One of the most magical moments of our lives was welcoming our beautiful baby daughter. She has been byfar the best thing that has ever happened to us! And I think I've learned more since she's been born, than any other year in my life. Having a baby can be as easy or as complicated as you make it, and it can be well thought-out and planned, or whimsical. My husband and I believe that bringing a child into this world should definately be planned for and well thought out. From pre-conception, we have done a lot of reading and research to TRY to be the best parents we know how. And I want to be able to share that. The Indian Culture has so many answers in raising a happy, healthy, intelligent and cultured child. And as I unfold what our Indian Rishi's have told us, I want others to know the same. Here's to perfect parenting (or at least trying!)
PREGNANCY
I've been seeing more and more studies lately that have uncovered how much of an impact pregnancy has on the future of a child. This is something that has been know for years, and is now recently being re-discovered! The best piece of advice I got when pregnant, was to be happy. It sounds simple, which it is if you had to do it just for a day or two. But TRULY being happy, positive and the best of yourself....all the time...is a great challenge! A mother's attitude and mindset impacts the mental and physical health of the growing fetus, and it definately is the best thing you can do to give them the optimal start to life!
Great Reads:
Magical Beginnings, Enchated Lives by Deepak Chopra
What to Expect when Expecting
Happiest Baby on the Block
Indian Akbar/Birbal Short Stories (I would read to the baby...great morals!)
Superbaby
Brain rules
Ramayan (Indian Epic)
Healthy Sleep Habits Happiest Toddler on the Block Any other short stories I could find that had good morals
Television:
I stopped watching all television that didn't somehow influence me positively. I kept it to a minimum and watched only American Idol & So You Think You Can Dance (I love singing/dancing). I also pre-screened movies to make sure they had good moral, or in some way impacted me to make positive changes in my life! You won't realize it now, but after living this way for 9 months (and hopefully continuing it after your baby is born), it becomes a great lifestyle change and you start finding other, more fulfilling ways to spend your time. I also tried to laugh and exercise daily! If I could add something to this, I'd also watch the entire series of Planet Earth - one of the best ways to introduce my child to the beauty of the new world she was about to enter!
Stretch Marks:
I was successful in avoiding stretch marks by using Vitamin E Oil daily. This is a fantastic alternative to other creams which are less natural and more manufactured.
Pranayama:
After trying numerous yoga DVDs and videos, I found my peace in doing Ramdev Yoga! My dad has been doing it for years and I've seen the mental and health benefits first hand. Pranayama is a part of yoga many people don't know too much about. It's emphasis is on breathing and the intake /balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. In today's fast paced society and stressful lifestyle, we've forgotten how to breathe optimally and this is where pranayama comes in. It Helps us slow our breathing so we can take in more oxygen to reenergize our body parts, and remove more of the toxins and waste! By teaching us to breathe effectively, we obtain many benefits including: Improved health by removing toxins and providing oxygen to all organs, Improved metabolism and digestion, better mental health by way of focus and concentration, Relaxation, Clear thinking, self control and positive thoughts (especially when listening to Ramdev speak). I would do a minimum of 15 minutes a day but Ramdev has a video on YouTube that will guide you through over an hour of Pranayama, designed specifically for pregnancy. Enjoy!
*********************************************************************************
BREASTFEEDING:
Eat Methi (Fenugreek) every day! See my recipe for a Methi Snack Bar, which is what I used to eat every morning (yep! I did for one full year) that I was breastfeeding. It not only helped me maintain my milk flow, but also kept me full for those busy morning hours until I got a chance to sit down and make myself a decent "brunch." I never had to worry about eating the wrong things, because I would just pop one of these in my mouth every morning after brushing, while running around trying to get stuff done for the baby! I would recommend actually starting to eat fenugreek BEFORE delivery to make sure you have enough milk for breastfeeding once the baby arrives. Note: The amount of fenugreek you eat during pregnancy has to be limited to just one small (1x1 inch) piece/day because it can be detrimental to have too much. It all depends on how much "garmi" or "warmth" you already have in your body. Sometimes it's important to make sure not to have any fenugreek during pregnancy. It also has to be eaten in balance during breastfeeding because again, eating too much can cause breast engorgement.
You can alternatively make Bhaji/Methi Na Dhebra which, if you eat, will also assist in milk production.
With my 2nd baby, I had low milk production around 5 months. With the combination of methi seeds, an ayurvedic almond milk (Vasant Lad book) and Shatavari powder - I reestablished my supply and fed her until she was 2 years old.
*********************************************************************************
POSTPARTUM DIET
I was so concerned about pregnancy and delivery, that I hadn't thought about my postpartum diet. Well, I didn't know it was something I needed to think about until my mom, mother-in-law and grandmother started feeding me all sorts of novel foods starting Day 1!
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING DELIVERY FOR MOM:
1. Ganthoda/Soot Paani (Method: Warm one cup water with jaggery inside it. Remove it from the stove and add Sooth-Ganthoda powder). Mix this and add one spoon Ghee. It should be warm.
2. Sheero (made of whole wheat flour). Recipe: one small spoon ghau no lot, 3 chamchi’s ghee. Mix this together then add 1 spoon of gundar (gum powder), 3 sp cocnut, ¾ chamchi vasanu, 1 chamchi cuscus, 3 chamchi badam powder, 1 small spoon gaud and 2 tbsp water. Let everything cook together and serve warm. Use Sakkar if you can vs gaud/sugar - it is a cold item and preferred at this stage of foods for mom.
Gundar - helps keep the back strong
Vasanu - This is a blend of 32 items. It can be bought ready made in a powder form, but my mom bought all the items whole/fresh from india and had it blended in India. She then turned it into a Ladoo and I ate them daily.
Cuscus - helps keep the back strong
Ghee - good for healthy caloric intake and lubricating the joints/body.
Bor Capsule - helps with a strong back
DAY 1 FOR MOM: If really hungry on the first day, have Mug Daal Kichdi. Put more ghee. Can make with marchu, ginger, turmeric, garlic etc. Warm spices/foods are good.
DAY 2 ONWARD MOM:
1. First thing in the morning, have Suva-Methi Paani: To make this, you soak Suva overnight. In the morning, take one spoon of each in a pot and boil it for about 10 minutes. Strain this and add ghee and honey. Suva is used to clean out the leftover "kachro" from delivery.
2. First thing in the morning, have Ganthoda Nu Paani: To assist the digestive system and relieve constipation.
3. Start the day with these two waters and then a bowl of sheero.
4. Then lunch and dinner will be rotli and shak. Snacks can be fruits or cha/rotli. You can also eat coconut, khajur as snacks. Don't eat items based in diary. Don't eat frozen or old meals. Everything should be fresh and warm.
5. Daily Massage for Mom (Mom's massage oil should be Sarasya Oil, Almond Oil and Sesame Oil mixed. Can also add boiled garlic). The daily body massage (especially on the abdomen) assists in clearing out the stomach.
6. Do not drink too much water for 6 weeks. If you do, drink water boiled with Vavding. (This is also why you don't eat dry or spicy foods because you will then crave water). Vavding releases gas and is good for digestion. My grandmother says this is why you also stay away from spicy/dry foods initially, because they will also increase your water intake.
7. Continue to take all prenatals, dha and calcium pills.
8. Do not eat anything that causes gas because it will cause gas/constipation to baby. Gasey foods include: cabbage, lentils/beans, too much wheat product. Also stay away from anything processed, fast food, white flour, etc. Do not each chocolate because it can cause clogged milk ducts for those that are breastfeeding. Limit daily, especially taken alone. Cha is Okay.
Preferred foods are Bajri Na Rotla, Easily Digestable Shaks (Opo, Spinach, Suva, Onion, Tomato, Papaya, Green Lasan, Chard/Spinach Curry, Eggplant), Light Lentils (Mug Ni Daal, Moong Daal or Adad Ni Daal). Also preferred are Muthiya, Thiki Puri, Sheero, Puda.
9. Swallow one Bor Capsule daily - this helps with a strong back.
10. Take warm compress/heat to the delivery area, back and stomach daily. Per my grandmother - they used to take "shek" daily in all these areas to assist the body in healing.
11. Wear a scarf over your ears and socks on your feet for at least 6 weeks after pregnancy to keep the heat in your body. The idea is that these are all "open" pockets for wind to get inside your body, but this can make you sick so you want to prevent that wind from getting inside these open pores/holes until your body has healed.
12. Coconut Oil hair massage in mom's hair daily: You loose hair postpartum.
13. As often as possible, just be laying down for the initial 6 weeks after delivery. My grandmother told me they would just lay in bed all day for 6 straight weeks and that's how crucial it is that the body be given the proper time and method to heal from 10 months of growing/delivering a new body/soul. She would even encourage me to learn and feed while laying down. No work, no standing, no walking unless absolutely necessary. Given the Indian System of Joint Families and going home to mom for delivery - all this was possible.
Meal ideas include: Suran Shak, Dudhi Shak, Turya Shak, Dungri Shak. These are your meals for the first 4 weeks. Don't eat Bhaji because it causes diarrhea - you can eat it after one month. Eat only shak/rotli...no rice.
STARTING DAY 12 MOM:
Typically after 12 days, mom starts eating Methi Ladoo 1 piece everyday. Can eat it starting day 1 if you want. If you have this as a snack it also holds you over during a busy morning with the baby!
STARTING DAY 15 MOM:
1. Mom can add Mug Daal, Methi Bhaji Bhajya and Dudhi Bhajya to her diet, but include a lot of sesame oil on top. Have very little of this but you can have some. This kind of diet should continue for two months or until the baby seems to be digesting well. If he/she is not digesting well, mom should still continue to watch her diet and eat only easily-digestable foods.
FOR BABY EVERYDAY:
1. Castor Oil (Divel): Rubbed a smidgen of this in the baby's hair daily, placing the oil on and around the fontanel. This is especially important to do while the fontanel is still in the process of closing in order to retain the warmth. Divel is the same as castor oil and is good to apply to the roots for strong, healthy hair.
2. Baby's Massage Oil: should be only almond oil or sesame oil (warming oils)
3. Mild Diaper Rash - use Castor Oil as a natural Diaper Rash Cream to serve as a layer between the baby's skin and the diaper. One of the best things I found was to leave the baby diaper-less at least once/day so they can "air out." Being in plastic diapers 24/7 takes a huge toll on their delicate and fragile skin.
4. Suva nu paani is the same as gripe water, which is used to relieve babies who have gas and are fussy because of it.
BABY STARTING WEEK 2 (Or when the Umbilical Cord Stump falls off)
1. Bathe the baby with Chana No Lot Mixture vs. soap. Chana no Lot Mixture is made of Chana No Lot, Turmeric, Malai (or Yogurt). Optional is honey and lemon. The Turmeric is good for the skin, malai acts as a mositurizer, honey and lemon act as scrubbers.
*********************************************************************************
POSTPARTUM HELP
Traditionally in the Indian Culture, a woman returns to her mom's house post-delivery for a period of time (ranging anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months depending on who you ask). Before having my first born, I always knew that I wanted to be with my mom, I just didn't know for how long. And I definately did not realize how helpful it was going to be! I'll keep it simple. I think this was one of the best decisions I made, because it allowed me to gracefully, happily attend to all the needs of my new baby.
1. I got to take much-needed naps
2. All my meals were made for me
3. All my meals were screened for me (I was on a very strict baby-friendly diet for 6 weeks postpartum)
4. I had great company and adult conversation
5. I didn't have to worry about any trips to the store, grocery or otherwise
6. I got to take 30 minute showers, and shower daily
7. I got to focus completely on my newborn baby
8. I was happy!
9. My baby was happy. All her needs were met, happily and gracefully
10. I got much-needed advice + guidance
11. I got to take walks, often
*********************************************************************************
DIAPERS
Cloth Diapers:
I was reading a book called "Superbaby" after my daughter was born (highly recommended book), and I came across a chapter about toxins. It was then I realized that the disposable diapers I used had toxins in them! I had really come to appreciate that little blue line that told me (a new mom) that my baby needed a new diaper. Now what?? I had heard of Cloth Diapers and I'm sure many people shared the same image that came immediately to my head (dirty dirty dirty!). But I investigated, and investigated and investigated. And after sifting through 17 different types of cloth diapers, I finally decided to take the plunge. And I couldn't be happier for it! My daughter hasn't had a single diaper rash since, they are super-easy to wash and care for, they are wonderful for our environment and don't even get me started on the cost savings (huge!!). It's what we used to do before disposables came along.
Diaper Rash:
As a first time mom, one of the hardest things to deal with was the baby's first diaper rash. A few trickes I gathered... 1) Newborn skin is super sensitive so wipe gently! 2) using cloth diapers is a great solution to avoiding diaper rashes because you are replacing plastic on skin, with soft cotton. 3) give the baby diaper free time daily. With my moms help, I made a blanket for this purpose and used it for months. I would hang it out to dry and or wash it depending on the usage. 4) if the baby did get a diaper rash, I would put drivel (castor oil) on her skin. It is basically a thick lubricant which acts as a barrier between the irritated skin, and the diaper. Again, the difference between that and diaper rash cream is that the first choice is your most natural choice. So why not give it a go? You can always keep the desitin close by just in case!
*********************************************************************************
STARTING SOLIDS
Rice Cereal:
The main reason for starting our babies on rice cereal is because it is easy to mix with water and it is fortified with iron. If you take away the iron, there is no nutritional value to feeding our children rice cereal. The same applies to oatmeal. Having read several articles and talking it over with my husband, we decided to find another alternative. This always takes me to my grandmother because I think they had it right before we came along and invented "new" things! I happen to love my pediatrician and she knew my preference for "wholesome choices" so she recommended something called Ragi Flour. Ragi is a grain commonly used in South India and naturally harbors a lot of Iron, which is a major nutritional necessity for babies. Since my little one wasn't getting iron from rice cereal, oatmeal or fortified formula....I had to make sure she was getting her daily doses of Ragi Flour. I actually went through a ton of trial and error but if I had to do it again, here's what I would do.
I would exclusively breastfeed for as long as possible up to 6 months, which for me was 5 1/2 months. At that point I started noticing that I was breastfeeding 10x's/day and it wasn't filling her. I knew then that it was time to start solids. I realize that every baby is very different, but children that are exclusively breastfed have to be slowly introduced to solid foods because for so many months, breastmilk has been so easy to digest for their systems.
Sample Schedule:
Week 1-3: Fruit for Breakfast (i.e., Pear, Apple and small amounts of Avocado to start). Vegetable for lunch (i.e., Any type of Italian Squash, Butternut Squash, Sugar Snap Peas, Opo). I concluded these foods to be the easiest to digest based on experience, reading, and lots of conversations with my grandmother! Again, each child is different so for my little one - I would feed her the new foods and then watch her stool the following day. If it was soft, I would continue. If it was still hard or she was straining too much - I would feed her less or change the foods and then start over.
Week 4-6: Fruit + 2-3 tbsp of Cooked Ragi Flour for Breakfast (Fruits included those mentioned above, along with Banana, Asparagus and Sweet Potato). Lunch would be the same as above, up to 6 tbsp of any vegetable. This is where I decided to introduce Dinner - 1-2 tsp of Moong Daal mixed with 1 tsp of rice, blended together and mixed with Ghee. I also tried my best to feed her fruits/vegetables that I found at the farmers market, aka seasonal fruits/vegetables. I would go once/week and buy 2-3 vegetables and 1-2 types of fruits for the week which was usually enough.
Feeding Utensils:
In India, it was common to feed children using silver/gold plates and flatware. And as with everything else, when I investigated into "why" I found that silver and gold both have antibacterial properties.
*********************************************************************************
TODDLER KITCHEN - BREAKFAST
Here are a few food/recipe ideas for toddlers!
1. Oatmeal: Cooked with milk, agave, cinnamon and apples
2. Oatmeal: Cooked with milk, brown sugar and cinnamon
3. Vaida (Sprouted Moong Beans)
4. Dhebra (Indian Flatbread)
5. Blueberry Pancakes, Chocolate Chip/Walnut Pancakes, Apples/Cinnamon Pancakes
6. Skillet with Red Potatoes, Zucchini and Mushrooms
7. Ragi Sheero
*********************************************************************************
TODDLER KITCHEN - LUNCH OR DINNER
1. Lulya
2. Muthiya
3. Any Shak/Curry with Rotli
4. Rice and Beans
5. Daal + Bhat
6. Pasta/Pasta Noodles
7. Hakka Noodles
8. Tofu
9. Puda
10. Chodi
11. Steamed Garbanzo Beans, Kidney Beans, Edamame or Chana
12. Puri
Snacks: Fruits, Cheese, Sakkar Pada, Puri, Pauva, Mamra, Khakra, etc, etc.
*********************************************************************************
RANDOM QUESTIONS:
1. My baby has a lot of birth hair - How do I get rid of it?
The earlier you start the better but according to Motimommy you just use the Chana No Lot, Honey, Malai (or Yogurt) and Turmeric paste and scrub those areas more than the others. Within time, it will go away.
PREGNANCY
I've been seeing more and more studies lately that have uncovered how much of an impact pregnancy has on the future of a child. This is something that has been know for years, and is now recently being re-discovered! The best piece of advice I got when pregnant, was to be happy. It sounds simple, which it is if you had to do it just for a day or two. But TRULY being happy, positive and the best of yourself....all the time...is a great challenge! A mother's attitude and mindset impacts the mental and physical health of the growing fetus, and it definately is the best thing you can do to give them the optimal start to life!
Great Reads:
Magical Beginnings, Enchated Lives by Deepak Chopra
What to Expect when Expecting
Happiest Baby on the Block
Indian Akbar/Birbal Short Stories (I would read to the baby...great morals!)
Superbaby
Brain rules
Ramayan (Indian Epic)
Healthy Sleep Habits Happiest Toddler on the Block Any other short stories I could find that had good morals
Television:
I stopped watching all television that didn't somehow influence me positively. I kept it to a minimum and watched only American Idol & So You Think You Can Dance (I love singing/dancing). I also pre-screened movies to make sure they had good moral, or in some way impacted me to make positive changes in my life! You won't realize it now, but after living this way for 9 months (and hopefully continuing it after your baby is born), it becomes a great lifestyle change and you start finding other, more fulfilling ways to spend your time. I also tried to laugh and exercise daily! If I could add something to this, I'd also watch the entire series of Planet Earth - one of the best ways to introduce my child to the beauty of the new world she was about to enter!
Stretch Marks:
I was successful in avoiding stretch marks by using Vitamin E Oil daily. This is a fantastic alternative to other creams which are less natural and more manufactured.
Pranayama:
After trying numerous yoga DVDs and videos, I found my peace in doing Ramdev Yoga! My dad has been doing it for years and I've seen the mental and health benefits first hand. Pranayama is a part of yoga many people don't know too much about. It's emphasis is on breathing and the intake /balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. In today's fast paced society and stressful lifestyle, we've forgotten how to breathe optimally and this is where pranayama comes in. It Helps us slow our breathing so we can take in more oxygen to reenergize our body parts, and remove more of the toxins and waste! By teaching us to breathe effectively, we obtain many benefits including: Improved health by removing toxins and providing oxygen to all organs, Improved metabolism and digestion, better mental health by way of focus and concentration, Relaxation, Clear thinking, self control and positive thoughts (especially when listening to Ramdev speak). I would do a minimum of 15 minutes a day but Ramdev has a video on YouTube that will guide you through over an hour of Pranayama, designed specifically for pregnancy. Enjoy!
*********************************************************************************
BREASTFEEDING:
Eat Methi (Fenugreek) every day! See my recipe for a Methi Snack Bar, which is what I used to eat every morning (yep! I did for one full year) that I was breastfeeding. It not only helped me maintain my milk flow, but also kept me full for those busy morning hours until I got a chance to sit down and make myself a decent "brunch." I never had to worry about eating the wrong things, because I would just pop one of these in my mouth every morning after brushing, while running around trying to get stuff done for the baby! I would recommend actually starting to eat fenugreek BEFORE delivery to make sure you have enough milk for breastfeeding once the baby arrives. Note: The amount of fenugreek you eat during pregnancy has to be limited to just one small (1x1 inch) piece/day because it can be detrimental to have too much. It all depends on how much "garmi" or "warmth" you already have in your body. Sometimes it's important to make sure not to have any fenugreek during pregnancy. It also has to be eaten in balance during breastfeeding because again, eating too much can cause breast engorgement.
You can alternatively make Bhaji/Methi Na Dhebra which, if you eat, will also assist in milk production.
With my 2nd baby, I had low milk production around 5 months. With the combination of methi seeds, an ayurvedic almond milk (Vasant Lad book) and Shatavari powder - I reestablished my supply and fed her until she was 2 years old.
*********************************************************************************
POSTPARTUM DIET
I was so concerned about pregnancy and delivery, that I hadn't thought about my postpartum diet. Well, I didn't know it was something I needed to think about until my mom, mother-in-law and grandmother started feeding me all sorts of novel foods starting Day 1!
1. Ganthoda/Soot Paani (Method: Warm one cup water with jaggery inside it. Remove it from the stove and add Sooth-Ganthoda powder). Mix this and add one spoon Ghee. It should be warm.
2. Sheero (made of whole wheat flour). Recipe: one small spoon ghau no lot, 3 chamchi’s ghee. Mix this together then add 1 spoon of gundar (gum powder), 3 sp cocnut, ¾ chamchi vasanu, 1 chamchi cuscus, 3 chamchi badam powder, 1 small spoon gaud and 2 tbsp water. Let everything cook together and serve warm. Use Sakkar if you can vs gaud/sugar - it is a cold item and preferred at this stage of foods for mom.
Gundar - helps keep the back strong
Vasanu - This is a blend of 32 items. It can be bought ready made in a powder form, but my mom bought all the items whole/fresh from india and had it blended in India. She then turned it into a Ladoo and I ate them daily.
Cuscus - helps keep the back strong
Ghee - good for healthy caloric intake and lubricating the joints/body.
Bor Capsule - helps with a strong back
DAY 1 FOR MOM: If really hungry on the first day, have Mug Daal Kichdi. Put more ghee. Can make with marchu, ginger, turmeric, garlic etc. Warm spices/foods are good.
DAY 2 ONWARD MOM:
1. First thing in the morning, have Suva-Methi Paani: To make this, you soak Suva overnight. In the morning, take one spoon of each in a pot and boil it for about 10 minutes. Strain this and add ghee and honey. Suva is used to clean out the leftover "kachro" from delivery.
2. First thing in the morning, have Ganthoda Nu Paani: To assist the digestive system and relieve constipation.
3. Start the day with these two waters and then a bowl of sheero.
4. Then lunch and dinner will be rotli and shak. Snacks can be fruits or cha/rotli. You can also eat coconut, khajur as snacks. Don't eat items based in diary. Don't eat frozen or old meals. Everything should be fresh and warm.
5. Daily Massage for Mom (Mom's massage oil should be Sarasya Oil, Almond Oil and Sesame Oil mixed. Can also add boiled garlic). The daily body massage (especially on the abdomen) assists in clearing out the stomach.
6. Do not drink too much water for 6 weeks. If you do, drink water boiled with Vavding. (This is also why you don't eat dry or spicy foods because you will then crave water). Vavding releases gas and is good for digestion. My grandmother says this is why you also stay away from spicy/dry foods initially, because they will also increase your water intake.
7. Continue to take all prenatals, dha and calcium pills.
8. Do not eat anything that causes gas because it will cause gas/constipation to baby. Gasey foods include: cabbage, lentils/beans, too much wheat product. Also stay away from anything processed, fast food, white flour, etc. Do not each chocolate because it can cause clogged milk ducts for those that are breastfeeding. Limit daily, especially taken alone. Cha is Okay.
Preferred foods are Bajri Na Rotla, Easily Digestable Shaks (Opo, Spinach, Suva, Onion, Tomato, Papaya, Green Lasan, Chard/Spinach Curry, Eggplant), Light Lentils (Mug Ni Daal, Moong Daal or Adad Ni Daal). Also preferred are Muthiya, Thiki Puri, Sheero, Puda.
9. Swallow one Bor Capsule daily - this helps with a strong back.
10. Take warm compress/heat to the delivery area, back and stomach daily. Per my grandmother - they used to take "shek" daily in all these areas to assist the body in healing.
11. Wear a scarf over your ears and socks on your feet for at least 6 weeks after pregnancy to keep the heat in your body. The idea is that these are all "open" pockets for wind to get inside your body, but this can make you sick so you want to prevent that wind from getting inside these open pores/holes until your body has healed.
12. Coconut Oil hair massage in mom's hair daily: You loose hair postpartum.
13. As often as possible, just be laying down for the initial 6 weeks after delivery. My grandmother told me they would just lay in bed all day for 6 straight weeks and that's how crucial it is that the body be given the proper time and method to heal from 10 months of growing/delivering a new body/soul. She would even encourage me to learn and feed while laying down. No work, no standing, no walking unless absolutely necessary. Given the Indian System of Joint Families and going home to mom for delivery - all this was possible.
Meal ideas include: Suran Shak, Dudhi Shak, Turya Shak, Dungri Shak. These are your meals for the first 4 weeks. Don't eat Bhaji because it causes diarrhea - you can eat it after one month. Eat only shak/rotli...no rice.
STARTING DAY 12 MOM:
Typically after 12 days, mom starts eating Methi Ladoo 1 piece everyday. Can eat it starting day 1 if you want. If you have this as a snack it also holds you over during a busy morning with the baby!
STARTING DAY 15 MOM:
1. Mom can add Mug Daal, Methi Bhaji Bhajya and Dudhi Bhajya to her diet, but include a lot of sesame oil on top. Have very little of this but you can have some. This kind of diet should continue for two months or until the baby seems to be digesting well. If he/she is not digesting well, mom should still continue to watch her diet and eat only easily-digestable foods.
FOR BABY EVERYDAY:
1. Castor Oil (Divel): Rubbed a smidgen of this in the baby's hair daily, placing the oil on and around the fontanel. This is especially important to do while the fontanel is still in the process of closing in order to retain the warmth. Divel is the same as castor oil and is good to apply to the roots for strong, healthy hair.
2. Baby's Massage Oil: should be only almond oil or sesame oil (warming oils)
3. Mild Diaper Rash - use Castor Oil as a natural Diaper Rash Cream to serve as a layer between the baby's skin and the diaper. One of the best things I found was to leave the baby diaper-less at least once/day so they can "air out." Being in plastic diapers 24/7 takes a huge toll on their delicate and fragile skin.
4. Suva nu paani is the same as gripe water, which is used to relieve babies who have gas and are fussy because of it.
BABY STARTING WEEK 2 (Or when the Umbilical Cord Stump falls off)
1. Bathe the baby with Chana No Lot Mixture vs. soap. Chana no Lot Mixture is made of Chana No Lot, Turmeric, Malai (or Yogurt). Optional is honey and lemon. The Turmeric is good for the skin, malai acts as a mositurizer, honey and lemon act as scrubbers.
*********************************************************************************
POSTPARTUM HELP
Traditionally in the Indian Culture, a woman returns to her mom's house post-delivery for a period of time (ranging anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months depending on who you ask). Before having my first born, I always knew that I wanted to be with my mom, I just didn't know for how long. And I definately did not realize how helpful it was going to be! I'll keep it simple. I think this was one of the best decisions I made, because it allowed me to gracefully, happily attend to all the needs of my new baby.
1. I got to take much-needed naps
2. All my meals were made for me
3. All my meals were screened for me (I was on a very strict baby-friendly diet for 6 weeks postpartum)
4. I had great company and adult conversation
5. I didn't have to worry about any trips to the store, grocery or otherwise
6. I got to take 30 minute showers, and shower daily
7. I got to focus completely on my newborn baby
8. I was happy!
9. My baby was happy. All her needs were met, happily and gracefully
10. I got much-needed advice + guidance
11. I got to take walks, often
*********************************************************************************
DIAPERS
Cloth Diapers:
I was reading a book called "Superbaby" after my daughter was born (highly recommended book), and I came across a chapter about toxins. It was then I realized that the disposable diapers I used had toxins in them! I had really come to appreciate that little blue line that told me (a new mom) that my baby needed a new diaper. Now what?? I had heard of Cloth Diapers and I'm sure many people shared the same image that came immediately to my head (dirty dirty dirty!). But I investigated, and investigated and investigated. And after sifting through 17 different types of cloth diapers, I finally decided to take the plunge. And I couldn't be happier for it! My daughter hasn't had a single diaper rash since, they are super-easy to wash and care for, they are wonderful for our environment and don't even get me started on the cost savings (huge!!). It's what we used to do before disposables came along.
Diaper Rash:
As a first time mom, one of the hardest things to deal with was the baby's first diaper rash. A few trickes I gathered... 1) Newborn skin is super sensitive so wipe gently! 2) using cloth diapers is a great solution to avoiding diaper rashes because you are replacing plastic on skin, with soft cotton. 3) give the baby diaper free time daily. With my moms help, I made a blanket for this purpose and used it for months. I would hang it out to dry and or wash it depending on the usage. 4) if the baby did get a diaper rash, I would put drivel (castor oil) on her skin. It is basically a thick lubricant which acts as a barrier between the irritated skin, and the diaper. Again, the difference between that and diaper rash cream is that the first choice is your most natural choice. So why not give it a go? You can always keep the desitin close by just in case!
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STARTING SOLIDS
Rice Cereal:
The main reason for starting our babies on rice cereal is because it is easy to mix with water and it is fortified with iron. If you take away the iron, there is no nutritional value to feeding our children rice cereal. The same applies to oatmeal. Having read several articles and talking it over with my husband, we decided to find another alternative. This always takes me to my grandmother because I think they had it right before we came along and invented "new" things! I happen to love my pediatrician and she knew my preference for "wholesome choices" so she recommended something called Ragi Flour. Ragi is a grain commonly used in South India and naturally harbors a lot of Iron, which is a major nutritional necessity for babies. Since my little one wasn't getting iron from rice cereal, oatmeal or fortified formula....I had to make sure she was getting her daily doses of Ragi Flour. I actually went through a ton of trial and error but if I had to do it again, here's what I would do.
I would exclusively breastfeed for as long as possible up to 6 months, which for me was 5 1/2 months. At that point I started noticing that I was breastfeeding 10x's/day and it wasn't filling her. I knew then that it was time to start solids. I realize that every baby is very different, but children that are exclusively breastfed have to be slowly introduced to solid foods because for so many months, breastmilk has been so easy to digest for their systems.
Sample Schedule:
Week 1-3: Fruit for Breakfast (i.e., Pear, Apple and small amounts of Avocado to start). Vegetable for lunch (i.e., Any type of Italian Squash, Butternut Squash, Sugar Snap Peas, Opo). I concluded these foods to be the easiest to digest based on experience, reading, and lots of conversations with my grandmother! Again, each child is different so for my little one - I would feed her the new foods and then watch her stool the following day. If it was soft, I would continue. If it was still hard or she was straining too much - I would feed her less or change the foods and then start over.
Week 4-6: Fruit + 2-3 tbsp of Cooked Ragi Flour for Breakfast (Fruits included those mentioned above, along with Banana, Asparagus and Sweet Potato). Lunch would be the same as above, up to 6 tbsp of any vegetable. This is where I decided to introduce Dinner - 1-2 tsp of Moong Daal mixed with 1 tsp of rice, blended together and mixed with Ghee. I also tried my best to feed her fruits/vegetables that I found at the farmers market, aka seasonal fruits/vegetables. I would go once/week and buy 2-3 vegetables and 1-2 types of fruits for the week which was usually enough.
Feeding Utensils:
In India, it was common to feed children using silver/gold plates and flatware. And as with everything else, when I investigated into "why" I found that silver and gold both have antibacterial properties.
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TODDLER KITCHEN - BREAKFAST
Here are a few food/recipe ideas for toddlers!
1. Oatmeal: Cooked with milk, agave, cinnamon and apples
2. Oatmeal: Cooked with milk, brown sugar and cinnamon
3. Vaida (Sprouted Moong Beans)
4. Dhebra (Indian Flatbread)
5. Blueberry Pancakes, Chocolate Chip/Walnut Pancakes, Apples/Cinnamon Pancakes
6. Skillet with Red Potatoes, Zucchini and Mushrooms
7. Ragi Sheero
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TODDLER KITCHEN - LUNCH OR DINNER
1. Lulya
2. Muthiya
3. Any Shak/Curry with Rotli
4. Rice and Beans
5. Daal + Bhat
6. Pasta/Pasta Noodles
7. Hakka Noodles
8. Tofu
9. Puda
10. Chodi
11. Steamed Garbanzo Beans, Kidney Beans, Edamame or Chana
12. Puri
Snacks: Fruits, Cheese, Sakkar Pada, Puri, Pauva, Mamra, Khakra, etc, etc.
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RANDOM QUESTIONS:
1. My baby has a lot of birth hair - How do I get rid of it?
The earlier you start the better but according to Motimommy you just use the Chana No Lot, Honey, Malai (or Yogurt) and Turmeric paste and scrub those areas more than the others. Within time, it will go away.
