MOTHER'S DAY (Sunday, May 8th)

Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother

Would-be mothers and new mothers: breast milk is the best feed for your baby. But you and your baby are unique, and the decision is up to you. 

Breast milk has the vitamins, protein, and fat that your baby needs to grow; it is easily digestible; it has antibodies that fight off viruses and bacteria; and it reduces the risk of the baby being affected by asthma or allergies. Babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhoea. Therefore, fewer trips to the doctor, and fewer hospitalizations.

Breastfeeding may also lead to higher IQ of the baby. It may also lower the risk of obesity and diabetes, of certain cancers, and of  SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). But more research is needed to establish these claims. It is certain though that the physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact all help your baby to bond with you and  to feel secure.

Breastfeeding burns extra calories, so helps the mother lose pregnancy weight faster; and releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size. It may also reduce uterine bleeding after birth; and may also lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and  of osteoporosis.

And it saves you money: you don't have to buy baby feed, bottles and other items.

A mother makes enough milk to meet baby's needs. The thick, yellowish, breast milk - the "first milk" or colostrum - you make for the first few days after birth, is ideal for the newborn and helps her digestive tract to develop.

Under certain conditions - if you are undergoing chemotherapy, have HIV, have active tuberculosis etc - breastfeeding should not be done. Your doctor will advise you about these.

Use hands, or a breast pump, to extract breast milk for use later. You can store it in a refrigerator for up to two days, and in a freezer for up to six months. Stored milk should not be warmed up in a microwave because that destroys some of its immune-boosting qualities. Warm it in a bowl of warm water. Your baby may take a few weeks to get used to breast milk in a bottle.

Sometimes vessels in your breast become congested and the breasts feel hard, painful and swollen. Using ice packs and hot showers alternately can give relief. Releasing breast milk also helps.

See your doctor if your breasts become unusually red, swollen, hard, or sore; or unusual discharge or bleeding from your nipples; or baby not gaining enough weight.

Enjoy motherhood. All love begins and ends there.

Tahitian Woman and Two Children - Paul Gauguin (1901)

ELLORA

On this year's World Heritage Day, I was at two World Heritage sites: Ajanta and Ellora.
Ellora, to me, is more special than Ajanta.
Ajanta is only Buddhist. Ellora is Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jaina - the three major faiths of India. Ellora is thus a symbol of religious harmony - that we so much crave for these days - during 05-10 CE when the Ellora caves were cut into the vertical rock face of Charanandri hills in Aurangabad district.
Of the 34 Ellora caves, 17 are Brahmanical, 12 Buddhist and 05 Jaina.
Brahmanical cave 16, the Kailasnath Temple, is a wonder of workmanship and architecture. It is "one of the greatest monolithic sculptures of the world." It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, as are the other Brahmanical caves. In the corridor at the rear of the main shrine are icons of Shiva pantheon.
Buddhist cave 10 is among the best of the 1200 Chaitya temples - a shrine or a prayer hall with a Stupa at one end - built in India. The cave's facade, the flying gandharwhas for example, is exquisitely carved and much admired.
Cave 32 is the most notable Jaina cave. Jaina at Ellira developed a distinct style of their own by blending the Buddhist and Brahmnical styles of architecture, sculpting and painting as exemplified by the sculpture of Sidhayika in cave 32.
Ellora caves are spread over two km distance. A ferry bus is available but much walking is required. A bit tough in hot weather. Visit in Nov-Feb - my advice.

 Kailashnath Temple (cave 16) canopy

 One of Shiva pantheon in the corridor at the back of the shrine, Kailashnath Temple

'Flying Gandharvhas,' facade of Buddhist cave 10

'Siddhayika,' the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, Jaina cave 32

The art of ART

Fertility is God's gift to women. And to men. But the gift is not equitable. A few have more of it, a few have less of it, and a few have none of it.


So God created science. And science created ART - Assisted Reproductive Technology. But ART is an art, not just science. Just as art depends on artist, so does ART depend on the ARTist - the practitioner. Just as the artist becomes more skilled with practice and experience, so does the ARTist. So the right question to ask is not what the success rate of ART is; the right question is what the success rate of the ARTist is.
IUI - Intra Uterine Insemination - was the first ART. Its first reported use in humans was in 1943. It is still in use. For a woman of 35, IUI success rate after three cycles is about 55%; for ART, it is 75-94%. For IUI, the rate dips sharply with woman's age: 3-14% for woman of 45; for ART the dip is hardly any. Has the time therefore come to discard IUI?


No. IUI Is simple, inexpensive, least invasive, easy to learn and perform and thus poses little or no risk to patient. In certain conditions, it has very good chance of success. ART is difficult, expensive, more invasive, more difficult to learn and preform and thus poses a little more risk to patient than does IUI. IUI therefore must be retained. It offers the patient a choice. And serves patients who cannot afford ART or who reject ART for social or religious reasons.

PS:
I Chaired a session in the International Conference on ART at Goa, 29 April - 01 May, 2016.

Dr Yacoub Khalaf, Consultant Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital and Kings College, London, was the keynote speaker.

Chairperson's address, International Conference on ART, Goa, 29 April - 01 May 2016

 Prof Sadhana Kala, Chairperson, and Dr Yacoub Khalaf, keynote speaker, International Conference on ART, Goa, 29 April - 01 May 2016

Her Excellency Dr Mridula Sinha, Governor of Goa, inaugurating The International Conference on ART, Goa, 29 April - 01 May 2016.
Dr Sinha is a littérateur. She has authored more than 40 books.