You know? There is a Marathi saying, "Swataha melya shivaay swarga disat nahi!" Which loosely translated means that if you want to get something done, you have to work hard to get it done yourself. If you wait for someone else to do it, it is never going to happen. The same goes for my internet connection. Having been busy with Sayalee, I had expected my dear husband to do me a little favor so I could resume blogging. But men will be men, and husbands will forever be lazy. So many days he was at home. Never once did he venture anywhere even close to the laptop. (Now that I have repaired the connection, just wait and watch how fast he will be back on facebook!) So that is one good news, at least for me. My internet connection is finally working, and I am back to blogging.
The second good news is that three of my friends have delivered babies in the last two days. Whew! That's like a lot of babies. I remember when Saee was born, I felt so alone! Like alone, alone! Now look at how much company Sayalee has got!
Shweta delivered a baby boy this afternoon. Another friend of mine Meghana also delivered a baby boy. Sanyukta delivered a baby, but I do not know its gender yet. Heartiest congratulations to all of them, and loads of blessings for their little bundles of joy.
And now a little dampener on their spirits. I know Shweta and Meghana will not be able to read this so soon, and I know Sanyukta probably will. So the advice reaches someone, and benefits at least someone, I am here going to write it. Not that I am much of an expert, but of my friends, I do have more experience. I may take the liberty, then, to speak a few words of wisdom to them. (Don't I sound pompous? Haha!)
First of all, and you have read this in all the baby books, don't expect your baby to look the best on his first day in this world. S/He won't. They look funny. And then they lose weight aplenty, which makes them look funnier. My Sayalee's legs looked like chicken legs. I kept wondering when those buns were going to plump up some. The days pass, and babies put on weight, and the buns do plump up. Chicken legs give way to lovely kissable thighs, with cuddly little folds in them. Ooh! Sayalee has got them now. :-D
Secondly, the first month is the worst. Especially with the first baby. The baby cries ALL the time, and you have no idea what s/he wants. It doesn't help any, that all those feel good hormones and endorphins that pregnancy endowed upon you, delivery taketh away! So all the goodie goodie emotions are gone, and all that is afraid is a really scared, and bewildered you. And if some of you are unfortunate, like me, you end up with post partum depression, and go on to do really silly things. (Like waking up the poor pediatrician in the middle of the night :-P )
There will be diapers galore, with endless wee-ing and pooping. The first time, it is difficult to get the swaddling right. Here's one scenario. Baby has just wee-d. S/he is wet and crying and biting your head off. You are trying to change the diaper and the swaddling cloth. Baby kicks up a ruckus. You are all sweaty, but bravely you manage to swaddle the way that good ol' nurse lady showed you. Finally you manage to get the baby all bundled up. You haven't even wiped the sweat off your brow, when lo and behold! Out come the little hands, and baby is crying once again! Hee hee! (I am not trying to scare you duckies, just giving you an example)
The breastfeeding is soooooooooooo difficult. Some of you may end up getting it right, others may end up giving formula like me. But even for those who try, it's like this. You have just fed the baby for over forty minutes, your back hurts from sitting that way for so long. Baby has finally fallen asleep. You put the baby down, and no more than half an hour has passed when you hear the familiar cough, cough, before it gives way to a full throttle cry. This is just the beginning, darlings. You have a long, long, long, long, looooooooooooong way to go!
Then there are times when you think, baby has colic. Wait a minute, does baby have colic? Why is she crying like that? Is she supposed to bring her feet up to her tummy like this? Why is she wriggling like that? It gets better, trust me, just let that first month pass.
I am not even going to start about all the things that all the aunties think it's their birthright to tell you. Everything you are doing is wrong. If baby is crying, it's because of you. If baby has gas, it's something you ate. I sincerely do hope you don't get to meet the kind of aunties that tell you that baby should be given such and such ayurvedic medicine, or if baby has hiccups, blow air on his/her forehead. Let's not even go there. I got so much conflicting advice that I was about to tear my hair off.
But that was during Saee's time. The best part about having Sayalee was that I was prepared. I still get jittery and nervous, but at least I don't call the pediatrician as often as I did during Saee's time. I still get desperate sometimes, but I can take one look at Saee, and know that this phase doesn't last very long. Soon it gives way to a beautiful coo-ing cherub, who is as eager to please you as you are to please her.
Still, if you do get some time to read, you should read these books which helped me a lot.
Such are the simple pleasures of life!
The second good news is that three of my friends have delivered babies in the last two days. Whew! That's like a lot of babies. I remember when Saee was born, I felt so alone! Like alone, alone! Now look at how much company Sayalee has got!
Shweta delivered a baby boy this afternoon. Another friend of mine Meghana also delivered a baby boy. Sanyukta delivered a baby, but I do not know its gender yet. Heartiest congratulations to all of them, and loads of blessings for their little bundles of joy.
And now a little dampener on their spirits. I know Shweta and Meghana will not be able to read this so soon, and I know Sanyukta probably will. So the advice reaches someone, and benefits at least someone, I am here going to write it. Not that I am much of an expert, but of my friends, I do have more experience. I may take the liberty, then, to speak a few words of wisdom to them. (Don't I sound pompous? Haha!)
First of all, and you have read this in all the baby books, don't expect your baby to look the best on his first day in this world. S/He won't. They look funny. And then they lose weight aplenty, which makes them look funnier. My Sayalee's legs looked like chicken legs. I kept wondering when those buns were going to plump up some. The days pass, and babies put on weight, and the buns do plump up. Chicken legs give way to lovely kissable thighs, with cuddly little folds in them. Ooh! Sayalee has got them now. :-D
Secondly, the first month is the worst. Especially with the first baby. The baby cries ALL the time, and you have no idea what s/he wants. It doesn't help any, that all those feel good hormones and endorphins that pregnancy endowed upon you, delivery taketh away! So all the goodie goodie emotions are gone, and all that is afraid is a really scared, and bewildered you. And if some of you are unfortunate, like me, you end up with post partum depression, and go on to do really silly things. (Like waking up the poor pediatrician in the middle of the night :-P )
There will be diapers galore, with endless wee-ing and pooping. The first time, it is difficult to get the swaddling right. Here's one scenario. Baby has just wee-d. S/he is wet and crying and biting your head off. You are trying to change the diaper and the swaddling cloth. Baby kicks up a ruckus. You are all sweaty, but bravely you manage to swaddle the way that good ol' nurse lady showed you. Finally you manage to get the baby all bundled up. You haven't even wiped the sweat off your brow, when lo and behold! Out come the little hands, and baby is crying once again! Hee hee! (I am not trying to scare you duckies, just giving you an example)
The breastfeeding is soooooooooooo difficult. Some of you may end up getting it right, others may end up giving formula like me. But even for those who try, it's like this. You have just fed the baby for over forty minutes, your back hurts from sitting that way for so long. Baby has finally fallen asleep. You put the baby down, and no more than half an hour has passed when you hear the familiar cough, cough, before it gives way to a full throttle cry. This is just the beginning, darlings. You have a long, long, long, long, looooooooooooong way to go!
Then there are times when you think, baby has colic. Wait a minute, does baby have colic? Why is she crying like that? Is she supposed to bring her feet up to her tummy like this? Why is she wriggling like that? It gets better, trust me, just let that first month pass.
I am not even going to start about all the things that all the aunties think it's their birthright to tell you. Everything you are doing is wrong. If baby is crying, it's because of you. If baby has gas, it's something you ate. I sincerely do hope you don't get to meet the kind of aunties that tell you that baby should be given such and such ayurvedic medicine, or if baby has hiccups, blow air on his/her forehead. Let's not even go there. I got so much conflicting advice that I was about to tear my hair off.
But that was during Saee's time. The best part about having Sayalee was that I was prepared. I still get jittery and nervous, but at least I don't call the pediatrician as often as I did during Saee's time. I still get desperate sometimes, but I can take one look at Saee, and know that this phase doesn't last very long. Soon it gives way to a beautiful coo-ing cherub, who is as eager to please you as you are to please her.
Still, if you do get some time to read, you should read these books which helped me a lot.
- The Baby Whisperer - Tracy Hogg. The late Tracy Hogg had a show on discovery which I watched numerous times before Saee was born. After she was born, I bought the book. It is tremendously helpful. It helps set a routine for you and your baby, and allows you to have that magical thing... "Me time!"
- Baby Care Essentials - Dr. Benjamin Spock. Everything you need to know about baby care. Right from changing nappies, to taking temperature, to child psychology. It's all in there. It's your baby care bible.
- What to Expect: The first year - Heidi Murkoff. It doesn't help you much, except giving you an idea about, well... what to expect. But it's a good book, because you so look forward to all the milestones mentioned in there.
Such are the simple pleasures of life!
No comments:
Post a Comment