The first days after childbirth, either vaginally or by C-section, there is considerable bleeding known as lochia (or discharge, grandmothers would say). “They resemble a very abundant period and they will change color as the days go by”, says Dr. Mercedes Álvarez Goris (Lucina Gynecologist), specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics
What are lochia or postpartum bleeding?
For many women, it is surprising, and even worrying, the amount of blood that can appear after having a baby. However, lochia is completely normal, it is the way in which your body recovers from pregnancy. In fact, the blood that comes out is the lining of the uterus.
When you were pregnant, your uterus was covered with blood and tissue, once you deliver your baby, the body eliminates lochia much like the menstrual cycle. On the first or second day, this bleeding can seem alarming, particularly because of the coagulated blood, “At first it is like a very abundant period and it changes color as the days go by, from red or brown, then yellow and white, until they disappear”, explains the gynecologist.
According to Dr. Álvarez, there are some tips that can help you identify if they are “abnormal”:
The lochia must not be fetid, they must not have an unpleasant odor. “They have a sui generis smell, like iron and blood, but they shouldn’t have a bad smell”.
The vaginal cavity should not feel hot.
There should be no a 38°C or higher fever.
The clots should not be very large (the size of a fist or an orange, for example).
Watch out for bleeding. The amount of lochia is more abundant than a period, but not so much more than you have to change the soaked sanitary pad in less than two hours. If you are changing the pad in less than two hours and you notice that the bleeding is extreme, you have to go to the emergency room immediately because it could be a postpartum hemorrhage”, explains the expert.
Lochia discharge varies greatly from woman to woman. “They usually last about 15 days and appear regardless of whether it was a C-section or vaginal delivery”, says Álvarez. Although there are women, especially if they had a multiple pregnancy, who may have these bleeding for longer.
Types of lochia
According to their color and approximate duration (remember that we are all different), they can be classified into the following:
Lochia rubra (dark red blood): It is the first bleeding after childbirth. It can flow continuously or by intervals. They last up to four days after you have the baby.
Lochia serosa (pinkish-brownish discharge): They become less intense. There is increased exudation and the secretion is more watery. It lasts between five and seven days.
Lochia alba (yellowish-white): The mucous secretion increases. It lasts about ten days.
Lochia is usually not painful, but frightening. Considering these data you should see a doctor. Even if you have large clots and are in doubt, don’t wait to measure it or see if it’s bigger than your fist, see your doctor, especially if you suddenly start bleeding heavily again, moreover if the blood is bright red.
Movies are an excellent educational resource for children, but it is also a great tool for transmitting values and explaining life situations. Beyond being pure entertainment, with your accompaniment, children may reflect upon diversity. These are 10 movies that will help you teach cultural diversity.
What is cultural diversity?
UNESCO defines cultural diversity as the multiplicity of ways in which societies manifest themselves. In simple terms for children, cultural diversity is about the different artistic expressions, languages, kinds of dressing, or traditions that allow us to identify individuals or social groups.
Cultural diversity is also the ancestral heritage that distinguishes us from other peoples, gives us identity, spiritual, symbolic, aesthetic and technological values. It also includes the goods that our ancestors have contributed to the history of humanity.
There are many films that in some way touch our cultural diversity and make us see the richness we have just because we are different.
1. Coco (Adrián Molina, Lee Unkrich, 2017)
Review: Miguel is a boy who dreams of being a musician; his family disagrees because his great-great-grandfather, a musician, abandoned them, and they want to force Miguel to be a shoemaker, like all the members of the family.
By accident, the boy enters the Land of the Dead. The problem is that he cannot leave this Land unless a deceased relative grants him a blessing. His great-great-grandmother refuses to let him return to the living if he does not promise that he will not be a musician.
Because of that, he runs away from her and looks for his great-great-grandfather.
Teaching: Coco extensively shows one of the most beautiful traditions in Mexico: The Day of the Dead. Through Miguel’s adventures, we discover a lot about our folklore and our music.
2. The Prince of Egypt (Simon Wells, Steve Hickner and Brenda Chapman, 1998)
Review: In order to save her young son from being killed by the pharaoh, a desperate mother throws her newborn son down a river. The Israeli child is found by the kings of Egypt, who give the child the name of Moses and raise him as the brother of the heir to the throne.
Years later, the Hebrew origin of Moses is discovered and the brothers walk away.
Teaching: This film shows us what the culture was like in the Pharaonic Egypt. It helps children understand what cultural diversity was like in the world, its customs, its organization, its daily life and even situations that should be unthinkable today, such as slavery.
The Prince of Egypt Photo: Netfix
3. Tarzan ( Kevin Lima, Chris Buck, 1999)
Review: Kala, a gorilla, finds an orphaned boy in the jungle and adopts him as her own son despite the opposition of Kerchak, the head of the pack. The young Tarzan grows up in the jungle developing animal instincts and learning to slide through the trees at great speed.
The young man lives like an animal until an expedition enters the jungle and he meets Jane, who makes him discover who he really is and the world he belongs to.
Teaching: This adaptation of the novel Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs encourages coexistence and multicultural respect. Differences do not matter, yet they can unite us. It is also an excellent opportunity to show what the English culture was like at the end of the 19th century: manners, long dresses and way of thinking.
Tarzan Photo: Disney
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4. Hairspray (Adam Shankman, 2007)
Review: Tracy Turnblad is a teenager obsessed with the Corny Collins Show, a dance show. Every day after school, she and her best friend, Penny, run home to watch the show. After one of the show stars leaves, Collins holds auditions to see who will be the next teen on the show.
Although her mother does not want her to go, Tracy auditions and is chosen, angering the evil prom queen Amber Von Tussle and her mother Velma. Tracy thinks it’s not fair that black kids can only dance on the show once a month, and with the help of Seaweed, Link, Penny, Motormouth Maybelle, her dad, and Edna seek to turn things around.
Teaching: This is a movie with a powerful anti-racist message, but it also helps us understand the value of self-esteem. It is a musical set in the 60s of the last century. In addition to the multicultural groups that exist in the United States, you can also address music and dresses with your children, which are very different from the ones we wear nowadays.
Hairspray Photo: New Line Cinema
5. Ice Age (2002, Chris Wedge y Carlos Saldanha)
Review: 20,000 years ago, Earth is a prehistoric place full of dangers, among them there was the beginning of the Ice Age. To avoid being frozen, the majestic creatures begin to migrate south.
So, a group of very different animals, including a grumpy mammoth and a sloth, must help a lost boy return to his clan.
Teaching: Animals of different species live a dangerous adventure together: to return a human baby to its parents. Between laughter and fun they teach us that it does not matter that they are not of the same species, they can live together in peace, and even be friends. It is also a great opportunity to talk with your little ones about the evolution of man and the ice ages.
Ice Age Photo: Disney
6. Lilo & Stitch (Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois, 2002)
Review: A lonely girl adopts a dog that turns out to be a mischievous alien hiding from intergalactic hunters.
Teaching: Who says a human girl can’t be friends with an alien? In addition to interracial acceptance, this film also explores Hawaiian culture and traditions. It is an endearing film that captures the visual beauty and spirit of the islands of Hawaii, and it also shows us the meaning of ohana:
“Ohana means family. Family means that no one is left behind, nor is anyone forgotten”.
Lilo & Stitch Foto: Disney
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7. Moana (Ron Clements, John Musker, 2016)
Review: Moana, a teenager from the South Pacific islands, crosses the ocean and explores the world to prove that she is as brave as the rest of her family. On her journey, she meets Maui, who in the past was a powerful demigod.
Teaching: Moana Waialiki is the first Disney princess from Polynesia. Moana has exceptional references to all kinds of myths and legends of the Polynesian culture, a system of almost a thousand islands in Oceania.
The Polynesian culture is one of the most recent recorded, so there are still many mysteries behind it and this film shows a bit of its mythology.
Moana Photo: Disney
8. Song of the Sea (Tomm Moore, 2014)
Review: Ben, Saoirse and her father live in a lighthouse on the top of a small island. To protect them from the dangers of the sea, her father sends them to live with her grandmother in the city.
There, Ben discovers that his little sister is a selkie, a sea fairy. With the help of her magical powers, Saoirse frees some captive fairies in the country.
Teaching: This film can be defined as a fabulous bedtime story, a tale that invites you to believe in magic. It shows the majesty of Celtic legends, a great opportunity to discover the magic of this culture and teach your children that there are a thousand ways to tell stories.
Song of the Sea Photo: Cartoon Saloon, Melusine Productions
9. Kubo and the Quest for the Samurai (Travis Knight, 2016)
Review: Kubo captivates the inhabitants of his town with his magical gift of telling stories through origami.
When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking revenge, Kubo is forced to go on an expedition to unravel the mystery of his fallen samurai father and his mystical collection of weapons, as well as discover his own magical powers.
Teaching: It is a beautiful and fun way to learn about Japanese culture. The story shows epic adventures set in Japan in the Edo period. In a small and quiet fishing village, magic is present in the hands of little Kubo and his wonderful origami stories that are brought to life with the sound of his shamisen, a string instrument.
If there is something special about this film, it is its faithfulness in capturing Japanese culture, from architecture to clothing. Without a doubt, a great excuse to teach your little ones about Japan.
Kubo and the Quest for the Samurai Photo: Laika, Focus Features
10. Hidden Figures (Theodore Melfi, 2017)
Review: The hitherto unknown story of three African-American women scientists who worked for NASA in the early 1960s, collaborating in the space operation that made the US win the game over the USSR in the Cold War. At the same time, these brilliant women fought for the civil rights of African Americans.
Teaching: It not only shows intercultural relationships, but also self-improvement and feminine power. An opportunity to talk to your children about discrimination. Imagine a world where skin color determines the school you go to, the chair you sit in, even your dreams.
Well, that world existed in the 19th century and throughout the first half of the 20th century, in that context being a scientist black woman seemed like an impossible formula.
Hidden Figures Photo: 20th Century Studios; Chernin Entertainment
Patience is a virtue, but it is not easy to develop.
It is linked to:
A mature, educated and humane personality.
Know how to listen, speak and be careful of each of the actions and decisions we make.
And to have a balanced mind to see things clearly and in the future.
It’s hard for all of us, but if you’re a mom, it’s definitely harder. How to be patient with children? Why do we lose it so often?
Patience with children
The act of being patient means to be perseverant in relation to something. In the case of raising our children, it is to be aware that it is a daily process, with many ups and downs.
Along with patience, other virtues such as peace, calm, tolerance and prudence are developed.
According to Alejandra Velasco, parenting expert, workshop facilitator and author of the book Ayuda, tengo hijos, for a person (especially a mother) to be patient with her children, it is essential that she has “fuel”, energy, that she is not at the limit in other life situations.
“How to be patient with children? To answer that question, I would first ask to that mother, ‘How do you feel?’ If you lose patience with your children, it is very likely that you are physically exhausted. If you had worked all day, and when you get home at night you still have to do homework with your children, logically, it would cost you much more work to be patient!”
“In these times women have acquired many more responsibilities. If you have little fuel, you are not sleeping well, you are full of activities… and now with the pandemic many moms are 24/7 with their children… How are you, mom? If you have problems with your partner, you lost your job, you have no money, or you depend economically on someone else, all of these burdens make you more desperate”, explains the expert.
For Velasco, the key to not losing patience is to be deliciously imperfect, that is, not trying to cover many activities and not wanting to control everything. We must do our best, but accept that we have limits.
“It happens that we want to be the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the perfect friend, the perfect daughter. That search is exhausting and counterproductive. I kindly tell you, that if you want to be perfect, everything will go wrong”.
Before wanting to be an A+ woman, mother and wife, with A+ children, give yourself permission to be imperfect: “What would you think if you start being a B- and work little by little? It is okay to want to improve, but if you demand too much of yourself, you submit your body to unnecessary stress and drag your family into that neurosis. After a while your neck hurts, you have an anxiety crisis. Better inhale peace, exhale stress”.
“Before applying any strategy with your children, you must fill your “tank” with energy and tolerance. How do you fill it? Doing things for you. Many moms ask me, ‘How am I going to have time with four children?’ Well, create routines! From an early age, make your children responsible for themselves! Share responsibilities with your partner!”, explains the also author of the book, Por favor, no me griten, por las buenas sí hago caso(Please, don´t shout at me, I will listen).
Some tips that can help you to fill the tank and be deliciously imperfect are:
Create routines
It is essential for children and, believe it or not, they love and need routine, it tells them the way to go. If you schedule that they are going to do homework at a certain time, get them down to work at that time without excuse. If you agree that they would go to sleep at 9, start at 7:30 with the routine of having dinner, taking a bath, and finally put them to bed. “Stay on track”, says Ale Velasco.
“Be imperfect. Once I told a doctor, ‘My teenage son doesn’t tidy up his room!’ Well, close the door of the room and let him assume he is like that. We have this Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and if they don’t arrange the toilet paper the way we want, we get angry”. Just relax!
Your partner must cooperate
Carrying a load for just one person is not the same as sharing it between two. The responsibility of the children is of two; the chores of the house is responsibility of all those who live in it.
“Come to agreements. In my workshops I have a challenge called Fly where I ask the participants to first seek to be women and then mothers. When you’re happy as a woman, you’re going to reproduce it as a mom. If you are angry with your partner, you will transmit your frustrations. You have to set limits”.
Be imperfect
Many moms have trouble dealing with challenging children, but before that, the expert emphasizes, be imperfect.
“If they don’t want to sleep, turn off the light and leave him alone, that’s it! Get out of your room and he can poke his eyes if he is not sleepy, that’s his problem. If, for example, the drawing he is doing doesn’t turn out well or he doesn’t want to do the homework, leave him alone, it’s his homework, not yours. If he does not turn it in, he will have his consequence at school, or you highlight the consequence at home, but leave him, do not be after him. Set him free!”
Don’t mistake patience with negligence
Don’t go to the other extreme either. Do not confuse being patient with being indifferent, passive and even negligent, that is an extreme in which we do not want to fall as mothers.
Rather, it is about facing things with serenity, facing difficulties calmly, optimistically, always looking for the best solution.
Finally, don’t take time for mom for granted, start with minutes and increase it as needed.
“Make the T sign with your hands and tell your children, ‘Stop, it’s mom’s time, I don’t want to be interrupted in these following minutes.’ Start with five minutes, in that period no one can enter your space. You can even set a timer. This helps them accept and see that respect is a great value and that you also have your own things to do”, concludes Velasco.
On September 15th and 16th Mexico throws a party; we commemorate what is considered the formal beginning of our Independence. The children wear typical clothes, on the night of the 15th we prepare a dinner with the most succulent dishes of our gastronomy and in the morning of the 16th, it is customary to see the parade.
That day many schools have a representation of the Grito de Dolores (Dolores call), one of the culminating points of the history of Mexico. It is very important that our children understand what happened that day.
Take advantage of the celebration to explain to your little ones a bit of our history. These are 10 keys to understand the Independence of Mexico. Review them so that you can explain them to your kids.
A long, long time ago…
List of 10 keys to explain the Independence of Mexico to children
1. What Mexico was like before
According to the bookHistoria Mínima de México, by Daniel Cosío Villegas, Alejandra Moreno Tascano, Lorenzo Meyer, Ignacio Bernal, among others, by 1800, New Spain (or Mexico as it is now called) had become one of the richest countries in the world, but there was a huge contrast: there was a lot of wealth for some (Spaniards and Criollos) and maximum poverty for others (mestizos and natives).
2. The caste system
One of the main reasons that originated the armed movement of 1810 was the caste and class structure. This meant that society was organized like a pyramid and people had to stay in the block (social stratum) into which they were born.
At the top were the Spaniards, classified in Peninsulares (born in Spain) and Criollos (children of Spaniards born in America).
Under them were the Mestizos (children of Spanish and native) and Castizos (children of mestizo and Spanish).
At the bottom were other descendant castes and natives.
3. Unfair society
Let’s go back a few years. In 1740, after two hundred years of being a dependent part of the Spanish empire, New Spain entered, like the rest of the world, an era of change known as the Age of Enlightenment.
The population considered part of the “nobility” owned all the wealth; they were only 0.15% of the population according to the Revillagigedo Census.
The original peoples lived in conditions of slavery, the mestizos began to be the majority of the population and the Criollos considered that the Spanish nobility was parasitic. Can you imagine the conditions?
Catalyzed by the ideas of the French Revolution and by the growing disgust against the Spanish crown and the taxes they imposed, the idea of independence began to take shape.
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4. Mexican Independence: A Criollo Movement
The Criolla middle class (illustrated) and the rich Criollos (landlords and miners) were the first to consider that it was unfair that all the wealth was sent to Spain.
In 1808, Napoleon, one of the greatest conquerors of all times, occupied Spain. The Spaniards opposed the invader and the Criollos, who did not considered themselves Spanish, tried to take advantage of the crisis to become independent and start the movement.
5. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the village priest who stood up to fight
Conspiracies took place everywhere, and the Spanish reported the Criollos, accusing them of violating the trust of the empire. However, the conspirators from Querétaro, San Miguel and Dolores, upon being denounced, rose up to fight.
In the early hours of Sunday, September 16th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a wealthy, influential teacher, brilliant ex-student of the Jesuits and priest of the town of Dolores, set the prisoners free and put the Spanish authorities in jail. He called mass and from the atrium of the church incited the parishioners to join his cause.
6. El Grito de Dolores
The priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, accompanied by Ignacio Allende and Juan Aldama, called his parishioners to take up arms. He rang one of the bells of the Parish of the Town of Dolores, today Dolores Hidalgo, in Guanajuato.
The exact words that priest Hidalgo spoke are unknown, the most probable and oldest version says that he shouted, “Long live our most holy Mother of Guadalupe! Long live Fernando VII and death to bad government!” (Bishop Manuel Abad y Queipo).
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7. The Banner of Vírgen de Guadalupe
In Hidalgo’s illustrations and murals, he is portrayed carrying a banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the highest Catholic figure in Mexico since the 16th century. According to historians, on the morning of the 16th, when he called the people in “El Grito”, he did not take out the religious image, he did it during the first hours of his march for independence. In any case, it is tradition that in the representations of “El Grito“, the Mexican flag is carried emulating that banner.
8. The Independence of Mexico began with only 15 people
A small group of only 15 people, according to letters from Miguel Hidalgo, started the riot without military training and very few weapons. Four months later, that group of people would become an army of 100,000 men with 95 cannons. It was not a simple protest, but the desperation of the entire town.
9. Was the Independence of Mexico on September 15th or 16th?
There is a lot of discrepancy regarding when “El Grito” actually took place, most historians agree that it was in the early hours of September 16th. President Porfirio Díaz, who was in power between 1876 and 1911, changed the celebration from the 16th to the night of the 15thto celebrate it with his birthday. Since then we celebrate it on the night of September 15th.
But check it, we celebrate September 16th as an iconic event, but actually, the consummation of independence was on September 27th, 1821, with the triumphal entry of the Army of the Three Guarantees (Trigarante) commanded by Agustín de Iturbide to Mexico City.
10. There were many women involved
Some people believe that few women participated in the Independence, but they are wrong. Without the participation of women, the movement could not have been able to consolidate. The most renowned ones are Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, Leona Vicario, María Ignacia Rodríguez, Gertrudis Bocanegra, Mariana Rodríguez del Toro, Altagracia Mercado, Carmen Camacho, among others.
There was also a hidden network in which women from different social classes (mostly Criollas and natives) participated, they were called “Las Guadalupes” and they were in charge of getting donations and food.
Interesting and exciting, don’t you think? With this data you can give your kids a light explanation of why we celebrate the Independence of Mexico today and what happened on this day many years ago.
Now, let’s enjoy the food. Viva Mexico!
By the way, you can put together a patriotic outfit for your babies in theBaby Creysi Online Store. In fact, all the clothes are beautiful. Take a look!
If you’re Mexican, this has happened to you for sure: You listen to the Huapango, from José Pablo Moncayo, and you raise goosebumps, you can´t resist dancing at the beat of the mariachi and can’t avoid telling the world the love legend between the Iztaccihuatl and the Popocatepetl Mexican volcanoes. Long live Mexico!
Our culture is extraordinarily rich and the Prehispanic original names are so sweet and with such deep meanings that definitively we should consider them when deciding how we will name our child.
This list was taken from the book Nombres indígenas (Indigenous names), written by Crescencio García Ramos, academic investigator from the ‘Academia Veracruzana de las Lenguas Indígenas’ (Veracruzan Academy of Indigenous Languages). They are gorgeous!
But how do we pronounce original Nahuatl names?
According to Crescencio García, letter /x/ sounds as “sh”. Letter /h/ as soft “j” when it goes first, but when it’s between vowels it’s a little stronger and you have to aspire when it goes next to the other consonants or at the end of the word.
Double l /ll/ (doble ele) is pronounced literally double “ele” and a little separated, not like the Spanish Greek “y”.
On the other hand, Launye, M., academic from the UNAM and author of Introducción a la lengua y la literatura náhuatl (Introduction to Nahuatl Language and Literature), makes us notice that, in general, “Nahuatl names have no gender, they can be used by women or men”.
Acolmiztli: It means “Strong feline arm” or “Puma arm”. It was represented as an enormous black puma with a cadaveric aspect, with a supernatural roar and it was in charge to guard that the alive could not get into the kingdom of the dead.
Ameli, Ameyalli, Ayulía: It means “Spring of water”. It’s reverential way is: Ameyaltzin.
Atleinemik: It means “Without pair”, “Has no equal”, “Unique”, “Singular”, “Exceptional” or “Strange”.
Atzin: From Nahuatl A (tl) “Water” and Tzin, “Little water”. Its most common meaning is “Tiny water”.
Axayácatl: It means “Mask of water”. Axayácatl, son of Tezozomoc, was the Mexica Tlatoani who ordered to make the Stone of the Sun. He was succeeded to the throne by his older brother, Tízoc Chalchiuhtlatona.
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Nahuatl names with letter “C”
Centli, Sintli, Sinti: It means “Corn” or “Corn cob”. Another meaning is: “Material from our own flesh” or “Our Flesh”.
Chalchiunenetl: It means “Jade doll”. Aztec princess daughter of Axayácatl.
Chamani: It means “Plant sapling”. Chicome Cóatl: Goddess of the tough corn harvest, lady in the fullness of her maturity. It means “Always snakes”.
Cihuacoatl, Siwakoatl: Lady goddess of the Earth. Besides being mother of gods and creator of humans, Cihuacóatl is related to Earth’s fertility, that´s why she was part of the most important deities, since she gave to our ancestors the food that they enjoyed every day. It means “Female snake”
Citlalli: It means “Star” or “The woman with the Starlight”.
Citlalmina: It means “Arrowing of the stars” or “Metheorites”.
Cuahtli, Koahtli, Kuahtli: It means “The Eagle”, “Owner of the immensities, the heights and freedom.” Maybe it derivates from the same etymology of Cuauhtémoc´s name.
Nahuatl names with letter “E”
Ehékatl, Ejecatl: It means “God of the wind that sweeps the fields before the rain”. It is usually interpreted as one of the Quetzalcóatl´s manifestations, “The Feathered Serpent”. It is one of the main gods of creation.
Elía, Eli: It means “The plant is sprouting”. Esquía, Eskía: It means “The plant has already sprouted”.
Nahuatl names with letters “H” and “I”
Huitzitzillin, Witzitzillin: It means “The Hummingbird or the ‘Chuparrosa’”.
Icniuhtli: It means “Friend/Brother”.
Ilhuicamina: It means “The irate lord” or “Sky Arrowhead”. As son of tlatoani Huitzilíhuitl, he assumed the head of the army as long as the reigns of his half-brother, Chimalpopoca, and his uncle, Itzcóatl, lasted.
Istaksiwatl, Istaccihuat, Iztaccíhuatl: It means “White woman”. According to Aztec Mythology, she was a princess, only daughter of Tízoc, seventh tlatoani King and successor of Axayácatl, his brother.
Itzmin: It means “Thunder”.
Itztlishochitl or Ixtlixochit: It means “Flower face” or “Obsidian flower”. He was prince of Texcoco, Son of the sovereign Netzahualpilli.
Izel: It means “Unique”.
Iztli: It means “Obsidian”.
Nahuatl names with letter “M”
Metstona, Metztona: It means “Moonlight”.
Metztli, Meztli: It means “Moon” or “Black Moon”. In the Aztec mythology it is the name given to the god who became goddess of the moon.
Mickail Huitontli: It means “Corn at full maturity”.
Mixtli (Mishtli): It means “Cloud”.
Miztli: It means “Cat”.
Nahuatl names with letter “N”
Neli: It means “Truth”. Nenet: It means “Doll”.
Nezahualcoyotl: It means “Strong Lion” or “Hungry Coyote”. Nezahualcóyotl is also known as the warrior and poet King. He was remarkable for his courage and intelligence; he governed his native Texcoco when he was barely 28 years old.
Nochipa: It means “Always/Everlasting”. NOCHIPA IPAN NOYOLTSIN is one of the most beautiful Náhuatl phrases, it means “Always in my hearth”.
Noquetzal, Noketzal: It means “My beautiful daughter”.
Noxochih: It means “My flower”.
Nahuatl names with letters “O” and “Q”
Ollin Tonatiuh: It means “The movement Sun, from the fifth creation from Teotihuacan”.
Quetzal, Quetzali, Ketzalli: “Beautiful feather”, it also means treasure, jewel, daughter or son.
Quetzalcóatl: God creator of the man from the fifth sun. Also known as “Feathered Serpent”.
Quetzalteuh, Ketzaltew: “Like a beautiful feather”.
Nahuatl names with letter “S”
Seltik Xochitl: It means “Tender flower”.
Sinti, Sintli: It means “The corn”, it was related to the deity that protects corn.
Sintiopil: It means “Tiny owner of the corn” or “Little corn”.
Siwapil, Sihuapilli: It means “Girl”, “Little daughter”.
Sochiyok, Xochiyok: It means “Flowered”, flower ornament.
Nahuatl names with letter “T”
Tametzona: It means “Moonlight”.
Tecuichpo: It means “Cotton flower”. Mexica princess that was born at the end of the 1500 decade. She was the favorite daughter of Moctezuma II, México-Tenochtitlan emperor.
Tenampi: It means “Son/daughter of god”.
Teosintli, Teocintle: It means “Corn god”.
Tequihua, Tekiwa: It means “Community authority” (boss).
Tlacaélel: It means “The one who cheers the spirit”.
Tlali, Tlalli: “Earth, Mother Earth, The world”.
Tláloc, Tlálok: “God of the rain”.
Tlanesi, Tlaneci: “Dawn, Sunrise, The light arrives”.
Tlanextic: “Light of the Dawn”.
Tlapaltic: It means “Brave”.
Tonantzin: It means “The Virgin”, “Our Mother”. Sometimes, Tonantzin is recognized as Quetzalcóatl’s mother, other times, as his wife and part of his duality, especially in his form of Cihuacóatl. She is the goddess of health, lady of the maternity and medicine herbs. With the conquerors’ arrival, some began to identify her as the Guadalupe Virgin.
Tonatiúh: It means “Our Father Sun, The sun, The day”. The Aztec people considered him as the leader of the sky. He was also known as the fifth Sun because the Aztecs thought that he assumed control when the fourth Sun was expelled from heaven, so, according to their cosmogony, each Sun was a god with its own cosmic era and, for the Aztecs, they still were in the era where Tonatiuh reigned.
Totahtze, Totajtse: It means “Our father”.
Toxayak: It means “Our face”.
Tzalanti o Tlalantik: It means “As clear as water, pure, clear”.
Xilonen: It means “Goddess of the new and tender corn”. She was the goddess of subsistence for the Aztecs, especially of corn, the main patron of vegetation and, by extension, also goddess of fertility.
Xinaxtli, Xinachtli: It means “The seed”.
Xiutecuhtli, Xiwtekuhtli: It means “Lord of the herbs” or “God of the fire”. In Aztec mythology, the fire and heat spirit.
Xochikuskat, Xochihuaskatl: “Symbol of the floral offering in the ritual”.
Xochimanali: “Ceremonial of Xochitlalli”.
Xochipayanali: “Disintegrated flower”.
Xochipili, Xochipilli, Makuilxochitl: “Good of the flowers”.
Xochiquen, Xochiken: “Thirteenth governor of Tenochtitlan”.
Xochiquetzali: “Women who populated Mexico after the flood, Goddess of water, Beautiful flower”.
Xochisiwatl: It means “Rose petal”.
Xochiswatl, Xuchizhuatl, Xochitl: “Flower, symbol of the good creation, of the intellectual and emotional flourishing, The Love”.
Xochitl Nolía: “Princess, daughter of a cacique in the Huatusco, Ver., region. The one who gave her love to a young warrior”.
Xochitlali, Xochitlalli: Ceremonial celebration to the gods and natural elements (Zongolica region).
Xochiyoh: “The one who is decorated with flowers; flowered”.
Xocotzin, Xocotzin, Xokotzin: “The last one”, in traditional and Aztec mythology, she is the personification of passion and sexual transgressions. She belongs to the group known as Ixcuiname, the five goddesses of sex, daughters/sisters of Tlazoltéotl (lust) goddess. As her peers, she was commonly considered a goddess capable of helping or punishing human beings.
In general, exercising has many benefits, but there are some that are not recommended when a woman is pregnant. What factors should be considered before? Which ones can you do and which ones can’t you do when you’re expecting a baby? According to Mayo Clinic, exercising during pregnancy has great advantages:
It can help you through labor and delivery
It reduces back pain, constipation, bloating and swelling
It improves your mood and energy level
It helps you sleep better
It prevents excessive weight gain
It helps you gain strength and endurance
There is a lower risk of gestational diabetes
It could help you for a shorter labor
There is a reduced risk of having a C-section
However, as Dr. Mercedes Álvarez Goris, a specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics, explains, “You can exercise during pregnancy if you were already doing it. If you were a sedentary person before pregnancy, pregnancy is not the best time to start doing aerobics or high-impact exercises”.
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Exercise and pregnancy
Before starting any sport during this stage, you must first take into account individual risk factors and what your gynecologist tells you.
The doctor will advise against physical activity if there are any of the following contraindications:
Some form of heart and lung disease
If there is pre-eclampsia or high blood pressure
If there are cervical problems
If persistent vaginal bleeding occurs
If problems are detected in the placenta
What kind of exercises can a pregnant woman do?
With your doctor’s permission, you can do exercise that doesn’t put a pregnant woman at risk for trauma or falls. “What can you do? You can walk or do low-impact exercises”, says the gynecologist.
You can walk, jog lightly, especially in the first months of pregnancy, when your belly allows it.
You can swim during all three trimesters.
You can do yoga; there is something called prenatal yoga, it has special postures, and it adapts to the trimesters you are going through.
You can low-impact dance
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What kind of exercises should I avoid during pregnancy?
According to Dr. Álvarez, high-impact exercises should be avoided because you can hurt yourself. For example:
You can’t ride a bike because you can fall off
You can’t ride a bike because you can fall off
Avoid any sport that involves balls because you can get hit (football, tennis, racquetball)
Say no to exercises that require “jerking” and bouncing movements. For example, horse riding, skating, skiing, gymnastics, etc.
Do not go for any sport that involves high impact or contact: boxing, tae kwon do, judo, etc.
Can I jump during pregnancy?
This is a frequently asked question and the specialist answers, “Come on, you can jump in the first and second trimesters if you don’t have a threat of abortion or your doctor does not recommend the opposite, but if you have any contraindication or you are already in an advanced pregnancy, definitely not”.
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Starting the second trimester avoid balance exercises
According to the expert, you have to be very careful, especially at the end of pregnancy, with balance exercises.
From the second trimester, in the middle of your pregnancy, more or less when your belly begins to show well, that is to say in month six or seven, the axis of balance changes.
You increase your dimensions, your spine curves, your belly grows and begins to pull you forward. In this period, you are more prone to accidental falls and bumps.
“That is why, especially in the third trimester, doctors recommend you not to do movements that require a lot of balance or agility. Hence, one of the great recommendations for exercising during pregnancy is water, because swimming is low impact”, concludes the expert.
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“Don’t pretend that you can handle everything, learn to live in balance”, says Kalinda Kano, author of the book, Perfectamente imperfecta (Perfectly Imperfect), from Editorial Planeta, a text that invites us to reflect on the value of what really matters.
And it seems that, at present times, it seems that the value of people is measured by: how busy you are, how many followers you have, if you are healthy or fit, if you are a good mother, wife, friend, or daughter.
Do you realize how exhausting that is? The writer tells us that you only need to listen to your inner self to understand what you already know: “being Superwoman is more toxic than anything”.
BABY CREYSI (BC): Why do we fall into the trap of wanting to be Superwoman and be efficient all the time?
Kalinda Kano (KC): It has to do with the role of women throughout history, social and family pressure and our jobs. Many of us have a sufficiency problem. We feel that we are not doing enough, so we really push our limits for someone to come and congratulate us. We want to be the leaders all our lives.
BC: We even feel guilty of our leisure time, we believe that we are not doing “anything productive”.
KC: That’s right and it’s tough because women have added too many different things to their regular activities. Just a few generations ago, most of women dedicated themselves to the family, and they did it very well.
Those who are moms know that it is a mega responsibility. Now add to it having a career, a job, but also being fit, being spiritual, having a great haircut, keeping up with the series…
The list of things we have is endless. Our leisure time or free moments generate a lot of guilt because actually, we have not finished what we perceive as pending. We feel like we’re wasting time just lounging around, instead of listening to a podcast, putting on a beauty face mask and learning how to meditate at the same time.
BC: In Perfecamente imperfecta (Perfectly Imperfect), you share with us about the tools you used to transform your lifestyle: how to deal with stress and grow. Can we live through so much social pressure?
KC: I did a lot of research and what I found out is that everyone eventually blows up. Nobody does, in the same way. There are some people who suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, depression, but there are also people who manifest it with some illness, others who vent it with drugs or get themselves off at weekends in parties.
The human being needs that relief: boxing, in therapy, crying. We live adding things to do and that’s like you’re inhaling all the time, at some point you have exhale and it’s the same with stress.
BC: The worst thing is that, those of us who are mothers, drag our children into that maelstrom. We want to get them into our rhythm and they are not prepared.
KC: We are harming them a lot because we transmit our neurosis to them in a certain way. All of a sudden, there are children in second grade who have a tremendous level of stress, who feel that life depends on their grammar test.
Being a woman is not defined by being a mother
In her book, Kali also tells us about her experience as a mother and how she has adapted to the changes that motherhood brings. From being a TV host who traveled the world interviewing bands, she became responsible for someone else’s life, and looks for more stable projects. For me, motherhood hasn’t happened without some bumps.
Being a mom is a full-time job, a vocation, a super life project.
And like any project of this magnitude, devoting so much time and energy to it steals a bit of your identity and often leaves you drained and missing yourself. But like all the moms in the world, I learned to let go of a little control and take it one day at a time.
To discover who you really are, the author recommends being patient. “After such a big transformation as becoming a mother, it takes a while for things to fall into place.
Breathe and find pleasure in the little things: drink your morning coffee in silence, the trip to the supermarket listening to your music. Then go exploring your desires: a class a week of something that interests you, an outing with friends. When you give yourself space, little by little you begin to recover. I am positive.”
BC: In your book you make it clear that working tirelessly does not make you better, more efficient, what can we do to get rid of that idea?
KC: The belief that the female mind is multitasking is a lie. We do have the ability to be in everything at the same time, but that creates stress and the truth is that you are not really efficient in anything.
I mean, you were preparing the lunchbox at the same time that you were answering emails, while you were making your eyes up; later, it turns out that your son tells you that the sandwich you prepared for him did not have cheese or ham, that it was plain bread, and you wrote an incomplete email, and your eye line is crooked. It is very important to learn to be in the present.
Do fewer things, but do them well. The truth is that when you do less things, but make sure they are done well and breathe during the process, you will have a much better time.
BC: What do you recommend to women to slow down the little voice we have in our heads?
KC: My head is still full, but it is a matter of nature. There are those of us who are much more accelerated and we must accept that we will be like this all our lives. What I do recommend is that you pay attention to what you dedicate energy to.
Be clear that you are not going to be always at the top, nobody is going to give you a diploma if you do 890 things in the day. That means to set limits and even be “mean”. I use quotation marks because it’s not really being mean, but protecting yourself.
People who take advantage of you don’t like it when you set limits. I recommend that you carefully choose what you put your time and energy into. When you slow down and take a good look at your life, you realize that there are many things, which were not necessary and wear you down.
There are other things that you do have to do, like driving the children to school, but others that you don’t, our days have a lot of diversion.
For example, quarrelling in the family or moms chat, telling your favorite influencer that you didn’t like her haircut, going out with your classmates from elementary school that you never liked. Observe everything you do, separate and decide what is worth it.
All of us are imperfect and that’s ok
BC: Finally, what steps should we take to be perfectly imperfect?
KC: The first step is to give us a chance and accept ourselves. That leads us to really know ourselves, to know who we are. That is, not what our mother, cousin or our partner thinks we are, but truly knowing ourselves.
By getting to know yourself, you can identify the parts of yourself that you don’t like so much and embrace them. If you accept yourself, the rest falls into place because you realize that we all have things to improve.
It is a personal process. We live in times where we are seeing the perfect life of others, social networks do not show us the ‘dark side’, but when you recognize your own ‘dark side’, you realize that nobody is perfect and you can relax.
Perfectly Imperfect
Author: Kalinda Kano
Publisher: Planeta
Synopsis: After pretending she could handle everything, Kali collapsed, but she knew how to turn her own story around. In Perfectamente imperfecta (Perfectly Imperfect), she tells you about the tools she used to transform her lifestyle into a healthier one and help you find your own balance:
“I grew up in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. At the age of 19, I moved to Mexico City, where I studied photography and worked as a television host for more than 15 years. It was a wonderful life, but also physically and emotionally demanding. Some time ago I decided to make a change: I changed the spotlights for the beach and my exhausting work days for quality family time”, Kalinda Kano.
Your baby has just been born: you are exhausted, excited and with many questions. You finally have that beautiful piece of flesh and bone that you carried in your womb for nine months. You and your partner will give everything to take care of him for the rest of your lives, but regardless of your baby’s needs, on the first days, weeks and months you also need to take care of yourself and to focused your energy in the recovery after childbirth.
How long will you be in hospital after giving birth?
Dr. Mercedes Álvarez Goris, a specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics, explains that if you have a vaginal delivery, without any complications, the minimum you will be in the hospital is 24 hours. “If there is no risk factor, I mean, that the woman doesn’t suffer from hypertension or diabetes, she must mandatorily be 24 hours in hospital, although she can be up to two days to get help with the baby or anything”, says the expert.
When it is a surgical or C-section delivery, you can stay a few more days, “As it is an incision, they can stay a few more days for pain management and it can vary from 48 to 72 hours”.
Many years ago, women stayed up to a week or ten days in hospital, but those times are over. Obviously there are advantages and disadvantages, there are people around you who take care of you and help you solve situations with the baby, but you are not in your environment, you do not have any of your things, and that can be a bit suffocating.
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General recommendations when leaving the hospital
When you leave the hospital your first impulse will be to be 101% caring for your baby, but may I tell you something? If you are well, your little one will be too, so it will be important that you follow the general recommendations for your care.
According to the gynecologist, the stage after childbirth is called the puerperium and the recommendations, whether after having a vaginal or surgical delivery, may vary from woman to woman, but in general terms they are:
Have a good diet: fruits, vegetables and proteins, avoid fats.
Relax: Absolute rest should be avoided. I mean, walk or move a little since lying down can cause coagulation problems and the risk of developing clots in the legs increases.
Rest: To the best of your ability, sleep. Your baby will also spend his first days sleeping, take advantage and recover.
Hydration: Drink plenty of water.
Hygiene: Take showers carefully.
Take your medications: especially if it was a C-section delivery. Antibiotics and painkillers are usually prescribed.
"The girdle: although there is no real evidence that it helps, there are women who feel very safe wearing it", she adds.
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When will my body return to normal?
The puerperium stage is well established medically, it lasts 42 days and it is known as quarantine. In this time, says Mercedes Álvarez, the body will begin a period of adaptation.
There is a redistribution of fluids and recovery begins
The uterus gets smaller in the first 24 hours
In the first 48 hours, the woman feels swollen, a little plumper, but this decreases over the days
Lochia, which is bleeding after childbirth, goes from being very abundant to scarce and changes color.
Lactation starts
The body loses its pregnant shape and returns to its original one
However, although in the puerperium stage you begin to recover, full recovery will come months later.
“Many women believe that once they give birth, their body returns to what it was like before pregnancy, but is not like that, it is a slow process, especially regarding the body composition, but everything returns to normal. There is no set time, it depends on each woman”, explains the doctor.
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Full recovery, up to a year later, research states
In a research by the University of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, Dr. Julie Wray interviewed several groups of women to get a broad view of postnatal recovery. In her conclusion, the scientist suggested that the body requires at least 365 to return to normal. In addition, she revealed that new mothers are dissatisfied with postnatal services, saying, according to Wray, that the six-week recovery time was a “fantasy”. Each woman is different.
The truth is that postpartum recovery takes time. You have to take it with patience and responsibility. Take care of yourself!
A good book is a wise voice that remains in your life; it is a dream machine capable of transporting you to other times, it is food for the soul and the imagination.
For girls and boys, they represent a great tool to face the world; it is a shield to defend your ideals and motivation to go ahead.
This time we bring you a list of 10 books to turn your girls into super powerful women.
10 books to empower your girls
1. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
Author: Elena Favilli Publisher: Planeta México
From the first volume, this book became a source of inspiration for thousands of girls. This is not a book about princesses, but about real women who broke paradigms. From Frida Kahlo to Jane Goodall, from Coco Chanel to Nina Simone, from the Brontë sisters to Marie Curie.
All their stories told as a tale and with extraordinary illustrations. The second volume includes Nefertiti, Beyoncé, Rosalind Franklin, J. K. Rowling and even the Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa, among others.
There is also a Goodnight Story with 100 Migrant Women Who Changed the World, 100 Extraordinary Mexicans, and a Goodnight Story of Fun and Adventure. All are excellent.
100 stories of extraordinary women. Photo: Planeta
Women is an illustrated album that contains poets, painters, scientists, politicians… There are 18 real women who must occupy an important place in history.
In addition to the illustrations, it shares quotes that tell us about their way of facing the world.
Some of the women who appear in the book are Maria Montessori, Dian Fossey, Irena Sendler, among many others.
A book by Isabel Ruiz Ruiz, Spanish illustrator and director of audiovisual photography. Photo: Ilustropos
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3. Beautiful (Bonitas)
Author: Stacy McAnulty and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff Publisher: Astronave
Every girl is unique, witty and adorable. Beauty is not on the outside but in meeting challenges, showing kindness and spreading laughter.
This album has beautiful illustrations, but if you think it’s a traditional story, you’re wrong, rather it’s a book that plays with irony and stereotyped phrases about women.
In Beautiful, the authors encourage girls to do what they like and develop their potential.
Pretty girls are smart, strong, empowered… The phrase on the back cover is blunt: “The important thing is… be who you really are”.
Children’s album with girl power. It teaches that every girl is unique, resourceful, and lovable. Photo: Astronave
Having big ears, unruly hair, being tall or short, skinny or chubby… Any feature can be a source of parody among children, so they would need a book to help them understand that this is not right.
This is an illustrated album that addresses two very important topics: how to develop self-esteem and how to face criticism, sometimes cruel, with humor and ingenuity.
Many bullies will continue to insist: four eyes, mop hair, tablecloth dress, but it’s up to you to be yourself, value yourself and not allow anyone to abuse you.
Intelligent story that addresses emotional development and children’s self-esteem. Photo: Kalandraka Editor
5. Marlène Baleine (Malena Ballena)
Authors: Davide Cali and Sonja Bougaeva Publisher: Libros del zorro rojo
Malena is the laughingstock of the girls in her swimming class. She is fat and every time she plunges in the pool, she makes a huge wave, she is called Whale.
One day, the teacher whispers in her ear a trick to overcome her complex: just think the other way around! Instead of a whale, she thinks “barracuda” and starts swimming like a fish.
Malena manages to understand her own insecurities and the imposed ones. Through self-suggestion and humor (not taking things seriously), she manages to get over it, and that becomes a real therapy.
With faith and confidence in yourself, you will see that it is not so difficult to achieve what you set out to do, leaving those who make fun of others open-mouthed.
Many voices shouted, “Malena is a whale!” But she took the criticism and turned it into fuel to keep going. Photo: Libros del Zorro Rojo Infantil
6. Princesses Fart, Too (Las princesas también se tiran pedos)
Author: Ilan Brenman Publisher: Algar
Little Laura has a very important question: do princesses fart? Fortunately, her father has the secret book of the princesses with all the answers to her questions.
This book is perfect for demystifying the figure of princesses: perfect, fragile, always acting with good manners. Well, it’s time to reveal their secrets, including her stomach problems and flatulence.
Father and daughter crush one by one the supposed “perfection” of the princesses.
For example, Cinderella did not run out of the ball because she heard the clock strike 12, but because the prince squeezed her so hard that she farted. Oh, and the bubbles in the water that accompanied the Little Mermaid were not exactly caused by algae.
“Laura’s father took the secret book of the princesses and told his daughter something that no one knew”. Photo: Algar
7. When Girls Fly High (Cuando las niñas vuelan alto)
The three girls have big dreams, but the villains of the Youwillnotgetit (Noloconseguiras) gang fill the girls’ backpacks, shoes and pockets with stones to prevent them from taking off.
The protagonists of this story represent all the girls in the world who daily encounter obstacles to achieve their goals.
It seems that their dreams are impossible, but with joy, ingenuity and courage they manage to get rid of the heavy stones. The message in this story is beautiful: it is in your hands to fight to get the stones out of your backpack.
Jimena, Adriana and Martina love to run around their rooms as if they were small planes, but a mob tries to keep them from flying. Photo: Lumen
Princess Li lived with her father, King Wan Tan, in a beautiful palace… She loved Beatrix, a girl from a distant land. The two were very happy until Wan Tan sent for the princess: it was the time for her to marry a young man of the court.
It is a classic children’s story, but also a beautiful love story. It talks about sexual diversity and interculturality.
Can you love someone who comes from another culture? Can you be happy with someone of the same sex?
The king tries to force the princess to separate from her beloved; he visits a sorcerer who turns her into a bird and betrays him out of ambition for the throne. He will finally be saved by someone he didn’t expect.
Princess Li lived with her father, King Wan Tan, in a beautiful palace… She loved Beatrix, a girl from a distant land. Photo Egales
9. I am a girl!
Author: Yasmeen Ismail Publisher: Cartoné
The girl in this story is constantly being mistaken for a boy. While she drinks a soda, she plays with her straw. She unfortunately spills the soda on the table. She hears the waitress sigh, “Definitely, boys are unruly and messy”.
“But I’m a girl!” she says. A girl who likes to go full speed on her skateboard, jump in the pool, play the trumpet, make noise and jump everywhere. A girl who loves both playing with dolls and running a race and winning it. She is a girl, and no one should tell her otherwise!
This is an illustrated album full of color and joy. The protagonist is fed up with prejudice and sexism in society.
She is young but she realizes that others expect her to be sweet, tender and delicate just because she is a girl. She is proud of being a girl, a rebellious, cheeky, brave, and spontaneous girl.
She is a girl and loves to play and make noise, but also to read, play musical instruments, compete and win. She is a girl and she is happy to be one.
The girl in this story is constantly being mistaken for a boy. Photo: Editorial Cartoné
10. The Paper Bag Princess
Authors: Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko Publisher: Annick Press
Elizabeth is a typical fairytale princess, she is engaged to a handsome prince and soon they will be married.
But one day, a dragon comes to the palace and burns it to the ground. In the fire she loses all of her belongings, including her princess dresses.
The worst is not that, but the dragon has kidnapped her beloved prince. Armed with courage, Elizabeth goes in search of him to rescue him. Along the way she realizes that the prince is not as charming as she thought.
This is a story that tears down stereotypes and shows us a princess whose role is not to wait to be rescued, she takes the initiative, she goes to save the prince and along the way she realizes that there are a thousand more adventures to live.
She realizes that it’s better to be a smart princess than a pretty princess. Photo: Annick Press
Diaper dermatitis, commonly known as diaper rash, is a very common condition in babies. “It is estimated that one in four babies will experience at least one diaper rash episode in his lifetime. Between 25 and 65% of babies who wear a diaper have diaper dermatitis, and three out of four go to the pediatrician for this problem”, says Dr. Víctor Mundo, pediatrician and Medical Affairs Consumer Health at Bayer, Mexico.
What do diaper rashes look like?
According to the Mayo Clinic, diaper rash is an inflammation of the skin that appears as a patchwork of pink or bright red spots. It can also be seen as irritation, fissures, abrasions, and peeling of the skin. It usually occurs as a rash in the area that is covered by the diaper, hence the name. That is, it affects the genitals, buttocks, perineum, lower abdomen, and upper thighs. The skin is a very important organ with many functions: It protects our internal organs, it is the main layer of our immune system that prevents our body from coming into contact with microorganisms.
• It is essential to regulate our body temperature, this is the reason why we sweat and perspire
• It allows us to have different sensations
• Thanks to melanin, a substance that gives color to our skin, it protects us from UV rays and helps our cells produce vitamin D.
• It constantly regenerates itself
“In general terms, the upper part of the skin is called the epidermis, but at its base there are cells that are like moms because they grow new cells which develop until they become old. The most superficial layer of these cells, when mature, is the stratocornus and it is what we see when we exfoliate the skin, they are dead cells that come out. I mention this because in babies the upper outer layer of the skin is very fragile, thin, has a very important permeability and being immature makes it more susceptible to being damaged”, explains the pediatrician.
What causes diaper rash
Normally, diaper rashes are caused by prolonged contact of the baby’s skin with irritating substances: urine, stool, detergents and fragrances, but also by the simple rubbing of the diaper. “Both urine and stool cause a change in the PH of the babies’ skin. The enzymes contained in the baby’s waste damage and irritate the skin. Prolonged exposure to urine and stool is an important risk factor”, says the specialist. Another factor that causes chafing is moisture and rubbing against the diaper. “Prolonged wetness and the friction that the skin is having with the diaper weakens the outer layer and increases the possibility of friction damage. In addition, another conditioning factor is when the diaper is very tight. Artificial fragrances and scented diapers can also be risk factors, “Fortunately, they are used less and less nowadays, but there are perfumes, preservatives and dyes that can aggravate diaper rash.”
How to prevent diaper rash
According to Dr. Mundo, these are some measures we can take to prevent annoying diaper rash.
Maintain proper hygiene
Frequent diaper changes are highly recommended. Prolonged contact with stool and urine is a risk factor. Clean your baby’s bottom with warm water. You can use cotton balls, but make sure there is no lint left behind, wet wipes are also useful. Do not use wipes that contain alcohol or perfume.
Dry the area well
You can use a towel or leave your baby without a diaper for a while to air dry. If you notice chafing, do not rub the skin with the towel as it can aggravate the irritation.
Use a protective cream
“Especially use one that contains dexpanthenol, which is a precursor of vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid. This vitamin helps skin cells regenerate. In addition, it protects, moisturizes and prevents the area from being too much moist”, says the doctor.
Don’t overtighten the diaper
When you change the diaper, be careful not to close it too tight. “It is also good for the baby to breathe well. The tapes can make his abdomen not distend appropriately. Try not to overtighten it and have a diaper of the right size, remember that they come in different sizes”, he adds.
How long does diaper rash last?
According to Dr. Mundo, depending on the severity, diaper rash lasts between one and three days.
“This is very important because many children experience situations where they cannot sleep, they are crying, that is the way they express their annoyance. It has also been noticed that it occurs in a greater proportion in girls and boys between 9 and 12 months of age. It does not mean that the youngest children do not have it, but the highest peak of diaper dermatitis is at this stage and 5% of these cases can be aggravated”, concludes the expert.
“Intuition is a powerful thing, more than intellect”, said American millionaire businessman Steve Jobs.
What is intuition good for? It is essential to keep us safe; it allows us to make decisions taking into account what we feel, our emotions, what moves us. It is not magic or quackery, it is a kind of radar inside us that warns us of dangers and opportunities.
Albert Einstein himself said that, “The only really valuable thing is intuition”. However, although we all have this little antenna, not all of us know how to interpret what it tells us. That is why there are techniques that help us connect with our inner voice, “the third eye”.
Intuition and chakras: the correspondence
According to Sandra Roch, better known as Panterita, the chakras and intuition are closely related, in fact, the chakras are related to every aspect of life. “The chakras are seven energy centers that bring balance to our lives.
They are distributed in our body and each of them is related to different aspects of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. The chakras must be balanced so that they vibrate at a high energy frequency, allowing us to have a healthy and full life.
“The sixth chakra is known as Ajna or the third eye chakra. It is located on the forehead, between the eyebrows, and it is related to our mental abilities, psychological skills, and the way we assess beliefs and attitudes. The third eye is the chakra of intuition and wisdom. It represents that sixth sense that we sometimes refer to”, explains the holistic health coach.
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Techniques to open the third eye and signs of advancement
Panterita explains that the more open the third eye is, the more power of intuition will be enjoyed. There are several techniques that we can practice to balance and open the third eye, such as:
Follow your intuition.
Meditate or emphatically visualize this chakra; imagine a key that opens it.
Recite mantras.
Deepen spiritual knowledge.
Practice yoga.
Say positive affirmations related to the opening of the third eye.
Improve your diet.
Eliminate tobacco and alcohol consumption.
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How to open the intuition or the third eye
“The ability of people to understand things instantly, without the need of reasoning, is called intuition. It is that feeling that sometimes occurs when we are aware of something without any explanation. It could be, for example, that the phone rings and you know who is calling, also when you know which direction to take without looking at a map or having gone down that road before”, says Panterita.
It is not an immediate process
The expert clarifies that it is not an immediate process, it will depend on the personal and spiritual development of each case, and it must always go hand in hand with the harmonization of the rest of the chakras.
There are various signs that the third eye is opening. For example, having very vivid dreams that we can easily remember; the fact of being able to know something before it happens; see and hear things that other people cannot; feel the emotions of other people and above all, have a sharp intuition.
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Test to determine your power of intuition
To find out how open your “third eye” is, Panterita developed a test. Through a few simple questions, we can identify how receptive our antennas are. Jot down your answers:
How much do you anticipate events before they happen?
It always happens to me, with things related to me or with people who are close to me.
Sometimes it happens to me, but it is not recurrent.
Never or almost never.
It’s time to sleep, do you have lucid dreams? (A lucid dream is when we are aware that we are dreaming and experience the events very vividly).
Yes, and then some aspects of my dreams come true in real life.
Few times, but I do know what they are and it has happened to me.
I have never or hardly ever had a lucid dream.
Do you feel that the materialistic aspect of life is not enough and you seek more spiritual knowledge?
Yes, I feel the need to know more about spiritual issues to be in harmony. The daily routine no longer satisfies me.
I do seek spiritual knowledge, but I still feel that my economy and earthly aspects are essential.
I feel good with my routine as it is, but if I get stressed I am willing to meditate or do yoga for a few minutes.
Have you ever felt a pressure or a sensation of a light bulb between the eyes, at the level of the eyebrows?
Yes, clearly I have had that feeling on several occasions, especially during meditation.
Sometimes, but it is not very common, nor very intense.
I have never felt it.
Have you become more sensitive to light and do you see colors more vividly?
Yes, I have to lower the intensity of light on all my electronic devices because I can’t stand it.
Sometimes I feel a greater sensitivity, but it does not affect me too much.
I see everything normal, sometimes I have to increase the intensity of the light of my devices because I don’t see.
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Results:
OPTION 1
“Majority of 1, it means that your third eye is in the process of opening and you have a great intuition. Trust yourself. Remember to keep balance with the rest of your chakras to continue on the path of your spiritual development. Congratulations! Do not abandon your purpose of light”, says the expert.
OPTION 2
“If the majority were option 2, you’re on the right track, keep it up. Clearly you intend to strengthen your inner power, and with the right guidance your third eye will begin to open, so I recommend the Cleansing and Balancing your 7 Chakras course, to achieve the remaining inner balance”.
OPTION 3
“Most of your answers were option 3… you have a great opportunity to balance your third eye chakra, but it takes a lot of spiritual work. It is never too late to be interested in issues of inner growth and strengthening, and this will not only bring you spiritual benefits, but also material abundance and harmony. Start today”, recommends Panterita.
The first few weeks you breastfeed your baby, you most likely feel a mixture of confusion and frustration. You have to admit, it’s not easy. All moms experience different situations, but for many, breastfeeding hurts. Nipples get dry and cracked and, why not, your baby may not open his mouth wide or even “pinch” you.
“When my first baby was born”, says writer Emily Oster, author of the book, Criar sin Mitos (Parenting without Myths), it seemed like I had all the problems of breastfeeding: the latch-on problem, the milk quantity problem, the how get my milk.
You may think that only you have those drawbacks.
The hours you spend in a room trying to make a newborn eat isolates you”. However, although you believe that you are the only one who goes through these hardships, the reality is that many mothers face them.
“I asked on twitter and other moms told me about their tiny nipples, the bleeding ones, the sore ones and the cracked ones. They told me about their problems in terms of the amount of milk or too much production, leaky breasts, stiff clothes from dry milk, mattresses that smell of Parmesan cheese”.
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How hard can it be?
The most exhausting thing is when someone tells you, without knowing you are suffering for a few milliliters of milk, phrases like, “Millions of women do it, how difficult can it be?”. Well yes, it is difficult, and it does not help much when someone else puts extra pressure.
The reality is that breastfeeding should not hurt; if it does, it means that your baby is not latching on correctly.
According to Emily Oster, the practice of breastfeeding is a universal human experience, so we can learn from the experiences of other women. That is why she proposes the following tips so that breastfeeding does not cause pain (at least, not unbearable pain).
Skin-to-skin contact
A research in India randomly assigned mothers to either hold their babies 45 minutes after delivery or put them in baby warmers.
Moms who had their babies skin-to-skin were more likely (72% vs. 57%) to breastfeed at 6 weeks, they also reported less pain with stitches after delivery.
“Lots of randomized studies report about skin-to-skin contact improving breastfeeding success rates”, says Oster.
The latch
The baby has to open his mouth wide, take in your entire nipple, and then use his lips and tongue to suck. Many newborn babies have trouble latching on properly. Until you experience it, you will know if you have to push it a little to get a good latch.
According to the writer
“Without a good latch the baby won’t get enough milk and the suckling will be very painful for the mom. How do you know there is a good latch? Once you’ve done it for a while you’ll just know. You will also learn to recognize a strange sigh that many babies make when they succeed”.
You may feel pain
When your baby learns the latch, you may feel pain for a few seconds. If the baby is well positioned, in a good position to eat, but you still feel pain, maybe the baby has a sucking problem or a lack of tongue mobility (ankyloglossia or short sublingual frenulum).
Other reasons
Oster explains other possible reasons: “Why might newborns have trouble latching onto the nipple? Premature birth, disease or birth damage can be some causes. It could also have to do with some mothers’ nipples: some women have inverted nipples making latching difficult.
Lastly
Some babies have structural problems in their mouths. Or maybe your baby hates you! Ha, it’s a joke”.
If the problem continues, your doctor can tell you if you’ll need a special nipple shield or a procedure to treat the frenulum brevis.
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Moisturizing
The nipples can become cracked, irritated or sore, there is no magic solution. The only thing that has scientific support is rubbing breast milk on your nipples. Most of the time the discomfort subsides after two weeks, but if you feel unbearable pain ask for help.
Most women, even those whose babies are latched on well, may feel pain at first when nursing, but should stop after a minute or two of nursing. Ongoing pain can also be caused by infections that are treatable, such as nipple thrush. If the pain persists, ask for help to determine the cause.
"Many women recommend lanoline cream, compresses and pads, but there is no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. The only scientifically proven thing is that you put a little breast milk on your nipples. Of course there is no reason to use these remedies; if you think it works or want to try it, great", explains Emily Oster.
Milk production
A biological mechanism links feeding frequency to milk production. The system (or your breasts) are designed to have a feedback loop in which you produce more milk when the baby needs or asks for more. Many moms increase their supply by expressing milk after nursing so the body thinks the demand is higher.
Colostrum
“When your baby is just born, you will produce a small amount of colostrum, a substance rich in antibodies. In fact you start producing it at the end of pregnancy. In the first few days, as you breastfeed, your body begins to produce more milk than colostrum (in theory)”.
“The expectation is that it will change to a full milk supply; in scientific terms this is called lactogenesis and is sometimes referred to as milk “coming in”, which will occur after the first 72 hours postpartum. If this doesn’t happen, doctors say you have delayed lactogenesis”.
Some women produce milk with a delay
Many women have a very late “coming-in” of milk, in fact there are studies that indicate that a quarter of women produce milk with a delay of three days. This time is 35% longer for new mothers.
This can cause the baby to lose weight, making it difficult to continue breastfeeding. This mishap may disappoint you”.
The author’s suggestion is to use the demand feedback loop to increase production. It is always good to stay hydrated. Beer actually makes things worse, there isn’t enough evidence on herbal remedies either.
“There are more data with some drugs. It is also possible that no matter what you do you, you have very little or no milk, this is not common, but it does happen”.
Excessive milk production
On the other hand there is the excessive milk production. When it accumulates you literally feel “balls” in the breasts.
The main problems with producing too much milk are severe discomfort and increased risk of mastitis (inflammation of the breast tissue). Your breasts swell with milk, become hard, hot and sore.
"Expressing milk can prevent this discomfort, but it contributes to the cycle of feeding and to the persistence of the problem.
If you want to decrease production, you're going to have to deal with the problem of engorged breasts".
There are a wide variety of techniques to reduce the discomfort of congested breasts: massage, acupuncture, acupressure, cold compresses, hot compresses, cabbage leaves, among others, but the author points out that the effectiveness of these is irregular.
Expressing milk
Another problem that arises from having too much milk is when the baby begins to breastfeed. When the milk comes in fast and so abundantly can overwhelm him. “Expressing milk a few minutes before feeding your baby can help”, says Oster.
Whatever the problem, remember to be patient and seek help. Don’t forget to eat healthy and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid mercury-rich fish such as tuna, swordfish, shark, or mackerel. And relax, stress is also a factor that works against you.
