How do you manage with Gestational Diabetes?

Do you have gestational diabetes? You are not sure how to keep it in control?  Ask me, I will tell you my experience with it and how did I manage to have a Normal Delivery.

Do you have any family history of diabetes? If you have, there are more chances for you to get gestational diabetes.

My mom has Diabetes and my gynecologist told me to keep in check of my sugar levels during pregnancy since I have more chances of getting gestational diabetes than someone without any family history. Even though my sugar levels were in control, it was on a higher side during my first test itself. But I was confident that it will be in control since I don’t eat sweets much. But still I avoided sugar completely.

In India you get pregnant means there will be a sweet shop in your house next day. All your relatives and friends will come with those deep fried items. But I would agree that things are getting changed as well. Now a day’s people also come with real nutritious items. My relatives and friends were also not different; some of them bought those traditional sweets and snacks while some of them bought fruits and nuts and so on.

Whatever I liked I ate, just avoiding sugar in my milk. Third month my gynecologist asked me to take the blood tests again. This time it was not below the margin but above. I didn’t know what to do, and trust me the moment I found that my sugar levels are high I felt like eating sweets.

Doctor gave me 15 days and suggested to reduce my sugar intake and get the sugar levels in control. Doctor also warned me that as the pregnancy progress sugar levels will go higher. I was already controlling my sugar intake. How could I reduce my blood sugar now? BS and I got so worried; we knew the complications which might occur if the sugar levels are not controlled.

After 15 days we checked our sugar levels again and still it’s above the margin! That’s when our Gynecologist suggested us to consult a diabetes doctor. We met her the next day itself and she has helped me to keep my sugar levels in control.

Continue reading to know more about Gestational diabetes and what I followed to keep my blood sugar levels in control and have a normal delivery.

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a condition where you have too much sugar (Glucose) in your blood during pregnancy.

This happens when your body is not producing enough of a hormone called Insulin which helps the muscles and tissues in your body to use blood sugar for energy and to store any blood sugar that is not needed.

While you are pregnant your body has to make extra insulin because hormones from the placenta make your body to less responsive to it. If your body can’t meet this extra demand your blood sugar levels will rise and you may develop gestational diabetes. Having too much sugar in your blood is not good for you and the baby. So we have to be extra careful.

How ill my diabetes affect my unborn baby?

If your sugar levels are not controlled it will cross the placenta to your baby. This would create a small risk of hi/her growing larger than normal.

A big baby can make labour and birth more difficult, increasing the risk of serious birth problems.

Babies born to mums with diabetes are also more prone to obesity and type2 diabetes later in life.

But most of the times the baby will be healthy because it is spotted and treated.

My routine to have the sugar levels in control.

I was able to control my gestational diabetes by eating healthy and exercising.

·         Half an hour walk in morning and evening.

·         Distribute your food intake between three meals and two snacks each day

·         Make sure you eat a Healthy breakfast

·         Eat reasonable portions of starch

·         Include whole grain varieties in your diet.

·         Your food should be high in complex carbohydrates and low in saturated fat.

·         Avoid added sugars.

·         Avoid fruit Juices

·         Eat plenty of high fiber food

o   Fresh fruits and vegetables but limit fruit portions

o   wholegrain breads and cereals

·         Do not skip meals

My daily routine:

6:00am–One glass of milk with a small size fruit

6:30am–half an hour walking

8.00am–Breakfast cereals including fruits

10.30am–salad with vegetables and fruits

1.00pm-Lunch

3.30pm–Small size fruit

5.30pm–Tea with snack

7.30pm–Dinner

9.30pm-Small size fruit

Foods to Avoid:

White Flour

Processed grains

Cereals with lots of sugar

White bread

Canned vegetables

Pickles

Canned fruits

Fruit drinks and juices

Fried items

Fruits like Banana, Grapes, and Sapodilla

If diet and exercise aren't enough to keep you well, you may need to take medication to control your blood sugar levels or to inject insulin.

Following a healthy diet and exercise helped me to keep my sugar levels in control. I had a normal delivery and my baby’s weight was normal.

Most of the cases Gestational diabetes will go away post-delivery. I am lucky that it’s the same for me as well.

Images from : www.google.com

Original post appeared in https://divsmoments.wordpress.com/

A beautiful Rose

Beautiful Rose

A beautiful sweet rose

The soft velvety petals

Smooth to the touch

Odorous perfume tickles your nose

In countless colors shining bright

Sharp thrones, but still the favorite

Two beautiful roses

Just for you my dear

Which color will I choose?

Red, white or any other

A cold moon rises and

Rose petals whirling in the wind

Whichever color I choose

Doesn’t matter since its rose

So beautiful a flower

The sweetest flower that glows

Toys…….Toys…..Toys

Here are some of Adi’s favorite Toys.

Sometimes he will be font of these toys, but sometimes, he likes to play with kitchen utensils, small furniture’s or anything which he is not supposed to play with.

When we were pregnant, I and BS didn’t know what toys to buy for the kid. We were not sure whether it’s gonna be a Boy or a Girl. Unlike some countries, in India fetus sex will not be revealed during scans. So, we decided to buy everything only after the kid is born.

When kid is born, BS got so many toys which a small kid will not even look at. He was not aware of the things to buy for babies. Then once he started looking at things, we bought him everything which he looks at!

First Toy

This is the first toy which he touched with wonder, in a shop when we went to buy some clothes for him.

Music Car

This is the first music car which he listened to and stopped crying.

Adi's Car

This one we call Aid’s car and the driver as Aid’s driver. He moves head when the car moves. Now Adi has taken out the driver from his seat and play with the car alone.

Julie

Her name is Julie. My MIL kept the name for her. I know she looks like a guy rather than a girl. Adi’s favorite one. I mock a kiss from Julie always to get one from Adi.

Baby

This one is my SIS first gift for Adi. He calls it baby and play with him like a real baby.

One Simple Change which can cause a Positive Impact in Your Life

In this busy world life has becoming hectic day by day. What we can see is pressure molding up from all the sides. But sometimes a small change which you introduce in your life might Impact it in a positive way. This might reduce the stress in your life.

As a kid I was a morning person. But when went to college, the entire habits changed. Hostel life has slowly changed the routine. After college I had to work in night shift where there was no question of waking up early. That’s when you start sleeping. So, fresh mornings were distant dream. After quitting the job also I was not able to wake up in the morning since getting sleep in the night was very rare.

But after long struggle I came back to the habit of waking up early and getting the fresh air. When I start waking up early I found it really helpful in lot of ways.

Get up early and find the world waking up in front of you. Close the eyes for a second and feel the freshness boosting inside you. See the milkman delivering milk, see the newspaper boy dropping the paper from outside the gate in each house, and see the next door aunt drawing Rangoli in front of the house. How nice it is. How quite the world is!

This quietness and calmness will verve inside you. This will make your day start with new energy. This will slowly change your life from pressure to calmness and happiness. I assure you.

Early birds are always more likely to be successful, healthy and happy. Wake up early and get a boost in our productivity, health or well-being.

People, who are already productive and happy, stay with what you know. Mornings might not be for everybody. But if you are looking for a better way to improve the way you live, consider waking up earlier. You never know, it could make a huge different. I am sure most of you will Thank me!

To Know more about the benefits of waking up early visit: http://divyarevindran.blogspot.in/2013/10/why-we-should-wake-up-early-in-morning.html

Images : www.google.com

First Cry Day

I will want to tell you about this day. I can call it as the first cry day since Adi was not a cry baby from the time he is born. He cried if there is some severe reason.

I had to spend 5 days in hospital post-delivery. Everything went smooth and doctor has given discharge sheet post five days. We were so happy and excited that we are going to take Adi home. Delivery happened in my hometown and it takes almost an hour journey from hospital to my home. After finishing the hospital settlements, we were able to start only in the evening. A heavy rainfall has also slowed down our journey. It was almost eight o clock in the evening when we reached my place.

As soon as we entered the house Adi started crying. No one knows why. I tried to feed him and make him sleep. He will sleep for five minutes and start crying again. Both his experienced grandmothers also tried all they could, but he wouldn't stop for anything. I and BS got so worried. We didn't know what to do. My dad was not tensed, may be because he had more experience than us. At last after four hours of crying and consoles we decided to take Baby back to the hospital.

As soon as we entered the car having him wrapped up in a woolen cloth, he stopped crying. He was calm and slept nicely until we met his doctor next day morning. Duty doctor available in the night was not able to find anything wrong with the baby. But still me and BS decided to stay back at the hospital until his pediatrician arrives next day morning. Pediatrician did a complete checkup of the baby and confirmed that he is alright. Maybe he was confused with the new place or was just feeling cold due to heavy rain.

Anyway, this was the first cry day for our baby and a start of many horror days to come for us.

Potty Training - Better!

I have not started potty training for Adi yet. Night time he still sleeps with the diapers on. Day time I leave him with his casual dresses.

Adi thinks that the entire house is toilet. He pees every corner of the house. Today Adi peed on our bad and I changed and washed the bed sheet, seeing that Adi did his job on my dried cloths kept in sofa. What will I tell? How will I make him understand mom has very little time after running behind him, so tell mom every time he feels to go so she will take him to the toilet.. No way that’s happening. Every time he pees and looking at me with an emotion “mama, I just felt and it came... What else I will do?”

It's not your mistake baby. It's completely alright for you to go anytime anywhere. It's mom's mistake. Mom should have started potty training loooong back...listen to your parent’s mom......

Weekend Stories

Monsoon has started everywhere, but Chennai you can't expect to have rain in early June. Here still sun is at its peak. Weekends can be spent only at some malls or beaches. We have not taken Adi to beach yet, so the other option is mall. There is a not so bad mall near to us and weekend was obviously about some window shopping there.

No, this weekend was not one like that. BS has decided to change his phone. That means, me spending time with Adi at some gadget’s shops... Believe me BS shops more time than me. Especially he is crazy about advanced mobile phones. Lucky or not so, my MLaw decided to come with us. So, it's about we two with Adi while BS selecting his new phone. He has already made his mind to get one iPhone, but he will go to all the other shops and make the agent to talk about advanced features of other phones. At last, will end up buying iPhone from an Apple Store. Anyway, he has given us a good idea to have a coffee from a restaurant while he does the purchase. My MLaw wanted to try some doses in these mall restaurants, so we opted one over a coffee shop. BS idea turned out not so good since we had to spend almost three hours inside the restaurant with a thirteen-month-old who is ready to explore anything on the table. Ours or nearby doesn't matter for him.

Waiter gave us a middle table first, but later we moved to a side table with cushion seats which will be easy for us to keep Adi sit for some time. Don't think he sat their silently, he is a one year old, just started walking. He tried all he could to go down. But we didn't allow him to and had him sit on the table with a spoon to make the table a drum. He got the entire restaurants attention. People enjoyed him very much. We sat there for three hours having just one coffee and a Masala Dosa. Two with a one-year old sitting in a six seat was too much while there was a queue waiting for a table.

Then this lady came with two men sat in our next seats. Like to everyone else Adi started showing his charm to them as well. As soon as this lady saw Adi, she fell in love with him. She wanted to take few of his pictures, and I didn't hesitate to allow. Then she requested to hold him. I thought Adi might not go but to my surprise he went with her since he saw the big phone she has in her hand. She was playing and enjoying with him all the time until her friends finished their coffee. I felt so happy that a stranger like her loved Adi from the first time they met. He is a kid everyone will love him for sure, but all might not show that love like she did. I didn't even ask her name, but I will never forget her face for sure. Not the love she showed to Adi. Wherever she is I thank her for that and wish we meet again.

After three hours or so, BS came back. And told he has not bought the phone yet and will go to the Apple Store. I told you....

Adi was so excited this weekend since his Achachan (my Dad) came to see him from Kerala. He was keep going behind him and showing him all the new-new things, he is exploring now days. He even went for walk holding Achachan hands.

My Dad came on Saturday morning. I and BS along with Adi went to pick him. Adi didn't sleep the previous day night and he was so tiered in the morning. At first when he saw his Achachan he just gave a vague smile and didn't go with him at all. I thought Adi is not recognizing him. While we were coming back home, he slept in the car nicely. After sleeping he becomes so fresh and from that time, he was with his Achachan. He was talking to him in his language and giving kisses, it was as he never forgot him at all. Then I realized one thing that my dad didn't even ask how am I. :). How these dad's and mom's changes when they get a grandson.

We spent the entire weekend together and I didn't want my dad to go back home at all. Not forgetting my mom here, I wish she was there with us. Since she had to take care of the house and some other work, she was not able to join my dad. I think she was jealous about my dad since he was gonna see Adi. :).... I hope she comes here next month. 

Weekend was so occupied, and I didn't realize it went just like that. Monday evening, he left back home and Adi said a tat ta and send him back home.

Is it Safe to Eat Food?

Can you believe that there are hazardous chemicals in the food we eat? It's not just something unthinkable now days. It’s happening. 

A famous instant noodle is completely banned in the country. It's our kids who were eating them. The next generation, are we feeding poison to them?

This is an era of business. Everything has business in it. But is it not inhuman to commercialize food, education and medical service. And here we are where these three are most commercialized. 

Veggies are the healthiest. But is it so? Is it healthiest or more poisoned? Can we really eat any of the packed items which we get in markets? What about drinks? Are they really good? Are these Ads about all these items which is flashing in our TV screens every second truthful? 

While commercializing food, labeling becomes another fashion. How are these dates calculated? Any of us know that? Is it true that these are repacked after the expiry dates printed by the manufacturers and brought back to the market again?

We can ask hundreds questions like this... Most of the answers we know as well. But we may not able to stop buying or eating them. We are forced to. We are living in such an environment. We are forced to eat these foods which we know might be harmful to us. But we just trust them. We just trust that humanity has not taken over by business and marketing. 

Images Taken From: https://www.google.co.in

International Yoga Day

June 21^st 2015, world celebrates its first International Yoga day.

Why don’t we start practicing yoga at least from today? Some of you might think, oh! You too. Yes, me too. I am an experienced person who got transferred through it, physically and mentally. But, out of practice for some time. Today I have a determination to restart it.

In our college we had a compulsory one week training of Yoga. We had to get up early morning and go for the session. Being in college hostel it was not that likely to get up and go for a Yoga session. My mind was Oh! Man, who invented this?   But now I thank the people who decided to have the sessions. Now I know the importance of Yoga.

If you know at least few of the benefits of Yoga, you will also think the same.

There are lot of benefits, may be hundreds. I will list some of the benefits which I know,

·         Makes you happier

·         Gives you peace of mind

·         Founds a healthy lifestyle

·         Lowers blood sugar

·         Helps you focus

·         Relaxes your system

·         Helps you sleep deeper

·         Boosts your immune system

·         Better Digestion

·         Weight Management

·         Increases your blood flow

·         Improves your flexibility

·         Builds muscle strength

·         Perfects your posture

·         Protects your spine

Don’t you think these benefits are enough to include Yoga in our daily schedule? I am sure it is. There is lot more as well. So, Go for it. 

Images From: https://www.google.co.in

Funny or Interesting

Recently I have noticed one thing while I feed Adi. Not sure it's funny or interesting. Whenever I feed Him, be it vegetable or fruits or anything, whether Adi is opening his mouth or not I am opening my mouth. :) Every single time... I tried to keep my mouth shut consciously but it keeps opening within one or two minutes.

is it just me or have any of you experienced the same? I found it very funny. And when I thought about it, seems interesting as well.

Favorite Quotes

Some of My favorite Quotes'

Some are just so good, that it will keep reflecting in our Mind.

“Break the Rules and stand apart, ignore your head and follow your heart.”

Return Home

Things have changed a lot in these fifteen years. Age has touched every corner of this place. I have expected it anyway. I have also gone through the life's art work physically and mentally. Why not a place? 

The old muddy road has given way to a not so busy cemented one. The tall rubber trees in each side of the road are not much seen. It has been replaced with many beautiful houses. The roadside river has also taken its looks. From a village river rather it turned to a canal. 

I have not seen anyone walking through the road till now. But many known faces have gone in a motorcycle or car. It's hardly 1 km from my house to the main road. People who chose foot years back opt for vehicles now. 

One car passes by me with huge dust ahead. Seems like, it rained long back. Those muddy roads were not so dusty. It rained always then. Each dust particles were so attracted towards each other. Now that has also changed.

Most of the faces I meet are not much known. Lots of new people. Many of them were kids when I last met them. 15 yrs. do you expect them to be kids still? They have grown. I might not recognize them that easily. But some of them remember me and said Hi. I too acknowledged, bit confused. Who really is he/she?

Every footstep has changed. But one thing has not changed at all. My memory about this place. The morning rushes through this road to catch a bus to school. The rainy evenings, playing in water while returning home. The chit chats with everyone we met. Laughs about the silly jokes we spoke. It was so beautiful, precious. Something which is lost some way. But the memory of it unchanged.

Now changes have taken away everything, I wish I could return home, return to this place ....the long back this place.

June 13, 2015

Today, Adi is completing fourteen months. And here he is running all around the house and making me run behind him. He could reach everything kept till the second row of the shelves at home. He calls BS 'Appa' i.e. daddy and that's the only word clearly comes from his mouth. He calls BS Appa, Appa and runs behind him or search for him every time. Even when I am behind him trying to feed his daily food. Even when BS is at work. I must explain him that his daddy is at office and will be coming back after the work is done.

He smiles to almost everyone whom he meets. Especially old people, he just loves them. He doesn't care whether its first time or not he starts conversation immediately he sees them. I love that. I hope he continues the same even when he is grown.

He tries to play Talking Tom, Talking Angela and all the talking apps available as soon as he sees the iPad. He could sit with that until he feels hungry or sleepy. I am trying to hide iPad and he searches for it even underneath the pillow :) (I had hidden it there once).

Adi wants to change the furniture arrangements at home and succeeded in changing all the small furniture’s and today the Tea table as well.

He loves to dance and at times he wants me to take him and dance and doesn't want to stop at all.

He loves to go out in car, anywhere, anytime. A week before one morning BS took him out in car and told he will take him later that day again since BS had some work at home. After half an hour Adi remembered the promise His daddy made and cried until BS took him out in car.
He talks to his Achachan and Ammamma (my mom and dad) over phone and give kisses to the phone when they asked him to give kiss. He also talks to my sister, his Chitta in Skype and show off to her everything he newly learned.

I may not stop updating about him today. But let me stop this. I will tell more about him on another post.

The Flower

A rainy Morning and I was walking through the garden,

Found this velvety soft petals, swaying violently against the wind

Drenched in murky water she danced with glee…

Your good name please...

I bet there will not be anyone who loves window shopping. Me too, definitely. But for me sometimes a window shopping becomes a serious one. Today is one of that kind.

I was trying to find a good top for my regular use in a famous garments store. One girl approached me with a brochure, about some promotional event. I made some conversation with the girl and her next question is “your good name ma'am”. What? I am not sure whether it's good or bad but I have only one name, Divya. 

This is not my first experience, being asked about my good name. Is there anything like good name or bad name? Why can't we just ask ' your name please?' Nobody's name is bad. Then why do we ask for good name? Asking for good name is not something which is taught by anyone, but it is kind of practice. You hear it from someone and you follow through that.

I am totally against this question. I get irritated by this. I am sure it's time for us to stop it and go with, "Your Name please". I know you guys also agree with me. 

With Love Mom

Lot of people wonders where I was for last two years. Today I told them I was preparing to welcome you.

My Baby

Yes, you heard it right. First ten months I was keeping you inside me and was making you comfortable enough to come out and explore a whole big world. Next twelve months I gave you company for the start of your adventures journey in this new land. I will continue the same for the coming years also. When you were inside, I was giving you all what is required through me. I used to wonder how you will look like, what you will be doing at each moment. When I think about you, you just have known it by a touch or a small kick. Every second we, me and your dad spent with longing of seeing you.

After a long wait you came to us on April 13, 2014. It is the most wonderful moments of our life. My body was going through the most painful moments I ever had. But my heart was going through the most beautiful moments I ever have. Now I know how every mom feels like. I know how my mom might have felt when I came to this world. I love her a lot. It was the same not only for me, but also for your dad. I can still feel the very first cry I heard when you came out. I didn't see you then, but I could hear you crying. Looking to see you I hold your dads’ hand and asked him why you were crying. I don't remember him answering to that, but I could remember his curious face with the same question in mind. I want to just see you then. But they took you for a bath. They bought you to me after some time. The most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Your two wide opened eyes. You were looking at me thinking who I was. Or I wonder whether you knew who I was.

You never shied away from the unfamiliar world outside your mom’s stomach. You looked at it with the two wide opened eyes with star sparkling in it. They kept you in my chest for few minutes and allowed to give you a kiss in your forehead. The very first kiss from your mom. You were with me for 5 minutes. Then they took you away from me to show you to your dad, grand mom - both and grand pa. We stayed in the hospital for a week. In those first few days I released that my life is going through a new phase. A phase called motherhood. It might take another couple of hundred days for you to call me mom. But I know how that one word will sound for me.

You are my most precious gift. I promise I will try my best to give you the best life to become a great human being.

Mommy Days

I am enjoying motherhood for a year now. A year filled with joy, learning’s, curiosity and excitement.

We, me and my husband, let me call him as BS here, since I am so lazy to type his lengthy name always, are first time parents. We have completed four year of successful married life. We met in a cooperate company and fell for each other. Being from two different states of India, we went through few difficulties to get married. Married life is also not that easy, since we live in that part of the world where still family includes in laws as well. In these four years of difficulties and compromises we have got a beautiful gift. Our one-year old son Aditya. This one year was filled with his laughs and cries. I would love to share with you my experiences as a mother.

Hope will entertain you. See you soon.

Happy Mother's Day

“I’m blessed and I couldn’t be more grateful. Do you want to know why? Because I’m a mother, but that’s only half of it. I’m blessed because, when I need to, I can still just be a daughter. I get the feeling that there is nothing more precious than to have both of these roles, simultaneously.” ― Adrienne Trupiano 

Words are not enough to thank you for all that you do.

Hundreds of dew drops to greet the dawn…

Hundreds of bees in the purple clover….

Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn….

But only one mother the wide world over….

Images: https://www.google.co.in/