Healthier mothers and babies is what everyone wants

When me and my sister where babies ,we grew up in daycare .Both of our parents worked and there was nobody to take care at home.

Mommy stay with me:Maternal seperation and baby health

Back then government didn't give mother's childcare leave.

Looking back ,my memories say growing up days were fun. No really horrible memories.Back then we missed our mom, but there was nothing she could do.We needed the money.

Fast forward to today.I am luckier.I didn't have a full time job when my baby was born.And now my work has flexible timing and a better government policy of childcare, supporting it.

But even then I worry .When I have to take leave suddenly due to baby issues.It always sounds like an excuse.But all moms know, the most difficult thing in this world is to walk away from teary eyed little ones.

But the question is no longer just the babies immediate health.Your decision will change a little person's life.

Baby's health and mothers health are important parameters of health standards and improvement.

Government has expensive projects in place to make healthier mothers and babies.

But still we are haunted by the increasing number of mental and physical lifestyle diseases.

A few things are different for different socio economic classes.

India's uncontrolled population explosion ,lack of strict birth control makes good healthcare facilities ,adequate nutrition, difficult for the large majority below the poverty level.Their problem has no solution ,till the people in charge understand that limited resources , and unlimited babies make for impossible situations.They make gullible votebanks ,but unproductive citizens

In a country where survival of babies is often the primary question,few have time to worry about their future physical and mental health.

But if you want a better tomorrow for your baby you may need to plan your today well.

What research says?

Healthy mothers have healthy babies.What you think too can affect your baby
Mothers nutrition and child's nutrition both are important.Nutrition has a large role .Both undernutrition and over nutrition will cause malnutrition.There's malnutrition of obesity to watch out for.
Stress levels during pregnancy can alter the stress response in the unborn child.
Childhood stresses can cause lifetime harm ,both psychologically and physically.

Your physical and mental health has a lot to do with your childhood.

Yes you already know this.

But did you know most of your adult diseases ,can be traced back to childhood?

Mother's will sigh in exasperation. What else are we suppose to take care of?

Just blaming childhood stresses ,is but oversimplification.

The various researches show a 2 'HIT'(3) theory.

1st hit is a stressors in childhood .This cause changes at the cellular level and in your brain wiring.Your adaptation is good ,average or poor,

Presence or absence of a similarly potent stressor later .A cascade of neurochemical,neurohormonal, over -reaction.Because your brain is already sensitized you go into protective mode.

Result:

Metabolic diseases and mental health problems.

That's scary ,but I am hopeful

Because this is good research .

Why You ask?

Someone is finally talking about it.Maybe things will change

Government of Italy has declared 22nd September "Fertility Day".They want to encourage women to have children.They have a declining childbirth rate ,and an economic slump.But the Government gives inadequate support to working mothers and most private companies don't have flexibility for working moms.

The research findings can help .A lot.

To help moms stand up for "work from home" policy.
To take jobs with flexible work hours.
To not have to explain why they want to be with their babies and compromise the career ladder.
For child right biggies to keep in mind ,for future recommendations and actions.
For corporations to take Corporate social responsibility to another level

Plus you are at risk, only if you face another episode of high chronic stress.So actively try to decrease stress
Teach children to cope positively with it.

Another good news is, since you know this ,you can have lifestyle habits in place to deal with it.

Yes you can beat the childhood

scars by practicing healthy lifestyle .

There's a lot of science backing this up.Many studies has been done including one at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai .

What can this stress triggers do?

Obesity(2)
Diabetes
Hypertension
Metabolic dysfunction(3)
Hyperlipidemia
Muscle wasting disease
Depression

How does this happen?

Sress in early childhood causes change in muscle mitochondria.

(Mitochondria are the cellular organelles which help you generate ATP as energy currency for your body.)

Hypothalamic pituitary axis which controls stress has an altered response (3).

Stressors removed .Normal growth pattern.

Re-exposure to similar stressors later in life:Metabolic dysfunction ,physiological and emotional distress.

What are the early life stressors that can cause this?

Prenatal postnatal early childhood ,adolescent period are all susceptible.

Stressors may be:

Nutritional
Emotional
Physical
Sexual.

They may present as:

Starvation during famine and war

Maternal separation
Childhood neglect
Adverse parenting
Childhood physical or sexual abuse
Medical trauma

These stressors can alter the stress adaptation responses.

They are major risk factors for developing metabolic disorders (1)

With improved environment children can adapt themselves to these stressors .Growing up,they will be externally normal.But since these cellular changes have happened ,if exposed to chronic stress in later life ,metabolic and psychological problems can be precipitated .

Why does this happen?

Childhood stress reprograms your HPA axis (3)and your brain in general .

Some people adapt well due to good environment follow primary stress exposure.

But others may have maladaptive responses.This can cause inappropriately high levels of cortisol in your blood during exposure to chronic stress as adults.

The pancreatic B cells may be lower in number following childhood stress adaptation.

What this means ?

If you face high level of chronic stress later in life your brain and hormones can over react.

Putting you at risk of obesity diabetes, hypertension and depression-anxiety disorders.(4)

Maternal separation during early life disturbs neuroendocrine, neurochemicals and behavioral changes in adults.

Maternal seperation can be variable .From 40 minutes to 8 hours.Which period will be traumatic for the child is difficult to predict.

Abuse in childhood and adolescence ,can cause type 2 diabetes,food addiction and significantly heavier adult women(6).

What can you do to protect yourself & your child?

Don't worry during pregnancy.

Related

5 Tests you should do when you are planning a baby.

Alcohol and pregnancy what you should know

Always work actively to lower your stress levels.

Teach children coping skills through play.

Exercise:Low levels of physical activity is seen to increase and precipitate theses metabolic problems.A good physical exercise schedule protects against development of these metabolic disorders.

Avoid high calorie diet .Swinging insulin levels can make you prone to 2 Diabetes ,obesity,depression,anxiety and a host of other problems.

Practice mental health exercises.

All moms deserve to spend time with their babies.All babies need their mothers.

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But to make this possible, we need the help of society ,government and the corporate sector.

Everyone has a mother and you are what you are because your mom cared .

What do you think we should do to change the situation?

Are you a mom struggling with work-biz-home?Share your story with me in the comments below.

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References:

1)Chrousos GP. Stress and disorders of the stress system. Nat Rev Endocrinol (2009) 5:374–8110.1038/nrendo.2009.106

2) Stress and obesity/metabolic syndrome in childhood and adolescence.

Int J Pediatr Obes. 2011 Sep;6 Suppl 1:21-8. doi: 10.3109/17477166.2011.615996.Pervanidou P¹, Chrousos GP.

3)Early-Life Stress, HPA Axis Adaptation, and Mechanisms Contributing to Later Health Outcomes.Jayanthi Maniam, Christopher Antoniadis, and Margaret J. Morris

4)Nemet D, Dolfin T, Litmanowitz I, Shainkin-Kestenbaum R, Lis M, Eliakim A.Evidence for exercise-induced bone formation in premature infants. Int J Sports Med (2002) 23:82–510.1055/s-2002-20134

5)Franks PW, Ekelund U, Brage S, Wong MY, Wareham NJ. Does the association of habitual physical activity with the metabolic syndrome differ by level of cardiorespiratory fitness? Diabetes Care(2004) 27:1187–9310.2337/diacare.27.5.1187

6)Mason SM, Flint AJ, Field AE, Austin SB, Rich-Edwards JW. Abuse victimization in childhood or adolescence and risk of food addiction in adult women. Obesity (Silver Spring) (2013) 21:E775–8110.1002/oby.20500

7)Mela V, Llorente-Berzal A, Diaz F, Argente J, Viveros MP, Chowen JA.Maternal deprivation exacerbates the response to a high fat diet in a sexually dimorphic manner. PLoS One (2012)7(11):e48915.10.1371/journal.pone.0048915

8)Masuzaki H, Flier JS. Tissue-specific glucocorticoid reactivating enzyme, 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11 beta-HSD1) – a promising drug target for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.Curr Drug Targets Immune Endocr Metabol Disord (2003) 3:255–6210.2174/1568008033340135

9)Mindfulness meditation

10)Chronic stress:32 simple solutions