When mothers initially feed their babies, they make them lie on their laps, however, the same position may not be safe when the baby is feeding off the bottle.

It is important to feed your baby through the bottle in a semi-upright position and support their head. Do not feed them lying down, as formula or the milk from the bottle can flow into the middle ear, and cause infection. Also, unlike breast and its nipple, the bottle does not have the mechanism to ensure that milk is being overflowed. Also, in order to prevent your little ones from swallowing air as they suck, tilt the bottle so that the formula fills the neck of the bottles and covers the nipple.

How can you choose the right bottle for you?

While some babies happily drink from any bottle, some are much pickier. Yes, you read it right, babies need different bottles, based on how their bodies react after being fed.

If you have a baby with gas, it is best to try a bottle with a venting system. Now, this allows your baby to avoid air in the milk while feeding. Such bottles mimic the shape and feel of a breast or an actual nipple. Bottles with fewer parts are also easier to clean, which could be great during the middle-of-the-night feedings.

For new moms, it is also a great advice to start with a slow-flow nipple to avoid overwhelming your baby and switch to a faster flow when they seem to hold the bottle themselves and can finish milk in less time.

What should you follow when you bottle feed your baby?

As per the National Health Scheme (UK), NHS UK, it is important to be prepared to experiment well with the kind of bottles that suits your baby the best. Thee is no evidence that only one type of teat or bottle is better than any other.

It is always best to ensure that you screw the top tightly into the bottle before you feed your baby.

Bottle Feeding and The Right Positions

Bottle feeding is more than just feeding and nourishing your baby, it is also an opportunity to bond with your babies. Babies also feel secure when their caregivers are feeding. This is why it is important that even before you start bottle feeding, you first find a comfortable spot to sit with your baby close to you. Look at them and gently hold the and talk as you feed.

Hold your baby in a semi-upright position during bottle feeds, with their head supported. This ensures they can breathe and swallow comfortably. Brush the teat gently against their lips, and when they open their mouth wide, let them draw the teat in.

Take your time—babies feed at their own pace, so be patient and allow them plenty of time to enjoy their meal.

Do not leave your baby un-monitored

Always supervise your baby during feeding sessions. Do not prop the bottle or leave them alone with it. This can also cause choking hazard, or the milk could pool in their mouth which could increase ear infections.

The bottle's position matters as much as baby's position. When feeding, hold the bottle in a horizontal position, tipping it slightly. This helps the milk flow steadily and reduces the amount of air your baby may swallow. If the teat flattens, gently pull the corner of your baby’s mouth to release the suction. Should the teat become blocked, replace it with a fresh, sterile one.

Vapes were marketed as a safer option than cigarettes, but research now shows they carry serious health risks -- from lung damage to meningitis to cancer.

Vaping has been a serious concern in the United States, with New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2025 filing a lawsuit against e-cigarette manufacturers and distributors.

The lawsuit accused the companies of fueling a youth vaping crisis, alleging that these companies that manufacture vapes, especially with flavors, have misled consumers about the safety of their products while deliberately targeting young people through deceptive marketing.

Now, a new study, published in JAMA Network Open, has for the first time assessed trends in young children's nicotine exposures across all types of products.

Shockingly, electronic cigarette-related incidents increased 243 percent over the past eight years in young children, especially among those under five years of age, said researchers from the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

In contrast, tobacco exposures from conventional products such as cigarettes decreased by 43 percent.

Unlike cigarettes, these devices are often ready to use, brightly colored, require little effort to activate, and appear more like toys than a harmful product.

"This significant spike in children breathing in these substances tells us the risk has changed: It's no longer just about a toddler swallowing something they found on the floor," said lead author Perry Rosen, who conducted the research at the New Jersey Poison Control Center.

"Many recent cases involve children actively using e-cigarette devices after gaining access to them," Rosen added.

Key Findings

The findings were based on an analysis of more than 92,000 reported nicotine exposures in children ages 5 and younger between 2016 and 2023.

The researchers noted that vaping risks often involved children who inhaled the vapors directly from the devices. They also found that children exposed to e-cigarettes were more likely to require a visit to a health care facility compared with those exposed to cigarettes.

According to researchers, young children naturally mimic the behaviors they see around them. So, parents and caregivers must keep vaping devices away from the reach of young children.

Previous research has shown that even moderate ongoing nicotine exposure can lead to lasting health effects on developing lungs, including increased risk of bronchitis and worsening asthma.

"When children see caregivers or older family members vaping, they may copy that behavior—bringing the device to their mouth and inhaling—without any understanding they are exposing themselves to a harmful substance," said Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center.

Vaping: A Concern

Vaping has become a more common form of tobacco use among American middle and high school students.

As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1.6 million students used e-cigarettes in 2024, with 87.6 percent of them opting for a flavored product.

It is the flavor that makes it even more addictive, and people want to keep smoking it, resulting in it being emptied and refilled way more quickly.

This means those who smoke flavored cigarettes consume more tobacco than those who smoke unflavored ones.

Conceiving after 7 years of marriage—riddled with societal shame and self-doubt and a host of tests—was a moment of immense joy to Shalini, a 30-year-old IT professional.

Shalini was cared for, pampered, and showered with gifts. But the happiness was short-lived. At 10 weeks, her doctor delivered devastating news: there was no fetal heartbeat, and the pregnancy would have to be terminated.

Shalini couldn’t process; years of taunts of not being able to deliver a child came back to her ears—a voice so profound that she was unwilling to abort, let come what may.

However, in a week, the miscarriage occurred. She woke up at 2 am with intense abdominal pain and felt her womb rolling. She rushed to the toilet and found herself in a pool of blood. Her baby was gone.

For more than an hour, she continuously pushed out huge chunks of blood clots—the flesh of her unborn baby. Shalini cried. Then she went numb.

Doctors cleaned her up, but nobody bothered to heal her emotional burden—of not being able to deliver a baby successfully.

Years passed; Shalini delivered a healthy baby girl, but deep inside her, she still cries for her lost baby.

Shalini is not alone; more than one in five pregnancies worldwide end in miscarriage. While physical recovery is often addressed, emotional care is still met with silence.

The body may heal with treatment and nourishment, but internally, many women grapple with grief, anxiety, and a profound sense of loss that often goes unrecognized and untreated, said doctors, stressing the need for addressing the emotional toll.

What Is A Miscarriage?

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy or the unexpected ending of a pregnancy in the first 20 weeks of gestation.

Most of them occur in 12 weeks and are classed as early miscarriages, while far fewer happen between 13 and 24 weeks.

Symptoms include

• vaginal bleeding,
• cramping like a period pain,
• decrease in pregnancy symptoms.

These occur when the fetus stops growing before 20 weeks.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), miscarriage is the most common reason for losing a baby during pregnancy. WHO defines a miscarriage as a baby that dies before 28 weeks.

Miscarriage: Mental Health Implications

Also read:UK Women Who Suffer From Miscarriage May Get Two Weeks Paid Leave

Miscarriage often causes sadness, disinterest, sleeplessness, and depression. Many times, women experience low self-esteem and guilt.

There can also be marital issues, differences in psychological reaction of the spouse, and self-blame. There is also a sense of deep personal loss and trauma. It can lead to symptoms such as

• PTSD,
• feelings of yearning,
• emptiness,
• emotional numbing.

HealthandMe spoke to some mental health experts to understand what women who face the unexplained loss suffer.

“Miscarriage in women leads to many adverse consequences in psychological, social, marital, and physical domains. Most immediate effect is an acute feeling of loss, grief, and bereavement,” Dr. Savita Malhotra, President of the Indian Psychiatric Society, told HealthandMe.

She added that women who faced miscarriage can also feel anxiety over future pregnancies.

“About 20-30 percent of women after miscarriage show clear depression and anxiety. A similar number may show PTSD. Women who have an earlier history of miscarriage, trauma, or mental illness are more prone to mental ill health,” Dr Malhotra said.

Also read: Why Many Older Men Struggle to Conceive Despite ‘Good Health’

So why do women face these emotional turmoil?

"The lack of open conversation can intensify isolation, making women feel their pain is invisible or minimized. Social stigma and well-meaning but dismissive comments further deepen the wound," Dr. Chetna Jain Director Dept of Obstetrics & gynecology Cloudnine Group of hospitals, Gurugram, told HealthandMe.

Dr Deepak Raheja, a New Delhi-based psychiatrist, said that miscarriage is not just a medical event; for many women, it represents the loss of a deeply hoped-for future.

"Hormonal changes, lack of open conversations around pregnancy loss, and a tendency to internalize blame can make the emotional impact even heavier," the doctor told HealthandMe.

The experts urged the need for better familial support and good marital relationships that can prevent mental health issues in women.

Recognizing miscarriage as both a medical and emotional event is essential. Compassionate care, counselling, and supportive communities play a critical role in healing and long-term wellbeing.

Also read: Planning A Pregnancy In The 30s: Expert Answers FAQs On Women's Fertility in 30s

Dr Malhotra said, "There's a need for clear mental health intervention and psychiatric treatment."

"It is important to recognize miscarriage as a legitimate form of bereavement," added Dr Raheja.

Compassionate care from families and healthcare professionals, along with timely psychological support, can help women process the loss more healthily and gradually rebuild emotional resilience.