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!