The newly launched hospital in Mohali offers a comprehensive range of services for women of all ages, newborns, and childcare, all conveniently housed under one roof. In addition, the hospital extends counseling services to address mental health concerns, behavioral issues in children, and other challenges that may arise for women, new mothers, and children.

The primary goal is to prevent complications such as preterm birth, stillbirth, lethal malformations, non-lethal problems, and Down syndrome births. Equipped with state-of-the-art ultrasound, 2D and 3D imaging, and CTG machines for monitoring fetal health, the hospital also provides fetal procedures including amniocentesis, chorionic villous sampling, fetal reductions, and other interventions.

The hospital’s dedicated team of obstetricians, pediatricians, and fetal medicine and genetics specialists collaboratively ensure optimal care for both mother and baby. Ongoing surveillance throughout pregnancy helps detect any potential issues, ensuring the best possible outcomes for both parties.

Promoting natural birthing, the hospital encourages proper planning through preconception counseling, lifestyle guidance, and timely scans, complemented by the availability of birthing balls and birthing ropes in the aesthetically designed labor room. By providing a stress-free and pain-free environment, the hospital aims to enhance the birthing experience for mothers.

Dr. Poonam Kumar, Senior Consultant Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Fetal medicine, Motherhood Hospital, Mohali, ‘’The alarming surge in caesarean section rates can be attributed to the evolving lifestyle trends and the prevalent fear of labor pain. As a result, 30-40% of women face heightened risks during pregnancy, primarily due to lifestyle-related changes and the associated challenge of obesity. Our mission is to provide comprehensive care and support to these women, ensuring their safety and well-being throughout their pregnancy journey.’’

‘’The hospital stands out for its exceptional and comprehensive healthcare services, catering to the diverse needs of all age groups. For expectant mothers, we have a specially designed program of counselling sessions by physiotherapist, dietitian, psychologist, and birth attendants. These sessions educate the couple on what to expect during pregnancy and childbirth so that they are prepared, both physically as well as mentally, to handle the whole process. We are proud to have an expert team of specialists who possess extensive knowledge and experience in diagnosing and treating genetic disorders and other pregnancy related complications. Promoting normal and painless delivery is a core principle of our hospital. To achieve this, for the first time in this region, we have implemented the concept of Positive Birthing Experience as recommended by the World Health Organization. Our specially trained staff continuously supports and encourages the woman during birthing process. This minimizes the requirement of interventions and results in higher chances of normal delivery with the least chances of complications. We have fully equipped Medical ICU and Newborn ICU in case of unexpected complications requiring special care for mother or baby.”, said Dr Poonam.

Dr. Neeraj Kumar, HOD, Pediatrics, Motherhood Hospitals, Chandigarh said, “Almost 20-30 % of pregnancies have one or more high risk factors. More than 10% of deliveries are premature babies have chances of disabilities related to neurological, vision, hearing etc. Incidence of prematurity is increasing because of increasing IVF pregnancies in which the chance of prematurity is almost double as compared to normal pregnancies. 2.7% of deliveries in Mohali are at home. Home deliveries, which have higher chances of maternal and newborn complications. Punjab Govt has set a target of 100% institutional deliveries under “Tandarust Punjab Mission Program”. More than 75% of deliveries are taking place in govt hospitals which are overloaded with more than double their capacity. According to the latest NHMS -5 data shows that only 60% of pregnant women in Punjab get recommended ANC checkup.

He also added, “Motherhood Hospitals and Chaitanya Hospital have come together to establish the largest network of hospitals in this region for Women and Child Healthcare. Motherhood Hospital, Mohali is the fourth centre. It will provide comprehensive and high-end facilities related to pregnancy, Gynecology, Newborn ICU and Pediatrics.”

The primary objective is to prevent complications such as preterm birth, stillbirth, and lethal malformations in babies. To achieve this, the hospital provides continuous surveillance throughout pregnancy to monitor any potential issues, ensuring the best possible outcomes for both mother and baby.

Experts warn that tickling a newborn can be harmful as it can cause hiccups and breathing difficulties. Gynaecologist and fetal medicine expert Dr Deepthi Jammi debunked the myths that tickling causes stuttering or makes a baby speak early. Tickling can also cause pain, discomfort, trauma, and anxiety in babies, and excessive tickling can even result in death from asphyxia, brain aneurysms, or stress-related injuries. Dr Jagdish Kathwate, consultant neonatologist and pediatrician, advised against tickling, as it impacts the child’s body in many ways and can lead to chest and stomach pain that requires immediate medical attention. Dr (Major) Manish Mannan concurred and advised parents to avoid tickling the baby if they are unable to find out whether it is pleasant for them.

As seen in the coverage by a recent article on The Indian Express, tickling a baby is a strict no-no. While many people believe that tickling is a harmless way to play with a newborn and make them laugh, experts warn that it could be extremely dangerous for the child.

Gynaecologist and fetal medicine expert Dr Deepthi Jammi took to Instagram to share that one should not tickle a baby as it is harmful for the child, while debunking a few myths related to tickling a newborn. Negating the claim that tickling causes stuttering in babies, Dr Jammi said there is no connection between the two. Similarly, on claims that tickling makes a baby speak early, Dr Jammi said that it is also false.

There are several dos and don’ts when it comes to newborns and their care. From picking them up by supporting the neck to ensuring that their feeding is not delayed, there is much that a newborn needs but cannot often communicate.

Many tend to tickle babies as they think that it is one of the best ways to play with them and make them laugh. However, experts warn that it could be extremely dangerous for the newborn. Here’s why:

Gynaecologist and fetal medicine expert Dr Deepthi Jammi took to Instagram to share that one should not tickle a baby as it is harmful for the child, while debunking a few myths related to tickling a newborn.

*You can also sing songs or read books to the baby.

*One can even do gentle finger strokes over the body.

Doctors at Mumbai’s Motherhood Hospitals gave a new lease of life to 10-year-old girl by carrying out low impact laparoscopic surgery on a 10-year-old girl to remove a paraovarian cyst, the size of a small melon.

The patient was able to get rid of abdominal pain and vomiting immediately after the surgery and resumed school with ease in the following week.

Swara Tole, the 10-year-old girl, a resident of Kharghar suddenly complained of severe abdominal pain with multiple episodes of vomiting. Her family members took her to the pediatrician, who suspected it to be common stomach flu, and gave her some medications.

After three days, she had a similar episode again, but her condition worsened as the abdominal pain increased in severity.

Her parents took her to a senior gynecologist, who suggested  them to go for a sonography, which was performed, diagnosing a large ovarian cyst, with no torsion.

Later she prescribed a trial of contraceptive pills to dissolve the cyst. Since her pain and repeated episodes of vomiting were not decreasing, the parents wanted to go for a second opinion.

The patient was then referred to Dr Jainesh at Motherhood Hospital, from Kharghar.

 Dr Jainesh, Consultant Advanced Gynecologic Endoscopic Surgeon, Motherhood Hospitals, Kharghar, said, “On arrival, the patient appeared to have continuous discomfort even while she was sitting in the consulting chamber. She was struggling with continuous deep throbbing pain in her lower abdomen. However, surprisingly her vomiting had completely settled without any medication.”

“This discrepancy raised my suspicions, and I probed a little more into the exact course of the condition. A second round of sonography was performed, which revealed a large paraovarian cyst, however again without torsion,” Dr Jainesh added.

He said that a paraovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac lying next to the ovary, a non-cancerous pathology. It is usually silent, and asymptomatic, however if complications arise including internal bleeding or infection it can have symptoms like vomiting and severe abdominal pain. In the pediatric population, they are very rare and contribute to less than 4% of any form of pelvic cysts.

In the very early stages of pregnancy, a baby has two structures called a Mullerian duct and Wolffian duct. These become the female and male sexual organs, respectively.

In the case of a baby girl, the Mullerian duct evolves into the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and vagina and the Wolffianvijay duct undergoes resorption. In rare cases Wolffian duct remnants, under hormonal influence, start secreting fluids leading to the formation of such cysts. The cysts are usually silent and only incidentally diagnosed on random sonograms. Younger unmarried girls rarely develop this with the average age of presentation around 15 years. Paraovarian cysts in teens often grow large as no routine sonographies are performed and hence, they are missed.

 Dr Jainesh added, “The girl had attained puberty a few months back and had around 3 menstrual cycles, regular in nature. It wasn’t a precocious puberty. When the repeat sonography gave the diagnosis of para-ovarian cyst which showed symptoms, the parents were counselled about surgery. Although OC pills aren’t the solution to get rid of para-ovarian cysts, we didn’t stop her ongoing pills as they would have disturbed her hormonal cycle and likewise menses.”

“In successive days, a special technique of Low Impact Laparoscopy surgery was performed. The intra-operative finding confirmed my suspicions of 2 twists in the large Para ovarian cyst, associated with another rare condition of Isolated Fallopian Tube Torsion. Through small 3 sub centimetric incisions a quick surgery was performed, without a single drop of blood loss,” Dr Jainesh explained.

He said that the entire cyst was removed using state of the art technology and removed through the existing instrument incisions itself. The fallopian tube and ovarian normal anatomical relation were restored, so that her future fertility is unaffected by this surgery.

There are numerous dos and don’ts when it comes to pregnancy. The most common ones pertain to diet and exercise — what pregnant women must (or must not) eat or do to maintain her as well as the baby’s health. As such, when a Twitter user asked whether a pregnant woman should weightlift, we also wanted to know the answer. Sharing a video on the microblogging site, he asked, “I can’t believe! Isn’t that bad for the baby?”

While some laughed it off, one user remarked, “Heavy exercise during pregnancy should not be encouraged. It can lead to miscarriage in the early trimester. At this stage, although the foetus is big enough, it can still cause premature labour. Any injury in the mother’s body will affect the baby.”

Bone health: Weight training, especially exercises that involve weight-bearing movements, enhances bone density. This is crucial during pregnancy as hormonal changes affect bone density, and proper strength training can significantly reduce the risk of conditions like osteoporosis.

Mood and mental health: Weight training has been shown to release endorphins and promote positive mental health. Pregnancy brings hormonal and emotional changes, and weight training can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

Faster postpartum recovery: Maintaining strength training throughout pregnancy can contribute to a faster postpartum recovery. Strong muscles provide a solid foundation for the body.

Reduced risk of gestational diabetes: Strength training has been linked to a reduced risk of gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

“When engaging in weight lifting during pregnancy, it is crucial to prioritise the safety and well-being of both the mother and the baby. Make sure to seek guidance from a certified professional who is experienced in training pregnant women. Weight training, when approached responsibly, can play a magical role in supporting pregnant women on their journey to a healthy and resilient pregnancy,” said Singh.

Girls suffer a lot during period time. They face mental and physical problems. One of them is the problem caused by sanitary pads. Many people who use pads have itchy thighs and other areas. The heat from using the pads can also cause a rash. For these reasons, many people are switching from sanitary pads to menstrual cups.

Malaria is a disease that is transmitted through an infected mosquito that carries the Plasmodium parasite. When this infected mosquito bites a pregnant woman, the parasite travels to the liver where it matures. After several days, the mature parasites enter the bloodstream and infect the red blood cells which multiply causing the infected cells to burst open. 

1. Increased mortality rates.

2. Congenital malaria presents fever, irritability, feeding difficulties, jaundice, or anaemia.

3. Increased rates of other infections in adulthood

Prevention

Despite not having a specific vaccine to prevent malaria during pregnancy, listed below are the possible measures- 

1. Using insecticide-treated bed nets or sleeping under a mosquito net. 

2. Receiving iron/ folate supplements against anemia.

4. Consumption of folic acid supplements in moderate quantities to prevent defects in their infants

5. Using bug sprays to prevent infection

In conclusion, it is important to talk to a healthcare professional about long-term prevention if you live in an area where malaria is common during pregnancy. 

Microplastics, the tiny fragments of plastics less than 5 millimetres in size, are becoming a threat to not just our environment and surroundings but also our health. Microplastics originating from plastic bottles, tiffin, containers, chips packets, single-use straws are making its way into our body. These particles are also found in oceans, rivers, soil, and even in the air we breathe. Small children are at an increased risk of ingesting microplastics as they frequently put daily-use objects into their mouth. Microplastics can cause digestive issues, inflammation, and disrupt nutrient absorption. They can also cause developmental delay in children. They can also make their way to developing foetus. It is important to prevent your exposure to microplastics and stay away from any kind of plastic packaging, bottles or lunchbox.

Let’s talk about something that many women can relate to—the ups and downs of the menstrual cycle. That time when you count the days to Aunt Flo’s arrival, brings along some unwelcome guests called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Now imagine feeling like a balloon about to pop with bloating, having your breasts become tender and sensitive, dealing with mood swings as well as stress and irritability. It is like a hormonal roller-coaster that can make you feel off balance. But wait, there’s more! For some women, PMS takes a more intense form called PMDD, which stands for premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

2. Severity

PMS: PMS symptoms may cause discomfort and mild disruption in daily life, but they do not significantly impair functioning or quality of life.

PMDD: PMDD symptoms are more severe and disruptive, often interfering with daily activities, work, relationships, and overall quality of life.

3. Duration

PMS: PMS symptoms typically occur in a week or two leading up to menstruation and usually resolve once menstruation starts.

PMDD: PMDD symptoms typically occur a week or two before menstruation and significantly improve within a few days after menstruation starts.