Day 103
For the past few days I wasn't feeling quite fit. Felt as if there was some food stuck in my gullet continously. Went to the doc, and he gave me some tablets for acidity and reflux. Felt better, and also realised that as long as I was occupied, I would be ok and fit. I am, what one would call a hypochondriac. I worry too much about my health.Every little thing worries me. And my wife makes fun of me. Rightly so :)
So, I was a bit nauseous, and felt weird all day. For many days. And that was that. I thought maybe if I paid no attention to it, it would go away.
But, like a dedicarted worry wart, i did some more research. And then my Eureka moment happened. By chance, i just chanced to search for "symptoms similar to pregnant wife". Dont ask me why, I just did. and lo and behold, Lord of Search Google threw the first result that sounded a bit French, and a bit haute couture.
Couvade Syndrome.
Wikipedia says :- Couvade (Koo-wah-de) syndrome, or sympathetic pregnancy, is a condition in which an individual close to an expectant mother, commonly her partner, experiences some of the same symptoms and behavior as the mother near the time of labor. These can include labor pains, postpartum depression, food cravings and restrictions, and sexual taboos. The labor pain symptom is commonly known as sympathy pain.
So this got me researching more on this, and I what I discovered astounded me. A lot of expectant fathers experience the same thing, the world over.
The typical symptoms of Couvade start at the end of the first tri-mester and may continue till the delivery (Oh God!). The classic symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Gaining weight along with your partner
- Feeling queasy at times during the day
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- stomach cramps....
God has made us humans in an amazing way. It is simply mind boggling how many emotions we through one lifetime. And now, this sympathetic pains. Man, I tell you, it is not easy being sympathetically pregnant.
Wikipedia also says"The term "couvade" is borrowed from French (where it is derived from the verb couver "to brood, hatch")".
Amazing isn't it?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Spiritual Growth
Day 96
I seem to be saying babies all around me. I mean, its not even funny anymore. Anywhere i look, kids! That too toddlers! Kids in prams, kids in arms, kids in all sizes and shapes and colors! Its a riot!
And now i cant wait to have my own!
Just yesterday, some one asked me, " Do you want a boy, or a girl?". My natural reactions was, 'It just has to be a healthy baby". What more can one ask at this point of time.
On a parallel note, I am in the midst of gathering some good soothing music and discourses that the wifey (and eventually the baby) can listen to. We live in times where one doesnt have the luxury of having the grandma read Ramayan, or Gita to the expectant mother, because of work and other pressures of living a superfast life. So we try and make do with whatever we can. In our case, recordings of pravachans, bhajans, and chapters from the Ramayan and Gita. That is the closest I think we could get to having the right spiritual ingredients for the baby to grow well.
I think Richard Clayderman, Beethoven and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia would be excellent additions to the collection. If it turns out good, maybe i"ll make it into a family heirloom, to be passed on from generation to generation, each time with better compression technology, and better sound quality :) .
Till then, can you recommend some music that i must have for this momentous journey?
I seem to be saying babies all around me. I mean, its not even funny anymore. Anywhere i look, kids! That too toddlers! Kids in prams, kids in arms, kids in all sizes and shapes and colors! Its a riot!
And now i cant wait to have my own!
Just yesterday, some one asked me, " Do you want a boy, or a girl?". My natural reactions was, 'It just has to be a healthy baby". What more can one ask at this point of time.
On a parallel note, I am in the midst of gathering some good soothing music and discourses that the wifey (and eventually the baby) can listen to. We live in times where one doesnt have the luxury of having the grandma read Ramayan, or Gita to the expectant mother, because of work and other pressures of living a superfast life. So we try and make do with whatever we can. In our case, recordings of pravachans, bhajans, and chapters from the Ramayan and Gita. That is the closest I think we could get to having the right spiritual ingredients for the baby to grow well.
I think Richard Clayderman, Beethoven and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia would be excellent additions to the collection. If it turns out good, maybe i"ll make it into a family heirloom, to be passed on from generation to generation, each time with better compression technology, and better sound quality :) .
Till then, can you recommend some music that i must have for this momentous journey?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Sharing the Responsibility
Day 95
Ok, so we are barely out of the first trimester, and we have already started to discuss who's going to do what. Since she is carrying for the initial 9 months, i will carry for the next 18. Years, that is. 18 years of my responsibility. After that, the kid takes over. Somewhat.
This responsibility sharing, albeit on a light note, got me thinking on a very heavy note. Responsibility. Now, that I on the verge of stepping into "Pappa" shoes, I am made cognizant of all the good work, dedication and effort to raise a brat like me. In fact two brats. Me and my brother. Parenting is probably the most exciting, and at the same time challenging. unpaid job. But i guess the end result makes it all worth while. If your child does good at school, you thump your chest with pride. If he does well at sports, you again thump your chest with pride. If he turns out to be a good professional, and more importantly a good person, you just thank each other, and say well done.
A child will take the personality of the people around him. So this will be like living on the camera 24x7. Someone will be watching you continously. Every step you take will be noted, possibly reflected in the future.
Am i ready for it? I guess, we shall find out soon enough!
"When you have brought up kids, there are memories you store directly in your tear ducts. ~Robert Brault,"
Ok, so we are barely out of the first trimester, and we have already started to discuss who's going to do what. Since she is carrying for the initial 9 months, i will carry for the next 18. Years, that is. 18 years of my responsibility. After that, the kid takes over. Somewhat.
This responsibility sharing, albeit on a light note, got me thinking on a very heavy note. Responsibility. Now, that I on the verge of stepping into "Pappa" shoes, I am made cognizant of all the good work, dedication and effort to raise a brat like me. In fact two brats. Me and my brother. Parenting is probably the most exciting, and at the same time challenging. unpaid job. But i guess the end result makes it all worth while. If your child does good at school, you thump your chest with pride. If he does well at sports, you again thump your chest with pride. If he turns out to be a good professional, and more importantly a good person, you just thank each other, and say well done.
A child will take the personality of the people around him. So this will be like living on the camera 24x7. Someone will be watching you continously. Every step you take will be noted, possibly reflected in the future.
Am i ready for it? I guess, we shall find out soon enough!
"When you have brought up kids, there are memories you store directly in your tear ducts. ~Robert Brault,"
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Go Goa!
Day 94 (Approximately)
Today I was told that we would be holidaying in Goa in May. Dont ask me why! I'm only paying for the trip.
Our trip to Leh has been cancelled. We figured it wouldn't be wise to be travelling over such a terrain at such an altitude. So Goa it is.
Though Goa was not my top 10 places to go in May, it is convinient. Good air connectivity, and we know the place well.
This would be one holiday for a long long time to come. Once the baby comes, it would be impossible for the wifey to be about for atleast 18 months.After that, it wont be the same....and I mean it all in a good way.
But this is a gorgeous phase. I cannot wait for the next ultrasound appointment, when the fetus will be more developed, with some features in place. Till now, all i could see was this unshapely mass with a beating heart. But what a heart.
I suddenly realised, that this is going to be the most important project of our lives. The decisions we make, will not only affect us, but would shape a new life. Each step will be measured, unnecessary expenses curtailed, and suddenly everything will be for the 'long term'.
I cant wait for my long term to start :)
Today I was told that we would be holidaying in Goa in May. Dont ask me why! I'm only paying for the trip.
Our trip to Leh has been cancelled. We figured it wouldn't be wise to be travelling over such a terrain at such an altitude. So Goa it is.
Though Goa was not my top 10 places to go in May, it is convinient. Good air connectivity, and we know the place well.
This would be one holiday for a long long time to come. Once the baby comes, it would be impossible for the wifey to be about for atleast 18 months.After that, it wont be the same....and I mean it all in a good way.
But this is a gorgeous phase. I cannot wait for the next ultrasound appointment, when the fetus will be more developed, with some features in place. Till now, all i could see was this unshapely mass with a beating heart. But what a heart.
I suddenly realised, that this is going to be the most important project of our lives. The decisions we make, will not only affect us, but would shape a new life. Each step will be measured, unnecessary expenses curtailed, and suddenly everything will be for the 'long term'.
I cant wait for my long term to start :)
Monday, April 5, 2010
Oh Sweet Lord!
Right now, I am comfortable with the fact that soon i am going to be a dad. In due time, there will be a little one to call me "Pa", or "Pappa" or what ever else he / she can muster.
It seems unbelievable that 'THAT' time is already here.
Till yesterday i was making plans for the long overdue trip to Leh, our tickets were booked, and other details taken care of.
Today, we have cancelled the trip.
I have always been petrified of fatherhood. The responsibilities, new role and multiple hats to wear have always had a not so encouraging impact on me. That is, until the stork came calling.I did not know how to handle it all, so did the best thing i could. I stayed calm.
We had gone to her parent's house to surprise them on their 30th wedding anniversary. Little did we know that we would come back with a much bigger surprise. A surprise that would rock our world. Literally.
Wifey was not ready for this. She had gone ballistic and worried sick about "how will we manage the finances?" and "are we ready for this?" and "What the F#$%!!", which was what really got us here in the first place.
I wasn't ready either, and i figure I never would have been, but what surprised me the most was my own reaction to the whole development. As if i had been waiting for this moment my whole married life. Knowing somewhere, that it would happen one day. It had to happen one day.
Our parents, needless to say are super ecstatic, a joy we did not quite understand in the beginning. Today, it has started to make sense.
We have had two ultrasound scans so far, one to confirm the pregnancy, and the other to check for Down's syndrome in the fetus. Both moments have been life changing for me. My wife, needless to say, is undergoing tremendous hormonal, emotional and physical changes. But as a man, the father I am undergoing a spiritual changes. Yeah, weird , I know. When i heard the baby heart beat for the first time, everything around me stopped. Just like they show in the movies. My heart skips a beat everytime i think of that moment.
The second time around, i thanked god with all my heart that the fetus was developing normally. It is times like these when i remember what my father used to tell me when we were school going lads- "Son, don't forget to thank God for the normal life he has given you". It all makes sense now.
We are past the first trimester, and by God's grace things are going fine, with mother and fetus :) . Fine except for the nausea filled mornings, sleep filled days , mood swings, countless advices and weird food cravings. The other day she wanted to have peaches, which won't be in season for another 4 months or so. Today she has forgotten the peaches.
But all is well.
Our journey has truly begun now. And as the wisemen say, the fun starts now.
Stay tuned.
It seems unbelievable that 'THAT' time is already here.
Till yesterday i was making plans for the long overdue trip to Leh, our tickets were booked, and other details taken care of.
Today, we have cancelled the trip.
I have always been petrified of fatherhood. The responsibilities, new role and multiple hats to wear have always had a not so encouraging impact on me. That is, until the stork came calling.I did not know how to handle it all, so did the best thing i could. I stayed calm.
We had gone to her parent's house to surprise them on their 30th wedding anniversary. Little did we know that we would come back with a much bigger surprise. A surprise that would rock our world. Literally.
Wifey was not ready for this. She had gone ballistic and worried sick about "how will we manage the finances?" and "are we ready for this?" and "What the F#$%!!", which was what really got us here in the first place.
I wasn't ready either, and i figure I never would have been, but what surprised me the most was my own reaction to the whole development. As if i had been waiting for this moment my whole married life. Knowing somewhere, that it would happen one day. It had to happen one day.
Our parents, needless to say are super ecstatic, a joy we did not quite understand in the beginning. Today, it has started to make sense.
We have had two ultrasound scans so far, one to confirm the pregnancy, and the other to check for Down's syndrome in the fetus. Both moments have been life changing for me. My wife, needless to say, is undergoing tremendous hormonal, emotional and physical changes. But as a man, the father I am undergoing a spiritual changes. Yeah, weird , I know. When i heard the baby heart beat for the first time, everything around me stopped. Just like they show in the movies. My heart skips a beat everytime i think of that moment.
The second time around, i thanked god with all my heart that the fetus was developing normally. It is times like these when i remember what my father used to tell me when we were school going lads- "Son, don't forget to thank God for the normal life he has given you". It all makes sense now.
We are past the first trimester, and by God's grace things are going fine, with mother and fetus :) . Fine except for the nausea filled mornings, sleep filled days , mood swings, countless advices and weird food cravings. The other day she wanted to have peaches, which won't be in season for another 4 months or so. Today she has forgotten the peaches.
But all is well.
Our journey has truly begun now. And as the wisemen say, the fun starts now.
Stay tuned.
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