Around the world in 180 seconds

Go, atleast once a year, to a place you have never been to before... Unfortunately, I couldn't travel anywhere this year. 

My last trip was in October 2018 during the second trimester. From then on, I couldn't travel long distances as my OB advised me not to. My placenta was just close to being on the lower end of the uterus. After delivery, I couldn't travel anywhere as the baby was too small and  SARS-CoV-2 cases were on the rise. 

It's been close to a year since I have been on a "proper" vacation. I have been at home on most days, owing to the maternity leave, numerous lockdowns and staggered duty pattern at the workplace. Some may consider this to be a vacation, for me it's not. My idea of a vacation is to run away from the usual, explore places, try out new cuisines and return home with great memories. 

Lately, I have been dying to go on a vacation so bad. If I didn't have the infant with me, I would have definitely packed my bags and headed out to Thailand inspite of the pandemic. 😂

For now, I will just have to be happy with these vacation photos that I managed to click over the weekend. 

2020 - The year so far...

2020 has been quite an eventful year so far. I didn't even think in my wildest dreams that things would be different this year. I have come to a point where I have stopped making plans  and go along with the flow. 

Covid-19 has gripped the world and how. Raising a kid at this time may be a challenge depending on how old your child is and where you live. 

In India, we have had four major nationwide lockdowns since March 2020 with some relaxations in between. 

I am grateful that I have an infant to look after during these times. Unlike a toddler or an older child, I didn't have to worry much about keeping my little one occupied with activities, monitoring online classes and explaining why he/she can't step out of the house.

I was on maternity leave since February 2020 for six months. The option for a paternity leave was not available. Thanks to the lockdown, my husband was at home on most days and helped around whenever needed. I can't imagine how it would have been if I had absolutely no help. 

We make sure that the little one interacts with her grandparents through video calls. The last time she met them in person was in Feb - March, with the exception of my dad who still hasn't held her in his arms yet. 

Over the last six months, we hardly took our baby outside, for the fear of getting her infected. The only couple of times she has been out were for random strolls on the terrace, vaccinations and short car drives. She doesn't get opportunities to interact much with people. Even if she does, they are usually hidden behind a mask. To most people, this may seem to be in best interest for the child. As a mother, I am concerned if this may take a toll on her social skills and personality. She still has to discover that the world she lives in, is a much bigger and beautiful place. 😊 I can't wait to take her to the park, beach, mall, church and places where she can meet more people. I can't wait to show her how a crow, pigeon, cat or a dog looks like... There are so many things that I want her to see, feel and experience...things that we took for granted before Corona arrived. 

I just hope, like any other person, that the current situation gets better. I am looking forward to the day when we can finally toss the mask away and walk around freely. 

Review : Syga High Chair with Padded Seat

One of the most essential things required to wean your baby is a high chair or booster seat... My husband and I had a couple of prerequisites when we started out hunting for the perfect "throne". We wanted the chair to be easy to maintain, have a cushioned seat, meet safety requirements and fit our budget.  After checking out a couple of reviews and comparing prices of various brands on Flipkart, Amazon and FirstCry, we finally zeroed down on Syga High Chair with Padded Seat from FirstCry. 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

The Syga High Chair is available in different colours. You have different models that you can choose from - with or without cushion and with or without wheels. 

It can be used as a high chair or booster seat, depending on your requirements. 

The features of the chair are as follows -

* Suitable for ages 6+ months to 3 years

* Can bear a maximum weight of 18 kgs

* Adjustable chair height and dinner tray position

* Dinner tray with cup holder is easy to detach and clean

* Seat can be reclined if needed.

* 5 point safety harness

* Cushioned seat that can be removed and cleaned. 

* Footrest

* Can be folded for storage

PRICE : The product was priced at Rs. 6200. We purchased the chair during an offer while it was priced at Rs. 3554.03 on FirstCry.

REVIEW

We ordered the product online and received it in 7 days. The chair arrived as dismantled parts and required assembly. We were provided with an "Instructions" card and a printed paper bearing a link to a YouTube video on how to assemble. The Instructions card is not much of help as it was typed in Chinese. However, we managed to figure out things with the help of the pictures on the card and the YouTube video. It took us 45 minutes to set up the chair. The best part is you don't need any tools to assemble it! 

The quality of the chair is excellent for the amount paid. It comes with a detachable cushioned seat and was extremely comfortable for my baby to seat on. 

The 5 point safety harness and sturdy base makes it absolutely easy and less accident-prone to feed a fidgety baby. Cleaning spills from the detachable dining tray is quite simple. 

Since the chair is suitable for a 6+ months baby, I use cushions on either sides to make sure my 5 month old baby doesn't lean to one side. 

Overall, the chair has been a saving grace. My little one enjoys sitting on it while having her meals, playing with her toys and even watching me while I cook in the kitchen. 😄

LINK 

Syga High Chair with Padded Seat @ FirstCry [LINK]

Weaning Woes

I started weaning my little one about three weeks ago. It's been quite a task getting her to try out new flavors and textures. 

I am currently giving her single fruit / vegetable purees and cereals. She likes apple, pear, rice and barley. Vegetable purees and ragi porridge are a big NO! 

Blue or Pink?!

Disclaimer : Pre-conception and pre-natal gender screening or testing is illegal in India. This post is just a fun take on old wives' tales. 

From the time I knew I was pregnant, I was curious to know the gender of the child in my womb for two reasons - one to pick a suitable name and the other to buy outfits. 

Getting to know the gender during my pregnancy was impossible. So we started predicting based on old wives' tales and came close to believing that we were going to have a boy. 

(Photo by June from Pexels)

Now that we have a daughter, let's see how many of the predictions actually came true …. 😋

1. If you are carrying high, you are having a girl. If you are carrying low, it's a boy - I am not sure about this… I think I carried high. 
   
   
   

2. Presence of acne or other skin blemishes is more in favour of a girl… while a glowing, flawless skin indicate a boy child. - I had glowing skin until the last trimester.. In the third trimester, I had acne occasionally with pigmentation of the neck and face 
   
   
   

3. If you’re feeling cold and icy, it’s a boy! Hot and sweaty? It’s a girl! - Hot and sweaty all the time!! 😂
   
   
   

4. An old wives’ tale claims that slower heart rate (under 140 bpm) means boy, while heart rate over 140 bpm means girl. - During most of the ultrasound scans and use of fetal doppler, my little one's heart rate was lesser than 140 bpm… only during my last scan, days before my emergency c-section, the heart rate was more than 140 bpm.

5. If you crave for sweet things, you’re having a girl. If you’re craving salty or sour foods, it’s a boy. - I always craved for spicy and sour food throughout my pregnancy ..  Infact, most of my dinners included a bowl of sliced cucumbers and loads of green chillies, topped with a generous amount of lemon juice and low sodium salt. I couldn't resist eating it even when my doctor asked me to stop consuming salty food since I was borderline hypertensive. However, few weeks before my C-section I started craving for pastries and ice creams ….

6. I even tried out the Mayan calendar to predict the baby's gender which revealed that I was going to have a boy child. 

7. Presence of morning sickness means it's a girl - I never had that…. 

8. If your husband puts on weight during the pregnancy, an old wives’ tale says it’s a girl! - Ha!!! My husband did put on weight...Probably because he stopped going to gym and I cooked  awesome food throughout my pregnancy... all thanks to cravings! 😂

9. Swollen legs or ankles? It’s a boy! - My legs were swollen indeed …. But I guess that's seen in most women in the last trimester. 

10. If you're happy all the time, it's a boy… If you're moody, it's a girl - Oh boy! I was extremely moody in my first and last trimester. My husband was the lucky person to face the brunt of it.  😂

11. Some say that maternal instincts can also predict well… - Hmmm! I always felt that I was carrying a boy and often referred to the baby as "he" or "him".
    
    

Most of the old wives' tales didn't turn out to be correct. 😂 4 out of 11 predictions were true.

However, there is one thing that definitely turned out right. Years ago, when I was a teenager, I had a dream which seemed so real. I dreamt of me being in a hospital room… Every single thing in that room was white in color. I had a child in my arm wrapped in white cloth. It was a girl! She was the most prettiest child I had ever seen. The sun rays from the open window lit up her face even more. She seemed so pure. My eyes grew moist while looking at her...I woke up with tears in my eyes and was so disappointed since none of this had actually taken place. Dreams are easily forgotten, but this felt so real that I never forgot it…. 

I know this may sound cliché, but my daughter is my dream come true! 😀

What to pack in your hospital bag?

Preparing yourself for the big day when you can finally hold the little kickboxer in your arms, can be quite exciting.  

One of the most important things to be done when you are in your third trimester is packing your maternity bag. A maternity or hospital bag contains all the essentials required to ensure that you and your baby's stay in the hospital is comfortable. 

The average hospital stay for a vaginal delivery and C-section is 3 days and 5 days respectively. Always anticipate staying at the hospital for 5 days and pack accordingly. 

Here are few useful tips I would like to share, especially for new moms - 

• Pack your maternity bag atleast 2 months before your due date. Learn to expect the unexpected. You don't want to be caught off-guard.
  
  
• Keep your maternity bag in a room where it's clearly visible so that you don't forget to carry it along. 
  
  
• You don't need to buy a fancy, designer bag for the hospital. I used the cabin trolley bag that I already have. 
  
  
• All toileteries can be kept in a travel pouch.
  
  
• Maternity night gowns with front zip are quite comfortable to wear during your stay at the hospital and are ideal for breastfeeding. Incase you are unable to buy, you can always grab your husband's old shirts. I packed few of my husband's shirts for the hospital stay. I must say they were quite loose, comfy and perfect for breastfeeding.
  
  
• Carry few empty bags to pack soiled clothes so that you can wash them at home. Your little one  will have plenty of poop, pee and puke accidents.
  
  
• Cotton wear (also known as 'jablas' in India) is ideal for newborns especially born in summers. If your baby is born during monsoon/winter or you in live in a cold place, you can buy appropriate winter wear clothes. Avoid buying outfits that are dark coloured and have zips / classic buttons. Outfits with press buttons or snap buttons are preferred and are generally safe.
  
  
• Having a handsanitizer /alcohol based hand rub is essential especially when you have visitors coming in to see the baby. Always insist on using the handrub before touching the baby. 

Here's a printable list of things to pack for you, your baby and daddy. Hope the tips and the list come in handy 👍

What to expect before, during and after a C-section

The period between the last few weeks of pregnancy and first few months post partum can be stressful for a first time mom. Its very important to be aware of what can possibly happen and what you can do to make things better. 

You will find alot of articles on the Internet about what you should and shouldn't do before and after a C-section. You will even get alot of advices from the people around. 

But, here is a list of things that I feel would be absolutely useful to expecting moms and a couple of things that I wish someone had told me...

Some of the points mentioned below may also be applicable to a vaginal delivery. 

BEFORE

• Pack your maternity bag atleast two months before your due date. Make sure you have all the essentials for yourself and baby. You can also pack for the dad as well! 😉 Read my post on what to pack for the hospital stay.
  
  
• Don't be worried about shaving or waxing the pubic area. It is advised not to shave, 24 hours before a C-section. Also, with the huge baby bump it's impossible to visualise what's going on down there...Besides putting in a lot of effort, you may end up getting a few nicks while shaving! While you are being prepared for the C -section, a nurse or a female ward attendant will clip all the hair over the pelvic and abdominal area...so leave that to the expert! 
  
  
• Maintain a file with copies of your ID card (Aadhar card, in India), hospital card, health insurance (i.e if your insurance has maternity benefits) ultrasound scans, latest serology and blood group reports. Make sure your husband or any other family member knows where you have placed the file at home. Ideally, it's best to keep your file in the maternity bag itself. 
  
  
• Be flexible. Don't try not to be too rigid about how you want your labour to be. It's ok to draft a birth plan... But you have to realise that sometimes things don't turn out the way you want. Disappointments can be avoided if you don't have expectations. Speak to your obstetrician if you have any doubts regarding the procedure.
  
  
• Talk to your obstetrician about the kind of sutures you want. Absorbable subcuticular sutures for closing the skin heals beautifully, with minimal scar. You also don't have to go through the pain of getting the sutures removed, as the absorbable sutures dissolve by itself. 

DURING

Pray. Be calm. Go with the flow. 

AFTER

• Once the anaesthesia wears off, you will be in pain. You may find it difficult to sit up and walk around .. but you must try to mobilize! Ask your husband or a family member for help, if needed. 
  
  

• Spinal headache sometimes occur following spinal anaesthesia. This happens as a result of leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the lumbar puncture site, resulting in changes in pressure around the brain and spinal cord. It usually resolves after a couple of days. This was a major issue I had following my C-Section. The head and neck pain was more severe than the pain around the suture site. I continued breastfeeding even though I had a tough time doing so. Remember, the best way to recover from it at the earliest, is to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Caffeine can also help relieve symptoms.
  
  

• Try to breastfeed your baby as early as possible after the C-section. Breastfeeding was new to me as well as to the baby. Neither of us knew how to go about it. Even though the nursing staff were helpful enough to teach and monitor me… it took my baby three days to get a proper latch! Again, don't be disappointed if you don't get it right a couple of times initially.
  
  
  
• Your breasts can leak like an overfilled dam anytime after delivery, as a result of milk letdown reflex. This may cause you some embarassment in front of visitors at the hospital. Wear breast pads and breastfeed often. You can also choose to wear loose, dark coloured outfits to make the leak less obvious.
  
  
  
• The first time you pass urine or stools can be painful. Make sure you don't bolt the door to the toilet from inside. You can call out for help if needed. 
  
  
  
• Swelling of the legs following C-section is not unusual. Mine subsided after 1-2 weeks. You will pee alot after delivery and lose the fluid accumulated. Do keep yourself well hydrated. 

This picture was clicked the next day after my C-section

• Post partum blues is something that you need to be aware of... It's totally normal if you yell, burst out into tears or panic for stupid reasons! "Baby blues" can last for few days or even a week or two after your baby is born. But if your symptoms are severe and continue to persist for months, it could be a sign of postpartum depression which needs treatment. 
  
  
  
• Take care of your C-section wound. Keep the incision site clean and dry. Use a separate towel (not the same towel to wipe your body) to wipe the area dry, after bath. Do not rub or scratch the scar. 
  
  
  
• Wear loose cotton underwear. Special underwears are also available in pharmacies which are meant to be worn following caesarean.
  
  I strongly recommend purchasing NewMom Disposable Fixators and NewMom Disposable Maternity Pads to deal with lochia. These are super comfortable.

• Keep the baby's cot and nappy changing essentials close to your bed. So that it's easy to get things done on your own if you don't have much help at home. 
  
  
  
•  Continue to take your multivitamins, iron and calcium tablets regularly after delivery to meet the increasing nutritional demands during breastfeeding. 
  
  
  
• Try to not listen to unsolicited advices from people around you when it comes to looking after your baby. Don't do things simply to impress others.
  
  
  
• Trust your maternal instincts. Remember not all babies are the same. You know your baby much more than others do.
  
  
  
• Hiring a full time postpartum doula or caretaker is purely optional. I had a tough time convincing my husband that I didn't want a full timer. I felt having a full time post natal doula would interfere with my husband, baby and I bonding together. People often told me that I was doing a big mistake by not hiring one. My husband who finally gave in to my wish, hired a lady who came over to our house just for 2 hours daily for 40 days, to massage, give bath to the newborn and wash her clothes. I didn't opt to get special post natal food cooked and body massages for myself. I felt that was totally unnecessary. I got my post natal nutrition from all the good food I cooked along with with the supplements I took. 
  
  
• Extras😝
• Do not lift heavy weights or perform vigorous exercises/household chores for 6 weeks atleast or until your doctor says so.
  
  
• Avoid sexual intercourse till your doctor gives the green signal. Do not rush into having sex. Keep a lube handy.
  
  
• Inform your doctor if - 
• You develop high fever and intense abdominal pain around the suture site.
• You notice heavy bleeding or passage of large clots. 
• You feel a burning sensation while peeing or notice blood in the urine.

Hope these tips come in handy and help you glide through this whole beautiful process of motherhood smoothly.