Things have been slightly hectic for me for the past few days. Basically trying to engage my mom by taking her out occasionally, as it can be pretty boring life here compared to the fast paced life in India .I some times wonder why there is so limited public transportation in this kind of developed country as I have stopped driving for the past few weeks.
Anyways, I am doing okay with aches,pains and mood swings. As the D-date is approaching fast I am happy yet pretty apprehensive. As my mom says the out come to the pain is pleasure so guess I am going to be okay.
As I said in my earlier post, had been to my first lamaze class and the whole thing freaked me out. I have couple of cassettes with me now which I have to see and do some work sheets.I am to go back this tuesday for the next session.She gave tips on breathing techniques and short /long breathing.Will talk it out here if I find anything useful in her sessions.
Mekha, I am also developing darkness behind my neck, not to mention swelling of feet and ankles.I am beginning to feel less and less attractive ! So some of our friends here say I am having a girl and some say I am having a boy ! Who ever it is I am going to be happy as this baby will bring in lot of joy to both my husband, me and our families.
Jyotsna, not sure if you saw my ealier post as you have not responded there. Hope you are doing fine and I should really appreciate your determination regarding VBAC.
Sakhi, hope you are checking all these postings and you are enjoying your stay in India.
Hey nivea, good that you have joined us on the board. Looking forward to hearing more about your experiences.
I am getting kind of impatient girls, all this weight and restrictive life is becoming to get to me, I was told 9 th month is the longest. I personaly feel 9 months are long !!!!
Hey I wanted to ask you all, are you having stretch marks? Mine look so horrid that I am feeling pretty disgusted with them.Any ideas? In put?
Okay girls that's it till again. Belly rubs and baby kicks to you all!!

-Padmaja



jyotsna replied. hi padmaja,
actually the jabalas are ideal for indian weather--hot and humid.This time round,am making use of my daughters old stuff and will buy some readymade ones as well.If its a girl,most of my \";clothes\";problem will be solved....(laugh).
This time both husb and i are cool on the child rearing part.Earlier it would be sheer panic and Dr Spock to the fore or calls to the peaditrician.I now recollect that ananya had colic and i didnt want to give ehr gripe water etc.My mom gave me a good homemade cure of Ajwain ..or bishops weed as it is in english.
The lactating mom has to drink water boiled with ajwain--sips actually and then feed her baby and voila--the colic really eased.
Take care and stay in touch
I read the hanuman chalisa too and whenever i pray i feel the little one respond.
jyotsna replied. Hi Mekha,
For yourself you will need front open gowns which give easy access to buttons and nursing bras(sufficient).Since here the weather is humid,cotton is the material i would buy.But in the USA,am sure you will get a wide variety of stuff like breast pads to absorb the extra flow etc and good maternity bras.
For the baby again,for the 1st 6 weeks,i used hand made or machine stiched loose \";jabalas\"; or dresses and nappies (made of thin old sarees or mulmul)....entirely dependant on the weather.The nappy changes are so frequent that one needs plenty of those.I did not use pampers or disposable unless we were going out.
Get the vitamin skin e-oil and any good hair oil that your mom makes or uses.Hair oil for you i mean.
For the baby's massage,i used johnsons baby oil when i had it alternating it with good olive oil at times.
Im not sure as to what you get there and what you find good from India...but am sure your mom will get some foodstuffs which you like.
For the baby eventually you will need a pram/stroller/cot/a musical mobile/car seat and a front carry pack if you go shopping etc.These you will get there.
I shall write in here when i think of something else.

Padmaja--how are you doing?
Tday am going to see my doc after 6 weeks..real laidback mom i am this time.I seem to be getting some strange vivid dreams which get me awake..i was reading somewhere that this is normal.oh well......strange it seems but we have a good laugh over it in the morning.
The baby now responds a lot to my touch and sounds and of all the music....to \";yaadein\"; songs and nursery rhymes.

Nivea,good to see you here...
stay connected girls
nivea replied. HI padmaja ,

Just take it easy dear....The impatience is natural...I know it feels..like'near yet so far !!'
But time flies....and within no time you'll have a darling adorable angel to cuddle in ur arms !!

come to thinkof it....just about 2 months to go and there's so many things I've got to do...plan the nursery...shop for baby stuff etc etc....

Have all of u started shopping for the baby yet ?

cya folks
Nivea
jyotsna replied. hi padmaja and mekha and sakhi..
Good to hear from you girls.Padmaja,sorry i didnt reply,i thought i had but slipped obviously.
Girls,one thing i should tell you,please be careful about putting on too much weight after delivery.
My last times experience has made me more aware so this time round,i have been really balanced and know what to avoid.
I put on so much weight after ananya was born which means i didnt lose any weight of my pregnancy even when she was 2 months old.My mom insisted on ghee with each meal and a sweet dish of dryfruits in jaggery which is supposed to aid and assist in breast-feeding the baby.But it may seem all very nice but is just empty calories.
While feeding the baby,one gets ravenous and hungry like hell.I could eat several dozen meals really.So take care coz then the stretch marks take ages to vanish or never really go.
Padmaja,vitamin e-skin oil really helps.this time round,i have no marks despite the increase in girth.
Good undergarments are very important after giving birth as well.My lamaze teacher has advised that undergarments should be bought at the end of the 8th month as that will be the final size even after delivery.Here the quality of u/g is the pits and the mothercare ones cost a bomb.So much for that.....

mekha-looking after the little one will have its initial teething troubles but the baby will be the quietest in your arms and be soothed only by your touch and smell.Mothering is the easiest--it is when and as they grow that moms get befuddled.
We are lucky we have the net now for interaction.At ananya's time all i read was Dr Spock and Miriam stoppard.No choice there.

Padmaja,the 9th month is terrible in the sense that one feels most inactive when docs insist that one should walk and remain active till the last day.Sleep is more disturbed then and then its like \";you cant wait for it to be over\";.Good you have your mom there.
Im not sure when my mom will come...hope its soon.
Padmaja/mekha--do let me know more about what they teach at your lamaze classes as here its very cut and dry as if its not a big deal.Well for me its a big deal.
will be in touch Mekha replied. I will get the vitman-E oil if it fades the dark color. Hope my mom will be here during the delivery because i don't have any clue how i would take care of my baby or myself. Can you tell me the things we should do or apply over after delivery so that i should get it from india when mom comes?

Take care! Mekha replied. Feelings of ambivalence are common in pregnacy. Sometimes i am fretful with the tiredness and aches though. But whenever i feel baby's movement mood swings subsides. I watch baby stories on t.v once in a while. All labor is different but it may sound funny if i say i try to figure out which one will be mine. The cassette she (lamaze instructor) showed us was quite typical labor with no difficulties. Anyways, time will only tell how mine is going to be. But we should only think about the outcome now, shouldn't we?

I am having stretch marks on my belly and it looks slightly indented. I apply cream but isn't alleviate stretch marks though. It will gradually fade to a silvery sheen some months after delivery so it won't look as disfigurement. So don't worry about it.
The color change developed infront of my neck looks weird then the stretch marks.

Have you done all the baby shopping? We just have gone at babysrus and have seen all types of travel system, cribs but haven't decided yet which one to buy.

Take care and keep in touch.