Guest contributor Divya Puri Mahendra shares her experience with pregnancy
As every parent knows there’s no greater joy than looking into the eyes of a newborn baby. The day I found out I was pregnant, I was also all smiles. That feeling of a tiny baby growing inside me, and the excitement of sharing the secret with the family surpassed the fear of physical and emotional changes that were to follow. I knew that my hormones were about to take off on a roller coaster ride. But, amidst all the fear and anxiety, I totally enjoyed being pregnant. From wearing high heels to waddling like a penguin, from morning sickness to throwing up post every meal, sleeping for two hours in the middle of meeting a project deadline, or sitting up with swollen feet, I experienced it all in nine months. I was eating like a pig, gaining inches while losing my mind, and trying to stay as calm as I could.
From wearing high heels to waddling like a penguin, from morning sickness to throwing up post every meal, sleeping for two hours in the middle of meeting a project deadline, or sitting up with ballooned feet, I experienced it all in nine months. I was eating like a pig, gaining inches while losing my mind, and trying to be as calm as the ocean with no wind.
Find a good gynaecologist
Every mother has a different experience with pregnancy, for some it is a cakewalk, while others can find it quite daunting. Therefore, seeing a good gynecologist is most important. Being new in the city, I found my doctor through online recommendations via a healthcare website and it was a good decision that I made. Not only did I get all the comfort and support from my doctor, but she also helped me make an informed decision about the method of delivery. It’s important to have that kind of trust and relationship to know that you are in safe hands. She urged me to attend childbirth and yoga classes at the hospital to prepare for labor and birth, where I learnt different kinds of relaxation and breathing techniques, and about healthy eating and exercise.
Being new in the city, I found my doctor through online recommendations via a healthcare website and it was a good decision that I made. Not only did I get all the comfort and support from my doctor, but she also helped me make an informed decision about the method of delivery. It’s important to have that kind of trust and relationship to know that you are in safe hands.
Morning sickness, nausea, and throwing up was a reality in the first trimester, but as per the doctor it was absolutely normal and not a matter of concern. I also had the urge to pee frequently, as the baby was growing; I would be rushing to the washroom quite often during the day and night. Well, I certainly looked forward to the pregnancy glow, which got me a lot of compliments. It was just lovely to hear “you are beautiful” especially when none of the clothes fit.
I could also blame my anger, mood swings and irritability on the raging hormones – estrogen and progesterone, which also made me feel warm all the time; I would sleep with the AC at the lowest temperature, while my husband slept covered up in a thick blanket as if it was snowing.
Eat and get lots of rest
Weight gain and cravings at strange times is an absolutely natural part of a pregnancy; I could eat a full portion of watermelon at a time. I was also walking and exercising throughout the nine months for a healthy pregnancy as advised by the doctor; it helped me in the natural birth process.
Sleep, sleep, sleep – was another piece of advice I got from all new moms, which later I realised was so important; you are bound to spend sleepless nights in the first six months post-delivery.
Overall I was simply relaxed and enjoyed all the attention and pampering I got from family and friends. Pregnancy was a wonderful experience especially when I could talk or sing to the baby and in response the baby kicked.
Overall I was simply relaxed and enjoyed all the attention and pampering I got from family and friends. Pregnancy was a wonderful experience especially when I could talk or sing to the baby and in response the baby kicked.
It was an experience my husband & I went through together and ensured that the journey would be a joyful one, these memories are going to last a lifetime. I kept a journal, and continued to fill the pages as weeks and months passed by. I was writing about the doctors’ visits, or my thoughts and all that I experienced, which has now helped me pen down this article as if the experience happened yesterday.
It was an experience my husband & I went through together and ensured that the journey would be a joyful one, these memories are going to last a lifetime. I kept a journal, and continued to fill the pages as weeks and months passed by.
It will be painful
Each delivery and labor is different, just as every child and mother are different. We all have different bodies and different experiences, but one thing that’s common is immense pain. After my water broke and the actual pain started and it was all over in my lower back, with contractions coming on and off, each time with intense pain. I opted for no epidural as the doctor said it only prolongs the delivery time and opted for the natural delivery process. My doctor and her team were amazingly patient; we waited for a good eight hours before finally deciding on using vacuum extraction to assist in the delivery. I have no track on the number of stitches I got, but when I got the baby in my hands, the memories of pain just vanished and I was in the moment of pure joy and all smiles.
Stay active, read, and ask questions
My tip for new-mommies-to-be is to just relax and enjoy all the attention, love, and pampering. Walk or exercise daily, for some even yoga or daily meditation works, just anything to keep you active and fit. Continue working and eat well; I used to carry my own serving of fruits or meals while shopping, work, or even while traveling long-distance. Stay hydrated, sleep right, and be healthy. Read a lot, ask questions, follow doctor’s advice, and do what you feel is right. Don’t worry too much about delivery, as I said earlier each one of us will have a different experience, which no book or article can really foresee.
Divya Puri Mahendra
Guest Contributor
Disclaimer
Information on this website is provided for general informational purposes only, even when it features the advice of a physician or healthcare professional. It is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare professional. As always, you should consult your physician.
The views represented in the articles are the views of the experts featured and do not necessarily represent the views of Femoai.
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