Being a Mom or Dad ? Have some tips to enjoy the journey of being a Parent

One of my reader requested me to write a blog on pregnancy. I instantly said yes, but was thinking as to what should I put across, as there are many articles books and videos, which talk a lot about it. So after a lot of thinking around a month, an idea struck me to write about, my experience and journey during this whole process of pregnancy and also suggest some tips which are crucial at specific points.

5 Ways of how to reveal a good news to close ones?

Seeing two red lines on a pregnancy test Kit, gives the most awaiting and happiest news to a married couple. But once the test has become positive, Immediately turn your legs to a visit to your Doctor or Gynecologist for further prescriptions and suggestions.

1. I was alone at the doctor's clinic, when I got the confirmation on this news. I was so eager to reveal it to my husband, but still waited for some time to think as to how should I disclose the news to him. I sent him a picture of the positive result kit along with a cute baby picture and immediately my phone rang with his number to congratulate me. 
2. He rushed from office and bought a sweet (gulab Jamun) from the market. We both reached home together and handed over the sweet box to our in-laws and revealed them the news. 
3. You can also accompany sweets with a pair of baby socks or shoes or a baby milk bottle. 
4. If your parents or in-laws live away from you and not nearby then whats app has made our lives very comfortable.You can send them emojis, pictures, images, quotes, which would hint them with the news. 
5. You can have a painting or a slate or a cushion stating 1 to 9 months on it (as shown in the image above).

What to do in the first trimester?

In India, we believe not to share this news to relatives or friends immediately till the embryo completes 3 months in a woman's womb. The scientific reasoning behind this is because the first trimester that is the first 3 month are the most crucial months in pregnancy as major organs that a baby would later develop are formed at this stage and hence it requires utmost care to be taken during these months. 

Do's	How ?
Increase Vitamin C intake	Consume bananas, apples & milk
Be high on your Protein content	Eat moong dal, matki, all types of pulses
Increase the intake of Calcium	Have milk and milk products, curd, buttermilk, cheese, butter, desi ghee

Don’t’s	Why ?
Avoid Mango, Papaya and Pineapple	As they are hot in nature
Say No to Kharvas	It is fatal for the embryo
Cut down on Alcohol and decrease the intake of caffeine.	It increases acidity in the body and un-eases the mother as well as the fetus
Avoid smoking	Might choke breathing or may cause respiratory disorders

A regular check up and prescribed medicines are a must. Also take care NO exercises or yogasana to be performed in the first trimester. Walking is allowed, but avoid running in any case,

In India, just before the trimester ends, mother of would be mother, comes to her place and performs a ritual called as "CHOR OUTY" wherein the mother keeps coconut & rice on her daughter's lap.
After this ritual is performed, the news is generally disclosed to everyone.

You can have a photo-shoot at this stage also. I clicked photos with my parents, in-laws and better half in order to keep memories of this day.

How the second & third trimester moves on?

A NO to mangoes, was getting over me, as I am fond of mangoes and can eat many at a time. So I was eagerly waiting for my first trimester to end and the moment my first trimester ended, I ate my first mango of the season, but in a very diluted form, like adding lot of milk and pouring lot of ghee on it in order to neutralize its heat effect and I used to consume only 1 mango in 2 days.
By this time the news had spread everywhere - at my workplace, relatives and friends and then lots of love & blessings showered on me and my hubby. Go and watch movies, Eat a lot of stuff, have lot of fun and be cheerful is the basic Mantra. Do whatever you want and stay Happy and joyful.

5 MUST EAT ITEMS DURING PREGNANCY

During pregnancy many suffer from nausea, vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, and some do not suffer from anything. But always make a note to eat the below things whether you suffer from any thing or not.

1. Drink 1-2 glass of Milk daily. If you vomit or have nausea on drinking milk, then find an alternative to milk. Flavored milk that are easily available in the market is a best alternative & ice-creams to some extend replace milk products.
2. Drink buttermilk and coconut water daily as they are cold in nature and helps balance ph levels and acidity levels in the body.
3. Consume 1 Fruit daily. Woman generally get bored of apples and bananas, so I suggest to consume seasonal fruits during their season as fruits are rich sources of Vitamins, Calcium and minerals. 
4. Try and consume less of sugar, as sugar levels should not be increased during pregnancy as it creates problem during delivery.
5. Eat as much food as you can during pregnancy, because, after delivery there are a lot of restrictions on your diet. There are no much restrictions on eating during pregnancy compared to those after delivery. 

Ideas to celebrate in the third trimester

In our office, we were 5 girls who were would be mother's and each of us had due dates of October (3 girls) November (myself) and December (1 girl). So we had a lot of fun time. We used to discuss our feelings, our emotions, our difficulties, our happiness. So, one day we planned to have a photo session in our office prior to anyone going for a maternity leave. We also made sure that everyone's tummy should be seen in that photo shoot and so we planned it in late September. We wore one pieces, gowns, Tiyara's and did a photo shoot with variety of poses at different locations in the office. The entire office was aww! stuck with our looks.

1. Book a nice hotel for a 1 day stay wherein you can have a pregnancy photo shoot. You can enjoy there and have a leisure time in that hotel with your partner.
2. If you cannot afford a hotel or do not have time, then a photo-shoot in your terrace, house can also be made. A small cup and saucer can be kept on your baby bump and it can be one of your best photo idea. You can buy a beautiful maternity dress from Hopscotch, Flipkart, Amazon (not much variety on amazon), First Cry (I personally like this site). 
3. A He or She suspect photo is the most appealing photo.
4. A photo with a customized T-shirt is also in trend now-a-days. You can buy such customised T-shirts online on First cry, Amazon India, Flipkart.
5. Clicking photos by wearing flower jewelry is also one of the best ideas of photo shoot. 

How to be alert in the Ninth Month

In the last month, be careful and alert. As once your baby has completed 9 months in your womb, it is all ready to come out and start its new journey in this world. please note and keep these items ready with you.

1. If you are working, then make sure, you do not run, or bend or rush for doing any activity. Always be slow on your legs and actions. Do not get up or sit down fast. All your actions must be slow. 
2. If your workplace is far from your doctor's clinic, then have images of your medical file on your phone, so that it can be showcased in case of emergency.
3. Keep your delivery bags ready. 1 bag for yourself and the other one for your child.
4. What your bag must contain - face-wash, soap, comb, pair of inners, 2 set of gowns, 2-3 hand towels soft ones, 2-3 handkerchiefs, 1 bottle of sanitizer, 2 packs of sanitary pads
5. Whats your childs bag must contain - 5-6 soft cotton cloths to wrap up the child. 2 small bedsheets to put beneath the child. 2-3 soft towels or handkerchiefs. 2 round cushion loads to put on both sides of the child while its asleep.
6. Make money arrangements or mediclaim documents handy, so that anyone apart from you can also take care of the monetary segment.

Being a Father

Being a Mother is started not when the child is born, but is inherited when the embryo is inside the womb. Hormonal changes, physical changes and emotional changes converts a woman into a mother automatically, but for being a father none of these factors are involved nor are they creating any changes in him, but still he strives to become a good father and that's admirable. If being a Mother is a tough job then being a Father is the toughest job. It is the father who unknowingly takes the responsibility to retain smile on the face of his family and for that he is the one who embraces a would be mother the most, by cuddling, fulfilling all her demands, taking her out for shopping, movies, lunch, dinner etc. and after pregnancy he is the one who sacrifices a lot by staying away from the child and wife for 2-3 months (not continuously), as the wife and child are generally at their maiden house after delivery. Still he visits them at intervals and showers a lot of love on the child as well as his wife. If a mother cooks the food, then a father is the reason behind the food. So I salute all the great fathers around the globe.

DELIVERY - Birth of a new born and Re-birth of a woman

Delivery is the most toughest part in pregnancy and a woman has to be very strong mentally to face it. Fear of normal delivery embraces first time mothers and this causes a rise in the C-section deliveries. and hence that woman goes for a C-section for subsequent  deliveries as well. According to WHO - World Health Organization C-section rate in any population should ideally not exceed 15% . But as per the study by IIPS (International Institute of Population Sciences), nearly 17% women underwent c-section in 2015-16 compared to 9% in 2005-06. Apart from Fear, Age of the woman, Obesity are also reasons for increase in C-section.

My personal views - A C-section reduces mortality risk and is the easiest way to deliver a baby. But the after effects of c-section are worse. It is actually an operation, and not natural, so there is a risk of anasthesia, internal injuries etc. Also during a c-section, the injection is given in a spinal cord, which is the backbone of a human body, because of which a lot of pain in back and waist is a lifetime gift of c-section. A 15-20 days pain in the operated part is another present from c-section. This pain is so bad, that you are not able to get up on your own for 15-20 days.

How to be ready for normal delivery - As per my opinion, every first time mother should try her best to go for a normal delivery. For that, she must make herself mentally and emotionally strong. She should be doing squatting for at least 5-6 times (1-2 min) a day in her ninth month. Take a broom and clean the house. squat and clean utensils. These things will help widen the cervix and increases the chances of a natural delivery. Watch more and more videos of natural delivery. Speak to your mother, mother-in-law, friends, doctor with whoever you are comfortable with, regarding how to face delivery. Meditation during your ninth month for maximum hours will enhance your inner strength. The pain of a natural delivery will last only for an hour or so, but a backache from that of a c-section is lifelong. So now it is all up to you to choose on and move ahead. 


Pregnancy is not just a Good news, or a phase of giving birth, but it is a bridge that connects all the relations viz. husband-wife-in laws-uncle-aunts together and creates a pleasuring link between them.  In this journey of pregnancy the baby bump is not only carried by a to-be-mother but other relatives are also equally contributing to make her journey comfortable and cheerful. Pregnancy not only gives birth to a new being, but also gives birth to LOVE, HOPE, HAPPINESS, JOY and FAITH. In this blog, I have focused majorly on the journey of pregnancy and delivery, but do wait to hear from me about post delivery challenges and child care upto 1 year old in my upcoming blog.