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.

Are your kids completely safe inside the classroom? A new study has raised concerns about the air quality in classrooms, particularly the bacteria that could result in reduced lung function in children.

Recent research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain intended to ensure that schools have completely healthy environments for children, particularly their developing lungs.

Classrooms Have High Levels Of Two Harmful Bacteria Groups

The study was presented by Dr. Soutrik Banerjee from the Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy, and French technology company, Alten S.A.

Researchers from the University of Ferrara in Italy and French technology company Alten analysed data from the SINPHONIE project, which examined indoor environmental conditions in multiple schools across Europe.

The analysis is based on nearly 300 classrooms across 22 European countries. Researchers measured the levels of Streptomyces and Mycobacterium in classroom dust and compared this with lung function in children using spirometry, a standard test to measure breathing and respiration health.

The researchers adjusted their analysis for several factors that could affect lung function, including children's age, sex, body mass index, exposure to second-hand smoke, pet allergens, socioeconomic factors, age of the school building, region and local outdoor air pollution.

They found that children in classrooms with higher levels of Streptomyces had a 0.08-litre lower forced vital capacity (FVC).

Also read: 6-Year-Old Australian Kid Dies From Rarely Seen ‘19th Century Disease’: Why Is Scurvy Still A Risk Today?

What Is Forced Vital Capacity?

Meanwhile, higher levels of Mycobacterium were associated with a 0.06-litre lower FEV₁ and a 0.13-litre-per-second lower peak expiratory flow (PEF). FEV₁ measures how much air can be exhaled in the first second of a forceful breath, while PEF measures the fastest rate at which air can be expelled.

Dr Banerjee told the Congress, “We know that indoor air quality in schools can be affected by pollutants, humidity, ventilation, temperature, dampness and biological agents like fungi and bacteria. However, much less is known about whether the types of bacteria growing in classroom dust are linked to children’s lung function.”

“We were particularly interested in two bacterial groups, Streptomyces and Mycobacterium spp., which are found in soil, dust and water systems. We wanted to see whether higher exposure to these bacteria in the classroom is associated with children’s lung health across Europe.”

Also read: US Newborns Are Missing A Crucial Vitamin K Shot Which Can Lead To Brain Bleeding

How Dangerous Are These Bacteria?

Both Streptomyces and Mycobacterium are present widespread in the environment. They are found in soil, dust and water systems. The study did not show that children developed a bacterial disease because of classroom exposure.

Instead, researchers are investigating whether exposure to the bacteria could influence the airways and thereby their lung function.

One possibility is that they could irritate the respiratory tract or activate immune and inflammatory pathways. Another is that the bacteria may simply be markers of other problems inside a classroom, like excess moisture, poor ventilation, inadequate cleaning or outdoor dust entering the building.

Dr Soutrik Banerjee, from the University of Ferrara, said: “The bacteria may either have a direct biological effect, or they may be indicators of other indoor environmental factors that influence lung function.”

A small reduction in a lung function measurement does not automatically mean that a child has lung disease. Lung function naturally varies between children according to age, height, sex and other factors. The differences reported in this study were modest for individual children, according to the researchers.

However, Banerjee said the findings could still matter at a population level because children are repeatedly exposed to school environments. “Children are exposed to school indoor environments every weekday, and a mild to moderate reduction in lung function today may be a precursor to preventable lung disease in later life,” he said.

How Can This Be Prevented?

The European Respiratory Society specifically cautioned against taking extreme measures like sterilising classrooms.

Professor Alexander Möller, Head of the ERS Paediatric Assembly and Professor of Paediatric Pulmonology at the University Children's Hospital Zurich, who was not involved in the study, said: “The practical message is not that schools should become sterile environments.”

But he pointed that adequate ventilation, control of dampness and mould, regular cleaning and proper building maintenance could help.

Nutrition during pregnancy becomes very important. However, once the baby is born, the mother’s diet quietly gets pushed to the back of everyone’s priority. That is a big mistake.

The first six weeks post-birth is an extremely important time for the health of both the woman and her infant according to the WHO; post-natal health care is underemphasized. Delivery poses a lot of stress on the woman. Loss of blood, hormonal changes, healing of the tissue, disturbed sleep pattern and breastfeeding all require more intake of nutrition.

When “I’ll Eat Later” Becomes a Health Issue

Mothers do not eat regularly due to their babies’ feeding pattern, tiredness, or lack of help in the household. Some mothers start eating less food, thinking they will lose their baby weight quickly. This will cause them to lack proteins, iron, calcium, vitamin D, iodine, vitamin B12, and other vitamins that will be necessary during their recovery.

Anemia needs to be considered specifically for Indian women. NFHS-5 found that 52.2% of pregnant women between 15 and 49 years of age in India had anemia. It is also not resolved after giving birth when mothers started labour with an insufficient amount of iron or lost blood during labour.

Also read: Lindsay Clancy Trial: What Postpartum Psychosis Really Looks Like, From A Survivor

Breastfeeding Changes Nutritional Needs

Breastfeeding imposes extra requirements for energy. As per the CDC of USA, well-nourished lactating mothers require about 330 to 400 kilocalories extra per day than what they consumed before pregnancy.

It is not “eating for two,” but eating more nutritiously. Proper meals should comprise of proteins, grains, vegetables, fruits, milk or its alternative sources, nuts, seeds, and enough water. Iron, calcium, and Vitamin D supplements, as prescribed, should also be taken.

Recovery Needs a Care Plan Too

The recovery from childbirth needs to be considered in terms of medical recovery and not something that mothers do if they want to. Families can contribute by making sure that the new mother is eating regularly, has healthy foods at hand and that there is shared care giving to give her some time to eat and rest.

Exhaustion, dizziness, breathlessness, weakness or lack of appetite should not be brushed off as "normal postpartum symptoms". Having a healthy baby does not give reason for the mother to be forgotten. The fourth trimester is where recovery starts, not the point when mothers' care ends.

By Dr. Himani Sharma, Clinical Head and Senior Consultant – Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cocoon Hospital, Jaipur

A rare 19th century disease that was once seen in sailors has claimed the life of a six-year-old boy in Queensland, Australia. A severe vitamin C deficiency, which went undetected for a long time, seems to be the reason behind the child's unfortunate death.

Connor Dean passed in August 2024 at Queensland Children’s Hospital. Newly released findings from Deputy State Coroner, Stephanie Gallagher, concluded that severe vitamin C deficiency, consistent with scurvy, was the most likely factor in his death that happened following cardiac arrest.

The case has drawn attention as scurvy is now considered extremely rare in countries where fresh food is widely available. But it has not disappeared completely.

Most Severe Outcome Of Scurvy

Scurvy develops when the body does not get enough vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, for a prolonged period. Vitamin C is needed to make collagen, a protein that helps maintain blood vessels, skin, bones, cartilage, and other tissues.

When there is a severe deficiency, blood vessels and connective tissues can become fragile, leading to bleeding, inflammation and problems with wound healing.

In Connor's case, his symptoms initially did not indicate scurvy clearly. He developed knee pain, limping and a shuffling gait in July 2024. His symptoms were initially thought to possibly be related to a playground injury. Doctors also considered conditions like infection and leukaemia.

His health deteriorated further. Doctors observed that he developed a persistent rash, reduced blood flow to the brain, renal problems, multi-organ failure and sepsis.

Severe vitamin C deficiency eventually emerged as the condition that could connect many of these symptoms. The coroner found that Connor's death was associated with severe vitamin C deficiency consistent with scurvy.

Also read: US Newborns Are Missing A Crucial Vitamin K Shot Which Can Lead To Brain Bleeding

Why Was The Child Become Deficient In Vitamin C?

According to the coroner, Connor's paediatrician had raised concerns about his growth and nutrition due to his diet. By 2023, he had become a very fussy eater and was avoiding fruits or vegetables completely. His diet was described as containing foods like white bread, beef sausage, custard and chocolate.

His mother had also said that he was taking a multivitamin. However, the supplement he was taking was not the one his doctor had specifically recommended. The coroner also found that the product's label did not include vitamin C.

Does Scurvy Risk Exist Even Today?

Scurvy exists even today even though severe cases are uncommon. A child does not develop scurvy because they refuse to eat fruits and vegetables for a few days. Severe deficiency generally develops after prolonged inadequate vitamin C intake.

Children with highly restricted diets are in high-risk groups, especially when their food choices exclude most sources of vitamin C. The risk can also be greater when there are underlying medical or developmental challenges that affect eating.

Connor had Down syndrome and a congenital heart condition, along with prolonged concerns about his growth and diet.

Also read: UK Flu Jabs Begin For Children And Pregnant Women: What You Need To Know

What Are The Warning Signs Of Scurvy?

Early symptoms are not specific, which can make the condition difficult to recognise. Possible signs include:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Irritability
• Poor appetite
• Leg or joint pain
• Swollen or bleeding gums
• Easy bruising
• Skin changes or small haemorrhages
• Poor wound healing
• Anaemia

As deficiency becomes severe, bleeding, tissue damage and serious complications can develop.

While modern food availability has made severe vitamin C deficiency uncommon, prolonged restrictive eating can still create serious nutritional gaps.