“A child gives birth to a mother,
much before a mother gives birth to her child.

Birth isn’t just about making babies. It is about making mothers too. The transition from womanhood to motherhood is a beautiful feeling, one that will be cherished forever. “

Dear Dad’s to be,

Congratulations on your fatherhood !

At B&B we believe fathers play an equal role at parenting, right from the start. Everything changes when you become a parent for the first time. In the past, dads were pushed to the sidelines. But thankfully now, the thought process has changed. So while we know you’re going to a doting husband and a super-daddy, here’s a list of to-be-daddy things to keep in mind :

  • Be an active participant. Accompany your wife at all her doctor visits. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the chance to listen to your baby’s precious heartbeat, and watch her squirm around during the ultrasound.
  • Chalk out your baby-duties in advance. Decide who takes off from work, and for how long. Who changes the diapers and who would wake up to her melodious cry in the middle of the night. Also discuss the need for a babysitter.
  • Your family just got bigger, with a new member on the way. This calls for investment plans and the need to assess additional expenditures in advance. Better safe than sorry!
  • Time to splurge on all those pinks and blues. Deck up the house to welcome the baby and her guests. After all, nothing beats those cheerful baby vibes.
  • Dear first-time daddy’s, don’t hit the panic button just yet. With time you’ll learn to figure out all your baby’s needs, and how to comfort your little angel. Practice makes perfect. And we can vouch for you to be a perfect daddy.
  • Your wife needs you now, more than ever. Be her rock (stronger than her diamonds!). Support her while breastfeeding. Encourage her in every way you can, tell her what a beautiful mommy she is. Help her by creating the right atmosphere of comfort (a massage can work wonders you know!)
  • Once your little angel arrives home, cuddle her, talk to her, sing her a lullaby, read her bedtime stories, introduce her to the world of sight, sounds, and smell.
  • Now that your mini-you is the focus of your world, make sure you don’t forget your dear wife (and her shopping list).
  • Make sure to set aside some time for your lady. Talk to her about things, other than the baby. Compliment her. Make her feel like a wife, not just the mother of your baby. This is the best way to enjoy a perfect parenthood.

Most importantly, take time for yourself. Breathe!

You’re all set now, daddy awesome !

Happy Parenting !

Dear Mom’s to be

You health is our happiness. While we’d love to take care of you, here are some self-care tips we’d love to share

ANTENATAL HYGIENE FOR MOTHERS-TO-BE
Health advice

Rest and Sleep: The mother may continue her usual activities throughout her pregnancy . However, excessive and strenuous activities should be avoided, especially during the first trimester and the last 4 weeks. Recreational exercise (prenatal exercise classes) are permitted, as long as she feels comfortable.

There is individual variation on the amount of sleep required. However, on an average, the mother is advised to be in bed for about 10hours (8hours at night and 2hours in the noon), especially during the last 6weeks. In late pregnancy, a lateral posture is more comfortable.

Bowel: Constipation is common, leading to backaches and abdominal discomfort. However, regular bowel movement can be facilitated by regulation of diet and the intake of plenty of fluids, vegetables and milk, or prescribing stool softeners at bed time. There may be rectal bleeding, painful fissures or hemorrhoids due to hard stool.

Bathing: The mother should take bath on a daily basis, and take special care to avoid any untoward incidents of imbalance or slipping.

Apparels & Accessories: Women should wear loose but comfortable garments. High heeled shoes and constricting belts are best avoided, especially during the later stages of pregnancy.

Dental Care: Good dental and oral hygiene must be maintained. The dentist should be consulted, if necessary. This will facilitate extraction or filling of the caries tooth if required, comfortably in the 2nd trimester.

Breast Care: Breast engorgement can cause discomfort during the late pregnancy. A well-fitting brassiere ensures relief.

Coitus (Sexual Intercourse): Generally, coitus is not restricted during pregnancy. However, women who face an increased risk of miscarriage or preterm labor should avoid it, if they feel such increased uterine activity.

Travel: Travelling by vehicles that tend to jerk are better avoided, especially during the first trimester and the last 6 weeks. Long journeys are recommended to be limited to the second trimester. Rail route is preferable over bus route. Traveling in a pressurized aircraft is safe up to 36weeks. Seat belts should be worn under the abdomen.

Smoking and alcohol: Owing to the well known fact that smoking is injurious to health, it is advisable to stop smoking, not only during pregnancy but even thereafter. Heavy smokers tend to birth smaller babies, and are more prone to chances of an abortion. Similarly, alcohol consumption needs to be drastically curtailed or avoided completely, so as to prevent fetal Mal-development or its growth restriction.

Drugs: Almost all the drugs prescribed to the mother will pass through the placenta and reach the fetus. The possibility of pregnancy should be considered, while prescribing drugs to any woman of a reproductive age.

Tetanus: Immunization against tetanus not only protects the mother but also the neonates. In unprotected women, 0.5ml of tetanus toxoid is given intra-muscularly twice, at a 6-weeks interval; with the first one given between 16-24 weeks. For women who have been immunized in the past, a booster dose of 0.5ml is given during the last trimester.

General Advice

The expectant mother should be encouraged to positively attend the antenatal check up, on the scheduled date of visit. It is recommended that she report to her physician even at an earlier date, following any untoward symptoms such as an intense headache, disturbed sleep or restlessness, urinary troubles, epigastric pain, vomiting or scanty urination.

It is advised that she visit the hospital and consider an admission, under the following circumstances:
a. Painful uterine contractions at intervals of about 10mins or earlier, which continue for at least an hour; which is suggestive of an onset of labor.
b. Sudden gush of watery fluid from vagina, which may indicate a premature rupture of the membranes.
c. Active vaginal bleeding, however slight it may be.

Minor ailments during pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting, especially in the morning, soon after getting out of bed, are usually common in primigravidae. They usually appear following the first or second missed period, and subside by the end of first trimester. 50% of the women experience both nausea and vomiting, while 25% have only nausea, and 25% remain unaffected.

Three main measures can reduce the problem.
a. Dietary changes: Switch to dry toast, biscuits and protein rich meals. Frequent intake of small quantities of foods are helpful. Fatty foods are better avoided.
b. Behavior modification: Avoid factors that could trigger on a personal level. Women are better are identifying these factors themselves.
c. Medications.

Backache: This is the most common problem (50%) experienced during pregnancy. Physiological changes that contribute to backache are joint ligament laxity (relaxin, estrogen), weight gain, hyperlordosis and anterior tilt of the pelvis. Other factors may be faulty posture and high heeled shoes, muscular spasm, urinary infection or constipation. Excessive weight gain should be avoided. Lying down with the legs elevated to flex the , may be helpful. Other remedies include improving the posture, well-fitted pelvic girdle belt, and resting on a hard bed. Massaging the back muscles, analgesics and bed-rest also help relive the pain caused due to a muscle spasm.

Constipation: Constipation is a common ailment experienced during pregnancy. Regular bowel habit may be restored with a proper diet of fruits and vegetables, along with plenty of fluid intake.

Leg cramps: It may be due to a deficiency of diffusible serum calcium, or elevation of serum phosphorus. Supplementary calcium therapy through tablets or syrup after a principal meal can be effective. Massaging the leg, applying local heat, and vitamin B (mg) on a daily basis can be also help.

Acidity and heartburn: Heartburn is caused due to relaxation of the esophageal sphincter. The mother is advised to avoid over-eating and going to bed immediately after the meal. Liquid antacids are normally helpful.

The Checklist

Now that you’re all prepared to set foot on this beautiful journey of parenthood, lets run a check-list on all that you’ll be needing during your comfortable stay at Birth and Beyond.

MOM

  • Insurance Card
  • Drivers License (No, you’re not driving just yet!)
  • Pre-filled out forms
  • 2 sets of Pyjamas (or maybe 4)
  • Robe
  • Socks
  • Ear Plugs
  • Shower Flip Flops
  • Shampoo/ Conditioner (Your mane needs some loving too!)
  • Face wash
  • Lip Balm
  • Toothbrush/ Paste
  • Deodorant
  • Eyeglasses/ Contacts (We have some great magazines!)
  • Hair dryer
  • Hair Brush
  • Hair tie
  • Make up (For that mandatory selfie session!)
  • Change of clothes
  • Underwear
  • Nursing bra/ Tanks
  • Lanolin nipple cream

DAD

  • Something comfy to help you sleep on that awesome couch
  • Change of clothes (You’re staying too!)
  • Flip flops
  • Toothbrush (Your wife packed the paste)
  • Deodorant
  • Snacks (While you sit and stare at your baby all day!)
  • Water bottle
  • Baby car seat (And a ‘Baby on board’ sign)
  • Going home outfit
  • Mittens
  • Hat
  • Blanket
  • Nursing pillow
  • Sticker for footprints

OTHER

  • Phone charger
  • Sweet treat for the nurses (Treat!)
  • Camera (Say Cheeese!)
  • Cash for vending machines (We have awesome options)
  • Gift to siblings from baby