The First Kick - Gynecologist in Noida

Wondering what your baby’s first noticeable movement in utero is going to feel like, and when you might expect it?

Most women experience that first kick between 17 and 22 week

Routine anatomic ultrasounds at 19 to 20 weeks gestation help us confirm viability of the pregnancy and determine the placenta’s location. If it is positioned in such a way that it’s cushioning the movement, the first kick will be harder to feel.

Here’s how some moms describe that miraculous moment:

• “It felt like I was being poked from the inside.”
• “It was like having a really strong butterfly trapped in my tummy.”
• “It felt as though a very light bubble appeared, rose up and popped. I kept thinking, was that it? It wasn’t anything like I’d expected.”
• “I wasn’t sure if it was gas or indigestion, or if maybe there was an alien in there. But the nudge was reassuring, kind of like a, ‘Hi, Mom!’ ”

Kick Counts

Encourages women to monitor or chart their babies’ kicks beginning in the 28th week of pregnancy.

Baby Sleep Mistakes - Things To Avoid - Gynecologist in Noida

Sleep. You used to take it for granted, didn’t you?
All those late nights and lie-ins… you thought life would be like that forever. And then you had a baby. Tiredness is the new norm, as you spend your days battling against extreme brain fog. It’s been so long since you had as many as four hours of glorious uninterrupted sleep. You fantasise about a hotel room with a do not disturb sign on the door where you can catch up on all those missed hours between the sheets — of sleep, obviously, because you don’t have the energy for anything else. Your morning cup of coffee doesn’t even scratch the surface of how tired you feel. As you sip the last cold drop, you’re still struggling to keep your eyes open. As if that wasn’t bad enough, all the entire world seems to want to talk about is how much sleep you’re not getting. Every person you pass during the day offers unwanted advice about how to get

your newborn baby to sleep through the night. Some even offer critiques of your parenting style, to help you understand exactly where you’re going wrong (thanks, strangers!). As irritating as this is, you can’t help but admire the bravery of the people willing to say these things to a person suffering from extreme sleep deprivation.

As you lie awake at night, you can’t help but wonder if there’s any truth in what the people say. Are you getting it all wrong? Are you making big mistakes that are affecting your baby’s sleeping patterns? The simple answer is ‘yes’, you’re probably making at least a couple of the following sleep mistakes, because y

Enter, The 5 Baby Sleep Mistakes
 Here are 5 baby sleep mistakes you could be making: Baby Sleep Mistakes

#1: Comparing Your Baby To Other Babies 
It is almost impossible not to… especially when you’re sitting beside a fresh-faced mother of three who is telling you about how her newborn baby slept through the night again last night. But you should avoid comparing your baby to other babies or you’ll drive yourself mad. All babies are different, and you have enough to worry about without also obsessing over the fact that your baby hasn’t rolled over in the same month as other babies. Another problem with baby comparisons is that you are basing the comparison on information from the mothers, and not scientifically collected, unbiased, factual information. Of course mothers are going to gloatingly talk up their babies! That’s new motherhood. Fact is, sleeping through for a baby is a grand average of five hours. So while most babies will be somewhere around this average, there will be some babies who sleep more and less than this, because that’s what happens to calculate an average figure.

Baby Sleep Mistakes #2: Having Unrealistic Expectations 
One of the major problems when it comes to sleep stress is that parents simply don’t know what is normal. All we know about normal is that it’s a setting on the clothes dryer. If you have a baby who doesn’t sleep for very long, you can quite easily end up terrified that you will never ever sleep again. When in reality, your baby’s sleeping behaviour is age-appropriate. Yet, unrealistic expectations can put you on a freeway to low self esteem, anxiety, depression and more.

It may help you to know the following:

• at one week old, your baby will spend around 16 hours asleep during a 24-hour period. Only eight of these will be at night and they won’t be consecutive. 
• young babies go through growth spurts and will rely on frequent feeds (also known as ‘cluster feeding’). The more they feed, the more signals they send your breasts to make more milk to satisfy his hunger. Cluster feeds are a normal part of your baby’s development. Many new mothers panic about milk supply at this point and some may end up using formula. Make sure you speak to an IBCLC (International Board Lactation Consultant) or breastfeeding association for support and advice before you panic or accidentally wean your baby. 
• at one month old, your baby still has a tiny tummy, and will still need to wake to feed at least every four or five hours during the night. Some mothers believe formula or other additives in a bottle will make their baby sleep longer. Find out the truth here. 
• sleeping through the night is defined as five consecutive hours. 
• almost half of all babies still wake during the night by three months of age.
• it is normal for babies to continue waking in the night at six months. 
• by their first birthday, most children sleep through the night (remember, this does not mean for 12 hours long), but not all. 

Baby Sleep Mistakes #3: Listening To Outdated Advice 
No offense to your mother-in-law or that old woman you met crossing the street the other day, but times have changed. It is no longer acceptable to dip your baby’s dummy in brandy in the hope of getting a decent night’s sleep, thank goodness! We now know that controlled crying doesn’t teach babies to self soothe, and instead simply teaches them that no-one will respond to their cries. One study found that the babies still had high levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) even though they had stopped crying. For this reason, many modern parents are choosing not to follow controlled crying, much to the horror of the grandparents. Though previous generations may have believed babies could be ‘spoilt’ for attention, we now know this is not the case. Responding immediately to your baby’s cries doesn’t spoil your baby, instead it encourages him to trust his communication skills and teaches him how to manage his emotions.

Baby Sleep Mistakes #4: Not Trusting Your Instincts 
There are plenty of baby experts out there with conflicting advice on how to help your baby sleep through the night, but the only person who really understands your baby is you. You are the expert when it comes to your baby. You are the one who feeds him, changes his nappies and soothes him when he cries. Start listening to your gut and trust your instincts. You know what you’re doing, you have this covered, all you need to do is trust that and you’ll see. If you’d like to know which parenting authors and educators are worth following, check out BellyBelly’s list here.

Baby Sleep Mistakes #5: Ignoring Your Baby’s Cues
 Everyone has an opinion over how and when you should put your baby to sleep, and what you should do if he cries. These range from caring to downright cold. One thing that very rarely gets mentioned is your baby’s cues. Your baby may not be much in the way of a chatterbox, but he is trying to tell you things. He is using facial expressions, movements and even noises to try and tell you when he’s ready for bed. Missing these cues could leave you with an overtired baby (aka demon baby who will not sleep), so it’s worth looking out for and responding to these cues early. Look out for yawning, becoming quiet, losing interest in people and toys, a knotted brow, frowning and rubbing his eyes. If you notice any of these cues, your baby might be trying to tell you he’s ready for a sleep. Read more about how to interpret your baby’s cues here. 

Baby Sleep Mistakes #2: Having Unrealistic Expectations One of the major problems when it comes to sleep stress is that parents simply don’t know what is normal. All we know about normal is that it’s a setting on the clothes dryer. If you have a baby who doesn’t sleep for very long, you can quite easily end up terrified that you will never ever sleep again. When in reality, your baby’s sleeping behaviour is age-appropriate. Yet, unrealistic expectations can put you on a freeway to low self esteem, anxiety, depression and more. It may help you to know the following: at one week old, your baby will spend around 16 hours asleep during a 24-hour period. Only eight of these will be at night and they won’t be consecutive. young babies go through growth spurts and will rely on frequent feeds (also known as ‘cluster feeding’). The more they feed, the more signals they send your breasts to make more milk to satisfy his hunger. Cluster feeds are a normal part of your baby’s development. Many new mothers panic about milk supply at this point and some may end up using formula. Make sure you speak to an IBCLC (International Board Lactation Consultant) or breastfeeding association for support and advice before you panic or accidentally wean your baby. at one month old, your baby still has a tiny tummy, and will still need to wake to feed at least every four or five hours during the night. Some mothers believe formula or other additives in a bottle will make their baby sleep longer. Find out the truth here. sleeping through the night is defined as five consecutive hours. almost half of all babies still wake during the night by three months of age. it is normal for babies to continue waking in the night at six months. by their first birthday, most children sleep through the night (remember, this does not mean for 12 hours long), but not all. - See more at: http://www.bellybelly.com.au/baby-sleep/5-baby-sleep-mistakes/

Sleep. You used to take it for granted, didn’t you? All those late nights and lie-ins… you thought life would be like that forever. And then you had a baby. Tiredness is the new norm, as you spend your days battling against extreme brain fog. It’s been so long since you had as many as four hours of glorious uninterrupted sleep. You fantasise about a hotel room with a do not disturb sign on the door where you can catch up on all those missed hours between the sheets — of sleep, obviously, because you don’t have the energy for anything else. Your morning cup of coffee doesn’t even scratch the surface of how tired you feel. As you sip the last cold drop, you’re still struggling to keep your eyes open. As if that wasn’t bad enough, all the entire world seems to want to talk about is how much sleep you’re not getting. Every person you pass during the day offers unwanted advice about how to get your newborn baby to sleep through the night. Some even offer critiques of your parenting style, to help you understand exactly where you’re going wrong (thanks, strangers!). As irritating as this is, you can’t help but admire the bravery of the people willing to say these things to a person suffering from extreme sleep deprivation. - See more at: http://www.bellybelly.com.au/baby-sleep/5-baby-sleep-mistakes/

Best Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy - Gynecologist in Noida

1. Start changing your food habits to include a healthy variety of foods.
2. Exercise! Starting now will help you stay in shape during pregnancy, can lower your risk of miscarriage, and has been proven to help reduce labor complications and length.
3. Educate yourself!
4. Eat a new vegetable you've never tried.
5. Check out a book on pregnancy.
6. Figure out what to do about chemical birth control, like the birth control pill.
7. Stop smoking. There are many programs to help you.
8. Take a prenatal vitamin. They can be prescribed by your practitioner or you can buy them over the counter. Ensure it contains 0.4 mg of folic acid.
9. Ask your partner to join you on your new healthy habit changes.
10. Track your cycles. Learning what you can about your cycles will help determine when you ovulate and when you conceived. These make for more accurate due dates.
11. If you need a new practitioner, interview before you become pregnant.
12. Ask your friends about pregnancy and parenthood.
13. Avoid chemicals that could possibly harm your baby. You can find these at work, in your home, and just about anywhere, be environmentally sensitive.
14. See your dentist before you get pregnant and brush your teeth daily.
15. Tell any medical professional that you may be pregnant if you are trying to get pregnant. This can prevent exposure to harmful tests and chemicals if you are pregnant and don't know it yet.
16. Stop changing cat litter.
17. Remember, it can take up to a year to become pregnant. If you have been actively trying for a year or more than six months if you are over 35, see your practitioner.
18. Act pregnant. This includes not drinking alcohol, even while trying to conceive. There is no known safe level during pregnancy and alcohol can cause birth defects.
19. Announce your pregnancy when you are ready.
20. Talk to your parents, what do you want to take from their experiences? How do you want to be different?
21. Rest when you can. Nap!
22. Start a journal or a pregnancy blog.
23. Use non-medicinal remedies for problems like nausea, heartburn, and constipation.
24. Drink six - eight eight ounce glasses of water a day.
25. Read yet another book!
26. Join a prenatal yoga or exercise class.
27. Keep your prenatal appointments with your midwife or doctor. This will help ensure that if you have any problems that they are caught early and kept to a minimum.
28. Take an early pregnancy class.
29. Remember to add 300 - 500 calories a day while pregnant.
30. Tour your selection of birth facilities before making a choice if you are not having a home birth.
31. Review the signs of premature labor and warnings signs for when to call your practitioner.
32. Talk to local doulas and start interviewing. Doulas can help you have a shorter, safer and more satisfying birth.
33. Keep a food diary to ensure that you are keeping up with your daily requirements.
34. If you are decorating your house or a nursery remember to avoid fumes often associated with paint and wall paper. Perhaps have friends do the heavy work while you help make snacks for them. Keep the windows open!
35. Baby sit a friend's baby and learn a bit about caring for a newborn.
36. Take a childbirth class. Sign up early to ensure you get the class and dates that you want.
37. Swimming is great in late pregnancy. It can help relieve a lot of aches and pains and makes you feel weightless.
38. Take a breastfeeding class to help prepare you for the realities of breastfeeding.
39. Stretch before bed to help prevent leg cramps.
40. Continue to exercise, even if you have to slow down. This will help you recover more quickly.
41. Write a birth plan. Something to help you clarify what you want or need for your birth experience. Share this with your practitioners and those you have invited to your birth.
42. Have film and cameras ready!
43. Practice relaxation whenever you can. Try for at least once a day.
44. Do pelvic tilts to help with late pregnancy back pain. It will help relieve your pain and even encourage the baby to assume a good birth position.
45. Pack your bags if you are going to a birth center or hospital. Don't forget your insurance cards, pre-registration forms, camera, birth plan, etc.
46. Review the signs of labor and warning signs.
47. Take a picture of yourself before the baby comes!
48. Read birth stories.
49. Kiss the baby!

Early Signs of Pregnancy - Gynecologist in Noida

Shortness of Breath

Do you get winded going up the stairs all of a sudden? It might be because you’re pregnant. The growing fetus needs oxygen, leaving you a little short. Sorry to say, this one may continue throughout your pregnancy, especially as your growing baby starts to put pressure on your lungs and diaphragm.

Sore Breasts

Putting on your bra this morning felt like mild torture. And are you imagining it, or are the girls a little bigger? Tender and heavy-feeling breasts, darkening of the areolas and even more pronounced veins on your chest can be a first sign that you're pregnant. Wear your most supportive bra—to bed if you need it—to help ease discomfort.

Fatigue

You didn't even make it through one page of your book last night before falling asleep. If you're suddenly exhausted, it might be a response to the increasing hormones in your body. For many women, tiredness continues through the first trimester, but then ebbs in the second.

Nausea 

Most pregnant women start to get the queasies when they're about 6 weeks along, but some can experience morning sickness (which unfortunately can occur morning, noon and night) earlier. It will most likely subside as you enter the second trimester. In the mean time, try to eat foods that will settle your stomach, like crackers or ginger ale.

Headaches

More early signs of pregnancy include an aching head, a result of changes in hormones. Just in case you are indeed pregnant, take pg-safe acetaminophen instead of ibuprofen to deal with the pain.

Backaches

Is your lower back a little sore? If you don't normally have back pain, it could mean your ligaments are loosening. Sorry, this one might continue through your pregnancy as your weight gain and shifting center of gravity throw your posture out of whack.

Cramping

Is it PMS or pregnancy? It's hard to tell, but if you're feeling crampy, it might be your uterus stretching to get ready for a baby.

Cravings or Food Aversions

Suddenly, you cannot get enough citrus. Or perhaps fish now turns your stomach. If you notice food issues that weren't there before, it could be your body telling you you're pregnant.

Constipation and Bloating

You swear you fit in your skinny jeans just last week. If you're feeling a little puffy or backed up, it might be extra progesterone due to pregnancy, which slows down your digestive system.

Mood Swings

WWIII erupted over your husband's failure to put his socks in the hamper. Moody much? If you're feeling a little hormonal, it might be because your body is adjusting to well, new hormones. Assure your husband that the roller coaster emotions will pass

Elevated Basal Body Temperature

If you've actively been trying to get pregnant, you may have been charting your basal body temp to pinpoint ovulation. Generally, your BBT is elevated from ovulation until you get your period 2 weeks later. If it stays elevated beyond two weeks, it might be because you're pregnant.

Super Smell

Your garbage can now makes you gag—guess you're off trash duty! If you're repulsed by certain smells, or have an increased sensitivity to odors, it may mean you've got a bun in the oven.

Dizziness or Fainting

This is the go-to symptom they use to signify pregnancy in movies, but it's based in reality. Low blood sugar or blood pressure can cause a woozy episode. Make sure you eat enough and stay well-hydrated.

Late Period

Many of the early signs of pregnancy are also symptoms of PMS. How to tell the difference? The most telling clue yet will be a missed period. If your cycle is fairly regular and you're late, you should head to the drugstore.

Positive Pregnancy Test

You won't know for sure whether you're a mama-to-be until you do the pee-stick test. If you get a negative result and you still don't get your period, it just might just be too early for the test to detect. In the meantime, look a few of these weird pregnancy symptoms that can appear upon conception. Wait a few days and try the test again. And if it's positive—congratulations!

Keeping fit throughout pregnancy - Gynaecologist in Noida

What keeps your heart healthy, your spirits high and your weight in-check? Exercise. Now with a baby on the way, physical activity is more important than ever. Here's what you need to know before you hit the gym:

Why it matters

As long as you have a healthy pregnancy and get your doctor's permission, a regular and gentle exercise routine can help ease a host of uncomfortable symptoms. When you get moving, you can expect the following:

• A good night's sleep
• A boost to your self esteem
• Slower weight gain
• Smoother labor
• An easier recovery post birth
• Help with pregnancy aches and pains

What to do

Pregnancy isn't the time to take up a rigorous exercise routine. If you were very active before becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor or midwife about continuing your workouts. However, if you're new to the gym, start slow. Consider taking a prenatal fitness class where you can rest assured that each of the exercises is safe for you and baby. Walking, prenatal yoga and Pilates and swimming are all generally safe for moms to be. Picking up a fitness DVD may be a good option for expectant moms on a budget. Focus on building an exercise routine gradually, starting at 10 minutes and working gently up to 30. If you can't exercise lightly every day, aim for a few days each week.

When to slow down

While it's widely accepted that exercise is beneficial to mom and baby, there are situations when it's wise to slow down. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop your exercise program and get in touch with your doctor:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Contractions
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Vomiting or nausea
• Pain

When exercising during pregnancy, it's important to remember you should never push yourself. Don't overheat your body, keep well hydrated and stop immediately at the first sign of discomfort.

What is intrauterine insemination (IUI)? - Gynecologist in Delhi & Infertility Specialist

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is an infertility treatment that is often called artificial insemination. In this procedure, the woman is injected with specially prepared sperm. Sometimes the woman is also treated with medicines that stimulate ovulation before IUI.

IUI is often used to treat:

•     Mild male factor infertility
•     Women who have problems with their cervical mucus
•     Couples with unexplained infertility

What is assisted reproductive technology (ART)?

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a group of different methods used to help infertile couples. ART works by removing eggs from a woman's body. The eggs are then mixed with sperm to make embryos. The embryos are then put back in the woman's body.

How often is assisted reproductive technology (ART) successful?

Success rates vary and depend on many factors. Some things that affect the success rate of ART include:

•     Age of the partners
•     Reason for infertility
•     Clinic
•     Type of ART
•     If the egg is fresh or frozen
•     If the embryo is fresh or frozen

The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention (CDC) collects success rates on ART for some fertility clinics. According to the 2006 CDC report on ART, the average percentage of ART cycles that led to a live birth were:

•     39% in women under the age of 35
•     30% in women aged 35-37
•     21% in women aged 37-40
•     11% in women aged 41-42

ART can be expensive and time-consuming. But it has allowed many couples to have children that otherwise would not have been conceived. The most common complication of ART is multiple fetuses. But this is a problem that can be prevented or minimized in several different ways

4 Myths About Babies - Gynecologist in Noida, Gynecologist in Delhi

Myth 1: Babies need to poop at least once a day.
Parents often think a baby is constipated when he’s not. Newborns often have several bowel movements a day, but they may poop as little as every three to four days at about 2 months to 3 months of age, he says.If bowel movements are very hard and infrequent, or you see blood in the diaper, however, call your pediatrician.

Myth 2: Babies should be bathed daily.
The truth is, bathing removes moisture from your baby’s delicate skin, which can make it dry and irritated. Plus, sitting in soapy bathwater can irritate a girl’s urethra and potentially lead to urinary tract infections. As long as you keep your baby’s diaper area, neck and other skin creases debris-free, you can do full baths just two to three times a week.

Myth 3: Babies who achieve milestones early are gifted.
When a child first walks or talks has little or no bearing on his later successes, research shows. “Many parents support the idea of giftedness at birth, but this is not supported by the evidence,” In fact, in some cases, early “achievements” may indicate a potential problem—for example,showing an inclination to be left- or right-handed before 18 months of age (children should use both hands equally until this age).

Myth 4: Touching your baby’s soft spot can hurt his brain.
The fontanel, or soft spot, at the front of your baby’s head is a skin-covered opening in the skull that pulsates, frightening some parents. “There’s a presumption of vulnerability, but the brain is actually quite well protected,” The front fontanel typically closes at about 1 year of age, while the smaller soft spot in the back of the head usually closes at 2 months to 3 months.

Are You Gaining Enough Weight? - Gynecologist in Delhi

Ever see a super slim pregnant woman, and feel a pang of jealousy? Well, a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health might change that.

Researchers at the University of Maryland looked at over 159,000 women over the course of four years, noting how much weight they gained during pregnancy in comparison to the rates of infant mortality. It turns out, women who didn’t gain enough weight were more likely to lose their baby within the first year of birth, compared to those who put on more pounds.

Obviously, no woman wants to put her baby at risk, but remember that the study can't prove causation—it's just an association for now. Still, if you're actively trying to stay slim during pregnancy, the research does suggest a big reason not to: The infant mortality rate among mothers who didn’t gain enough weight was 3.9 percent, compared to 1.2 percent among infants of mothers who gained the suggested amount of weight, and 0.7 percent among those who gained too much.

The importance of putting on the pounds.
So, what might be going on? Researchers also looked at the infant’s death certificates, and found that the most common cause of death was fetal malnutrition, ultimately resulting in birth defects and respiratory problems.

“Today, there’s a lot of concern around remaining slim during pregnancy, but it’s a trade off for the baby,” says Sandra Hofferth, PhD, professor in the Department of Family Science at University of Maryland, and lead researcher of the study. “You need to consume enough calories in order for your baby to develop adequately, and they need to be high quality calories.” (Read: Not from a drive thru.)
How much should you gain?

Check out our BMI Calculator to determine the optimal amount of weight for you, based on your body mass index, and ask your doctor if you’re gaining a healthy amount throughout your pregnancy.
Worth noting: You don’t want to gain too much weight, either. “Even though our study showed less risk of infant mortality for mothers who gained an excessive amount of weight, too many extra pounds are harmful to the mother,” says Dr. Hofferth. (Excessive weight gain could cause heart problems, gestational diabetes, and hemorrhaging.) Remember: You really only need an extra 300 calories per day, per baby.

What causes infertility in women? - Infertility Specialist

Most cases of female infertility are caused by problems with ovulation. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods.

Ovulation problems are often caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormone imbalance problem which can interfere with normal ovulation. PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility. Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is another cause of ovulation problems. POI occurs when a woman's ovaries stop working normally before she is 40. POI is not the same as early menopause.

Less common causes of fertility problems in women include:

• Blocked Fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy
• Physical problems with the uterus
• Uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous clumps of tissue and muscle on the walls of the uterus.

What things increase a woman's risk of infertility?

Many things can change a woman's ability to have a baby. These include:

•     Age
•     Stress
•     Poor diet
•     Athletic training
•     Being overweight or underweight
•     Smoking
•     Excess alcohol use
•     Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
•     Health problems that cause hormonal changes, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary  ovarian insufficiency

- Inputs from Dr Priyamvada Senior InfertilitySpecialist, Genesis IVF

Things Mothers Really Do When Baby Sleeps - Gynecologist in Noida

What Mothers Do When Baby Sleeps

#1: Have A Shower

New mothers don’t love the fact that sometimes it can be days before they actually get the chance to step foot in a shower. If you’re a non-parent, you may wonder how this is even possible – how could a decent human let this happen?! They must have their priorities all messed up, right? But especially in the early days , baby is adjusting to life outside of the womb. Imagine what it would be like to be in the womb: a warm, dark, snug, comfortable and cosy place, with the ambient sound of a mother’s heartbeat. Being in mums arms (or in a baby carrier) is the closest place baby can be to replicate that feeling while going through such a massive adjustment. Therefore, by responding to her baby’s needs, holding her baby and getting very little sleep, it can lead to a lengthy amount of time without a shower. Unfortunately, a new mother’s showers don’t tend to be very relaxing, as a mother often worries about not hearing her baby if he or she wakes, so she rushes to get it done. Or, baby does wake up… usually as she’s just stepped into the shower and gotten all wet.

#2: Feed Themselves

It can be really hard to eat a decent meal when you have a baby in your arms all the time – especially a good, healthy meal. With a belly growling louder than a passenger aeroplane taking off, as soon as baby is down and asleep, a mother’s human instinct for food kicks in. What also kicks in is a baby’s inbuilt ‘mum is eating!’ wailing alarm, which is guaranteed to go off, just as mum takes that first bite of food.

 #3: Have A Poo

Getting out the big guns here – and I don’t mean to be crass, but we all HAVE to poo at some point. When the baby is in our arms isn’t a good time. And you can’t schedule having a poo, so sometimes you just gotta hang onto it until the baby sleeps. Urgh. Having a quiet, undisturbed poo, opposed to a rushed one while the baby is screaming, can feel like heaven to a new mother.

#4: Pay Bills And Return Phonecalls

With a long list of phone calls to return, which are usually from companies wondering when you’re going to pay their bill, this is one of the more important things mothers feel they need to sort out when their baby sleeps. Because mammas are so busy looking after baby, many things tend to slip, even the bills. There are appointments to be made, changes to policies to be made, and all sorts of administrative tasks that need to be done during business hours.

#5: Doing The Dishes

You get to the point where you get desperate after running out of clean coffee (or tea if you prefer) cups. And spoons. And plates. And bowls. And well, you get the picture.

 #6: Hanging Out The Washing

You know you’re in trouble when you start wearing a wrap around the house because all of your maternity bras, tops and pants are covered in baby spew, leaked nappy contents and your last attempt at lunch (where more landed on the baby’s head and your top than in your mouth.

#7: Prepare Dinner

A mother knows that if she can sneak in dinner preparation while baby sleeps, it will make it so much easier at night time, especially when you have to contend with the witching hour (aka arsenic hour). While full dinner preparation may not happen often, she may attempt to get vegetables peeled and cut or meat defrosted before the baby wakes again.

#8: Having A Mouthful Of Tea

Baby is asleep in bed, yay! Mum excitedly does a silent fist pump, runs straight into the kitchen and switches on the kettle. Finally, a nice, hot cup of tea. The minute her cup of tea hits her lips, baby is somehow awake. Babies just seem to know when mum is having some ‘me’ time. And mum well knows she’s going to have a stone cold cuppa… again.

#9: Getting On With Business

Some mothers have businesses to run or are on maternity leave, but have agreed to work from home. Sure, they could just say no to work, but saying no may cause a dire financial situation or stop a business from running. A mamma who is still working tends to spend every spare minute working, which can be very demanding and draining. Sleep sounds awesome, but no income does not.

 #10: Adoring Her Baby

When a baby is asleep in our arms, it can be the most beautiful thing to just stare at our babies and enjoy them, especially while they are not being so demanding of us. Staring at and adoring our babies produces oxytocin, which is great for breastfeeding and great for bonding. While some believe that a mother will create a rod for her own back by holding her baby, its actually some VERY important work. A strong, loving bond between mother and child can only mean good things for future generations – all we need is love! We should all support new mothers to hold and adore their babies as much as possible. Also, teaching babies the importance and joy of comfort teaches them how to be comforting in return. My own children are an example of this! The empathy and comfort they give friends and family is beautiful to see.

- Inputs from Dr Priyamvada Senior InfertilitySpecialist, Genesis IVF

Tea During Pregnancy – Gynecologist in Noida

Benefits of Drinking Tea During Pregnancy

Drinking herbal teas during pregnancy is certainly a wise choice when compared with caffeinated beverages.
Caffeinated drinks have a diuretic effect, reduce nutrient absorption and deplete the adrenal glands.

Meanwhile, herbal teas hydrate, provide easily assimilated nutrients and feed the body during pregnancy. They are also packed with antioxidants and vitamin C which helps lower your anxiety and stress levels. Various types of herbal teas can also reduce morning sickness symptoms and even prepare the uterus for labour!

The Safe Tea List

1. Ginger Tea
2. Nettle Tea
3. Raspberry Leaf Tea
4. Dandelion Leaf Tea
5. Peppermint Tea
6. Rooibos Tea

Teas To Avoid During Pregnancy

According to research, caffeine consumption during pregnancy (particularly over has 200mg) has been directly linked with reduced birth weights. According to this study:

“Caffeine is rapidly absorbed and crosses the placenta freely. After ingestion of 200 mg caffeine, intervillous blood flow in the placenta was found to be reduced by 25%. Cytochrome P450 1A2, the principal enzyme involved in caffeine metabolism, is absent in the placenta and the fetus.”

BMC Central has published research this year (2013) which again produced results showing that caffeine is implicated with low birth weight. They found that for a baby expected to be of average birth weight (3.6kg), it equated to a loss of 21-28 grams per 100mg of caffeine consumed per day. Caffeine also extended the length of pregnancy by 5 hours per 100mg of caffeine per day, however if you’re also a coffee drinker the news is even worse! Coffee was associated with an even longer pregnancy – 8 hours longer for every 100mg of caffeine per day.

This research illustrates the importance of keeping an eye on your caffeine consumption during pregnancy. For this reason, teas that are particularly high in caffeine should be restricted while you are pregnant.

- Inputs from Dr Priyamvada Senior InfertilitySpecialist, Genesis IVF

5 tips to make traveling easier during pregnancy

As your bump grows bigger and bigger, chances are your dreams of foreign adventures or sojourns to other parts of the country will diminish considerably. It's not that a vacation isn't needed – in fact, at many points during pregnancy, it may feel much-deserved – the fact is, most mothers-to-be have bigger things on their minds than a trip, like getting ready for baby.

But during pregnancy, some trips are non-negotiable, like a planned stay at a relative's house. This can be a pleasant experience for some, but other women struggle to feel comfortable while traveling. With these five tips, going from place to place during pregnancy can be easier than ever before.

1. Talk to a healthcare provider
Before you take any kind of extended trip, reach out to your doctor to ensure that it's OK for you to do so. This may be just a quick check-up, but it can be important for you and your partner to gain peace of mind before you embark on an adventure together.

2. Prepare for the unexpected
Even the best-laid plans can become a mess due to unexpected hiccups or delays, but when you're pregnant, this can take on a whole new dimension. When you're pregnant, you may be fighting the urge all day long not to put your feet up or sprawl out on your favorite sofa to relax after a tense day, but while you're traveling, you may not feel this is so easy to do.
While you may not be within the comfort of your own domain, by planning for potential issues – including health troubles, discomfort or sudden feelings of tiredness – you may be able to feel calm.

3. Plan for comfort
Whether you travel by bus, plane or car, comfort is key during pregnancy for making sure you get to your destination without delay. If you're traveling in a vehicle, you may want to pack along a neck pillow, ear plugs and a blanket so that you can relax throughout the ride, while having bottled water, snacks and spare bags in case you get motion sickness can help you feel at ease during the journey.

4. Pack your healthcare documents
You never know what kind of potential hazards you could encounter while you're away from home, which is why it's so essential that you do your best to manage your health while you can. One of the best ways to reduce the potential for pregnancy complications is to bring all of your relevant healthcare documents with you, as this can make you prepared to manage any potential challenges.

5. Know your limits
When it comes to traveling during pregnancy, women should be especially careful during their third trimesters, as this can be a dangerous period for being on an airplane.
Although this can be different for each airline provider, most recommend that women who are in the final weeks of their pregnancies avoid this mode of travel, as it could lead to potential health risks. Additionally, most healthcare providers urge women not to travel after 36 weeks of pregnancy unless in the event of an emergency.

- Inputs from Dr Priyamvada Senior Infertility Specialist,Genesis IVF

Let's Talk About Breastfeeding

How long do you think you should talk to your prenatal doctor about breastfeeding? While you may not have a specific amount of time in mind, if the duration 39 seconds sounds a bit short, it is. But a new study published in Gynecology found just that: Researchers recorded conversations from people’s first prenatal visits, and found that doctors spent an average of 39 seconds talking to women about breastfeeding.

Even more concerning: They found that doctors initiated breastfeeding discussions only 29 percent of the time. And even then, they sounded ambivalent about the topic.

“They usually asked a brief question, like ‘breast or bottle?," just to make a note of it,’” says obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences “But it’s important to discuss the benefits—and challenges—of breastfeeding early on so that women have the tools they need to prepare.” After all, you may encounter breastfeeding problems, so it’s important to know how you’ll address them ahead of time, and why it’s worth overcoming them in the first place.

If your doctor hasn’t discussed breastfeeding with you yet—speak up! Ask her about the breastfeeding benefits for mom and baby, and what you should know about lactation consultants, nutrition, alcohol, medication, and any existing health issues in relation to breastfeeding.