folic acid n pregnancy

Every pregnant woman will be prescribed folic acid at least during their first trimester by their obgyn.

Why is this folic acid so important?

Folic acid is a group of vitamin B..B9 if i am not mistaken.Folic acid plays a big role in structuring DNA,thus very important in the cell developement as well as the tissue formation.Thus it is very important that woman who tried to get pregnant to take their folic acid,as it play such big role during the foetus early growth.In sufficient folic acid during early pregnancy could lead to neural tube defect in the embrio. ( more about this later ).This defect usually occurs in the first 28 days of pregnancy,even before a woman knows she is pregnant!It is important that women trying to get pregnant to consume folic acid at least 1 month before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy.Women who can get pregnant also adviced to take folid acid daily.

How much should i take folic acid daily?

We should take at least 400 microgram daily,to have efficient effect.Folic acid could also be found in green leafy greens such as spinach,bread,pasta,and orang juice.

My story:

After we got married,we wanted to have baby straight away.I started to search information on how to conceive successfully.I began my folic acid intake during the 2nd month of marriage,while actively trying to have baby.At the end of 3rd month, we found out that we were pregnant with our first baby.Alhamdulillah.I continued my folic acid intake through 1st trimester until i was pregnant at 6 month, when my obgyn changed it to multivitamin pills.Alhamdulillah, despite of all the difficulties in my pregnancy,my baby was born just a month before our anniversary.I am not saying it was all because of folic acid,but i think it helps my baby to be strong in my womb.

Can I take paracetamol n ibuprofen together?

I searched this information on nhs website,because I was told to give both paracetamol(calpol) n ibuprofen to my baby for her fever. I must say that ibuprofen was reall effective on my baby.Gave her calpol for three days, but her temperature did not go down,but a dose of ibuprofen at the hospital…her temperature almost normal already!..but do consult your doctor before using it,ok. 

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are both used as painkillers (analgesics). They are also used to reduce temperature (fever).

Adults (16 or over)

You may wish to use both paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time to reduce pain and fever. There is no known harmful interaction between paracetamol and ibuprofen in people over the age of 16.

Paracetamol should always be the first choice as it has fewer side effects than ibuprofen. It is therefore better to take paracetamol first and then use ibuprofen 1-2 hours later, but only if the paracetamol has not worked in controlling your symptoms. If necessary, further doses can be taken at the same time, as long as you avoid overdosing on either medicine.

You should reconsider the need to take both paracetamol and ibuprofen on a daily basis because it’s best to avoid taking unnecessary medicines. If your symptoms persist, you should contact NHS Direct on               0845 4647       , or see your GP.

Babies and children

For children, either paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to treat mild to moderate pain and fever.

Paracetamol is available in tablet, liquid, and suppository form. Oral preparations are preferred and can be given every 4-6 hours. Ideally, the dose should be calculated according to the child’s weight, and you should never exceed the maximum dose. Ibuprofen has a longer dosing interval (6-8 hours) and is therefore useful for controlling fever throughout the night.

As with paracetamol, the dose of ibuprofen should ideally be calculated using the child’s weight, and you should not exceed the maximum dosage. You should read the packaging information carefully before administering any dose to children, and be sure to keep a regular check on the number of doses given in a 24 hour period.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are usually given to children by spoon feeding, or by using an oral syringe. They can also be dissolved in milk, or a fruit drink, but you should make sure that the child finishes the drink to ensure that they receive the correct dose.

You can use either paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat pain and fever in children, but you should not give them both at the same time. If your child does not respond to one medicine, try giving them the other, but never combine the two. If your child’s symptoms persist for more than 72 hours, you should visit your GP for advice

When your baby have cough

Information i got from calpol website when my baby got cough.I only copy n paste this.

A cough tends to be a symptom of another illness and can vary in severity depending on the cause.

Colds can lead to a cough if there is a lot of mucus running down the back of the throat. Slipping a pillow under the head of your baby’s mattress can help to stop it, at the same time making it easier for your little one to sleep.

If your baby has a temperature as well as a cough, it could be a sign of a chest infection. Your GP will be able to tell if it’s a bacterial infection and might prescribe antibiotics to clear it up.

• Help clear a chesty cough by laying your baby across your lap and patting their back gently.
• A warm drink at bedtime can soothe the throat, which could be getting sore with all that coughing.
• If your baby has a cough and is older than 3 months*, you can use a medicine such as CalCough Tickly to help soothe and relieve their tickly cough.
• Keep them out of smoky atmospheres, which are likely to irritate their nose and throat.
• Keep your baby warm but not too hot and keep their room at a comfortable temperature. This should help stop a cough moving down the chest which could lead to an infection.