Knowledge and experiences of families regarding amber necklaces

BackgroundAmber necklaces have been used frequently to reduce the complaints of babies during teething. In this study, the knowledge and experience of families regarding the use of amber necklaces investigated.MethodsThe structured questionnaire was applied face-to-face to parents with a 4-24 month old baby who applied to the paediatric outpatient clinic.ResultsOne hundred one families participating in the study reported that they used the amber necklace most frequently for restlessness (n = 72, 71.3%). Eighty- three% of families reported that the amber necklace was beneficial. It determined that 2% of the babies had suffocation and 2% had problems dispersing the grains.ConclusionAlthough the parents think that the use of amber necklaces is effective during the teething period, they are not aware of the risks. It is important for healthcare professionals to inform their families about teething and especially the risks of using amber necklaces

Effect of Ramadan fasting on breast milk

Introduction: Breast milk is an excellent biofluid that ensures optimal growth, development, and strong immunity of the baby. Breast milk content may alter depending on duration and time of breastfeeding, the infant's age, and maternal health status. There are few studies in the literature investigating the effect of religious fasting on breast milk composition. Method: The study included 21 fasting and 27 nonfasting mothers who exclusively breastfed their babies in 2021 Ramadan month. The energy, carbohydrate, protein, and lipid levels of the collected breast milk samples and the macro- and micronutrient contents of the mothers' diets and the weight gain of the infants during the study were evaluated. Results: The mothers' ages, education levels, and weights at birth and at the time of sampling were similar. There was no significant difference between the energy, carbohydrate, protein, and lipid composition of breast milk in fasting and nonfasting mothers. Although daily energy, protein, carbohydrate, fiber, and vitamin intakes between two groups were similar, mean daily intake of lipid, sodium, chloride, iodine, and omega-3 fatty acids was determined significantly higher in study group. Also, there was no difference in the weight gain of babies during the month of Ramadan. Conclusion: Religious fasting of mothers does not affect the energy and macronutrient content of breast milk. In addition, fasting does not seem to affect the weight of mothers and babies