Q: I delivered a baby after 20 years of trying. I am now 44 years old. The baby is four months old and I do not have enough milk. I was told to breast feed for a year. Shall I start bottle feeding?

A:Even though breast feeding is advised for a year, it does not have to be exclusive. Solids such as cereals cooked in cow’s milk can be started after six months (180 days). You can start the weaning process at four months (120 days). If you still need to give extra milk, use a sterilised cup and spoon to feed packaged cow’s milk (such as Amul). Feeding bottles lead to a lot of problems and are best avoided.

Samosa fix

Q: I would prefer to avoid processed food with transfats, colours and preservatives. I want to know if I can eat packaged mixture, boiled eggs and samosas.

A:A healthy diet includes 4-6 helpings of fresh fruits and raw vegetables a day. You need to avoid packaged mixtures and samosas. You can actually make these at home without transfats but as you should have only half a litre of oil a month, you may need to avoid these deep fried items! Also, the salt content in these snacks is very high. Also avoid bakery items and packaged biscuits.

Mouth ulcer

Q: I keep getting an ulcer on the side of my tongue. It recurs in the same spot.

A:Check if any of your teeth have a sharp edge, which is poking the tongue there. If so, a dentist will be able to file it. A persistent, non-healing ulcer needs a biopsy.

Knee pain

Q: I have severe pain in both knees. I have tried all kinds of treatment including aryuvedha and siddha but they have been of no use.

A:You need to go to an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in knee problems. There are all kinds of treatment options, with simple solutions like weight loss and physiotherapy. You can opt for simple surgical interventions like injections into the knee, washing out of the joint, removal of loose bodies in the joint and so on. Your painful joint can also be completely replaced.

Tingling feet

Q: I have a tingling in my legs. My Vitamin B12 levels were found to be low. I took Vitamin B12 pills but I am still anaemic, and my B12 levels are still low!

A:The body cannot absorb Vitamin B12 without a chemical found in the mucosa of the stomach. Most people with B12 deficiency lack this factor. Under the circumstances, it is probably better to take the B12 as an injection, albeit a painful one, to by pass the stomach. The doctor will tell you the correct dosage schedule.

Growing mole

Q: I have a black mole on my chin with a hair growing out of it. It has been there for many years and now it is itching and increasing in size.

A:If a mole (even one that has been there for many years) itches, grows or bleeds, it needs to be shown to a surgeon. This is because it urgently needs to be removed and biopsied. These changes may be the first signs of malignancy.

Dr Gita Mathai is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore. Questions on health issues may be emailed to her at yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in