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Book Reading Challenge a Way to Beat Dementia (not joking at all!)

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on January 19, 2018 28

Book Reading challenge a way to beat dementia?

I am not joking at all.If you knew what else I have going on, a book reading challenge is scary difficult.The reading part may turn out to be easy.The part of it, that is proof of my reading expeditions are going to take me far beyond my comfort zone.

There lies the sweet spot.

According to research sudoku, crossword puzzles, brain games are only linear brain exercises.They don’t help in firing up and exciting your brain globally.

When you do something which challenges you to do engage different parts of your brain to work , you create something called cognitive reserve.That’s when the neurons from different part of your brains decide to hold hands and make a rich network together

A book reading challenge is just what I needed.I like challenges and goals and all those fun stuff. I work best when I have a plan.
Corrine at everydaygyaan (lovely name of the blog )just started a year-long book reading challenge she has included fun levels which you can amp up but not markdown.
Print books, ebooks, audiobooks everything included.
The challenge will run from Jan 2018 to Dec 2018.I choose level four challenge.I am on fire
I am a voracious reader and while I read all genres nowadays I am hooked on nonfiction self-help books.But I do catch up on reading all my favorite mysteries, dystopian and Bengali comfort reads.

This year it’s epic.I am doing

Reading challenges
Blogging challenges
Health challenges
Personal goal challenges.

3 Reasons you should take part

You can do it even without a blog.That’s fantastic right?
Your Goodreads account is allowed.
Reading helps beat those cobwebs growing all over your brain cells.
It challenges you to do more and exercise your brain.It’s great for mental health.

If you are a writer in any form the best way to learn to write better is to read a lot.

While a public declaration of numbers can be tricky.
I decided to take up Corrine’s challenge of 150 books this year.
All genres and all kinds.

Why did I decide to take up this book reading challenge as a way of exercising my brain?

Fighting dementia is not a one-off event.

Your lifestyle , daily exercise, and sleep all determine your ability to fight the build-up of brain plaque

While a brain-friendly diet is important.So is brain exercise.

The brain loves having fun.But not any kind.The complex challenges which make you start scratching your head, that’s the kind you need to start improving your cognitive reserve.

Cognitive reserve built up when you exercise your brain the right way,

A healthy brain loves challenges that help you grow and use many parts of your brain at the same time.

The hardships, love, trauma, the excitement you go through in your life all help you prevent.

I will not only be reading the books, I plan to write a review for some if not all.The location for reviews may be Amazon, Goodreads, on my blog, vlog or my podcast.

Now while reading my favorite books and authors are easy.Trying to mix different genres is not a cakewalk.But there lies the fun.

More complex the challenge, the more difficult it gets, the better it is for my brain.The easier things get, the less exercise your brain gets.

What I do know is the quickest way to grow old is to stop learning.Readinglearningg and applications help keep us feeling excited and our brain happy.

Get ready for a roller coaster ride full of books you always wanted to read .I will be updating my list of books I am reading in this post here.

You will also find Book reviews on my blog.

1)Have just finished Roller Coaster in Tehran and its review is on Amazon.
2)Did my first Vlog of the Book: The 365 days by Nikhil Ramteke.

3)I read The Way of the Cat: Surviving Metastasized Cancer

4)Happiness is all we want by Ashutosh Mishra (14th -25th Jan 2018)

Want me to review your book?Read my book review policy.

Grab the badge and participate

7 Secrets to blogging as biz(for beginner mompreneurs):Book Summary ” E Myth Revisited “

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on January 15, 2018 36

The journey of a mompreneur: Exploring blogging as a business model. Read, learn to apply…repeat.That’ s the “why” behind my blogging.

I love reading and learning new things, which are fun plus profitable!
If you have been blogging for some time or have any sort of entrepreneurship dream(which I think you have, if you are reading this post) , the first book you should read is the “E-myth Enterprise ”

book summary Emyth Revisited — 7Secrets to blogging as biz

When I wanted to learn how to create a biz online, my first thought was to read as much as I could.

[bctt tweet=” “It’s good to learn from your mistake. It’s better to learn from others mistake”Warren Buffet #HWB ” username=”misra_amrita”]

Who better to take advice from, than Warren Buffet!

That’s why I haunted bookstores, review sites, Amazon Kindle store for everything on entrepreneurship as I could.

Then I stumbled on this gem!

I have bought :

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
The Emyth Enterprise
The E-myth for Physicians.

My favourite is the first.The second one is actually more of the same stuff just packaged differently(don’t buy this one ).The third one addresses the hard reality of a doctor’s practice.The first book is enough to open your eyes and prevent biz boo-boos.

First the E-myth Book summary :Read and learn.
I read the ebook version.I was so afraid,it was going to be a very dry read.
A biz book with no pics .What exactly was I thinking?
But the book blew me away.
I read it in 2 hours ,between juggling household chores.
It was eye opening, breath taking and life saving.

Life saving because you are reading this article dreaming of your own biz.

Only dreams with iron clad framework become real .

That’s what this book helps you understand !
Any biz which will make you financially free ,shouldn’t make you physically a slave!
Even when you work from home ,if everything depends on you…watch out!
You are headed for burnout and creative death.

Entrepreneurs are dreamers .You love the creative process.But being managers,and workers in your own business, can suck your dry!
Result:Brain Freeze.!
That’s where this book helps you.

I had started blogging as a creative hobby till I read “The Emyth Revisited .”For all those who want to make blogging their biz, should read this book to avoid the pitfalls of new first time biz owners.Avoid the trap .Do it right the first time around

How can this book help you ?I would have never been a doctor if I didn’t totally love reading .

My mom taught me reading for fun.Growing up friends changed,but my love for books never did.When I discovered blogs .I was in literary heaven.So much to read.Some people’s think that’s weird .But seriously, helping your children develop reading habits , is the best way to prepare them for life!

That’s how I learnt gardening, blogging, and that’s how I became a doctor.
I write about health and wellness and all that I learn on my journey as a mompreneur.My goal of writing was simple. I wanted help ,as many people as I could .When people come to doctors they are generally Ill.
The info I share on my blog, is to help you live better.

I am partial to moms !You really want it all .That’s my favourite type of people who want it all and not afraid to work for it .The pearls from the book which has overhauled my thinking and rewired my brain.

(These will help you, even if you don’t read the book.But If you do buy ,I guarantee you will look at your biz with new eyes)

#1 ‘In life we all need a game worth playing”

The E myth Enterprise :Book Summary
In the E Myth Revisited,
Michael.E.Gerber writes: “the most innovative entrepreneurship ideas actually come from the child within us and not the adult.
We all need a game worth playing.”
Otherwise life wouldn’t be so much fun.
That’s why everybody says find the
right balance, between your passion and what people want ,for a successful business.
The first you need, to get going and to maintain your enthusiasm : that’s the game worth playing .
The second is important to make it a money printing machine!

Never forget to have fun!

Takeaway :
At all times you write for your reader.
Sometimes things which you love
Sometimes which help you make money (and sustain the blog).This shouldn’t generally be more than one third of your content.
All times create content which is helpful.

#2″ Businesses exist because people want them too. “

The E myth or the entrepreneurship mirage is very popular nowadays.We all want to be our own boss.
Which is awesome.But how many people give useful advice which will take you on the right direction?
That’s my journey to find those people who can’t afford the $$$$how to launch your business courses.

Takeaway:
Have your ideal reader in mind when you write.
Until you can visualize your reader you are writing for no one.Blogging exists for people who like to read.
Just find your tribe.
Best place to find your tribe is facebook groups.

#3. “1st Quality of a successful entrepreneur :CONCENTRATION”

When I read books I love sharing what I have learnt. My sister used to call this my “parrot syndrome”.
She could guess what I was reading from what I said.
Sometimes I am guilty of quoting from multiple books.But I honestly can’t seem to be able to stop .

One thing about the Emyth series is they pull you by your ear and make you sit up straight.In all the noise of leave your 9 to 5 ,start your own biz from your sofa,they are bang on .

You need to bust the myths of entrepreneurship ,before you can reach stratospheric success!

Takeaway:
Mindfulness helps you concentrate.

Try to focus on one aspect of your blog at a time.

If you are the all in all of your biz it’s important you focus.

#4.”The company is as vital as the people we serve “

Most often we don’t really know what we want.All entrepreneurs have a dream.

But to make the dream a reality the dreamer has to wear many hats.
The problem starts when we have to manage it all.

Unless you develop a system which works without you as beautifully as with you ,you are never the boss .

You might be happy working as a worker but it actually kills the dreamer in you.
What I love about the Emyth series is how wonderfully Michael. E.Gerber explains the reality of entrepreneurship ,with an aim to help you make it work!

Until you can dream with eyes open and the reality filter on ,its difficult to make it happen.

Takeaway:
It’s important you focus on whom you want to help .

If you are vague about that ,everything goes mad!

#5″Attention, concentration. Intention, discrimination.
Balance, organization. Excellence, innovation. Touching the world, communication.”
These qualities or values are important in all that we do .

Self discipline is the most important thing to learn.Developing these key habits ,will make the difference between making it and making it with a bang!

Your biz will affect your life and your life will affect your biz.If you want to have friends and family to enjoy your success with ,you will need self development!

Everything starts from the inside.

External chaos is just a reflection of inner chaos.

#6″There are three kinds of people: (1) those who make things happen, (2) those who let things happen, and (3) those who wonder what the hell happened. The people who make things happen are masters of change. The other two are its victims.”

I tried being a victim.
But I liked making things happen.Being a victim is definitely not my cup of tea!

#7″Money never takes care of itself. You have to take care of it daily.”
I have realized that the only solution to all the world’s problems is reading????and productive education.

The Emyth Enterprise :it will change your life and biz.Politicians all over the world work at keeping us barely educated.
The more you know, the less likely are you to fall for nonsense.
When people struggle to make ends meet ,they can’t care for things like world poverty and deforestation.
That’s why no school or college teaches you how and why you should take care of money.When trying out or learning anything new there’s always a chance it might not work.When I wanted to learn to become a biz owner, most people including my hubby looked confused.What exactly did I want.I was already a practising surgeon ,with a 4 year old and little time for any experimentations.

But you seriously make time for things that make you happy and help you grow.
To all struggling mompreneurs and all those who have made it…may you enjoy the journey ..forever.
The fun is ,in the making something from nothing !

Now comes the Apply. That’s next in the series .

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Mompreneur who inspires and helps (part 2)

HOW NATURE TRAVEL MAKES YOU HEALTHY, MORE SUCCESSFUL AND CREATIVE

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on January 15, 2018 23

I have blogged for the last one and a half years.Learning how to write posts,edit,find images ,publish and promote. It’s a journey which is fun , but all uphill!

Pahalgam in Kashmir :Beautiful nature travel destination

I started blogging as an experiment. I knew nothing about blogging, entrepreneurship, marketing or online business.
I loved learning everything!

Afraid about how to grow ,I discovered the best community of multicultural friends online .

Internet is the best melting pot of friendship. People whom you have never met helping you in all possible ways.

That’s when I found my “why”.

I knew one thing. I wanted to share my stories.Do my little bit.

What I read ,what I learn from the books,the blogs, people,podcasts,summits,newsletters….everything.

Sometimes about health wellness ,sometimes about entrepreneurship.

My goal is to ,try to help at least 1 person everyday through writing.

I am a “supers skimmer”, speed reader self-proclaimed voracious bookworm.

But like all hard-working moms in learning mode , I needed a break .

That’s where this post comes from.

In life and learning, the journey should be fun

WHY NATURE TRAVEL MAKES YOU HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL AND MORE CREATIVE

I actually got more stuff written after coming back , than ever before!

But there’s a catch (there always is)!Hectic tours to shopping destinations, don’t give the same benefit.

[bctt tweet=”You don’t choose the day you enter the world and you don’t chose the day you leave. It’s what you do in between that makes all the difference.” – Anita Septimus” username=”misra_amrita”]

THE VACATION STORY…. FROM THE BEGINNING

I was planning a 7 day long trip to Kashmir with family.
The plan was for the summer vacation.

With less than a month to go to get from reservation and tickets, I decided to first try to get the reservation and then book my plane tickets.
Whenever I book hotels online I prefer doing my research for family-friendly hotels with certain criteria in mind. The most important. It should have garden, nature views.I am not a fan of hotels in bustling urban locations.

They have their own purpose and are helpful for business travelers. But useless if you plan to relax.

I feel claustrophobic if I have to stay anywhere without seeing plants.

“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” – Susan Heller
I had one main goal.Wanted to be somewhere where I could stare at trees, (I am a tree hugger) and my little girl could play.

So how exactly does travel among nature help you?

Being among natural surroundings watching the sun go down ,a river flowing helps your brain unwind .Imagine a spool of thread unraveling.That’s what happens to the coils of stress in your brain. The hectic pace of modern life increases and constantly overstresses your brain .The constant attention and focus that the brain needs for modern living makes you prone to depression, anxiety and mental Ill health. Just like your body ,brain needs a break,to rest and relax.

That what nature does.It decreases stress! Zero cost(except the cost to reach nature)zero discomfort 100%, pros no cons .That’s Nature therapy.

Once in a while you need to stop the hustle,slow down .Visit someplace where nature surrounds you. Nature makes your brain healthier ,happier and actually smarter.

After even small breaks among nature your performance will definitely improve.

That’s why I had visited the Hotel Himalaya House in Pahalgam.

THe Lovely Hotel Himalaya House :Nature travel for Health ,success and creativity

Nestled among tree covered valleys and snow peaked mountains ,with a sparkling ,river dancing by ,this gateway to the Himalayas will relax you.

Even if you don’t do anything except sit in the garden you will come back refreshed.
Nature is kind .It knows how to heal.

Nature heals: Travelling to nature helps boost our physical and mental health

16th-century German-Swiss physician,Paracelsus wrote, “The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician.”

I zeroed in on the hotel with the most amazing view and beautiful environment.
Its health promoting ,family friendly .

I wrote to them about my interest in coming to their hotel and reviewing it ,as a family friendly healthy holiday destination
They agreed and my reservation happened without a hitch.
The hotel’s location is magical !
Surrounded by mountains on all sides with the Lidder river in front.

I am a nature lover.I love trees,flowers grass, plants ,mountains ,rushing streams, birds ,butterflies.Not fond of the scary stuff ,or roughing it!

It was idyllic..perfect. Nature helps relax your prefrontal cortex ,which is the brains big boss.This relaxation results in improved attention ,increased productivity and enhanced creative thinking.

Travelling not only broadens the mind,but actually makes you smarter.

“You don’t choose the day you enter the world and you don’t chose the day you leave. It’s what you do in between that makes all the difference.” – Anita Septimus

The pros of the hotel

Location, Location ,Location
Wonderful view
Beautiful well cared for garden and the rushing river…magical!
Rooms are very comfortable and beds with electric blankets, to make you sleep like a baby!
Good ,prompt smiling service .
Child friendly.
They were very kind to arrange oats porridge and other things as needed for my little girl ,every time I wanted.
The manager Mr.Iqbal and all the staff, were especially gracious.

Kashmir doesn’t allow prepaid phone connections .As all our mobile and wi-fi was on a prepaid connection ,it was a surprise total disconnect from all telecommunications .It’s better to have postpaid phone with you if you travel to Kashmir.

No phones ,no laptops no staring at digital screens.Soaking in nature through our eyes ,ears, nose and skin made our brain very happy.

You just don’t travel physically ,it’s also a sensory journey!

The cons.
Throughout our entire stay of 3 nights and 2 and a half days our mind was in a state of bliss.
In order to give an honest feedback (which is the most important thing for you my dear readers)
I have to tell about 2 things which interrupted our garden of Eden stay .

Short circuit of the electric blanket in the room shared by my mom and sis.

Not on the menu ingredient, in a pulao dish.
To the credit of the hotel management,they reacted very promptly to both the issues and made suitable amends.

Apparently entire Pahalgam has a wi-fi connectivity problem.That’s a good thing if you are on a vacation. But a bad thing if you have urgent need of the Internet.

That’s the main reason I have decided not to immediately move to Pahalgam ,open my clinic and work on my blog sitting next to the Lidder river .

Kashmir is beautiful.
The people are beautiful.
Our stay at the Hotel Himalaya House was magical(despite the minor hiccups )

Their weather and soul gives the people unique personalities which is evident in the way they interact.Nature definitely nurtures. The strife that we keep,seeing on Television was luckily not there, during the tourist season. My visit there made me introspect deeply about why heavenly beauty always has a high price to pay.

Shall. I be visiting again?
You bet! Since Kashmir govt doesn’t allow outsiders to buy property there.My plan is to rent or lease a cottage by the river after my retirement and write.
After all blogging is now my favourite side hustle!

Should you be visiting the Hotel Himalaya House in Pahalgam?
Definitely. Wonderful hospitality ,beautiful view. If you haven’t visited Pahalgam you have missed out on God’s prettiest creation.

Take home message:Go visit Pahalgam!Do have a postpaid phone with you ,of you don’t want to be totally out of touch with reality!

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all people’s cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

Read all about this Hotel Booking App I reviewed

When Fights Happen in Front of the Little Ears(its not all bad) #MondayMommyMoments 53

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on January 15, 2018 16

What happens when fights happen in front of the little ears?

Which relationship doesn’t have this?

When all is said and done, marriage is like a soul dance. Sometimes it’s great music sometimes the tones are jarring.

The main thing we realized when Rai was growing up is we didn’t need to fight, children pick up cold behavior tone of voice everything.

That was probably why we decided to keep our disagreements for after her bedtime.

But you know how you are right?

If you have a bee in the bonnet you need to get it out.

The mind buzzes.But you try to try very hard.

I have a few incidents and my learnings from these.Also a few things I decided to do to get this done right.

One day in the middle of a semi-heated disagreement.(I prefer to use this word, its neutral) I saw my daughter looking sadly up at me.I smiled at her and said

Rai close your ears please .Mommy has something important to say .

She gave a lopsided look and said

But mom I can still hear you !

That was not good.

My hubby is really good at keeping his mouth shut and in all honesty, tries hard to deflect my irritations with nice words. I try his patience.Then he gets curt.The angrier he gets the colder Ihs words and fewer they become.My reaction:

Louder and angrier words!

Now Rai is a smart kid. We try to keep disagreements of serious nature or discussion about people she knows, away from her hearing.The topics which she hears are mundane.

But she helps us get grounded by saying

Smile and say, mommy,

Daddy be kind to mommy.

This makes us both smile and things get more relaxed.

From all lectures books and TV shows which tell us tO handle anger better.Do this or that. The only thing that works for me is inside out.

I have seen words somehow have a life of their own.The more aggressive the choice of words, the more vicious and volatile the situation turns.

I need to measure the pros and cons of that particular discussion and its impact on the little one.

Sometimes we tell her that some disagreement is okay since we also sometimes disagree with her.But we can do it kindly without using nasty words and being unkind.

Life has roses and thorns ugly fights are just that .Ugly.

Not your spouse, not your in-laws not your friends and definitely not the people who help you, can you afford to lose your temper with.

But that doesn’t mean you cant disagree and discuss important stuff.

Children need to know how to handle negative emotions and jump back.

They need to know how to put forward their viewpoints and still keep a balance in the relationship.

They need to learn how to find the truth and chaff in any discussion and decide their action.

Not reacting is always in your hand.

How someone makes you feel is in your own hands.

Everyone everywhere will not agree with you.Should you get along just to avoid the conflict?

Should you learn to stand up for the truth and what’s right?

When should you let sleeping tigers sleep?

When should you get ready to battle with your armor on?

Difficult questions and even more difficult life .

But no one said being a mommy was easy.You all will need to find these answers just like I am finding out.

It can be the easy way or the hard way

How to handle conflict?

A few things after being friends for 17 years with my hubby of 10 years.

Direct and not manipulative.Sometimes in order to avoid trouble, you want to be sneaky.That’s not good since the problem is worse when the other person finds out.But be careful the Truth should not hurt.

Hurting the person you love will not help, however good your intentions are.

Avoid shouting, angry words unkind words.This is difficult but works well to resolve a matter quickly.

Try to avoid rehashing old stories and events (I struggle with this one all the time.I have to pull my tongue back mentally, to avoid repeating my woes.My hubby just tells me one thing.

Are you ready to listen to my list ?

Avoid being the pessimist in the conversation.That’s, not the way to getting your own way.

If you want to work it oiut calmly, work out before you talk.The endorphin rush makes you a more relaxed person in the discussion.Trust me it will help..

Give them a hug or a kiss in the middle of the discussion, this lightens up the mood and is a good reminder for both of us that this is not ground zero!

Pick battles carefully.With evidence , backup plans A to Z and the options charted out.

The only problem with me

My hubby knows me too well.I think the best way forward for me is to control the body language.Working on that part.Maybe working from inside will help us more

So today before I draw up a battle plan I think only one thing?

How will this make me feel afterwards ?Is it worth it?

Also no angry unkind words to each other at all!That’s a promise

Let’s teach them to agree to disagree happens in all relationships but we don’t need to be mean.That does not work.

What about you?What are your triggers?

Writing this for #MondayMommyMoments

Rules are here.

The Prompt this week.

What happens when parents fight in front of kids_ — What happens when parents fight in front of kids

Link up through the button below.

Linking up with #MondayMusings

Planning for a baby- 5 Tests you must do

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on January 14, 2018 20

So many new researches ,so much health info. It’s difficult to read and understand how it affects you.

Planning for a baby :5 tests you must do

There are several blood tests which are important if you are planning to have a child.

Few of you visit the obstetricIan when in the planning stage of a baby.

Most reach the obstetrician’s office ,after a missed period.

That’s several week into the first trimester.

It’s best if you have a pre-pregnancy or pre-conception checkup.

A lot of potential complications can be avoided with good pre-pregnancy planning.

The first 12 weeks of pregnancy is the most important for the development of brain and other organs.

Any nutritional or other deficiencies can affect the chances of the developing foetus.

There are many tests you will have to do once you conceive.But even before you are pregnant there are 5 tests which are very important.

 [wysija_form id="16"]

#1 Thyroid Function test

FT3/FT4 /TSH

Thyroid dysfunction is a treatable cause of primary infertility .

Hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinemia are seen to coexist.

In endemic goitre zones this is one of the most common causes of infertility.

What to do if you have hypothyroidism and unable to conceive?

Start treatment for hypothyroidism. Thyroid replacement hormone is started with proper diet.
TSH is checked every 6 weeks.

Normal thyroid status in mothers help to develop normal thyroid in foetus and plays a very important role in brain development.

(References

Nath C, Chutia H, Ruram AA et al. Association of thyroid disorders in females with primary infertility attending a tertiary-care hospital in northeast India. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2016; 5(8). DOI: 10.5455/ijmsph.2016.16112015261.)

#2 Test for German measles: Rubella Test

IgG Rubella Test .

It’s done when you are planning to get pregnant .

If not done then it should be done immediately on detecting pregnancy.

What does the test tell you?

It tells you about your immunity against Rubella.

It also tells us whether the immunity is adequate to give protection against infection.

What’s the risk if this is not done?

Rubella is most dangerous to your unborn baby if infection occurs within 20 weeks .

It can cause:

Miscarriage
Still birth
Birth defects

Birth defects due to Rubella include like hearing loss,brain damage,cataract and heart defects.

This is known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome and there’s is no known treatment for this.

Prevention is the best treatment!

#3Haemoglobin with Packed cell volume-Test for Anaemia

Anaemia in pregnancy should be managed proactively to give best chances to the baby.

Anaemia in pregnancy may cause:

Higher risks of postpartum haemorrhage
Low birth weight baby,
Small-for gestational age babies
Perinatal death.

What can worsen the problem ?

Infections like malaria, urinary tract infections, helminthic infections(worms) make anaemia worse.

How to treat?

Primary prevention.
While planning to conceive check your Complete blood count (Haemoglobin,TC,DC,ESR )and PCV

If anaemic ,start increasing the amount of animal protein and green veggies in diet.

Iron from animal proteins is more easily absorbed and used by your body then that from plant sources.
Take iron supplements.

If found anaemic during pregnancy ?

Treat Anaemia under doctors supervision.
Iron supplements must for all from second trimester onwards .But in case of Anaemia you may need to take it throughout pregnancy.

Treatment of infection if any .

Related:Brain development  in Early childhood .

Do you want this ?

[wysija_form id=”16″]

You can write to me at dramrita@healthwealthbridge.com and I will share with you.

(References

Nair M, Choudhury MK, Choudhury SS, et al. Association between maternal anaemia and pregnancy outcomes: a cohort study in Assam, India. BMJ Global Health 2016. DOI: 10.1136/ bmjgh-2015-00002)

# 4 Antenatal test you should never miss while family planning

Thalassemia trait is an important pre-conception test

Getting tested is easy
You need to give a blood sample Which will be screened.

A)Hemoglobin electrophoresis is done with quantitative hemoglobin A2 and hemoglobin FCBC testing.

B)Complete Blood Count

C)Iron Studies (free erythrocyte proto porphyrin, ferritin, and/or other iron studies.

What will be the report ,when you have the Thalassemia trait?

Individuals with beta thalassemia trait usually have evidence of microcytosis and increased levels of hemoglobin A2.

Hemoglobin F is sometimes elevated as well.

People with thalassemia trait do not have the disease .
They are not ill.

But this genetic trait, in their genes, is inheritable through the generations, from parents to children.

If your partner doesn’t have the trait,your child will inherit this trait from you.

This needs to be present in medical records for family planning of future generations.

If you are positive for this factor then your partner needs to be tested too.

If both you and your partner have this trait,there’s a 25% possibility of your child having the disease (in every pregnancy ).

Chorionic villus sampling at 10 -11 weeks help in Antenatal diagnosis of thalassemia .

Rate of foetal loss in this procedure is 1%.

Social awareness about the prevention of this disease is important .

#5 Rh Typing

It’s important to know your RH type before you conceive.

Rh or rhesus factor is a type of protein on the surface of red blood cells.

Most people are positive for this factor

85 percent of Caucasians are Rh-positive
90 to 95 percent of African-Americans
98 to 99 percent of Asian Americans

Around the world on an average 85%are Rh positive and 15 %is Rh negative.

If you are Rh negative and have never been pregnant before or never had a blood transfusion .Don’t worry.

It’s likely your baby is Rh positive

You will be given an injection with Rh immunoglobulin to protect against your blood becoming sensitization to the Rh antigen.

If you are Rh negative and had a previous Rh positive baby ,miscarried,underwent an abortion ,ectopic pregnancy,but no Rh immunoglobulin was given.

Then a test to check your blood for Rh antibodies is important before planning a pregnancy.

Not knowing your Rh status and Rh antibody status can have serious complications.

Your doctor will help you.

Always plan your pregnancy after consulting with your doctor.

Other tests which you must do as a part of Pre-Pregnancy Checkup is written in this checklist .

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Disclaimer :This is an attempt to empower you to take more informed decisions and is not to be considered as replacement for professional medical advice.

Darjeeling and other 3 Epic relaxing weekend gateways from Kolkata for families

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on January 14, 2018 11

Relaxing weekend gateways from Kolkata for families are my most searched topic on travel sites. With hospital duties and other dozen engagements, going for long trips, are often difficult. That’s why I make it a point to unwind, with mini, refreshing breaks.Its the best way to get rid of chronic stress. .I am a doctor and I started blogging in 2014 .Stress was one of the reasons I took to writing.

Rest and relaxation are important for a productive life. That’s why just like diet and exercise, you need some therapy, for your soul.The weekend trip options have been chosen based on the following factors:

Ease of traveling,
Family friendly, hotel options
Shouldn’t involve cooking or housework in any form

Your picks, for short gateways, from Kolkata can be varied depending on budget, time in hand and personal taste. You can either go to the mountains, the seas or maybe a spa resort! I have often come back rejuvenated, after a trip to these weekend dream spots!

I do the labor-intensive work of dreaming about the trip. The easy work of planning is delegated to my hubby! Yes, that’s the work division …strictly.

Epic Relaxing weekend gateways from Kolkata, for families

The Queen of hills Darjeeling: Bong’s favorite hill station

Set up as the summer headquarters of the British Raj, it has a unique charm. Darjeeling’s gorgeous nature beckons, to all true blue Calcuttans. Children love the toy train rides and horse rides. Adults can enjoy the natural beauty, window -shop at the interesting curio outlets. You can enjoy the delicious hot momo’s or tuck into the melts in the mouth baked goodies at Glenarys. For me, Darjeeling is the perfect relaxing comfort, a gateway for a long weekend.

Darjeeling :Queen of Hills — Darjeeling: Queen of Hills ***Image courtesy Sohini Das & Sudipto Ghosh***

How to reach Darjeeling quickest?

It’s best if you have Friday off! Then you can take an early morning flight to Bagdogra from Kolkata.From Bagdogra airport a short drive, to the Queen of hills

Where to stay in Darjeeling proper?

There are quaint home stays, luxury resorts, out-of-the-way hotels to suit all budgets. My pick for a family-friendly hotel is Shangri La Regency, Cedar Inn, and Chota Mangwa.

Family friendly Darjeeling hotel — Family-friendly Darjeeling hotel

About Shangri La Regency

Shangri La Regency is only 10 minutes from the mall. Great service, great view from attic rooms but not on cloudy days. But they don’t have an in-house restaurant. They give basic room service and only breakfast served in the common dining room. If you want to have lunch or dinner at the hotel you need to tell well in advance, so that they can source it from their sister concern.

The area around this place is a tad squalid and is a little out of sorts with the pretty boutique hotel. There is no children’s play area or any outdoor area for you to walk around. It’s like a standalone building right on the street.
Must visit: Glenarys It’s a bakery and totally out of the world (yes I am a tad obsessed! I love their Kiwi cheesecake tart.

The best views of Darjeeling was at Chota Mangwa an eco-tourist village with basic amenities but Cedar Inn was the most comfortable stay till date.

2) Favorite weekend spa resort: Sinclair’s Retreat Doars – Chalsa wins hands down!

Chalsa is a small quaint town in the foothills of the Himalayas. It’s a popular part of the Doars region with green tea gardens, beautiful streams, rivers, and trees dotting the area.

How to reach Chalsa?

Located in the Jalpaiguri district the closest airport is Bagdogra. Take an Indigo Airlines flight to Bagdogra and drive to Chalsa.It takes about 2 hours from the airport to the resort.

Sinclair's Chalsa Resort:The view from the dining room — Sinclair’s Chalsa Resort:The view from the dining room

They have acres of green, well cared for grounds. Beautiful flowers dot the hedges. Tall trees, their branches gently swinging in the wind. Sparkling blue swimming pool, well-equipped gym and relaxing spa facilities.

They have indoor and outdoor game options including tyre swings, bicycle tracks, and tree-lined walks.
Bicycle is available for hire, for roaming around the grounds. Playground for children with, their favorite rides. They also have a fully equipped gym, an adult swimming pool and a splash pool for kids.

The best part: The service. Smiling helpful staff. They are always ready to go out of their way, to do that extra bit, to make your time there special. Traveling with children means you end up, making requests to total strangers for special favors. The team at Sinclair’s are sympathetic and do their best to make your stay there outstanding.

What could be better?

The food is average and is not up to expected standards. Breakfast and dinner often compulsorily buffet with no other option. Even that would be okay if the taste was better!

You need small breaks to give you shots of adrenaline

What you shouldn’t miss: Gorumara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife sanctuary.Back to nature but with loads of comfort!

*3 Favorite family weekend destination:Mandarmoni

A sea beach town 180Km from Kolkata airport .It has grown up over the years as the go to place for sea lovers.
It’s a small town in East Midnapore very popular with beach lovers.
I have visited 5 times with family and each time I gave come back totally tanned and with a smile .

The sea is really beautiful and the beaches are much less crowded than the nearby Digha .

How to get there ?

By Road :Kolkata -Digha route by car.
By Rail :Howrah to Kanthi and then to your resort of choice by car.
My favourite Resort:
Aquamarine Drive in.

The resort is comfortable with great Bengali cuisine. Somewhat limited in their variety.But tasty .
Helpful child friendly staff.
They have a swings for children and a few rabbits which they breed.
They have their own gated access to the beach.
They also have an outdoor shower area which is useful to wash the sand out of your clothes after bathing in the sea.

What do you do to relax on weekends ?Let me know in the comments below.

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Epic Relaxing weekend gateways from Kolkata, for families

The Queen of hills Darjeeling: Bong’s favorite hill station

How to reach Darjeeling quickest?

Where to stay in Darjeeling proper?

About Shangri La Regency

2) Favorite weekend spa resort: Sinclair’s Retreat Doars – Chalsa wins hands down!

How to reach Chalsa?

What could be better?

*3 Favorite family weekend destination:Mandarmoni

Sharing is good Karma!

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