Losing my sleep

If I were to ask you, “What as per you are the most important things one needs for survival?” The typical answers would be – Air, Water, food, money etc etc. However, the last couple of days taught me there is something else that we take for granted however, is essential for survival – SLEEP!

The last couple of months have been somewhat torturous on my sleep. The last trimester of my pregnancy, coupled with the humid sultry summer of Mumbai had me waking up in the middle of night not knowing what to do.I would simply roam around the house like a zombie, have a glass of water, feel the kicks of the baby and plug into some good music that would help me sleep. Initially, everyone would wake up with me to offer me a glass of water and suggest ways to get a sound sleep. But, soon as this became a daily phenomenon, their sleep too preferred to keep them away from giving me company.

As I would crib about my sleep issues over morning tea, mom in law would try to comfort me by telling me it was perfectly normal and soon I would be able to get back to my normal sleeping routine. I would count the days to my due date, smile and say, “ok….x days to a good sleep”.

I still remember the time when I was about to be taken to the Operation Theatre. I told my mom in law how tired I felt due to sleep deprivation and once the baby would be born, the first thing I would do would be to have 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep! She smiled and told me, “Once the baby is born, all you will do is rest, rest and rest!” What could be better best! I wondered.

However, if everything goes well as planned, life wouldn’t be so exciting, isn’t it? Since the day little S was born, I haven’t been able to manage even the basic 6 hours of sleep! Mom in law and I have become such a pro at these midnight jagrans that I once even suggested her we can open our own jagran mandli! The baby, it seems is a true nocturnal, for all formulas to make him sleep at night fail. However, in the morning, when it’s time for us to get up and get going with the daily chores, little S makes up for his sleep, even without us having to make an effort. So the moment he is asleep, even if we are starving, we rush to take a nap coz we never know when the volcano erupts!

 I have tried to keep curtains drawn in the morning to give an impression of night. Still, he knows its daytime and he has to make up for the sleep loss. When kids are basically innocent and not knowing anything, how do they understand whether its night or day?

Did some googling on sleep and found this interesting chart on how much sleep do we actually need

Also found this interesting link on how sleep affects our body…

https://sleep.org/

So for all my friends who are ready to welcome the stork in their homes, I offer an advice my friends too offered me but fell on deaf ears – Make the most of the sleep time you have coz once the little one arrives, you will find sleep more precious than any other thing!

P.S. I was telling mom in law how great it would be if we have a sleep God. We could appease him to make our kids sleep at night! Need I mention her reaction? Lol!

Breastfeeding and working

Motherhood is the most beautiful phase in a woman’s life. Like all moms to be, I too had been googling on parenting during my pregnancy since I knew that post delivery, the baby would be my priority. However, once our bundle of joy arrived, I faced an issue I had not expected even in my wildest dreams!

Since mine was a C section, little S and I couldn’t be together during the initial 2 days as I was still recovering from post surgery blues. The third day, when I could finally move, I was all excited to breastfeed my baby. I had read about the advantages of breastfeeding and wanted to ensure the baby didn’t miss out on the Colostrum which is packed with immunity. As I took my baby in my arms and tried to feed him, a strange issue came up. Because my baby had been bottle fed the initial days, he was no longer willing to latch.  And thus began an ordeal where anybody and everybody showered me with their opinions on getting it right. After almost a month and non stop struggle, my baby and I felt exhausted and frustrated, however, I was still not wanting to give in to a formula feed diet for my baby.

It was then that a friend of mine came as an angel. She suggested I try an electric breastpump, since latching or baby mood issues were no excuse to deprive baby of the benefits of breastmilk. Since I am a working mom, I also wanted to ensure that once I joined office, I manage my work and home well so that my baby could have the benefits of my breastmilk. I had heard that lactating mothers who join work gradually lose their milk supply and didn’t want my career or my baby to suffer.

Mr. Hubby and I did our research on the options available in the market and zeroed upon the Medela Swing as it offered the following advantages –

• 2-Phase Expression Technology  - Using this technology, the breastpump simulates the natural infant sucking behaviour at the mother's breast. The electric breastpump feels very comfortable to use - almost like breastfeeding itself. Its faster let-down and maximum milk flow significantly reduces pumping time
• Comfortable: A range of vacuum levels and settings
• Easy to use: Easy to assemble, use and clean
• Quiet and compact design, ideal for daily and discreet pumping

However, we also found few pain areas -

·         Spare parts – While sterilizing, I accidentally burnt a milk storage bottle however, I was told that the spare parts were not available at the retail outlets and one has to contact the company

·         After sales service – With a little baby and a thing as crucial as a breastpump, ease of service should be the top priority. A home service for any issues would be most appreciated by moms like me.

My Medela Swing has made life much simpler for me and my baby. Not only is my baby able to enjoy the benefits of a breastmilk only diet, he is gradually becoming more comfortable with the latching, thanks to the Medela Calma feeding solutions.

Like most women, I too had been worried about balancing my profession and motherhood, however, with my Medela Swing, I am confident about getting back to work without affecting my motherhood.

Benefits of breastfeeding –

·         Breastmilk contains all your baby needs: proteins, fats, lactose, vitamins, iron, minerals, water and enzymes in the exact amounts required for the optimal growth and development.

·         Breastfed babies are healthier. Breastmilk contains substances which prevent harmful bacteria from growing in intestines and causing gastrointestinal and diarrhoeal infections.

·         Breastfed babies have fewer middle ear infections, fewer respiratory infections and a decreased risk of developing allergies, cancer, childhood diabetes and obesity.

·         Breastfed babies have a decreased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

·         Breastfeeding a premature baby decreases his risk to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

·         Breastmilk is clean, free from bacteria and has anti-infective properties.

·         Breastmilk has the right temperature and needs no preparation. It is readily available whenever your baby needs it.

·         Breastfed babies are less prone to develop diabetes, heart diseases, eczema, asthma and other allergic disorders later in life.

·         Breastfeeding enhances brain development. Research shows there is better visual development and visual acuity in breastfed children.

·         Breastfeeding is more than just food. It enhances the emotional bond between the child and the mother and provides warmth, love and affection.

World breastfeeding week is being celebrated from August 1-7, 2015.

You can explore Medela’s range of breastfeeding products at their website

#World #Breastfeeding week #motherhood #baby #parenting 

Mummy knows best!

Having been recently blessed with a baby, I can say that motherhood is one of the best gifts a woman gets from nature. The feeling of holding your little bundle of joy is more precious than any precious thing in the world!

However, I have also realized that with the power of motherhood also comes a great responsibility. Even before the child opens his/her eyes in the world, the mother has to ensure all goes well. I have never been as careful with myself as have been during my pregnancy – be it with respect to food or movement etc. And that very moment when our angel is handed over to us in the delivery room, the feeling of responsibility increases manifold, for here is a little one totally dependent on the mother.

As a mother, I want everything best for my kid. And the research to get that actually began even before my little one was born. The internet was my key to finding out what was the best for my kid and I checked out any and every article about caring for a newborn.

One such concern was choosing the right massage oil for my baby. I have seen many friends use fancy baby oils to massage their kids. However, I have always believed on using natural products, so I wanted to ensure I know exactly what I was using for my little one and what are the advantages and side effects. During my research to find the perfect massage oil for my little one, I zeroed down on these oils which are natural and safe for babies –

·         Coconut Oil – A friend of mine has been using coconut oil to massage her kid and recommended the same to me. Coconut oil is a great way to keep the skin moisturized

·         Olive Oil – Olive Oil is very light, non sticky and provides essential nourishment to the baby’s skin. Since babies have very sensitive skin, it is very important to keep the skin nourished

·         Almond oil – During winters, I swear by Almond oil for my skin as it’s a great way to protect and nourish the skin during winters. Almond oil is known to provide essential moisture to the baby’s skin, making it soft and supple

While the research to find the right oils wasn’t a hard nut to crack, the main dilemma was – only one type of oil could be used at a time. So, how could I combine the goodness of the right oils for my baby?

I soon found the solution to my dilemma in Dabur baby massage oil! Dabur Baby Massage Oil is a unique blend of premium natural oils like - Olive & Almond which provide the baby the required nourishment. My concern to avoid artificial additives was also addressed, for Dabur Baby does not encourage the use of any form of artificial colours, paraffins, and parabens. Dabur Baby as a Brand focuses exclusively on products developed using natural ingredients, which are safe and provide nourishment to babies. These products have been created through extensive research by understanding the essential need for babies tenderly skin and hair.

I have been using Dabur Baby oil for my little one and I swear by the many advantages the oil offers –

·         Goodness of natural oils like Olive Oil and Almond Oil

·         Olive provides nourishment to the baby’s skin

·         Almond gently moisturizes baby's delicate skin making it soft and supple.

·         Paraffin free

·         No artificial colours

·         Dermatologically tested

·         Regular massaging helps strengthen bones and muscles.

·         Attractive and playful product pack helps engage the baby while massaging.

Thanks to Dabur Baby, I am a tension free mom when it comes to the right massage oil for my kid. Goodness of natural oils without harmful ingredients, Dabur helps me give the best to my baby.

 I am participating in the #FirstLove activity at BlogAdda in association withDabur

The many wonders of a honey diet!

First job after college opens windows to a whole new world! New office, new friends, revamped wardrobe and not to forget…one’s own money! I still remember how excited I used to be to go to office every day, like a kid who has just joined school.  Work was all about friends, fun & partying! Working for an American MNC prior to the recession phase meant a whole lot of pampering & I totally loved it! There were frequent parties, team outings; sponsored lunches, cakes for every occasion, impromptu chocolate hampers…life had become a party!

Life was a bed of roses till the thorns began to make appearance. A few months down the line, the Pizzas, burgers, late night partying, extended work hours and erratic lifestyle began to show on my waistline. While winters were all fun with overcoats and layered dressing, once summer knocked on the door, my denims were the first one to ditch me. I was no longer fitting in my denims and other clothes too joined the revolt. Still in the denial mode, I went shopping however, one look in the over sized clothes and I just hated myself in the mirror. I would look awful in the parties, I panicked.

And so, in the panic mode, I did what most youngsters of my age were doing – going on a fad diet. I had received a forward mail on fad diets and a friend too had mentioned how a friend of hers lost 10Kg in 2 months by going on a fad diet. Looking for a quick fix, I chose one of the fad diets and without consulting any dietitian, forced it on my body.

I somehow managed the first 2 days of the diet with my enthusiasm however, the third day saw my body crumbling in to the after effects of a crash diet - I was feeling weak, lethargic, irritable and couldn’t just focus on work. I had a sweet tooth and was gobbling up 2 pastries and many cookies a day. But the diet instructed me to go completely off sugar! The next day I almost fainted near my workstation. That’s when a friend came as an angel. Her sister was a dietitian and she suggested I consult her before subjecting my body to random diets.

The rendezvous with her sister turned out to be an eye opener. After hearing my story, she attributed the sorry state of affairs to an unhealthy lifestyle. She told me these fashionable crash diets were no permanent solution to my problem. In fact they deprived the body of essential nutrients which had a damaging effect on the body in the long run.

After asking few basic questions, she made me a diet chart and suggested the following  steps to a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle–

·         No skipping meals as this damages the body by depriving the body of essential nutrients. Instead, she suggested small, frequent meals.

·         A balanced diet as per my body type ensured my body got the required dose of calories and nutrients to go about the daily processes.

·         Lots of water and juices and a total no to aerated drinks

·         40 min of walk and light exercises everyday

·         Early to bed, early to rise

I had told her I had a real sweet tooth, she asked me to stay away from refined flour and sugar. Since it wasn’t easy to completely go off sweet temptations, she suggested Sweeter Alternative – Honey! She suggested I begin my day with a spoon of honey and warm water as it would help flush the toxins from my body. I had always thought honey to be just another sweetener, however was pleasantly surprised how just a teaspoon of honey a day brings the following benefits –

·         Weight management: A Spoon of honey taken with warm water in the morning is traditionally known to be useful in weight management.

·         Sugar substitute: Honey is a healthier substitute to sugar when looking to reduce weight as it has lesser calories than sugar and contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which are good for health.

·         Source of energy: Honey is known to be a good source of energy as its natural sugar and carbohydrates are easily digested by the body.

·         Aids Digestion: Honey when used in your diet is known to aid in digestion.

·         Cough and cold: Honey is known to help in cough and throat irritation.

·         Beautiful Skin: Honey is known to be useful for the skin because of its moisturizing and nourishing properties.  

Over a period of few months, I realized the focus from fad to fit did begin to show its results as my old clothes were again friends with me. While balanced diet and exercise definitely are a part of my life now, I also swear by the morning spoon of honey with warm water. I use honey to substitute processed sugar in many of my recipes and enjoy the many benefits of a honey diet!

You can visit the Dabur Honeypage to know more about how a Honey Diet can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Also don’t forget to check out the honey recipes.

Source - Indiblogger

Surf fast with UC Browser

Whenever there’s a cricket match happening in India, the mantra of all Indians becomes “eat cricket, sleep cricket, live cricket”.  Such is the obsession for the game in people that on the days of important matches with strong competitors, one finds deserted roads, sudden rise in the rate of sick leaves in offices and electronic shops flooded with people glued to the game on display TV sets.

While some like to enjoy the game with friends and beer at their favourite restaurant, others like to sit in the comfort of their homes and enjoy the game with hot chai and pakodas. I recall as a kid, world cup and India Pak matches used to be like festivals in our house, with all family members seated together and enjoying the match. Sometimes, I used to feel bad for mom, as even though we used to ask her to complete her kitchen chores during break, she used to sacrifice her share of the match often, to ensure we get hot meal ready during the lunch break.

With our schedules tightening day by day, people are opting for various alternatives to ensure they don’t miss on the game as well as important tasks. During this world cup, my office had organised a special screening in the cafeteria for employees. Many restaurants have special cricket menus and offers to cash on the cricket frenzy.

However, not always is it possible to tweak our schedules and take time out to view a full match. It is here that technology plays the friend in need. Many apps come to our rescue and we can get match updates no matter where we are. While technology has made our lives easier, the very same technology has also contributed to immense confusion too. With a plethora of apps floating on web, it is very confusing for the customer to take his pick. Over the years, I have been trying various browsers and apps; the main problem I face is of the browser speed. Like politicians, many apps and browsers promise smooth and buffer free experience. However, one download later one realises they are all the same.

Amidst the many available browsers, I recently came across UC Browser. Promising a fast surf, UC delivers what it promises. Available for Android, Ios, Windows interfaces, the following are some advantages UC Browser has to offer –

·         Fast Downloads

Enjoy high speed downloads with a resume option when interrupted and a smart file manager.

·         Cloud Sync

Seamlessly switch between UC Browser across your devices by syncing your open tabs and bookmarks.

·         Fun & Easy to Use

Customizable speed dials, themes and add-ons, plus unique and user-friendly features make your browsing easier and fun!

·         Data Compression

Save data and boost your browsing speed with our improved data compression technology.

·         Video downloader

Download videos with just one click.

What’s more, for the cricket crazy people, there is a dedicated space “UC Cricket”. Offering best cricket service including live scores and latest news, UC Cricket ensures the cricket fans remain connected to the game wherever they are.

I remember days when frustrated with the slow speed of other browsers and apps, I had to retort to the plain old Google search to get match updates. However, with the amazing UC Cricket, there is no need to Google anymore.

Here are some features which make UC Cricket score the brownie points over others -

·         Fast speed

·         Live scores with auto update

·         Fixture and result

·         Latest News

·         Videos

Getting your UC Cricket is easy at the swipe from your smartphone. All you need to do is Open UC Browser, go to the homescreen and Find UC Cricket with the blue icon.

So, no need to sacrifice on the game when UC Browser is here!

Surf with UC, Surf it fast,

Enjoy the game anywhere,

Have a blast!

Check out the UC browser and UC Cricket page and download the browser now! You can also read the FAQs here. Watch the UC Browser video with the amazing Yuvraj Singh telling how UC Browser helps him stay connected with the world on the go!

The explosion of freshness

There is a very famous saying –

Live like there’s no tomorrow,

Dance like no one’s watching!

In the daily rut of life, we often get into the auto mode. Life goes on but we just don’t feel the zing. Mornings signal the beginning of yet another round of routine activities and once we are back home, evenings remind us of yet another day spent just like that. Even if everything goes well without any deviation from the routine, gradually it takes away the freshness from our lives and dullness sets in.

Music has the power to heal the worst of the pains. It transforms us into a different world altogether, taking away the dullness and infusing freshness.

There are days on which I too get bogged down by the pendulum life between work and home. On such days music is my saviour. A good shower followed by a cup of cardamom tea and good music gets me into the grove. A couple of peppy numbers later, the elated me just lets myself free and I dance like no one’s watching; just like childhood when I would play my favourite tracks and dance for hours. After a good singing and dancing session, I am totally energized. The same boring day feels so beautiful, for music helps us listen to our inner voice and spend some quality “me” time.

I recently came across the “Taazgi Ka Dhamaka” video featuring Allu Arjun and Anushka Manchanda. Directed by the famous Pradeep Sarkar, the video truly is a dhamaka or explosion of freshness. The lovely Anushka brings a doze of freshness in an otherwise boring marriage. Good music is infectious. Soon, Allu too is forced to jump out of bed. After a quick doze of freshness with Colgate Max Fresh, Allu is all awake and ready to join the fun!

The choreography is natural, and watching the video I couldn’t help but appreciate these steps that so much relate to me when I too get in my groove...

While this step is not really what I would do, it reminds me of guys dancing uninhibited in weddings…when the sound of excitement in their hearts is more than a thousand musical instruments!

Now this is a must do step when you are dancing like no one’s watching. The bride sheds her inhibitions and joins in the celebrations.

The typical yo yo rapper step, I love the confidence and attitude Anushka displays here. Wear your attitude is the feel…

And sometimes, it’s good to break the rules and do a round of break dance! Just like Allu gets the whole crowd cheering with his cool moves!

And in true Rajani style, Allu flicks the taazgi ka dhamaka!

So, if you too are looking for a dose of freshness in your life, get your dancing shoes on!

The blog post should contain the mandatory code “I am blogging for #MaxFreshMove activity atBlogAdda in association with Colgate MaxFresh. Watch the Taazgi Ka Dhamaal video and enjoy the fresh moves!

Motherhood - the journey begins…

I am a fortnight old mom today. Yeah…few days back, I was blessed with a little prince charming (who is yet to be named) and life changed the very moment.  

The nine months seemed like a long, long time and transformed me into a test tube with various chemical and hormonal changes happening all the time. Towards the 9^th month, my irritation reached its heights and I often told Mr. Hubby, “It feels like I have been pregnant for years!” The calm and patient guy he is, he would be his pacifying best as he replied, “It’s a phase and a tapasya and this too shall pass.” I would roll my eyes and wonder that it’s easier said and done and secretly wished fathers should be made to carry the child atleast 2 out of the nine month gestation.

I also realised it wasn’t just Mr. Hubby, but many male colleagues at work as well, who needed to go through the experience. While some of them were pleasantly supportive, others just asked dumb questions which aggravated my already oscillating mood swings. For instance, one colleague, despite being married and having a kid would always ask me, which is the date when you GO, despite me explaining several times that there was a tentative date however, the stork could come calling anytime. Finally, when he paid no heed to my explanation, one day I had to ask him shamelessly whether his wife delivered on a pre decided date or whether it just happened. Seeing his reaction, I felt I should have asked that question much before. Then, there were others who would ask me how I felt. Now how was I supposed to feel and how could I make a guy understand that! Pat came my reply, “if you tie a 2kg stone around your tummy you will exactly feel the way I feel!”

Every sleepless night with the little one also makes me feel if there is something that can prepare you for motherhood, it’s just being open to change. Throughout my pregnancy I was reading articles on pregnancy and parenting. A prenatal camp also gave me insights into the pre and post childbirth life. Having armed myself with an arsenal of information, I was super confident about managing the baby as I marched into the hospital. However, the confident fizzed out the moment I saw the baby. Lying on the operation table, with half of my body subjected to anaesthesia and scissors, the moment they showed me the baby, the emotions were a mix of joy and responsibility. The baby was crying his lungs out, as if telling me, “Get out of Operation Theatre fast. You had to be on a 6 hour fasting for the operation, not me. I am hungry!!!”  The doctors were all sympathy for the baby as they told me the baby was hungry and need to be fed. But hullow! They were yet to complete the stitches. Moral of the story – service before self!

All the gyaan I had acquired from internet and pregnancy camp seemed useless when I was bed ridden for good day and a half after the delivery. The mother should hug and feed the baby the moment he is born, I was told. But leave apart holding the baby, the C section left me confined me in a position on the hospital bed and all I could do was helplessly stare at the little one as my mom in law fed him formula milk. Lesson learnt – nothing can prepare you for motherhood than motherhood itself.

And yes, there were some pleasant surprises too! Having spoken to many friends about their experiences, I knew delivering a baby and the hospitalization phase wouldn’t be a cakewalk. However, all the pain was forgotten as the little one made his presence felt. For a moment, the operation theatre no longer felt like a dreaded place and I had tears of joy in my eyes as I kissed the little one on his forehead.

The little one also proved to be a motivation like nothing else. The next day post surgery, when the docs came to mobilise me, the intolerable pain made me cry. But I did manage the walk from my bed to the baby, for I was dying to take my little one in my arms!

After school and college, motherhood is another school that’s teaching me valuable lessons about life and relationships. With the baby, I too am evolving each day as a mom and I count my blessings.

Welcome to my blog where I intend to share my experiences with motherhood. From my journey during pregnancy to my experiences with the little one, there is a lot I have to tell. Keep watching this space for more and feel free to share some of your tips and experiences!