Being Mom #1

Please have a look and share views.

Love and Cheers

Love at First Sight - The First Sonogram

I still remember the desperation we felt when we first visited the gynecologist... Given the history we both were exceptionally skeptical. My mind was yelling, 'is it true? We need to know for sure...' It had been more than 20 hours since we found out and both of us didn't had guts to share the news with anyone... What if it was false positive...

Containing our happiness and skepticism, we booked the first appointment we got to the closest gynae in our area. And we waited...

At the doctor's: 'you have all the symptoms and if the home test gave you two dark lines than it is a positive. Congratulations,' she has said... but she didn't know my fear. I have had these symptoms before as well. She understood my hesitation and prescribed a sonograph.

Unfortunately we were too late in getting the appointment and the sonography department was already closing. 

'If you make the payment now, the doc can do the sonography today. But you will get reports Monday,' said the receptionist. We actually had to get it done so my husband hurried to the payment counter and the sonographer prepped me. The moment payment appeared in her system she turned on the machine...

And there it was... I was so used to seeing empty black screen that I could not believe my eyes. Right in the center of the screen, with the size as small as a tiny droplet, and fluttering a little too fast for my knowledge was my angel's heart. I still remember the blissful feeling I got in that moment. The feeling of joy, satisfaction and love - I have no words to express. It was in that moment I fell in love, yes I was just a tiny dot but I knew this dot will transform in a beautiful baby, whom I so lovingly hold in my arms now.

My biggest regret that day was that my husband missed this serene first sight of our baby. Damn that sonographer, she couldn't even wait for two minutes. But he did get to see the pictures. Anyways, he went to the next appointment and in that one, he fell in love at his first sight...

Lots of Love

Ban the Malls, Go buy from some NGO

Ban the 'Malls' this Diwali and go buy from NGOs. 

It is not the NGO that came,
just borrowed the pic from Google

My husband's company hosted a NGO in his office where they sold self-made candles, potpourri, diyas, rangoli colors and much more... My husband being him, bought a lot of stuff and came back home. Yes, some were decently priced and some were expensive but the smile of satisfaction & happiness he had on his face was priceless for me. I can also imagine the smiles this would have brought on the faces of kids of that NGO.

We all want to do something for the society and that day he actually did. And I couldn't be happier or more proud. 

I hope we all ban malls on such occasions and find time to go spend some money with such NGOs and do a good deed. After all, these are also someone's kids and deserve equal happiness.

Happy Diwali to all.

Lots of love.

Those 2 much awaited dark lines...

After TTC for almost 3 years and after two failed IUI, I had totally lost hope... The reason for failed IUI was no issue with me, instead it was of the greedy doc (that bi***) who used our sentiments.

Anyways, that's a story for another day. But yes, I had totally lost hope. After second failed attempt I had almost stopped stepping out of home and had turned almost suicidal. I had started hating everything and everyone, including myself and my husband. I knew we were suffering so I suggested adoption but no one in my family agreed to it, starting with my husband. "Let's try one more year, if we are unsuccessful even then, we will consider"

My husband, for the record, is the nicest and kindest man you will ever know. He loves me to his core and I love him equally however at that time I was so frustrated that I believed he was being unkind and doesn't understand - I wanted to a divorce. Yes, this was my lowest point I believe and I was that depressed and hopeless.

For a change, he took me to Goa and got onboard with my decision to change the city. I literally fled Mumbai and moved to Delhi hoping change of surroundings will help. And they did help.

I am not sure where the magic happened but I missed my periods - again. I have abrupt cycle and no thanks to past failed IUIs it was much worse. As I got 2 months overdue I asked him to get me pills to get my periods back. I didn't want to take another pregnancy test and undergo another round of depression. However, he brought both.

"Please just give it a try, what if?" he was hopeful.

"How can you be hopeful. We are cursed," I yelled and locked myself in the room and cried for hours. This was so not me, I get angry, depressed and I usually throw things but I don't cry. This was new. So were the weird pains I was getting all over but I dismissed them as nothing.

I don't remember much of the evening of that day as I cried a lot and eventually fell asleep. He tried to get me to eat but I couldn't. 

I woke up at 4:15 am due to an sudden urge to pee. As I stepped in the bathroom I saw the pregnancy kit neatly placed on the sink. He knew I was suffering from 'frequent urination' issue and would wake up early morning. I knew he wanted me to take that test... So for him, I took it. (They say to take it early in the morning as the hormones are most concentrated then). I left it on the counter and started roaming around. After some time, what seemed like hours, I decided to check it - you know just for the sake of checking and my whole world turned upside down. It was a BFP...

I stared at it for good five minutes until the reality set in. "Oh my God! It happened..." 

It was still 4:30 am and he was sleeping peacefully. I decided to inform him in the morning. But anyone who knows me can tell, I can't stomach anything exciting and by 4:31 am he was awake and getting the best news of his life. He was going to be a father... I still remember the expressions he had when he woke, he was shocked and worried for my well-being. But when he heard the news, he was delighted and speechless. God, we both couldn't believe that after so many years it finally happened. And I am forever grateful to him for not letting me take those pills right away. I don't know what disaster might have happened if I did take them...

So that is my story of getting those 2 dark lines...

What is yours? Do share...

Lots of love.

Folic Acid for parents to be

Hey, Welcome Back

PC - www.specificare.com

You must have read it in my last post that consuming optimal amount of Folic acid is must for a mother-to-be. In my this post, I am going to highlight the key reasons concerning why.

Below are some key reasons why an expecting mother or planning to conceive woman should take the right amount of Folic acid.

• Folic acid before pregnancy -
• Folic acid promotes fertility - some of my friends believed it to be a myth but it isn't. The super properties of folic acid i.e the one where is protects the embryos in the women's body helps boost fertility in women
• It just not helps women, it also helps men by improving sperm motility and count which is must have if a woman wants to conceive

• Folic acid during pregnancy - there are couple of reasons due to which folic acid is considered a key vitamin in pre-natal supplements. To list down major ones:
• Promotes cell growth - with a little baby inside you, you need all help you can get to have an excellent cell growth phenomena. And given folic acid has a vital property of making and repairing cells, it provides this much required support
• Develops neural tubes - Neural tubes development is the key stage for your baby. It happens in the very beginning of the pregnancy, when you might even know that you are expecting. Neural tubes form into brain and spinal cord of the baby and Folic acid is one of the key vitamin which promotes healthy neural development

There are various foods which have good amount of folic acid present but being pregnant calls for additional supplements. The ideal intake of Folic acid is 400 micrograms per day but you must consult your doctor as every person is different. Depending on your health and condition, your doctor will prescribe you right dosage.

For more details on Folic acid regarding natural sources, dosage, over dosage and other benefits, please read my detailed post here.

I hope my article helps.

Love and Cheers

Missing your 'Auto Flow' this month?

If you are planning to conceive than a missed period is the most ominous sign. But it necessarily does not mean you are pregnant.

Periods aka AF* are the monthly routine and unless we are pregnant we want them to visit us right on time, however many times it does not happen and there can be multiple re

asons to them... To start with (and to re-iterate) it maybe your lucky cycle and you might soon be looking at a BFP

Other not so happy reasons can be: 

• Stress: Stress is the one of the most  common reasons for skipped periods. Any tragic or unpleasant event can trigger stress and given that stress is linked to hormones it results in missed periods. I have known many women who stress about getting pregnant and miss their period, hence  the simple words of the wise are - "come what may, do not stress out yourself"

• Hormones: It is an important thing to keep your hormones in check. If you are suffering from missed period for months, you should look into a getting a hormones test. You might wish to delay the inevitable but it is better to face it soon, and God forbid if you have the demon called PCOS, I would recommend treating it like now!

• Falling sick: At times it happens, you fall sick around the time you were suppose to ovulate and falling sick results in delayed or no ovulation. If you are not tracking your cycle at grave lengths then you will never know if you have ovulated on time. Well assuming you are missing AF due to some illness last month you do not stress over this, it will be fine in next cycle

• Weight or change of schedule: If you have suddenly gained/lost weight or changed your schedule then it might be one of the causes of your missed period. In case of extreme changes it is recommended to let your weight/routine get stable and then see what is happening to your  monthly cycle

• Heavy medication: If you have started on some heavy medications like for thyroid, BP etc. then it might have negative impact on your hormones which in turn lead to missed periods. In such cases it is recommended to talk to your doctor and discuss the effects on your periods, you don't want your monthly cycle to stay abrupt for long term

• Excessive Exercise: If you have suddenly started exercising heavily or have indulged in serious diet then it might mess up with your hormones. In such cases it is recommended to give your body some time to get adjusted to the routine so that your hormones are back on track

• Birth Control: Getting out of birth control pills after a long period of time can mess up your hormones as well. We all know what these pills do and when your body is on them for a little too long it stops ovulating naturally. However after few months your body adapts to your natural cycle and  you can get back to your happy routine

Above are the few reasons that can cause missed periods... However, if you have any physical issues or if they have been skipping or irregular for a long time it is advisable to seek a professional help.

I hope my article helps.

Cheers and Love

* Click here to get the list of abbreviations used.

Who knew that health and fertility were just a sleep away :)

We have been hearing all our lives that sleeping on time and for right amount of time is very crucial

as it enables us to wake up fresh and on-time the next morning. However, today you will find out how having right sleep will not just keep you fresh and happy but will also increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Below are some key points that a mother-to-be should pay attention to:

• Lack of sleep results in upset hormones. It is not just the case in women but also in men. When we are sleep deprived or sleep and wake up at different times, we force our body to adapt to ruptured schedule. The inconsistent schedule confuses our body and it does not produce right hormones at the right time
•  No sleep or irregular sleep makes you tired and even bitchy. Which severely affects the BD* and we will know how important BD is if you wish to conceive
•  Less sleep affects overall health which weakens the immune system of our body. With weak immune system one is more prone to fall sick which may result in no baby bump
• Lack of sleep does affect males as well. If the sleep cycle is too abrupt, it can affect sperm count and motility
• Sleep produces melatonin which helps body heal during the sleep process. One thing that is not so commonly known is that melatonin protects eggs during the time of ovulation. If you are sleep deprived then your body will not produce enough melatonin to protect your eggs - which in turn will result in fail cycle. Taking melatonin supplement without consulting your doctor is not advised.
• Also if you have conceived, lack of sleep or abrupt schedule can also lead to an unfortunate miscarriage

Hence, it is very important to maintain a good sleep schedule which provides you 7-8 hours of deep and sound sleep.

In order to have good night's sleep, one should try to follow below:

1. Keep bedroom sleep friendly i.e. avoid bright lights that provide hindrance to sleep
2. Keep cell phones, tablets out of reach and avoid using electronic devices just  before sleeping
3. Keep room cool as per desired temperature
4. Try to keep all tensions, worries aside and sleep in peace
5. Lie down at same time everyday to get into the routine

Following above should help and if you still have problem sleeping, it is strongly suggested to visit a health care professional.

I hope my article helps. You can read more regarding this topic on this link .

Love and Cheers.

* Click here to get the list of abbreviations used.

When you decide you want 'the baby bump'

Hey,

Congratulations! You have decided to have a baby. People say 'a baby is the best thing that can  ever happen to you' and you are taking your first step in the direction.

I know you must be all excited and geared up to step into the baby making process and I am sure you have already counted your cycle to know when would be the optimal day but before you do that I would like you to slow down for a second and think. Are you fully prepared to get into the cycle of pregnancy? Is your body ready to give home to your baby? Are you doing all right things which will help you have a good, healthy and successful nine months?

You must be wondering what all things am I talking about? Well, they are not too many but just a few as listed below.

I am sure you are following most of these yourself, but in case you are like me you might need to check a few things before you indulge in any baby dance. Of course no one is asking you to put your process on hold for all this, but it might be a good time to start following these as they will only promote your chances of getting a BFP* :)

All the best and I hope this helps.

Love and Cheers

* Click here to get the list of abbreviations used.

The Very First Post

Hey, Thank you for stopping by!

Now you must be wondering that given there are so many blogs and websites already available on babies and pregnancies, what is it that I can offer. It was the same question that my husband asked. Well, I decided to write about this topic on the day when I decided to have a baby and searched online. Yes, hundreds of links came up and not a single one answered all my questions. I have spent days and nights researching on various topics and given I am so curious I have searched on almost all topics. 

With my blog I want to create a space which has all questions answered. Of course it will take forever to write about everything but at least I want to try. 

The topics I want to cover are like planing for pregnancy, missed periods, precautions and measures, early symptoms, ovulation, miscarriage, low sperm count, IUI, IVF and so many more. I also want to write about experiences - my and of other women (with due consent). My husband if not intrigued with the thought of me writing all this for the world but I really want to. I know so much and I encounter so many women who lack all this info. 

So, I hope my blog, in coming months, will be helpful to everyone who reads it.

If you have any suggestions or topics to discuss, you can leave me a message and I will take it up.

Love and Cheers.