Motherhood – The Uptown Mommy

10 DIY Fathers day cards.

Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, and singers of song. Fathers play a very important role in a child’s development right from the beginning, they give goals & dreams.

Lets make our fathers, your partner (your kids father) feel special this fathers day 16th June, Sunday 2019, By creating hand greeting card for them.

Sharing some DIY father’s card ideas.

Colored with love

Photo : Solis plus one

Get your kid to scribble around on a card. Place a stencil of your message on your card , & once your kid is done scribbling take it out. You’ll have a cute fathers day greeting from a toddler as well 🙂

2. The greatest gift card

I am obsessed with this DIY dad card, love this easy idea from Lil’ Luna. It’s a free printable, so all you have to do is print it out, cut it out and stick it on the gift card of your choice. Snag the printable by clicking here.

3. Birth dad-kids photo frames.

There is nothing more precious to a father then holding his new born baby, Gift a dad his kids first birth photos in a frame. His heart will melt for sure.

4. Scribbled origami bowtie

For a super last-minute gift, give your kids a few spare pieces of scrap paper and a box of Crayola crayons to create these totally custom (so, limited edition) bowties. Its sure to put a smile to any dads face 🙂

5. Wordy Tie

Put all of Dad’s pros in one place … and then encourage him to wear it with pride. He has enough silk ties anyway.Get the tutorial from Kikicomin »

6. Beer bouquet

His true love (beer, obviously), but fancy. And if you’re lucky, he might even share a cold brewski with you… if you’re of age, of course.Get the tutorial at Unoriginal Mom »

7. Bow tie card

Create a simple, Bow tie card. Let your kid color or make patterns in bow tie shape on a card board, Cut it & stick it on another card , with a lovely fathers day wish.

8. Daddy’s Stache’

Get a brown paper bag , Print, cut, paste fun dad elements on it.Like Mustache’ , hat, tie etc. And fill in any gift a dad may like.

9. Handy dad heart card

This Dad-approved card is easy enough for kids to make, and sentimental enough for Dad to show off at work.Get the tutorial at Non-Toy Gifts »

10. Finger print card

What could be more special to any father then a card made out of his kids finer prints. Its going to be a keeper for life.

Last but not the least, greatest gift any dad can get , especially a toddler dad is sleep….shhh!! Treat that deserving dad to a nice spa. Trust me it will be much appreciated.

Hope you found this article helpful.

Much love

Sakshi

5 ways to get your kids to eat FRUITS

Does your kid turns his face at the sight of an Apple ? What if i say , There is Hope!

Most parents, especially moms are obsessed with their kids eating habits wanting to ensure they eat a balanced diet to get all the important nutrients which helps in their development & growth especially in the initial years.

Fruits is such an important part of Nutrition, its full of all the important vitamins & minerals that’s needed for a child’s growth.

While good nutrition includes both fruit and vegetables, it’s nice to know that picky eaters can get comparable nutrition from just fruit. In other words, fruit boasts more than just vitamin C; it is loaded with all the same nutrients as vegetables.

Fortunately, most kids love fruits, at least in the beginning. A child’s innate sweet tooth makes fruit more appealing then vegetables. But, we have some fussy ones, who raise there brows on fruits. So below is how you can make them to like fruits –

Eat together -“Monkey see monkey do” is what most kids follow. eat a fruit everyday at a specific time in front of your kid. this will pique their interest of what mama papa are eating and will begin to explore, try & eventually start eating. I have a habit of eating a fruit in the morning since many years, and my son has been observing me and started eating & loving fruits, He also observe his father eating an uncut apple, he does the same & finishes it right from when he was 13 months. And the funny part is he cries if we cut an apple, he thinks apples are suppose to be ONLY eaten uncut. Kids…..!! 🙂
Let them pick their own fruits – Take your kids out to a super market, Preferably from a very early age like 5 months. That really helps kids to understand different objects, fruits, vegetables. And as they grow, they get so familiar with the fruits & vegetables & they are no longer scared to try them. Let them pick their own fruits. Having them participate gets them excited to try it.
Keep it in sight : Most of us buy fresh fruits & keep it away in the fridge. If you want your kids to have fruits daily & want to make it a norm, put them out in a bowl on a table may be in the living room where its easily visible. Prepped right in their face so its easily visible & the inquisitive nature of kids, will surely push them to try it.
Be creative – Try making fun objects using fruits like different shapes of animals, flowers , etc. This will definitely catch their attention and they are sure to try it. This is also a good way of feeding them a variety of fruits to get all the important nutrients. Half a mango, for instance, is rich in vitamin A, Orange, is rich in Vitamin C, and Banana is an excellent source of potassium.
Fruits used – Orange , Green apple, banana.

Fruits used – Green apple , banana , strawberries.
Make Fun, no-cook food with fruits – If your kid is absolutely fussy then this may work for you. sneak in fruits eg: Try frozen fresh fruit pulps that comes in cans, or you make one at home, Try fruit Popsicle, make smoothies, blend in some fruits with Greek yogurt to make a rich & healthy smoothie.
Picture courtesy – Beachbodyondemand.com

Remember to keep trying. You may need to present a new fruit 10 times or more before they’ll accept it. Don’t give up!

Good luck Moms!

Would love to know progress after you try these tips.

Much love

Sakshi

Busting 5 Diaper Myths Every Mom Should Know!

m-pant-diapers-20-4902430744379-pampers-original-imaeukn6gf7h3gey — New Pampers Dry pants with Triple absorption technology

Diapering is an integral aspect of any parenting journey and is something moms are always skeptical about, wondering if they are doing the right things. However, a raging debate which has plagued mothers for decades is the one between using a cloth and a diaper. Traditional mothers will vouch any day for cloth over diapers, bringing up concerns like diapers cause rashes and are not comfortable for the children. Which is, however, not quite true!

Diapers are crucial for infants to move around comfortably and not make a mess out of them every time. There are a lot of misconceptions around the use of diapers and it is integral to understand their benefits. For me, the deciding factor for a diaper is its absorption power. My experience the Pampers Dry Pants have been pretty nice, considering that I have noticed my baby sleeping better at night.

What’s awesome about these diapers is the fact that they come with Three Extra Absorbing Channels, which helps in making sure that the baby stays light and dry throughout the day and even overnight by:

Absorbing 3 Times Faster; and
Evenly distributing baby’s pee

Absorbs faster, Has magic gel, flexible belt, in built baby lotion

There is a lot of debate around finding the right diaper and around their utility. Many also debate the effectiveness and safety of disposable diapers versus cloth ones. So, let’s go bust some myths surrounding the diaper world and take a look at some truths about diapers!

Diapers like Pampers Dry Pants have lock in liquid technology hence prevents from leakage which is not the case in cloth. Diapers are meant to be used for long hours – they are crafted in a way to make them easy on the child’s skin, breathable and also has good absorbent ingredients to prevent them from getting soiled – also preventing the baby from feeling wet and cold.
Diapers are more skin-friendly than cloth since cloth is usually reused. Diapers don’t cause skin rashes unless you use them for too long and they get soiled. Skin rashes are caused by the increase in pH levels of the skin which happens due to the dampness from urine. The new Pampers Dry Pants not only comes with higher absorption power but they also contain a moisturizing lotion which prevents the chances of having rashes. It neutralizes the pH levels of the skin and also keep sit soft.
Sleep is an important aspect to consider while debating between cloth and disposable diapers like the Pampers Pants. Cloth diapers get wet more easily and it will keep waking your baby from the dampness. Disposable diapers, especially pant-style ones are have good space for movement and also absorb better – helping them sleep better. Undisturbed sleep, especially at night, is extremely important for the infant to develop both mentally and physically at optimal levels.
Thin diapers are highly effective and absorbs better, it’s the absorbing technology which has got nothing to do with the thickness of a diaper. They are more comfortable for infants than cloth or even the thicker diapers as they let the child move around more easily and is gentler on your baby’s treasures.
Pant style diapers are actually more comfortable – if you think the elastic would hurt your child, it won’t. Pant style diapers are developed to have infant skin-friendly elastic. In fact, Velcro diapers can get slightly uncomfortable as there is a slight chance of the velcro coming off while the child moves around.

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset — My toddler being playful & less cranky with Pampers dry pants

While purchasing a diaper, getting the right brand can make all the difference. I have always been a Pampers Mom – their diapers are easy and soft on the skin, and lasts pretty long. Recently, I started using the next generation Pampers Dry Pants whose absorbing power has me pretty impressed.

As a mother, I’m very happy with this product and would recommend it for any mom too. It keeps my toddler dry, happy & playful for a longer time and with the triple absorption technology, I don’t end up changing his diaper that often which turns out to be more economical.

So, go get your baby a Pampers Dry Pants today!

Much Love!

Sakshi

koco kids…Imagine, discover,learn!

Biggest challenge for a working mom is to leave her kid behind in a trustworthy happy & nurturing atmosphere ensuring his wellbeing & providing a learning environment. Physically at work but mind & heart stays at home wondering what her kid must be upto. Has he eaten, is he safe, is he happy & playful ? is what all working moms think all day as a result, lower efficiency at work! In India most managerial and high position jobs are acquired by men, wonder why? After becoming moms most women give up on their careers or often stuck in the guilt of leaving her kids behind as we lack day cares & play schools that focuses on early learning which helps in improved cognitive & social skills.

So good news for all working moms in Mumbai! Recently I came across one such institute, Koco Kids. Its a play school, day care & an early learning centre for kids. The founders are academic enthusiasts . After successfully completing 15 years – Shri Balaji International School Trust(SBIS) (ICSE, Malad( west), they decided to foray further into the field of education across locations to provide quality early education to little children. And to encourage more women to go pursue their dreams Koco kids – imagine, discover, learn came to birth. They are currently at Santa Cruz, Mumbai

Idea behind koco kids – Koco Kids aims to be the principal mean of expression, problem-solving and developing social skills. It recognizes the value of providing a developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children. The curriculum is based on children’s intellectual, social, physical needs and is designed to encourage child-initiated learning activities and preparing them for later academic success.

The focus is to provide a loving and enriching atmosphere to help your child achieve their maximum potential. At Koco Kids, you will discover tailored programs that have been thoughtfully designed for your child’s precious early years. Encouraging children to discover through a happy, fun and unhurried atmosphere, they help to develop a love for learning. The preschool is headed by a veteran educator with over 40 years of experience with some of the most prestigious schools in the industry, an expert in child psychology and early learning.

Not just for working moms but even for stay home moms its important to go the Montessori way of early learning. And the benefit of a pre-school or an early learning centre over home Montessori is kids develop social skills and pick things faster with other fellow kids around.

Infrastructure – The interiors, colour scheme and layout of the space have a complete focus on development and psychology of the child so that their surroundings are full of learning opportunities. The classrooms are not your regular, fixed classrooms where a child spends his entire day. Rather than a traditional approach of student staying in the same classroom, they are encouraging the dynamic behaviour of kids. And so, the student moves from one class to another every half an hour. The classrooms are thematic and designed keeping in mind the various skills that the child will get trained in. Considering the safety of kids, all edges are rounded and sharp surfaces are foam padded. All play elements, all toys and play equipment have safe, child friendly, non-toxic paint and all windows are grilled and doors with child-locks to prevent lock-ins while maintaining safety.

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The first classroom is on the skill of “Do” and is called Toyland where they have all Montessori apparatus, toys, objects that assist fine motor skills such as buttoning boards, beading, threads etc. The walls are lined with play panels and construction blocks of various kinds from wood to magnet to Lego. The flooring also has a small area in blackboard material where children are encouraged to lie down and draw, scribble and do whatever they want giving them freedom for creative expression at the same time sticking to rules that they cannot colour outside the blackboard area. They have desks and chairs lined against the walls in case some kids are more comfortable sitting on them. Everything in this room is about developing fine motor skills which later turn out to be pre-writing skill. All equipments in this room not only educate kids about shapes and colours but will also strengthen their palm muscles and motor skills. They also have a dressing corner, with a wardrobe and different costumes.

The second classroom is called “the Rainbow room” and focuses on “See” skill. Here they focus on art and reading. Their reading nook has a whole wall of open displayed books for children to pick and choose. The seating has comfortable on the floor with cushions and a comfy rug to ensure correct ergonomic posture while reading & appropriate lighting. The art room has easels all over attached to the wall, bringing out the artists in a child. Children can paint and wipe off directly from easel or attach papers as well. The walls have a bevy of rainbow colours and a fabricated rainbow in the room to illustrate the theme.

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The third classroom is called “La la land “which is all about music , dance and drama. Here they have a music wall filled with daily objects that can be used to create music enhancing child’s creativity. This is an open space that can be used for singing, for dancing, theatre etc. This is little H’s favourite corner there. He has a special love for music since he was a baby and I am glad that the institute have thought of encouraging such interests in kids. Who know I may be having a Justin Bieber in making 🙂

The fourth classroom is called “the gym”. This is a state of the art play gym that spans across 1000 sq ft and has extremely specialised children’s equipment that is designed to boost physical fitness and hone larger motor skills. In a world of increasingly unhealthy childhood habits, this room incorporates fitness in a super fun way that Every child will love.

The last classroom is a beautiful outdoor haven laden with developmental elements and is called ” The Enchanted Woods” . Surrounded by lush green on all four sides and a soothing turf carpet that is hygienic and bruise free. This area forms a safe and serene green haven in a city that is starved for such spaces. The outdoor area is equipped with a sand table and a water table . These tables have specialised play equipments that hone motor skills , reasoning and cognitive skills while soaking in the outdoor sun . The table concept does not require a child to enter the sand or water and yet allows him to derive all the benefits of outdoor play in a hygienic and secure environment . There is also a tree house where little ones can cozy up for a play or some fun reads. , ride on cars and plenty of free space to run , play and weave a million imaginary stories .

The premises have full CCTV camera coverage. It is a one of its kind preschool that ensures not just complete safety and development of a child but also does not compromise on quality for your child just like their own homes.

This state of the art centre open admissions from 6 months of age.
Provides nurturing atmosphere from small babies , toddlers to active kids,
Ensuring their nap & meal times as per schedule.
And when it comes to hygiene I give them 10/10.
They provide meals for kids from 18 months and above.
The play area is open to outside kids on a daily fee basis post 4 pm on weekdays & all day on the weekends when the playschool/Day care is shut.
Daily report of the kids is shared with the parents on pick up.

So moms go enrol your little wonders to this wonderland of early learning.

Much love

sakshi

A new discovery of comfort & fun for little H….PAMPERS!

One of the biggest challenges in parenting is baby care amongst many that a new mom faces. And the most common one is the diapering woe. A baby’s skin is 10 times softer than adults, so it’s important to choose the right kind of diaper which leaves them rash free and comfortable. When it comes to diapering, I have always been a Pampers mom. And we are still going strong with it. And just recently I was introduced to – World’s first 3x Chanel technology that was launched by Pampers. To be honest, I couldn’t wait to try it. Who wouldn’t want extra comfort for their baby right?!

I have been using the New Pamper diaper for the past one week and this is what I found. We recently went for a Stay-cation. Last minute plans and packing. I packed the diaper I was using earlier and the new Pamper dry pants as it was on trial. I got little H showered & got him in the new pamper diapers. My first reaction to the diaper after my baby wore it- “WOW THIS IS SO LIGHT, I AM SURE LITTLE H WILL BE COMFORTABLE IN IT”. We took an hour and a half to reach our hotel. We checked in and went to the room.

Since this was a short stay only for 2 days we wanted to explore and make the most of it without wasting any time. But before we left the hotel room, I wanted to check on his diaper quickly, I usually smell his bum to check if he pooped. which was not the case. And his diaper was not at all bulky. So, I didn’t change him.

We got down from the room, and little H was running around and super playful and excited. We sat for lunch, fed him and had a lovely lunch by the pool. It was 3 pm by the time we got done with lunch. And my observation was, little H was very comfortable, happy and light. No saggy, bulky diaper. No pulling on diaper because of irritable skin. At around 4 pm I checked his diaper, again to check if he pooped, this time he pooped, and that’s when I changed his diaper and found he didn’t have any red marks in his inner thigh.

So, from morning 8 am to 4 pm, 8 hrs this diaper was going strong as it absorbs faster with its 3 absorbing channels which evenly distributes the pee.

I am very sure if he hadn’t poop the diaper would have stayed on for longer. We went for a swim followed by dinner & called it a day.

Back in our room, I spent some time with him in the bath tub changed him in his night dress with new pamper baby dry pants on, at around 8 pm. We spent some time reading and finally little H slept off at 10 pm. I usually changed his diaper before he sleeps but with this great performing new Pamper Baby Dry Pants, I was quite confident in less than 24 hrs 🙂 And to my amazement Little H slept through the night. On normal days he cries and wakes u sometimes, because the diaper becomes bulky because the pee collects at one specific place. This diaper is indeed a revolution as it did not sag from any area.

This was my experience of day 1 of using these Pampers Baby Dry Pants, I have been using it for a week now and would like to conclude by saying if my son didn’t poop, I am sure this diaper would have worked longer with its triple absorption. I found little H was more comfortable, walking straight, was not pulling his diapers, & No Rashes or red marks around the inner thigh.

To summarize my experience with New Pamper Baby Dry Pants –

Three absorbing channels indeed absorb fast & distribute pee evenly, which resulted in No sagging of the diaper – And i was elated to see my happy & dry baby.

Magic gel did absorb faster than the diaper of another brand & kept the diaper dry even from inside, though I used it on my baby for almost the entire day.

It’s breathable soft belt & cuffs keeps the baby’s skin soft & fresh and well thank god! Looks like Rashes will never be a problem again for my baby

The flexible waistband comfortably fit his waist and didn’t get loose. It stayed intact all through the day, which is another plus for me!

So, moms say goodbye to those uncomfortable diapers and say Hello! to Pampers Baby Dry Pant. Try it and share your experience with me.

Much love

Sakshi

10 ways how to deal with cranky toddler this wedding season.

It was my cousins wedding that we attended recently in Rajasthan. It was a long over due & much awaited event, my cousin sister’s wedding plus was my first visit after I got married & off course first with my son. I was overwhelmed with emotions to meet my extended Family after so long. And to visit my birth place with my husband & my son. Was soaked in the excitement preparing for the wedding be it our outfits & gifts for everyone.

It was the day to finally fly down to the destination & I was elated beyond words, Flight was great, little H being a charmer was giving flying kisses to every one during the journey & I could not wait for him to meet my whole family & how every one will go gaga over his cuteness only until I discovered it was completely opposite of what I expected!!! We finally reached & every one was dancing & enjoying and the moment my car stopped, every one rushed to receive us & BAAM! There…. I had a howling baby who just didn’t wanted to go to anybody. I thought it was momentary & He must be having stranger anxiety (which usually never happens) he will be fine next day. But NOPE! He was like this all 3 days. It was a combination of new place, people…a lot of people & loud music.

I didn’t go prepared for this at all & was quite a bummer. So have listed some dos & don’t & how to sooth your cranky baby who is irritable with loudness.

Do not force your kid to go to others against his will – We often make a mistake of forcing our kids to go to others, as we want them to mingle with our family but by going against the baby’s will you are doing no good. In fact this will end up making the situation worse & have an extremely irritable baby.
Give your kid the attention he needs – A cranky baby will always look for the parent mostly moms to feel secure in a new environment. So give them that. I danced with my son in my arms. A mom does what she gotta do!! 🙂
Keep taking breaks from the crowd & the loud music – Take your kid out for a stroll away from the noise & crowd every 20 mins. Study the behaviour, if she is uneasy & cranky step out immediately. This way you can enjoy & the baby can also be at ease.
Use cotton plugs to protect your kid from loud music – The inner ear (cochlea) contains tiny cells that are sensitive to sound (hair cells). These cells convert the vibration of sound into messages to the brain. After long exposure to very loud noise, physical changes occur to several parts of the inner ear, including the hair cells. Hence its best to use Cotton plugs to protect your baby’s sensitive ear drums, when exposed to loud music.
Make eye contact to pacify your cranky child & try to sooth him with familiar expressions & vocals. Not to forget those cuddly hugs & kisses works the best.
Feed the kid before you step out to attend any function. Make sure your kid is well fed as you don’t want to deal with a hungry & irritable baby later when you want to enjoy the functions. Always get your kid sorted first before you dress up.
Keep the milk bottles/ sipper handy & if your kid loves sweet go for it, it immediately soothes & calms them. There’s a reason some of us crave gooey desserts when we’re feeling low: They’re rooted in happy associations.
Let you & your partner take turns – I know its a bummer as you want to enjoy together with the family but its OK. Remember you are doing this for your child.
Ask your family members for help – If your kid goes to them then you are sorted but if not wait till your kid falls a sleep & some family member can baby sit the baby and you & your partner can enjoy together with the whole family. People should take turns.
Try stay out of your baby’s sight if he is recovered from the crying session – It often happens when they see moms they want to come to them, So if you see or know your child is finally happy & not cranky let him be & enjoy 🙂

Travelling with a toddler: Checklist & tips

I studied my son’s behaviour , he was absolutely OK once he was back in the room with minimal people around & no loud sound. Hence i concluded that it was the loudness & crowded space that bothered him.

Hope you find this read helpful!

Much Love

Sakshi

unnamed (3) — only time when i danced, while my toddler was fast asleep.

10 TIPS FOR EVERY WORKING MOM TO STRIKE A GOOD WORK-LIFE BALANCE.

I confess I am a workaholic who fiercely loves her family. I struggle to find the balance between all of this and though it’s really hard it also a lot of FUN! I am brutally honest about this adventure we call being a working mom & through my honesty I hope to empower and inspire women to believe that they can do this.

“Motherhood is not the end of your Identity”

I am a Fashion professional by the nature of my job & General Manager Design & Marketing by designation. I work for a Bombay based export house and deal with clients like zara, oysho, Mango, Next, urban outfitters. In the past i had worked for brands like H&M, river island, top-shop and Masimo dutti to name a few.My job involves extensive travel around the globe for presentations & meetings. People who know me ,Know my jet setter life before becoming a MAMA.

I love my job & love my travels, it gives me a perspective to live life differently. Experiencing multi culture on my work trips definitely changed my horizon to a lot of things. Also it is so much self empowering to go out their in the world and make your mark.

I had my SONshine with great difficulty & a lot of wait but the wait was worth it. I love him more then words but at the same time i cant give up on my identity, And work is a very important part of me. Working full time & raising a tiny human sounds like a lotof work right!?! So the question is how do i do it?

“I think every working mom probably feels the same thing: You go through big chunks of time where you’re just thinking, ‘This is impossible — oh, this is impossible.’ And then you just keep going and keep going, and you sort of do the impossible.”Tina Fey

Do i spend enough time with my son ? Am i part of his daily happenings ? How do i take care of him while being at work?

And the Answer to this is – I strike a balance, and have best of both worlds. Here are 10 ways, how i strike a work-life balance –

Let go off the guilt – Rather than dwell on how you’re not with your child, think about how your role of being a Working mom is benefiting the family. Your reason to work may be any, to provide a bright future for your children , help support your family status or elevating & developing self as an individual. Bright side is, in the end you are raising an independent kid.
A Reliable care giver – If you live in a joint family with your in laws and parents around then you are sorted, but its a real problem in nuclear family. If you are a nuclear family then its important to figure out a reliable care giver, A nanny who can take care of your child in your absence. There are a lot of professional agencies these days , Where security is not a big problem and they provide trained professionals. You can opt for someone living with you or some one who comes for 12 hrs.
A creche’ – If you are unable to find one suitable & trustworthy care taker at home then creche is answer to your problem. There are many state of the art creches/day care, who provide all the amenities that will keep your child safe & entertained. There will be some challenges like kids catching infection frequently, but that will happen when ever your kid will start going out, be it creche a play school or school for that matter. Its better they get use to it from an early age.
CCTV Cameras – It has been a blessing for me. I have got CCTV cameras installed in all rooms of my house and i can see my son live on my phone on my laptops. It ensures his safety and i get to see my curly cuddly running around & playing around the house 🙂 You can login from any part of the world all you need is a data connectivity or Wifi. Also keep calling time to time checking one your kid.
Support from work – It is very important to get some kind of flexibility & support from your work place. I have some credibility after working for so many years and with my past performances my employer has been kind to be flexible with me. All employers need to understand a woman has many roles to play in her life so be vocal with you employer to be flexible with you and figure out a working model where neither you nor them are affected.
Spend quality time with your child – Above i have stated the logistics of making arrangements to keep your baby safe while you are at work. Now lets talk about making time for your baby.You need to design your day in such a way that you get to spend quality time with your kid so you don’t go on to the guilt ride. And honestly i wont be able to do this if i don’t have support from work. I prefer going late & coming late rather hustling in the morning & come tired home & not spending quality time with your child. So mornings are for him. I wake up anytime between 7-7:30 am. so an hr work out, or go for runs or just do stretches at home with or without my son. From 8:30 to 10:30 I give uninterrupted time to my son. We indulge into various activities , eat breakfast together, i make sure to feed him breakfast because then for other meals i am not around. I oil his hair, brush his teeth, do these little things , bath him and then in half hr get ready and leave for work. During evening i am back by 8-8:30 pm and then literally bath in 5 mins and then dinner in 5 mins and its time for his Nanny to go. From 9 to 10:30 – 11 pm is our time again. our routine is, some active play, then reading a book and sleep.
Create an activity/meal, chart– Make a chart for full week during weekends about his meals( breakie, lunch, evening snack, dinner, milk & quantity), medicines (if any). Time table for the whole day mentioning meals, nap time, play time etc.Or if you are sending your kids to a creche make notes in a book and hand it over to the concerned person there.
Organise yourself – Make sure to pack yours & your kids bags a previous night.Purses, work bags, baby bags/school bags. Remove what to wear in the night for next day both for you & your kid. When you are at work, try & work smarter, without wasting time, not telling you to interact with your peers ( its one of the most important thing to be a successful manager) But casual internet surfing gossiping & long lunches etc eats time. You rather utilise that time and work efficiently and wind up on time for the day to go back to your baby.
Me time – Most importantly do not forget to focus on the golden Me time hr. Remove that one hr every day where you only focus on your self. It could be reading, running, working out, listening to music, painting or perhaps watch your favourite show. Remember you can’t serve your family if you will be irritated, frustrated. So make sure to rejuvenate your self everyday to get clarity of thoughts which will help you function better.
Delegate responsibility to your spouse – Don’t try to take everything on you, Delegate some responsibility to your spouse, eg: if you are getting late at work or have a work travel coming up, communicate with your husband to be around when you are not. Let your husband take care of your child when he wakes up during the night or early morning, so you catch on some sleep.

Hope you found this read helpful, Would love to know your thoughts in comments below.

Love

Sakshi

BREASTFEED – Best for baby

Its the Breast feeding week 2017, and being an advocate of Breastfeeding how can i not share my journey of breastfeeding & share my learning & experience on this topic . I remember i had put so much pressure on myself right after delivery that i was getting panic attacks until the 3rd day when i started lactating.With so many failure lactation stories around i was under a lot of pressure thinking , will i ?, what if i wont? but even if i didn’t!?! would that make me a bad MOM? NOPE! so please don’t beat yourself on this, and do whats in your control because the way women feed their baby does NOT define their success as a MOTHER.

when it comes to breastfeeding every mother is different & every child is different.Every moms challenges will be different. So weather you breastfeed or pump feed, or bottle feed it does not matter as i believe every mom does best for her child. Having said that breast feeding has endless benefits both for the baby and the mother.

So here are some Reasons why Breast feed is good for the baby and the mother, what are the challenges, lactation, Foods for Lactation & support during lactation.

Advantages of Breast feeding –

Unique nutritional formulation- ideal nutrition.
Unique immunologic and development medicament- Which protects against Infection & stimulates optimal development while breast feeding.
Programs infant for later development
Human milk is a complex bioactive and prophylactic fluid.
Wholesome hence there is no need for supplementation.
No risk of contamination & no need to sterilise bottles ( such a task)
Maternal antibiotics in milk protect against infection till 9m of age.
Problems like Skin allergies, asthma are less common in breast feed babies.

Different position of breastfeeding –

I started lactating at 3rd day after delivery and learning feeding positions was so difficult for me. Also people around ,created much panic. But its important to keep your cool and learn about these positions from the beginning.

Start by placing baby on one side, toward your breasts. Make sure your baby’s whole body is facing your chest, with his or her ear, shoulder and hip in a straight line (those little boy or girl parts should be parallel to the breast you’re not feeding from). You don’t want your newborn’s head turned to the side — it should be straight in line with the body. Use a nursing or regular pillow to bring baby to a height that makes manoeuvring him or her to the breast easier. A mother should always sit with her back supported . and take the baby towards her, this prevents her from back pains. I always preferred Upright position. Other positions like lying down & feeding sideways are better avoided. In case of twins Football potion works best as both kids can be fed simultaneously. Also this position is good for moms who had c-sec as you don’t have to place the baby on your belly because stitches hurt for few days. Learn more about Feeding positions Here–

Always let the baby feed from one breast then give the other as the baby gets HIND milk which is rich in FATS. Basically, the initial milk during each feed is more like water and later comes the nutritious milk , Always complete feeding from one breast then move on to the other even if the other one is leaking milk, its fine. I did the exact same thing until the health care providers pointed it out to me.

Challenges during Breastfeeding

Inadequate breast milk: First few days there may be reduced milk, or you wont even lactate but from 3-4th day you should start lactating. First few days a jelly like substance called Colostrum is enough for the baby. Especially post C-Sec lactation may delay as the mother is fasting. Its advisable to consume 4-5 ltrs of liquid in form of water, milk, juices etc.

Some women get adequate lactation and some dont, here is a quick look at foods that enhances milk production –

Water – Drink lots of water all day especially right after a feed.
Nuts – When you get hungry because of feeding, munch on some nuts.
Flax seeds- best to have first thing in the morning
Green veggies – Have lots of leafy greens like SPINACH , i used to have a spinach tomato soup daily.
Fruits, ornage, payaya, banana etc
Sesame seeds
Dry fenugreek seeds (Methi)
Thymol seeds (Ajwain)
Aniseed (Sauf) – soak them in ater for couple of hrs, and drink it. Repeat 2-3 times a day.
Fennel

Click below to know my postpartum journey and what food i ate and how i lost weight.

A WOMAN Behind a MOTHER…POSTPARTUM JOURNEY!

2.Retraction or Flat nipples– prior to delivery massaging of nipples helps. In severe cases, Nipple shield can Solve the problem. Expressing milk by breast pump is also an option. All though extreme hygiene care needs to be kept in mind while expressing and feeding expressed milk, to avoid infections.

3. Breast Engorgement /Mastitis : This condition is swelling & pain in the breast during feeding. To avoid this you should massage your breasts daily, it forms lumps otherwise which leads to complications. If there is excess milk express it and keep. Hot fomentation and medicines help in severe cases.

Breast milk Recommendations –

Mastitis – Continued breast feeding is recommended during antibiotic therapy.
Breast Abscess : Feeding from affected breast is not recommended but breast milk should be expressed out. Feeding can be resumed once abscess has been drained out and mother is treated with antibiotics. Breast Feeding should be continued from unaffected breast.

4. Cracked Nipple – Do not use too much soap & water , keep them exposed to air, do not wear tight bra. Can apply breast milk or coconut oil. or use ointments like Nipcare which is also safe for the baby.

Expressing Milk

I personally swear by Breast pumps, I started pumping when my son was 2 months. Sometimes i had excess milk so i had to express and it worked great because while i was sleeping, any body in the family use to feed my son. Its a good way to keep your sanity in place. Also when a mom gets back to work Breast pumps are your answer to all the puzzles in your head. Its easy & quick, however some precautions needs to be kept in mind to avoid infections –

Wash your hands well with soap & water before expressing.
Sterilise pump and and the bottle
Storage :Room temp- 2-3 hrs , insulated cooler with ice pack – 24 hrs, Fridge – 5 days, try to use it up in 24 hrs, Freezer – 2 weeks.

Support during Breast feeding –

Breastfeeding is not an easy journey for a woman, And this is the time when a woman needs people around to make her feel that she is not alone and she has all the support.It also takes a father’s shoulder, a colleague’s helping hand, a friend’s sympathetic ear and a grandma’s eyes. It takes all of us and our hearts to help mothers breastfeed. Because raising the healthiest possible tiny human is not only a mother’s responsibility. IT TAKES ALL OF US. Fathers, grandparents, friends and colleagues , you’re already helping a lot the breastfeeding mum whom you know closely or intimately. But you may be wondering how you could possibly help her more so that she can breastfeed for longer.

For DADS – After your wife is done feeding the baby, take the baby and burp him, also provide emotional support to your wife, believe me she needs you like never before. wake up with her if the baby wakes up in the night. Show her some love, let her know you are there for her.
For Friends – Keep visiting your friend who has become a mom recently, spend some time looking after the baby so she can catch up on some sleep or motivate her to speak her mind, talk about how fun life will be with her baby around.
Family/grandparent – Let the new mom rest in between feeding times, meanwhile look after the baby and help the new mom with daily chores so she can relax. And shower all the love on her ,motivate her to breast feed and tell her she is doing great.
Boss – Be lenient with breast feeding moms with working hrs at least for 6 months. Make her feel she is still as productive rather more as she has one new role now.

Hope you find this article useful!

Much love

Sakshi

A WOMAN Behind a MOTHER…POSTPARTUM JOURNEY!

After 6 years of struggle, bad health, emotional let downs & failures. After going trough every pin & needle in this world i had my baby. Words cant express my enthusiasm to finally have become a MOM, it was like a dream come true. But Wait why was i not happy?

I should have been the most happiest person ever, i was happy but what was that feeling?

” Yes! i was suffering from POST PAR-TUM DEPRESSION! And just by writing this i have tears in my eyes “

Just when i lost hope on having a baby and started focusing on my health & life in general, i had my baby ! It was nothing but a miracle to finally conceive when i was least expecting it. But that’s not all. I always had problems in carrying pregnancy, each pregnancy got me gestational hypertension. Its a condition where the BP raises and fluctuates which affects the baby, and the flow of nutrients to the baby which leads to miscarriages. And this time was no different. But my health care providers, understood my case after so many mishaps & took very good care of me.

Believe it or not i got injected every single day until i popped this baby, I had major diet restrictions & by 7th month to add to my misery i was also diagnosed by gestational diabetes, again major food restrictions here. Haven’t forgotten those jabs i use to give my self. Clearly from all this you can gather i have gone through hell & back to get this baby.

So Finally it was THE DAY that i had my little angel in my hands,something that i longed for years. Had gone through every pin & needle to get this baby. BUT i was not as happy as i imagined.I was irritable, had emotional outbursts, sleeplessness, pain ( as i had a c sec) , first 2 days i was worried if i will lactate. I had put so much pressure on myself from the moment i held him in my hands. I was absolutely geared to be a mother but some how i was not as happy as i should have been.

Finally 3rd day i started lactating, so one stress was off my head. But being a new mom Anxieties kicked in, would start crying any minute, i used to feel lonely, even with many people around.

I was a mix ball of emotions – Depressed, low, rude, Also i remember being very possessive about my baby as i had him after so many struggles, i didn’t like people playing with him or holding him, i was very rude to people around me especially my mom & my husband. I knew what i was doing is not right but i had no control over me. A ridiculous fact, when my husband would give my baby all the attention which is bound to happen, i felt insecure, i would think that his love for me is dead, or he doesn’t care about me.And it occurred to me after months that I WAS GOING THROUGH POST PAR TUM DEPRESSION (PPD) its a clinical depression which hits most women after delivery. Hormonal change is hypothesised to contribute as one cause of postpartum depression. And i am not ashamed of sharing this, as this is very common and natural after having a bay. I am sure a lot of you may feel like reading your own story.

I knew about this before having a baby, but i was so overwhelmed in bringing this baby to this world that i didn’t bother about life after it.

So here are some tips on how can you cope with PPD –

Pre-natal classes – Join a Pre-natal class, where you and your husband will be educated about delivery, postpartum, breast feeding , basically life after having a baby.also while you are pregnant it helps couples to get connected to the baby involving different activities.
Make husbands aware about this condition – Its important to make husbands aware about this condition so they can emotionally support their wives. give her your shoulder to cry. take out some time for her. Take her out for small drives and quick dinners. perhaps get her a glass of wine, Which wont hurt a breast feeding mom or the baby.
Join a counselling class, where experts talk to you, and help you over come this depression.
Be vocal about your feelings , We often don’t express what we feel. Especially such emotions. But it is very important to communicate what you feel. Let your husband, mom, relatives, friends know what you feel. Letting it out always helps.
Change in environment – I got over this with time, I came to my moms place, i actually needed a break from my surrounding. So plan a little getaway or go stay at a friends place or perhaps a resort.
Catch up on some sleep & me time – in between feeding times, try and catch up on some sleep .if you have help, express your milk ( there is no harm in doing this sometime) You have to also thing about yourself along with your baby. Or read a book, watch a movie, listen to some good music when the baby is napping. Do things that you like. this will definitely make you feel better.

Postpartum is not all about feeding the baby, changing nappies,sleeplessness only. This is the time you need to also take care of yourself.

Make sure you have your mom or someone who can take care of the baby and you.So you can have some time to yourself and not feel drained out & forget about yourself. This is the time you need to focus on your health as you have given a birth to a human, it takes a whole village to do that. You need to focus to get enough nutrients to get your strength back. Also this is time to take baby steps towards achieving your pre-pregnancy shape, remember this needs to be done very slowly and at a steady pace.

Since you have given birth and you are breast feeding you need about 2000 calories a day. But don’t ever count calories and eat. Eat when your hungry.

Try to get a balanced diet.

What can you do to get a good & healthy diet & aim to steady weight reduction.

1. Starchy food, like breads, rice etc.

2. Lots of fruits & green vegetables.

3. Protein, like pulses, fish , egg etc avoid high protein food as this can cause gas to you and end up having a colicky baby.

4. Dairy produce like Milk, yogurt, fruit smoothies etc.

5. Try and avoid deep fried food, stale , junk , fast food.

6. Nuts ( these are good source of energy, ) Good to have them in between meals when you get hungry because of breast feeding.

7. Soups – Have a soup every day , this use to be my evening snack. spinach & tomato, carrots & pumpkin. etc.

8. Avoid having fatty foods like butter,cheese, deep fried. it wont do any good to you or your baby, and in fact will add extra lbs to your weight.

9. Avoid having those ladoos your mom, or mom in-law will make for you saying it will help you gain strength.There is a truth to it but without GHEE OR BUTTER. i had all the incidents that go in that ladoo separately like thymol seeds ( AJWAIN) this helps in digestion as your digestion is week after delivery. DRY FENUGREEK SEEDS (METHI), This helps in building strength. powder both these ingredients and have a spoonful every day. have nuts which is part of it any time during the day. don’t eat too much. I basically had all the ingredients of that ladoo except sugar & ghee which would have added extra lbs.

Do’s & don’t while Breast feeding

1. Drink plenty of water while Breast feeding, As you loose a lot of water from your body during milk production. its good to keep yourself hydrated.

2. Remember to avoid, fatty food, deep fried, junk food, restrict your intake of caffeine & an absolute no for alcohol. while breastfeeding. occasionally a glass of wine will be fine, but keep a gap of 3 hrs in feeding after having wine.

3. Eat food which is easy on the stomach & nutritious, like green leafy veggies, soups, juices, fruits, etc.

4. Aniseed ( Sauf) is a good source for milk production. So mix a spoon of these seeds in glass of water and have it after couple of hrs. Try and have 3-4 such glasses during the day.

5. Mix some saffron in your milk, It good for skin, will help you & your baby to look bright & shinny 🙂

6. oatmeal porridge is also great for milk production. You can mix it with milk & dates (instead of sugar) or you can make it with veggies. This mostly use to be my breakfast along with fruits while breastfeeding.

Eating healthy during postpartum is very important as you are recovering, you are breast feeding & you want to want to aim towards gradual weight reduction. So during hunger panks eat smartly. My idea behind eating healthy was not just to weight Loss, i knew what ever i am eating i will be passed on to my baby. Also since i was diagnosed by Gestational diabetes, i had to watch what i was eating to normalise my sugar levels. My sugar levels were back to normal right after delivery however, since diabetes is a family history i didn’t wanted this to last,. My health care providers told me to keep a check on weight. if i put on i am not on the right track.This is the story behind a FIT MOM. I had gone through a lot & learned that healthy way of living is way to go!

Now what can you do to loose weight during postpartum –

1. For all the expecting moms, please watch what you are eating. Apparently pregnancy gives us license to eat anything, right! One should not put on more then 12- 13 kg during pregnancy. Its not only difficult to loose that weight later it also creates lot of compilations in the pregnancy.

2. Eat right during postpartum & breast feeding. Avoid sugar, ghee, butter etc. Try & have a balance diet. Read above.

3. Breast feeding definitely helps in losing weight. but along with a good balanced diet. You cant expect to eat anything & think i am BF and still not losing weight. BF is the best thing you can do for your baby. its best both for mom & the baby. So please BF your baby as long as you can. It helps build immunity & prevent babies from infections.

4. Please don’t be bed ridden, listen to your body. if you are feeling better after 10-15 days of delivery, start moving around the house. Don’t do anything strenuous, do not lift weights. just be mobile in the house. Go down for walks.

5. Do little exercises that your health care providers recommend. I remember i was told to do back strengthening & pelvis exercises as i had a c sec.

These exercises were advised & demonstrated by my heath care providers. So ask yours before doing this.

6. At around 4th month i started doing little stretches at home. You can do yoga or brisk walks.At around 6th month i started running. only cardio. no weights.

Working out can be in any form – climbing stairs, to doing house chores, some stretches at home, brisk walks, running, skipping etc.

7. Don’t go all out start slowly but be steady – You can choose to do 10 push ups 2-3 mins of planks, 20 squats, 20 triceps,10 surya namaskar. If you cant step out of the house, think out of the box, do these exercises with your baby, and perhaps steal some kisses while doing it 🙂 I do it even now when cant find time to hit the gym.

8. I always say this, working out should not be only to reduce weight, it should become part of your life. its a fact if you workout, your body releases DOPAMINE, also called as HAPPY HORMONE, Its a neurotransmitter in the brain that’s necessary for feelings of happiness.

I will conclude this article by saying, Healthy living is a key to a happy lifestyle. And its important as mothers we take out time for our selves EVERYDAY.

Even if it is for half an hr, but give your self preference for that half hr. do things that you like, workout. Stop worrying about your baby & family during that hr or one hr. You need to be mentally & physically fit to be able to serve your family better. You are special as you are a MOTHER. Love yourself 🙂

Disclaimer – I have shared my experience here , speak to your Health care providers.As every body is different.

I would love to hear what you think about this article, your question are more then welcome 🙂

L O V E,

Uptownmommy

Sakshi