reastfeeding is a physiological and ideal way of feeding the infants. It offers complete nutrition, early protection against illness and promotes growth and development of the infants. Early initiation of breastfeeding lowers the mother's risk of postpartum hemorrhage and anemia, boosts mother's immune system and reduces the incidence of diabetes and cancer [1,2]. Non-breastfed baby is 15 times more likely to get diarrhea and 3 times more likely to get respiratory tract infection [3]. According to the WHO and UNICEF, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for 6 months is the single most effective child survival intervention which reduces both infant mortality and under five mortality rate in India [4].In India, breastfeeding practices are influenced by rural/urban residence, cultural, socio-economic factors, psychological status, religious value and literacy level, and mother's employment status [5]. Breastfeeding practices have declined worldwide in recent years as a result of urbanization, socio-economic reasons, changes in living patterns, advertisements, marketing of infant milk formulae, and maternal employment outside the home [6]. The major reason for poor health outcomes among children, particularly in developing countries, is lack of EBF [7]. The key to successful breastfeeding is information, education, and communication strategies aimed at behavior change. Very few Indian women have access to counseling services on infant and young child feeding. The main source of information to mothers is through family and friends, which is often inadequate. The current study was designed to explore the practices, knowledge, and attitude toward breastfeeding among postnatal mothers and demographic and socio-economic factors that determine them [8]. MATERIALS AND METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted between October and November 2018 at a tertiary hospital of South India including all the postnatal mothers who presented during this study period. The sample size was 200, calculated using purposive sampling technique, from the formula n=z 2 pq/d 2 , where z=1.96, p is the number of deliveries conducted at the hospital, q=1-p and d=95% confidence interval [9,10]. Mothers who were not willing to participate in the study, who were suffering from puerperal psychosis and other mental illness and mothers of babies admitted in newborn intensive care unit were excluded from the study.

India has higher incidence of low birth weight as compared to any other developed country in the world. Also the sequelae of low birth weight like morbidity and mortality due to lack of early identification and treatment is a major problem throughout India. Hence, this study was conducted in Mysore Medical College & Research Institute, Mysore with objective of assessing the fetal malnutrition (FM) in term newborns using Clinical assessment of nutritional status (CANS) and comparing with other available methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using 225 full-term neonates delivered at MMC & RI, Mysore, over one month period of June 2013. Birth weight, length, mid arm circumference (MAC) and head circumference (HC) were recorded in the newborns. Ponderal index (PI), wt/GA, MAC: HC ratio and MAC were calculated. Clinical assessment of nutritional status was done on the basis of CAN score and compared with other methods. RESULTS: Total 225 neonates studied with male: female ratio of 1.1:1. CANS found 45.7% (103) neonates with FM. Wt/GA was more sensitive (98.06%) and correlating statistically (p=0.000) with FM detected by CANS. FM detected by PI, MAC: HC ratio and MAC were less correlating and less sensitive to that of CANS (sensitivities=86.40%, 51.45%, and 50.48% respectively). CONCLUSION: Clinical assessment of nutritional status (CANS) being a simple clinical-tool, can detect fetal-malnutrition (FM) without aid of any sophisticated-equipment in termneonates which are missed by other methods. CANS can be used as a screening-tool in resourcelimited settings of India effectively.

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Background: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a common physical finding in the first week of life. It is a common cause of hospital readmission during neonatal period. Phototherapy is an important treatment modality. However, it has some complications; amongst them serum electrolyte changes are a common complication. Objective of this study is to determine the changes in serum sodium and potassium in neonates before and after phototherapy and compare the occurrence of these changes in relation to gestational age and birth weight.Methods: In a prospective hospital based comparative study both term and preterm neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit receiving phototherapy at Cheluvamba hospital Mysore from July 2021 to April 2022 (10 months) were studied. A predesigned proforma aided the enrolment of new-borns into the study. Serum bilirubin and electrolytes and a comparative study was made between before and after phototherapy groups to determine the incidence of electrolyte imbalance.Results: The study group included 100 neonates. Incidence of low-birth-weight babies was 28% and preterm 22%. Mean birth weight and gestational age was 2.91±0.65 kg and 38.43±1.96 week respectively. The incidence of hyponatremia post phototherapy was found to be 9% which was more in low birth weight and preterm neonates (p<0.001) and was statistically significant. The incidence of potassium changes was found to be non-significant.Conclusions: The study shows that neonates under phototherapy are at higher risk of hyponatremia. This risk is greater in premature and low birth weight babies and hence this group of babies should be closely monitored for electrolyte changes and managed accordingly.

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the success rate and safety of a non-invasive technique to obtain clean-catch midstream urine samples in newborns.Methods: Prospective bedside clinical study. After obtaining written informed consent,120 consecutive newborns admitted in NICU with no dehydration, poor feeding, need for immediate urine sample by invasive method  for whom urine collection was advised for various reasons who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study with consent being taken from the parents. After adequate milk intake supra pubic and lumbar para vertebral areas were stimulated in repeated cycles of 30 s until micturition began.Results: Success rate in obtaining a midstream urine sample within 5 min. The success rate was 90%. The mean time taken to collect urine was 64.24s, for males it was 62.55s and for females 65.93s.Conclusions: The technique has been demonstrated to be safe, quick and effective. The discomfort and time consumption usually associated with bag collection methods as well as invasive techniques can be avoided.