On the day of your delivery, you have no time to think about what to carry along & the pre-requisites to be packed in the middle of all the excited hustle bustle!
Here’s a compact checklist to your rescue! Keep these items in your bag and you are sorted for your big day!
As a mom-to-be, you must have experienced the crazy pregnancy cravings! You are feeling emotional and some food/beverage items just feel right! But if you are having an extreme craving that does not seem right as it could mean there is some kind of nutritional deficiency. Here is a list of all food items that one usually craves and the science behind it.
If you are craving for non-food items like chalk, wall paint, dirt and detergent, you might be suffering from ‘pica’. This means you are a little anemic and need to include iron rich foods in your diet.
If you are craving for chocolate then it could mean your body has magnesium deficiency. If you are good at self-control, you could eat sweets in moderation, have just a square or two of dark chocolate at a time. But if you aren’t, you could probably snack on almonds instead.
It is very common for all pregnant ladies to crave for pickles at some point or the other. The craving for sour and tarty flavors might mean you want more variety in your daily diet. So go ahead and try out different things to see what makes you happy!
Yet another common craving among pregnant ladies is spicy food, especially hot curries and red peppers. One of the advantages of spicy foods is makes you sweat, which in turn makes your body to cool-off. You can try adding spices to your meal to combat your craving.
If you are craving it for its creamy, sweet and icy feel then it might just be the weather. But if you are craving it too much, then your body might be in need of calcium. You can eat frozen yogurt instead and ensure there is enough calcium in your daily diet.
This might be the weirdest craving! But some time you can end up craving for leafy veggies. You would want to eat a giant pile of lettuce, palak, methi, etc. But this is a good craving to have! These are packed with nutrients and are good for your body and your baby!
All these crazy cravings are just a small part of the great journey that is pregnancy. Just remember to have a well-balanced diet and drink a lot of fluids between your meals.
A special message for all you fathers out there! Make her feel loved and never let the cravings take charge of her.
Here’s a simple illustration of what your body needs during pregnancy.
Hello to be mommies, Congratulations on your pregnancy! We understand that you are curious, excited, sad, frustrated and at times really tired. But we would want to throw some light on five things that you can stop worrying about since you are pregnant. We hope this gives your belly a good laugh!
Sanitary Napkins and Tampons
Yes you heard it right. Its 42 weeks of bliss without your periods. You can get rid of tampons and sanitary napkins. You don’t need them anymore. Enjoy this break from cramps, bleeding and back-aches
Trying to get pregnant
The struggle finally ends. You clearly don’t need to keep checking and monitoring pregnancy tests. Now that you are finally pregnant, go ahead and make the big announcement!!
Looking Fat
Your tummy will keep growing each week. Enjoy more shopping as per your new sizes. You don’t need to worry about being fat or looking fat. Your husband, girlfriends and sisters cannot question your body weight anymore!!
Birth Control
You don’t need to worry about contraception anymore.
Mood Swings
You will be pampered by your hubby, friends and family members, so you can stop being conscious about your mood and hormonal changes. Enjoy the love and pampering. The best way to burst your pregnancy stress is to spend time with your loved ones.
Pregnancy is the most exciting phase of any woman’s life. It is a journey that takes a woman to a new phase called – Motherhood!
While you are excited about getting to that new stage, your body goes through a complete roller coaster ride – mentally, emotionally & physically! You will be very cautious about things you do! One of them is an attempt to bond with the bump!
Bonding with your bump helps you build a stronger connect with your baby! But in most of the cases mommies-to-be wonder how?
To help you sort this dilemma, here are few ways that you can try:
1. Massage your bump
A soothing way to bond with your baby is to gently massage your belly. This is safe to do after the first three months of pregnancy, and it’s a great way to relax and unwind.
2. Sing soothing songs to your bump
If you are wondering what to talk to your baby, in that case singing out your favourite song would be the best thing to do. This will also help you develop a habit of singing lullaby to your baby for the coming time.
3. Read out positive stories
A baby always believes in the stories heard from his mother. Reading out stories to your bump will lay a foundation of positive thoughts in the baby?s brain.
4. Listen to some music together
A baby can sense music while in the womb. Music is one such thing that can calm and sooth all the senses.
5. Feel the kick
Feeling the baby?s kick is one sensation that should be experienced by both the parents. Together responding to the kicks will not only nurture your bond but builds a two way communication with the baby too.
One last quick tip – To connect better with your bump choose on a name to address your unborn child. Keep a unisex name for the bump and address him with that name. This will help you give your bump a definitive identity and make your bond with it even more special.
Pregnancy is an exciting phase of life for every woman! After you announce your pregnancy, the first question you’ll probably be asked is, “When are you due?”
To answer that question for you, we bring to you our pregnancy calendar!
Calculate your due date in seconds with this! Try it out now!
In pregnancy the only key factor that your dressing depends upon is comfort. Relying on that completely, often your style goes for a toss. Being pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t keep up with fashion trends. Pregnant women too can wear whatever they like, the only key is to modify and adapt it to your new body!
1st trimester: In the 1st trimester the major challenge you face is to keep your pregnancy under wraps. To overcome this challenge you can opt for clothes which are lose and flowy. This will help you cover up those extra kgs you gain in your first months. The best suggested attire would be a lose kurta, an A-line skirt with a lose top or a blouson top with a stretch band at the bottom.
2nd trimester: While you move on to your 2nd trimester you will realize your body is changing with the day. At this time the major challenge that you will face is spending on new clothes every time. But rather than blowing up your budget on buying new clothes every month invest in a few items that will grow with you. Try going for dresses that have details like ruching, tie-backs, buttons or gathering at the sides. They will let you adjust your clothing as your body grows and changes.
3rd trimester: The moment you enter your third trimester you feel huge and uncomfortable. Everything you wear right from zippers to waist bands will be torturous. In this phase try going for comfortable yet stylish ankle length maxi dresses. Maternity leggings along with tunics can also add quite a lot to your style and make you feel comfortable at the same time.
During all the three trimesters make sure you play with colours and don?t just stick to blacks and greys. Whatever you pick make sure it suits your body. If you think you are comfortable in extra lose clothes make sure you pair them with accessories; they are certain to take your look from drab to fab.
The first question that most mothers have is ?when should I think about nutrition?? Change in food habits should start long before conceiving your baby- in the planning stage when you decide that you are ready to carry the baby. And you have to ensure that you take care of your diet not only before and during the pregnancy but also after the pregnancy when you breastfeed the baby.
However it is important to remember that even though you are growing a baby inside you it does not mean that you have to eat double. For a single pregnancy you need just 300-500 extra calories per day. This means a simple vegetable sandwich, a fruit and a glass of milk extra per day.
Mother?s nutrition is important right from the planning stage of baby. The right amount of nutrients help in the physical and mental development of the baby. Ideal birth weight is directly proportional to the right amount of nutrients intake by the mother.
Here are few reasons how a healthy diet benefits the mother
In the planning stage, doctors prescribe Nutraceuticals which help in the development of a healthy baby.
Now that we have gone through the list of food items once must include in their diet, let us move on to the food items once must avoid.