Is Yours An “Average” Pregnancy?

Talk to any two women who have been through pregnancy, and it’s amazing just how much of a difference there is! It seems like there is really no “average” pregnancy. Even if you take two sisters, one has weeks of morning sickness, the other has none whatsoever; one woman loses her pregnancy weight in 3 months post delivery and another is still carting it around 2 years later! (And isn’t it fun to compare notes and discuss how each one’s experience is so different?) One wears pregnancy tops throughout her pregnancy and the other never has to buy one! 

When each woman’s experience is so different, naturally, each woman’s questions and challenges are also a little different. At the same time, women also love to discuss their experiences with others and get tips on what worked for others, what didn’t. After all, in many cases, there is no hard-and-fast rule – it’s a question of finding out what works for you.

These days, it has also become easier to find the information that will work for each of us, thanks to the wealth of information that technology makes accessible to us. The newest addition to this is the Mother’s World mobile app developed by Mom&Me that makes it possible for expecting mothers to get information specific to their condition, in a very friendly mobile format.

On entering the date of the last menstrual period or the due data, it offers the mother-to-be completely personalized information suited to her week of pregnancy.

Besides information on the baby’s growth and activity at each stage, and the common doubts women have during pregnancy it can be customized by expecting mothers in a number of ways. For instance, it allows you to track your emotions during this period and understand them better. Best of all, you can connect with other moms through the Mom&Me blog and Facebook page. You can also find pregnancy dresses online at great rates and best brands.

So, if you’re looking for helpful information and tips that work for your pregnancy, do check out the Mother’s World mobile app!

Graco's Baby Car Seat that Grows with Your Child!

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A Drive to Pune with my Adorable Little Brat!

The other day I traveled to Pune and back with the brat. It is a journey I have done umpteen times before, but this one was unnerving because a) it was the first time I was doing it on my ownsome lonesome and b) I was traveling not by car but by an AC bus with a baby car seat still attached to my little brat. Call me chicken, come on, I dare you.

As is the norm with me, worst case scenarios always present themselves in slide show format in my mind before I undertake any such acts of bravery. At the last minute, I almost called off the trip, but then steeled my heart and ventured forth.

The brat, thank the Lord, is a much better behaved child than he used to be; I still remember with horror the flight back from Bangalore, which was delayed interminably and all I remember is running around the old Bangalore terminal in circles trying to keep sight of the brat! This time, I could take the risk of hoping that the brat sat peaceably in a single seat for the duration of the journey, four to five hours, without having me pluck out each strand of hair from my head in frustration.

I was also a wee bit worried because the brat has been known to suffer from motion sickness. I have unpleasant memories of drives to Goa, when the entire contents of his stomach were heaved into every corner of the car, my clothes and my hair. I debated about giving him Avomine before the journey, but decided against it – I didn’t want him drowsy and sleepy through the journey.

I would not mention the V word, and instead treat the trip like one big adventure. And so we did. It was a mamma and brat adventure; waiting for the bus at the pickup point, keeping him in charge of the bags (all of two), having him find the seats in the bus, making him count the red cars on the road, giving him a Rubik’s cube to keep him occupied, pointing out hotspots like the DY Patil cricket stadium (known to him courtesy IPL), and not letting him eat anything through the journey.

We made it safe and sound to Pune and back. I really had to be amazed at the sturdiness of the baby car seat that I bought online. If you guys are interested to buy baby car seats, contact me and I will give you the list of best brands available. The boy helped me with the luggage, behaved himself, managed to keep himself entertained, and slept a fair bit of the way. Could it be, shudder, shudder, that the child has actually grown up?

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Buy Strollers Online that are Affordable & Durable!

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The Everyday Superhero in Our Lives - The Incredibles

We walk around in our milk and pureed food-stained clothes. Contact lenses a thing of the past and the once-upon-a-time-never-to-be-seen-in-public glasses, now firmly pushed on our noses. Our hair greasy from the fine sheen of drool and the occasional spit-up.

As we move through public places, scrunched over baby strollers or slings and baby carriers dangling from our chest, dressed in our baggy shirts and flat shoes, we are comfortable in our public personas. No one knows about the powers that are concealed within. Our secret identities remain secret.

That baggy top with the loose sleeves shield our biceps that are now bulging thanks to carrying around our little ones. What passers-by will never know from looking at our flip-flop clad feet is the power of lightening speed that they possess. The power to dash at a speed unseen to the naked eye as our precious baby breaks into a wail in her crib or hurtles towards the wall on all fours or vrooms past in the walker that she/he was just gifted.

No one knows that our unremarkable looking ears will test positive for the gift of supersonic hearing- an imperceptible sigh, the slightest wail, the beginning of a sneeze – you name it, we hear it. Hey, sometimes we hear it even before it happens. (But then that could possibly be a side-effect of extreme sleep deprivation as well.)

And then, of course there is the eye sight. Don’t let the dark shadows underneath them or the aforementioned eye- glasses fool you, we miss nothing. From the tiny speck of non-existent dust or the barely visible red welt on her leg that may or may not be a mosquito bite. (Fingers crossed hoping it’s not a mosquito bite!)

Oh and six months of exclusive nursing (in both public and private places) later, we all know how blurry the line between inner and outer wear becomes, much like those other popular figures who wear their inner wear as normal attire.

And sure, to the non-superhero public that shawl is just a nursing shield, but we, the members of the league of extraordinary women know it as an essential part of a superhero costume – the cape and a super baby car seat to get the kid secure on a wild ride to the supermarket, school or anywhere else!

Who are we?
Just your everyday mother by day and a superhero in disguise every other moment, from the time we became mothers.

Like they say in the Incredible, we are no one but “average people, average citizens quietly and anonymously making the world a better place”.

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Why is it important to buy car seat for baby in India?

Using a Breast Pump – Guidance for Mothers

For working women, a breast pump is a godsend that allows them to express their milk and store it for use in the course of the working day when they might not be around to feed their babies. This allows mothers to express quickly, without the tedium of manual expression, and saves time, which is often scarce.

Kiran Manral talks to Cee Kay*, Mother of two children aged 12 and 4 now, about her experiences with a breast pump. She used the breast pump for her second child.

Why did you start using a breast pump? How old was your child then?

I started using breast pump to augment supply by day 15 or so (I don’t remember exact day). I was having lactation problems.

Did you research the models in the market before buying one? What were the parameters you looked for?

I first rented a pump from the hospital for about two months to see if it would help me at all. Once I verified that pumping did help my supply, I bought Medela’s “Pump in Style” because my research indicated that it was one of the best models available. A friend had it as well and she highly recommended it.

This one also comes with dual shields/pumps which save time as you can pump both breasts at the same time. The features I looked for were:

1. Dual pumps.
2. Hospital grade.
3. Had to have graduated suction levels.
4. Had to be easy to carry since I planned to pump at work.
5. Had to have a discreet case that I could carry to and from work without it being too obvious. I bought the backpack style for easy carrying option.

For how long did you use the breast pump and why did you stop?
I used it for a little over three months and I stopped after my supply dwindled to about three ounces for the whole day. I grudgingly realized that I wasn’t lactating and that it was just not worth the stress.

What would you advise women who want to start using a breast pump?
My Ob-Gyn strongly dissuaded me from using one after my first delivery. If I had used one, my first daughter could have gotten at least a few months of breast milk. I regret that. Get a second opinion if that happens to you.

Second, there is no shame in using a breast pump. Don’t let anyone tell you that.

Third, don’t overdo it. The guidelines usually allow for pumping for 20 minutes on each side. I ignored that once and over-pumped. I got swollen ducts as a result and my supply went further down. I still regret that.

How did using a breast pump help you?
It made me feel like I gave it my best shot. I know I worked hard and tried my best – if it didn’t work even after that, then so be it. Frankly, my daughters have thrived on formula too, so in the event of not having enough milk, it is okay if you need to supplement with or switch over to formula.

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Stylish Black & Red Strollers Online For Your Fashionable Little One

Let your baby travel in style with Lil Wanderers Black & Red stroller with 4-way recline, five-point safety, compact fold and other european safety standards. Buy this light-weight and sturdy stroller only at Mom & Me store and www.momandmeshop.in

What I Learnt From My Mother about Parenting

Infant health, infant milestones, baby care and toddler health are a vast minefield of uncertainties for the young mother. With the parenting advice and communities available on the Internet, and ease of connection on social networking sites and blogs, shopping sites with a vast collection of pregnancy dresses, one wonders if young mothers still turn to their own mothers for parenting tips.

It takes a village to raise a child. The child’s maternal grandmother was the elder traditionally at the forefront of that village. Has this changed in the current generation? Whom do new mothers trust for pregnancy tips through the challenging nine months and positive parenting tips for the exhausting toddler years?

A few mothers pay tribute to what their own mothers taught them about parenting!
Positive Discipline and Responsibility. Jennifer Pinto, 35, a Zumba Instructor in Bangalore, tends to ask her more experienced women friends about dilemmas in parenting her 3 year old son David. “Still, certain aspects of my mother’s parenting have influenced me,” she says. Jennifer has taught David to clear up his toys after play, and to put back anything he takes out. “I believe that getting a child to participate goes a long way towards helping him become a contributing member of society.” Jennifer feels that watching her mother parent her sister and herself has inspired her to start positive discipline and teach responsibility early in David’s life.

The Right Baby Books. “I prefer parenting books!” laughs Megha Pai, 31, Mumbai-based stay-at-mother to a 5 year old daughter. “But, I admit that I copied my mother in that! I remember her array of books including Dr. Spock’s Baby Care, recipe books for children’s favorite foods, and books on infant health and homeopathy.” Seeing her mother using ‘bookish’ advice has given Megha the confidence to also search for her answers in books from the parenting and infant care genres. “I don’t care when people mock me for relying on parenting books. I’ve learnt and grown as a mother, and I feel my daughter is happier, as a result.”

Sibling Differences. Priya Rao, 35, a stay-at-home mom currently on a break from a legal career in Bangalore, has been inspired by her mother-in-law. “Becoming a mom for the second time was a bit challenging. My two daughters, aged 1 and 3.5, are very different from each other in certain ways.” Priya was strengthened by learning about her mother-in-law’s equanimity in accepting differences between her grown-up son and daughter. “She always says that two children born to the same parents are still going to be completely different. She has had so much grace in tailoring her parenting to the unique needs and personalities of each of her children. It’s helped me change my expectations and appreciate what’s special about both my daughters.”

The Importance of Touch. Monika Manchanda, 35, mother to 3 year old Ojas, is a Software Freelancer based in Bangalore. “I was quite a nervous new mother, scared even to give my baby an oil-massage,” she says, and recalls the infant care tips from her mother, “Give the baby enough touch and love; that is what will bond you both and go a long way in building a relationship. Trust your instincts. Be careful but not afraid… whatever you do, know that you can’t break the baby!”

Grandma’s influence and inspiration has not been sidelined by these mothers. Possibly, faster communication, parenting books and other resources only augment the basic support that a woman traditionally offers her daughter in mothering. Let’s not forget how the internet has helped mothers boost their morale with comfortable maternity dresses online and other maternity wear that helps them go out in style and live their life with confidence.

When Loving Parents Forget Life Saving Products such as Baby Car Seats

The other day, as I stepped out of my building complex, a car passed me by. A man was driving, at moderate speed, WITH A TODDLER IN HIS LAP. I bellowed furiously at the retreating car and then noticed the mother of the toddler was sitting right next to them.

I gasped and sputtered and ran out of expletives I wanted to spew and then realized there was no way they could hear me, given the windows were up and the air conditioning on.

Everywhere I look around, I see perfectly loving parents, doing things that could only be idiocy. Putting toddlers in the front seat without a seat belt. Making children walk on the outside in the face of oncoming traffic. Letting kids run wild near escalators and stairways. Buying toys which have small detachable parts.

Setting up disasters waiting to happen.

Car Safety wonder if it really doesn’t strike them that these could be dangerous, or that there is a certain insouciance about not bothering with safety rules for these parents. Internationally, the rules about baby car seats being mandatory for infants and toddlers up to two years, might seem a little extreme to us here, but they are extremely necessary given the high speeds most vehicular traffic on their road have. Internationally, they have car seat guidelines about how toddlers should ride in a rear face car seat, until they reach two or the weight and height limits of their car seat. From the age of two, there are forward facing car seat for baby abroad. All children below 13 are expected to be seated in the back seat, with a seat belt, and in the middle of the car where the possibility of injury is the least.

They are pretty strict about the using of car seats for infants and toddlers, not to mention their insistence on the use of seat belts for all passengers in the car. I would think that even if car seats aren’t mandatory in India, parents who can afford one should definitely invest in one in order to ensure the safety of their kids in the car. I didn’t have a car seat though, when the child was small. There wasn’t much awareness about them back then and the child was always firmly in an adult lap.

Car seat for baby, booster seats for toddlers and seat belts for bigger children. And yes, those parents who let the kids stand on the seat and put half their torsos out of the sun roof, I have no epithets too strong for you.

Buying the Best Baby Car Seat for a Safe Drive with Your Little One

If you are becoming parents for the first time and have no idea about which infant car seat is the best one, you should remember that the best baby car seats are the one that fits your baby, your car and one that fits into your budget as well. Here is more information on how to choose a car seat for baby that suits you:
 

The Car Seat must fit the Baby  

Car seat sizes can be confusing as many of them conform to European standard requirements. When choosing a car seat, it is essential to keep your baby’s age, height and weight in mind. Your baby’s comfort level should be kept in mind – the child needs to be comfortable in his car seat.

The baby car seat must fit the vehicle
This is another point you should keep in mind while hunting for a car seat. There are several types of vehicles on the market now and not all car seats will fit every vehicle. Find out if you can take the car seat to your car to check whether it fits properly. If the car seat does not fit properly or does not fasten properly, do not buy it. The safety of your baby will be compromised if the seat does not fit properly. Keep in mind that the seat should be held tightly by the seat belt. There should be very little movement.

Tanmaya Karmarkar, a mother of two suggests buying a car seat which can be fixed into the seat belt. Such seats, she feels are more practical from the Indian perspective as they can be easily removed when not required. Fixed car seats can cut down on the amount of space in the car.

Weight limits
Ensure that you check the weight limit on any car seat that you are buying. Car seats can generally accommodate a baby up to 10 kilograms; however, there may be seats that have a higher weigh limit. It is advisable to purchase seats with a higher weight limit as you can use them for longer periods of time.
 

Safety Features
This is the most important point to keep in mind while purchasing a car seat. After all the main reason why you are buying one in the first place is that you want to keep your baby safe while you are driving. Pay close attention to the way the harness is adjusted on the car seat. This harness will have to be adjusted periodically as the baby goes through growth spurts. Buy a well padded seat with plenty of neck and back support. Ensure that your baby can move her arms freely and be able to look around as well.

When buying a car seat for infants, it is best to buy ones that face backwards. This is essential as infants cannot support their necks and therefore need neck support. Put your child in a rear facing seat if she weighs up to 13 kilograms. Look for accessories like little pillows in the car seat which make sure that the infants head does not wobble too much while she/he is traveling.

Shuchita Singh Basu, another mother, recommends buying a car seat which has a long enough seat to keep the child strapped in. She feels this is important as it prevents the child from being thrown in case the brakes are applied suddenly. Another aspect she feels that should be looked into while buying a car seat is whether the car seat can also double up as a baby carrier. Hence the car seat can be taken out and used to carry the baby at times as well. Some infant car seats can also be used as a rocking chair in the house.

Convertible baby car seats are that can face either forwards or backwards. They can be used by both infants and older children. If you decided to buy an infant car seat, you will have to switch to a convertible car seat once your child outgrows the infant car seat.

Keep the above in mind and you are sure to pick up a seat that you will be able to put to good use in the years to come.

Compact & Lightweight Baby Strollers For Travelling Comfortably

Mom & Me presents Lil Wanderer baby strollers with features that will help your little one have a comfortable trip along with you! With wide seats, 3 types of recline, adjustable leg rest, and compact folding, this light-weight stroller makes it perfect for travel.