The program will be inaugurated by renowned actress Mrunmayee Deshpande, in the presence of leading medical experts, including Dr. Sunita Tandulwadkar (President, FOGSI & Organizing Chairperson – STAR Sampoorna), Dr. Manish Machave (President, POGS), Dr. Ashwini Kale, Joint Secretary FOGSI,  Dr. Nilesh Balakawade, General Secretary POGS, Dr Pooja Lodha, Organizing Secretary, 

 Convenors Dr Vaijayanti Patwardhan, Dr Alka Kuthe, and Dr Revati Rane, along with Dr. Aarti Nimkar, Dr Alka Kshirsagar, and other dignitaries.

The program will feature expert talks on the importance of preconception health, early screening, and holistic readiness for pregnancy—covering social, mental, physical, and nutritional aspects. Adding a creative touch, the event will also host a Dance Competition (Theme: Maa) and a Skit Competition (Theme: Safe Motherhood), with attractive prizes to encourage youth and public engagement.

The public forum sets the stage for the FOGSI Presidential Conference STAR Sampoorna, to be held from 14th–16th November 2025 at JW Marriott, Pune, focusing on comprehensive women’s healthcare through Strategy, Transformation, Advancement, and Research.

Sampoorna Public Forum, a flagship program of FOGSI, focuses on preconception care to improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. Through extensive health camps and educational drives, the campaign creates awareness about managing key health indicators that influence maternal health.

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Pregnancy is usually a time filled with happiness and hope, plans for the new addition to the family, and pampering. But for some expecting moms, that journey can be jolted by an unexpected and infrequent diagnosis — one of a brain tumour.

Pregnancy already brings significant physical changes, emotional ups and downs, and constant monitoring of health. The presence of a brain tumour during this time turns the situation into one of the most complex medical scenarios a person can face. Two lives are at stake in such cases, and every decision must be made with caution, deliberation, and careful consideration.

Diagnosis and Initial Assessment

Identifying a brain tumour diagnosis in a pregnant woman is particularly challenging because many of the symptoms of brain tumours usually share common physiological changes and discomforts associated with pregnancy. Nausea, vomiting, persistent headaches, and dizziness are common during pregnancy, but they are also key warning signals of a brain tumour.

This overlap often leads to misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis, as medical professionals may initially attribute the symptoms to pregnancy-related discomfort. When these symptoms persist or worsen, imaging is used to confirm the diagnosis.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)is the preferred method, as it provides detailed images without radiation and is considered safe during pregnancy. In some cases, additional tests or a biopsy may be required if the type of tumour is unclear.

Computed Tomography (CT) scans are generally avoided during pregnancy as they use ionising radiation, which is a risk to the foetus.

Diagnosis of brain tumours during pregnancy is typically established through a multidisciplinary approach involving obstetricians, neurologists, and radiologists. Once the type of tumour is confirmed, the medical team considers several key questions:

1. Is it a low-grade or a high-grade tumour?
2.  Is it causing pressure on the brain?
3.  How far along is the pregnancy?

Tumours that are slow growing, such as meningiomas, may be monitored closely until it is safe to give treatment (particularly either in the second trimester or after delivery). More aggressive tumours like glioblastomas may require immediate action, even in early pregnancy.

Impact of Pregnancy on Tumours

Pregnancy causes major physiological changes in a woman, including increased levels of hormones like oestrogen and a rise in blood volume. These changes can, in some cases, accelerate the growth of the tumour.

Treatment Considerations

Treatment of brain tumours in pregnancy requires a multidisciplinary approach that carefully considers the safety and health of both the mother and the foetus. Treatment plans are highly individualised and depend on several factors, including the type and location of the tumour, its rate of growth, the patient’s symptoms, and the stage of pregnancy.

Surgery is often recommended if the tumour is causing increasing intracranial pressure, bleeding, or severe symptoms. The second trimester is considered to be the safest period for a surgery, as the risk to the foetus is lower than in the first trimester and the uterus is not yet large enough to complicate things.

If the patient is in the third trimester, doctors may consider scheduling an early delivery (typically between 32 to 36 weeks) so that surgery or additional treatment can begin promptly afterward.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are typically delayed until after delivery unless the situation is urgent. Some chemotherapy agents may be used during the second or third trimester with caution, but they are usually avoided in the first trimester due to the high risk of birth defects.

Delivery Considerations

Delivery planning in this context involves careful coordination among obstetricians, neurosurgeons, and anaesthesiologists. When and how to schedule the delivery depends on several factors:

Timing

• If the tumour is stable and not causing significant symptoms, delivery may proceed at full term (around 39 to 40 weeks).
• If the tumour is aggressive or the mother’s condition is worsening, an early delivery (32 to 36 weeks) may be recommended to allow prompt treatment.
• In the case of a medical emergency, such as seizures or brain swelling, an emergency delivery may be performed at any gestational age to protect the mother’s life.

Mode of delivery

• If the tumour affects the mother’s ability to safely go through labour—for example, due to increased intracranial pressure—then a C-section is usually recommended to minimise the risk of complications during delivery.
• If the tumour is small and not causing pressure-related symptoms, vaginal delivery may still be an option.

Psychological considerations

A brain tumour diagnosis is inherently a life-changing and traumatic event. When it occurs during pregnancy, it introduces an additional layer of emotional and psychological distress. This can impact the overall well-being of the patient.

Patients commonly experience:

• Heightened anxiety
• Depression
• Guilt or fear about the baby’s future
• Emotional isolation

Recognising and addressing these emotional needs is essential. Mental health support—through counselling, support groups, or psychiatric care—should be an integral part of treatment.

Conclusion

A brain tumour diagnosis during pregnancy presents one of the most complex, rare, and emotionally challenging medical scenarios. It requires highly individualised care, constant re-evaluation, and a coordinated effort across multiple specialities.

With thoughtful planning and compassionate support, it is possible to protect the health of both the mother and the baby. The path may be difficult, but patients do not have to face it alone; with the right care, there is hope for a safe outcome.

The post How to Cope with a Brain Tumour While Expecting a Child appeared first on NRI News.

PUNE: Doctors at Sahyadri Hospitals’ MomStory have successfully treated a 36-year-old woman from Cameroon, saving her uterus in a rare and complex surgery that offers her hope of becoming a mother in the future.

A teacher from Cameroon, Ms. Gladys Morielle Nguedia Ndadem, was facing a life-threatening condition following a miscarriage in her second trimester earlier this year. After the miscarriage, a part of the placenta remained inside the uterus. This condition is called retained placenta, and it caused her to bleed heavily, also known as post-abortion haemorrhage. She also had a very complicated 1st pregnancy where she had an incomplete abortion in 16 weeks, due to endometriosis and pelvic inflammation.

According to the doctors, the complications from her first pregnancy could have led to the severe issues in her second pregnancy.  Back in Cameroon, her condition had caused severe bleeding, shock, and repeated hospitalizations where she underwent 18 blood transfusions over time. She was also advised hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) by the doctors as the only option to save her life.

But Ms. Gladys Morielle Nguedia Ndadem, who has never had children, refused to give up on her dream of becoming a mother. Desperate for an alternative that could preserve her fertility, she travelled to India and consulted Dr. Supriya Puranik, Director of Obstetrics-Gynecology and IVF at Sahyadri Hospitals MomStory, Shivajinagar, Pune, who is known for handling complex gynaecological cases.

Dr. Puranik and her multidisciplinary team took on the challenge. On April 19, 2025, a carefully planned surgery was performed. The procedure included:

• Laparotomy with adhesiolysis to address internal scarring.
• Bilateral internal iliac and uterine artery ligation to minimize bleeding risk.
• Hysterectomy is performed to remove the infected, necrotic placental tissue.
• Myomectomy to remove multiple uterine fibroids.

Keeping in mind the patient’s urge and desire to be able to conceive a healthy baby in the future, the team also undertook abdominal cervical encirclage – a surgical stitch to prevent future miscarriages due to cervical weakness, and also reconstructed the uterus to restore normal anatomy.

“This was one of the most challenging cases I’ve handled in my career. With a history of multiple failed surgeries, abnormal vascular connections, and placenta percreta, the risk of uncontrollable bleeding and uterine damage was extremely high. But we were determined to give Gladys a fighting chance at motherhood,” said Dr. Supriya Puranik.

Today, Ms. Gladys is stable and recovering well. She expresses deep gratitude to the team in Pune for preserving her dream of motherhood.

“Our goal at MomStory is to support every woman’s right to motherhood, even in the most challenging situations. And this is more than just a medical success for us. It is a story of courage, resilience, and global hope,” added Dr. Puranik.

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With Mother’s Day celebrations done and dusted, it’s worth considering what may be the perfect gift for any mother – uninterrupted sleep.

The pervasive disruption of sleep during pregnancy and motherhood constitutes a significant and unacknowledged public health challenge, which leads to a health crisis with profound implications for both the mother and the developing newborn. In our society, there is often immense pressure on women to keep excelling in multiple different roles. Sleep often becomes a casualty, which then becomes a habit that leads to severe and far-reaching health consequences.

Impact of Maternal Sleep Deprivation and Health

Research consistently demonstrates the detrimental health effects of insufficient sleep during pregnancy. Prolonged and complicated labour requires more medical intervention, which shows higher rates of C-sections and preterm births. Another study shows how a systematic review was undertaken to enhance the understanding of sleep disturbance and mood disorders for women in late pregnancy.

After the postpartum period, the connection between breastfeeding and the assessment of sleep disturbance interventions occurs. Poor sleep connects with hypertension, gestational diabetes, and even miscarriages.

The impact usually extends to the postpartum period, where the chronic sleep deprivation inflammation that marks the mother’s body, which potentially can develop into postpartum depression and further complicate the recovery and maternal mental health. Sleep quality during pregnancy has been correlated with lower infant birth weight and increased complications for the baby.

Role of Hormonal Shifts in Sleep Disruption

Hormonal shifts occur when hormones fluctuate during pregnancy and postpartum. Changing oestrogen, progesterone, and cortisol is critical in disrupting sleep patterns. This is coupled with physical discomfort and restlessness, which demand newborn care and create chronic sleep deprivation for mothers.

It is also crucial to recognize that adequate sleep is not easy but has a fundamental biological imperative for maternal health and optimal fetal development. Compromised sleep can lead to serious physical complications, which is why prioritizing sleep is vital as an essential medical necessity, and not just a peripheral aspect of care.

Wider societal costs of maternal sleep deprivation

Sleep loss in motherhood has consequences that extend beyond the individual, impacting broader social well-being. Mothers who experience chronic sleep deficiency face problems, where there can be an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and enduring mental health disorders. This includes anxiety and depression that can extend beyond the perinatal period, potentially affecting the long-term health of both mother and child.

Moreover, a lack of adequate sleep impairs cognitive function and emotional regulation, which directly impact the mother’s ability to provide proper care for her family. However, it also depends on a potential ripple effect across generations.

Addressing the Need Recognition and Support

Given the substantial health risks involved, it is essential to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and mothers regarding the critical importance of sleep. Along with the healthcare professionals and mothers, it is also necessary to make the other family members aware (e.g., fathers/husbands, teenage kids, etc.) Furthermore, identifying sleep disturbances along with interventions such as sleep hygiene, education, counselling, as well as medical management of sleep disorders can improve outcomes for both mother and baby.

Healthcare systems should integrate comprehensive sleep assessment into routine and postnatal care, recognising sleep health as a critical component of maternal wellness and societal contribution. Societal structures and workplace policies should follow this process to help and support the sleep and needs of pregnant and postpartum mothers.

The widespread sleep disruption in motherhood is a hidden but critical crisis with far-reaching consequences. Helping to prioritize maternal sleep through recognition, education, support, and integrated medical care. Ensuring restful sleep for mothers is a matter of care and an innovative economic and social strategy.

The post Motherhood’s Silent Burden: The Connection Between Sleep Deprivation and Inner Strength appeared first on NRI News.

Motherhood doesn’t follow a script—it shifts, stretches, and surprises you, and your body? It tags along for the ride. From sleepless nights with a newborn to juggling work, home, and eventually enjoying the calm of older age, a mother’s nutrition plays a starring role. It’s more than just eating right—it’s about staying strong, bouncing back, and keeping the spark alive. When moms feel nourished, everything around them flows a bit smoother—whether it’s caring for kids, managing stress, or simply showing up with energy every day.

But let’s be honest—mothers are often the last on their list. Meals get skipped, self-care waits, and exhaustion becomes a default mode. Yet, a mother’s health quietly shapes the health of her entire household. Whether she’s healing post-delivery, multitasking with work calls and dinner preps, or embracing the changes of menopause, what she eats matters. And no, nutrition doesn’t have to mean boring food or complex rules. By combining the comforting flavors of Indian kitchens with today’s nutrition science, we can create a vibrant, delicious roadmap for every mom, whether she’s a corporate go-getter or running the home like a boss.

How Nutrition Changes as Mothers Grow

Early Motherhood – Healing, Feeding, and Finding Rhythm Again
 Post-delivery is rough—emotionally, physically, and mentally. Your body’s rebuilding itself while fueling a tiny human if you’re breastfeeding. That means you need more than just energy; you need smart energy.

Must-haves:

• Protein: Think dal, eggs, paneer, or beans. They help tissues heal and support the milk supply. Try squeezing in five to seven servings daily.
• Calcium: Your bones need love, too. Ragi, milk, and leafy greens are your best friends—aim for 1,000 mg a day.
• Iron: After childbirth, iron stores dip. Fix that with seeds, meat, greens, or tofu.
• Water: Seriously, don’t underestimate this. Two liters a day, minimum. Keep that bottle handy.
• Skip or limit: Too much caffeine, alcohol, or fish high in mercury—they can mess with your body and your baby’s.

 Life hacks for new moms:

• Breakfast = protein first. Maybe eggs and veggies or yogurt with nuts and fruit.
• Cook in batches when you can. Saves time, saves sanity.
• Keep healthy bites on standby—nuts, fruits, boiled eggs.
• Try moving your body gently—walks, stretches, light yoga. It helps more than you think.

Midlife Motherhood – When You’re Holding It All Together
 Midlife hits different. You’re probably balancing work, parenting, and maybe even your parents. Hormones are shifting, energy dips show up uninvited, and self-care? It’s often pushed aside. But your food choices now? They’re a game-changer.

 What to focus on:

• Colorful plates: Half veggies, one-fourth lean proteins, and the rest whole grains. Easy.
• Calcium + D: With bones getting weaker, now’s the time to double down.
• Fibre + Iron: Keep digestion smooth and anemia away. Lentils, spinach, millets—your gut will thank you.
• Cut back: Ultra-processed snacks, sugar overload, white bread, etc

Tips to make it work:

• Take a homemade lunch—it beats greasy takeout any day.
• Set aside Sunday for meal prep—it saves your week.
• High-fibre snacks like roasted chana or a fruit-nut combo = stable energy.
• Stick to the Indian thali formula. Balanced, filling, nostalgic.
• Try calming rituals—breathing exercises, journaling, or even music. Stress doesn’t stand a chance.

Senior Years – Staying Strong, Sharp, and Joyful
 As the kids grow and life slows a bit, mothers step into their golden years. But aging doesn’t mean fading—it’s about thriving, with the right nutrition leading the way.

What the body loves now:

• Protein: Keeps muscles intact and strengthens up.
• Calcium + D: Prevents brittle bones and unexpected falls.
• Antioxidants: Fruits, seeds, veggies—they’re like armor for your immune system.
• Water: Thirst cues fade with age, so drink even when you’re not feeling it.
• Balanced meals: Stick to familiar combos like dal-rice or khichdi—comforting and complete.

 Smart eating habits for senior moms:

• Focus on fibre and easy-to-digest proteins.
• Stick to wholesome Indian staples—they’re timeless for a reason.
• Move daily—walks, gentle yoga, stretching. Keep the joints happy.

Modern Science Meets Grandma’s Kitchen

Indian food wisdom isn’t outdated—it’s just underappreciated. The humble thali packs nutrients, flavors, and variety onto one plate. When done right, it naturally ticks all the boxes modern nutritionists talk about.

Why it works:

• Balanced macros + micros, all in one meal.
• Local, seasonal ingredients make it fresher and cheaper.
• Pulses + grains = complete proteins (thanks, khichdi!).
• Fermented foods like curd and idlis support gut health.
• Traditional cooking? Keeps nutrients intact and sugar spikes low

Blending the old with the new isn’t just smart—it’s sustainable and satisfying.

Easy, Everyday Ways to Stay Nourished

• Plan your week—prep dough, chop veggies, store soaked beans.
• Hydrate with flair—water infused with mint, lemon, or jeera.
• Snack smarter—nuts, makhana, fruit with a dollop of curd.
• Add superfoods—spinach, pumpkin, berries, and seeds.
• Don’t make up for a missed meal with a midnight binge.
• Move every day—even a dance in your kitchen counts.
• Breathe, pause, smile—stress doesn’t belong at the table.

Let This Be Your Moment to Nourish You
 Being a mom doesn’t mean your needs come last. If anything, your well-being keeps the family wheel turning. So whether you’re chasing toddlers, tackling deadlines, or reminiscing with grandkids, eat well, move often, and stay kind to yourself.

This Mother’s Day, choose to nourish yourself fully, joyfully, and without guilt.

The post Fueling Motherhood: Nutritional Guidelines for Every Phase of a Woman’s Journey appeared first on NRI News.