6 Baby Games to Boost Your Child's Brain Power

Newborn to 3 Months

PLAY A GAME: Where's Mommy?
Newborns have an innate fascination with voices, but they're not able to locate the source of a sound. To help your little one fine-tune this sense and also learn that his family provides laughter and smiles, place him in the middle of a bed or in an infant seat or hold him in your arms; get close to his face and talk or sing to him. Walk back and forth in front of him as you continue to talk and sing.

Developmental skills: Listening; visual and social development

3 to 6 Months

PLAY A GAME: Airplane Baby
Help comfort your cranky baby—or simply have fun together—with this classic game. To start, hold him under his chest and belly, tummy down. (Be sure to support his neck if he doesn't yet have head control.) Swing him gently back and forth.

Developmental skills: Upper-body strength; tactile stimulation; trust.

6 to 9 Months

PLAY A GAME: Knee Rides
Once your baby has good head control, prop her up on your knees and gently bounce her as you babble or sing. Babbling supports her early efforts to communicate with sounds other than crying. When she says, "aahh," say, "aahh" in return; when she says, "goo," nod and say, "goo" back. Then try stretching out the words and adding to them ("ooh" becomes "ooooh-wah!").

Developmental skills: Listening; language and social development.

9 to 12 Months

PLAY A GAME: Peekaboo!
Peekaboo is a classic favorite with babies: First Mommy's there, then Mommy's gone, and then she's back again. Sometime around 6 or 7 months, babies start to understand that objects continue to exist even if they can't see them. Use your hands or hold a blanket or towel infront of your face, whisk it away and call, "Peekaboo!"

Developmental skills: Object permanence; social development.

12 to 18 Months

PLAY A GAME: Bubbles for Baby
Watching bubbles float through the air helps your baby practice her visual skills. Trying to swat at them is excellent practice for budding eye-hand coordination. Aiming large bubbles at a blanket or carpet gives older babies a chance to catch them. Bubbles billowing outside are especially enchanting.

Developmental skills: Cause-and-effect; eye-hand coordination; visual development.

18 to 24 Months

PLAY A GAME: I'm Gonna Get You!
Babies love to be chased and surprised. Start crawling or running after your baby, saying, "I'm gonna get you!" Then gently grab him and say, "Igot you!" Lift him up in the air, kiss his neck and tickle his ribs, but keep it gentle. A good game of chase will keep him on his toes as a toddler and evolve into classic big-kids games such as hide-and-seek and tag.

Developmental skills: Gross-motor skills; social development; balance; trust.

Things Every Pregnant Mamma Must Do Before Giving Birth

So take some time out before then to be selfish and indulge yourself.

Pregnant Mamma Bucket List Item #1: Have A Girly Night

Whether you head out for an evening of mocktails, or hide indoors in front of a good film, invite all of your besties over for some quality time. A few hours of laughing with friends could be all you need to feel revitalised. The great thing about best friends is that they always know exactly what you need – whether you need hilarious date disaster stories, or a shoulder to cry on, they’ll know just how to help.

Pregnant Mamma Bucket List Item #2: Paint Your Toe Nails

Or, more likely, ask someone to paint them for you. You may not even be sure you have toes anymore, since it’s been so long since you last saw them. Rest assured though, they are still there – and very much in need of painting. Treat yourself to a pedicure at your favourite salon, or ask a friend to paint your nails for you.

Pregnant Mamma Bucket List Item #3: Have A Massage

Pregnancy isn’t easy on the body, and you may find yourself suffering from aches and pains as you enter the final trimester. A prenatal massage can help – a qualified masseuse will be able to ease your aches and pains, relieve tension in your muscles, and help you to feel relaxed. If budget is an issue, organise a do-it-yourself massage at home. Invest in some massage oil (coconut oil is a great option) and a massage ball, and ask your designated masseuse to spend a few minutes watching how to videos online. Turn out the lights, play some calming music and enjoy a lengthy massage in the comfort of your own home.

Pregnant Mamma Bucket List Item #4: Get Away

Pack a bag, grab your partner and whisk him off into the sunset to grab some much-needed couple time before the baby arrives. Once you become a family of three, your time alone with your partner will be limited. Nights away will need months of forward planning, dedicated babysitters, and plenty of location restrictions based on distance away from the baby. Make the most of your last months of freedom (just kidding, you’ll still have freedom – you get a second chance at it in about 18 years) and disappear to wherever takes your fancy. If you already have children, you might like to take them with you, or try and arrange friends or family to help out for a quick holiday away before the next family member arrives. Tight for cash? Give housesitting a try.

Pregnant Mamma Bucket List Item #5: Take Some Bump Shots

You may not love your bump now, but one day in the not too distant future, you won’t quite be able to believe just how big you got. Make sure you have some photographs of you and your bump before it disappears. You can take the photos yourself, ask a friend to do it, or even hire a professional photographer to capture some frame-worthy shots. A belly cast is another great alternative to remembering your bump, which you can have professionally painted if you wish!

Pregnant Mamma Bucket List Item #6: Go To The Cinema

This may not sound overly exciting, but there will come a time when you yearn for a simple trip to your local cinema. One day, as you sit in front of the television showing nothing but repeats, covered in baby sick, baby snot and the everyday grime that accompanies motherhood, you will wish you could waltz out of the door to the cinema. Lash out and have a Gold Class (upgraded) session if you can afford it – you can put your feet up and enjoy the movie in total comfort!

Pregnant Mamma Bucket List Item #7: Visit Your Favourite Restaurant

Go on, you deserve it. Pregnancy is tough – even the most plain sailing pregnancy has its fair shares of grumbles, so give yourself a much needed treat. Make the most of your last few weeks as a family of two (or more!), and head out of the door without having to organise a babysitter or changing bag, and enjoy a delicious feast at your favourite eatery.

Pregnant Mamma Bucket List Item #8: Read A Book

Run yourself a nice, warm bubble bath, choose a book off your to-read pile, and let your fingers and toes get wrinkly. You may imagine yourself having plenty of time to read whilst on maternity leave, but while you may manage the odd book, you probably won’t be spending many hours leafing through novels under shady trees. You may even find that the only books you manage to read during maternity leave, are baby books. So make the most of these final few months of pregnancy by reading some good books cover to cover.

Pregnant Mamma Bucket List Item #9: Catch Up With Friends

Pregnancy is the perfect time to catch up with old friends. Make plans to meet up with old friends, and spend time on the phone chatting to long distance friends. It can be that little bit harder to keep in touch when the baby arrives, simply because you’ll be so busy, so spend time catching up with everyone during pregnancy.

Pregnant Mamma Bucket List Item #10: Write About It

Pregnancy is such a wonderful time, as you approach the unknowns of motherhood, you may find yourself spending time reflecting on your feelings. Take this opportunity to write down your thoughts and feelings as the birth approaches. If you are planning to keep a baby book detailing the first year of your baby’s life, this would make a great first entry.

Pregnant Mamma Bucket List Item #11: Have A Blessingway

You may or may not have had a baby shower, but a blessingway is all about getting your favourite women together and making it all about the mother-to-be. There’s no gift giving (although you could definitely class everyone’s presence and support as a gift) but instead, its all about preparing you emotionally and spiritually for birth. They are absolutely amazing and leave you overflowing with love and laughter.

Know more...

Let's Talk About Breastfeeding

How long do you think you should talk to your prenatal doctor about breastfeeding? While you may not have a specific amount of time in mind, if the duration 39 seconds sounds a bit short, it is. But a new study published in Gynecology found just that: Researchers recorded conversations from people’s first prenatal visits, and found that doctors spent an average of 39 seconds talking to women about breastfeeding.

Even more concerning: They found that doctors initiated breastfeeding discussions only 29 percent of the time. And even then, they sounded ambivalent about the topic.

“They usually asked a brief question, like ‘breast or bottle?," just to make a note of it,’” says obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences “But it’s important to discuss the benefits—and challenges—of breastfeeding early on so that women have the tools they need to prepare.” After all, you may encounter breastfeeding problems, so it’s important to know how you’ll address them ahead of time, and why it’s worth overcoming them in the first place.

If your doctor hasn’t discussed breastfeeding with you yet—speak up! Ask her about the breastfeeding benefits for mom and baby, and what you should know about lactation consultants, nutrition, alcohol, medication, and any existing health issues in relation to breastfeeding.

Symptoms and Signs of Breat Cancer

Every person should know the symptoms and signs of breast cancer, and any time an abnormality is discovered, it should be investigated by a

healthcare

professional.   Most people who have breast cancer symptoms and signs will initially notice only one or two, and the presence of these symptoms and signs do not automatically mean that you have breast cancer.
By performing monthly breast self-exams, you will be able to more easily identify any changes in your breast.  Be sure to talk to your healthcare professional if you notice anything unusual.

A change in how the breast or nipple feels

• Nipple tenderness or a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area
• A change in the skin texture or an enlargement of pores in the skin of the breast  (some describe this as similar to an orange peel’s texture)
• A lump in the breast (It’s important to remember that all lumps should be investigated by a healthcare professional, but not all lumps are cancerous.)

A change in the breast or nipple appearance

• Any unexplained change in the size or shape of the breast
• Dimpling anywhere on the breast
• Unexplained swelling of the breast (especially if on one side only)
• Unexplained shrinkage of the breast (especially if on one side only)
• Recent asymmetry of the breasts (Although it is common for women to have one breast that is slightly larger than the other, if the onset of asymmetry is recent, it should be checked.)
• Nipple that is turned slightly inward or inverted
• Skin of the breast, areola, or nipple that becomes scaly, red, or swollen or may have ridges or pitting resembling the skin of an orange

Any nipple discharge—particularly clear discharge or bloody discharge

It is also important to note that a milky discharge that is present when a woman is not breastfeeding should be checked by her doctor, although it is not linked with breast cancer.

Scrotal heating and sedentary position

Testicular descent into the scrotum normally occurs by birth in boys and failure of testicular descent, especially when this extends into puberty and adulthood, results in absence of spermatogenesis. The testes descend into the scrotum in order that their temperature can be kept 3–4°C below core body temperature, as maintenance at normal body temperature is incompatible with spermatogenesis. It is probably also important that the testes are descended into the bottom of the scrotum rather than being placed at the top where their proximity to the body surface is likely to impair cooling of the testis. This is mentioned because it is reckoned that failure of the testes to descend into the bottom of the scrotum should probably be classified as a form of cryptorchidism . As well as testis position, the two other key elements in ensuring cooling of the testis are the presence of a vascular-rich corrugated scrotal surface via which heat loss can occur and the presence of an arterio-venous plexus (the pampiniform plexus) in the spermatic cord and which functions as a heat exchanger to cool incoming blood to the testis by heat exchange with the cooler venous blood that is exiting the testis . Normal functioning of this plexus is important for maintaining testicular coolness, and it is potentially susceptible to disruption by chemicals or by vascular-active drugs disorders such as varicocele in which the veins in the plexus are varicosed . However, even if the pampiniform plexus is functioning normally, it cannot cool the incoming arterial blood to the testis unless the blood leaving the testis is already itself cool, and this requires heat loss via the scrotal surface and its transmission to the underlying testes. Therefore, anything that impedes scrotal heat loss will affect testicular temperature and in turn any elevation of testicular temperature will have a harmful effect on spermatogenesis. In general, the more prolonged is the elevation in testicular temperature, then the greater will be the detrimental effect on spermatogenesis 

 

The most obvious things that can affect scrotal heat loss are a febrile illness such as influenza, exposure to an exogenous heat source, such as occupationally (bakers, welders, foundry workers) or via taking a hot bath . Based on experimental studies in laboratory animals, a 30 min soak in a moderately hot bath (40–42°C) impairs spermatogenesis  and, more importantly, it can induce germ cell apoptosis, DNA damage to the sperm and impair embryo development and fertility when ‘affected’ males are mated with normal females (Paul et al. 2008a,b). Follow-up studies have provided insight into the mechanisms involved (Paul et al. 2009). These have shown that heat exposure causes hypoxia and oxidative stress responses in the germ cells, manifest as increased expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1α, haem oxygenase 1, glutathione peroxidase 1 and glutathione-S-transferase-α, which push the germ cells towards apoptosis (Paul et al. 2009). Perhaps of more concern is if mild oxidative DNA damage is induced such that the germ cells continue their development into sperm, as this is associated with increased time for such sperm to initiate a pregnancy in humans (Loft et al. 2003). The adverse effects of scrotal heating on spermatogenesis and fertility are equally evident in non-human primates (Lue et al. 2002). Exposure to heat in other situations, such as in a hot shower, would have minimal effect as the scrotum is still able to thermo-regulate (it is not immersed in water) and a similar situation applies to saunas, although spending a long time in very hot saunas is detrimental.

 

Arguably of more concern are lifestyle and occupational factors that cause men to spend a long time in a sedentary position, something that has become common for many men working in Western countries today (figure 2). When seated, air does not circulate so easily around the scrotum and therefore there is less-efficient cooling, an effect likely to be exacerbated if wearing tight underpants or trousers. In studies of men in whom scrotal temperature was measured continuously in relation to position and activity, scrotal temperature increased progressively with duration of sedentation, and this was associated with lower sperm counts (Hjollund et al. 2000, 2002a,b). Studies in lorry and taxi drivers, who spend a long time seated, have also produced evidence for detrimental effects on semen quality (Figa-Talamanca et al. 1996; Bujan et al. 2000). However, overall, the relationship between time spent seated and poor semen quality is not suggestive of a major impact on fertility (Hjollund et al. 2000, 2002b;Stoy et al. 2004). Other studies have investigated the impact of wearing tight versus loose underwear and reached similar conclusions (Mieusset & Bujan 1995b). The most recent scenario investigated has been the impact on scrotal temperature of using a laptop computer (Sheynkin et al. 2005). It is perhaps more likely that scrotal heating may combine with or exacerbate adverse effects of other environmental/lifestyle factors and that only then will there be a significant impact on fertility (Lue et al. 2000).

 

Scrotal heating has been investigated as a potential contraceptive method in men and shown to be effective (Mieusset & Bujan 1995a). However, other studies that have tried to link more modest elevations in scrotal temperature (such as those associated with sedentary position) to infertility have not shown major or consistent associations, as outlined above. Nevertheless, it is common sense that any factor that impedes normal cooling of the scrotum/testes can only have an adverse effect on spermatogenesis, and it is therefore prudent to advise all men who are attempting to father a pregnancy, especially if they are known to have low sperm counts or low sperm motility, to take steps to minimize scrotal heating by any of the pathways mentioned above—where this has been done in a controlled way, the results have been positive (Jung et al. 2001). Such small lifestyle changes can only have a beneficial effect on spermatogenesis.

New Method to Detect Genetic defects in Egg cells could Double Success Rate of IVF

Infertility affects up to 15 percent of couples around the world, and in virto fertilization (IVF) is one way to treat this common condition. A study published by cell press December 19^th in the journal cell reveals a safe, accurate, and low-cost thereby increase a couple’s chance of producing a healthy child.

Through whole-genome sequencing of individual egg cells, the new method detects chromosomal abnormalities and DNA sequence variations associated with genetic disorders. “In the way, we kill two birds with one stone: one setoff deep sequencing analysis to avid two types of genetic problem,” says study author Jie Qiao of Third Hospital, Peking University. “Theoretically, if this works perfectly, we will be able to double the success rate of test tube baby technology from 30 percent to 60 percent or even more.”

The IVF procedure involves joining a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm in a laboratory dish and then transferring embryos into the woman’s womb. Various procedures are currently available to detect genetic defects in embryos prior to implantation, but these approaches are often invasive, requiring the removal of cells from the growing embryo,  and do not simultaneously detect both chromosomal abnormalities and DNA sequence  variations associated with genetic disorders.

Researchers have recently developed whole-genome sequencing methods too simultaneously detect both types of defects in single human sperm cells, but until now, an analogous approach had not been applied to egg cells even though chromosomal abnormalities are much more common in egg cells than in sperm cells.

In the new study, Sunney Xie of Peking University and Harvard University teamed up with Qiao and Fuchou Tang of Peking University to develop a method for sequencing the entire genomes of polar bodies – cells that arise as a byproduct of egg cell division and often die later on.

Because polar bodies are dispensable for human embryonic development, they can be safety removed without harming the embryo. “We are now starting a clinical trial based on this approach,” Xie says.  “If the clinical trial works, this technique could enormously increase the success rate of IVF, especially for older women or women who have had recurrent  miscarriages.”

First of all, I will take a big breath and be happy that I have made it to 30 weeks. Yeah!

I can’t believe I’ve already been here in Genesis for two weeks, they are the biggest savior of my life and obviously friends Nidhi and Shruti, and husband Sandeep. I just can’t express enough gratitude for Genesis and their care. Visits from my loved ones, their texts, e-mails, calls, and bouquets, I would like to thank them for keeping me sane and not letting me psyched.

My immediate goal is to stay pregnant until Sandeep is back in town, although my mum is here, but I wish he should look me at my full bloom phase. Genesis has given me the confidence and I believe everything will be fine. I am taking good care of myself.

This picture of mine, Sandeep says: “What a Show”
Honestly, this phase is the most phenomenal experience a woman can have. I would like to bless and Genesis for giving Sandeep, and me a chance to live again, for giving us hope to become parents.

• To be Mummy