So Far

Long time, in fact 2 months since I last blogged! When I started off, I was hoping for a week by week update. Yeah right, I really thought I could do it.

Anyway to wrap up, all was fine in baby land. The nuchal thickness scan, looking for any chromosomal trisomy was OK. But the biochemistry wasn't all quite right. That called for more testing, some stress, considerations of amniocentesis, ruling out of amniocentesis, and an anomaly scan which was reassuring. Of course, some stress still remains. That will stay till I have my baby in my arms!

Hope I am wrong, but I have always feared that with my patience and my kind of great luck so far, God may be hell bent on gifting me with a specially abled child. Please God, change your mind right away. You know I am quite ordinary. Just give me an ordinary healthy baby. No Einstein, nothing otherwise either.

We took a long overdue family vacation abroad. Between my 13th to 15th weeks. It was planned way before I was pregnant. And thanks to God, since all was fine otherwise in babyland. And my super cool obstetrician was fine with me taking the trip as well! I did a lot on that trip, stuff normally a pregnant woman should not. About that I will write later on but! Not that I believe in jinxes but I will spill all the beans once I have my baby. I don't want idiotic people coming up with their ridiculous "I told you so's." Thankfully, I am not surrounded by too many such people. My family is really caring but simultaneously non interfering! A unique gift.

BTW I have, in my pregnancy realized again and yet again what a caring lady I have for mother in law. She's the best thing happened to me. I can imagine how I have such a nice husband. He's her son! She never minds my extra hours of sleep, makes everything I crave- pickle's, chaat, sweets. She doesn't mind me camping at Mom's when tired (Mom stays close to workplace), has an almost non existent list of dos and don'ts. She even gets up an hour earlier to pack me a wholesome lunch for work! Something she has never done so far! Her children have always eaten at their office cafeterias so far.

Second trimester has been good so far. Nausea is low, appetite is at a all time high and the first trimester food aversions are diminishing. Finally I am gaining weight! And the bump is showing. And I am not too keen on hiding it. I hate when girls wear grossly mismatched stoles and dupattas that run till the pubes to just hide the beautiful bump! It certainly doesn't hide the bump, makes you look frumpy instead, since you asked me :P

Iron and Calcium supplementation has begun! Thankfully apart from the occasional  acidity and vomiting, I am tolerating the tablets very well.

Some fetal movements I can finally feel. In the beginning of this month, when I was about 19 weeks, I felt some flutters in my tummy, but only on paying close attention, when I was resting. I wasn't sure that was my baby, gas or my mind. But at 21 weeks I have started feeling definite kicks/fists! Its a mild lovely feeling. The pregnancy feeling is finally sinking in! However the kicks are too mild. So the husband will have to wait for them...for a few more weeks I guess!

Well, that's a lot for today!  Soon I intend to write about traveling when pregnant, and more about Iron and Calcium...
  

Eating During Pregnancy

Never in the past have, I been so careful about my diet, what I am eating and avoiding! Pregnancy and motherhood really change you so much.

Gastrointestinal Problems in Pregnancy

1. Heartburn and Acidity
2. Nausea and Vomiting
3. Early satiety in advanced pregnancy
4. Constipation
5. Aggravation of pre existing piles (Hemorrhoids)

While none of these can be prevented, they can be largely tackled with good care

Food Do's during Pregnancy

1. Eat non spicy non greasy food, every 2 hourly
2. Drink plenty of fluids- water, juices, milk and milk products
3. Eat foods rich in proteins, calcium, carbohydrates, iron and vitamins
4. Eat fiber rich fruits and vegetables
5. Have a 2 to 3 glasses of milk/buttermilk 

Food Don'ts during Pregnancy

1. Avoid eating raw uncooked food, sushi, mithai prepared outside
2. Avoid eating refined food- maida. Maida lacks fiber, and aggravates constipation
3. Avoid roadside chaats and foods. Risk of serious infections is high in pregnancy
4. Avoid prolonged fasting. Hunger aggravates nausea
5. Avoid spicy and oily food. Worsens acidity and heartburn
6. Avoid deep sea fishes (high mercury) particularly first trimester. Refer here for details.

Good Foods to eat during Pregnancy

The list is long and endless. Here's what I have been eating

1. Rotis, especially fortified with Ragi/Soyabean flour. Rice and dal, Dal khichdi
2. Fresh seasonal fruits. Wash properly before eating. Have home made juices or packaged juices if unable to eat solids, first trimester
3. All vegetables, leafy vegetables, pulses and sprouts in form of vegetables and salads
4. Dry fruits and nuts, dates. Keep in a small box, and carry along to work place as well!
5. Peanut jaggery chikki and ladoos as in between munchies
6. Milk, buttermilk, curds or lassi. Homemade milk products please
7. Kurmura Bhel made at home, corn bhel, sprouts bhel make good snacks
8. Soups made at home- avoid powders available in market. No nutrition, loaded with chemicals
9. Poha, dosas, upma, oat porridge, sandwiches have been my breakfast staples

Morning Sickness

The joys of pregnancy are marred for many by morning sickness.

Morning sickness or Emesis gravidarum is the uneasy feeling, nausea with or without vomiting that occur during pregnancy, particularly the first trimester. The term morning sickness is a misnomer really. It really occurs at any time of the day.

There are many other reasons for vomiting in pregnancy, leave the diagnosis to your doctor!

Basically vomiting and nausea are caused by the massive hormonal changes happening in your body. Its normal, unless its severely impairs your food intake, causes dehydration or such problems, in which case, rush to your doctor!


Symptoms of Morning Sickness

Uneasiness, nausea and retching with or without a small amount of vomitus. Typically aggravated by strong aromas or smells, sights or even  by hunger, fatigue and prolonged starvation

Like mentioned, it may occur any time of the day

Mostly is self limiting and avoidable with a few simple measures

It disappears by 14 weeks and is mostly easy to treat


Few Remedies that worked for me

Before getting off the bed, nibble one or two marie biscuits. Works fine for me, some women don't like it though 

Don't get off the bed immediately, lie around for a while, move your limbs before getting off.

When it occurs during the day, just take a stroll. Or have a sip of water, juice, buttermilk-- basically anything you like. For me mildly spiced buttermilk or orange juice, at times even sips of water work well

Chew on something tangy like amla supari, dried apricots, lemon drops. 

Lie down for a while and rest

Get distracted. Sometimes its just our mind.


Prevention Strategies that Worked for me

Eat small non spicy meals every 2 hours

Avoid oily food, or any food that triggers nausea. For me its asafoetida! 

Sip water all day. Staying hydrated is very important

Take your Folic Acid supplement at night before sleeping, and not in the morning. Really made a difference to me

Have an early dinner, and a glass of milk before you sleep

Treatment

Is for bothersome cases, with simple drugs. Follow prescription as recommended by your Obstetrician. 

First Scan and Wrap up of First Trimester

Went for my first scan, to check heart activity of my baby, about a week ago. When I was around 6 weeks and a few days.

But my baby in my scan was over 9 weeks old! I did a recheck scan by a senior sonologist and by that also I am atleast 3 and half weeks ahead of my dates! So when I was crying hoarse in March, I was pregnant, without any symptoms. OK, some fatigue and a massive appetite, but largely unaware!

Glad I stayed away from antibiotics and cough remedies during my fever and cold in April!

So today I am 11 weeks, just a week and first trimester is over!

Highlights of the first trimester

1.  Nausea and sickness, not too overwhelming but certainly there
2.  Increased hunger, but inability to eat much at one go
3.  Aversion to stuff I otherwise enjoy- tea, pakoras, sea food
4.  Craving for sweets and tangy stuff
5.  Fatigue and somnolence- especially after work. On weekends, I'm largely sorted
6.  Rarely ever any mood swings. I think my hubby has more mood swings than me these days. 
7. Lot of pampering, largely excused from cooking at home. Hubby is more attentive to small needs like getting water, getting me marie biscuits by the bedside and generally caring!

Whoa!

Murphy ji at his best!

So, I had fever midcycle. I did some baby dance, I was sure it wasn't enough. I got new tailor made fitted dresses. No I didn't buy She Cup and Ecofemme Pads, call it my laziness.

Then I patiently awaited my period. I gave my body some time, since my cycles have a surprise element, ranging from 28 to 36 days.

Then one day, I retched. Yes I had a wave of nausea . It shook me. It surprised me. And it made me believe I may be pregnant. After a few days of wait, and daily retching, I took a urine pregnancy test. Which was positive. POSITIVE

Positive when I least expected it.

Few days before I missed my period, I heard from two of my closest friends of their good news. I was happy for them, yet feeling left out. Now I am glad I have two of my closest friends delivering just before me. Now I have gals to share my fears and experiences real time. These were my classmates in college. We had exams, successes, failures all together. Now this life changing experience.

I am thrilled to bits!

Life Updates

Nearing the end of third TTC cycle!

This month, I was calm and let fate take over. Dumped the thermometer, no more BBT. No cervical mucus checks.
MY FATE- Midcycle, had a huge fever. But consciously avoided antibiotics, cough remedies, everything! Nutrition suffered big time. Obviously, sex was lowest on priority list. So this month, the period is what I expect, not a positive UPT.

Meanwhile more and more people are sharing their good news, and baby pictures! Makes my heart leap with happiness for them, and a tinge of sorrow for myself. But then my good sense prevails. Whatever happens, will take its own sweet time. And when it happens, all the sorrows of past will be insignificant.

Laws of Murphy

Now its 2 months of active trying, 6 months of thinking of trying. I have been postponing buying new clothes, getting new clothes tailored and buying a diva cup and eco femme cloth pads (ya I'm turning eco friendly in a big way) for ages.

Now I am bored of my dresses. Enough, I'm going to the tailor. And I'm ordering she cup online ASAP.

And if Murphy has it right I'll conceive the next day these things arrive at my doorstep.