Teaching Mothers to Plan Ahead

Winter is just starting, but already it is much cooler here in our village. Whenever seasons change, I notice that more people get sick, especially the children. This week my mission was to visit as many households as I could! I was determined to get out the message to be extra careful in the beginning of winter. I found two babies suffering from colds already. Although I realized these were just common coughs and colds, still to be on the safe side, I counted their breaths with the timer. Yes, both times, it was just a cold, not pneumonia. I counseled all other mothers I visited. I told them to keep their babies warm. Make sure they wear shoes when they play on the ground. For the babies who aren’t walking yet, do not let them sit on the ground – put them on a mat or something. I also advised the mothers to bathe children by 12 noon. The days start getting cooler after that, especially in winter. So children should bathe early and then sit in the sun for a while. I also tell the mother to dry the babies’ hair nicely with towel. To protect the babies from dry skin and itching, glycerin, mustard oil or baby lotion should be rubbed on their bodies. Mustard oil keeps the babies warm. And when children are suffering from colds, mothers should clean their nose with soft, clean cloth and should feed them warm honey water with basil as much as possible. Colds can be prevented by following these few tips. So let’s stay safe in the winter!

I held one courtyard session with the pregnant mothers. I reminded them again not to work too hard and not to lift heavy weights. I also advised them to eat plenty of nutritious food. I was amazed when one mother-in-law told me she was upset because her pregnant daughter-in-law was trying to fetch heavy buckets of water! She wanted me to warn the daughter-in-law again! I was so happy – not just because of the good health practices, but also because our culture is changing too! It used to be expected that a daughter-in-law would perform almost all the household duties at her mother in law’s instruction, even when she was pregnant.