2. Health & Civil Society
HEALTH: “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-
being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” –
WHO (Disease maintenance with drug dependence is not
health)
Civil society should play watchdog and mediation role. Ensure
real health is achieved. Audit all interventions for safety &
effectiveness. Ensure public satisfaction. Protect public from
vested interests.
Public not aware of all facets of medicine. Procedures are
carried out without informing public about pros and cons. Civil
society must ensure informed consent and transparency
Reduction in health expenditure, promotion of non medical
interventions, promoting healthy habits and lifestyles is
important. Health is responsibility of an aware and informed
individual who is empowered with knowledge to achieve it
Advocacy of increased state investment in clean water,
sanitation, nutrition, hygiene, housing and poverty eradication
is the role of civil society
In case of deficiency in delivery, civil society should ensure
justice and compensation
3. Ensuring Child Health
Civil society should ensure that morbidity and not
mortality alone should be the indicator of child health
Civil society must ensure the return of common sense
measures in achieving child health
Civil society must keep itself abreast of latest
scientific findings in the field of child health
Children are the future of our society. They have a
right to good health. This should not be confused
with access to drugs and other procedures. All that
glitters may not be gold
Benefits of natural child birth, home birth, delayed
cord clamping, delaying washing, early and prolonged
breastfeeding (up to and beyond 2 years) , are what
medical scientists are increasingly recommending
4. Vital QuestionsRole of civil society is to question established mass procedures
particularly as children are falling prey to serious chronic
disorders in frightening numbers
Can unhealthy mothers deliver healthy children?
Interventions during pregnancy, which methods or system to
adopt?
What procedures are to be questioned? Have we enough
knowledge about mass procedures?
What can be the role of AYUSH during pregnancy, childbirth,
infancy and childhood?
Contraceptive pills, repeated abortions, under nourished and
malnourished mothers, poverty, unnecessary caesarians. Are
they obstacles to a healthy childhood?
Can we compromise on the subject of child health?
Do childhood illnesses have a role in long term health of a
child?
Are we doing enough to protect infants and children from
toxicity?
Do we have enough knowledge about common childhood
interventions being recommended in increasing numbers?
5. Contraceptive Pill, Repeated Abortions &
Future Pregnancy"The one reason for coming off the Pill, at least three months before
trying to conceive is that it can cause you to become deficient in a
number of important nutrients including magnesium, vitamins
B1, B2, B6, vitamin E, folic acid (crucial in preventing spina
bifida) and zinc (the most important nutrient for fertility).“ – Dr
Marilyn Glenville, UK’s leading nutritionist
The powerful hormones could upset the reproductive system for
months - or even years - after women stop taking it. Women who have
used the Pill are twice as likely to have problems conceiving later. The
powerful hormones could upset the reproductive system for months -
or even years - after women stop taking it. - Study, led by
gynaecologist Stephen Killick at Hull Royal Infirmary, UK on more
than 2,200 women, Jan 2004
Repeated abortions can make future pregnancies problematic –
study. Women who had three or more were up to three times more
likely to have a future baby early – even before 28 weeks in the womb
– and of a poor weight. Those who had two abortions before their first
child also had a greater chance of giving birth prematurely. Babies
who are born early, particularly by three months or more, and with a
low weight often need special hospital care to ensure their survival. -
Dr Reija Klemetti, of the National Institute for Health and Welfare in
Helsinki, Journal, Human Reproduction, Aug 2012
6. Benefits of Natural Childbirth
Vaginal birth exposes child to mother’s microbiome.
In mouse study published in Journal of Immunology,
2014. This can prevents autoimmune diseases such as
type 1 diabetes, Chrohn's disease and allergy, says
study
Children who came into the world by Cesarean
section are more often affected by allergies than those
born in the natural way. The reason for this may be
that they have a less diverse gut microbiota, according
to a new study. - Scientific journal Gut, with Anders
Andersson of the KTH Royal Institute of Technology
and Science for Life Laboratory as the senior author.
7. The Basics of Pregnancy Diet
Natural diet to be preferred over supplements
A whole foods selection is the basis of a good pregnancy diet.
Protein forms the building blocks of your baby and is a solid
foundation to build a pregnancy diet on. Meats and beans
(legumes) are excellent sources of protein. Milk and eggs are
packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.
Organ meats every week (especially liver and shellfish) are very
beneficial to you and your baby and contain lots of good
proteins, fats, iron, and other nutrients.
Milk, cheese, yogurt, kefir – these are all nourishing to you and
your baby. Look for a source of clean raw milk. It should come
from clean, happy cows living on grass. Raw milk is nourishing
and wonderful – just like raw human breastmilk.
Fats are good for you – traditional fats. Use olive oil, coconut
oil, and palm oil. Use butter. Eat your veggies with butter. Cod
liver oil has been shown beneficial (and safe) during pregnancy
and lactation. It is fat that builds your baby’s brain.Going low-
fat deprives your child nourishment he or she vitally needs
for brain development.
8. Benefits of delayed cord clamping
“There is now considerable evidence that early cord
clamping does not benefit mothers or babies and may
even be harmful." - Dr Andrew Weeks, Senior lecturer
in obstetrics , School of Reproductive and
Developmental Medicine at the University of
Liverpool. BMJ, 2007
He also cites research which shows that at the time of
the first breath, blood is drawn into the lungs from
the umbilical vein which can have benefits for iron
status and haemoglobin levels in the newborn baby,
and the author states that this has impact on the risk
of anaemia.
9. Benefits of delayed washing
Thorough drying, direct skin-to-skin contact immediately
upon delivery and covering with a blanket and bonnet
(prior to cord clamping) mitigate this threat (of
hypothermia) (9,10).
Drying also stimulates breathing. Sustained skin-to-skin
contact also initiates colonization of the newborn with
maternal flora (as opposed to hospital flora) and facilitates
olfactory learning, successful intake of colostrum and
sustained breastfeeding (11,12).
Bathing not only exposes newborns to hypothermia, but
also removes maternal bacteria and the vernix caseosa (a
potent inhibitor of Escherichia coli) (13), and eliminates
the crawling reflex (14).
Acta Paediatr. 2011 Aug; 100(8): 1127–1133.
“Immediate newborn care practices delay
thermoregulation and breastfeeding initiation”
10. Benefits of early and extended
breastfeeding
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially
recommends mothers breastfeed until three years of
age. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends mothers should breastfeed "at least until
one year of age and then as long as baby and mother
mutually want to.“
Extended breastfeeding reduces the risk of uterine,
ovarian and breast cancers. Breastfeeding women also
have a lower incidence of osteoporosis later in life. –
Dr William Sears
Early breastfeeding ensures vital colostrum (first
yellow breast milk) for the infants immune system.
Ceasarians may prevent early breastfeeding.
