Whats in my Diaper Bag?

My Diaper Bag Checklist :)

1) Diaper Change Kit: It contains diapers, rash free ointment, cotton wool, toilet paper roll, Baby wipes and Baby Powder. Also, I keep at least 4-5 diapers extra in the bag.

2) Warm Shawl: To drape over the baby in case he falls asleep.

3) Hand Sanitiser: To clean hands after changing baby diaper or before feeding the baby.

4) Teether and toys: For baby time pass :D

5) Extra Clothes: I keep at least 3 extra sets in case the baby poops, spits up or wets the clothes he is wearing. And yes, there has been an occasion when I had to use all of them in a single day :P  

6) Colic Aid: In case the baby starts crying uncontrollably

7) Shoes, Socks and Mittens: I have lost many single socks or mittens when we were out. It happened especially when I was holding Vihaan in my hands. So its always good to keep a pair or two handy.

You can also carry a quick dry sheet/ plastic sheet to place under the baby while changing the diaper. 

Well that's my list, hope I am not missing anything ;)

Top 5 Reasons why Breastfeeding is Best feeding!!

1) Food on the go
Before feeding the baby with outside food/milk, one has to make sure that the bottles/containers are sterilised. Baby formula has to be made in water boiled in sterilised containers because in the first few months, the baby is very prone to infections. Breastfeeding is the most convenient form of feeding, no sterilising required, no washing of utensils later. Even when you travel, you don't have to go through the hassle of carrying extra containers and of heating the baby formula. Breast milk is always served at the optimum temperature for the baby :)


2) Tailor made nutrition
Breast milk consistency changes as a baby drinks. The milk that is produced at the start of the nursing session is called "Fore milk" watery and satisfies the baby's thirst. Thicker and more nutritious milk called "Hind milk" is produced as the session progresses which is satisfies the baby's hunger. Also Breast milk changes every month to meet the baby's growing need. It is also found that Breast fed babies have less chances of developing food allergies.

3) Compulsory rest periods for the Moms
Now a days, pregnancies and deliveries are considered just another surgical procedure. One tends to ignore the age old wisdom of taking it easy, resting and letting the body heal after delivery. I always tried to rush with the chores as soon as the baby would sleep. Even Hospitals discharge moms within 3 days. Breast feeding thus provides compulsory 20-30mins breaks for the new moms because they have to sit and relax at one place while the baby feeds. Also this is  the best time to bond with baby. This is when the baby becomes familiar with your presence. Gentle coos and toothless smiles from the baby after the feedings are an added bonus :)


4) Immunity for the baby
A baby's immune system is undeveloped at birth. As a result the baby is more susceptible to infections. A breast fed baby gets certain elements from breast milk which helps it develop a stronger immune system and a greater resistance to infections. Its mother nature's gift for the new born baby :)

5) Your personal weight loss program
Its quite difficult to get rid of the pounds you pile on during pregnancy. Breastfeeding is the most natural way of shedding those extra kilos. Breastfeeding can help burn off 600 calories in a day!!


Check out the following site for more info on Breastfeeding:
http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en/

Importance of Post Natal Supplements for Moms

Its been quite a few days since my last post. The reason is that I was unwell. I am now on my way to recovery and I simply had to write this post because I felt that it is an important topic.


I had a dizzy spell and felt nauseous a few days back. I felt so weak that I couldn't pick up my baby. A trip to the doctor told me that I had Low BP. I wasn't  shocked as it had happened once before (during dassehra, the worst part was that it was Vihaan's first dassehra and we had to spend it in the hospital with me being hooked up to the IV.)


But there is no history of the same in my family, So why was this happening? Well, I was surprised when the doctor told me that it had to do with my post natal supplements. I had been advised by my doctor to take a calcium and iron supplement daily, but was missing the iron supplement almost daily. I didn't really think that they would be that important and frankly the iron tablet is pretty disgusting. But apparently the Iron supplement is quite important because it increases the blood in our body. Low iron in the body causes Low B.P.


So gals, please take your Prenatal Supplements regularly. Continue with your calcium and iron supplements for at least one year after delivery. And drink lots of water :)   

My Top 5 New Mom Essentials

Here are 5 things which really helped me immensely in the first six months after delivery.

1)Feeding Pillow

For the first month, I tried feeding my baby by using a number of pillows, but I always ended up uncomfortably slouched. Feeding sessions were increasingly becoming a pain (in the back). That's when I gave in and bought a feeding pillow. And the difference was amazing. A feeding pillow helps you sit in a proper position without straining your back while feeding the baby. It is definitely a must have!!

2) Breast Pump and Breast pads

 

In the initial months before the milk supply is regulated, new moms often have to face breast engorgement and constant leaking and spraying. As the baby demands less milk quantity wise, a lot of women face problems like lumps in the breast which if left unattended can give rise to bigger problems. Using a breast pump to remove excess milk ensures that such problems never arise and makes breast feeding much more enjoyable.

3) Comfortable Clothing

Since I had to feed the baby almost every hour and half, it was very necessary to wear something that would not come in the way of feeding. Instead of opting for special feeding gowns, I bought two night suits (similar to the one above). It have buttons all the way in the the front so feeding was easy. I was scared of tripping over long pants while holding the baby (new mom paranoia :D ) So the pants were 3/4ths.

4)Bouncer cum Carry Cot

This Bouncer was a lifesaver, esp in the night when I was unable to keep my eyes open but the baby needed to be rocked to sleep. For the first three months, I could easily put Vihaan to sleep in the bouncer. He still loves rocking in it. The bouncer wire attachment is detachable, and can be used as a carry cot once removed. The carry cot doubles up as a rocker and a car seat too. It's handle can be turned around converting the carry cot into an infant seat for when the baby starts sitting.  

5) Quick Dry Sheet

These are a blessing in disguise esp. for mothers who use Indian style cloth diapers (which do not have any absorbency).Also the quick dry sheets can be placed under the baby during changing times thus avoiding little accidents from spilling onto the bed :D
So these are 5 essentials which helped me breeze through the initial months. :) Which are yours?

Cloth Diapering in India

The debate between cloth and paper diapers continues. Meanwhile I have come to a simple arrangement, I use cloth diapers in the day and paper (disposables) diapers at the night :). There are many types of cloth diapers (called langots) available in India. These are some diapers that I tried out:

1) Basic Cotton Langot

This is a basic, extremely thin cotton langot which are used mostly for newborns. They are very airy and are most suitable for the hot Indian climate as they dry very fast. However, you end up soaking wet with these as these langots have no absorption whatsoever.

2) Slightly thicker Hosiery Langot

These are slightly thicker than the previous langots but again don't prevent leaks. Usually, I would keep a quick dry sheet under my baby to absorb the wetness.

3) Thick Cotton Langot

These are much better than the previous two. They absorb the wetness and prevents it from spreading on the sheets.

4) Smart Baby Flip Diapering system

These are a very recent find and they aren't available in any stores in India yet. They have to be ordered on line. I was so excited when I got these :) The Flip system has a one size outer cover and a one size insert. The inserts are suede on one side and terry on the other. So the suede side absorbs all the wetness but stays dry at the same time. This insert is to be placed in the outer cover (once you have adjusted the size according to your baby) and you are ready to go. I found that they work for me for at least 2hrs at a time, which is a big relief from having to change the cloth langots every 20 mins :D The only downside is that these are quite expensive. But since I started using them, I am even thinking of completely doing away with disposable diapers. 
The disposable diapers that I use are Pampers Active Baby Diapers. They last for 5-6 hrs easily.

A few people I know use disposable nappy pads inside the cloth langots. I am planning to try that out too and will keep you posted.

What type of diapers do you use? Do let me know.

Turning over!!

Yaay!! Vihaan turned over for the first time yesterday... Was so excited that I called up my husband while whooping on the top of my voice :) Turning over is such a simple act that we take for granted, but when your baby does it for the first time, its magic :)

"What to expect" Series

Somehow, the doctors that I met up with during and after my pregnancy were either too cautious (always discussing the worst case scenarios) or would never want to give some general knowledge without being asked. Since its the first child, you hardly know if what u are doing is correct, and the doctors (pedis esp.) will only give cryptic answers to your question. So my go to guide throughout the pregnancy and even now after I have had the baby has been the "What to Expect" series of books. These books are considered a baby bible and have the ability to answer all your questions. My mind went in hyperdrive, esp. in the first month after the baby was born. Every movement or cry that the baby made was new to me. And the docs are never available 24/7. During that time the "What to Expect : first year" really helped. I had to order it frm flipkart though cos none of the bookstores (crossword, infinity) had it then. It answered most of my questions about the baby, and in addition had great information about other things like how to take care of the baby( bathe, massage, dress), breastfeeding, emergency procedures in the event of an accident and more. you always have "Google Maharaj" to answer your queries but then "net goes down" frequently. So having the book is the best.  

ps: they have a site too http://www.whattoexpect.com/    

A quick Introduction

As a first time mommy, I was (and still am) always on the verge of panic.. mostly beacause its the FIRST time. Little decisions such as "Which diapers to select", "What essentials to buy" , "Which toys are safe" tend to make your head go in a tizzy. The parenting methods which were followed by our parents have undergone a sea of change. Thats when I decided to start with this blog, to record this amazing period of my life, for me and for all the moms out there who are as baffled as I am in this baby wonderland :)