Naina was on her best behaviour for a cranky 10 week old. We certainly got put through the hoops by her that evening. But before bedtime, she was up watching Dr Who with me and then after that, some cute baby snaps.
Naina does surprised very well.
30 June 2008
Visitors! Andrew and Kate
Andrew and Kate came and visited on Sunday morning. It is always great to see them, especially more so with the excitement of Kate's baby due in September. Kate looks great BTW for Perth people's information.
Naina was on her best behaviour for a cranky 10 week old. We certainly got put through the hoops by her that evening. But before bedtime, she was up watching Dr Who with me and then after that, some cute baby snaps.
Naina does surprised very well.
Naina was on her best behaviour for a cranky 10 week old. We certainly got put through the hoops by her that evening. But before bedtime, she was up watching Dr Who with me and then after that, some cute baby snaps.
Naina does surprised very well.
27 June 2008
Naina's first week
Naina came home late. When she was born, we wanted to take her home after two days. But this wasn't to be.
During the trauma that was three days of labour pains, Naina did a big poo. In utero poo is known as mec(onium) liquor and then during the birthing process, the baby gets it into his/her mouth. Pretty gross huh?
So Naina was under close observation. Deepti developed a fever during childbirth and then on day 1 so did Naina. At first they monitored closely, but on day 2, the hospital doctors decided to wheel her into SCN (Special Care Nursery).
The IV lines went in, then IV antibiotics (genta and ben pen for those who were interested, meaning no causative organism identified) and she stayed in Special Care Nursery for 5 days.
We met some great people (not nurses, lol) who were amazing support for Deepti and I. They helped me learn to use the camera, easy ways for Deepti to breastfeed, people who's childbirth/new borns were in a much more parlous state that Naina ever was. N was born at 39 weeks and weighed in at 3.45 kg. The baby next to us was born at 28 weeks (mother had eclampsia) and weighed about 1.5 kg at birth.
I remember thinking how enormous Naina looked compared to those kids - and that if we turned around and didn't watch her, one of those smaller ones would end up in her mouth.
N also developed jaundice and here she is at the tanning salon. The photos are a bit funky because I took them on my mobile which wasn't compatible with the blog.
During the trauma that was three days of labour pains, Naina did a big poo. In utero poo is known as mec(onium) liquor and then during the birthing process, the baby gets it into his/her mouth. Pretty gross huh?
So Naina was under close observation. Deepti developed a fever during childbirth and then on day 1 so did Naina. At first they monitored closely, but on day 2, the hospital doctors decided to wheel her into SCN (Special Care Nursery).
Day 3 - With Deepti in Special Care Nursery
The IV lines went in, then IV antibiotics (genta and ben pen for those who were interested, meaning no causative organism identified) and she stayed in Special Care Nursery for 5 days.
We met some great people (not nurses, lol) who were amazing support for Deepti and I. They helped me learn to use the camera, easy ways for Deepti to breastfeed, people who's childbirth/new borns were in a much more parlous state that Naina ever was. N was born at 39 weeks and weighed in at 3.45 kg. The baby next to us was born at 28 weeks (mother had eclampsia) and weighed about 1.5 kg at birth.
I remember thinking how enormous Naina looked compared to those kids - and that if we turned around and didn't watch her, one of those smaller ones would end up in her mouth.
N also developed jaundice and here she is at the tanning salon. The photos are a bit funky because I took them on my mobile which wasn't compatible with the blog.
Moja
Moja, the Indian word for socks. Also Naina's new favourite toy. The sight and feel of my socks on her chest and in her hands makes her go quiet and smiley.
I'd like to stress here that only my CLEAN socks are being used as Naina's toys. Clean socks mum.
James, Neerav, notice the grip in the above and below photo. Definitely a right arm unorthodox grip don't you feel? Make it drift away from right handed batsmen.
Ah, babies, is there anything you can't do, except talk and walk by yourselves? I ask you...
I'd like to stress here that only my CLEAN socks are being used as Naina's toys. Clean socks mum.
James, Neerav, notice the grip in the above and below photo. Definitely a right arm unorthodox grip don't you feel? Make it drift away from right handed batsmen.
Ah, babies, is there anything you can't do, except talk and walk by yourselves? I ask you...
25 June 2008
Naina's birth - the facts mam
Deepti went into semi-weird labour contractions on Thursday April 17 2008. They were irregular and seemed unconnected to previous ones in time or intensity. We were convinced by many books that these were phantom contractions and nothing to get worked up about. By Friday morning, they were a little more painful (and regular) but the intensity varied. I rang Deepti from work in the morning and she was describing them as labour pains, but getting less intense. A phew rang out in my mind.
I got home on Friday evening and Deepti was in a fair bit of ouchy ouchy but ready to try a new culinary experience at Little Thai Princess in Malvern/Glen Iris. We drove and all the way the labour pains were intense but irregular, so much so that Deepti would stop talking and eating whilst the pains were there. When we got home on the 18th of April, we rang the mid-wives who cheerfully said, just take a hot bath. Deepti did so, and had some relief with that and the water bottle. But still, another poor nights sleep (that's two in a row).
By Saturday, we were going slowly, very slowly. We managed the obligatory Saturday lunch at the Carnegie Nando's and wandering around Koornang Road. I even managed to cook a soup for Deepti. But by that evening, it was pain hell. Almost to the point of crying in pain. We rang the hospital at 10 pm, and they said come in, we'll check you out. Their view was take two panadeine forte and try and get some sleep. In between Deepti threw up aforementioned soup and then threw up aforementioned panadeine forte.
No sleep was to be had. Deepti and I went back to the hospital with all her bags packed. It was 3 am by this stage on Sunday morning and Deepti hadn't slept properly in days. The pethidine jab allowed Deepti to sleep an hour or so, but then she woke up, with promises from mid-wives of oh, we'll give you gas now, and then of course, no gas. Deepti was in serious pain and nothing was helping.
Mid-wife Debbie was scary when she came on. I can remember being ordered out of the room with a lecture to go and get some lemonade, a shower, and some ice cream for Deepti. She said no gas, time to get active and get this baby out. Deepti was 4 cm dilated at this stage. However, first impressions are often wrong in life. Debbie was strict, but she was the best we came across in the hospital. She had the aromatherapy, the music (ok muzak), exercise ball everything.
The gas arrived mid-morning, Deepti loved the gas. I had heard some people say the gas made them go nutty, but not Deepti, she wouldn't let go of it even when they turned it down to zero.
The afternoon dragged on, regular dilation checks, everything in slow motion.
So finally an epidural, then syntocin to speed up the contractions, and eventually, labour started progressing. The night mid-wife was a pretty poor excuse for a mid-wife and did nothing except tell Deepti to do a poo. Useless bastard and I had words with him when he started telling Deepti off for not understanding him.
A team of doctors appeared around 11pm on Sunday, and forceps and suction (Naina's hair got in the way), then the magical moment when I first saw Naina's hair (a lot of hair) and then her face, all stretched and yet squished.
My first thought when the baby was hurled up on to Deepti's stomach, looking at this grey, greasy, unhappy thing, was OMG to quote a teenage girl. I think I was in shock for a few hours. Naina was mucousy and had to be suctioned. It must have hurt her a lot as she didn't settle after the birth for a couple of hours. My shock was immense, I can only imagine that child birth is the most intense experience possible for a baby and it is so good we can't remember it.
So it took 3 days to get Naina out. She arrived on Sunday 20 April 2008 at 11:40pm, about 8 days early, weighing in at 3450 g, 34.5 cm head circumference and 49 cm tall. Full head of black hair (so thick) and otherwise well. Sorry about funky first photo being upside down. I'm not sure why it is so.
I got home on Friday evening and Deepti was in a fair bit of ouchy ouchy but ready to try a new culinary experience at Little Thai Princess in Malvern/Glen Iris. We drove and all the way the labour pains were intense but irregular, so much so that Deepti would stop talking and eating whilst the pains were there. When we got home on the 18th of April, we rang the mid-wives who cheerfully said, just take a hot bath. Deepti did so, and had some relief with that and the water bottle. But still, another poor nights sleep (that's two in a row).
By Saturday, we were going slowly, very slowly. We managed the obligatory Saturday lunch at the Carnegie Nando's and wandering around Koornang Road. I even managed to cook a soup for Deepti. But by that evening, it was pain hell. Almost to the point of crying in pain. We rang the hospital at 10 pm, and they said come in, we'll check you out. Their view was take two panadeine forte and try and get some sleep. In between Deepti threw up aforementioned soup and then threw up aforementioned panadeine forte.
No sleep was to be had. Deepti and I went back to the hospital with all her bags packed. It was 3 am by this stage on Sunday morning and Deepti hadn't slept properly in days. The pethidine jab allowed Deepti to sleep an hour or so, but then she woke up, with promises from mid-wives of oh, we'll give you gas now, and then of course, no gas. Deepti was in serious pain and nothing was helping.
Mid-wife Debbie was scary when she came on. I can remember being ordered out of the room with a lecture to go and get some lemonade, a shower, and some ice cream for Deepti. She said no gas, time to get active and get this baby out. Deepti was 4 cm dilated at this stage. However, first impressions are often wrong in life. Debbie was strict, but she was the best we came across in the hospital. She had the aromatherapy, the music (ok muzak), exercise ball everything.
The gas arrived mid-morning, Deepti loved the gas. I had heard some people say the gas made them go nutty, but not Deepti, she wouldn't let go of it even when they turned it down to zero.
Deepti in labour, blue tube of gas as her partner
The afternoon dragged on, regular dilation checks, everything in slow motion.So finally an epidural, then syntocin to speed up the contractions, and eventually, labour started progressing. The night mid-wife was a pretty poor excuse for a mid-wife and did nothing except tell Deepti to do a poo. Useless bastard and I had words with him when he started telling Deepti off for not understanding him.
A team of doctors appeared around 11pm on Sunday, and forceps and suction (Naina's hair got in the way), then the magical moment when I first saw Naina's hair (a lot of hair) and then her face, all stretched and yet squished.
My first thought when the baby was hurled up on to Deepti's stomach, looking at this grey, greasy, unhappy thing, was OMG to quote a teenage girl. I think I was in shock for a few hours. Naina was mucousy and had to be suctioned. It must have hurt her a lot as she didn't settle after the birth for a couple of hours. My shock was immense, I can only imagine that child birth is the most intense experience possible for a baby and it is so good we can't remember it.
So it took 3 days to get Naina out. She arrived on Sunday 20 April 2008 at 11:40pm, about 8 days early, weighing in at 3450 g, 34.5 cm head circumference and 49 cm tall. Full head of black hair (so thick) and otherwise well. Sorry about funky first photo being upside down. I'm not sure why it is so.
22 June 2008
Dadiji and Anveeta Bua goes home
Imagine Naina's surprise when her aunty and grandmother go home!
Okay that wasn't fair. All three generations of Shrivastava women. My little smurf in the middle.
Okay that wasn't fair. All three generations of Shrivastava women. My little smurf in the middle.
21 June 2008
Riyaa Indrawati Shrivastava (aka Naina)
Growing up as the child of migrants in Australia meant lots of things in the 80's. The one thing that has stuck is that mostly no one can pronounce my name correctly.
When we knew that a baby was on the way, we started thinking of names. And ease of pronunciation was high on that list, but classically beautiful was a big thing as well.
It is quite complicated and still does my head in. But here goes.
Indian babies have an astrological name based on the cycles of the moon. [The Nakshatra]. This is a different concept to an astrological chart which is based on the positions of the planets and sun. The nakshatra is the lunar position against the fixed stars, at a certain time in the morning of each day.
So in essence, a baby's astrological name comes from the Nakshatra. Naina, by arriving on 20 April 2008 at 1140pm, was born in to the house Swati (pronouced Swa-thee) [Wiki informs me that it is the equivalent to the constellation Arcturus for those of you astronomically minded]. As per our family's astrologer in Varanasi, he advised that the astrological name for a child born in Swati should start with the letters T or R. So after some discussion, we came up with Riyaa. Riyaa is not a particularly meaningful name, with some urdu and sanskrit etymology but nothing too meaningful.
Indrawati is a very old Indian name, meaning Indra's wife (ancient Indian King of the Gods). More importantly to me, it was my dad's mother's name. I don't remember meeting her, as she died in 1975 when I was 1 and a half years old. But I have always loved that name and wanted to keep her name in my own little girl.
And finally Naina. Naina is a great little name. Catchy, easy for all comers to pronounce. Well, to pronounce, it is Nay-na. Naina is the name of a movie ( a horror flick about a girl who gets a corneal transplant and can see what the last owner of the corneas saw), lots of songs (do an i-tunes search), and the original meaning, eyes.
However, there is a more mythological meaning behind the names. It is also the name of Devi (worshipped as Parvati, Shiva's consort/wife).
When Lord Shiva (the lord of creation and destruction) left the earth, his wife, Parvati (the daughter of the Himalayas), out of devotion, threw herself on his funeral pyre and committed sati. Shiva came to carry her away and as he did, her eyes (Nain) fell and became a lake, Nainital (Nain = eyes, Tal = lake) in Himalayan India and one of the most important sites for hindus in our worship of Devi.
Thanks to Mum and Wikipedia for filling in gaps in my knowledge.
When we knew that a baby was on the way, we started thinking of names. And ease of pronunciation was high on that list, but classically beautiful was a big thing as well.
It is quite complicated and still does my head in. But here goes.
Indian babies have an astrological name based on the cycles of the moon. [The Nakshatra]. This is a different concept to an astrological chart which is based on the positions of the planets and sun. The nakshatra is the lunar position against the fixed stars, at a certain time in the morning of each day.
So in essence, a baby's astrological name comes from the Nakshatra. Naina, by arriving on 20 April 2008 at 1140pm, was born in to the house Swati (pronouced Swa-thee) [Wiki informs me that it is the equivalent to the constellation Arcturus for those of you astronomically minded]. As per our family's astrologer in Varanasi, he advised that the astrological name for a child born in Swati should start with the letters T or R. So after some discussion, we came up with Riyaa. Riyaa is not a particularly meaningful name, with some urdu and sanskrit etymology but nothing too meaningful.
Indrawati is a very old Indian name, meaning Indra's wife (ancient Indian King of the Gods). More importantly to me, it was my dad's mother's name. I don't remember meeting her, as she died in 1975 when I was 1 and a half years old. But I have always loved that name and wanted to keep her name in my own little girl.
And finally Naina. Naina is a great little name. Catchy, easy for all comers to pronounce. Well, to pronounce, it is Nay-na. Naina is the name of a movie ( a horror flick about a girl who gets a corneal transplant and can see what the last owner of the corneas saw), lots of songs (do an i-tunes search), and the original meaning, eyes.
However, there is a more mythological meaning behind the names. It is also the name of Devi (worshipped as Parvati, Shiva's consort/wife).
When Lord Shiva (the lord of creation and destruction) left the earth, his wife, Parvati (the daughter of the Himalayas), out of devotion, threw herself on his funeral pyre and committed sati. Shiva came to carry her away and as he did, her eyes (Nain) fell and became a lake, Nainital (Nain = eyes, Tal = lake) in Himalayan India and one of the most important sites for hindus in our worship of Devi.
Thanks to Mum and Wikipedia for filling in gaps in my knowledge.
Future posts (mental note!)
Just to keep you on the edge of your seats, coming soon to a laptop, desktop, palmpilot, crackberry near you:
Chatti ceremony (naming)
Baby yoga (there is such a thing)
Baby bunting madness world
Chatti ceremony (naming)
Baby yoga (there is such a thing)
Baby bunting madness world
Waterloo (Baby Bjorn Kangaroo pouch)
Due to my unique anatomy, Naina has found it increasingly uncomfortable falling asleep on me. She doesn't feel comfy resting against my chest and when I hoist her up over my shoulder, she starts to be too high or feels like she is going to fall (I've only nearly dropped her once). So it has been a frustrating couple of weeks. There was about a month and a half after she was born where she'd fall asleep against a light post (if she could sit up by herself), but recently, it is only hugs and tights holds from Deepti or my mum that seems to settle her.
Happier times with Deepti
So this afternoon, after the drive, we were preparing for Anveeta's arrival for dinner. Deepti and I and Naina were in the kitchen (Naina in her rocker). It occurred to me that Naina looked tired so I tried the usual holding her in place, walking, rocking, but it made her more and more distressed. It is very frustrating being unable to make my daughter happy, or at least sleep, without the use of Panadol as a bribe.
So we ventured to the Baby Bjorn. This had been used once when Andrew and Kate came around when Naina was two weeks old. It had been a smashing success that day, but we had not had the opportunity to use it since. I was determined to get Naina into it and asleep.
Naina was determined not to be in it and to be asleep in her mum's arms.
We pushed and shoved and balanced and finally got her in. She then proceeded to yelp for 10 minutes or so about how much she didn't like being in there. But then something magical happen. She fell asleep. Okay it involved lots of shushing noises, lots of Irish style jigs on my behalf, lots of not giving up, but she went to bed. How good is that!?!
PS Thanks to James and Bronwyn for the fantastic gift of the Baby Bjorn. We'll use it more and more from now on.
With me in the pouch today
Happier times with DeeptiSo this afternoon, after the drive, we were preparing for Anveeta's arrival for dinner. Deepti and I and Naina were in the kitchen (Naina in her rocker). It occurred to me that Naina looked tired so I tried the usual holding her in place, walking, rocking, but it made her more and more distressed. It is very frustrating being unable to make my daughter happy, or at least sleep, without the use of Panadol as a bribe.
So we ventured to the Baby Bjorn. This had been used once when Andrew and Kate came around when Naina was two weeks old. It had been a smashing success that day, but we had not had the opportunity to use it since. I was determined to get Naina into it and asleep.
Naina was determined not to be in it and to be asleep in her mum's arms.
We pushed and shoved and balanced and finally got her in. She then proceeded to yelp for 10 minutes or so about how much she didn't like being in there. But then something magical happen. She fell asleep. Okay it involved lots of shushing noises, lots of Irish style jigs on my behalf, lots of not giving up, but she went to bed. How good is that!?!
PS Thanks to James and Bronwyn for the fantastic gift of the Baby Bjorn. We'll use it more and more from now on.
With me in the pouch today
A saturday drive in the new car
Today we managed the extraordinarily intricate process of changing the baby capsule from the old car to the new car, with an approved fitter. This involved my mum (Adit's mum) driving the new car from Malvern East to Highett. It took us nearly two hours to organise, but all was well, baby capsule is in the new car and Naina, Deepti, my mum and I went for a spin this afternoon.
Going for a drive with a new baby is quite an interesting experience. I know she'll fall asleep at some stage, but that exact moment between hollering, crying and being hungry is dependent solely (it seems) on the speed the volvo can go in a 40 kmh zone. When the car has stopped at traffic lights, Naina seems to stir, so I have also learnt the unique skill of doing bunny hops in an automatic to keep her from getting upset.
Deepti did her best to keep her asleep or amused with a new musical toy. It speaks with an aussie accent but even that drove me mental after about 20 minutes of a woman saying boat and then house and then a door bell ringing. Gotta love kids toys.
Anyway, the drive today wasn't so bad, but Naina woke at 3pm (when we were in Toorak or thereabouts), gulped down some EBM and crashed again. It could explain why she was so gassy later on.
I'm going to post on gas one day, cause it deserves a blog of itself.
Usually, drives also involve a very unsettled baby afterwards. Something about the rocking and vibration makes her sleep but when we stop, she wakes up upset and hungry and wouldn't sleep well. But today, seems to be doing ok! She's asleep as we speak!
Going for a drive with a new baby is quite an interesting experience. I know she'll fall asleep at some stage, but that exact moment between hollering, crying and being hungry is dependent solely (it seems) on the speed the volvo can go in a 40 kmh zone. When the car has stopped at traffic lights, Naina seems to stir, so I have also learnt the unique skill of doing bunny hops in an automatic to keep her from getting upset.
Deepti did her best to keep her asleep or amused with a new musical toy. It speaks with an aussie accent but even that drove me mental after about 20 minutes of a woman saying boat and then house and then a door bell ringing. Gotta love kids toys.
Anyway, the drive today wasn't so bad, but Naina woke at 3pm (when we were in Toorak or thereabouts), gulped down some EBM and crashed again. It could explain why she was so gassy later on.
I'm going to post on gas one day, cause it deserves a blog of itself.
Usually, drives also involve a very unsettled baby afterwards. Something about the rocking and vibration makes her sleep but when we stop, she wakes up upset and hungry and wouldn't sleep well. But today, seems to be doing ok! She's asleep as we speak!
The first two months of Naina
I owe a great deal of gratitude to a friend, Bob Yuncken, for inspiring me to start blogging about my little girl. Bob's little boy arrived about three weeks ago and has been providing musings for friends and family from far away Canada. Daily updates for those who can't be close.
In our way, we're in a similar situation in Melbourne. Naina's dada and dadi and bua's (aunts) are far away in Perth. Naina's per-dadi (great grandmother) is in Bokaro in Jharkhand in India. And Naina's nana, nani, mama's and mausi's are all in Patna, in India.
So this is our way to keep in touch. I am sorry it has been so long in the coming. I tried feebly with photos on picassa, but this is the best way to get it going.
Thanks and hope it provides you with a little update.
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