Breastfeeding Week, held annually from August 1st to 7th, draws attention to the critically important role of breastfeeding in ensuring infants have the healthiest possible start in life. While this annual campaign raises awareness, it also provides an opportunity for more open discussions about a process that can be both incredibly beneficial and unexpectedly challenging.
Breastfeeding is often presented as a natural process; however, many mothers actually require time to find an approach that suits them and their baby. Like any new skill, it may require a learning period, and there is no single experience applicable to all families.
Mother's milk contains all the necessary nutrients for an infant in the early months of life and adapts to changing needs as the child grows. Furthermore, it includes antibodies that protect infants from common infections while their immune system is developing.
One of the most remarkable aspects of breastfeeding is that it begins even before mature milk production. In the first days after birth, mothers produce colostrum—a thick, yellowish milk often called the baby's first natural defense. Although the quantity is small, colostrum is highly concentrated with nutrients, antibodies, and immune cells that help protect newborns from infections and support digestive system development.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines colostrum as the ideal first food for newborns and recommends that babies be breastfed within the first hour after birth if possible. Early initiation of breastfeeding is linked to improved newborn health outcomes and helps stimulate milk production as the process establishes itself.
WHO also advises exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by continued feeding alongside appropriate complementary foods up to two years or beyond. Although these recommendations are the global gold standard, the organization acknowledges that each mother's circumstances are different. Families need access to reliable information and appropriate medical care to make informed health decisions.
The benefits of breastfeeding extend beyond infancy. Studies link it to a reduced risk of certain childhood illnesses, while mothers may gain health benefits, including a lower risk of certain cancers and improved postpartum recovery. Although these benefits are well-documented, healthcare professionals emphasize that successful breastfeeding should never be measured by how closely a family adheres to an ideal.
Breastfeeding is a journey that goes beyond simple nourishment for mothers and babies.
There are many reasons why breastfeeding may not go according to plan. Some babies have difficulty latching, others are born prematurely or require specialized medical care. Mothers may face physical difficulties, need medications that affect nursing, or return to work sooner than expected.
For some families, expressing breast milk becomes part of the routine, while others rely partially or entirely on infant formula. These decisions are often shaped by medical advice and individual circumstances rather than personal preference. The main focus must always be on ensuring infants receive adequate nutrition and that parents have access to accurate information to make balanced decisions without unnecessary pressure or guilt.
Although breastfeeding is a personal choice, mothers rarely do it in isolation. Support from partners, family members, employers, and healthcare professionals can make the initial weeks less burdensome and help mothers overcome common difficulties. Simple measures, such as flexible work schedules, private pumping spaces, and access to qualified lactation support, can significantly change the situation for women wishing to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.
Breastfeeding Week is not intended to assert that every family's experience must be the same. Rather, it serves as a reminder that parents deserve practical guidance, evidence-based advice, and understanding while navigating the first months of newborn care. Regardless of whether a mother nurses for weeks, months, or longer, the goal should not be perfection. The goal is to ensure every child has the best start and every family feels supported in making decisions that are right for them.
For pilgrims arriving at the spiritual center of Kashi during the sacred month of Sawan, which begins on July 30th, a measure has been adopted: meat dishes will no longer be served at the Varanasi Kant railway station.
The senior station master issued the relevant orders, and this restriction will be in effect throughout the entire month of Sawan. The senior station master himself will oversee compliance with these rules. Additionally, arrangements have been made to maintain cleanliness, provide clean drinking water, ensure safety, and offer medical assistance.
Arpit Gupta, the senior station master of Varanasi Kant, stated that special attention will be paid to sanitation and hygiene due to the start of the sacred month of Sawan. With support from the district administration, ambulances and fire services will operate at the station. Assistance points have also been set up at the first two entry points. It is projected that the number of visitors will double compared to the daily 90 thousand pilgrims, and all preparations are being made with this forecast in mind.
A request was made to RPF and GRP to increase staff numbers. The station is equipped with 180 surveillance cameras to monitor the situation. The project to create a waiting area will soon be completed, and special trains will be launched if crowds increase. A quality check of food products was conducted, as well as disinfection, and an instruction was given that only vegetarian food will be served at the station.
Although vegetarian food was previously served at the station, it is now formalized. The food served will comply with FSSAI quality standards. This decision was made to ensure that the feelings of the pilgrims are not offended during the sacred month of Sawan.
Water is a vital element, and its purity requires special attention. The water tower in a house plays a key role in daily life, as we use it to wash dishes, vegetables, take showers, and perform other household chores. However, many people do not clean the tower for years. Over time, dirt, moss, rust, and bacteria accumulate inside the tank. Even water that looks clean can be dangerous to health and lead to serious illnesses.
To ensure that the water supplied to the house always remains clean and safe, it is crucial to periodically clean the tank. This not only protects the health of family members but also ensures the long and uninterrupted operation of pipelines and plumbing equipment. Often, the problem arises that people do not know exactly when such cleaning should be performed and leave the tank in this condition for a long time.
There are five clear signs that indicate the need for immediate deep cleaning of the tank:
Regular cleaning of the water tower guarantees the cleanliness and safety of the water. This prevents the development of bacteria and moss, reduces the risk of pipeline blockages, and also improves the performance of devices such as water purifiers, water heaters, and washing machines. Most importantly, it reduces the threat of diseases associated with consuming contaminated water.
It is recommended to clean the water tower installed on the roof of the house approximately every six months. Although light surface cleaning can be done between these periods, complete draining, internal, and external cleaning is necessary every half year. This allows for the removal of dust and dirt, as well as the elimination of insects.
The cleaning process includes the following stages:
A 35-year-old man suffering from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis sought treatment at a Turkish dermatology clinic. He had previously been in remission for eighteen months thanks to treatment with monoclonal antibodies against interleukin-23A, specifically risankizumab.
Two weeks before his visit, the patient decided to self-treat back pain using cupping therapy. Specialists applied clusters of superficial incisions to the skin so that the vacuum could draw out a small amount of blood—this ancient procedure is called hijama or wet cupping. Examination revealed clearly demarcated erythematous scaly papules and plaques on his shoulders, as well as on the middle and lower parts of his back.
Doctors Yusuf Demir and Zekai Kutlubay presented this case in The New England Journal of Medicine. After gathering the medical history and conducting examinations, the man was diagnosed with Koebner phenomenon, also known as isomorphic response.
This phenomenon is characterized by the appearance of rashes typical of various dermatoses, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, or lichen planus, in areas of the skin where such manifestations were not previously observed. This occurs after mechanical irritation of the skin, caused by scratches, burns, sutures, or abrasions. It is important to note that this phenomenon can occur even in people whose condition is well-controlled.
The patient stopped using cupping and resumed his previous dose of risankizumab. Three months after a follow-up examination, all his rashes disappeared.
The article also mentions the results of another study published in JAMA Neurology. It showed that prolonged exposure to traffic noise increases the likelihood of developing Parkinson's disease. The risk increased by three percent for every additional 11.5 decibels of noise; however, having a quiet facade not facing the road helped reduce this elevated risk.
