Pregnancy Tips

Minimalist Baby Checklist

2020-08-27T23:31:00.001+05:30

Are you preparing for the arrival of your newborn?

You must have realized that it's both exciting and taxing at the same time. Especially, when choosing which items you really need to buy.

As a mother myself, I've been through this phase. My baby is now 6 months old. So I thought of sharing my list of essential items with you which you may find helpful as you prepare to bring your newborn home.

For ease, let's look at different phases and the essential items you need to purchase.

Hospital bag:

Now, a couple of weeks before your due date, it's a good idea to pack your hospital bag so you are all ready to go when the time comes. Check with your doctor to see how many nights you expect to be in the hospital. Aside from the personal items and clothing you'll need for yourself, there are a few things you really need to pack for your baby.

Weather-appropriate onesies, and an outfit for them to wear home from the hospital.

Burp cloths and bibs to help clean up the drools and vomit.

Soother- Babies do have a strong sucking reflex and it can help soothe them. Though I personally don't recommend this. I never used it for my baby. But you may choose to use it.

Caps, socks, and mittens, to prevent scratching themselves as some babies are born with big nails and also to keep them warm.

Swaddles and receiving blankets, to wrap them up safe and secure.

I have written an in-depth article on this subject. You will find answers here to all your queries regarding what to pack in a hospital bag for mommy's to be. Don't forget to check it out so you don't miss any essential item.

At home and nursery:

Nursery: One of the most exciting aspects of preparing for your little one's arrival is preparing their nursery. But apart from the theme and cute dresses and obvious items like a crib or a bassinet there are a few practical items you'll need.

But first which one to buy? A crib or a bassinet?

As studies suggest both are considered safe for babies when it comes to sleeping. Where a crib will occupy a larger area in your room the bassinet will come handy in small apartments. Since it's portable it is also a great option for co-sleeping. On the other hand, crib will certainly last longer as your baby will outgrow of bassinet by 3 to 4 months. So make your choice accordingly.

Swaddling. Studies have found that swaddling a baby helps increasing the REM sleep so they sleep longer. As swaddling recreates the womb environment it helps positively in personality development of the baby as the baby now feels safe. It helps the baby in transitioning to the outer world.

There are different types of swaddle wraps available in the market. The traditional wrap, the one that comes with a velcro and swaddle sack.

Having good swaddling blankets is a great investment that later you will thank yourself for.

Clothes: The baby will go through a few changes a day, so having 10 to 15 outfits will help you manage the laundry pile.

Diapers. A changing station provides a safe place to change your baby's diaper. It is a good idea to stock diapers and baby wipes. If you're planning to use nappies then you'll be needing atleast 10 to save yourself from keep doing laundry whole day.

Wipes: I like wipes that are gentle on their skin and are scent free for diaper changes and to help clean up little messes.

A good quality thermometer: It's also a good idea to familiarize yourself with fever temperatures.

Bath time:

You'll want two to three washcloths and baby towels. Once you progress beyond the sponge bath stage, you furthermore may want to think about a baby tub or baby mat to keep the baby secure while bathing.

Outside of the nursery, you will need a safe place to make baby sit such as a bouncy seat or swing.

I also recommend few soft toys in high-contrasting colors to catch their eye.

We also have a little baby gym, and he loves it. It’s a great way to keep the baby engaged. It helps in developing baby’s visual, tactile and auditory senses.

Now, for the initial few months, you will feed your newborn every two to four hours throughout the day, so I highly recommend having a feeding pillow to help ease the stress on your back and make feeding easier and pleasurable experience for both of you.

Whether you decide to breastfeed or bottle feed, you may want to have a supply of bottles and nipples and perhaps some high quality formula.

Bibs and burp cloths are very helpful, because babies often spit up. And I recommend having 10 to 15 burp cloths so you always have a clean one handy.

When you'll plan to step out of the house the first thing you'll need for a baby on the go is a diaper bag. Now, make sure it's easy to clean, with plenty of room and pockets.

Aside from the obvious diapers and wipes, I also recommend stocking your diaper bag with a spare change clothes for your baby, a clean burp cloth and bib, soother, and a few toys.

To complete your on-the-go items, you'll also need a car seat and a stroller. Now, make sure the car seat is installed and checked by a professional before you go ahead to the hospital so you're ready to bring your new baby home.

For the stroller, consider how easy it is to fold and unfold. If you can do this with one-hand, that's the one you want to buy.

Now, there also are different sorts of baby slings and carriers that hold your baby close to your body while giving you free hands and the liberty to maneuver about.

In the end, remember to wash all the fabrics that your baby will come in contact with before they come home. And most of all, get ready to enjoy the new addition to your family.

links for International use:

onesies

burp cloth

pacifiers

mittens socks and cap set

links for use in India:

onesies

burp cloth

pacifiers

mittens socks and cap set

Your hospital bag

2020-08-20T00:13:00.015+05:30

Congratulations!! You have landed at the right place. This is where you can get all your questions answered.

Are you in your third trimester?

Are you anxious almost about everything?

Are you worried that you may forget to pack something essential for your hospital bag?

Do Not Worry!!

In this post I will share my experience with you and help you to pack your Hospital Bag. This is the most comprehensive list you’ll ever need. At the end of this post I have something for you. To help you save time I have also highlighted the links of items. Your items are just a click away. So let’s get started

But before we start the most important thing, you need to inquire with your hospital:

· The list of documents required at the time of admission.

· The items those are included in your hospital package so that you can skip them and don’t pack.

time to start packing

When to start packing?

Ideally, your bag should be packed by 36^th week. But I would suggest that you start collecting and sorting items at one place by 34^th week. So that by 36^th week you can arrange things in your bag and are good to go anytime. This is because in the last trimester you have a lot to deal with already. The bump grows big in size and makes you slow and less flexible. So in order to do things calmly and to avoid last minute stress, start packing and organizing beforehand.

Where to start from?

Since we are packing our hospital bag so let’s begin with the bag itself. What all bags do you have, their condition and capacity and which one would you like to take to hospital? Keep everything in mind.

which bag to pick?

I preferred suitcase like this over duffel bags because it’s more organized and if someone else opens your bag it’s easy for them to find things. Most likely you won’t be opening your bag for yourself in the hospital so it’s better that you involve your spouse in packing and keep things as organized as possible.

What to pack for yourself

· Begin with the paperwork. Inquire with your hospital the list of documents required. Keep all those documents in a file or a folder. Also keep your photo ID and your insurance documents. It’s always a good idea to carry a copy of your medical records.

· Toiletries (a bag that you can hang like this)

1. your toothbrush and toothpaste

2. comb

3. Lip balm: this is a very important item before and after delivery.

4. Normally hospitals provide shampoo, conditioner and soap. But if you plan to use your own then do carry it in small packaging.

5. A headband or hair-ties. It is very common to have tangled hair after delivery. Do tie your hair properly before you go to the hospital, in case of planned induction or C-section. If you have long hair you can make pigtails or braid it. But in other times carry a headband like this so you can just slide it over. Thankfully due to this my hair didn’t get tangle. Save your time and energy by this small measure.

· Eyeglasses or lenses: If you wear glasses or lenses, pack them too. I preferred to carry my glasses over lenses. But if you choose to wear contact lens in hospital then do keep the lens case and solution as well as you'll need them.

· Pack 2 or 3 nightgowns and bathrobe.In case of normal delivery you will be in hospital for 2-3 days and in c-section 3-4 days, so pack keep change of clothes according to that. Hospitals do provide gowns but some prefer to wear their own. If you choose to wear your own then check in advance with the hospital. Some hospitals don't allow. So stay informed and refrain from unnecessary packing. I didn't carry my own and wore the hospital gown. Keep in mind that your clothes can get stained with blood and other fluids. So choose wisely.

· Some comfortable slippers and anti-skid socks in case you feel like walking in the lobby before or after delivery and to go to washroom.

· Your mobile phone and charger. Often we forget to pack the charger. So make special note of it.

· If you're opting for stem cell preservation then inform the hospital and inquire if you need to bring cord blood collection kit or will they provide to avoid last minute stress.

· Some dry snacks and drinks. Some hospitals don't permit outside food for patients. So again inquire beforehand that what all is included in your package.

What to pack in case of planned c- section

· Loose fitting and comfortable clothes.

· Easy to wear and front open.

· Nothing that scrubs on your stitches.

· Especially, eyeglasses because you will not be wearing lenses under anesthesia.

· High waist underwear that's not too tight and doesn't press your stitches.

What to pack for after delivery

Post-delivery whether it is normal or C-section, many women experience shivering or shaking (if you want me to share my experience about this and how to bypass it then do comment below and I will write an article about it). It is very important to keep yourself warm during that time.

· Keep a shawl or stole or a sweater so that you stay warm. The hospitals normally provide blankets so you don’t need to carry that.

· Some cap or scarf to cover your head.

· A flask for warm water. It’s a good practice to drink warm water post-delivery. (I’ll talk more about this in next posts).

· Few Nursing bras if you opt to breastfeed and breast pads in case of milk leak.

· Nursing pillow comes in very handy especially for C-section. I had a normal delivery and used this nursing pillow. Having a nursing pillow enhances the entire experience of breastfeeding. It maintains proper level and helps in correct positioning of the baby. You will realize that this can do wonders because incorrect latching can give you sore nipples. Remember that both you and your baby are learning. It’s new for both of you.

· Maternity pads. Hospitals do provide but I found them to be too uncomfortable. Even adult diapers are good option for use in hospital.

· Some comfortable clothes for going home. Make sure they are front open so you can easily feed.

· Easy slip on shoes so you don't have to bend especially in C-section.

· Nipple cream or coconut oil, if you get sore nipples but remember to clean it with water before feeding.

What to pack for your spouse or attendant

· Comfortable clothes considering both day and night

· Comfortable shoes

· Toiletries

· Mobile phone and charger

· Keep some cash and ATM card

· Any prescription medicine they take and for headache

· Some dry snacks and juice for them

· A single bed sheet and blanket, if you don’t want to use the one provided by hospital

· Watch with seconds hand or you can use timer in your mobile phone to time the contractions

What to pack for baby

· Cotton sheets

· Warm blanket

· Swaddles

· Clothes few changes (onesies,jhablas etc.)

· Wet wipes (alcohol free)

· Cap

· Booties or socks

· Mittens

· Nail clippers ( some babies are born with big nails and end up scratching themselves badly)

· Soft towel

· Burp cloth (few)

· Waterproof sheet or rubber sheet

· Newborn diapers (normally hospital provides so check with them)

If you want to know what all essential items to buy for your newborn then mention in the comments below.

As I promised find below the checklist. Take a copy of it and start organizing.

Happy Packing!

Are you pregnant? Are you stressed? Find out how to kick the stress away

2020-08-12T06:09:00.002+05:30

The Universe has given an amazing power to mankind that is to procreate. The feeling of giving birth to another life is both beautiful and overwhelming at the same time. It is a power that comes with bag full of responsibilities, which starts not just at childbirth but much before that. From the time of conception till the time of birth it is the duty of both parents to instill good thoughts, good vibes and good nutrition to the little one.

Stress and You

It is difficult in today's world to remain untouched from stress and anxiety. Be it work related or health related.
The stress could also be escalated by the hormonal or physical changes a woman is going through. Dealing with discomforts like morning sickness, constipation, swollen feet, backache and mood swings. Worried about labour and delivery.

The pandemic (COVID) has only added to the stress. Going to the hospital for check-ups during COVID-19 is bothersome too. Because they are worried of contracting the disease that may harm their baby aswell. Not stepping out of the house for walks. Your relatives can't stay with you that often especially if in different cities. Not having house-help are just a few to name.

Say No To Stress

Though mild stress does no harm but studies have proved that prolonged and excessive stress can pose many problems during pregnancy.

You may develop preeclampsia which is a serious high blood pressure condition resulting in low-birthweight baby.
It may also cause gestational diabetes and preterm labour.
It also hinders adequate brain development in baby, lack of concentration and weak immune system.

Try These..

In order to sail through this pandemic smoothly and be rewarded with your healthy little cutie pie try these :

Keep reminding yourself that all this is temporary and soon you'll have your baby in your arms.
Delegate some of the chores to your spouse.
Read good books, listen to music of your choice.
Practice prenatal yoga (only after consulting your doctor) or meditation.
Attending prenatal classes about labour and practice breathing exercises.
Form support networks which may include family or friends to whom you can vent out your concerns.
Put cute baby pictures in your room.

Putting baby pictures in your room has many positive effects. It serves as a psychological reminder that in the end you'll be rewarded. It creates positive vibes, who can look at a cute baby and still be stressed. Mother's state of mind gets reflected in the baby. As a happy mom makes a happy baby.

I have tried these and it helped me keep my stress at bay. The link to the posters that I recommend https://amzn.to/33Pm8FX

Let's traverse this beautiful journey together. You can subscribe my posts and leave a comment to let me know your views.

Old wives' tales

2020-08-08T00:35:00.002+05:30

A time like never before. No one ever thought that there will come a time when all will be forced to sit at home. For many this is the time of great confusion, grief, unemployment but for others who are expecting its the time of joy and immense pleasure as a child brings joy to our life

The nature somehow finds it's way to strike balance.

Lot of friends in my inner circle are expecting too and along with this comes the interesting discussion the old wives' tales. So I thought of sharing my experience with you all. Though I would like to clarify that this is far away from being scientifically true and there's no guarantee that you'll have a boy or a girl. As mother's love knows no bounds, girl or a boy the love of mother is above all that for her baby.

So on a lighter note lets begin..

Myth no.1: If you have too much nausea, you're carrying a girl.

Reality: I had nausea the entire 9 months. I didn't just have morning sickness, it was sickness whole day. But I have a baby boy.

Myth no.2: It says if your husband puts on weight aswell during pregnancy then it's a girl.

Reality: My husband grew a belly, it was as if we're having competition. No offense here, I love him to the moon and back. But you see it was incorrect for me.

Myth no.3: If you develop pregnancy acne or blemishes. If you feel less beautiful. Its a girl

Reality: I had no acne or blemishes but I felt alot less beautiful despite my hubby telling me everyday how beautiful I am.

Myth no. 4: Next comes the linea nigra, the dark line that passes through the centre of stomach which implies having a boy.

Reality: I had a very faint line passing all the way covering top to bottom. Now this was true for me.

Myth no. 5: If you’re carrying high it’s a girl, carrying low it’s a boy.

Reality: I was carrying low and had a boy.

Myth no.6: Well it's claimed that a faster heart rate (more than 140 ) is a girl, while slower heart rate (less than 140) is a boy.

Reality: In my case it was vice versa my baby always had heart rate above 150bpm.

Myth no.7: Next in line comes the cravings, if you're craving sweet you have a girl but in case you are craving for salty or sour foods you have a boy.

Reality: I was craving for everything. Nothing specific in my case.

The list can go on and on but its sure fun to play along. You can share with me if I have missed out anything in the comments below. Wish you all happy pregnancy.

05/08/2020

2020-08-06T16:01:00.000+05:30

My daybreaks with cooing of my baby. Though the whole night remains a struggle to keep him inside the blanket and he continuously throwing it away. Apart from this waking up in between to feed ( my 5 month old baby) I hardly get any sleep.

It's 4:45 in the morning, I suddenly woke up to realise he has thrown his blanket off, is happily awake and kicking in the air.

By 5:30 my husband woke up and then he takes charge while I head off to a good sleep without interruption for two hours sometimes three.. what a blessing. (sometimes I wake up with nightmares as both of them are without supervision lol)

They spend good time playing together, watching birds from balcony ( due covid we stay indoors). I'm sure its a great bonding experience for my husband too. I woke up today at 8:30 after a nice rest. We switch between making breakfast so some days he makes and some days I do it. After which he heads to his work as he's working from home.

By 11:00 I start giving massage to daksh then we played doing animal sounds and peek-a-boo followed by bath. He usually gets very fussy after bath and just wants to have feed and sleep. Another task is to put him to bed after he's dozed off in my lap. As many times I put him he wakes up and starts smiling. Between all this I cooked lunch with one leg in the kitchen and the other in the bedroom. Finally we sat to eat and its 03:00 in the afternoon. Just about to finish lunch and we heard him crying and so I head over to the baby while my hubby did dishes and then went back to work.

While Daksh was off to sleep it dawned on me that it's a good time to write a blog about myself which I wanted to do since so long.

Once you're working then if you have to sit at home (on maternity leave) it becomes difficult. Even more so now that you avoid going out unnecessary due covid. Sometimes its sheer madness and to overcome it I thought lets do something which I have never done ie. to be more open about myself and here I am posting my second blog.

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” - St. Francis of Assisi

Evening is usually when I clean the house as my baby enjoys the noise of vaccum cleaner ( one that I have especially bought during pandemic as there's no help). Funny as it may sound but it works for me. Maybe you can try it aswell, it really calms my baby and if it works for you let me know in the comments below.

My day has only start with no ending..On that note I leave for now for a quick nap.

Let's know each other

2020-08-05T16:06:00.001+05:30

Few things to know about me... It's my first blog ever, I'm an introvert and making a bold move by writing this blog to step out of my cocoon. I'm a Pilot by profession and a Mother by choice and everything in-between is just juggling of different roles and responsibilities of life.

Well, im a new mom though not so new as it has been 5 months but still new as there is lot to discover and learn when it comes to motherhood. Nobody tells (warns) you or prepares you about this rollercoaster life you're about to enter as a mother.

As much as I love my baby it sometimes is nerve wrecking. I have a baby boy, the most precious thing in my life. I have named him Daksh. Currently im on a maternity leave and enjoying the most precious time at home with my darling angel. Due to covid my hubby too is working from home and it actually gives an ample amount of time to strengthen the bond between father and son.

So if you're interested to know about my daily routine as to how I cope up with daily work at home, baby and husband amidst this lockdown do come back to read my next blog. You can also tell me about yourself in the comments, you never know we might be sharing the same difficulties in our daily chores.