FIRST 8 STEPS AFTER A POSITIVE PREG-TEST AT HOME!

The miraculous + (positive) sign brings in whole lot of emotions – happiness, content, feeling of being complete, nervousness, confusion, worries, anxiety, and the list goes on….

Be it a planned pregnancy or a surprise pregnancy all of us have questions for the life ahead! Definitely pregnancy in itself has a lot of twists and turns but like it is said

“Rome wasn’t conquered in one day”

It is difficult to conquer the pregnancy knowledge and steps in one day!

Small baby steps that are full of patience and compassion would help you to enjoy the most wonderful phase of your life.

Following is the list of things that I did once I found out about a tiny little life within me! 😊

1. BE IN THE MOMENT, FEEL CONTENT AND ENJOY IT!

Ah! I still remember one of the most beautiful memory of our life!

Early morning, we checked for the miraculous positive sign! After planning for months this day was filled with so much of joy, warmth and happiness. We just celebrated it with listening to good music, enjoying the moment with just lazing around and having a lovely breakfast!

I would highly recommend this celebration before the pregnancy symptoms like nausea, sadness, super excitement, panic and what not kicks in 😉.

2. PLAN YOUR PREGNANCY DETAILS

A couple of days after your discovery the tendency of being a responsible parent kicks in!

You of course start saving for the baby’s arrival but what you have to also consider is a healthy and safe pregnancy.

The monthly check ups and tests definitely add up to a good amount and thus you should consider a supported pregnancy usually offered by your employers. I would also suggest enquiring about the insurance policy coverage, which hospitals are covered by your employer’s Mediclaim policy and what all documents are required to be submitted at the time of claims post-delivery.

Also, a support system is needed during pregnancy. Check with your mother and mother-in-law if they would be happy to support you at home. I would say even moral support has worth!

3. DOWNLOAD A PREGNANCY APP

It’s about adding some fun to the pregnancy! There are 1000s of pregnancy apps available in the app stores that offer you infotainment as well as empower you with some really good knowledge. The first thing any pregnancy app does is calculate your due date by understanding your LMP - last menstrual period date. Post identification of the due date you are exposed to a step by step baby development guide that is just so intriguing and fun to know! I will share a list of amazing apps in my next article for your easy reference😊

 4. FIND AND BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH OB-GYN

Depending upon the hospital and Mediclaim policy, short list 2-3 OB-GYNs and enquire about their background with your friends or Google reviews or just by visiting the space. Many a times the environment in itself makes you feel uncomfortable and thus you can decide if you would like to go ahead with the complete pregnancy service or not.

Once you are comfortable with one of the doctors please book an appropriate appointment and visit them for pregnancy confirmation. On your first visit the doctor might prescribe a few pregnancy confirmation tests and sonography to rule out any false pregnancy alarms.

 5. TELL YOUR NEAR AND DEAR ONES

Once our doctor and tests confirm our pregnancy we personally informed our parents and very close friends about our content feeling of being pregnant!

Going social is definitely a personal choice however as per old wives tales one should wait till 3 complete months. The core reason behind it is the chances of miscarriage is higher in the first term.

Before you disclose your pregnancy on social media it is important to talk to your employer and feel supported during the tenure. As per Indian Maternity and work law a pregnant woman is supported with law for not doing harmful work, protection from dismissals and right to return to same position. However, it is important that you and your employer are comfortable with the life stage and are open to some flexibility as per your conditions.

 6. STOP ANTI-PREGNANCY HABITS |ROUTINES |DOINGS!

Well, drinking, smoking and other unhealthy habits already have their bad pockets reserved before pregnancy itself. Now that you are in initial stages of pregnancy I would suggest you to stop eating any fast food and foods of hot constituents. If you are one of those who sleep on your stomach you should stop immediately as it offers less breathing space for your tiny one in later stages. Try not to have a random routine as it would cause an upsetting tone altogether in your life!

 7. START AND MAINTAIN YOUR HEALTHY HABITS

Once you have a good habit you should continue it, especially one related to eating, sleeping and exercising. Based on the many studies, doctors suggest to maintain a 45 mins to 1-hour moderate to light exercise routine. Well I will definitely write a complete article about Vihar soon 😊

 8. CLICK YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PHOTO

This one I regret missing for myself. After you get into the pregnancy mode it would be worth while to go down the memory lane and enjoy admiring yourself. You can also do a per month shoot and see your bump grow! It is really cool and amazing! ( which i will share soon in DIY pregnancy shoot article :))

Let me know how your first steps went and if you had any of the additional first steps to add towards your journey of popping unicorn!

रिchie

PREGNANCY @ HOME REPORT CARD!

Are you feeling pregnant and cannot wait to know the good news?

I was in the same state of mind when I purchased my first pregnancy test kit. I was late by 10 days and wanted to know if it was good news for us. But to my surprise it wasn’t! 

The next cycle my curiosity grew like a cat and I bought 3-4 kits upfront just after a couple of weeks of ovulation 😉 but I ended up using only one and that was good news.😀

Here are quick tips on testing your pregnancy at home!

• PREGNANCY TEST KIT - WHERE TO BUY:

Ideally you will get pregnancy kit at every medical store. If you are feeling hesitant to buy it from a chemist, please click at the following link to buy it on Amazon. 😊

Link: 

Fine note: if you purchase this kit I will get a very tiny commission. This commission is not being charged to you anyway – so please do click to buy the kit without hesitation.

• WHAT TO CONSIDER WHILE BUYING THE KIT?

The kit detects the hormone called hCG. Dr. Shipra explains the home pregnancy test as measurement of hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone which is produced and detected well in urine only a few weeks after egg has been implanted in the uterus.

Ideally what you should look at is that the kit is sealed properly when you purchase, as air exposure might get you false results.

Next would be to check the sensitivity of the kit. Few kits available in India have high sensitivity with detect-ability of 6 days earlier. You just have to check miu/ml while purchasing. On an average the sensitivity of 20 -25 miu/ml is available in market which detects pregnancy 3- 4 days after a missed period. The lower the count the earlier is the detection of pregnancy. 

• WHEN TO TAKE THE TEST?

As explained by majority of unicorn mothers as well as Dr.Sathe, 3 - 4 days after a missed period is ideal for taking the pregnancy test as pregnancy hormones are on the surge and could be detected just after a missed period.

For a curious soul like me 3 weeks after ovulation which is somewhere just couple of days before your cycle date could give you positive results as well!  - It’s my personal experience. 😉

So, the pregnancy test window is between 1 and 2 days just prior to your cycle up until 5 to 10 days after the missed cycle.

• WHY NOT TO TAKE THE TEST PRIOR?

An early test would mean that egg might not have been implanted or hCG production is not in a detectable range which is 5miu/ml.

Also, a negative pregnancy test acts as a negative stimulus to your brain which brings in negative emotions which may lead to an undetectable miscarriage as well in the form of periods.

Like other unicorn mothers suggested one should repeat the tests every alternate day if they get an earlier negative result till the next cycle or 8^th week of the pregnancy – I think that explains my move to buy 3 - 4 kits. 😉

• HOW TO USE THE PREGNANCY TEST KIT?

Step 1: Happy Mornings: Mornings are best to take the tests because your hormones are set to give you best results in the morning. So, the first pee of the morning needs to be collected in a small clean container. I would suggest you to keep the container ready in the night itself so you don’t mess around your house while you are a sleepy head. 😉

Step 2: Place well: Once you are done with the first morning routine get the collected sample in the area where you have your kit placed. Open the kit and place the kit on a flat surface. Place the collected sample next to the kit. 

"DO NOT OPEN THE KIT BEFORE YOU COLLECT THE SAMPLE."

Step 3: Fill up Drop out: Fill in the dropper with 4 -5 drops. Add 3 -4 drops into the circular section of the test card, indicated as S in few test cards.

  Step 4: Yeh 3-minutes😉: 

“Yeh teen minute aapse koi nahi cheen sakta!! 😉”

Wait time of 3 -5 minutes as instructed on the test card package is the longest time for any women. It seems like endless span of time that is full of butterflies inside you! These 3 -5 minutes as explained by most of the unicorn mothers is filled with anxiousness, nervousness and a lot of hope!

Well it is difficult to stop your mind from wandering but what you can do is just sit / stand next to the test card to just see the moment come alive – with both the strip turning color! Trust me it is the best feeling in the world!

Step 5: It’s time for results:

Read the results as-

1. 2 Strips as Positive – Congratulations! Welcome to the club.
2. Only C Strip – Negative result – Please don’t be disheartened – try it after couple of days. 😊
3. Only T strip – Negative / Invalid – there had been some mistake in the test. Please do repeat your test.

• FURTHER ACTION:

Well if you get it positive I would suggest thrilling your husband with the news and then scheduling an appointment with a gynecologist!

If you have T strip and very faint C strip, I would suggest you to schedule the appointment with your doctor to get the pregnancy verified. In many cases when the conception happens in the latter half of the cycle the test card could show false results.

Enjoy deducing and popping unicorns!

रिchie

8 EARLY PREGNANCY CUES - BEYOND BOLLYWOOD SYMPTOMS 😉

When we were planning our parenthood… we imagined our first pregnancy symptoms to be something like…

“Craving and hogging on sour food”

or

“Running to get the spew out of me” and realising it as very first symptom of being pregnant

or

“Falling because of Dizziness and weakness” post which when I wake up in front of doctor and my husband congratulates me for being pregnant… Blush! Blush! Blush!

BUT REALITY IS WAY BEYOND ALL THESE FILMY SYMPTOMS 😉

In Real life one doesn’t actually realize the symptoms until she misses her first, which is already 4 – 6 weeks of the pregnancy.

Well majority of women do not realize the difference in early pregnancy symptoms until they check it with home pregnancy test.

So, the biggest symptom is:

• MISSING CYCLE

Well 28 – 30 days just goes by in the spur of a moment and it takes at least a week or 10 days to realize that your cycle is missing or is late! It’s when most of the women tend to check their status by using at home pregnancy test kit.
To one’s surprise at home pregnancy tests detects 5 to 6 weeks pregnancy as well. It’s the easiest and confident cue to be relied on!

Other cues are camouflage in nature.

These symptoms are similar to PMS (Premenstrual syndrome) symptoms for few.

•   CRAVINGS OR AVERSIONS

Yes! Movies tell you the truth 😉

What is not true is the likability for only sour taste!

Many women experience heightened sense of taste. Cravings or aversions can be for sweet, sour or hot food. There is no set rule for it! Sometimes, your favorite food / fragrances could become aversions and not so likable food / fragrances makes you feel good!

It’s a mysterious change in pallet that every woman faces only post 7 – 8 weeks, says Dr. Sathe. It is not a very early pregnancy symptom!

•   CONTINUOUS NAUSEOUS FEEL

Are you nauseous most of the time?

This symptom when seen in combination to overdue period could be in favor of pregnancy. However, if it is only an affair of one or two days please consider it to be a PMS symptom and not a Pregnancy symptom. Though first term of the pregnancy is known for nausea but in majority of cases the morning sickness kicks-in only after deducing the pregnancy.

•    BOOB-E-TRAP

Heaviness | Sensitivity | Tenderness are the symptoms that many feel while expecting and before deducing the pregnancy, due to hormonal changes. However, the occurrence is very low and is been perceived to be one of the common cyclic PMS symptom as well. So, this as well is not a sure shot symptom.

•     DULL ACHE IN THE LOWER ABDOMEN AND/OR BACK

Well this is the most common symptom for PMS and early pregnancy too due to body's preparation for the new life inside you. The slightest of this cue much before the date could mean you are pregnant! Checking with your doctor or at home test should be your next step!

•  FATIGUE | MOOD SWINGS | DIZZINESS | EXCESSIVE SLEEPING

Well hormonal changes and deficiency of glucose in blood might affect your activeness and could make you feel lethargic, tired and sleepy all the time. You would be surprised that husbands are the first ones to pick this 😉.

If you feel this on a continuous basis just before or after 1/2 days overdue of your cycle – please keep yourself hydrated, eat well in small intervals to maintain your sugar levels and check it with at home pregnancy test!

•  START OF THE CYCLE LIKE FEEL

For a few women the feeling of start of the cycle heightens before they get to know about the pregnancy. However, Dr. Shipra says it is purely a psychological phenomenon due to overdue of the date.

• IMPLANTATION BLEEDING

When I was waiting for the time to test I did vouch for this particular symptom which happens in between 6 – 12 days after the egg is fertilized as per American Pregnancy Association. Considering it is almost the time of the arrival for your date this can be easily misinterpreted.

If you have a very light bleeding with no discomfort for hardly a day or two then it might be implantation bleeding, else it is your normal cycle. Dr. Shipra suggests to not get confused with this symptom as it is rarest of the rare symptoms seen in hardly 1 out of 100 women.

Though these symptoms are vague to the core and have some or the other implications, however, if you feel and you think you are pregnant, I would say follow your instinct and go ahead with the at home test 😊

You will be surprised to see it positive!

रिchie

MYSTERIOUS DATE OF THE SPERM AND THE EGG!

Once a successful act - 250 million Sperms leaves their home ground and enter the unknown world of Female reproductive system. Once they enter this Maya Nagri (Magical world) they fall in love       with the Egg!

To decide the true winner these 250 million sperms, tend to participate in a race to be the one who can spend their whole life with the egg!

Image Courtesy: 3 Idiot Movie

This race is full of obstacles and barriers:

• THE EXTREME PRESSURE: The Acidic nature of Vagina in itself poses a strong survival issues for many sperms. The acidic PH inside the vagina kills few sperms as soon as they enter.
• IMMUNE MORTAL COMBAT: Once the fittest sperms pass on to the next phase women’s white blood cells combats sperms as they are detected as enemies in the system leaving only 2 million sperms to enter the cervix.
• VICIOUS SWIM THROUGH: Post entrance in the cervix sperms swim through the cervical mucous and vaginal discharge. Depending on the stage of the cycle the texture and consistency of this liquid is either dense or sheer. During Ovulation as discussed in the 5 visible cues for deducing the magical window of ovulation sheer and thinner liquid compliments the movement of the sperm and makes the environment conducive for them to survive. On the other hand, before and after the Ovulation this liquid is dense and makes the movement of the sperm difficult.
• THE CURVY MAZE: Overall the structure and shape of female reproductive system is complicated itself. Many sperms get caught in the different spaces and cavities and there-by get lost.

Image Courtesy: poppingunicorns.com

The Mediterranean nature of the maze was not enough. To add to it the motion to the left or right of the fallopian tube gets hold of a lot of sperms.

While it all seems really full of struggle but there are few arrangements done by the egg as well to make their journey a bit easy-going.

• NEUTRALIZED LOVE IN THE AIR: Usually sperms are prepared for acidic environment and mortal combat through its seminal liquid. This Seminal liquid neutralizes as an effect of the acidic environment and secretes a sugar that nourishes the sperm and act as a protector during the mortal combat with white blood cells.
• EGG GIVES CLEAR HINT: During egg formation the hormones sends in clear signal to the sperms. These signals acts as a directional hint for the sperms and aids them in selecting the right direction in the maze.
• STRONG CUPID FORCE: Near to the ovulation date the hormones that are produced to help the egg grow also enter the women’s bloodstream. These hormones indicate the muscles of the womb, that are closest, to start a rhythmic contraction so as to slowly move the sperms towards the entrance of the fallopian tube.
• A TINY VALVE OF LOVE: Once the muscles of the womb pulls the sperms near to the fallopian tube the tiny opening of the fallopian tube acts as a valve. This valve opens only for very few sperms and there-by letting only few sperms inside the tube. This is also a process of elimination by women’s body for getting only the best sperms closest to the egg.
• FUN FILLED WAITING AREA: Once inside the fallopian tube Sperm are in the safest environment and they hang out at the walls of the fallopian tube till the egg is realized. In this situation only five to six sperms are successful out of 250 million.
• THE FINAL PROPOSAL: Once the movement of egg is sensed these few sperm get detached from the wall and move to the middle of the Fallopian tube to meet the egg they are in love with 😊.

Once the fastest sperm meets the egg it presents itself with a combination of powerful thrust of the tail and a bag full of enzymes that melts the heart (the outer membrane) of the egg before the egg says yes to the relationship. Once the egg says yes to one sperm it hardens the outer membrane so as to stop entrance of other sperms. Post few hours the tail of the sperm is detached. The chromosome inside the head of the sperm meets the inner part of the membrane to ignite the ray of a new life!

The winning sperm travels only 10 -12 centimeters yet faces a lot of hurdles and challenges to meet the love of his life – something similar to our real lives!

Be active! Be Happy! And Be the winning sperm 😉 to pop a unicorn 😊

रिchie