Mother is born when the child is born

For any women who has gone through her first pregnancy and delivery, there are N number of doubts, questions, and points to ponder. To make things more fussy, if there are 10 people around, there would be 22 suggestions, all contradicting one another :) on how to handle the baby and mother. This happens when you are surrounded by people who are your well wishers, who have gone through this phase , at some point in their life, and wish to make sure you get the benefits or the experience as they did. Not bad, but it could confuse us,because, the time and environmental conditions which they had is not the same now, and so may not be applicable now.

From how to hold the baby, clothing, feeding, bathing, soothing, and to look after self health, every mom has her own experience. Confidence is the best tool at this time. Only the mother would know by instincts how the baby is keeping his/her health. So , no matter how many suggestions you get, you got to follow your instincts on how your baby feels. Try to analyse what is best for the baby, feel as if you were the baby, then half of the questions would be answered. The beauty lies in how prompt the decisions are taken. 

Leasons from Day1:

1)Talking to the baby more, makes the vocabulary building strong for the baby. You never know, they learn from day 1 on earth. So never assume that they did not respond to you, so they did no notice. It is like sowing the seeds and just giving enough water. Don't expect the saplings to shoot on day1. But underneath , they are growing a tree :)

2)The more good words and positive sentences we use, the better it is for the baby. 

Studies have proved that a child learns at an infinite speed within the first six years, which cannot be matched by the amount that he/she learns in entire life.

3)Allow him/her to be on his own. Expecting the baby to do what we want does not make sense. Instead, giving the baby the right inputs from when his/her vision is good and from when he/she can hear ( which is from day one on earth ) is what we can do.

 Though initially for about a month and a half, the vision would just be within 2 feet, and just black and white shades, it is good to keep him/her engaged with play cards and let him/her learn at him own pace. 

4)Use Common sense over conventionalism. That helps a lot.

5)Consult your parents on food habits to keep the baby healthy, because every portion of meal that the mother takes will flavour the milk she feeds.

6) Dont let the baby be overcrowded by Visitors. Instead, tell them politely that the baby needs some time before he/she can be handled. 

7) Try to spend more time with the baby and understand his/her needs better. Nobody can beat the confidence of the Mother in handling the baby. 

8) Continue to be calm as you were prenatal, so that the baby sure gets the traits that are Satvic.

9) Make a routine for the baby to listen to music and teaching.

10) Browse the following website for useful information -http://www.drketan.com/breastfeed/

11) Share this with all the new mothers. :)

- Mom since 6-Jan-2009

Nithya Ravi

How to make ur Bundle of Joy a real BUNDLE OF JOY :)

After a long time, i thought i should put up a post so that all women who are ready to carry a Bundle of Joy can know how easy a labor could be made,and all men who wish to help their wives out, can sure share it with them. Every women who turns a mother will first have a fear or a thought in mind, as to whether she would be able to give birth to a baby as a normal delivery or it would be a C section.

For all those thoughts in mind, there is one answer, it is not in our hands, and we dont have to worry about that. Moreover, we have to bear in mind that we can create a conducive environment for the featus to make sure he/she chooses a normal delivery to see this earth . True, God only knows how to direct the baby to see the world.

Then how do we create a conducive environment? The answer is

Do’s:

1) Being Calm and composed

2) Listening to mild and good music,preferably on speakers.

3) Listening to Vedic Chanting ( for those who want to know more, there is a album by Tatwamsi Dixit - A Vedic Pundit ) for the mother's to be. you can purchase that and listen to it daily, until delivery.

4) Good exercise routine which does not have any lifting, straining sorts- walking is considered best - may be 2 kms will be good, you can start from 4^th month when your vomiting and giddiness has stopped.

5) Good sleep ( In the first trimester, you will automatically get sleep.You may be drowsy for more time.

6) Reading out loud, talking to your baby as if she was in a pouch like Kangaroo. Studies have proved that the baby starts listening when she/he is 5 months in the womb.

7) Drink good amt of water

8) Always have a positive attitude.

9) Feel everyday as if you are living another beautiful day today :)

Don’t’s :

1) Loud Music – NO , Loud Noise – NO , Dance , Alcohol , Passive – Active Smoking – NO NO NO

2) Drinking Plenty of water may sometimes lessen the necessary salt content in our body, so try consuming as juices, lassi etc. Canned and Tinned food –NO NO NO

3) Lying on stomach –NO NO NO. From fourth month onwards try to stretch along your side. For a while lying on the back is ok, but try to minimize that time.

4) Don’t try any exercise without consulting your Physiotherapist. They will suggest prenatal exercises.

5) Avoid lot of coffee and tea in a day.

6) Don’t apply deodorant under arms.

7) Don’t use any new products – Example - hair removing creams.

8) Don’t panic for anything.Increase in blood pressure is harmful for the baby.

Upto third fourth month, do take mother horlicks or any malt that has DHA. This helps in the brain development of the baby during pregnancy.

Every person is unique and every constitution would behave uniquely. So dont compare yourself with anyone.

I had a beautiful experience with my pregnancy and labor. First of all , inspired by my sis-in-law, I chose to listen to lot of music and kept myself engaged all through. Throughout pregnancy i had set a routine to follow, and i strictly did. I would wake up at 5.30 in the morning, and then have a quick shower, and get ready. I would have a cup of milk - with some malt added, and leave for a walk at 7, and cover a distance of almost 2.5 kms, slowly but steadily. I would be back home by 8.20, the way included 2 temples,and no traffic roads- which meant no pollution. This is a kind of blessing in disguise, as the immune system is also good throughout - the more u interact with nature, the more healthy you become. Then I had my breakfast at 8.30, some activities, books to read, music to listen to. At 12.30 my lunch would be there. My mom ( in law) was on dot, and i feel that i m blessed to have her as my mom.

Then some good sleep after about an hour after lunch. This helped me to digest what i ate, and i dint slog. Then in the evening, some mild pre-natal exercise. Dinner at 8. Never forget to include a fruit in the diet. Avoid Pineapple and papaya.Rest are ok.

Chennai has its own activities to keep the ppl engaged. I used to go to all kutcheris in mylapore , during Nov-Dec Season. Dont forget to pamper yourself on a short road trip during 6th month. Coz that is when u can travel.

During 8th and 9th month keep only short distance activities, and make sure your hospital is at a short distance. Having all the records ready makes it easier for a smooth procedure.

I was going nearby to kutcheris and discourses, until the day before labor. On the day, I had mild discomfort in the morning. The countdown started in hours. I got admitted at 9 .30 and I was told that i m in pre-term labor. By around 12.30 pm, I was in labor, and by 3.23, our Son saw this world, with God's grace. It was a normal delivery, thanks to the activities and routine that I was able to follow.

In two days I was dischargd, and back home. I wish every mom-to-be to have a pleasant experience, throughout and after labor.