What To Pack For Delivery
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!
10 clever ideas on gifting your pregnant wife on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s is the season of love, care and affection! It’s also the gifting season, which gets some men worried! We’re here to help you out!
Here are some clever ideas on what to gift your pregnant wife this Valentine’s Day –
1] Chocolate, Of Course!
Not only is dark chocolate insanely delicious, but it also has some amazing health benefits! The generous amount of Theo bromine in dark chocolate will help relax her stressed muscles and dilate blood vessels. This chemical stimulates the heart and will give her an extra boost during that overtime her body is putting in.
Get some home-made delicacies for her in a heart shaped box with a cute ribbon and a personalized message to show her how much she means to you!
2] Play a round or two of Mini-Golf –
Your sweetheart is going through a lot of changes in her body, and she could definitely use her husband’s emotional support. She would enjoy a day out with you that will remind her she is still entitled to go out and have some fun! To not make it a more stressful or tiring event, take her somewhere nice and quiet for a fun activity like miniature golf. It will be romantic and will help you bond with her on the -day!
3) Gift her a Heart Necklace –
Women have always been crazy about jewellry. Gifting your lady luck a heart necklace will just bring an irresistible blush on her face. The simplicity of a heart necklace will only lift her mood up and will add the flavour of love this Valentine’s season.
4] A tranquil massage –
Prenatal massage therapy is one of the best methods for relieving aches and pains, reducing stress and anxiety, and even making the process of labour easier. Make her feel special this valentines by gifting her a soothing spa kit.
You can also book a couple’s massage to accompany her to make your bond stronger!
5] Cupid Maternity T- Shirt –
A cute T- shirt with a heart or cupid over the belly will make your darling go gaga over it! It will also give her another reason to flaunt her baby bump in style! After all, who doesn’t like to dress up and spend a few romantic moments with their partner on this day?
6] Get her some drinks!
Your wife needs to stay hydrated all the time. What better way to make her feel special by taking her out for non-alcoholic drinks that are safe for her?
Try your hand at making some simple and fresh Mocktails at home or surprise her by taking her out to a nice restaurant and get her some cranberry mixes to make it a perfect night-out. She will surely relish these moments as they will make her feel young and lively again!
7] Dinner for Cravings!
Food is not just the way into a man’s heart, but a pregnant woman’s heart as well!
Make a list of the cravings she has mentioned to you, and make sure you set the table for her with all of these favourite things, there is nothing more special than a husband who remembers what his pregnant wife was craving for! Give her a special Valentine’s Day that she will never forget!
8] Maternity Photo-shoot –
There is no woman who has said ‘no’ to a photo-shoot!
During this memorable time of her life, it becomes important to capture these special moments. Making her feel pampered by surprising her with photo-shoot planned is a great way to do this! Create some amazing themes that cover her interests, for e.g. if she likes scenic backdrops, take her to a beautiful place and compliment her pregnancy glow in those pictures. We are sure this will steal her heart and make you her dream man!
9) Momma needs some Ice-cream!
Take your sweetheart on an Ice-cream date or maybe those yogurt joints where she can choose her favourite toppings that she loves!
When she is pregnant she will definitely be craving sweets and ice-creams and taking her out on a simple ice-cream date will just help you brighten up her mood.
10] Gift your wife an Umbilical Cord Blood Bank Gift Jar.–
The best gift a husband can give his pregnant wife is something that safeguards their baby’s future! Gifting your expecting lady a gift as unique as an Umbilical Cord Blood Bank Gift Jar will just make her feel overwhelmed with your love and care towards her and the baby. Also, those antenatal and postnatal programs that are clubbed with the package will just be the cherry on top of the cake. This would be a gift that speaks the language of love and clearly shows her that you care!
Go ahead and register yourself this Valentines for a lifelong healthcare investment and let your family benefit from it in future.
A Girl Child Is A Boon!
Daughters are angels! They are delicate, tender, beautiful and most importantly they are innocent. Daughters are inspiring, motivating and a powerful support system! Check out how much fun it is to be a parent of a baby girl.
Seven things that will excite you about having a baby girl –
1] You can go on a Shopping Spree!
If you have a daughter on your side, all you need to do is grab your wallet and go on a shopping spree! This little fashionista can be your best companion to experiment your fashion vogue.
2] Mommies get a lot of girlie stuff – earrings, accessories, scarfs and handbags and Daddies can get some amazing shopping tips and what to wear ideas.
Your daughter will know your sense of style well and she will be the one gifting you trendy stuff! You come to a stage in life eventually when your daughter will help you dress up for an occasion right from selecting outfits/accessories/ hairstyles, etc. and you won’t need to worry about keeping up with the latest trends!
3] Who else to try your make- up and hairstyles tutorials with?
Mommies will never get bored or lonely when they have a daughter! Makeup is a fantastic and cost-effective way to add the WOW into any outfit and your little girl will love watching you get all decked up! You can also try those awesome Youtube hair tutorials on her and make her feel included in the fun of getting all dressed up.
4] Girls love to mimic!
As early as three years of age, girls excel at imitation, a precursor to back-and-forth interaction. Younger babies are best at copying finger moments, and they spend a lot of time observing and processing information before they attempt anything. You can capture videos with your baby girl and share these fun moments with her in future.
5] Enjoy activities you missed out on!
Left out some things on the checklist from your younger day? Now is the time to try out these activities with your daughter! Whether it be something adventurous like skydiving or something as simple as experimenting with make-up and hair, enjoy them with your daughter!
6] Set up a sweet Mother- Daughter or Father- Daughter Photo Shoot
We all know how crazy all ladies are about Selfies and photo shoots! Not just because we like to deck –up but because we love capturing moments that we can keep for a life time!
Father-Daughter relationship is very impactful. You can empower and motivate her to help achieve her goals. So go ahead and make some amazing memories with her!
7] Daughters grow- up into a friend
You get a best friend for life with whom you can share everything and anything! Your ups – downs or be it the much needed emotional support, they will always help to overcome all hurdles in your life 
Embrace and be proud of your baby girl! After all, a daughter your daughter really admires you. So go ahead express your love and spend amazing time with your little one!
Weird cravings during pregnancy
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.
- Dirt, wall paint, ice
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.
- Chocolate
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.
- Pickles
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!
- Spicy Food
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.
- Ice cream
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.
- Green leafy vegetables
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.
Healthy Diet for a Breastfeeding Mom
Being a mother is a beautiful experience, but it comes with a lot of responsibility- not only towards your child, but towards your own health.
Your baby’s health depends on your breast milk and its nutrients. However, every woman’s breast milk is composed differently to suit her child, hence it is important for every woman to pay special attention to her diet. Here are some tips you could use when you are pregnant.
Maintaining a well-balanced diet
Enough nutrition during pregnancy is necessary for your baby to grow and develop. Vomiting and nausea are pretty common during the first few months of pregnancy, and can make this difficult. Try to have a well-balanced diet and take prenatal vitamins to assist with this.
Lactating mothers feel hungrier, which makes sense since your body is working extra to produce milk for your baby. Consuming small meals along with healthy snacks in between is an excellent way to keep your hunger pangs at bay and your energy levels on the higher side.
Stop counting the number of calories!
Mothers who are Breastfeeding require 500 calories more than regular moms. That is 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day.
You should listen to your body and eat what it demands. That is usually all the calories your body actually needs. Counting calories does not help unless you are trying to watch your weight. Too much dieting can decrease the milk supply to the milk ducts. However, if you are well planned and diet sensibly, it should not pose any problems.
Go for slow and steady weight loss
Many new moms discover that the weight they gain is very hard to lose; while others feel that it is easily lost. But the truth about weight loss remains that it depends largely on your body’s metabolism rate, how much physical activity you are getting in a day and the type of food you prefer to eat. Therefore one must always remember to lose the pregnancy weight very gradually. Ideally, take a year to get back to your pre-pregnancy self.
Never try to lose weight by dieting until at least two months after your baby is born. A reduced calorie intake in these first couple of months could leave you feeling a loss of energy and can possibly reduce/ diminish your milk supply.
But if you are way above your average/ideal weight, you could start shedding those extra pounds earlier. Remember to take your doctor’s advice before starting the weight loss process; and remember to drink plenty of water, to always stay hydrated!
Avoid alcohol
In general alcohol should not be consumed while a mother is breastfeeding as it enters the milk and alters its composition. Having a small amount of alcohol will also affect your milk letdown reflex.
Stay hydrated and cut down on your caffeine
16 cups of fluid is required by your body when you are breastfeeding and this includes the fluid from the food you consume. But there’s no need for you to keep track of the amount of water you consume a day. Your urine colour is also an indicator of how well hydrated your body is (light yellow or clear urine is a good sign).
It’s totally fine to have your morning cup of tea/ coffee but remember not to overdo it. Small traces of this caffeine will end up in your breast milk and your baby’s body is not fully equipped to break it down and expel it out.
Pregnancy Nutrient Needs
Here’s a simple illustration of what your body needs during pregnancy.
Make the most of these ingredients in your diet for you to enjoy pregnancy with a power back up!
Here’s all the information on why to include these in your daily diet and how it will benefit your baby during pregnancy.
Share your comments if you find this information helpful!
5 things To-Be-Dads need to know!
We are pretty sure that all you dads-to-be are super excited to step into the new role termed – Fatherhood! But are you ready to take life one notch higher?
A lot may happen that no one will have prepared you for. There’s no way to anticipate every possible scenario, but you need not be completely in the dark, here are a few tips that can help you out a little:
1. Learning the basics –
Change is the only thing that will be constant. Starting from the changes in your partner?s body to the changes in the house, everything is going to change, your everyday life can go for a toss but the first step is acceptance! Accepting things will make life easy!
2. Is it all about your wife and the baby?
Yes, you read it correctly, stepping anywhere close to fatherhood is a completely different ball game, and the only concentration of your life now is your wife and her growing belly.
3. Never question her cravings!
The next nine months your wife is going to extremely fussy about things she wishes to eat. So, if she wakes you up at 3 in the morning demanding for an ice-cream or a chocolate, don’t argue, just go and get one!
4. Go easy with those hormones –
Don’t worry it’s a temporary phase, but yes it persists. Don’t be surprised if she expresses 10 different emotions in just 1 minute, those are her hormones acting on her.
5. Talking helps -
Your wife is going through a roller coaster ride and is extremely vulnerable, the best way to sooth her down is by talking to her and by stating obvious things like you will be by her side throughout the journey of parenthood.
We know with these tips you can’t crack the entrance examination, but this will help you at least sync into the new role. We wish you all a very happy Father’s (to-be) Day!
Nutrition During Pregnancy
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
- Healthy and Safe Pregnancy
- Timely Labor and Delivery
- Positive Birth Experience
- Management of Hormones
- Optimum weight gain
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.
- Raw Meat: Might invite infections due to toxoplasma parasite.
- Soft cheese and milk- unpasteurized- Unpasteurized milk carry various disease causing bacteria.
- Raw eggs: Raw eggs too can carry salmonella that causes various diseases like mentioned before.
- Fish (in excess)- Some types of seafood ? particularly large, predatory fish such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish ? can contain high levels of mercury. Although the mercury in seafood isn’t a concern for most adults, special precautions apply if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- Caffeine- Since caffeine is a stimulant that increases heart rate, it can cause various discomforts like feeling jittery and insomnia. It can also contribute to heart burn by stimulating the secretion of stomach acids.
- Alcohol and other forms of drugs: Alcohol and other forms of drugs, in general are harmful to the human body. So imagine the effect these would have on your baby. These can cause life threatening problems for your baby. Hence stay far away from them.