Health Blog from Dhruva Hospitals, Kadapa
Clear answers to the questions families ask us most, from pregnancy and fertility to newborns, children and everyday health.
Pregnancy & delivery
Check-ups, scans, diet, warning signs, delivery and recovery after birth.
Early signs of pregnancy and when to take a pregnancy test
Early signs usually start around 4 to 6 weeks of pregnancy. A missed period is the most common; nausea, unusual tiredness, sore breasts and passing urine more often are others. A home urine test is most reliable from…
ReadPregnancy check-ups: how often and what happens at each visit
Check-ups start as soon as you know you are pregnant and become more frequent in the last three months. As a guide, the UK’s NHS offers at least 10 check-ups in a first pregnancy and 7 if you have had a baby before. E…
ReadPregnancy scans: which ultrasound scans you need and when
Most pregnancies need at least two ultrasound scans: a dating scan at 11 to 14 weeks, which can include the NT scan, and an anomaly scan at 18 to 21 weeks. Growth or Doppler scans are added when there is a medical rea…
ReadWhat to eat in pregnancy: a simple Indian diet guide
You do not need to eat for two. Eat a variety of foods every day: rice, ragi, jowar or other grains; dal and other pulses; vegetables and fruit; milk or curd; and eggs, fish or meat if you eat them, well cooked. Take…
ReadSugar test in pregnancy (GDM test): when it is done and what the result means
India’s national guidelines advise every pregnant woman to have a 75 g glucose test at her first check-up, and again at 24 to 28 weeks if the first result was normal. You drink 75 g of glucose and your blood sugar is…
ReadHigh BP in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia: warning signs to know
Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy condition that causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine, usually after 20 weeks. Early on it rarely causes symptoms, so BP and urine are checked at every visit. A severe headach…
ReadAnaemia in pregnancy: low haemoglobin, symptoms and treatment
Anaemia means your haemoglobin (Hb) is lower than it should be. It is common in pregnancy, usually because the body needs more iron. It can cause tiredness, breathlessness and pale skin, or no symptoms at all, so Hb i…
ReadNormal delivery or C-section: how the decision is made
A normal (vaginal) delivery is usually the safest choice for healthy mothers and babies. A caesarean (C-section) is advised when it is safer, for example if the baby is breech, the placenta is low, labour stops progre…
ReadPainless delivery (epidural): how it works, benefits and side effects
Painless delivery usually means an epidural: medicine given through a thin tube in your lower back by an anaesthetist, which numbs labour pain while you stay awake. It is set up in about 10 minutes and works within an…
ReadSigns of labour, when to come to hospital, and what to pack
Signs of labour include regular contractions that become stronger and closer together, a “show” (pink, jelly-like mucus), backache and your waters breaking. Come to hospital when contractions are regular, about every…
ReadBleeding or pain in early pregnancy: miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy signs
Light spotting in early pregnancy is not always serious, but always get it checked the same day. Go to hospital immediately if the bleeding is heavy (soaking a pad soon after you put it on), or comes with severe tummy…
ReadRecovery after delivery: bleeding, stitches, mood and the 6-week check
After delivery you will bleed from the vagina for a few weeks; it starts heavy and slowly turns brownish and lighter. Most women recover over about 6 weeks, when a postnatal check-up is due. Get help quickly for heavy…
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Newborn care
Breastfeeding, jaundice, premature babies, screening tests and vaccinations.
Jaundice in newborn babies: when it is normal and when to worry
Yellow skin and eyes are common in newborns. Jaundice is usually most noticeable around day 3 and fades within about 2 weeks. See a doctor the same day if your baby looks yellow. Go to hospital immediately if jaundice…
ReadBreastfeeding in the first few days: colostrum, how often to feed and getting help
Start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth if you can, with your baby skin-to-skin on your chest. The first milk, colostrum, is thick and yellow, and about a teaspoon per feed is enough. Feed whenever your…
ReadBaby vaccination schedule in India: the national immunisation chart
Under India’s National Immunization Schedule, babies get BCG, oral polio and hepatitis B at birth; polio, pentavalent, rotavirus, IPV and PCV doses at 6, 10 and 14 weeks; measles-rubella at 9 to 12 months; and booster…
ReadPremature babies and NICU care: what parents should know
A baby born before 37 weeks is premature (preterm). Many need help with breathing, warmth, feeding and infection, which a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides. WHO notes that simple care such as kangaroo mothe…
ReadDanger signs in a newborn baby: when to go to hospital straight away
Take your baby to hospital immediately if they are not feeding, are very sleepy or hard to wake, are floppy, have a fit, breathe fast or with grunting, have a temperature of 38°C or more or less than 36°C, look blue,…
ReadCaring for your newborn at home: bathing, cord care, sleep and warmth
Keep your newborn warm but not too hot, breastfeed on demand, keep the cord stump clean and dry, and always put your baby to sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface. You do not need to bathe a newborn every day; w…
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Children’s health
Fever, loose motions, coughs, fits, milestones and anaemia in children.
Fever in children: home care and when to see a doctor
A temperature of 38°C or more is a fever. Most fevers in children come from common infections and settle within 1 to 4 days. Give plenty of fluids, and paracetamol if your child is uncomfortable, at the dose on the pa…
ReadFits with fever (febrile seizures) in children: what to do
A febrile seizure is a fit caused by a high temperature, usually in children aged 6 months to 6 years. It is frightening but rarely harmful, and usually lasts 2 to 3 minutes. Keep your child safe, do not put anything…
ReadLoose motions and vomiting in children: ORS, zinc and danger signs
Most loose motions and vomiting in children are caused by a stomach infection and get better in a few days. The key is to prevent dehydration: give ORS in small, frequent sips, continue breastfeeding and normal food,…
ReadCough with fast breathing: signs of pneumonia in children
Most coughs and colds in children are mild, but a cough with fast breathing, or the lower chest sucking in with each breath, can mean pneumonia. WHO counts fast breathing as 50 or more breaths a minute from 2 to 12 mo…
ReadChild development milestones and when to get a developmental assessment
Children develop at different speeds. In WHO’s study, healthy children sat without support between about 4 and 9 months and walked alone between about 8 and 18 months. See a paediatrician if your child is outside thes…
ReadChildren’s emergency signs: when to take your child to hospital
Take your child to hospital immediately if they have difficulty breathing, a fit, blue or grey lips, a rash that does not fade under a glass, are very sleepy or hard to wake, cannot drink or vomit everything, or have…
ReadChoosing a paediatrician in Kadapa: what parents should check
Look for a paediatrician with a postgraduate qualification in paediatrics (MD or DNB), round-the-clock emergency cover and a NICU for newborns, good vaccination and growth records, and the time to explain things clear…
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Women’s health
Periods, PCOD, discharge, fibroids, cysts, menopause, screening and contraception.
PCOD / PCOS: symptoms, tests and treatment
PCOS (often called PCOD in India) is a common hormone condition that can cause irregular or missed periods, extra facial or body hair, acne, weight gain and difficulty getting pregnant. WHO estimates it affects 10 to…
ReadIrregular periods: common causes and when to see a gynaecologist
Periods are irregular if the gap between them is shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, or keeps changing. It is common in the first years after periods start and near menopause. Other causes include pregnancy,…
ReadHeavy periods: causes, tests and treatment options
Your periods may be heavy if you need to change a pad every 1 to 2 hours, pass clots larger than about 2.5 cm, bleed for more than 7 days, or bleed through to clothes or bedding. Heavy periods can cause anaemia. Commo…
ReadWhite discharge: what is normal and when to see a doctor
Some vaginal discharge is normal: it keeps the vagina clean. Normal discharge is clear or white, without a strong smell, and changes through the cycle. See a doctor if it changes colour, smell or texture, becomes thic…
ReadFibroids in the uterus: symptoms and treatment options
Fibroids are common, non-cancerous growths in or around the womb. Many cause no symptoms and need no treatment. When they do cause heavy or painful periods, pressure on the bladder or bowel, or fertility problems, opt…
ReadOvarian cysts: symptoms, scans and when surgery is needed
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac on an ovary. Most are harmless, cause no symptoms and disappear within a few months. A repeat ultrasound usually confirms this. Surgery is advised if a cyst is large, causing symp…
ReadHysterectomy (removal of the uterus): reasons, laparoscopic surgery and recovery
A hysterectomy removes the uterus. It may be advised for heavy periods, fibroids, prolapse or cancer when other treatments have not helped. Laparoscopic (keyhole) or vaginal hysterectomy usually means a shorter stay a…
ReadMenopause: symptoms, treatment and why bleeding after menopause needs a check
Most women reach menopause between 45 and 55. Menopause means no period for 12 months. In the years before, periods change and symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep, mood changes and vaginal dryness a…
ReadPap smear and cervical cancer screening: who needs it and how often
Cervical cancer is largely preventable. WHO advises screening from age 30 with a high-performance test every 5 to 10 years (from 25, every 3 to 5 years, for women living with HIV). A Pap smear or HPV test takes a few…
ReadFamily planning: contraception options after marriage and after delivery
Many safe contraception options are available. Long-acting methods such as an IUD (Copper-T or hormonal) and sterilisation are the most effective. Pills, injections and condoms work well when used correctly, and condo…
ReadChoosing a gynaecologist in Kadapa: what to look for
Look for a gynaecologist with a postgraduate qualification in obstetrics and gynaecology (MS, MD or DNB), a hospital with 24/7 delivery, caesarean and emergency cover, a NICU on site, ultrasound and a laboratory under…
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Fertility & IVF
When to see a specialist, fertility tests, IUI, IVF (test tube baby) and semen analysis.
Test tube baby (IVF) in Kadapa: how it works, step by step
“Test tube baby” is the common name for IVF (in vitro fertilisation). Eggs are collected from the woman’s ovaries, fertilised with sperm in a laboratory, and an embryo is placed in the womb a few days later. A full cy…
ReadNot getting pregnant? When to see a fertility specialist
More than 8 in 10 couples where the woman is under 40 conceive within a year of regular unprotected sex. See a fertility specialist if you have not conceived after 12 months of trying, or sooner if the woman is 36 or…
ReadSemen analysis test: how to prepare and how to read the report
A semen analysis checks sperm count, movement (motility) and shape (morphology). Avoid ejaculation for 2 to 7 days before the test, and collect the whole sample by masturbation into the sterile container the lab gives…
ReadIUI treatment: who it suits, the procedure and what to expect
In IUI (intrauterine insemination), washed and concentrated sperm are placed directly into the womb through a thin tube around the time of ovulation. It takes about 10 minutes and is usually painless, and it is often…
ReadIVF or ICSI: what is the difference and which one do you need?
In IVF, eggs and sperm are placed together in a dish so fertilisation happens on its own. In ICSI, an embryologist injects a single sperm into each egg. ICSI is used mainly for male infertility, such as a very low spe…
ReadChoosing an IVF or fertility centre in Andhra Pradesh: questions to ask
Choose a centre that is registered under India’s ART (Regulation) Act, 2021, has a qualified fertility specialist and embryologist, explains your diagnosis and options before recommending treatment, gives honest age-s…
ReadMale infertility: causes, tests and treatment
Sperm-related problems are found in around half of couples who have difficulty conceiving. The first test is a semen analysis. Causes include low or absent sperm, poor movement or shape, blockages, hormone problems, v…
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General health, surgery, eyes & bones
Diabetes, dengue, emergencies, gallstones, knee pain and eye check-ups.
Sugar test results: normal, prediabetes and diabetes levels explained
Fasting blood sugar below 100 mg/dL is normal, 100 to 125 mg/dL is prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or more suggests diabetes. For HbA1c, below 5.7% is normal, 5.7 to 6.4% is prediabetes and 6.5% or more suggests diabetes.…
ReadDengue fever: symptoms, warning signs and when to go to hospital
Dengue usually causes high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, body and joint pains, nausea and rash, and most people recover in 1 to 2 weeks. Severe dengue can start as the fever settles: watch for severe t…
ReadWhen to see a general physician, and when to go to emergency
See a general physician (MD General Medicine) for fevers that last more than a few days, infections, diabetes, high BP, thyroid problems, breathlessness, tiredness, and regular health check-ups. Do not wait for an app…
ReadBlood tests: common tests, fasting rules and how to prepare
Most blood tests need no special preparation. Fasting sugar and some cholesterol (lipid) tests need you to eat nothing but water for 8 to 12 hours beforehand, so they are usually done in the morning. Take your usual m…
ReadGallbladder stones: symptoms, tests and laparoscopic surgery
Many people have gallstones without symptoms and need no treatment. Stones that cause pain, usually severe pain in the upper middle or upper right tummy lasting more than 30 minutes, are treated by removing the gallbl…
ReadKnee pain and arthritis: causes, home care and treatment
Most knee pain from strains improves with rest, ice and simple painkillers within a few weeks. Osteoarthritis, common after 45, causes pain and stiffness that gets worse with use; regular exercise, weight loss and phy…
ReadCataract, glaucoma and diabetic eye checks: when to see an eye doctor
Cataract makes vision slowly blurred or dim, with glare and faded colours, and is treated with surgery when it affects daily life. Glaucoma and diabetic eye disease often cause no symptoms until sight is damaged, so r…
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