Getting ready for pregnancy

It would be very difficult to describe the mental preparation required for pregnancy, but as they say the best pregnancy is the one where the parents are ready to welcome the baby in this world.

Mothers to be especially need to be ready for a complete change to their current life.
No junk food, lots of change in waist sizes, reduced mobility etc. But the most important one is to know that soon there will be a life for which you would be totally responsible.

You need to be physically ready
1. Develop a good stamina, you will need this to get through the pregnancy, labor and the post-natal period.
2. Consult a doctor to ensure that your body is ready for child bearing.
3. Usually doctors suggest that you should start on folic acid tablets atleast 3 months before you concieve. This is very important for the growth of the foetus during the first trimester.
4. Get on a health diet even before you receive the good news :).

Initial preparation before the delivery

There is a lot of stuff that is required to be prepared in advance to avoid last minute rush.
I have reconciled a list of these items. It includes baby as well as mother things.
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1. Cloth diapers (square piece of cloth, good as small dupti)
2. Diaper safety pins
3. Velcro diapers - 30-40 (I need around 16-18 in a day)
4. Cotton diapers (traditional langot) if you plan to use them. I
purchased them but never used them
5. Nappy pads - 30 -40 (I place these inside the Velcro diapers so
that the dupta doesn't get wet)
6. Small handkerchiefs.
7. Dupti
a. Big to tie the baby in
b. Small for inside tying
c. Fancy which can be used when you take the baby out. (These
you can buy)
8. Rubber sheets - 3 small , 1 big (if you plan to put this on the
bed. I tried it but it is very uncomfortable for us)
9. Zhabali - 15 Full n half
10. bandi
11. Topadi - 4
12. Caps - 2-4 (These are useful only after about a month. The
smallest is also big for a normal baby)
13. Sweater ( I guess you may not need this )
14. Socks - 2 sets
15. Baby towel The best is 'Rajapuri panche'
16. Mittens/gloves
17. Bottle and nipples (Not a must, I bought this as a backup)
18. Baby Blanket
19. Baby nail cutter (This is a small scissor with a slightly bent
end. This is better than a mini nail cutter)
20. Baby pillow (This is U shaped and keeps the baby head straight.
This is a must.)
21. Cylindrical pillows -2 ( We call these load in marathi)
22. Baby Clothes cupboard
23. Pampers
24. Diaper Rash ointment
25. Johnson baby kit (Oil, Lotion, Powder, Soap,shampoo)
26. Powder puff and container
27. Baby Bag to carry things when you go out.
28. Baby wipes
29. Bibs
30. Kajal
31. toys
32. Clothes stand
33. Dettol (For washing baby clothes)
34. Cotton /Cotton balls (For cleaning baby bottom)
35. Bal guti (This is a ready pack )
36. Cradle
37. Vavding (If you plan to add this to your water and drink)
38. Sanitary napkins for mother
39. Feeding gowns for mother
40. Feeding bras for mother
41. Washable nursing pads for mother
42. Glucon-D for mother to be used during labor
43. Figaro oil for mother massage
44. Vasaline petrolem jelly for mother to be used during labor
45. Polo and other such suckable candies for mother to be used during labor
46. Fruit juice and biscuits for mother during labor
47. Scarf for mother
48. Socks for mother

What is this blog ?

With us moving towards a society with more and more nuclear families, most of the first time mothers/pregnant women are at a disadvantage of not having the advice of family elders and thier experience. Add to that the demands of work till the last day.

The internet has a lot of information but most of it in the context of the western countries.
This blog is an attempt to consolidate information related to pregnancy and motherhood in the Indian context, as I learn new things through my experience.

I invite other first timers to share their inputs so that I can enhance the content of this space.