Ask the Expert: Cow’s milk bad for babies under 1
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A baby’s stomach and intestines are still immature. Cow’s milk is difficult to digest and can irritate the gut causing loose motions, colic or blood in stools, severe constipation. It also does not provide the right nutrients or protection against infections; and lead to iron deficiency. Istock
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I recently had a baby. I faced some breastfeeding issue in the initial weeks and could not feed my baby. My mother-in-law gave him cow’s milk, saying Indian babies have been given cow’s milk for years. But my baby developed severe gastro problems. Please advise. — Shalini Sharma, Hisar
In the first 6 months, a baby’s stomach and intestines are still immature. Cow’s milk is difficult to digest and can irritate the gut causing loose motions, colic or even blood in stools or sometimes severe constipation. It also does not provide the right nutrients or protection against infections; it can also lead to iron deficiency. Hence the national and international feeding guidelines do not recommend its use in less than age of 1 year. If a mother cannot breastfeed, age-appropriate infant formula is the safest alternative.
— Dr Ashish Agarwal, Paediatrician, Cloudnine Hospital, Panchkula
I am 38 and suffering from lower back pain since last year. Sometimes pain gets severe and I am unable to walk straight. My lower back muscles are very stiff. Please suggest some remedy and exercises. — Avtar Singh Ghalib, Ludhiana
Chronic lower back pain is usually mechanical. Stay active, avoid bed rest, maintain an erect posture, avoid sitting or standing for long hours. Use heat fermentation 4-5 times a day (10 mt each session). Tablet Thiocolchiside 2/4 mg three times a day with meals can be taken for 3-5 days. Once pain is better, start core-strengthening and mobility exercises: McKenzie extensions, pelvic tilts, cat-camel, bird-dog stretches, glute bridges, and hamstring stretches. PLEASE NOTE: Seek medical review urgently if leg weakness, numbness, weight loss, or bladder/bowel symptoms occur.
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— Dr Anubhav Sharma, Orthopedician, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana
My mother (90) is suffering from osteoarthritis with chronic body pain, mild ankle swelling and progressive joint deformity. After knee surgery in 2018, she has been taking Ayurvedic tablet Orthogrit and supplement Spirulina for two years. Recent tests show stable findings. Kindly advise on safe pain management options with minimum side-effects. — Vijay Katyal, Panchkula
Use paracetamol-650 (twice or thrice a day), Diclofenac gel for local application, tablet Polmocoxib (2mg) tablet twice a day can be added if pain doesn’t get better. Use walking aids and heat therapy 3-4 times a day around the joints. Give her compression stockings below knee level for sitting and walking, this will help with the ankle swelling.
— Dr Anubhav Sharma, Orthopedician, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana
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