Baby’s first two years crucial, will shape lifelong health, say doctors

HYDERABAD: As the world marks World Health Day on Monday, with the theme ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’, doctors in Hyderabad are seeking to draw attention to the first two years of an infant’s life, right from the time of conception— calling it the most crucial window for shaping lifelong health.In fact, many doctors insist that women should start following a healthy diet and adopt an active lifestyle well before conception.According to Telangana’s Socio Economic Outlook 2025, the state has a relatively low maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 43 per 1 lakh and a neonatal mortality rate (NMR) of 15 per 1,000 births. The state fared better than the national average of 97 MMR and 20 NMR. While neonate refers to a child’s first 28 days of life, an infant refers to a child from the birth to one year of age. However, Telangana is still behind states like Kerala, which reportedly has an MMR of 19.Recently, a 24-year-old woman, who was 37 weeks pregnant, died at a govt hospital in Hyderabad. “The patient was suffering from severe preeclampsia (a serious pregnancy complication leading to organ damage) and had a coagulation defect. Due to profuse bleeding, she went into hypovolemic shock and was kept under mechanical ventilation, and blood was also regularly transfused. Finally, she was referred to a bigger centre but could not be saved,” a doctor from the hospital told TOI on the condition of anonymity, adding that the woman failed to continuously follow up with gynecologists during her pregnancy.Dr C Aparna, clinical director of neonatology, KIMS Cuddles, Kondapur, noted that the period of 1,000 days lays down the foundation for most of a newborn’s long-term development, such as the brain and other organs. “While most of the NMR deaths are in the first week itself, the rest take place between the first week and the end of the first month after birth. Neonatal mortality accounts for a huge proportion of infant mortality. Out of every three deaths of children below under five, two deaths occur in the first month itself. The causes usually are prematurity, neonatal infection, and asphyxia. NMR needs to be reduced in order to further reduce child mortality.”Dr P Kirtana, gynaecologist, Government Maternity Hospital, Koti, stressed upon pre-conception counselling as an important measure to prevent neural tube defects (that affect the brain, spine, or spinal cord). “Pregnant women should visit the doctor regularly for antenatal check-ups. Those with hypertension, diabetes, cardiac issues and anaemia should be extra careful and take prescribed medication without fail.”Doctors also pointed out the need to develop a strong referral system with smaller centres in Hyderabad’s periphery and the districts.