Ladies : Its important to watch your weight

I was seeing Dr.Sun News a few days back and there was the eminent paediatrician Dr.Deepa Hariharan talking about a lot of subjects. She also was saying that it is important for a woman to be at an ideal weight when planning a pregnancy. As it is many women gain atleast 12 kgs during their pregnancy so if the woman is already overweight it could lead to occurence of certain conditions like gestational diabetes and Hypertension ( high BP) leading to complications for mother and baby. So if you are planning a pregnancy eat the right way and control weight gain as it can also come in the way of conceiving.


I used the Hi protein high fibre low carb diet coupled with bare min physical exercise and it worked. I lost about 7 - 8 kilos in 3 months but unfortunately I did not continue and I thnk I might have gained half of it back.

My diet used to be :

Breakfast - Normal south Indian breakfast like 3 dosas or 3 idlis with sambar or chutney. Can also have adai , pesarattu. No fried items like puri.
1 cup of coffee

Drink lots of water and when hungry in between have spiced sprouts , grated carrot salad, diffrent pulses salads.

Lunch : Eat before you feel hungry. Start with a big bowl of thick soup. Then fill your plate with all the vegetables except for potato or yam . You can eat all the curries prepared at home for a normal meal without filling rice in your plate. Have 2 Rotis , dal and very rarely a small cup of rice. You can also have Chicken and Fish but not fried just grilled or cooked or just plain egg whites boiled.

Have fruits, nuts , dates for the evening hunger pangs.

Dinner can be the same but avoid rice.

This way you will lose weight but not at the cost of your health. This is only till you plan a pregnancy. Good Luck to you and me . I better start the practice again and get the fat of my body. My dream weight is 55Kgs and I am 5' 3" but that is a far dream!!!!!!

Finally some action!!!!

Well finally you have decided to start the roller coaster ride, so lets first do the slow climb up......You know, after having tried NOT to get to pregnant all along, remember pills and condoms and have freaky "missed a day" moments, its actually quite funny initially when you get to do it and do it without the need for protection. Now you are hoping and trying for the sperm to swim all the way in!!!!

You may hit bullseye immediately or like me get hyper because you have been trying for 3 months and nothing much has happened. It might get very mechanical on the days you are hoping to conceive and your hubby would be wondering " OK so long I had to pull her to bed now she marches me to the bedroom on those 3 days every month!!!!

On an average it takes about 7 months to even a year before you actually conceive. So you could take a doc's appt after maybe 3 - 4 months to learn more about the right days and she may give you medication for regular ovulation etc.

So which are the right days to get into full action?

Assuming that your menstrual cycle is 28 days then day 1 is when you get your period and day 14 is when ovulation or release of egg into fallopian tube and then to uterus happens. So your best best would be from 12th day to 15th day. However it is better to observe your cycle and then find out when ovulation actually will happen for you. If your periods are very irregular then it is better to consult your Doc who will advice on medication to make your cycle regular. Thats what happened to me and I conceived on the 3rd cycle after taking medication to regularise my period. Here is a good website on ovulation cycle http://www.ovulation-calculator.com

Now to the juicer part: What is the best love making position for conception?
Well the missionary position ( Man on top) seems to win hands down. It seems to be the most popular position for couples trying to conceive.

It is important for the woman to keep lying down for atleast 20 - 30 minutes after intercourse and also raise her lower back with a couple of pillows underneath. Or she could lie on her stomach flat and take a blissful nap.

But People most importantly let it be an enjoyable period with romance leading to love making rather the " make me pregnant fast " ones. Try to take off the pressure or stress of procreation and enjoy the pleasure for the sake of it. Well now stop reading and take off to the bedroom!!!!

Getting ready before the Roller Coaster Ride

So, here you are quite excited about taking that roller coaster ride, ready to enjoy the thrills and the topsie turns. If you are planning a pregnancy in the coming few months here is a list of things that you need to do:

Get FIT and in shape : The first thing to do would be find out if you have a Healthy body weight. Check your BMI ( Body Mass Index) http://www.doctorndtv.com/calculator/bmi_calculator.asp

For below the normal range this is the best time to ignore the "diet" and eat healthy as less body weight can cause trouble for ovulation , conceiving and can increase chances of a low-birthweight baby.

However too much fat is also not desired. Being overweight at pregnancy or gaining too much weight during pregnancy will also increase the chances of gestational diabetes , delivering a baby who is above the normal birthweight and other incidents like C-section .

So start to plan healthy meals with more protein , high fibre content and go slow on carbs and sweets. Visit a nutrition consultant to design a well balanced meal - would be worth the trouble anyday.

Fitness routine is also very desirable for women planning to conceive. Most of us are very lazy to do any kind of exercise routine So, go get your husbands to play along. Go for yoga or a Salsa class or play some game ( outdoor!!!) and go walking under the moon by the seaside if you can.....

Say Hi to your doctor : Go meet your gynaec who will conduct a few tests and probably prescribe some supplements like folic acid and iron / calcium.

I know you would feel squeamish....what if the doc wants to examine me... gosh I cant expose myself....Tell you what, its what she does every day, just imagine having seen sooo many pelvises before, is yours going to stun her? So gather your courage , feel confident and go ahead. Soon you will become a pro at this.

If there is a need for a pelvic exam, lie down , relax yourself comletely which means leaving loose the pelvic muscles, your stomach, your hands and your jaw and take deep breaths. There will be just a mild discomfort and no pain. Let your doctor know if how you are feeling and she will reassure you.

You could discuss with your doctor about your contraception method and if you need to wait for a few months before trying to conceive. If you are using the pil it is better to switch to barrier method for 3 months before trying to conceive.

Your gynaec will prescribe some vitamins like :

Folic Acid : Folic acid (folate) is a vitamin and is needed to make new cells in the body. Pregnant women in particular need a good supply of folic acid which is used by the developing baby.
Many foods contain folic acid including vegetables such as spinach, sprouts, broccoli, green beans, and potatoes. You should start taking folic acid tablets before becoming pregnant (from the time you plan to become pregnant). Neural tube defects usually develop in the first 28 days of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. If the pregnancy is unplanned then start taking folic acid tablets as soon as you know that you are pregnant. Continue to take folic acid tablets for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy - even if you eat a good diet.

Iron : It is a very well known fact that iron is very important for a pregnant woman or when one who is planning to conceive. Iron is essential for making hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells. During pregnancy, your iron requirements go up significantly. First of all, your blood volume expands until you have almost 50 percent more blood than usual, so you need more iron to make more haemoglobin. You also need extra iron for your growing baby and placenta.

Sometimes some iron supplements can cause constipation ot stomach upsets which usually settle down. To counter this you can increase your fluid intake and also have a high fibre diet. If it is still troublesome ask your doctor to change to a different brand , a more slow -release or paediatric supplement.

Calcium : It is important to have an adequate supply of this mineral for the awaiting pregnancy and also the baby. So you may have to take a calcium supplement along with a healthy diet . If you are taking Iron and calcium , it is better to take iron in the night and calcium in the morning as iron tends to reduce the body's absorption of calcium .

If you are already pregnant and did not plan on it like most of us , just ensure that you start on your antenatal vitamins immediately!!!

Cut down on the caffeine: I love coffee and chocolates and cola and lot of other beverages. I cant live without them but hey I am done with having babies!!!! Have only about 1 or 2 cups (about 100ml ) of coffee in a day ( no refills at work). Why do we need to do this ...read here:

Caffeine is a diuretic that means it removes fluids more your body as well as calcium. It also interferes with the absorption of iron that means may lead to anaemia. It is also known to heighten mood swings and insomnia.

A BIG ABSOLUTE NO to :

1. Smoking : Quit it whether you want to become pregnant or not and yeah applies to your partner and there are no two ways about this.

Smoking can make you less fertile and also cause birth defects and other problems if you are pregnant. See here:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/pregnantsmoking.htm

Well if your partner then you will have to deal with the same effects . Read below on how to handle this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_the_doctor/pregnancypassivesmoking.shtml

2. ALCOHOL :

Settle for " orange juice on the rocks" when planning a baby as there is no safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Women consuming large levels of alcohol can lead to Foetal Alcohol Syndrome ( FAS) which is condition for the fortus or baby having malformations, dysfunctions and abnormalities.

Having said that dont worry too much about the couple of pegs or wine you had before you knew you were pregnant. Forget it and make sure you stick to juice.

3. DRUGS

Illicit drugs are a big NO when planning to conceive and after you are pregnant and it applies to both the partners.

Be careful about Prescription and over the counter(OTC) medicines. Let your doctor know you are planning to conceive or if you doubt you are pregnant before taking any medicines and the same goes for even simple OTC medicines.

That does it for the do's and dont's and lets await with bated breath for the juicy post on " How to make babies"!!!!

To be or not to be - A Mommy and Daddy

When a couple get married in India , the next question from everybody is "When are you going to have a baby?" Really because well according to many thats the next duty to complete!!! Awesome amount of pressure on the couple before they can even begin to know each other as a husband and wife ( oh yeah thats a lot different from lovers or fiance). Well I know because San and I decide to give ourselves time to enjoy each other in every respect before moving to the next phase.

We really freaked out in our "DINKS" days but by the time we finished 4 years of marriage we had everybody breathing down our necks with a well meant " Start trying"!!!. 2 hilarious(now, not then) incidents ...one a neighbour aunty putting her head thru our car window and saying with so much sadness - " What not pregnant yet" @#&!@#Two, a very old 70+ man ( some acquaintance) meeting us for the first time said in front of the whole family "4 years no baby, better go see a doc immdtly". Oh man I was really psyched.

However it is a good idea to ignore the pressure and take it easy for atleast 4 years after marriage. Learn about each other and enjoy that period for it will never come back. Take short vacations often and try to explore different places together. Dont take risks on contraception. Remember the safe period is never safe.

The right time for a woman to have her first baby as everyone knows is around 26 - 29 yrs depending on when you get married and how much time you want for yourselves before you think of a baby. Having said that, being mentally prepared for a baby is equally or much more important than being physically prepared. And it applies both for the man and the woman.

We had our son when I was 27 and yeah we were ready.









We had our daughter when I was 29 and she was a total surprise!!.

Were we ready? Oh no...No way...by the time my son had his first birthday I was 3 months pregnant...Whoa its been a roller coaster ever since although the ups and downs have kind of flattend off with them growing up. The initial 2 years were very tough on both of us but looking back we are really proud and did enjoy the little bundles of joy thoroughly!!!

If you are wondering should you or shouldn't here is some encouragement
http://www.babble.com/content/articles/columns/the-babble-list/45-Reasons-To-Have-A-Baby-Right-Now-Cold-Feet-A-Few-Good-Reasons-To-Dive-Right-In/index.aspx

And if you are thinking of the changes that your life will take have a look at this
http://www.babycenter.com/0_thirty-things-that-change-when-you-have-a-baby_1452535.bc

Well hope you have decided to take the plunge ( no pun intended!!!)


Cheers
Deepa

Childbirth Education - What and Why

About 6 years back when I took these classes for my first pregnancy it was mostly some stretching and breathing exercises and some information about what happens during labor. However today it is very different and very valuable because it is more on

• Knowing the natural changes happening in the body and how to cope with the challenges that come different stages of pregnancy
• what to expect during labor and how the labor support person can be of tremendous support & motivation to the mother-to be
• Knowing the different positions that can be adopted during labor
• Knowledge of diferent pain relief methods and the pros and cons of each and how to make decisions
• Different kinds of medical interventions, why they may be needed and what to do when faced with those
• Communicating with the heath care provider and hospital staff
• Breastfeeding - Learning the right way to breast feed and knowing what to expect during the intial few weeks
• Postpartum care - Baby and mother
• Relationship between the couple and the need for constant support for the mother and also time spent together

Equiped with the above information a couple and more importantly the woman will be empowered and thereby have confidence and be in control of the situations that she would face. This will pave way for her birth experience ,whether normal or surgical, to be a positive and fulfilling experience that she will remember forever.

A new journey most satisfying

I was at that juncture of my life where my kids were growing up and at school the whole day which gave me the much needed time to re-start my career. After having worked as an HR professional for close to 5 years and then taken a 6.5 yr break I did not want to get back into the corporate race and I desperately wanted to be my own boss and started rattling out business ideas and mailing them to myself. At this point Santhosh, my hubby gave me this book and told me that I would get some clarity on reading it. “ The Monk who sold his Ferrari” by Robin Sharma (www.robinsharma.com) which is about 6 years old but wow the book showed me the path on how I could figure out what I wanted to do in life and how to move ahead towards achieving it. The book came with an audio CD and we played it in our car and at home. Try it, for it brings about profound change.

I was sitting at my doctor’s clinic ( my mentor now ) and was contemplating on what career would give me complete joy and satisfaction. Then in a flash I knew it!!!! I wanted to be the link between pregnant women and the doctor and hospital. I wanted to be a positive influence and empower women and bring about change for women or infact for couples having a baby. I wanted to make that experience as a beautiful and joyous occasion than a scared and out of control one.

Both my pregnancies were quite difficult because of excessive vomiting (ugggh) but my birth experiences were beautiful because my doctor (Dr. Mallika Samuel, Apollo First Med) was very accommodating and treated me with kindness and compassion. My husband was allowed to be with me the whole time and was almost a part of the birthing team !!! Having him with me gave me tremendous confidence and strength to handle the pain and so much during and after the birth.

Ever since then Birth fascinates me and I feel each birth is a miracle even if it the most natural thing happening to mankind. So with my doctor as a mentor and some intensive research on the internet I am on my way to becoming a CERTIFIED CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR. I am training with an organization called Childbirth International http://www.childbirthinternational.com/ and will soon head towards certification. In due course I also want to be a labor coach where I can be of support to woman during labor. My long term goal is to open a birthing center where women rather than being patients will be given a very natural and conducive atmosphere to give birth with minimum medical interventions. It will be a place for a couple to have a baby in a beautiful and peaceful manner with doctors who advocate natural birth.

My next post will be on what is - Childbirth Education and why we need it
Tchao