For Common Cold

My girl recently suffered her first bout of cold. Thankfully with home-made recipes, I could control her cold immediately with no side effects. I am sharing the same recipe for everybody.

I have put this in Marathi because I don't know what those words are in English. Those that I know, I have put them in parentheses.

खारीक बी (seed of dried date)
वेखंड पावडर
लोखंड (anything made of iron)

हे तिन्ही सहाणेवर उगाळणे. हा लेप नाकावर आणि कपाळावर लावणे.

I have no idea what सहाण is in English.

Try this out. It works.

Tips For New Mothers

My daughter is now four months old. The past four months have been a roller-coaster ride. New things, new and changing schedule, adjustments, frustration, joys, discoveries, and lots of happiness.

As I look back at these four months, I can think of a few things, which if I was told about them earlier, would have made my life easier. I am sharing those tips here.

• When you prepare your bags for the D-Day, ensure that you pack the following items for yourself:

• Breast pads: Disposable and reusable

• Lots of sanitary napkins

• Feeding bras

• Feeding tops

• Pillows to support during breast feeding

• Ensure that the following items are available for your baby:

• Mosquito net

• Soft cotton cloths big enough to wrap the baby: Use your old cotton odhanies for this.

• Pair of surgical scissors

• Use a pair of surgical scissors that is available in a shop selling surgical equipment to cut your baby's nails. The nail cutter that is available in the market for babies is really not of much use, at least not for new born babies.
• If you are having a baby in the summer months, refrain from the traditional massage that elders insist that a new mother must have. It usually leads to rashes for the mother. Do not give the usual dhuri that's given to babies in those months.
• Use some soothing music to help the baby sleep. It really works.
• If your baby does not sleep on its own and needs to be rocked, switch over to a crib or a rocker/bouncer as soon as possible. If you don't do that, your baby will get used to your rocking him/her always and it will be troublesome later.
• If you are using diapers, once a day, put some antiseptic cream to the diaper area. That will help keep the skin clean and rash-free. Also, change the diapers every three to four hours to avoid rashes.
• Keep small cloths in ample amount to wipe your baby's face after feeding. At around three months, you will also need those cloths to wipe your baby's drool.

I'll keep updating this page as I think of more tips.

Side Effects Of Being A Mother

As you get used to being a mother, you'll have to bear with some of the following side effects.

• You become a very fast eater and can contest and win the All India Eating competition. You'll learn to eat your breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks at top speed because you have to finish it off in between the time when your little one is sleeping or is not crying.
• Eight hours of sleep at a stretch becomes a thing of the past. Now you are up and awake the moment you feel your little one stirring.
• Your days don't start and end. They are just unending.
• You can no longer stand steady. You get so used to swinging your baby to sleep, that every time you stand up for something, you automatically start swinging.
• Despite having several babies around you, you will always recognize your baby's sound (thank god for that!)
• Even when your baby is fast asleep, your ears ring with your baby's cries. You will be peeping into the bedroom every 4 minutes to check whether the little one has woken up.
• After being busy day and night, if you get some time off because your baby is asleep, you'll probably keep wondering what to do!
• You won't fit in any of your earlier dresses. You can only wonder how you fitted before and whether you will ever get back to that size (which probably is not a possibility at all.)
• When you start singing to your little one, you'll forget the lyrics of the songs that you know by heart.
• Sometimes, you are at your wits end thinking of new ways to entertain your little one.
• At times, you get so frustrated with every thing around you that you may take it all out on your innocent little one and after it's done, you'll feel extremely guilty about it.
• Your schedules revolve around the little one's and you'll get totally frustrated and angry when people try to disrupt that.

Breast Feeding

It's a challenge to get set with your baby and breast feeding. It would be challenging, at times frustrating, and sometimes painful in the beginning.

To begin with, you need to get a comfortable position for you and your baby. You'll need pillows and a place to sit comfortably.

Initially, if your milk flow isn't enough, do talk to your doctor about it, especially the paediatrician to ensure that your baby is getting enough feed. You may need to give top feed for that. Don't feel shy or guilty about it. There are millions of ladies whose milk flow isn't enough for the baby due to various reasons. If you keep feeling shy, your baby will end up being underweight, cranky, and will in turn make your life miserable.

One of the issues that may arise if your milk flow isn't enough is nipple injuries. Your baby might suckle too hard making your nipples sore. If that happens, use nipple covers. Unfortunately, the doctor in the hospital who was helping me with breast feeding did not tell me about it. But one of my sister's friend suggested and it was a great boon for me. Once your baby starts getting enough flow and gets used to suckling properly, you may discard the nipple covers.

Your breasts will start leaking probably since before delivery. But after delivery, definitely for a few weeks they will leak. Use breast pads. You can get good reusable (cotton) pads or even disposable ones. Both are easily available in shops and even online.

In the hospital, the doctors usually tell that feed your baby every two hours. Although it might be true almost always, I really don't know whether babies do get up every two hours for the feed. Some babies, like mine, don't get up every two hours. It is also very tiring to wake them. In such cases, do not worry. I believe that most babies will get up when they are hungry. My doctor eased my concern saying that we should remember the "feed on demand" mantra for the babies. That way it makes their and our lives easy.

Obviously, you have to get up at nights too for feeding. Try and learn the lying down position for feeding. That will help you feed the baby at night while lying on the bed. It will give you the much needed rest for your back and you can also drift off to sleep while your baby enjoys its midnight snack.

Use enough pillows to ensure that your back is supported at all times when you are feeding. Some babies take a long time for feeding and that could mean a stiff back.

You should also be prepared with a few nursing clothes: feeding bras and feeding tops. Feeding tops are any tops that have a front opening, a comfortable opening in the front. Some of the tops I have seen have so small openings that it's really uncomfortable nursing the baby. As one of the items in your preparation before delivery, ensure that you buy at least two such tops. You'll need them when you have to visit the gynaec and the paediatrician after the delivery.

Feeding bras are really uncomfortable. At least I haven't come across a good feeding bra. And in the summer months, they are really too thick to use. But you generally have no choice. Get at least three feeding bras.

You will take some time getting used to your baby suckling at your breast. The first time is a strange feeling. But later you get used to it. If you are a bookworm, no better time to read a book than when you are nursing your baby. As your baby grows, it will start making noises and start responding to you even as it suckles. It's really funny! Some babies like mine are really chatty and make constant cooing sounds to show their excitement and satisfaction as they suckle.

All in all, breast feeding needs to be made a good experience for the baby as well as the mother. Otherwise it's a terrifying experience for both. Do relax and enjoy this time. 

Bundle Of Joy

So, finally the baby has arrived and you are lost in coping up with the new status of motherhood. You would be all entangled in the rush of things.

But in all this, take a breather to look at your bundle of joy. Look at that beautiful creation that was inside you for the nine months. Enjoy the wonder of that tiny body...the ten fingers, the tiny little nails, the toes, the softness, the suppleness, the marvel that is your baby.

Despite the mad rush around you, the daily new routine of bathing, feeding, sleeping, nappy changing, sleepless nights, anxiety and endless visitors, do take time out to admire your baby.

Look at the fuzzy hair, the pink skin, the beautiful eyes, ears, tiny little mouth, two holes of a nose, absent eyebrows, belly button, and the lovely, enticing baby smell. Admire all those things. Wonder at how the baby actually fitted inside your womb.

Admire the way your baby stretches its arms and legs, how it moves, how it cries. Try and figure out if they way it moves is exactly how it was moving inside you. Feel the kicks, now from outside. Hold your baby's hand. Cuddle the baby and feel the warmth.

Look at the baby's face and dream about its future. Think of how it will go to school, college, university, probably abroad. Dream about what the baby will become, doctor, engineer, scientist, or artist. Dream about the day when it will find its soul mate and get married. Dream about the dresses you'll buy for the baby, the accessories you will buy for the baby, the school items, and the gifts.

Look at your baby's face and think of what life it will lead and what joy it will bring.

Do try and think of all things. Do not forget to admire the tiny bundle of joy. Because even before you know, even before you realize, the baby will have grown and those moments will be gone. It will be too late when you realize that you forgot to admire the baby when it was just born and a new wonder for you! Don't miss the fun!

Safe Confinement

My safe confinement started on 11-April-2014. I was given the first tablet to induce pain in the afternoon when I got admitted. The tablet would start the delivery pains in 24-48 hours.

Interestingly, nothing happened. I was as happy as a lark without the delivery pains. We waited for two whole days and still I had no pains at all.

On the fourth day, early in the morning at 6 AM, I was given another pain inducing tablet. Still nothing. I was then sent for an ultrasound test, which revealed that the baby's position was horizontal, and the cervix had not dilated at all.

I was still given another tablet for pains. By that time, I had become a fun object for the doctors there. even with three tablets, I had no pains at all. Finally our doctor told us that it they had given the whole dose of medicine for inducing pain for the day and they could give no more. The doctor also mentioned that if pains started in the evening or night, they may be too strong because of the three tablets. At that time, it could take time for the doctor to come and complications could arise.

We decided to go for c-section immediately and not wait any longer. At around 3 PM we took the decision. Withing half an hour I was rolled into the operation theatre (OT). By 4.30, I was back in the recovery room, already a mother, my baby safely ensconced with all the doting grandparents and mavshi. It was that quick.

In the safe confinement, there are a few things that may happen. You may start getting some cold because of the weather or airconditioning. Talk to your doctor if the doctor doesn't realize that. Get some medicines for the cold so that it does not worsen.

The other important thing that happens is...the pain inducing tablets reduce your milk flow. You are never told about it. No doctors tell about that. However, that is most likely to happen and it is best that you talk to the paediatrician to help feed your baby better, probably with some top feed.

C-section could also mean not being able to move from the bed for two days. That will limit your movements and you may also not be able to hold your baby for long. The saline drip becomes a problem as you handle the baby. You must check on the needle that's pierced for the drip. There's always a possibility of the drip going 'out.' Be careful while handling the baby.

And in all this, don't forget to marvel at the bundle of joy that was growing inside you and now has entered the world. it's going to make your world all the more beautiful. Cherish that!

Being A Mother

Today I have finally got time after around one and half months of being a mother. I was blessed with a beautiful daughter on 14-April-2014. We haven't named her yet, although her name is finalized.

As with some girls, I did not get that shock when I finally saw my bundle of joy in front of my eyes. When I heard her cry for the first time in the operation theatre, it was truly exciting. I was waiting to see her. My doctor brought her before me and I was overjoyed. I cannot express what I felt then, but it was a beautiful moment of realisation that I was a mother now. Other feelings followed after the initial ecstasy.

Truly, it's a joy being a mother, I guess. Well, am I writing contradictory statements? Not really. The reason is that every girl's emotions run wild when she finally becomes a mother. If it's been a natural delivery, the after delivery pains are less. However, if it is a c-section, then you need to cope up with quite a bit of pain and are not sure about a lot of things.

First, you cannot get up from the bed for two days and cannot handle the baby properly. Your milk flow might be affected due to various reasons. Breast feeding becomes a challenge. Your baby is so small and beautiful and fragile, you do not know what to do with it. You cannot understand why the baby is crying, what to do.

One of the first things that you realise about your baby is that it is so very helpless. The baby is totally dependent on you for everything. Literally everything. And that itself makes you feel so responsible. The mother is everything for them. No wonder kids think the world of their mothers.

As every day progresses, you get used to your baby, start understanding your baby's moods, her wants, likes, dislikes. You ensure that your baby is comfortable, protected, cosy, and happy.

The first few weeks are the most difficult. You are fumbling with your new-found status of motherhood. The baby is also adjusting to the surroundings and new routine outside the womb. The whole household almost revolves round the baby.

My baby is of one and half months and it's only now that I have become a bit relaxed and started enjoying motherhood. The initial days are difficult and sometimes damn frustrating. Through this blog, I'll try and put down my experiences and learnings. That will probably help other first time mothers too.

And now I must stop. My bundle of joy is waiting for me. :)

Almost There

I've completed nine months there and am almost there! Tomorrow I'll be having another sonography and will visit the doc. He'll let me know when is going to be the D-Day. We'll probably going for c-section.

I've skipped so much in between. But at the moment, I don't feel like writing all that down. Perhaps tomorrow when I revisit the blog, I might. I am not sure.

I am now getting excited about the D-Day and wondering whether I'll have a girl or a boy. I would dearly like to have a boy. I am also preparing a welcome-home placard to be placed right at the entrance. :)

Good Luck to me!

When It Started

So when it was confirmed that I was expecting, I was zapped. Frankly! I had never believed it would be that smooth. So I was finally going to be a mom. It was a totally new thing for me (just like all first-time moms.)

Physically, there wasn't a lot of change in me. So it was really hard to believe it. Emotionally, it was a roller-coaster ride. First disbelief, then a gradual dawning of the fact, then the sinking in, then joy, followed by slight panic of what it really meant, how it was going to change my life, and then a fear of whether I would be able to be a mom at all, forget about being a good mom, didn't know whether I would be able to take it all in.

Gradually as days passed, the fact that I really was going to be a mom in another 8-9 months was something that started taking root. I reconciled myself to my own feelings and with some introspection, started getting ready for the new phase.

Slowly and surely, physically too, things started changing. My hunger increased, making me wonder all the time. I started feeling hungry even in the middle of the night, early in the morning, every two hours, and at all odd timings. Till now I used to eat to live. But now, I had to live to eat. It was a drastic change and I found myself being amazed at the change.

I stayed with my mom for the first five months, which was a blessing. I could eat, drink, be merry, and generally relax. I didn't have to do any household chores, could lie down whenever I wanted and be totally pampered. My parents waited upon me for every small thing. I really did need that rest.

But I missed my husband, Sanjeev in all this. I missed being with him every day and sharing each moment of the wonderful pregnancy period with him. He used to visit me over weekends. It was too much of a trouble for him, I know he has been through a lot. But surely, those weekend moments weren't always enough. About all that a little later.

Looking back at that time, even after six months, I can only say that it's been a miracle! I have said this often to Sanjeev, and I repeat it here. Getting to be a mother is a miracle indeed. And I getting pregnant without any complications is really a miracle! I want to thank Almighty for this! Dear God, thanks!

New Year New Post

This blog is primarily for penning my thoughts down as I step into a new phase of my life. I probably should have started this blog six months back when I came to know that I was going to be a mother. But strangely, this thought never entered my head then.

I was skeptical about writing about my condition in the regular blog that I have. I didn't want to declare it to the whole world about it. Perhaps that's why I never thought about it.

But two days back, an idea struck me that I should start a new blog. I wouldn't share it with all, at least at the moment. And I'll still get a forum to write. So what better time than the New Year day!

I am fully aware that such blogs would be abundant in the world of blogs...an expectant, new, or even experienced mother writing down her thoughts, experiences, and wisdom. So this blog won't be something radically different.

But for me, it's still going to be a nice outlet to my thoughts.

I'll stop here for today. From tomorrow onwards, I'll start right from the beginning.

Happy New Year!