Lax a day for kids. Lax-A-Day for Kids: Gentle Constipation Relief Guide

How does Lax-A-Day work for children’s constipation. What are the recommended dosages for kids. Are there any side effects parents should be aware of. When should you consult a doctor about your child’s constipation.

Understanding Lax-A-Day: A Gentle Solution for Childhood Constipation

Constipation in children can be a source of discomfort and concern for both kids and parents. Lax-A-Day, containing polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350), offers a gentle approach to relieving occasional constipation in children. This article explores the uses, benefits, and important considerations when using Lax-A-Day for kids.

What is Lax-A-Day and How Does It Work?

Lax-A-Day is a laxative medication designed to provide relief from occasional constipation. Its active ingredient, PEG 3350, works by:

• Softening stools
• Retaining water in the intestines
• Stimulating colon muscle contractions
• Promoting faster bowel movements

This gentle mechanism of action makes it suitable for children experiencing constipation issues. It’s important to note that Lax-A-Day may take 2 to 4 days to produce noticeable effects.

Proper Usage and Dosage Guidelines for Children

Administering Lax-A-Day correctly is crucial for its effectiveness and your child’s safety. Here are the key points to remember:

Recommended Dosage

The standard dose for Lax-A-Day is 17 g (1 sachet or heaping tablespoon) once daily. However, for children, it’s essential to consult with a pediatrician or healthcare provider to determine the appropriate dosage based on the child’s age, weight, and specific needs.

Preparation Instructions

1. Add the prescribed amount of powder to 250 mL (1 cup) of liquid
2. Suitable liquids include water, juice, soft drinks, or even tea
3. Stir until the powder is completely dissolved
4. Encourage your child to drink the solution immediately after preparation

Can Lax-A-Day be mixed with other beverages to improve taste for children? Yes, Lax-A-Day can be mixed with various beverages to make it more palatable for kids. However, avoid mixing it with dairy products or thick liquids that may alter its effectiveness.

Safety Precautions and Contraindications

While Lax-A-Day is generally considered safe for children, there are important safety considerations to keep in mind:

Who Should Not Use Lax-A-Day?

Lax-A-Day is contraindicated for children who:

• Have known allergies to PEG 3350 or any ingredients in the medication
• Suffer from intestinal blockages
• Experience fever, nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, or bloating

Is Lax-A-Day safe for long-term use in children? Long-term use of Lax-A-Day should only be under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Prolonged use may mask underlying conditions or lead to dependence.

Potential Side Effects and Management

While Lax-A-Day is generally well-tolerated, some children may experience side effects. Understanding these potential reactions can help parents manage their child’s treatment more effectively.

Common Side Effects

The most frequently reported side effects of Lax-A-Day in children include:

• Mild abdominal cramps
• Bloating
• Flatulence (gas)
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

These side effects are typically mild and often resolve on their own. However, if they persist or worsen, it’s advisable to consult your child’s healthcare provider.

Managing Side Effects

To help minimize potential side effects:

1. Ensure proper hydration by encouraging your child to drink plenty of water
2. Adjust the dosage as recommended by your healthcare provider
3. Consider timing the dose to minimize disruption to your child’s daily routine

How can parents differentiate between normal side effects and more serious reactions? While mild discomfort is common, severe allergic reactions or persistent severe symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. Watch for signs such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or severe abdominal pain.

Integrating Lax-A-Day into Your Child’s Constipation Management Plan

Lax-A-Day can be an effective tool in managing childhood constipation, but it’s most beneficial when used as part of a comprehensive approach.

Lifestyle and Dietary Considerations

Alongside Lax-A-Day, consider implementing these strategies:

• Increase dietary fiber intake through fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Ensure adequate hydration throughout the day
• Encourage regular physical activity
• Establish a consistent bathroom routine

Can dietary changes alone resolve childhood constipation? While dietary modifications can significantly improve constipation in many cases, some children may require additional support from medications like Lax-A-Day, especially in more persistent cases.

When to Consult a Healthcare Professional

While Lax-A-Day can be effective for occasional constipation, there are situations where professional medical advice is necessary.

Red Flags Requiring Medical Attention

Seek immediate medical care if your child experiences:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Rectal bleeding
• Persistent fever
• Unexplained weight loss
• Constipation lasting more than two weeks despite treatment

How often should children using Lax-A-Day have follow-up appointments? Regular follow-ups are important, especially if Lax-A-Day is used for an extended period. Typically, a check-in every 3-6 months is recommended, but your healthcare provider may suggest a different schedule based on your child’s specific needs.

Alternative Treatments and Complementary Approaches

While Lax-A-Day is effective for many children, it’s not the only option available for managing constipation. Exploring alternative and complementary approaches can provide a well-rounded treatment plan.

Natural Remedies

Some natural alternatives to consider include:

• Prune or pear juice for younger children
• Increased water intake
• Massage techniques to stimulate bowel movements
• Warm baths to relax abdominal muscles

Other Medications

In some cases, healthcare providers might recommend:

• Stool softeners
• Lubricant laxatives
• Suppositories (for severe cases)

Are natural remedies as effective as Lax-A-Day for treating childhood constipation? The effectiveness of natural remedies can vary greatly depending on the severity of constipation and individual factors. While some children respond well to natural approaches, others may require medication like Lax-A-Day for more reliable relief.

Long-Term Considerations and Preventing Recurrence

Managing constipation in children often requires a long-term strategy to prevent recurrence and promote overall digestive health.

Developing Healthy Habits

Encourage your child to adopt these habits for better digestive health:

1. Regular meal times to promote consistent bowel movements
2. Limiting processed foods and increasing whole food consumption
3. Staying physically active with daily exercise or play
4. Responding promptly to the urge to have a bowel movement

Monitoring Progress

Keep track of your child’s bowel movements and any recurring symptoms. This information can be valuable for healthcare providers in assessing the effectiveness of the treatment plan and making necessary adjustments.

How long should children continue using Lax-A-Day after symptoms improve? The duration of Lax-A-Day use should be determined by a healthcare provider. Generally, it’s recommended to gradually reduce the dosage once regular bowel movements are established, rather than stopping abruptly.

In conclusion, Lax-A-Day offers a gentle and effective solution for managing childhood constipation. By understanding its proper use, potential side effects, and integrating it into a comprehensive treatment approach, parents can help their children find relief from constipation symptoms. Remember to always consult with a healthcare provider for personalized advice and to address any concerns about your child’s digestive health.

Lax-A-Day – Uses, Side Effects, Interactions

How does this medication work? What will it do for me?

Polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350) belongs to the class of medications called laxatives. PEG 3350 is used for the relief of occasional constipation. It works by softening the stools and keeping water in the intestines. This causes colon muscles to contract and produce a bowel movement more quickly. It may take 2 to 4 days for this medication to work.

This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor or pharmacist has not prescribed or suggested it.

What form(s) does this medication come in?

Powder for solution contains 100% polyethylene glycol 3350.

How should I use this medication?

The recommended dose is 17 g (1 sachet or heaping tablespoon) of PEG 3350 once a day. The powder should be added to 250 mL (1 cup) of water, juice, pop, coffee, or tea and stirred until all the contents are dissolved. Drink the solution as soon as it’s made.

It may take 2 to 4 days for the medication to work. Do not use this product for longer than 7 days unless recommended by your doctor.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor or pharmacist has recommended a dose different from the ones above, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to use this medication exactly as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.

Store this medication at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children.

This medication is available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms listed here. The forms available for the specific brand you have searched are listed under “What form(s) does this medication come in?”

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Who should NOT take this medication?

PEG 3350 should not be taken by anyone who:

• is allergic to PEG 3350 or to any of the ingredients of the medication
• has an intestinal blockage

What side effects are possible with this medication?

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• abdominal cramps
• bloating
• diarrhea
• excessive stool frequency
• flatulence (gas)
• nausea

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• symptoms of a severe allergic reaction (e. g., hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the mouth, tongue, face, or throat)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or bloating: If you have any of these symptoms, don’t take this medication until you talk to your doctor.

Long-term use: This medication should not be taken daily for more than one week unless directed by a health care professional.

Overdose: Do not take more than the recommended dose of PEG 3350. Doing so may cause severe diarrhea and dehydration.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if PEG 3350 passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children. Do not give this medication to children under 18 years of age.

Seniors: If diarrhea occurs, stop taking this medication and contact your doctor.

What other drugs could interact with this medication?

Do not take other medications within 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking PEG 3350. PEG3350 may reduce the effectiveness of other medications.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2021. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/Lax-A-Day

Constipation and Laxatives for Kids

Childhood Constipation and Chemical Laxatives for Children

Many kids suffer from constipation. Thankfully, it’s usually temporary. Making a few changes to their diet and bathroom routine often helps them get back into a more comfortable rhythm, without having to resort to chemical laxatives. As Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

What is constipation?

We all have our own unique bowel habits. What’s normal for one child may not be the same for another. You know your kids best, but in general constipation is defined by having:

• Fewer than three bowel movements each week
• Hard and/or dry stools
• Unusually large or difficult-to-pass stools

Many kids struggling with constipation will complain about tummy aches. Some might even have bloating, fever or vomiting. And, it’s not uncommon for kids with constipation to soil their underwear with bits of poo.

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What causes constipation?

Constipation is caused when waste moving down the digestive tract doesn’t get enough water to remain soft, or when the lower intestinal muscles aren’t doing their job to move the waste down and out.

If your child struggles with constipation, it’s important to remedy the situation quickly because constipation may become a self-perpetuating problem. Kids tend to hold in hard stool because it’s uncomfortable to pass. The longer the poo remains inside, the harder it becomes, making it even more painful to pass. And the longer the large stool stretches the lower intestine, the weaker these muscles become.

Many kids develop constipation from not getting enough fluids or fiber in their diet. Remember, we’re all unique individuals. What is ‘enough’ for one child may not be ‘enough’ for another.  Other times, an imbalanced microbiome may be to blame. Every day we’re learning more about the role our gut bacteria plays on overall wellness. Sometimes, the cause is emotional.When some toddlers and school-agers become stressed or upset, their intestines may pay the price. This can result in either diarrhea or constipation. New foods or milk may also cause constipation, especially in infants.

If your child is struggling with constipation, it’s important to address all the possible reasons and take the appropriate steps to get your little one pooping regularly again.

Chemical laxatives for kids

I’m receiving many questions about using chemical laxatives in children. Products such as Miralax (polyethylene glycol or generic Glycolax) are often used “off-label” to help kids struggling with constipation. Some parents are being told to give their children these chemical laxatives for weeks or months at a time even though the label says for ages 17 and up, and not for use for more than 7 days at a time. No wonder parents have questions!

“Off-label” means the drug isn’t approved for this particular use. This is actually quite common in medicine. Most of the time, there is no problem, and after further testing and experience, the medication becomes approved. Of course, that isn’t always the case.

I seldom use chemical laxatives to treat constipation. I’m not comfortable using it off-label. This doesn’t mean it’s not safe. It just means that I haven’t used it enough to be comfortable. If your doctor is confident with it, and you trust him/her, then go with that. But keep in mind that chemical laxatives are simply drugs addressing the symptoms, and not the cause of the constipation. I prefer to suggest diet and lifestyle changes.

Osmotic laxatives, such as Miralax and Milk of Magnesia, work by pulling water into the stool, making it easier to pass. Overuse of these laxatives may reduce or weaken the intestine’s ability to contract. This may make their constipation worse or cause dependence, meaning there’s a chance your child may become reliant on the medication to have bowel movements. Overuse may also cause dehydration, diarrhea and an electrolyte imbalance.

What should parents do to help their child with constipation?

Try to solve the issue by getting to the root cause of the problem. Consider making these changes before resorting to chemical laxatives.

1. Provide more water or fluids. Give your child an extra 2 or 3 glasses of water each day. If they’re not water-lovers, add a little juice (¼ juice, ¾ water) for natural flavoring.
2. Choose high-fiber foods. Fiber helps strengthen bowel function, but most kids (and adults) don’t get enough in their diet. In fact, most kids only get about half of the fiber that is recommended. Include more fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans in your child’s diet. Add 5 to your child’s age to get their minimum recommended daily fiber intake. Adding 10 is even better. In other words, a 6- year-old should consume 11 to 16 grams of fiber daily, and a 13-year-old should have at least 18 to 23 grams.
3. Supplement with fiber. Getting enough prebiotic soluble fiber, even with the most nutritious diet, is a challenge so this is one area where a supplement is smart. Just choose your brand carefully because some can cause gas, cramping and bloating. We recommend Sunfiber (also found in Regular Girl) because it’s gentle on bellies. It soothes both occasional constipation and occasional diarrhea without any excess gas or bloating. Plus, it mixes invisibly into most drinks and foods. Picky eaters won’t even know it’s there!
4. Include natural laxatives daily. Apricots and the four P’s – prunes, pears, plums, and peaches – usually exert a laxative effect. Eat strained prunes on high-fiber crackers and drink pear and apricot nectar daily. This smoothie is also a great option.
5. Avoid caffeine-containing foods and beverages, such as chocolates, colas and energy drinks. Caffeine is a stimulant, so it can encourage a bowel movement. But it may also lead to dehydration, having the opposite effect.
6. Encourage more exercise. Walk, run, skip, dance and jump with your kids. Moving can help stimulate the bowels.
7. Tell your kids to peek and tell.  Teach your kids to look in the toilet bowl before they flush, and to let you know if things aren’t quite right. This handy kid-friendly poo chart can help you start the conversation.
8. Relax! Help your child associate bathroom time with something positive so they don’t worry and inhibit the process. Sing silly songs or play a little game. Kids are more likely to poo when relaxed.

Like many pediatricians, I have spent countless hours discussing gut concerns with parents, from what goes in the top (food) to what comes out the bottom (poo). I’ve written a book sharing what I’ve learned, both in the clinic and with my own children and grandchildren. Dr. Poo, The Scoop on Comfortable Poop provides more tips on managing constipation and other digestive issues in children.

Dr. Bill Sears

Dr. Sears, or Dr. Bill as his “little patients” call him, has been advising busy parents on how to raise healthier families for over 40 years. He received his medical training at Harvard Medical School’s Children’s Hospital in Boston and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, the world’s largest children’s hospital, where he was associate ward chief of the newborn intensive care unit before serving as the chief of pediatrics at Toronto Western Hospital, a teaching hospital of the University of Toronto. He has served as a professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto, University of South Carolina, University of Southern California School of Medicine, and University of California: Irvine. As a father of 8 children, he coached Little League sports for 20 years, and together with his wife Martha has written more than 40 best-selling books and countless articles on nutrition, parenting, and healthy aging. He serves as a health consultant for magazines, TV, radio and other media, and his AskDrSears.com website is one of the most popular health and parenting sites. Dr. Sears has appeared on over 100 television programs, including 20/20, Good Morning America, Oprah, Today, The View, and Dr. Phil, and was featured on the cover of TIME Magazine in May 2012. He is noted for his science-made-simple-and-fun approach to family health.

July 25, 2019July 25, 2019Dr. Bill Sears

Constipation

Constipation is defined as:

• Decreased frequency of bowel movements (generally every 3 or more days)
• Stool is harder, making it difficult or painful to pass
• Incomplete evacuation of bowel movement (BM) – Cannot pass all of the stool

Diagnosing Constipation
Using the Bristol stool chart will help you tell your doctor the kind of BMs your child is having. It is important for your doctor to know this so he or she can properly diagnose and treat your child.

A normal stool should be types 4 and 5. Type 6 may be normal for infants. Types 1-3 may suggest constipation and types 6 and 7 may suggest diarrhea.

It is also important to tell the doctor:

• About any prescription and over-the-counter medications and vitamins and supplements your child takes
• If your child’s abdomen (lower stomach) is swollen and/or hard (abdominal distension)
• If your child has lost weight or is not eating very much if at all
• If your child has a lot of rectal bleeding. It is not unusual to have an occasional small amount of rectal bleeding due to anal fissure.

Treating Constipation
Treating constipation is not an exact science. There are several treatment options to meet the unique needs of each child. Commonly used medications are available over the counter. Treatment typically includes diet changes and medications and has two phases – a three-day, aggressive, cleanout phase and a maintenance phase. Depending on your child’s age, the doctor may recommend one of the following plans.

Age 0-2 Years

Initial approach may include:

• prune/apple juice 2-3 oz. daily
• glycerin suppository
• rectal stimulation using Q tip or rectal thermometer
• consider limiting dairy intake

If the above approaches do not work by themselves, consider adding one of the following medications. Before you do, talk to your child’s doctor. It is important to include your child’s doctor in medical decision-making.

• ¼ capful polyethylene glycol (PEG) (also known as MiraLax, ClearLax, GlycoLax, etc.) daily, with or without glycerin suppository
• ½ capful PEG daily, with or without glycerin suppository

Continue the dose of PEG that works; give glycerin suppository if no BM in 3 days

Toddlers and Pre-Pubertal Children

Initial Phase

• Limit dairy intake
• High fiber diet (age + 5 grams daily) – use soluble fibers such as ‘psyllium husk’
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid withholding behavior
• Scheduled toilet times – before school, after every meal
• Encourage using bathrooms in school

If the above approaches do not work by themselves, consider adding one of the following medications. Before you do, talk to your child’s doctor. It is important to include your child’s doctor in medical decision-making.

• Start polyethylene glycol (PEG) (also known as MiraLax, ClearLax, GlycoLax, etc.) ½ capful daily
• If no help, double PEG dose (max 6 capfuls daily) until stools are soft.

If no success add a stimulant medication (twice a week)

• age 2-3 years: ½ Ex-Lax, or 1 glycerin or dulcolax suppository
• age 3-6 years: ½ to 1 Ex-Lax or ½ pediatric Fleet enema
• age 6 and above: 1-2 Ex-Lax or 1 pediatric Fleet enema

Maintenance Phase

• PEG – use the dose that worked before (every day)
• Stimulant medication – that worked before (twice a week)

Patients with purposeful withholding behavior due to control issues – referral to psychologist or behavioral therapist.

Teenagers

Initial Phase

• Limit dairy intake
• High fiber diet (age+5 grams daily) – use soluble fibers such as ‘psyllium husk’
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid withholding behavior – encourage using bathrooms in school
• Scheduled toilet times – after every meal

If the above approaches do not work by themselves, consider adding one of the following medications. Before you do, talk to your child’s doctor. It is important to include your child’s doctor in medical decision-making.

• Start polyethylene glycol (PEG) (also known as MiraLax, ClearLax, GlycoLax, etc.) 1 capful daily
• If no success, double PEG dose (max 6 capfuls daily) until stools are soft
• If no success add a stimulant medication (twice a week): 1-2 Ex-Lax or 1 pediatric fleet enema

Maintenance Phase

• PEG – dose that worked before (every day)
• Stimulant medication – that has worked before (twice a week)

Patients with purposeful withholding behavior due to control issues – referral to psychologist or behavioral therapist.

It may take a few days for the treatment to work. Contact your child’s doctor if you have questions or you do not feel the treatment is working after several days.

Printable Patient Information

Constipation

Management of Functional Constipation

Constipation Cleanout Instructions

Make an Appointment

If you or someone you care for is experiencing worrisome symptoms, we encourage you to make an appointment with one of our pediatric gastroenterologists, adult gastroenterologists or colorectal surgeons.

Lax-A Day – Pendopharm

Therapeutic Class (Gastroenterology):

Laxative

Form:

Powder for Oral Solution

Strength:

Each g contains: 1 g of Polyethylene Glycol 3350

Format:

119 g, 238 g, 510 g, 1020 g or in 10 sachets of 17g each.

Ingredient:

Polyethylene Glycol 3350

Indication:

Relieves occasional constipation

Dosage (adults >18 years):

A single dose is 17 grams and should be taken once a day or as directed by your physician.
Lax-A-Day^® should be used for one week or less or as directed by a physician.

Directions for use:

Note: This product is supplied with a dosing cup marked to contain 17 grams of powder when filled to the indicated line.
Pour 17 grams (about 1 heaping tablespoon) of powder into the dosing cup. Stir the powder in a cup (250 mL) of water, juice, soda, coffee, or tea until completely dissolved. Drink the solution.
Treatment for 2 to 4 days may be required to produce a bowel movement.

Warnings/Precautions:

• Patients with symptoms suggestive of bowel obstruction, appendicitis, or inflamed bowel (fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or bloating) should consult a doctor to rule out these conditions before initiating Lax-A-Day^® therapy.
• Taking more than the recommended dose of Lax-A-Day^® may cause loss of fluid or dehydration due to severe diarrhea.
• Should unusual cramps, bloating, or diarrhea occur, consult your physician.
• This product should be used for one (1) week or less or as directed by a physician. Prolonged, frequent or excessive use of Lax-A-Day^® may result in electrolyte imbalance and dependence on laxatives.

Before taking Lax-A-Day^®, tell your doctor or pharmacist:

• if you have ever had any allergic reaction to medications, food, etc;
• about your medical conditions and medications;
• if you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding;

Please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet for additional safety information.

Storage:

Store in a dry place at room temperature (15°C to 30°C). Keep this and other drugs out of the reach of children.

For more information, visit www.laxasolutions.com

Lax-A-Day^® is a registered trademark of Pharmascience Inc.

These products may not be suitable for everyone. Read the labels and follow the directions of use.
For additional information, contact us at 1-888-550-6060 or by email at [email protected].

Should parents be concerned about MiraLAX side effects in kids?

When children suffer from constipation, many parents turn to over-the-counter laxatives like MiraLAX for relief. Pediatricians often recommend them. But some families are raising concerns about safety and sharing alarming accounts of apparent side effects in their kids.

An ongoing study is looking into the safety of the popular medication in response to reports that a number of children developed “neuropsychiatric problems” after taking MiraLAX.  

The researchers from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) are looking specifically at polyethylene glycol 3350, or PEG 3350, the active ingredient in MiraLAX and similar generic products. Medications containing PEG 3350 are not labeled for use in anyone under 17, but MiraLAX is often recommended off-label by pediatricians to treat chronic constipation in kids — sometimes for extended periods of time, even though the label advises “use no more than 7 days.”

While the FDA awarded a grant to CHOP to investigate the possible side effects in 2014, the story is once again making headlines after a report from a local Philadelphia news station voicing parents’ concerns.

Families told WPVI-TV that after taking MiraLAX their children experienced mood and behavioral changes, including depression, anger, anxiety, and mood swings.

“We saw a lot of the anger, a lot of the rage, a lot of the aggression,” parent Mike Kohler told the station.

Jeanie Ward told the station her daughter Nicole exhibited “near psychiatric events with paranoia, mood swings, aggression, rage. ”

“It was horrifying to see my daughter change like that and to not come completely go back to normal,” Ward said.

A private Facebook page called Parents Against MiraLAX currently has over 16,000 members. “We are a group of parents and family members who are very suspicious of PEG 3350 and are here to discuss its effects on our children,” the group states. “We discuss alternative options and ways to talk to doctors about our opposition to this very dangerous drug.”

How great a concern are such claims, and is there proof that MiraLAX is the cause of the problems?

Pediatric neurologist Dr. Jonathan Mink, MD, says that while the jury is still out, there are other likely scenarios that might explain the issues these parents reported.

“I see an awful lot of children who have neurobehavioral syndromes like Tourette syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and anxiety and constipation is a common problem in those children,” he told CBS News.

Though the exact connection is unclear, the nature of these disorders likely has something to do with it, as nerve cells and muscles also control bowel function, explained Mink, who serves on the executive committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Section on Neurology and is president of the Child Neurology Society.

That raises the possibility that problems the parents observed may have been due to an underlying condition rather than the medication itself.

“The question is, then, is this a coincidence?” Mink said. “Could this be an association where there’s no cause-and-effect relationship?”

In 2014, the FDA reported 167 adverse side effects in children who had taken MiraLAX, 37 of which included neurological or psychiatric responses.

But after reviewing these cases, the agency said there was not enough evidence to change or add any additional warnings to the drug’s label.

“To date, the agency’s reviews of adverse event reports and medical literature indicate that the approved labeling for PEG 3350 products accurately conveys their risks, and additional warnings regarding neuropsychiatric issues in children are not warranted at this time,” the FDA said in a statement. “However, because many parents and physicians rely on these products to treat serious constipation, we have decided to fund research to better determine the benefits and risks associated with the use of these products in children.” 

Mink says he believes the study will eventually help provide more concrete answers. “I think it’s important that the study is going on to look into this because the concern has been raised,” he said.

However, for children with chronic constipation for which alternative treatments have not worked, Mink says he believes MiraLAX is likely safe to use.

“It’s generally my recommendation to treat symptoms that are causing problems and not symptoms that are not causing problems,” he said. “My personal professional opinion is that I don’t think it’s likely that MiraLAX is causing these symptoms.”

He notes that although MiraLAX isn’t approved by the FDA for use in children, it doesn’t mean it is not safe. 

“For pediatricians and pediatric sub-specialists, there are many treatments that we offer to children who have very serious symptoms that have not been approved by the FDA for use in children. And that’s not because they’re not necessarily safe for use in children, it’s because the studies have not been done in a way that has led to FDA approval,” he said.

CHOP issued the following statement in response to WPVI-TV’s report: 

“Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia are conducting a study commissioned by the Food and Drug Administration on laxative-use by children. We cannot comment on studies that are incomplete, nor can we comment on a particular child’s circumstances. We will submit our findings to the FDA upon completion of the study.”

CBS News reached out to Bayer, the manufacturer of MiraLAX, which issued the following statement: “MiraLAX is a safe and effective osmotic laxative that relieves occasional constipation. It is approved and labeled for use in adults and children 17 years and older for up to 7 days, unless otherwise directed by a doctor.”

The company continues: “While MiraLAX is not labeled for use in the pediatric population, there have been many clinical studies conducted with PEG 3350 in pediatric populations which have demonstrated safety for short and long term use in children with a history of chronic constipation. As part of Bayer’s ongoing commitment to consumer well-being, we regularly track, analyze and report all adverse event data related to the use of the product. Results of this ongoing monitoring support the continued safe use of MiraLAX.”

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Ashley Welch

Ashley Welch covers health and wellness for CBSNews.com

The Best Stool Softeners For Kids In 2021

Cristina Rivera

Last Updated on: Apr 01, 2021

Children deal with many issues as they grow, and one of the more painful ones is constipation. Constipation typically results in difficult to pass, painful, or infrequent stools. It is very common. In fact, according to research done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, it is one of the ten most frequent issues pediatricians deal with and accounts for 25% of referrals to pediatric gastroenterologists worldwide.

Once you’ve identified that this is your child’s issue, there are many things you can do to treat it. From increasing fiber and fluid to trying various home remedies, the most effective and often necessary treatment is stool softeners for kids. 

Stool softeners, also called laxatives, add moisture to the stool to allow it to pass more easily. They are available in liquid, tablet, suppository, or enema options. It’s not always easy to know which stool softener is best for your child, but this list of the best stool softeners for kids will help you make your decision.

Best Overall

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9.4
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Best Mid Range

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9.2
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Cheaper Choice

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9.6
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8.4
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9.2
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9.6
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Best Overall: Culturelle for Kids Probiotics for Regularity

Our Score
9.4
out of 10

This product comes in individually-dosed powder packets that you can mix in water, juice, or food such as yogurt, so it’s easy for kids to take. However, this also means you need to stir well to avoid any problems with the product dissolving well. It is touted as more of an ongoing, long-term solution for kids that deal with constipation and isn’t an instant fix. It can be used by kids older than one year of age and works well for kids with autism, ADHD, and anxiety. It is drug and dairy-free, which many parents prefer. This stool softener for kids works by adding good bacteria to the intestines while also giving a gentle laxative boost.

Culturelle also makes one especially for babies to help with digestive support. Geared toward colic, gas, and general digestive issues, it can provide relief for constipation as well. It does take longer to work, just like the kids’ version, but can be a long-term option for chronic issues.

Best for Babies: Mommy’s Bliss Baby Constipation Ease

Our Score
9.2
out of 10

Products that provide natural relief without added chemicals or drugs are becoming more popular, which is how this product ended up at the top of the list. It is vegan made using organic vegetable products. Because there is no alcohol or dyes, it’s gentle enough to use on babies. An added benefit is that it includes probiotics, so your baby is getting even more digestive support. The natural laxative effect can take up to 12 hours to take effect, so you still need to be patient. Mommy’s Bliss also makes gripe water, which is another popular option to help babies dealing with digestive issues, although not necessarily constipation.

Quickest Fix: Pedialax Liquid Glycerin Suppositories

Our Score
9.6
out of 10

If your child is in pain and needs the relief of a bowel movement sooner rather than later, suppositories are the way to go. While they may not be the most fun option among stool softeners for kids, they work with no lasting effects. With these suppositories, your child will see instant relief within minutes. It is recommended for ages 2-5 and works quickly. Some moms and other reviews say that it can be used on infants as well, but be sure to consult your doctor if using outside the recommended ages.

Most Natural: PottyWise Liquid Stool Softener for Kids

Our Score
8. 4
out of 10

This stimulant-free liquid option is made from natural herbs. If you need to have a stool softener free of sugar, preservatives, gluten, and additives, this is the laxative for you. It is gentle and relatively quick-acting and is considered safe for all ages. It relieves tummy cramping and discomfort while working, so kids feel better while they are waiting to have a bowel movement. 

Other Good Options to Try

While they don’t top the list, these are also among the top trusted options of 2021 for kids’ laxatives.  

Pedialax Saline Laxative Tablets

Our Score
8.8
out of 10

This laxative is quick-acting without being in suppository form. Although it comes in a few flavors, it doesn’t reportedly have the best taste. The taste may be manageable, though, since it gives relief without cramping and works within a few hours. It’s safe for toddlers and comes with no side effects. It has been shown to work when other methods don’t show improvement and can even help keep the bowels regular if used routinely.

Fletcher’s Laxative for Kids

Our Score
9.2
out of 10

Fletcher’s Laxative, Root Beer, 3.25 Ounce
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GENTLE RELIEF FROM OCCASIONAL CONSTIPATION*: Fletcher’s Laxative gently causes bowel movement in 6 to 12 hours.

MADE WITH NATURAL SENNA: Natural Senna provides gentle, effective relief from occasio…

Using natural plant ingredients, this product is gentle yet effective. Even adults have seen benefits from using it and might even remember it from when they were kids, as it’s been around for a long time. It offers a distinct root beer taste that may help some kids find it easier to take, but it does include some artificial ingredients. It is one of the faster-acting laxatives, as it can work in as little as six hours.

Wellements Organic Constipation Support

Our Score
8.8
out of 10

This is another all-natural option for parents. Using organic prune concentrate and organic chicory root fiber, it promotes regular bowel movements without hard chemicals. It is safe for babies six months and older. There are some limits because it is organic and preservative-free; it must be kept in the fridge and thrown out four weeks after opening.

Miralax

Our Score
9.6
out of 10

Miralax is an all-ages powered laxative that can be used by kids. It is sugar, gluten, and preservative-free. It can be used daily and is useful for those that need ongoing relief. Kids may not even notice they are taking it, as it is a tasteless powder that easily mixes with food or drink. Miralax used to only be available by prescription, but it now over-the-counter. While there is still some research being done to determine if there are lasting effects on kids, it is still a go-to for pediatricians. 

Now that you know what stool softeners for kids are available, you can be prepared for the next time your child deals with struggling to go.

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Pedia-lax Chewable Tablets Oral Saline Laxative :: Directions for Me

1. Home
2. Laxatives
3. Pedia-lax Chewable Tablets Oral Saline Laxative

Directions

Use dosage chart for proper dosing. Doses may be taken as a single daily dose or in divided doses. Drink a full glass (8 ounces) of liquid with each dose.
Age … Starting Dose … Maximum dose per day (24 hours).
Children 6 to under 12 years … 3-6 tablets … 6 tablets.
Children 2 to under 6 years … 1-3 tablets … 3 tablets.
Children under 2 years … Ask a doctor.

Description

Pedia-lax® Chewable Tablets Oral Saline Laxative.
Treats constipation.
Relief in 1/2 to 6 hours.
Safe & gentle for kids.
#1 Pediatrician recommended Children’s Laxative Brand.
Ages: 2-11 yrs.

Other Description

Poop should just happen.
When it doesn’t, you can count on Pedia-Lax®. We have the only complete line of products for regularity and constipation relief designed just for children.
Pedia-Lax® Chewable Tablets are designed for quick, yet gentle relief in 30 minutes to 6 hours. Tasty watermelon-flavored chewable tablets are appropriately dosed for children and allow relief without the painful cramping sometimes associated with stimulant laxatives.
And for a daily way to help maintain natural digestive balance, Pedia-Lax® Probiotic Yums* deliver as many live cultures as a serving of yogurt, all in one kid-friendly chewable bite that tastes like it sounds – Yum!
Each tablet contains: Magnesium 170 mg.
Child resistant cap.
Gluten free & sugar free.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Questions?
Call: 1-866-255-6960 or Visit: www.pedia-lax.com.
© 2016.

Ingredients

Active Ingredient (In Each Tablet) … Purpose.
Magnesium Hydroxide 400mg … Saline Laxative.
Inactive Ingredients: Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, FD&C Red #40 Aluminum Lake, Flavor, Magnesium Stearate, Maltodextrin, Mannitol, Sorbitol, Stearic Acid, Sucralose.

Warnings

Ask a doctor before using any laxative if you child has:
Kidney disease.
A magnesium-restricted diet.
Abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.
A sudden change in bowel habits lasting more than 2 weeks.
Already used a laxative for more than 1 week.
Stop using this product and consult a doctor if your child:
Has rectal bleeding.
Does not have a bowel movement within 6 hours of taking this product.
These symptoms may be signs of a serious condition.
Keep out of reach of children.
In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away
Other Information:
The top of the bottle is sealed with foil for your safety. Do not use if foil imprinted “sealed for your protection” is broken or missing.

UPC

00301320006551

90,000 Healing the paralyzed. Gospel stories for children

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In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. In one of his writings, the great Ephraim Siren says: Do not enclose your prayer in one word, let your every action be God-service … By this he says a lot.And the first: everything we do has some

a) Healing and forgiving the paralytic.

a) Healing and forgiving the paralytic.
2.1-12 – “After [several] days He came again to Capernaum; and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered, so that there was no more room at the door; and He spoke the word to them. And they came to Him with a paralytic, carried by four; and, not

X In Jerusalem.Healing the relaxed at a sheep’s bath. Clash with the Pharisees because of the picking of the ears by the disciples on the Sabbath. Dryhand Heal

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Healing the paralytic in Capernaum

Healing the paralytic in Capernaum
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Healing the paralyzed at the sheep’s bath
There was a pool in the city of Jerusalem, which was called in Hebrew Bethesda, that is, the house of mercy.It was so remarkable that at times the angel of the Lord descended into it and disturbed the water, and that sick person who entered

Healing another relaxed

Healing another relaxed
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HEALING OF THE RELAXED

Jn.V, 1. After this there was a Jewish feast, and Jesus came to Jerusalem. After this there was a Jewish feast, I came Jesus to Jerusalem. 2. There is also a pool in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate, called in Hebrew Bethesda, at which there were five covered

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Healing the Relaxed

One person could not walk.He wants to bend his legs, but they do not bend. He wants to sit down, but he has no strength. He was so weak that they called him so – relaxed. His mother fed him with a spoon and washed him like a small child. And he also had friends who are often

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were drawn to Christ

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(John V, 1-9) After that there was a Jewish holiday, and Jesus came to Jerusalem.And in Jerusalem there is a swimming pool at the cattle gates, its name in Hebrew is Bethesda, with five sheds. Under the sheds lay many sick people: blind, paralyzed, crippled. They all expected

Healing the relaxed at a sheep’s bath

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Healing the relaxed. Luke 5: 17-25

One day, when He was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting here, who had come from all the places of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord appeared in healing the sick, – behold, some brought a man on the bed who was

Healing the paralytic in Capernaum

Healing the paralytic in Capernaum
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90,000 Interpretation of the Gospel for each day of the year. Week 4 after Easter, about the paralytic

John, 14th credits, 5: 1-15

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus came to Jerusalem. There is also a pool in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate, called in Hebrew Bethesda, at which there were five covered passages.In them lay a great multitude of sick, blind, lame, withered, waiting for the movement of the water, for the angel of the Lord from time to time went into the pool and disturbed the water, and whoever first entered it after the disturbance of the water, he recovered, no matter what kind of sickness was possessed. There was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus, seeing him lying and knowing that he had been lying for a long time, said to him: do you want to be healthy? The sick man answered him: so, Lord; but I don’t have a man who would put me in the pool when the water is disturbed; when I arrive, the other one descends before me.Jesus says to him: Get up, take up your bed and walk. And he immediately recovered, and took up his bed and went away. It was on the Sabbath day. Therefore the Jews said to him who was healed: Today is Saturday; you shouldn’t take a bed. He answered them: He who healed me, He said to me: Take your bed and walk. They asked him: Who is the Man who said to you: Take your bed and walk? The healed man did not know who He was, for Jesus hid himself among the people that were in that place. Then Jesus met him in the temple and said to him: Behold, you have recovered; sin no more, lest something worse happen to you.This man went and announced to the Jews that he who healed him was Jesus.

Today’s Gospel is about the healing of a paralytic person who has been sick for thirty-eight years. We are shown how great is the power and love of the Lord, which truly conquers all evil, all sin and gives joy where there is hopeless sorrow. The Word of God draws our attention to the time when the healing took place. It was a Jewish holiday, that is, the Old Testament Passover. Christ comes to Jerusalem for the feast. The Feast of God is a great gift of God’s goodness. Many people from all over the country and converts from different countries gathered for the feast to glorify God. When people are inwardly tuned in like this, aspiring to God, God opens their minds to God’s light and mercy.

It was in the Sheep Font, in Bethesda, which means “house of mercy.” For here was the mercy of God to sick and desperate people. Isn’t that why all God’s temples exist in the world? What would become of a world in which there is so much misery if there were not these houses of mercy in it ?!

What is this Sheep Font? The Holy Church reminds us that she was near the Sheep Gate in the Jerusalem Temple, through which the sheep, the lambs, passed before they were sacrificed.They took ablution in this font, and this was a type of the coming Great Shepherd, offering Himself as a sacrifice for the verbal sheep. The five porches in it are a reminder of His five wounds, with which He grants us healing. An angel of the Lord from time to time descended from heaven and disturbed the water as a messenger of the Savior’s descent to us. The boiling of water from a heavenly touch is a prototype of the great consecration of the baptismal waters. And whenever the consecration of water in churches is performed, the priest with a prayer touches the water with a cross, setting it in motion, and it becomes healing.

We hear that the first one who entered this water received healing, whatever his illness. The one who went to the font first, and not the one who hesitated and came late. From time to time, the Lord gives us the opportunity to touch a miracle that will never happen again.

Whom does Christ choose for healing? Someone who has been ill for so long, and whose illness was especially grave. There were many sick people in Bethesda, but the Lord fixed His gaze on one, the most helpless one. How many times he was one step away from the healing water, but every time someone was ahead of him.It is impossible for anyone to overcome this principle of life, or rather, death: “every man for himself.” Only Christ accomplishes the victory over sin and death and affirms the principle of a new incorruptible life. And he teaches him everyone who believes in Him.

Let’s imagine what a feat this sick person was carrying. We cannot fail to be amazed at his great holy patience with which he endured his illness. Thirty-eight years is a conditional time. We know that time is relative. Time passes quickly or slowly, depending on the state of the person.When a person has joy, when there is grace, time flies on its wings. It flies quickly, so it doesn’t seem to exist at all. When a person has grief or illness – time is not like without wings, it, as we see, has no legs and can only crawl. And generally stands still. Time does not move – hell is already on earth. And this for thirty-eight years, hour after hour. thirty-eight days to get sick with a serious illness, imagine how it will be for us ?! And here – thirty-eight years day after day and year after year.

We are not talking about this in vain, because in our faint-hearted days, if any misfortune or misfortune happens to anyone, a person is sometimes ready to lay hands on himself. How many reports have we heard in the press: officers are shooting, a mother, together with her, betrays her own children to desperate death, teenage girls take their lives by throwing several people off the balcony at once. The courage to withstand any trial, any suffering, is acquired by the cross of Christ, closeness to the Lord, His gift, His grace.

The relaxed man continued to lie by the water year after year, hoping that sooner or later help would come to him. And it is revealed to us that the first is not the one who is the first to approach the shrine, pushing others aside. And the one who confesses himself to be the first of sinners, and for this reason, considers his position the most hopeless. It is to him that Christ God comes first. Do you want to be healthy? – this question the Lord asks each person. And there is probably not a single one who would hesitate to answer. But I do not have a person who would put me into the pool when the water is disturbed, – the sick man answered Jesus, – when I come, another one comes down before me.

No man. A blind man has a guide, a lame man has one of his relatives, another relaxed one has friends, and in the whole world he does not have a single person who could help, although there are thousands of people around, one might say, the whole of humanity. On the contrary, there is the Jerusalem Temple, where the priests endlessly talk about the need to do deeds of mercy.And everyone listens to these sermons and, leaving the temple, walk past a sick, relaxed person. And there is not a single person. He did not have a man, the synaxarum of today tells us, and therefore the word of God, God the Eternal became a Man in order to come to this sick man lying at the Sheep’s font and save him.

Get up, take your bed and walk, – Christ says to the paralytic. Immediately we see how the Jews react to this miracle – those who have been entrusted with the truth and care for the spiritual and moral enlightenment of the people.They say to the one who was healed: Today is Saturday; you shouldn’t take a bed. Who is the Man who said to you, Take your bed and walk? They wanted to know who the man was who defiled the Sabbath. But to learn not in order to be amazed at the great miracle together with the saved, healed person, and not in order to gather the whole city, all the people and say: “Look what Christ can do!” – but in order to know who created this miraculous healing, to kill Him.

Why do they want to kill Christ? Because He was only the only person among all who saw the relaxed one and came to his aid.He was the only Man who also not accidentally swam across the Sea of ​​Galilee and came to Lake Gennesaret in order to meet two demon-possessed people and heal them. And it was no coincidence that He approached the gates of the city of Naina to meet the funeral procession, where the mother cried inconsolably for her only son.

It was not by chance that this only Man came to the Sheep Font. He came because for Him every person is unique. And He wants each of us to become the only one for whom He was incarnated and to whom He is going. And for the sake of which He will be killed by these false righteous, false keepers of the truth, who create an idol from the mystery of God, from their false piety.

Is there such “piety” among us today? Aren’t there people among us who think that they are not personally affected by the suffering of the world around them, if they observe everything: all fasts and all church institutions (“they observe the Sabbath”)? That is, they do everything that is needed, but they do not see the person, do not see the people who, like that relaxed one, have not been lying for thirty-eight years, not seventy years, and there is no healing for them.

The merciful Lord, seeing the malice of the scribes and Pharisees, the teachers of Israel, passes freely among them, because His hour has not yet come. But the time will come when, for the sake of the salvation of all people, He will give Himself into the hands of these wicked, into the hands of sinful people, so that with His incomprehensible humility, His love for each person, he will overcome the evil that reigns in the world, trampling death by death, and revealing to us the secret of our participation in His Resurrection.

Who Is This Man? – the Jews ask angrily.The healed man was unable to give them an answer. He knew that he was touched by the most authentic good there is in the world, but he did not have a clear idea of ​​the Healer. He knew nothing about Christ, accepting His gift. Christ performs many mercies for those who do not know Him. He enlightens, strengthens and comforts us, relieves a thousand troubles, and we do not know Who He is. And the Lord withdraws from us, as He withdrawn for a time from the healed and paralytic.

Where does that person find Christ again? Christ went to the temple, and he who was healed went to the temple.He went to the temple because because of his illness he had not been in the temple for so long. Maybe he hasn’t been in it for all thirty-eight years. This is the sign of a truly deep soul. The first place where he goes is the temple, to God. And there he meets the living God – Christ. Here you are recovered, – Christ says to him, – go and do not sin, but what will be no worse for you. The Lord shows why he was sick for such a long time. So it is typical for us, when we are in trouble, in sickness, when grace leaves us, to promise a lot, humbling our souls with prayer and fasting.And then, having received mercy from God, try for a while to live according to the word of Christ, and then again gradually forget about everything. The Lord warns of this danger: “Let not what will be worse for you” – because besides the mercy of God there is the truth of God. If you reject the mercy of God, if you do not want to build your relationship with God on such conditions – there is the truth of God. And this is a warning not only to the gospel patient, but to each of us – when the Lord again and again accepts us in repentance, and repeats these words over and over again.His mercy seems to be victorious again, but who of us knows where that limit will come when it will suddenly be revealed by the truth of the last Last Judgment, or what will happen before the Last Judgment here, on earth, with us.

We received more than anyone else – deliverance: on the Lord’s Passover we tasted eternal life. And we know at what dear price it was given to us: for the healing of the paralytic, for all the good that He did to people, the Jews sentenced our Lord to death as the destroyer of the Sabbath.But His death reveals an infinitely greater miracle to the entire human race – the resurrection from the dead.

Relaxed motherhood as an alternative to intensive motherhood

The idea that the highest self-realization of a woman lies in the birth and upbringing of a child, which must be done first in everything, still strong both in society and in popular culture. At the same time, the concept of so-called relaxed motherhood is gaining popularity in the media environment, when the mother no longer strives to be ideal, accepts her right to both personal, non-family-related interests, and mistakes in raising children and talks about her parenting experience without embellishment. These conclusions were made in the course of a semiotic study by the TLC TV channel, dedicated to how the image of women in the media space is changing. After analyzing films, commercials, publications in the press and other texts of mass culture, experts have identified 31 codes – stable sets of signs and their combinations that allow us to trace the transformation of familiar images. The results of this large-scale work are available in the official TLC account.

Imperfect star moms

The trend of rejection of the idealization of motherhood is actively supported by many celebrities, demonstrating by their example that mothers have the right to make mistakes and shortcomings in raising children, imperfect appearance, emotional burnout and postpartum depression.

Maya Rudolph, actress, comedian and part-time mother of four children, openly talks about what it would be a shame to admit to many: for example, that she more than once gave “bribes” to older children so that they would normally accept replenishment in the family, or that her third child drove for a rather long time without a car seat, because she and her husband were not at all up to this, and also that motherhood sometimes makes her feel empty.

American model and TV presenter Chrissy Teigen publicly admitted that after the birth of her first child she experienced severe postpartum depression.Overcoming her celebrity was helped by treatment with a psychotherapist along with a course of antidepressants, but the key factor in healing, she said, was the very recognition of the problem. Now the model regularly talks on her Instagram account about her own maternal experience honestly and without embellishment (including publishing a photo of a figure far from model standards and stretch marks after childbirth, which encourages other mothers not to be ashamed of their bodies).

The fact that chaos and disorder are the inevitable companions of motherhood is openly said by the actress Annette Bening, who raised four children.In addition, she notes that women are not at all obliged to strive for the standards imposed by society, the main thing for a mother is to support children in everything and openly discuss with them what is important to them.

Milla Jovovich considers that almost her most important maternal responsibility is not the intellectual and physical development of children, but joint leisure, when she can rave heartily or laugh with them (the actress tries to do this at least once a day). At the same time, in the statements of these and many other famous women who do not idealize motherhood, one can trace the idea that the main thing that any mother can and should strive to give to her child is love, sincere support and acceptance of him for who he is. …

Why is it worth relaxing sometimes?

What traditional image of an ideal mother is being replicated by popular culture? As a rule, this is a woman who throws all her mental and physical strength into the development of the child: almost from the cradle she takes him to various circles and sections, tries to study English, reading, mathematics with him for a long time, draw and sculpt together, feed him exclusively fresh and healthy meals, walking for 2-3 hours a day in any weather, following the correct daily routine – in general, strives to be perfect in everything. “Indeed, women often tend to conform to the ideal,” says psychologist Larisa Surkova. In her opinion, as a rule, such a scenario of behavior is laid in childhood, and women who want to understand their motives to be impeccable should not hurt to analyze how the example of their own mothers and grandmothers could have influenced them.

Larisa Surkova notes that it is impossible to unequivocally answer whether mothers need to strive to be ideal. “What is good and comfortable for one family is absolutely not suitable for another,” she says.However, there are often situations when the pursuit of the ideal exhausts a woman herself morally and physically, forces her to forget about her own life, goals, interests and hobbies, makes her constantly feel self-doubt and a sense of guilt for the fact that she “lacks something for the child” … In addition, very often parents, who have set a course for the ideal, seek to comprehensively control the life of their children, sometimes preventing them from making mistakes and learning from their mistakes, adapting to real life, being naughty, having fun and just enjoying childhood.

If this is the case, maybe it really is worth relaxing at least a little? Not to decide for the children, but to let them choose and learn from their experiences. Do not stifle them with your expectations, but support them in everything that interests them. Do not prohibit or read notations, but discuss everything that worries them with them. Not to “bear the cross”, but to enjoy life, forgive oneself and others for mistakes and teach children this by their example, because they do not need sacrifices, but happy and loving parents.

First month

Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Now you are experiencing a whole range of emotions, because your every day is now full of incredible discoveries!

The first month is the period of adaptation of the newborn to new conditions outside the womb, as well as the time of significant changes in the usual rhythm of life of the parents. For the “baptism of fire” to be successful, you need to minimize the stress of the first days when you were left alone with your baby. Postpone all other business, do not invite guests unnecessarily. Dad and the rest of the family should take care of the housework, and you should devote time to the newborn.

One of the most important tasks in the first weeks of a child’s life is to establish breastfeeding. You need to master the correct technique for applying the baby to the breast and the position for feeding. Another important factor is “on demand” feeding: offer your baby the breast as many times as he wants, not by the hour.The main thing now is to tune in to the positive and concentrate on your baby, then success is guaranteed.

The most optimal temperature in the room where the newborn is located should be kept at the level of 21-22 ° C, and the humidity should be about 50%.

You can walk with him in 1-2 days after discharge from the hospital. In summer, starting from 15-20 minutes and gradually increase this time. And in winter, you should go out with your baby for the first walk no earlier than two weeks of age at a temperature not lower than -5 ° C. The duration of the first walks in the cold season should be no more than 10-15 minutes.

Don’t worry, you will succeed! Moreover, in the first month, a district pediatrician and a nurse will come to your home weekly, with whom you can consult. Expect your first doctor’s appointment within the first three days after arriving from the hospital.

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Congenital reflexes of the newborn

A baby is not born as helpless as you think. Nature has endowed him with many reflexes that help him adapt to environmental conditions until he develops conscious physical activity.

For example, the sucking and searching reflexes help the newborn during feeding.You can check the sucking reflex by placing your finger in the baby’s mouth. The baby should make sucking movements. And if you stroke the corner of his mouth or cheek, then the baby will turn its head towards the stimulus – this is a search reflex.

The child clenches his palm into a fist if it is stroked, demonstrating a grasping reflex. Well, if you put the baby on his tummy, then he will make crawling movements. This is how the crawling reflex manifests itself. Try to touch his feet with your palm – and the child will push off from it, speeding up the movement.

From newborn to baby

After 28 days of life, your baby changes his status. He ceases to be called a newborn, now he is just a baby.

By the end of the first month, the baby’s wandering gaze gradually becomes more meaningful. He fixes bright objects with his eyes for a short time. The baby sees most clearly what is at a distance of 25-30 cm from his face. It is at this distance that you best bend over him to chat.

The child may already show an active interest in objects with clear outlines or contrasting colors. To develop his vision, you can start showing him black and white geometric pictures (for example, an image of a spiral, a cube).

For now, the kid only reacts to loud sounds, voices or music. His reactions are expressed in general motor restlessness, screaming – the baby can cry, wave his arms and legs, arch his body if he is frightened by the noise.

Movement for a child at this age is an integral part of emotional arousal. As a rule, they are a signal for parents about this or that discomfort and the need to satisfy any need of the baby: feed, quench his thirst, change a diaper, and so on.

From the moment of birth, a child involuntarily smiles if he is happy with everything. This happens first in sleep, then after feeding and while bathing. The more you smile at your baby and talk to him, showing positive emotions, the sooner he will reciprocate you.

Newborn’s dream

The newborn spends a significant part of the time (16-18 hours a day) in a dream, with intervals for feeding every 2-3 hours. There are various sleep states:

• Deep sleep, during which the child is completely relaxed, his eyes are closed, he breathes evenly, slowly and deeply.
• Superficial sleep, when the baby is breathing more often, not so evenly, twitching his arms and legs. Sometimes you can discern how the eyeballs move under the eyelids.
• Drowsiness during feeding or at bedtime. The sleeping child’s eyes are half-closed.

To instill healthy sleep skills in your baby, you need to adhere to certain rules.

It is important that he sleeps at a comfortable temperature. Place the crib at least one meter from the window and the battery. Ventilate the room before bed. Do not wrap your baby in a warm blanket if the room is warm, because newborns quickly overheat.

To minimize the likelihood of an accident, do not put your baby to sleep on his stomach, and do not leave foreign objects, toys, or duvets in the crib.

The baby should sleep without a pillow.

Gradually teach your child to distinguish between day and night. During the day, you need to be as active as possible: play, sing songs and do exercises, and also not muffle ordinary noises, such as: the sound of the TV, washing machine, telephone.And at night, on the contrary – keep the noise to a minimum, do not talk to your baby too long and loudly, do not play with him. After a while, he will understand that at night one should not be awake, but sleep. Show a little patience, and soon the baby will reward you with quiet nights. Good luck!

The material was prepared on the basis of the textbook “Propedeutics of Childhood Diseases”, edited by
Vorontsova I.M., Mazurina A.V. 3rd ed., Add. and revised – SPb: OOO “Foliant Publishing House”,
2009.- 1008 p.

90,000 Breastfeeding in the first month: what to expect

Not sure how to achieve lactation and increase milk production? If you need help, support, or just want to know what to expect, read our First Month Breastfeeding Guide

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The first weeks of breastfeeding are very stressful. If at times you feel that you cannot cope, know: you are not alone.Feeding your baby all day long is perfectly natural, and it promotes breast milk production, but can be quite tiring at times. Be patient, think about yourself and remember: after the first month, when milk production stabilizes, it will become easier.

How often should a baby breastfeed?

Babies are born with a small stomach, which grows rapidly with an increase in milk production: in the first week it is no larger than an apricot, and after two weeks it is already a large chicken egg. ^1.2 Let the child eat as much as he wants, and when he wants. This will help him quickly regain the weight lost after birth and grow and develop further.

“Be prepared to feed every two to three hours during the day. At night, the intervals between feedings can be longer: three to four or even five hours, – says Katie Garbin, a recognized international expert on breastfeeding, – But there is no day to day, besides, all children are different. Some eat quickly and are full in 15 minutes, while others need an hour to feed.Don’t compare your breastfeeding regimen to that of other mothers – it is very likely that they will not find anything in common. ”

At each feed, give the baby a full meal from one breast and then offer the other, but do not worry if the baby does not take it. When the baby is full, he lets go of the breast and looks relaxed and satisfied – so much so that he can fall asleep immediately. Start on the other breast the next time you feed. You can monitor the order of the mammary glands during feeding using a special application.

Why is the baby asking for breast all the time?

Breastfeeding is usually the most difficult during the first month. But do not think that since the baby is constantly hungry and asks for breast almost every 45 minutes, then you do not have enough milk.

In the first month, the baby must eat often in order to start and
stimulate mom’s milk production. This lays the foundations
for a stable milk supply in the future. ³

In addition, we must not forget that the child needs almost constant contact with the mother.The bright light and noise of the surrounding world at first frighten the baby, and only by pressing against his mother, he can calm down.

Sarah, a UK mother of three, confirms: “Crying is not always a sign of hunger. Sometimes my children just wanted me to be there and asked for breasts to calm down. Use a sling. Place the cradle next to your bed. Don’t look at your watch. Take every opportunity to relax. Forget cleaning. Let the people around you take care of you. And not three days, but six weeks at least! Hug your child, enjoy the comfort – and trust your body. “

Should the baby be fed on a schedule?

Your baby is too young for a strict daily routine, so
forget about breastfeeding schedules and focus on his needs.

“Volumes have been written about how to feed a baby on a schedule, but babies don’t read or understand books,” says Katie. – All children are different. Some may eat on a schedule, but most may not. More often than not, over time, the child develops his own schedule. “

Some mums report that their babies’ scheduled feeding was fine – but most likely these are just the few babies who would have eaten every four hours anyway. Adults rarely eat and drink the same foods at the same time of day – so why do we expect this from toddlers?

Offer your baby the breast at the first sign of hunger. Crying is already the last stage, so be careful for early signs: the baby licks his lips, opens his mouth, sucks on his fist, turns his head with his mouth open – looking for a breast. ⁴

What is Milk Rush?

At the beginning of each feeding, the hungry baby actively sucks the nipple,
thereby stimulating the reflex of the milk flow – the movement of milk along the milk ducts. ⁵

“Stimulation of the nipples triggers the production of the hormone oxytocin,” explains Katy. “Oxytocin spreads throughout the body and causes muscle contraction around the milk-producing glands and enlargement of the milk ducts. This stimulates the flow of milk.

If the tide reflex does not work, milk will not flow. This is a hormonal response, and under stress it may not work at all or work poorly. That is why it is so important that you feel comfortable and calm while feeding ”.

“Studies show that every mother has a different hot flush rhythm during one feed,” continues Katie. “Oxytocin is a short-acting hormone, it breaks down in just 30-40 seconds after formation. Milk begins to flow, the baby eats, the effect of oxytocin ends, but then a new rush of milk occurs, the baby continues to suckle at the breast, and this process is repeated cyclically.That is why, during feeding, the child periodically stops and rests – as nature intended. ”

Milk flow may be accompanied by a strong sensation of movement or tingling in the breast, although 21% of mums, according to surveys, do not feel anything at all. ⁵ Katie explains: “Many women only feel the first rush of milk. If you do not feel hot flashes, do not worry: since the child eats normally, most likely, you simply do not understand that it is them. ”

How to understand if a baby is getting enough milk?

Since it is impossible to track how much milk a baby eats while breastfeeding, mothers sometimes worry that the baby is malnourished.Trust your child and your body.

After the milk flow, the baby will usually suckle more slowly. Some mothers clearly hear how the baby swallows, others do not notice it. But one way or another, the child himself will show when he is full – just watch carefully. Many babies do two or three approaches to the breast in one feed. ⁶

“When the child is full, it is noticeable almost immediately: a kind of“ milk intoxication ”sets in. The baby is relaxed and with his whole body makes it clear that he is completely full, – says Katie, – Diapers are another great way to assess whether the baby has enough milk. During this period, a breastfed baby should have at least five wet diapers a day and at least two servings of soft yellow feces, and more often more. ”

From one month to the start of complementary feeding at six months of age, the baby’s feces (if he feeds exclusively on breast milk) should look the same every day: yellow, grainy, loose and watery.

When is the child’s birth weight restored?

Most newborns lose weight in the first few days of life.This is normal and should not be a cause for concern. Typically, weight is reduced by 5-7%, although some may lose up to 10%. One way or another, by 10-14 days, almost all newborns regain the weight recorded at birth. In the first three to four months, the minimum expected weight gain is on average 150 g per week. But one week the child can gain weight faster, and the other – more slowly, so it is necessary that the attending physician monitors the health and growth of the baby constantly. ^7.8

At the slightest doubt or signs of dehydration, such as
dark urine, absence of stool for more than 24 hours, retraction of the fontanelle (soft spot on the head), yellowing of the skin, drowsiness, lethargy, lack of appetite (ability to manage for four to six hours without feeding), you should immediately consult a doctor. ⁷

What is cluster feeding?

When a baby often asks for breast for several hours, this is called cluster feeding. ⁶ Peak often occurs in the evening between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm, when many babies are particularly anxious and need close contact with their mother. Most often, mothers complain about this in the period from two to nine weeks after giving birth. This is a completely normal and common behavior as long as the baby is otherwise healthy, well nourished, gaining weight normally, and looks content throughout the day. ⁹

Cluster feeding can be caused by a sharp leap in the development of the body – during this period, the baby especially needs love, comfort and a sense of security.A child’s growing brain is so excited that it can be difficult for him to shut down, or it just scares the baby. ⁹ If a child is overworked, it is often difficult for him to calm down on his own and needs adult help. And breastfeeding is the best way to calm a baby, because breast milk is not only food, but also a pain reliever and a source of happiness hormones. ¹⁰

“Nobody told me about cluster feeding, so in the first 10 days I was just going crazy with anxiety – I was sure that my milk was not enough for the baby,” recalls Camilla, a mother from Australia. “It was a very difficult period.I was advised to pump and supplement until I finally contacted the Australian Breastfeeding Association. There they explained to me what was happening: it turned out that it was not milk at all.

Remember, this is temporary. Try to prepare yourself a supper in advance during the day, when your baby is sound asleep, so that in the evening, when he begins to feed on the breast often, you can quickly warm up food and have a snack. If you are not alone, agree to carry and rock the child in turn so that you have the opportunity to rest.If you have no one to turn to for help and you feel that your strength is leaving you, put the baby in the crib and rest for a few minutes, and then pick it up again.

Ask a partner, family, and friends to help you with household chores, cooking, and caring for older children, if you have any. If possible, hire an au pair. Get as much rest as possible, eat well, and drink a lot.

“My daughter slept a lot during the day, but from 23:00 to 5:00 the cluster feeding period began, which was very tiring,” recalls Jenel, a mother from the USA, “My husband did his best to make my life easier – he washed, cleaned, cooked , changed diapers, let me sleep at every opportunity and never tired of assuring me that we were doing well. “

If you are concerned about the frequency of breastfeeding, it is worth contacting a specialist. “Check with a breastfeeding consultant or doctor to see if this is a problem,” Katie recommends. “Resist the temptation to feed your baby with formula (unless recommended by your doctor) until you find the cause. This may not be about limited milk production – perhaps the baby is not sucking it efficiently. ”

When will breastfeeding be easier?

This early stage is very special and does not last long.Although at times it seems that there will be no end to it, rest assured: it will soon become easier! By the end of the first month, breast milk production will stabilize, and the baby will become stronger and learn to breastfeed better. ^2.3 Any problems with breast latching will most likely have been resolved by this time, and the body will begin to produce milk more efficiently, so inflammation and milk leakage will begin to disappear.

“The first four to six weeks are the most difficult, but then things start to get better,” says Katie. “And by three months breastfeeding becomes very easy — much easier than sterilizing bottles and making formula.You just have to go through it! ”

The longer you breastfeed, the more benefits it comes from – from saving on formula and improving sleep ^11-13 to strengthening your baby’s immunity ¹⁴ and reducing your risk of certain cancers. ¹⁵

“When you feel like you’re on the edge, try to keep from feeding to feeding and day to day,” advises Hannah, a UK mom. – I was sure that I would not make it to eight weeks.And now I’ve been feeding for almost 17 weeks now, and I dare say it’s very easy. ”

For what to expect in the next breastfeeding phase, read the resource Breastfeeding after the first month: What to expect

Literature

Literature

1 Naveed M et al. An autopsy study of relationship between perinatal stomach capacity and birth weight. Indian J Gastroenterol .1992; 11 (4): 156-158. – Navid M. et al. Relationship Between Prenatal Stomach Volume and Birth Weight Autopsy. Indian J Gastroenterol. 1992; 11 (4): 156-158.

2 Neville MC et al. Studies in human lactation: milk volumes in lactating women during the onset of lactation and full lactation. Am J Clinl Nutr . 1988; 48 (6): 1375-1386. – Neville M.S. et al. Female Lactation Study: Milk Amount in Lactating Women at Early and Peak Lactation. Am J Wedge Nutr. 1988; 48 (6): 1375-1386.

3 Kent JC et al. Principles for maintaining or increasing breast milk production. J Obstet , Gynecol , & Neonatal Nurs . 2012; 41 (1): 114-121. – Kent, JS et al. Principles for Maintaining and Increasing Milk Production.J Obsttet Ginecol Neoneital Nurse. 2012; 41 (1): 114-121.

4 Australian Breastfeeding Association [ Internet ]. Feeding cues ; 2017 Sep [ cited 2018 Feb ]. – Australian Breastfeeding Association [Internet], Feeding Ready Signals; September 2017[cited 2018 Feb] 90,074

5 Kent JC et al. Response of breasts to different stimulation patterns of an electric breast pump. J Human Lact . 2003; 19 (2): 179-186. – Kent J.S. et al, Breast Response to Different Types of Electric Breast Pump Stimulation. J Human Lact (Journal of the International Association of Lactation Consultants). 2003; 19 (2): 179-186.

6) Kent JC et al . Volume and frequency of breastfeedings and fat content of breast milk throughout the day. Pediatrics. 2006; 117 (3): e 387-395. – Kent JS et al. Breastfeeding Volume and Frequency and Breast Milk Fat During the Day. Pediatrics (Pediatrics). 2006; 117 (3): e387-95.

7 Lawrence RA, Lawrence RM. Breastfeeding: A guide for the medical profession. 7th ed. Maryland Heights MO, USA: Elsevier Mosby; 2010. 1128 p . – Lawrence R.A., Lawrence R.M., Breastfeeding: A Guide for Health Care Providers. Seventh edition. Maryland Heights , Missouri, USA: Elsevier Mosby; 2010. p. 1128.

8 World Health Organization. [Internet]. Child growth standards; 2018 [cited 2018 Feb] – World Health Organization. [Internet]. Child Growth Standards 2018 [cited Feb 2018].

9 Australian Breastfeeding Association . [ Internet ]. Cluster feeding and fussing babies ; Dec 2017 [ cited 2018 Feb ] – Australian Breastfeeding Association [Internet], “Cluster feeding and cry babies”; Dec 2017 [cited Feb 2018].

10 Moberg KU, Prime DK. Oxytocin effects in mothers and infants during breastfeeding. Infant . 2013; 9 (6): 201-206.- Moberg K, Prime DK Effects of oxytocin on mother and baby during breastfeeding. Infant. 2013; 9 (6): 201-206.

11 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services [Internet]. Surgeon General Breastfeeding factsheet; 2011 Jan 20 [cited 2017 Feb] – Department of Health and Human Services [Internet], “Breastfeeding Facts from the Chief Health Officer,” January 20, 2011.[cited 2017 Feb] 90,074

12 Kendall-Tackett K et al. The effect of feeding method on sleep duration, maternal well-being, and postpartum depression. Clinical Lactation. 2011; 1; 2 (2): 22-26. – Kendall-Tuckett, K. et al. Influence of feeding pattern on sleep duration, maternal well-being, and development of postpartum depression. Clinical Lactation. 2011; 2 (2): 22-26.

13 Brown A, Harries V. Infant sleep and night feeding patterns during later infancy: Association with breastfeeding frequency, daytime complementary food intake, and infant weight. Breast Med . 2015; 10 (5): 246-252. – Brown, A., Harris V., “Night feeds and infant sleep in the first year of life and their relationship with the frequency of feedings, daytime supplementation and weight of the baby.” Brest Med (Breastfeeding medicine). 2015; 10 (5): 246-252.

14 Hassiotou F et al. Maternal and infant infections stimulate a rapid leukocyte response in breastmilk. Clin Transl immunology. 2013; 2 (4). – Hassiotu F. et al, “Infectious diseases of mother and child stimulate a rapid leukocyte response in breast milk. ” Wedge Translated Immunology. 2013; 2 (4): e3.

15 Li DP et al. Breastfeeding and ovarian cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 40 epidemiological studies. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev .2014; 15 (12): 4829-4837. – Lee D.P. and co-authors, Breastfeeding and Ovarian Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 40 Epidemiological Studies. Action Pass J Canser Prev. 2014; 15 (12): 4829-4837.

Moto Sancho (Motorcycle travel in the Balkans. Day 9. Croatia. The most relaxed day.) – Programs and shows

Belarusian motorcycle enthusiast Alexander Shut created a channel especially for lovers of the so-called iron horses. The material can be divided into two broad categories.The first includes the repair of models of famous Soviet brands Dnepr and Ural, since these devices are associated with memories of the blogger’s youth. The second group includes various events and motorcycle trips.

Since the creation of the Moto Sancho channel in 2016, over one hundred and sixty thousand followers have subscribed to it. The top five videos in terms of views exceeded the mark of half a million plays, and judging by the top ten, viewers are most interested in works related to the Urals brand, including its confrontation with another Soviet titanium, Dnipro.

Quite often, Alexander (the word Sancho in the title is a reference to the blogger’s real name) shoots a video on the topic of motorcycle culture. This includes visiting festivals, and testing high-quality roads, and tips on where it is better to supply your iron friend with fuel, and recommendations on how not to get fined for driving or moving on your vehicle.

The Jester enjoys long journeys on old motorcycles. For example, in the summer of 2018, residents of the city of Vyazniki (Vladimir region, Russia) noticed a blogger on the road.Then he, together with his wife, overcame the path from Gomel to Baikal, moving in the Urals with a carriage.

The author of the channel does not refuse users an offer to take a photo as a souvenir. Moreover, in this case, Alexander stopped in Vyazniki at the request of a local resident Mikhail, who was signed to the project of a Belarusian motorcycle enthusiast. He wanted to discuss with the Jester some of the nuances of the planned trip.

Belarusian motorcycle enthusiast Alexander Shut created a channel especially for fans of the so-called iron horses.The material can be divided into two broad categories. The first includes the repair of models of famous Soviet brands Dnepr and Ural, since these devices are associated with memories of the blogger’s youth. The second group includes various events and motorcycle trips.
Since the creation of the Moto Sancho channel in

Olga Shulcheva-Jarman: The story of the relaxed is a certain key to the betrayal of Judas

“There is a reservoir in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate, called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five covered passages. Many sick people lay in them: blind, lame, dry, waiting for the movement of the water … ”(John 5. 2-3).

It is not for nothing that the Holy Church dedicated to this Gospel episode the service of one of the Sunday after Easter days. The week of the relaxed is a day when we understand with particular acuteness: we are all, to one degree or another, so relaxed, physically and spiritually. And no one, like that paralyzed one who had been lying at the font for thirty-eight years, can heal himself, everyone needs a Savior …

And with whom can we talk in the Week about the relaxed about health and illness, faith and salvation, if not with a Christian doctor.

Olga Aleksandrovna Shulcheva-Dzharman – Phthisiatrician at the Tuberculosis Dispensary of the Central District of Saint Petersburg, Senior Lecturer in the History of Medicine at the Department of Humanities and Bioethics at St. Petersburg State Medical Academy, Candidate of Medical Sciences.

In addition to work on the profile of a phthisiatrician, Olga Shulcheva-Dzharman is known for her articles on the Christian history of medicine and theology: “Christian doctors in the period of late antiquity”, “Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon and his” third life “in Russia”, “Hellenistic religion Asclepius in late Greco-Roman culture in the light of the Christian spiritual tradition “,” Venerable Euphrosyne, Abbess of Polotsk – Enlightener of White Russia “,” God and Man in Christ in the hymnography of the Lenten Triodi “,” On the hymnographic images of the mystery of salvation in Octoikha Voskresny “and many others published in medical history and Christian journals.

A special theme is Olga’s literary work: her magnificent poems, translations and prose can be read on the Internet, on the portals “Poems.ru” and “Proza.ru”, the site “Polutona”, and some others. And users of LiveJournal have a unique opportunity to read her story “The Doctor from Bithynia” about the doctor of Caesarea of ​​Cappadocia, who lived in the 4th century, the younger brother of St. in his blog, and all this is still waiting for its “paper” Orthodox book publisher …

Where is the Siberian Minusinsk – and where is Petersburg! … But the Internet erases the boundaries, and today we have the opportunity to talk with Olga Shulcheva-Jarman over a cup of virtual tea.

Olga Shulcheva-Jarman

– Tell me, what is especially significant for you in the gospel story about the healing of the paralytic by Christ?

– I was always shocked by the behavior of a relaxed person – so much so that at times it was painful to read or listen to these lines. Christ, beautiful and magnanimous, comes to the font, where people, pushing one another, climb into the font to be healed, and where, of course, a real patient cannot push through unless friends or relatives help.He sees a forgotten, immovable, presumably untidy and unkempt (and the heat is in those places! A swarm of flies flies to the sewage). Jesus approaches this man lying in his stool, talks to him, heals . ..

He is healed. And then he runs headlong to the Pharisees and betrays Jesus. Although no one interrogates this relaxed person, like a healed man born blind, for example. How scary it is. What a callous soul. He uses the second meeting with Christ not to thank, or to bow like a young man born blind, but to snitch.He has already received everything from Jesus, he no longer needs him, now he can be “surrendered”. And how sorry for Christ, how immeasurably sorry …

Later I learned that there is such an opinion among the biblical scholars – Jesus comes to the Asclepeion, to the pagan temple of the god Asclepius, where the sick, indeed, lay, waiting for the saving hierophany, the appearance of a healing deity. If we follow this guess, then the audacity and courage of Jesus is amazing – He stops at nothing to save the lost. Have you come to Asclepius? I will follow you, I will find you, I will heal you – do not leave God! Here, I stand before you – see?

“I see, I see,” the former relaxed one replies to him. “Now they will let me into the synagogue, great, but before they didn’t let me in, because I was unclean and had no right to communicate with God. How so – everyone had the right – but I did not! All of them, sinners, climbed forward into the source, they pushed me away, for so many years! I know them … And they considered me a sinner because I was sick. Well, finally, he was healed … one misfortune – you, it turns out, are almost outside the law, for you they can excommunicate me again … Hmm … Running on strengthened legs – to save your healed skin! You yourself said – “so that something worse does not happen! I said it myself! ”

It seems to me that this is a kind of key to the terrible secret of the betrayal of Judas.

He went to the sick – and He will go even further, not only into the atheism of people who turned to pagan deities, but also into death itself – THEIR DEATH, NOT HIM. He will die a strange death, because there is no longer a real person left to come and die for everyone. All, pushing each other away, climb into the font, where doubtful healing angels descend, and do not see Jesus. After all, there they also did not pay attention to Him and His work (“strength” – as literally in John) – everyone carefully watched the water, and were at a low start for the jump.Or crawling.

The relaxed one was already desperate in the quiet competition, so he somehow reacted to Jesus. The rest had “fun starts”. They looked at other sick people as enemies, as rivals – and did not see Jesus, generous, good, healing, who is here in their midst. He was unrecognized. They were seriously busy with their healing, they had no time, they did not notice the proud God. In the midst of enmity, the Lord stands alone, ready to be betrayed – and surrenders willingly.

In an old children’s cartoon, friends, musketeer dogs, sang: “Pitiful cats do not understand one thing – our friendship is above all.”Clive Lewis once portrayed the wise demon Balamut, who fearfully, angrily and confusedly tries to guess what kind of cunning lies behind such behavior of God. It cannot be just like that, disinterestedly! When a person does not believe in the nobility and generosity of anyone, even Christ God, it is scary.

– Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come: into this world, into the Church of Christ.

– I am a late, long-awaited, and unfortunately, the only child with my parents, my mother was ill for a long time after my birth, then I was ill for a long time, and was fenced off from this world until about four years old.Until I was four years old, I did not speak, then I began to speak in phrases. My childhood was spent with my grandmother, teacher and deeply religious person.

Unfortunately, people are now actively forgetting what it meant at that time to work in a Soviet school and believe in God. I think this active forgetting is due to the fact that in the Komsomol years they laughed at people like my grandmother. And the disciples, who had grown up, ran across the road to say hello to her. However, only a very narrow circle of her friends knew that the grandmother was a believer.She hid the icon under her pillow, wrapping it in a napkin embroidered by her … She took it out when she prayed – in the morning and in the evening, about an hour and aloud …

Nobody forced me to kneel, repeat and so on, I lay and listened. It was really a prayer embracing everyone – my grandmother read, in fact, a small number of prayers, but she repeated them, for each loved one, for everyone in her large family, knowing that they were not praying – with great love. So Abraham and Job spoke to God, I think. And when she prayed for the dead – and there are many victims in every Belarusian family – I understood that they were all alive.

Grandmother’s name was Nadezhda. Brileva Nadezhda Dmitrievna. My grandmother’s husband, my mother’s dad, died in the partisans – he and his grandmother were married for barely over a year. Mom was born when Polotsk was bombed, in 1941. And then she and her grandmother and her sisters were in the Nazi camp, from winter 1942 to spring 1944. Party activists, her so-called colleagues, reproached grandmother for this: “You were under the Germans!”

Yes, and a friend once told me in Leningrad: “Of course, you served the Germans, since you were in the camp!” I was shocked.And the nursery rhymes about “the Belarusian coward swam in the lake”? In Russia so little is known about what the Germans were doing in Belarus. None of my friends know that Polotsk was razed to the ground, they don’t know about Khatyn. The fascist killed his grandmother’s brother, running home, for fun in front of his sisters.

From the series “Small theophanies. To Yana’s photographs “

I saw it all –
, I knew …
I don’t remember.
Years, like the wind from the crack,
autumn,
wind.
“Olga, we will heat the stove

“, –
grandmother
will be
for a long time,
will be alive for a long time,
will read me over and over again
will be
about the Nechkebil bee.

“Olga,
you see,
it was composed by
Abdullah Alish,
friend
of Musa Jalil,
for Tatar children,

he was shot by the Germans,
that is, the Nazis,

as uncle Volodya
and grandfather Andrey,
Mitya,
Vasily
and Stanislav.

Olga,
grow up –
I’ll take you
to Polotsk –
only
there are no graves,

there
only
mother
Euphrosinia. ”

Bee
was completely lost in the sky
bright and distant.

Father will swing the swing,
and this is
sky –
why did it come back to memory
again,
why?

Decay has no power over
that distant and light edge.

There, in the innermost crucible,
everything remains
forever,
only there is no decay
.

Later I learned that she often asked for help from my deceased great-grandfather, her father, whom I do not remember – I was a year old when he died, they say that he loved me and called me “Volgachka” in Belarusian, and I pulled his beard, and once it came to him to stand like that for half an hour, but he did not hit me on the hands and did not call anyone for help, only smiled. When the Shroud was carried out on Good Friday, he always helped while he could walk. Let me remind you that it was Soviet times. And my mother, my granddaughter, before she began to go to school, he took to church on Easter. He was a quiet righteous man, grandfather Demetrius.

After the camp, my grandmother’s large family did not return to Polotsk, they stayed in Kraslava, in Latvia, two hours before Polotsk. Well, I spent my childhood in Latvia, although I was born in Leningrad in 1975.

– And your father?

– My father is from Murom, from a large family, Russian by father, Mordvin – Tatar by mother.The youngest son in the family, was born just before the war.

You see, what kind of elderly parents I have – a generation older than my peers. I have always felt it, some kind of bridge back to history … As in ancient Akkad they said “days of the face”, meaning the future. And my grandmother was born in 1917.

About his father – he was from a simple, large, but unbelieving family. While serving in the navy in his youth, he joined the party (everyone was “entered” there), sincerely believed in the communist ideal, but then his youth passed, and he realized that he was deceived.Secretly, through friends, I brought my grandmother (mother-in-law!) The New Testament of the pre-revolutionary edition – for a week. She did not have time to read the whole thing …

Then she recounted it to me – and I was 6 years old. I remember that I was shocked by the story about Jairus’s daughter – that they laughed at Jesus, did not believe that He would resurrect. It seemed to burn me: “They laughed at Him.” The pain from the burn is still there. Although there was no doubt that it would resurrect. But – why – did they laugh? “Just as they are laughing at Him now,” explained the grandmother. And I felt like a contemporary of Jesus.

– Which you have remained for the rest of your life …

– Yes … At an even earlier age – in fact, I don’t remember when I found out about Jesus Christ – I remember that I just started to walk after an illness, and my grandmother and I walked along the road on which there were puddles after the rain. I even remember the name of this street – Sarkanarmijas, Krasnoarmeyskaya, now it is Lachplesa, Lacplesis street, a legendary Latvian hero who could tear bears in half and, in order to free his people, in a battle he carried his rival, the Black Knight, from the cliff to the bottom of the Daugava …

Well, there were puddles – and I happily ran around them, and my grandmother was glad that I was not only walking, but even now I was running. And then it seemed to me that Jesus Christ saved us in this way – He passed, ran along the road full of puddles and mud, and behind Him there was a wide and flat road along which everyone else can walk.

I also had a childhood friend, Ilgvar, we played together in the sandbox, and our grandmothers, my Orthodox and his Catholic, talked in a half-whisper about God, “because you can’t talk about God loudly.”That was when I had not yet spoken, it did not bother us – it seems that the Latvian Ilgvar still did not understand Russian, but we played well. And I firmly knew that Jesus Christ is the same as Ilgvar, a boy with whom you can be friends.

Alas, Ilgvar moved to Riga, and no connections remained. I hope to meet him in front of the eyes of Christ … Once I drew Jesus Christ as a youth in a rainbow halo – based on the Kazan icon, which my grandmother held in her hands during prayer, and under a pillow, wrapped in an embroidered napkin – all the rest of the time …I was five years old.

But I didn’t tell about my father. He often read the Gospel of John. He was especially shocked by the eighth chapter, where Jesus says to those who believed in Him:
Jesus answered: if I glorify myself, then my glory is nothing. My Father glorifies me, of whom you say that He is your God.

And you have not known Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be like a liar like you. But I know Him and keep His word (John 8: 54-55).

For the father, Christ was very significant, but, alas, he said little about it.My father was baptized with the name Michael, three years later he died of lung cancer, on one of the Friday nights of Great Lent, in the evening. When the robber entered paradise, the one on the right, the one who recognized the Messiah.

– How did it happen that a phthisiatrician, who, as I understand it, already has a fairly extensive area of ​​application of his strengths and abilities, “got sick” with the history of medicine?

– The main thing is that doctors of other specialties should not hear our conversation! They believe that a phthisiatrician is a very easy profession, “one disease and three drugs”, there is such a joke.But seriously, it seems to me that interest in the history of medicine appears when you have already worked as a doctor for some time. Among my acquaintances foreign colleagues, historians of medicine, there are many doctors who began to study the history of medicine, having reached certain heights in their profession and retired. It’s an interesting hobby for them.

Actually, philologists, archaeologists, historians are engaged in the history of medicine in the West … Physicians are to a certain extent ousted. Although there are doctors among the very famous historians of medicine in the world, and this is very gratifying.Thus, a multivolume monograph on the history of ancient and ancient medicine was written by Dr. Prioreschi, who has a high prestige, he is a doctor, and Dr. Nunn is a world-renowned specialist in Egyptian medicine, while he is a resuscitator. But we in Russia will retain a good, in my opinion, tradition, which is that a medical historian should be a doctor.

– A world that values ​​success is often inclined to judge a phenomenon by its external signs. For example, I often hear: “The Church in Russia is flourishing, because many people began to go to churches, priests have access to prisons and schools, and the Patriarch is shown on television” … Is it possible in this context to say that the cause of medicine, is the healing of sick people “more successful” in the Christian world than in the pagan? Or is there no such difference?

– The Church, it seems to me, can only flourish with a Flower from the root of Jesse – the Risen Christ.As for “The Patriarch on TV” – my grandmother lived to see this, and kept repeating: “It can’t be!” It is a great happiness for me that I can freely go to church.

Icon from the vestibule of the temple of one of the Romanian monasteries (Sucevita) with images of ancient philosophers – “Christians before Christ”

As for “medicine in the pagan world” … You know, Hippocrates was portrayed in the vestibules of Christian churches as “a Christian before Christ.” Another, little-known for non-specialists, ancient doctor, but amazingly brilliant, Areteus from Cappadocia, who was the first to describe many diseases, including diabetes mellitus, said that for a doctor to see a fatal disease (he writes about tetanus, from which in the pre-vaccination era, death was almost inevitable) and not being able to help the patient is the greatest misfortune.And he can only cry without leaving the dying …

And medieval medicine relied on ancient authorities, and modern medicine also returned to them – for example, the “second discovery” by the English physician Russell of thalassotherapy, treatment at sea, children with tuberculosis of bones and lymph nodes (then it was called “scrofula”). He was ridiculed by the English scientific community, but he pointed to an example in the writings of Hippocrates and the Asklepiada of Bithins, another little-known name. This is a doctor who in Rome saved a man who was already being carried to be buried.

Buried in a southern climate very quickly, the example of the emperors does not count. Asclepiades noticed (the ancients’ observation was amazing) signs of life in the “deceased” when the stretcher was carried past him, ordered the carriers to stop, felt their pulse and … ordered the processions to return. The patient was subsequently healed (he was deeply swoon from weakness), of course, not just by touching the hand. Asklepiad attached great importance to hydrotherapy, physiotherapy exercises, massage. He believed that all diseases – from stagnation of particles of “oncs”.In our age of physical inactivity, Asclepiades would have been as glorious as in the age of Cicero, whose friend, by the way, he was.

– How strongly do you think it affects (and does it at all) the quality of treatment, is the doctor a believer? And how can a doctor avoid what is called the “burnout effect”, how can he preserve the most important thing in himself – attentiveness, mercy, love for the patient?

– The quality of treatment is influenced by how responsible the doctor is. If “Orthodox” and the iconic character of a medical office are just a cover for incompetence and a trick for profit, then this is a terrible shape-shifter.

(Sometimes I think bitterly: there used to be doctors for the party elite, but now there were doctors for the Orthodox, now we, persecuted, have become the elite! .. An alarming symptom, it means that the lifestyle of the persecutors of Christianity in the USSR causes nostalgia in some part of Christians) …

My teachers (after all, medicine is not only and not so much a book science, it is a tradition, this is an art that is passed from hand to hand, from mouth to mouth) were believers, agnostics, and atheists. But the attitude towards the patient whom they taught – not by edification, but by their example, how they approached the bed, how they spoke to the child’s mother, how they behaved when she began to scream and get nervous, and then calmed down, and began to look at them with eyes full of hope – and the way they were taught to reflect on the patient is transmitted in personal communication.

As for burnout … Yes, a doctor, like any person, gets tired. Yes, doctors are placed in extremely tough, I would say, slave conditions by the system. We must be able not to become a slave to the system, to remain ourselves. It’s a challenge. It’s complicated. Do not break down in the insurance system, where everything is done so that the doctor does not pay any attention to the patient at all. Fortunately, TB doctors do not work in the insurance system. Bye.

So, “to be afraid of burnout” … What does it mean to be afraid of burnout? Afraid to live, to communicate with people fully? Afraid to get tired? I have heard: “Who are you? Phthisiatrician? And who is it? So you communicate with tuberculosis patients ?! So this is dangerous! Why did you become a phthisiatrician? And, you probably suffered from tuberculosis? No? How do you defend yourself? Are the lamps bactericidal? Sanitary-epidemiological regime? Is that all? Can not be? And you always have a vacation in a sanatorium, probably retired earlier? No? Why are you a phthisiatrician then? ”

And you babble something that, they say, I love phthisiology, the art of how to defeat tuberculosis, and they look at you with such eyes that you quickly become silent.

Actually, such storage of one’s own skin is not at all alien to the Orthodox – both doctors and, if one may say so, patients. I heard from a doctor treating according to the Voll method in the Pskov diocese that “their fathers are very supportive, they have made a good study at the church, brick walls, and icons on them absorb negative energy. And one Orthodox woman, educated, intelligent, well-groomed, asked a priest over tea in the parish: “If praying for others is shedding blood, then do not explain which circle of loved ones it is safe to pray for?” …

If in the minds of people who have come to the Church, the words of St. Silouan the Athonite, who devoted himself entirely to prayer for the whole world, are so distorted, it means that something strange and terrible happened in the “dashing nineties.”And one has to bear witness about Christ before people who go to church and are close to the priests, but who remain pagans …

Digressing from all this rubbish, I would like to ask one thing: if you are afraid of patients, why take them at all?

The hero of my story “The Physician from Bithynia”, Caesarea (this is a real person, brother of St. Gregory the Theologian, but I allowed myself a little fiction), at the request of friends, comes to Chalcedon, a city seized with a fad of some infectious disease (as they used to say “Plague”, but it is not entirely clear what kind of epidemics they were) to stop the epidemic.He does this despite the prohibition of the Emperor Julian, who, on pain of death, forbade him to leave Arianz.

A young doctor, an orphan, whom the dishonest priests from the neighboring Asklepion sent to help Caesarea – at his request to send doctors – says to him: “Did Julian send you here to die too?” But Caesarea replies: “No. I arrived myself. Someone has to stop the wind. ” He wants to send the young man away, demand more experienced doctors from the temple of Asclepius, but this young man, Euplus, a pagan, shocked, remains with him, saying: “I will die with you, Caesarea the doctor!”

– Folk recipes, the newspaper “Healthy Way of Life”, Malakhov on TV, advertising of various medicines, the emergence of the latest medical technologies in Russian everyday life – and along with this, the emergence of more and more diseases, a catastrophic decline in the level of public health … Why is this? And why do you think people today in Russia are so fond of being treated – and at the same time are completely careless about the health given to them by God?

– The consciousness of people after seventy years of atheism is very archaic.The archetype of “food” and “cleansing” plays a very large role in the concept of health and disease. When I conducted a survey of parents whose children are sick with tuberculosis or are healthy, but infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis, I was shocked that among almost a thousand people, only three, in response to the question: “What, in your opinion, is the cause of tuberculosis?” – wrote: “Tuberculosis stick”.

The rest gave the first place to poor nutrition, then the “homeless”, then – the negligence of the doctors.That is, there is elementary illiteracy and the search for an enemy. Tuberculosis infection, by the way, is transmitted by airborne droplets and airborne dust. Like the flu. Almost. There is also anosognosia: “No, my child is not infected! We are eating well! So what if our grandfather, a neighbor in a communal apartment, is sick with tuberculosis! So what if he lives with us in the same apartment (there are many communal apartments in St. Petersburg). My son doesn’t eat from his plate! ”

It is necessary to educate people, and on a national scale.

– Tell me, does your husband Robert have his own, English, Christian roots, or is his churching a work of your hands? How does he feel in Russian Orthodoxy? Or is there no such accent in the life of your small Church-family? What is your general attitude to the universality of Christianity, how do you perceive the widespread view: “I am Orthodox because I am Russian”?

– Yes, Robert is an Englishman, and he can hardly speak Russian, although he can read it.He was an Anglican priest, then became interested in the liturgy. His supervisor later converted to Orthodoxy, this is Andrew (Andrew) Louth from Darrem University. “Holy Gothic Durgam” turned out to be a stepping stone for Robert, as they say in the Anglican Church, “up the candle,” that is, the transition to more traditional forms of liturgical life (the Anglican Church is very diverse in this regard). Then he decided to leave the priests – simply, to nowhere, and left for Greece, where he taught English for several years, studied the Orthodox tradition.

In Thessaloniki, he was baptized with the name Demetrius, as you might guess. However, he was born on November 8th. And he met me much later. So he did not go over to Russian Orthodoxy, but to Greek. His confessor is also British, Father John, serving in Edinburgh. I talked about him once in an essay in the Orthodox St. Petersburg magazine “Living Water”.

Father John was an Anglican priest, wanted to convert to Orthodoxy, but did not want to upset his mother, thanks to whom he found Christ.When his mother died, he had already retired as a priest. He converted to Orthodoxy, and one of his friends wrote a letter to the bishop about this. The pension was withdrawn. And since he devoted his whole life to serving Christ in the Church of England, he made no savings. He receives a social pension, lives in such poverty that he sits in gloves at home in winter – it is expensive to heat …

Robert is quite philosophical about the reality of everyday Orthodoxy. He says that the inner life of the parish is similar, in general, in the Church of England and in the Orthodox.Candlestick grandmothers are called “elderly ladies.” True, once one elderly lady began to push him out of the church, for the fact that he sang along with “Our Father”. Quiet so. In English. But he did not push himself out, but politely pushed aside. Finally, the crowd separated them, then the “lady” showed him with gestures that he was a demon, putting horn-like fingers to his head. This shocked him.

He had never seen that in the Church of England.

Orthodox, because Russian … You know, in my youth I met Orthodox Americans and an Orthodox Japanese woman, and I was shocked by the thought that on Easter day the sun, bringing the dawn of the Resurrection, comes from the Japanese islands, where the apostle of Japan is buried, St.Nicholas, to California and Alaska, where the disciple of St. Herman of Alaska, Peter-Aleut …

Church

Like a rock, like an arrow – from Aleph to Tav,
Along brick roads, along paths between the grasses,
Among his wanderings, weaves a scarlet thread,
Dares to feed the creatures of the Lord from the palm of his hand –
What about wings, hooves and many eyes,
That singing, crying, and crying out, screaming,
Homeless, homeless, gray-haired and young,
Inaccessible, like a bush on fire …

– Physician, medical historian, writer and lecturer, hostess….In addition to all this, Olga Shulcheva-Dzharman is a talented poet and, at the same time, which is much less common, a wonderful prose writer. Tell us a little about your literary work. How did you get “infected” with this?

– The mistress of the house is yes! Robert brought several magnets full of subtle English humor, they hang on the refrigerator. The inscriptions on them read: “He did not marry me because I cook deliciously”, “Only boring housewives have a clean house” and, finally: “The opinion expressed by the husband in this house does not necessarily coincide with the opinion of the management “.

Literary creativity and how I got infected … At the age of six I wrote a heroic story about how the Olympic Bear saved someone in trouble (I had such a favorite toy, and the 1980 Olympics fell on the summer, in which I turned five). Then I also wrote, at school, started a fantastic story, then abandoned it, and then, by the age of thirty, returned to the plot, and now the theological fantasy story “Foals” is finished and posted by me on the net. It was finished thanks to my friend, Yana Batishcheva, who, despite her serious illness, encouraged me in every possible way to finish it.

As for the historical story, like interest in the history of medicine, this came later. I was interested in the feat of ancient Christian doctors, and in particular, the personality of St. Caesarea, which, in my opinion, is undeservedly forgotten. About him I have a small essay “Forty-first Sebastian” and he is also the main character of the story “Doctor from Bithynia.” Rather, he is not the only protagonist. There is a certain parallelism in time, the story of the Vithinian doctor Pantoleon. Caesarea died in Bithynia, as did Pantoleon.

– The people about whom you write historical prose lived in ancient times, in the Mediterranean culture.What “hooked” you in these people, what is the meaning of this time for you?

– The fourth century is an amazing time. Christianity accepts, according to the word of Father Georgy Florovsky, the seeking pagan world, with its great anguish, and should satisfy this melancholy. This is the time of the brief equality of religions – in Athens, Sts. Both Greeks and Christians teach Gregory and Basil. This is what my poem is about …

Fourth century

To overcome the firmament on a chariot,
The worlds flow – the rhythm of a prime number,
Unrecognized omnipresent Logos-Word,
Awaken from the body and behold.

And the heptahord lyre, and the splash of the oar,
O wanderer king, weeping philosopher!
At the appointed hour, an echo will return from the reaches,
A flying arrow rests.

A star rushes to the east,
Where the light of freedom and joy is eternal,
Where Three is the overcoming of the dyad,
And there, below, are the caves-cities.

To catch the tone of the universe with your heart,
That all wonders are more captivating and more beautiful.
The cup cannot but splash out,
And the righteous cannot live among the people.

And the circle of the sun cannot but shine,
And over the bridge – a sign of victory.
He who is incomprehensible and underdeveloped
With his hand of fate will break the thread.

That – all ages striving and press,
And the letters “chi” features in the firmament,
The path through the abyss – from fate to freedom –
It is undesirable, eye to eye, to contemplate.

… And darkness, and darkness, and a voice, and thunder, and smoke.
And the wind, filled with dew,
He is among us – both with blood and water,
And His footprints lay on the grass.