Vaccination is the process of administering a vaccine to enable the immune system to develop resistance against certain diseases. The process of vaccination is a very effective way to prevent various life-threatening health conditions. Vaccination stimulates the body’s adaptive immunity to provide protection from certain infections.

What is a vaccine?

A vaccine is a biological preparation that contains the disease-causing microorganism in a weakened or dead state. In this way, it does not cause disease in the body but at the same time, stimulates the immune system to develop antibodies against the disease. So, in the future, if the disease-causing organism enters the body, the immune system is well-equipped with antibodies to tackle and prevent infection.

Preventable diseases:

Though it is not possible to prevent every disease or infection through vaccination, there are various infections and diseases that can be effectively tackled through vaccination. Many of these are quite common and can even have fatal consequences. Some common infections that can be prevented through vaccination include:

• Diphtheria
• Hepatitis A
• Pneumococcal disease
• Polio
• Rotavirus
• Rubella
• Mumps
• Whooping cough
• Typhoid
• Tetanus
• Chickenpox
• Hepatitis B
• Hemophilus influenza B
• Influenza (flu)
• Swine flu

How effective is vaccination?

Though vaccines do not guarantee a 100% protection against infection, it is still one of the most effective ways to prevent infections. Vaccine efficacy can range depending on individuals, but efficacy can go up to 90-95%, depending on the vaccine. Yet most vaccines are extremely effective and hence getting your child vaccinated is highly advisable.

At Motherhood, we completely understand the importance of vaccination for the health of your child. Our vaccination schedule starts right from birth and extends into childhood. Our paediatricians ensure that your child gets vaccinated and develops immunity against various infections and diseases.

Vaccination Bucket Vaccination Name

• At Birth BCG
• OPV
• Hepatitis B

6 weeks DTWP1+Dtap

• IPV1
• HiB1
• Hepatitis B2
• Rotavirus1
• Pneumococcal1

10 weeks DTwP3+Dtap2

• IPV2
• HIB2
• Rotavirus2
• Pneumococcal2

14 weeks DTwP3+Dtap3

• IPV3
• HIB3
• Rotavirus3
• Pneumococcal3

6 Months OPV1

• Hep.B
• Fluvac_T

7 months Fluvac_II

9 months OPV

• MMR1

15 Months MMR1

• Chickenpox1
• Neumoncoccal Booster

16-17 months DTwpb1+DTapb1

• Hib booster
• IPV B1

18 months HEPA2

2 Years Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine 1nd Dose

• Meningococcal Vaccine

4 1/2 to 5 years

• DTwp/Dtap 2nd Booster
• OPV3
• MMR2
• Chickenpox1
• 10 to 12 years
• Tdap/Td
• HPV
• OthersJE

Weight Management

Weight is an important indicator of one’s health. Being overweight or underweight, poses serious health risks at any age. Hence, managing weight and keeping it within normal levels is extremely necessary. Weight problems not only affect adults but are quite common in children and adolescents too.

Why Paediatric Weight Management?

Managing weight and keeping it at healthy levels is important for all age groups. However, managing weight is even more important in children, as weight disorders and problems can affect the child’s entire lifetime.

Being overweight or underweight can significantly affect the growth of a child. Besides the physical health of the child, it can also affect mental and behavioral development. Moreover, due to the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles, the number of cases of childhood obesity are constantly increasing, which is an alarming fact. Hence, paediatric weight management is extremely important in contemporary times.

Risks and Concerns:

Childhood obesity is strongly linked to various health problems later in life. Even in the short run, being overweight may cause joint pain or breathing problems. Some children even develop high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, etc. due to excessive weight.

Being overweight also has a lot of mental repercussions as the child may feel different from others and may be subjected to teasing and bullying. This can have serious consequences on the behaviour of the child and may even lead to childhood depression.

Children who enter adulthood with too much weight are also at an increased risk of various cardiovascular problems and various types of cancers. Hence, it is important to manage weight in the early years.

Weight Management:

Though dietary restrictions and physical activity are all that is required in most cases, some children may require additional support. Moreover, weight issues in childhood can also be a symptom of some underlying problem. Hence, it is always recommended to visit a paediatrician for weight management.
At Motherhood, we understand the importance of weight management in children. Our multidisciplinary team of experts consisting of paediatricians, dietitians, and various other specialists, work to ensure that weight problems do not hinder the growth and development of your child. Motherhood is known for upholding global standards of treatments and holistic paediatric care.

Well-Child Exams

Childhood is a phase of rapid growth and development. Physical growth of children undergoes an immense change in the first few years of life and progresses at a very rapid pace. Hence, it is important to keep track of the child’s growth and development by regularly visiting a paediatrician even when the child appears healthy and is not sick.

What is a Well-Child Exam?

Well-Child Exams are necessary to keep a track of the growth and development of the child and to diagnose any health issues at the earliest. Each Well-Child visit includes a complete physical checkup of the baby and some checkups also include screening tests for hearing, vision, etc. The pediatrician also records important information like height, weight, etc. of the baby and monitors growth over a period of time.

Moreover, it is also beneficial for parents as they can gain more information about the health of the child and clear any doubts or misconceptions they have. Parents can get to know if the child is reaching developmental milestones or not, and if any special care is required. Parents can also get answers to general queries like what to feed the child, sleeping patterns, risk of infections, and so on.

Benefits of Well-Child Exams:

There are various benefits of Well-Child visits like:

• It helps in keeping track of the growth and development of the child. This includes various aspects like physical growth, mental health, behavior, social abilities, etc. Parents get a comprehensive idea of the health of the child.
• Regular Well-Child visits ensure that your child gets all the important vaccinations in a timely manner. It is extremely important for the overall health and well-being of the child in the long run, as these vaccinations provide immunity against various life-threatening diseases.
• Well-Child visits are also important for parents (especially first-timers) as they can get more aware and informed about the child’s needs.
• Well-Child exams help in the early diagnosis of health conditions. Many times, parents fail to notice symptoms of ailments in children. Well-child exams help in diagnosing and treating such ailments and illnesses.

Motherhood is one of the leading maternity and child care hospitals in the country, renowned for providing global standards of treatment and care. Our Well-Child Exams include a comprehensive evaluation of the health of the child. Our specialists keep an eye on the growth and development of the child. Should any abnormalities or difficulties arise, our experts are highly qualified and experienced in providing the best possible treatment and care.