarson (Mustard) Oil: Little stinky feet v/s S’s relief! 

So they say, cold penetrates the body via ears & feet. So one must always cover the baby’s ears which I have not been able to! S hates anything on his head! So feet is what I attacked! Warm sarson oil rubbed on his feet to generate heat & then put on socks during night. Helped keep him warm & preventing the aggravation of his cold.

4.   Dhua (Smoke)

This is controversial! Doctors are absolutely against it. They have a fair point when they say that kids inhale carbon. However the counter argument is, the doctor on an average is 35 years old. 3 decades ago, mothers weren’t exposed to information the way we are & were not conscious of carbon exposure. 3 decades ago, all mothers smoked their kids (pun intended)! The doctor is alive & kicking, doing very well & treating my baby! I don’t see any reason why I should not! More importantly I inherently believe that our ancestors knew more about simple remedies than us! I did discuss this with my doc to which he simply smiled & said, “Neither do I recommend nor do I speak against.”

So yes, I do administer smoke to S & I don’t regret it one bit because I saw his cold & congestion relieving within one day. (The night before he continually kept throwing up mucus with milk, cried his heart out & was absolutely uneasy). This is something for which it’s best to have an experienced elder at home who can handle the baby. Definitely not me! Fire, smoke & a naked baby! More importantly one is required to take necessary precautions too.

a.    Method: Take 2-3 empty coconut shells & burn them up completely on the gas burner. Place them on an iron pan. Once the fire dies out & embers remain, sprinkle Ajwain seeds & dry peels of a garlic pod. The shells will start emitting smoke. Hold the naked baby at a safe distance above this smoke, keep moving the baby so that the smoke touches the entire body – chest, back, stomach, hair, bottom, legs & hangs. Alternatively, place the baby in the lap. Take a muslin cloth, warm it over the smoke & lightly apply it to the baby. Check the temperature though by touching it on your skin. Ajwain works like a decongestant. Smoke helps with generating heat. Garlic contains allicin, which is an active agent in reducing cold & also prevents its aggravation! In fact I was recommended placing garlic pods by the baby or sew 4-5 of them into a bare necklace & put on his neck, which I didn’t coz we co-sleep & the strong smell was a bit too much for me! This worked like a miracle for S & his congestion!

5.   Other Recommendations:

a.    Placing Camphor in a muslin cloth to help clear up the airway. So what I did was place camphor underneath the pillow, away from him, yet around.

b.   Placing a plain water steamer under the bed to create humidity. You may add ajwain seeds to the water in the steamer.

c.    Karvol Capsules: Easily available sans a prescription, these are essentially capsules which contain essence of natural ingredients which help in nasal decongestion. I cut open the capsules & apply the liquid on S’s shirt, pillow, blanket, swaddle cloth. Works wonders to open up the nasal airway! 

So yes, given that there are about a 100+ ways one can catch a cold or congestion, one can never be sure when it’s going to hit the little one. These basic home remedies done daily help treat the cold & also prevent its aggravation. More importantly, it is also essential that we take utmost care to keep the baby well covered. Like they say in Germany, there is no bad weather, just unsuitable clothing! So wrap up the baby well & enjoy the winters!