Eight-month-old twins from Hayward Heath, West Sussex, recently met the surgeon who saved their lives even before they were born. The BBC reports how their mother, Katerina Ahouansou, at six months pregnant, during a routine scan, uncovered a serious issue with their development and blood supply.

Doctors diagnosed the twins with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome or TTTS. It is a condition where one twin received more blood and nourishment than the other due to uneven blood vessel distribution in the placenta. In case there is no medical intervention, it could be fatal for both the twins.

A Specialist Steps In

This is when Ahouansou was referred to Professor Kypros Nicolaides at King’s College Hospital in London. Professor Nicolaides is a pioneer in fetal medicine and he specializes in a laser procedure that redistributes blood supply between twins in cases of TTTS.

When Ahouansou was scanned, Nicolaides observed that one of the twins were significantly smaller than the other. "There was a very high chance that if we did not intervene, both twins could die," he recalled.

An Operation No Less Than A Miracle

The life-saving laser surgery was performed and within a week the doctors saw an improvement with the twin who was smaller in size. When the twins were born, they weighed 1.5kg and 1.7kg. To recognize the efforts by the surgeon, Ahouansou named them Kai Kypros and Asher Nicolas after Professor Kypros Nicolaides.

Ahouansou also expressed deep gratitude for the professor's expertise and called him "proof that miracles can be performed by people who are devotees to their profession."

Professor Kypros Nicolaides has been at King’s College Hospital since 1980 and is widely regarded as a leader in fetal medicine. His groundbreaking research and development of screening and surgical techniques have saved countless lives.

Through his dedication, Professor Nicolaides has given many families hope, demonstrating how medical advancements continue to improve survival rates for complex fetal conditions like TTTS.

More about Twin-to-twin Transfusion Syndrome

As per the John Hopkins Medicine, TTTS is a rare pregnancy condition that affects identical twins or other multiples. It happens in pregnancies where twins share one placenta and a network of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients essential for development in the womb. These pregnancies are known as monochorionic.

Sometimes, the blood vessels in the placenta are unevenly distributed, causing an imbalance in blood flow between the twins. The donor twin loses more blood than it receives, leading to malnutrition and potential organ failure. Meanwhile, the recipient twin gets an excess of blood, putting strain on the heart and increasing the risk of cardiac complications.

Impact on the Donor Twin

The donor twin loses blood volume (hypovolemia), reducing kidney function and urine production. This leads to low amniotic fluid levels (oligohydramnios) or, in severe cases, a complete absence (anhydramnios). Without proper blood circulation, the donor twin faces cardiovascular issues, increasing the risk of death.

Impact on the Recipient Twin

The recipient twin experiences excess blood volume (hypervolemia), causing increased urination and excessive amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios). The overworked heart struggles to handle the surplus blood, leading to cardiovascular dysfunction, heart failure, and, in extreme cases, death.

Adolescents living with chronic skin conditions who spend more time on screens may be at greater risk of struggling with body image, self-esteem, and overall quality of life, according to a new study.

The research, published in the journal Children, found that longer daily screen time was associated with poorer dermatology-related quality of life and more likelihood of body image issues among teenagers, especially with skin issues.

The findings underscore the growing concerns about the impact of digital media on young people's mental wellbeing, particularly those already coping with visible health conditions.

Researchers analysed adolescents with chronic skin disorders and explored how screen use related to their emotional wellbeing, body image, anxiety, and life satisfaction.

They found that teens reporting greater impairment in dermatology-related quality of life also experienced significantly lower self-esteem, a more negative perception of their bodies, higher anxiety, poorer overall quality of life, and lower life satisfaction.

Those who spent more time using screens generally reported worse outcomes across these measures.

"Longer screen time was associated with poorer dermatology-related quality of life and less favourable psychosocial outcomes," the study authors wrote, suggesting that digital media habits plays a huge role in influencing adolescents wrestling with chronic skin disease.

Why Skin Conditions Make Teens More Vulnerable?

Dermatology-related quality of life refers to how much a skin condition affects a person's everyday life beyond physical symptoms.

It includes emotional wellbeing, confidence, relationships, mindset, school or work performance, and participation in social activities.

A poor dermatology-related quality of life generally indicates that a skin disease is having a greater psychological and social impact on one's mental health.

Experts say adolescence is already a period when individuals are conscious about appearance. Their skin plays a major role in shaping their self-confidence.

Conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, or vitiligo can make young people more conscious of their appearance, and constant exposure to carefully curated or filtered images on social media may intensify those feelings.

The study suggests that excessive screen use, particularly social media, could pave the way for comparison in appearances, making it harder for teenagers with skin conditions to maintain a positive body image.

However, the researchers did emphasise that the findings show an association rather than proving that screen time directly causes poorer mental health.

Even though this is just an observation, it brings our focus on the broader impact of social media on young people's minds.

Also read: Why Monsoon Weather Triggers Acne: Expert Treatments That Actually Work

Screen Time And Mental Health

The findings are consistent with previous research linking excessive recreational screen time with poorer mental health, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction among adolescents.

Other studies have also shown that image-focused social media platforms may contribute to unrealistic beauty standards and unhealthy appearance comparisons.

Cosmeticorexia Could Fuel The Problem

Also read: Cosmeticorexia: The Dark Side Of Teenagers' Obsession With Flawless Skin

The findings come at a time when teenagers are obsessed with the idea of perfect skin.

Thanks to growing popularity of complex and elaborate skincare trends on social media, perfect skin has become the ultimate beauty goal for many teenagers.

Cosmeticorexia is an example of a psychodermatological disease, where psychological problems manifest through dermatological conditions. The constant pursuit of flawless skin can lead adolescents to adopt harmful skincare practices that ultimately damage their skin rather than improve it.

But experts are warning that this obsession is fueling a worrying condition known as cosmeticorexia, where young people use anti-aging and active skincare products far beyond what their skin needs, increasing the risk of irritation, allergies, and long-term damage.

In terms of health and nutrition, the first 1,000 days of a child's life lay the foundation for lifelong growth, and development. The first question that pops up in every parent's mind is whether they should to stick to exclusive breastfeeding or alternate it with mixed feeding.

While breastfeeding remains the most effective way to give a baby the healthiest start, there are a few myths surrounding mixed feeding that need to be debunked.

As we observe World Breastfeeding Week 2026, the theme "Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works" reminds us that breastfeeding is one of the most important phases of health in children's lives.

Breastfeeding Vs Mixed Feeding

HealthandMe spoke to Dr. Priya Bansal, Senior Consultant, Gyanaecology and Gynae Oncology, Medanta, Noida and Dr Barkha Pandey, HOD Paediatric Department, MBBS, MD Paediatric, Park Hospital, Palam Vihar about the myths surrounding breastfeeding vs mixed feeding.

Dr Priya Bansal said that when we talk about infant feeding, it's important to move away from the idea that there's a "right" or "wrong" choice for every family. She explains, "While exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is the ideal recommendation because of its well-established health benefits, the reality is that every mother's journey is different."

Explaining the benefits of breastfeeding, Dr Barkha Pandey spoke about why breast feeding is the gold standard.

Dr Barkha Pandey further added, "Exclusive breastfeeding is the best feeding practice for all healthy infants during the first six months of life. This means only breast milk—no water, formula, animal milk, or other foods unless medically indicated. Breast milk provides all essential nutrients, along with antibodies and bioactive factors that protect against infections, support brain development, and promote healthy growth.

Dr Bansal went on to explain about the times when new mothers adopt mixed feeding. Dr Pandey said that there are situations where mixed feeding is necessary, and supplementation should never be seen as failure.

Dr Bansal said, "Some women may experience delayed milk production, have underlying medical conditions, or need to return to work earlier than planned. In such situations, mixed feeding can be a practical and safe option when introduced with the right medical guidance. What concerns us more is when formula is started because of misconceptions like assuming the baby isn't getting enough milk without any medical assessment."

Also read: World Breastfeeding Week: How The First 1,000 Days Of Breastfeeding Shapes A Child's Health For Life

How Long Should You Breastfeed Your Baby?

There are many doubts about how long you should continue to breastfeed your baby. Most experts agree upon the six-month rule of breastfeeding for well-rounded development of the baby, Dr Pandey clarifies if you should keep going even after six months.

She said, "At six months, complementary foods should be introduced to meet increasing nutritional needs. However, breastfeeding should continue alongside complementary feeding until at least two years of age and beyond, for as long as mother and child wish. Even after solids begin, breast milk continues to provide nutrition, immunity, and emotional security."

Both the experts stress upon the fact that while exclusive breastfeeding is the way to go, the priority is always safe, adequate nutrition and supportive, non-judgemental care. When supplementation is needed, parents should be guided with reassurance and clinical guidance, not guilt.

“My child is a picky eater; he hardly eats anything, so should I start giving him a protein shake?” As a pediatric dietitian, I hear this question most often from parents. Be it on the attractive shelves of a supermarket or a post on social media, you will find products that promise your child will be taller, stronger, sharper, and no wonder why parents might feel the fear of missing out!!

But here’s the reassuring truth: No, most healthy children don’t need protein powders/ protein biscuits.

Before talking about this “trendy” supplement, it is important to understand why protein is important and what its functions are.

Why Is Protein Important?

Protein is called the building blocks, and rightly so cause it helps build muscles, stronger bones, good skin, hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. Meaning, for good immune function, for growth and development, or be it for tissue repair, we all need protein.

However, protein is just a block of this big puzzle; we equally need good carbs and good fats along with it. In fact, good carbs, if included in balanced quantities, help protein do its job; we dietitians call it the “protein-sparing action”.

So The Question Arises: Are Children Getting Enough Protein?

Interestingly, Yes. Many of the parents assume that their child is getting less protein cause they are skipping/ refusing or eating small portions, but in reality including small portions even plays a big impact, as child requires less protein than adults and some of the rich protein sources like curd, milk, paneer, eggs, dals, lentils, soya products, lean meat, fatty fishes, nuts & dry fruits do provide good amount of protein.

Let’s take a 5-year-old for an example; A glass of milk along with nuts in the morning, a bowl of thick dal in lunch, and a serving of paneer/ curd in a regular dinner easily meet their daily requirements without any supplements.

Do Protein Powders Make The Children Taller?

No, the child drinking protein powder will not decide the baby’s height. It is influenced by several factors like genetics, overall nutrition, good sleep, regular physical activity, etc. So no direct evidence is found that suggests drinking protein powder only will help children gain height.

So What About The Child Who’s Into Sports?

Most of the time, they also DON’T need the protein powder.

Physically active children usually need more energy overall—not just more protein. A balanced diet with nutritious high-protein meals and snacks is enough for the majority of young athletes. Milk after practice, peanut butter on whole-grain bread, boiled eggs, yogurt with fruit and seeds, or homemade sprouts chaat are all excellent recovery foods.

Then Who Needs Protein Powders?

Children who have been clinically diagnosed with vitamin and mineral deficiencies, or have had some chronic illnesses or surgeries, or have some inborn errors of metabolism will need protein powder.

Are There Any Downsides To Protein Powders?

Many commercial products marketed for children contain added sugars, flavourings, or ingredients that may not be necessary. Some provide far more protein than a child actually needs, along with high sodium and trans fats. Perhaps the biggest concern is that supplements can create a false sense of security. Parents may feel they've "covered nutrition" with a scoop of powder while the child continues to miss out on the benefits of a balanced diet.

Whole foods offer much more than protein. A bowl of dal provides fiber and minerals. Eggs contain choline, which produces acetylcholine- a neurotransmitter necessary for brain development. Dairy products contribute calcium and vitamin B12. Nuts and seeds provide healthy fats like omega-3 and antioxidants. These nutrients work together in ways that a supplement simply cannot mimic.

What Can The Parents Do Instead?

• Include protein in all three major meals: include curd, paneer, 1 bowl of thick dal, a piece of chicken or egg, add flaxseed chutney as a side.
• Do not panic if the child is eating less on some days; it's okay for the appetite to fluctuate according to their moods.
• Make protein familiar and fun- make besan cheelas with different chutneys, make roti pizzas with paneer and cheese on top, make paneer paratha.
• Involve them in cooking; this reduces the chances of picky eating as they feel included in the process.
• Eat together as a family.

In conclusion, always remember that more isn’t always better; as far as the children’s requirements are concerned, they can definitely be fulfilled by adding good, mindful protein options in day-to-day meals. As parents, it's natural to want the very best for your child. The good news is that the best nutrition doesn't usually come from a jar—it comes from a colourful plate, shared family meals, and healthy eating habits built over time.

But remember the simple rule: natural food first, supplements only when they are medically needed.

(By Payoshini Kulkarni, Nutritionist at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Pune)