Growing Vira – lessons in parenting- Indian style

Vira was born on 18^th Oct 2012. At 3:14 am – after the labour started at 12:15 am. About 5 days before time . And then started this journey – of ‘growing Vira’.

Week 1 – The baby is red and wrinkled initially and the vision is near zero.  Suckling means having to guide her else she spends time just trying to locate the source of milk by opening her mouth and turning her head with small jerks in all directions !! talk about helplessness. The best way to keep her warm is to take a very small cotton cloth 100 cm by 100 cm , and make a triangle by folding it into two. Place the baby with her head above the cloth (in the centre of the diagonal) and wrap from 3 directions. Tuck .. Tuck … tuck .

You have a baby wrapped up like the kid in ice age J

The baby is happy in her cocoon and sleeps for about 22 hours a day . Leaving ample time for me to recover from the birth. Her umbilical cord is still attached to her navel . No massage for her till the cord does not ‘shed’ by itself. Just a gentle application of oil (any natural vegetable oil) and a bath (with plain water) and she is ready for her day. We keep her in diapers (Pambers) all the time .This is against the concept of fine cotton (cloth) diapers but it is a god sent in the cooler climate of Bangalore. Caution – do remember to apply a small quantity of oil / lotion every time you change the diaper. This assures that her skin is moist and does not dry off and redden.

Learning :-

1. Keep the baby in a cocoon. She feels she is still in the womb and is happy.

2. Apply oil / lotion everytime you change diapers. She will not develop redness / nappy rash

3. Avoid massage / vigorous bathing (with soap) till her umbilical cord does not shed