Vaccinations and Doctors

There wasn't really much in terms of Vaccinations when I was little. However, today, its a totally different ball game altogether. My baby received her very first round of vaccination on the day she was born; three to be precise. Also, since we were first-time parents, we needed a good pediatrician; someone close to home and reachable on the phone. Most doctors in India tend not to receive phone calls and will basically demand that you come and visit them at their chambers. But I was really particular in making sure that whoever we finalized would at least be open to advising over the phone occasionally.

With the recommendation of a close family member, who is a doctor by the way, we met with the pediatrician. Seemed like a very balanced doctor and also open to listening to us as parents, which we thought was a good thing. He gave us a folder with a huge list for vaccinations; some mandatory and some were optional. Apparently, now we have painless / fever-less vaccinations, imported ones, of course. They were priced slightly more than the Indian versions, but as parents who wouldn't want to opt for the better ones, if they can afford to do so.

Anyways, the day for the second round of vaccinations soon arrived. I was pretty apprehensive; didn't know how my daughter was going to react. The dose that she had undergone at the time of birth; she hardly would have understood. But now she is over a month old and does react to certain elements. As a concerned mum, I packed her bag with her favorite toys, a bottle of milk; whatever that would be required to divert her attention once the dose was administered. My husband also accompanied us. Definitely need all the support that I can get.

There were just so many babies and toddlers at the Clinic. Some tiny, new-borns; some strapping lads. My baby girl, even though I should not be saying it, has some power of attraction. All the kids, the ones that were able to walk, were coming up to her; just to give her a cuddle. Even the mummies were so interested in activities. Soon we were called inside. There were a couple of oral vaccinations along with 2 injections. The doc after checking all her parameters, in terms of weight, height, etc. was really happy with the progress she was making. 

The oral doses were given pretty quickly. She cried a bit and I had to hold her tight for the doc to administer it properly. I was more scared of the injections. I was praying that she wouldn't be hurt. But it just went so amazingly well. The whole affair literally took a minute or so. And she cried for another minute and then she was absolutely fine. I didn't even have to take out her favorite toy.

All my doubts re the doctor were laid to rest. We as parents were happy that we chose him to take care of what is most precious in our lives. Her well-being is the most important thing for us and we always want to do what's best for her.

A whirlwind 30 days....and the first one month birthday celebration

It's been a whirlwind. 30 days went like zip. So may visitors over the past 3 weeks since we arrived from the hospital. Tons of presents; I practically have no space to store them. Numerous clothes. And of course, amenities from Jonson & Jonsons cannot go unnoticed. To top it all, Daddy dearest is so much into this new baby stuff that he lands up with all the latest stuff from Mothercare. Seemed like everything just happened in a flash!

It is now time to celebrate Mimi's one month birthday. I don't know if anyone really does this sort of a thing, but why should that stop me. I am a happy mum of a beautiful princess, and I did not intend to waste celebrating any of the occasions in my daughter's life. So out came the birthday hats, balloons and ribbons. The house was colorfully decorated. A new dress is a given for such an important occasion.

My cousin took charge of the birthday cake. Definitely had to be a chocolate one. I had tons of chocolate cake when I was pregnant. That was my only craving. Maybe that’s the reason why my daughter is always so energetic and active.

 Anyways, its evening and time to get ready for the party. My mum arranges for a table full of finger foods. Yummy! Guests arrive; uncles, aunts, grandparents, great-grandparents. My daughter is just so lucky to have such loving family, not just her mum and dad, but the extended family too. Everyone is just so excited to celebrate this occasion with her.

Mimi is dressed and ready to blow the candle (I’ll do that on her behalf) and cut the cake (again that’s going to be me doing that for her). However, I cannot but give her a little lick of the chocolate cream from the cake. It was just so tasty. The remaining pieces were cut and mum and sis served to the invites.

It was a fun day. I’m so glad I did this. Something different for my little girl. I hope she appreciates it when she grows up and understands. I've kept the candle from the cake and the cards she received today. I'm thinking of starting a scrap book for her. Just the everyday stuff  that she uses and the things you can't really find in a baby record book. 

I am happy that I am getting the opportunity to create so many lovely memories for her. And she in turn for me. Isn' that what being mum is all about?

Tricks and Tantrums

I've relocated to Planet Alien. That’s my new address. Why? I am now treading the parts of an unknown world armed with knowledge from theoretical expert No. 1 "What to Expect when you're Expecting" and of course practical expert No. 2 "my mum". Still, no babies are alike and my little one definitely does not follow in my footsteps; at least that's what my mum tells me. 

 I am literally amazed at the number of tricks she already has up her sleeve. I mean it was just the other day; I actually saw her giving my sister a wink. Followed by a cheeky smile. She’s only a few days old but already knows how to encircle her tiny little fingers around my thumb. And I also caught her giving my sleeves a tiny tug. I tried balancing her feeding bottle on the pillow whilst getting her to drink her milk and she successfully managed to do that too.

I’ve always seen other babies scared of the water. They howl and cry when mummies try giving them their baths. But not my girl! She’s a pro, through and through! She splashes water all over; loves to shampoo and adores lathering in her baby body wash. She turns into one of the Roman babies, bundled in her bath towel. We have to have her milk ready to be served to her immediately after bundling her into the towel. She won’t even wait to get dressed. Post the drinking session is nose powdering time. A new dress ( and I literally mean she has tons of new dresses) comes out of the closet; by the way; she already has dedicated closet space. Did I have that when I was a baby too? Got to remember to ask my mum.

With all these chores out of the way; it’s nap time! 

Now that I’ve discussed all the good bits; this does not in any way mean that my darling daughter is an angel. Her tantrums are loud enough for even my neighbors to hear; not just at night but even during the day. Especially during the times when I have to change her nappy and she’s almost on the verge of dozing off. Again, I literally tear my hair out when she refuses to drink the required amount of milk. No amount of coaxing or pleading will get her to take to the bottle again. Even I want to; I can’t forcefully put it into her mouth either. She just closes her little lips so tight! She's going to one stubborn kid. 

Frustrations of being a first-time mother. But, she’s a bundle of amazement. Every day is a surprise package and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

First day Hiccups and Decisions

The one thing that I was really looking forward to, now that I've come back home, is to spend a full 24 hours with my daughter. During the first eventful evening and in the midst of all the shopping and baby paraphernalia, time went by pretty quickly. My first day at home was almost over; which I got my sister to again video tape; excuse being my poor memory. And I also would love my daughter to watch what her first day at home was like, when she's a little older. 

By the way, let me clarify that I've actually shifted to my mum's place. Reason being, I'm no baby expert and neither is hubby dear. So really can't take the chance of doing everything myself. That would be a big risk which I wasn't prepared to take, just yet! Maybe, I'll be more confident when I decide I want a sibling for my daughter.

I was instructed by the pediatrician about feeding the baby on demand. What a major disruption to my schedule. I mean, I just fed her like an hour ago and she's hungry again! I've been reading up on some info on the net where there is still an ongoing debate about feeding the baby on schedule or on demand. I guess it’s okay for homemakers or mums who are on a long term sabbatical to opt for the second. But for working mums, it’s going to be a nightmare. After the first few attempts, I decide to put her on a 3 hour schedule.

Next thing on the list - nappy changes. Again, a difficult one to crack. Plus, in the middle of this scorching summer in India, I'm afraid that my daughter will get severe heat or nappy rashes. Judiciously, and also an environmentally friendly solution, I choose cloth diapers, at least during the day. I realize it’s a lot of washing up at the end of the day, but on the whole it’s a much better option. I depend on Pampers for nights, just so that I can get at least 3 hours of sleep at a stretch. 

My greatest worry as night draws closer, especially after my very surprising night-time experience at the hospital, is how long my darling daughter actually sleeps at a stretch, or will she sleep at all. Since, she was kept in the Hospital Nursery (as that is the rule in India), I don't really know her sleeping patterns. And again, I've heard of horrific stories about babies not sleeping at all throughout the entire night. 

She's in a playful mood. Dinner over. A later supper, over and done with. Two happy-nappy sessions pass by. It's 2am. She's awake and so am I. I sing, I rock. Nothing works for now. My mum tries some techniques too, but does not succeed. At 2.30am, my dad walks into the room, makes a weird face at her and says, "Abracadabra Gili Gili "... or something similar to this.

Magic. She starts dozing off. It's 3am. And that's how my first day ends. 

Home. New Role. New Life.


I figured that coming back home would change things in my favor. That wasn't to be. Why? All this time at the hospital, I didn't actually have to look after the baby as much; apart from her regular snack times and mid-night visits, it was fairly quiet. But now that I'm home, there aren't any Nurses to look after her. She's not going to be a surprise night time visitor anymore. She is going to be with me 24/7. 


Another set of realizations dawns upon me. I've just been promoted to a new role in life. The job description includes:

1. Full-time nurse
2. Provider of meals at regular intervals & Burps
3. Cleaner: When she decides that she's had enough and just wants to vomit it out
4. Nappy changer: Every 3 to 4 hour intervals
5. Bath-time assistant: My mum is the real expert here
6. Singer: In case she wants to be sung to sleep
7. Expert Rocker: For the times she wants to be rocked to sleep
8. Entertainer: Making funny and weird faces, for the times she's bored and requires me to entertain her. And   by the way, I am damn good at this.


My very first day home and I am practically swarmed with phone calls. Everyone is just so excited. Especially my friends who don't have kids yet. New Daddy goes on a shopping spree and I see a new Baby Cot, Diaper Bag, Baby Clothes and tons of other stuff arrive in the evening. Instructions are read out, and with a few trial and error attempts, hubby darling and my sis manage to set up the cot. Even a cot mobile appears from nowhere. I just stare, flabbergasted! I mean, she can't even look that far yet. But who am I to argue! My daughter should get the best of what her daddy can afford. Nothing less will do. I reckon, that's the reason why they get pampered in the first place. Hmmm......Mums, always the arch enemies, for daughters! 


Another revelation! Babies really do make great shoppers out of their dads. He probably wouldn't spend half that amount of time shopping for my birthday gift. But when it comes to his dainty darling daughter, the ball game changes completely. He has all the time in the world, just to sit and look at her. 


I see everything in a new light. My husband, my family and even me. Life has changed drastically and I am still running hard to catch up.

Hospital to Home.....At last!

The day finally comes when my doctor decides it’s time to get rid of me; meaning send me back home! I do confess that I have been nagging her for the past few days to discharge me, so she finally comes around. Can't wait to be home, in my familiar surroundings. A seven day hospital stay was way too long. I guess, it serves me right for having chosen an old-school gynecologist. A brilliant one, no doubt about that! 

It's kind of funny really, that I am going home with a new addition to my family. I mean, only a week back, it was just me and my husband. I was the center of everybody's attention for the past nine months and now everything has undergone such a quick transformation. The focus has completely shifted to someone totally new. Sometimes it's just a little hard to catch up with it. 

Anyways, my mum was with me at the hospital already, so she helped me pack all my stuff. A quick call to hubby dear to inform him of the good news. He arrives pretty soon with my dad and sister. Everyone is excited. Secretly, I feel a little jealous. But I suppose, I've had my share of this full-on attention when my mum brought me home from the hospital too.

The nurse comes into my room with the baby. A big folder in her hand. Another list of instructions from her. I hope I manage to remember it all. Or it’s my mum who’s going to be my savior. Darling daughter has been bathed and her hair combed perfectly. A cute, new, pink colored dress. I made sure it was pink. A little stereotyped but I don’t really care. New socks and booties. A small matching bonnet too. I could just look at her for hours. Was this beautiful little girl really mine, for life?

All formalities complete, I am ready to leave. I wanted to etch this journey in my mind. I have a pretty awful memory and everyone in my family knows that. Sufferers are my mum and husband mostly. My solution to the problem, of course, just video tape it. I load my sister up with a list of photographing instructions, right angle, wrong angle and tons of other angles. End up confusing her more. 

The car is brought around to the hospital driveway. With the baby in my arms, I slide in. My baby is out of her cocoon and is now a part of the real world. We take the shortest route possible and arrive home quickly. My grandparents are waiting in anticipation to see her for the very first time!

Home at last! My grandmother is brought into the living room in her wheelchair. She wants to take her great-granddaughter in her arms. She kisses her on the forehead. She looks up at me and says, "I never thought I'd be able to see this day. God has been very kind to me. Thank you for this beautiful gift!"

And I couldn't have asked for anything more.

My surprise night time visitor........

No it was not my darling husband with a Chinese take-away. Although I was pretty tired of the tasteless hospital food and did on a number of occasions over the past few days think of begging someone to smuggle in some tasty food. Even home cooked food would be welcome. I did. No one agreed. Even my friends wouldn't help. Traitors. Just wait till you have your babies and I will be waiting to take my revenge. 

Alas! Disappointment persists. I will have to make do with "Hospital Food" until I reach home. 

Coming back to the identity of my surprise night time visitor, it wasn't my mum who ought to have been there that night, but wasn't. I was alone in the room. It was only a couple of days since the delivery and I was just getting used to some form of sleep with all the tubes attached, here and there. I do seem be to cribbing a lot over the lack of sleep, haven't I? Since it’s just the beginning I reckon it will take me some time to get used to the baby routine.

I see a ghostly figure at 12 in the night creeping into my room. I try to figure out who it might be. Nurses don't come unless called to the room and all my medications for the day were over and done with. 

And then I hear a chuckle! The light is switched on and my dear daughter is still awake. I demand an explanation from the nurse. Why is she isn't asleep? With glaring eyes, the nurse tells me that, "She's been in a hyper playful mood and refuses to sleep. In fact, her teeny weenie baby laughs were creating a minor ruckus and waking up all the remaining babies in the nursery." Opppssssss! Wasn't expecting that for sure.

Instant flashback! On one of my last visits to the gynecologist she asked me to lie down for a check-up. With her stethoscope, she's exploring my baby bump to check the baby's heartbeat. Normally it wouldn't really take much time. However, it was not one of the normal days. I find her stethoscope making multiple rounds of my baby bump. So after a long 5 minutes, I ask her what the problem is. And she said, "The baby is playing football." So I ask her why. She answered, "Every time I place the stethoscope to hear the heartbeat, she turns." The entire process took a solid 10 minutes to complete.

That should have rung warning bells. But obviously I didn't think much of it then. Earth calling mummy, the nurse hands her over to me. Maybe I can get to sleep, she says. Was she joking? If she couldn't do it, I definitely wouldn't know how. I've only been a mum for 2 days. Don't forget that! 

Surprise! Surprise! I find the little one dozing off with a smile on her face. The nurse gives me a wink. Maybe it's all in the magic touch of a mother's hand.