An ultrasound scan is done with the help of a sonar device that reveals objects in fluid (amniotic fluid in pregnancy) by using high frequency sound waves, inaudible to the human ear. An ultrasound scan is a non-invasive, painless procedure and usually lasts for about 15 minutes. You will probably be asked to drink few glasses of water and not …

The debate about nature versus nurture in shaping specific traits of human personality, is an old and gripping one – which behavioural aspects are influenced by genes, which ones by upbringing? What one never hears in this debate is the possibility that there might be a third alternative: the role humans play in controlling their destiny. Recent studies by psychologists …

Feeling kicked that your 20-day-old daughter smiled at you? Actually she did not. Her cheek muscles just happened to move for no reason and you happened to be in her line of vision. Don’t be disappointed, it will be this way till your daughter learns to control her movements. In the first two months of her life, her movements will …

Children growing in self-esteem manifest many changes: they look more grown-up, more in control of themselves, more poised and self-confident. Generally, they seem more outgoing, even walk straighter with their heads up instead of looking at the floor. Relationships with peers often improve markedly, and so does their school work. Telling children the signs of growth you deserve in them …

Dear Papa, I am on my way to camping on the mountains. Remember our wild trips there, every two months? Well, I have inherited your tastes in traveling, if nothing else. We have come a long way, Papa. Through my childhood, I remember, all I did was resist and all you did was preach. And however much I tried, you …

The most likely reason for milk drying up is the inhibition of the ejection reflex (the mechanism by which milk is ejected from the breast). This reduces the production of milk and gradually stops it completely. Often, the drying up has psychological reasons behind it – when people ask the mother whether her milk has dried up or is drying …

Most minor mishaps do not require any medical attention at all. The human body has its own way of dealing with them. In fact, often, administration of first aid by an over-enthusiastic elder can hamper the natural process of healing. For example, antiseptic creams often delay wound-healing while doing little to prevent unlikely infection. Sticking plaster can keep a cut …

It sometimes seems amazing how infants pick up the threads of human language. Do you wonder how infants form their own patterns of speech? According to a report in the Hindu newspaper, babies have an innate ability to track the patterns with which sounds or syllables appear together in adult speech. The report, which is based on a study by …

One of the first steps in encouraging healthy self-esteem in children is to establish good relationship with them. Persons in relationship are ultimately what the world is all about. Relationships which are mutually loving and caring, honest and supportive create an atmosphere for healthy human growth. This chapter’s eight principles for nurturing self-esteem in children focus on building such relationships. …

The most likely reason for milk drying up is the inhibition of the ejection reflex (the mechanism by which milk is ejected from the breast). This reduces the production of milk and gradually stops it completely. Often, the drying up has psychological reasons behind it when people ask the mother whether her milk has dried up or is drying up. …