Pre-launch issue, October 2016 FREE COPY
MOTHER TONGUE POINTLESS OR PRIORITY?
Dedicated And Devoted A serious and lighthearted look at the role of baby’s father
TOP 5 BABY NAMES for BOYS & GIRLS and THEIR MEANINGS DIWALI FUN
SUPPORT & ADVICE
EASY RECIPES
PREGNANCY SIGNS
WELCOME TO INDI MAMMA PREGNANCY & PARENTING MAGAZINE
@OfficialIndiMamma
@IndiMamma
www.indimamma.com
The Team... Managing Director & Editor in Chief Rina Bharath e: Rina@indimamma.com t: 01925 963 651 m: 07515 403 811 Content Editor & Writer Kate O’Brien e: Kate@indimamma.com t: 01925 963 651 Editorial Contribution Sadhana Ali For advertisement opportunities, contact: Olivia Parkes e: Olivia@minimemarketing.co.uk t: 01925 909 373
Rina Bharath, Editor in Chief (and mum of two)
Welcome to...
Social Media & Marketing Georgia Riley e: Georgia@minimemarketing.co.uk t: 01925 909 372 Magazine Designer Michelle Wright colourwheel creative
The day a woman finds out she is pregnant can be one of the most exciting days of her life; from telling the family, to starting the welcome preparations for the new arrival. For a British Asian woman, like myself, there are a range of cultural, religious and family traditions that become part of her pregnancy and early-motherhood.
Publication printed by Stephens & George Print Group About us Indi Mamma magazine is published 4 times a year by MiniMe Marketing & PR Consultancy, 108 Lovell House, Birchwood Park, Warrington, WA3 6FW. Subscriptions Indi Mamma magazine is available in the UK via annual subscription and is delivered to your door. Phone 01925 963 651 to place your credit card or direct debit order. Alternatively, you can visit IndiMamma.com to subscribe. The standard annual UK subscription rate for 4 issues is £11, or you can buy individual issues for £3.50 each.
As you embark on the wonderful journey of a nine-month pregnancy, including all the excitement and nerves surrounding birth and motherhood just as any other woman, at Indi Mamma, we understand that you’re potentially going to juggle between two influential, cultural experiences. Thankfully, the British Asian mum of today has her partner by her side, sharing the experience of pregnancy and motherhood, together with the UK midwifery and health-visiting community, but filling that combined gap of culture and our lives as British Asians, is where Indi Mamma comes in.
Printed in the UK. All rights reserved. All copyright of content throughout this magazine belongs to Indi Mamma Limited. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without written permission from Indi Mamma Limited. Text and images are sent at the owner’s own risk. Views and opinions in Indi Mamma Magazine are those of the individuals/readers and not representative of the publishers and/or its associated partners. All prices and information are correct at the time of going to press. If you have any health concerns please contact your GP or other health professional.
Can’t find Indi Mamma at your local newsagent? Ask them to order a copy of Indi Mamma for you.
This sense of euphoria can either be embraced or quickly masked by the stress and doubt of many unanswered questions that are part of being a British born Asian woman, or south Asian born woman living in the UK.
With our content rich pages of helpful advice, ‘laugh-out-loud’ familiar motherhood stories and old wives’ tales, and an outlet to share our unique British Asian experience of parenthood, I hope you will find Indi Mamma Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine truly “unputdownable”! This is just a mini pre-launch issue which we’ve produced as a taster, and we’d love to get your thoughts, feedback and contributions for the next issue due out in January 2017. Please get in touch with me at rina@indimamma.com, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Rina x
9 Health tips for you and your baby
16 Shubh Deepavali 18
Recycle
Signs you may be pregnant
Indi Mamma Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine pre-launch issue October 2016
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CONTENTS 6
MOTHER TONGUE; Pointless or priority?
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EASY RECIPE A classic seasonal dessert: rosewater and cardamom kheer
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SUPPORT & ADVICE From our experts including Prenatal Yoga, Pilates & Meditation tips from Sadhana Ali
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WHAT’S IN A NAME? The most popular baby names across 5 faiths
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ASIAN MATERNITY AND NURSING WEAR IS OUT THERE! And we’ve got a new range to show you
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FASHION Just a snippet of the latest Asian maternity and nursing wear for everyday
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DEDICATED AND DEVOTED Commenting against the statistics on the involvement of fathers in UK family life today
Something to share PAGE
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YOUR CHANCE TO WIN! Thank you for being part of Indi Mamma as a reader of our magazine, however the Indi Mamma brand is much more; we’re all about bringing together British Asian women of all faiths and cultural backgrounds, and sharing our experiences of pregnancy and motherhood, whether that be the struggle and miracle of conceiving, through to customs and traditions imposed or welcomed when it comes to family life.
15 FATHER’S SURVIVAL GUIDE A light hearted look at the man’s role once baby is on its way!
16 SHUBH DEEPAVALI Get your little ray of light involved in the Festival of Light with these fun ideas
17 SOMETHING TO SHARE Your content contributions
18 10 SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE PREGNANT Some of the obvious and not so obvious ways you might know
20 WHAT’S COMING UP IN OUR NEXT ISSUE
For your chance to win two tickets to the official launch of Indi Mamma, visit Indimamma.com to register your details by 30th November 2016. Winners will be contacted by email and telephone so don’t forget to provide your details!
A preview of what’s coming up in our next full issue Indi Mamma Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine pre-launch issue October 2016
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MOTHER TONGUE:
POINTLESS, OR PRIORITY? “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart,” - Nelson Mandela.
Most of us reading this article are witness to an aspect of globalisation that during the 1970’s moved people, and families from south Asia, to other countries across the world; whether for reasons of health, education, profession, escaping from conflict, oppression, or a natural disaster. Yet, whatever the benefits, many parents who find themselves moving away from their native countries often fear their children will not be exposed to their mother tongue and lose their connections to family roots.
Cultural identity Every language spoken throughout the world represents its own special culture, melody, colour and history. So, with the mother tongue being one of the most powerful tools in preserving and conveying culture, it’s not surprising many worry about the more ‘diluted’ approach some
British Asian families are choosing to take towards language. The native language of a child connects them to their parents, family and extended relatives by creating links, as well as their own emotion growth, personal identity and beliefs. Linguists say, children
who are unware of their culture, language and history, will lose confidence and faith in themselves, the family and society; and as a result, many find themselves at an identity cross road, feeling very isolated and confused when bonds with loved ones do not naturally occur as they should. In this instance
FEATURE
a child will then identify with the culture and language they know best. Showing that for many bilingual children who are from a home in which very little of the mother tongue is used, once in school, it is quite often gradually replaced by the majority, or dominant language used by their teachers and peers.
WHAT YOU’VE TOLD INDI MAMMA ABOUT LANGUAGE
Opportunity to learn other languages Providing children with a strong grounding in a first language will help them to develop stronger literacy skills, the ability to recognise language patterns and many other abilities that can be transferred from the mother tongue to the language the child is learning at school. For these reasons, the attitudes of ethnic parents’ are so important! We must find an equal balance in their child’s life, by maintaining the mother tongue, whilst cultivating a positive approach to the other dominant language(s) in their child’s life. There are many ways to do this, and language is going to be a regular feature in every issue. Let us know your thoughts on mother tongue, and whether you think it’s pointless or a priority.
WAYS TO TEACH CHILDREN YOUR MOTHER TONGUE o Appoint a private tutor to teach your child the language at home, in a comfortable setting but that’s still formal. o Encourage their grandparents to speak in the mother tongue, rather than taking the easy option of English. o Dedicate one day of the weekend to only speaking your mother tongue at home. o Let us know if you agree, or your thoughts and ideas on what you practice at home.
Ash from Leeds who is married to Helen and has two girls, says “There’s no point in teaching the kids Punjabi as no-one around them speaks it anyway.” Mariah’s from Birmingham’s tip is to teach one new word or phrase each day with the meaning understood, that is practiced all day. Kalpesh in Bolton says “As long as my children can understand Gujerati, whether I am talking to them, or more than likely my parents’ are, then I’m happy with that. I don’t expect them to be able to read and write in the language, because I can’t even do that myself! But I feel lucky that I can understand and speak (if I have to) in my mother tongue, and would want them to have that same pride.” Tahira is married to Cantonese husband Kevin, and says that they are both keen to expose their new baby son to their individual cultures and languages.
Did any of you catch the start of new ITVBe reality series with former TOWIE star Sam Faiers, The Mummy Diaries? The English television personality, model and new mum to 5-month old baby Paul said on the show, that she rarely puts on cartoons for her son, but when she does, she finds ones in a different language such as Spanish, French or Italian, because she’d like him to be fluent in other languages - great idea we say! Sam also talks positively about the relationship she has with her partner’s mother, but that’s a general topic of focus for the next issue of Indi Mamma…!
Sam Faiers pictured at the BAFTAs Indi Mamma Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine pre-launch issue October 2016
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RECIPE
There are some foods that naturally transport us back to our childhood, kheer is one of them. When you are craving a carb loaded, cardamom laced, warm dessert, this is a perfect autumn comfort food.
You will need: 1 tablespoon ghee or unscented oil Seeds from 6 green cardamom pods, crushed in a pestle and mortar ¼ cup carnaroli risotto rice 3 cups whole milk ½ – ¾ cup sugar ½ cup whipping cream 2 teaspoons rosewater Large handful chopped unsalted pistachios, to garnish
Directions 1. Heat a heavy pot containing the ghee or oil, before adding the crushed cardamom seeds. 2. Gently stir for around 30 seconds, before adding in the rice and coating with the ghee and cardamom. 3. Toast the rice for approximately 1 minute, then add the whole milk and ½ cup sugar. 4. Stir well, on a low heat until the sugar dissolves, add more sugar if necessary. 5. Next, bring the kheer mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for about 30 – 45 minutes, stirring every so often, until the mixture is thick and creamy.
Indi Mamma Favourites...
Classic rosewater and cardamom kheer A seasonal dessert for all the family
6. Stir in the whipping cream and cook very gently for an additional 10 minutes. Stir in the rosewater. 7. Take off the heat and serve warm (or cold), garnished with a few chopped pistachios.
Let us know if you make this recipe and send in your pics! And, if you have a favourite family recipe you would like to share, please also send it to hellobaby@indimamma.com, and we will acknowledge you if used in future issues!
SUPPORT & ADVICE
Here to help.. As part of future issues of Indi Mamma Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine, we are going to include a regular feature aimed at offering help and advice through questions you send in to us, answered by our team of health and wellbeing experts. So, whether you have concerns about your pregnancy and baby’s prenatal development, sleeping and eating advice for your toddler, or keeping fit and healthy as an expectant or new mother, please send in your questions to expert@indimamma.com.
Prenatal Yoga, Pilates and Meditation The most common question I get asked by expectant mothers is “can I still exercise when I am pregnant?” The simple answer is yes; the more you move mindfully, not only will you have a better postnatal recovery, but a much more enjoyable pregnancy, and have little or no problems in your body as your shape changes. Yoga, Pilates and Meditation teaches us how to use breath and movement allowing us to live a more peaceful and compassionate way of life, especially in times of stress. However, when it comes to practicing pregnancy and postnatal Yoga and Pilates, always speak to your GP for advice before starting any exercise, and perhaps wait until after the first trimester. The main things to avoid are: excessive abdominal crunches lying on your back heat inducing activities such as high impact cardio deep flexion and extension of the spine. Yoga and Pilates along with Meditation, are great ways a mum-to-be can benefit, as the practices teach us how to pay
respect to the changing body and learn to calm the mind through Yoga breathing exercises and Meditation. Exercise allows the brain to release endorphins so the psychological benefits induce a state of positivity and energy in the body. Yoga breathing and Meditation techniques help us through the stages of pregnancy including labour and pain management, so you can stay calm and focused. Many of us have heard the saying a health body starts in the kitchen so make sure you are getting a healthy
balanced diet, drink lots of fluids which don’t have to be solely excessive amounts of water; smoothies, soups, fruit, herbal teas all count towards your fluid intake. This will hopefully provide enough food for thought, however throughout the forthcoming issues of Indi Mamma Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine, I will be showing you some specific Yoga and Pilates exercises, as well as Meditation and breathing techniques to help calm your mind and stay balanced during this wonderful time of your life.
Sadhana Ali of Sadhana Yoga and Pilates is based in Manchester and has been teaching Yoga, Pilates and Meditation for over 10 years. Her classes are accessible for all bodies and any body including pre and post natal mothers (and fathers!) and babies. www.sadhanayoga.co.uk
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WHAT’S IN A NAME? The most popular baby names across 5 faiths
TOP 5 AMES
N S L R I G
ame) uslim n M ( t p nd ade killful a S ame) S N (Sikh n EA y t M h a r ig i Mah e Alm ed in th b r o s b t NS A ifferen n MEA de of d a M Ishlee S EAN me) hatu M (Buddist na d a m r Dha of law metals ame) (Jain n m o d is SW MEAN e of Somja r a nam o r o t a NS Cre ame) a MEA rga (Hindu n y h d a A ss Du Godde
DID BEIN G A BRIT ISH ASIAN PA R E NT HAVE INFLUEN AN CE ON TH E NAME YOUR CH OF ILD, AND WAS HAV A MEANIN IN G G BEHIN D NAME IM PORTANT THEIR TO YOU? GET IN T OUCH AN D LET US K NOW!
TOP 5
BOYS NAM ES
Rayan MEA
NS Gates of Heaven (Mu slim name) Ohas MEA NS Praise (S ikh name) Chandaka M EANS Charm ing or hymn like (B uddist name ) Yash MEAN S Glory or v ictory (Jain n ame) Aarav MEA NS Wisdom (Hindu nam e)
sily name as ea res, s given his ltu a w cu A n N ia E d S HARI sh and In ti ri B s racing th u o o in b the fam to d e e k referenced n li e but spelt th iddle nam a big fan!) is with his m IK d T a d R A is UV K which h y. And, DR driver (of eaning arm tee of Lord m o v y e a d w t i n d Hin an ancie r e ft a month of d e e th was nam born in g in e b Karthika. st il h lendar as ca u Krishna, w d in H e nown in th October, k
Asian maternity and nursing wear is out there! Being pregnant often means being in style limbo, wearing clothes two sizes too big to be comfortable, rather than what looks good. This often results in going through the hassle of purchasing fabric and arranging for tailor made outfits that only fit during a particular stage of pregnancy, in order to keep whatever bit of your identity (cultural or not) as you can. Unlike western fashion, which is available within most high street chains and online, when it comes to Asian maternity wear – it’s pretty much unheard of. And, once baby is born, the struggle
continues – if you have ever tried breastfeeding wearing a traditional Punjabi suit especially at a celebration (let alone in the privacy of your own home), you will know what we’re talking about! But, it no longer has to be this way! Many of us don’t know that although a fairly new concept, there are a few mumprenuers that have designed and are retailing maternity and nursing wear suitable for every day, or an extra special occasion such as a family wedding. Rina Bharath (Indi Mamma’s Managing Director) is one such
mumprenuer, who has teamed up with forward thinking fashion designers to bring British Asian mums both casual, and glamour maternity and nursing Punjabi suits and kurta tops (as well as some sanity!) Turn over to see just a small sample of this exciting new range, and to find out how you can order. In future issues of Indi Mamma Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine, there will be many more pages of maternity and nursing fashion both Asian and from the high street so you can be proud of your maternal wardrobe at last!
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Floral Print Maternity Kurta Top With a highly on trend and flattering floral print, this kurta top will compliment your wardrobe this season! The tie-back feature means you can wear this throughout your pregnancy. Features: 1/2 sleeve with vertical zipper for nursing option. Fabric and care: Cotton fabric. Hand wash / machine wash in normal cycle. Available in small, medium and large.
ÂŁ16 + postage & packaging
Maroon Ikat Feeding Kurta Top This kurta top has a contemporary touch, with decorative lace trims. It can be worn throughout pregnancy and post pregnancy, and features a horizontal patent-pending, leak proof nursing layer. Features: Round neck. 3/4 Sleeves. Lace attached at neck, sleeves & bottom. Horizontal zipper for easy breast feeding. Fabric and care: Ikat cotton. Machine wash in warm water. Iron medium heat. Tumble dry low. Available in small, medium and large.
ÂŁ20 + postage & packaging
MATERNITY WEAR
Stylish Black and White Kameez with Duppatta Set This comfortable yet fashionable 3/4 sleeved kameez comes with a black and print-detailed duppatta and the option of salwar or churidar. Features: Has a loop to the right seam to fix the dupatta in place, and a discreet horizontal zipper for nursing. Fabric and care: Cotton fabric. Hand wash / machine wash in normal cycle. Available in small, medium and large.
£40 + postage & packaging
ANGE R L L U F E H T SEE In our first full issue due out in January 2017, we will be featuring a number of pages showcasing the latest additions of Asian maternity and nursing wear to our Winter range. But if you can’t wait until then, please visit our website www.indimamma.com.
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DAD: Dedicated and Devoted (despite the stats) In a bid to determine who’s best when it comes to gender equality, The Fatherhood Institute’s Fairness in Families Index has recently compared factors such as child care, pay and parental leave amongst both sexes.
revoking their claims), leaving UK dads upset – and understandably so. Researchers from The Fatherhood Institute stress that the report was not designed to measure parenting quality, but the extent to which men and women are sharing the domestic role. They go on to state that they believe the lack of time UK dads spend with their tots relates purely to an unequal parental leave system and ‘mother-centric’ services. The Right Honourable Maria Miller MP, Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, said:
“The findings of the Fairness in Families Index are worrying. Businesses cannot afford to ignore the parenting revolution that millennials want to see and the government won’t succeed in their vision of eliminating the gender pay gap unless we see a more equal sharing of parental duties as the new norm.” Showing the real issue here is not the level of parenting from UK fathers, but the lack of opportunities they are given.
What are your thoughts on this issue? We would love to hear from you!
Overall, the UK came 12th out of 22 countries (Sweden came out on top), with the study finding that UK dads spend on average 24 minutes caring for children, for every hour spent by mothers - the lowest ratio in the developing world; compared to countries such as Portugal, where men spend the most time with their children: 39 minutes for every hour by women. Yet frustratingly, this has led to many mainstream media outlets shaming British dads with the title of ‘worst in the world’ (before later
WE WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR DADS! If you know of, or are a ‘fab father’ yourself, send us your stories and pictures to kate@indimamma.com
FATHER’S FEATURE by Kate O’Brien
FATHER’S SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR LAST MINUTE PREPARATION Ok, so it’s the final trimester; from now until you snip the chord, a lot may happen that no amount of ‘to do’ lists and imaginary scenarios will prepare you for. Yet, the thing about men and pregnancy is – there is only so much you can do! Leonard Boulanger, a clinical social worker and fatherhood specialist for the Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice says, “Getting involved early and ‘at every level’ not only makes things easier for the mother, but it also keeps dads from feeling left out and unhelpful.” Preparing the nest So, let’s start with the cot, changing table, nursing chair, moses basket, sterilsier, pushchair, car seat, baby toys and gadgets that you never knew existed, but are now a must have. And, if you’re planning to decorate the baby’s room, get ready to discuss wall transfers and soft furnishings patterns. Not forgetting pregnant women are cautioned to avoid paint fumes, so it all falls to down to you, yay! You must try and match mum-to-be’s enthusiasm, but be prepared and be patient at the same time, with Boulanger advising "just smile and repaint for the third time."
Prenatal Visits Over the generations it has become more and more common for dads to be present during labour and to witness the precious moment of their baby’s arrival into the world. So, it’s no surprise they are also being encouraged to attend prenatal care appointments too. Assuming that all goes well, there will be about 15 routine prenatal visits scheduled with varying frequency: once a month until 28 weeks, three times every month after that up to week 36, and once a week for the last month. If you can attend with your partner, it is highly recommended to allow you to feel involved, and she will most likely appreciate it too. Two visits in particular are especially worthwhile: the first appointment, and the prenatal ultrasound scan. "As a physician, I want the dad there for the first appointment to talk about what will happen, and to determine both parents' preferences for the type of care." Boulanger says.
up a detailed description of how she wants to go through labour and delivery; where to go, who'll attend the delivery, how she intends to give birth, whom she wants in the room, and what your role will be. Taking a birthing class together can help you figure out the best practical ways to support her throughout labour. Because there are many different ways labour and birth can play out, it’s important to remember that sometimes the birth plan will not go to the exact plan (the baby might want to come out sooner than you think!). Therefore, it’s important to expect last minute changes, which makes it difficult to describe a typical experience for a father-to-be in much detail. Nevertheless, it's fair to assume that you'll deliver in a hospital environment, which is where 99% of all births in the United Kingdom occur. That means there will be doctors and nurses around, with medical support available as needed. There's no way you can predict it, but on average, for a woman having her first baby, labour can last between 12-36 hours from her first contractions to delivery. Your partner may be in the early phase of labour for many hours before the hospital will admit her.
Future issues of Indi Mamma Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine are going to feature even more for dads including the best family cars and holidays, but if there are any specific areas of advice or information you’d like to see covered, please let us know by emailing hellobaby@indimamma.com.
As labour progresses, there’s no way around the fact that there will be some sort of pain experienced, but read up on breathing techniques and most importantly, keep calm – this will help your partner keep relaxed and make way for a smooth delivery!
Labour and Delivery At some point, mum-to-be will draw
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Shubh Deepavali Many second-generation south Asian mums (and dads) find parenthood offers an unexpected journey of re-discovering their cultural identity and, with this, the task of ensuring your child understands their family and religious heritage. Whilst the UK education system tries its best to teach about diversity, parents certainly still play the primary role in the multi-cultural elements to their children’s lives. At Indi Mamma we thought we would do some of the hard work for you; here are some activities to teach your child about Diwali.
e... To mak
a salt dough Diva lamp
You will need (quantity for two Diva lamps): Half a cup of salt One cup of plain flour Half a cup of water A mixing bowl and spoon / mixer Things to decorate your Diva lamp e.g. paint, glitter, PVA glue Oven on a low heat (around 100 degrees)
Instructions: 1. Mix the salt, flour and water in a bowl to make your salt dough. 2. Divide the dough into two, and make into balls. 3. Flatten the balls with fingers to mould them into small bowl shapes (you may want to pinch the bowl to make a spout). 4. Leave your lamp to air dry naturally for a couple of days, or cook in the oven for an hour, regularly checking they do not burn. 5. Once your lamps are completely dry, you are ready to decorate in your own unique way!
The Diwali Story (To read with your child) Once upon a time, there was a great warrior, Prince Rama (non other than Lord Vishnu), who had a beautiful wife named Sita. A terrible demon king, Ravana, who had twenty arms and ten heads, and was feared throughout the land, wanted to make Sita his wife. One day he took her away in his chariot but clever Sita left a trail of her jewellery for Rama to follow. Rama sent his friend, the monkey king, Hanuman, to follow the trail. He returned having discovered Sita was being kept on a island known as Lanka (now known as Sri Lanka). The only way for Rama and his army of monkeys to reach the island was to build a bridge. Soon all the animals of the world, large and small, came to help and when the bridge was built, they rushed across it and fought a mighty battle. When Rama destroyed the evil Ravana with a magic arrow, the whole world rejoiced. Rama and Sita began their long journey back to their land, and everybody lit oil lamps to guide them on their way and welcome them back. Ever since, people light lamps at Diwali to remember that light triumphs over dark and good triumphs over evil. Families celebrate together with a small puja, lots of delicious food, exchanging gifts and watching firework displays.
How do you and your family celebrate religious and cultural occasions? We would love to hear from you and share pictures in our ‘Something to share section’; in the first full edition of Indi Mamma Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine due out in January 2017. Email: hellobaby@indimamma.com
Something to share Something to share? We would love to hear your wonderful views and see your colourful photos! Share them on our Facebook page @OfficialIndiMamma, Tweet us @IndiMamma, or email your stories and pictures to hellobaby@indimamma.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Check o some of ut we have the emails re far fro cieved so m followe our rs
Saquiba has sent in this gorgeous photo of her best friend’s daughter who wore this beautiful little Punjabi suit to her wedding. Scarlett was so fascinated by the beads and sequins on her outfit, she wore it to school and told her teacher and friends about the amazing event she had attended!
Blackpool fun My son and daughter are never happier than when they are playing outside, ideally in the sand, or the mud. They had a great time on our recent trip to Blackpool, however they didn’t manage to stay awake after a few hours of fun on the beach, missing the illuminations on the drive home! Luckbier Singh, Urmston.
We’d love to hear from you... TELL US ABOUT YOUR BIRTH STORY SEND US YOUR PHOTOS SHARE YOUR TIPS AND ADVICE WHAT STAGE OF PREGNANCY ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED / DISLIKED ABOUT IT ALL?
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PREGNANCY FEATURE
1
Missed period For women who are always regular, a missed menstrual period is often the first sign of pregnancy. However, as this can be an indication of stress, anxiety, weight loss, onset of the menopause or even coming off the pill, a missed period is by no means the only indication of being pregnant.
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Nausea and (morning) sickness This usually starts at around six weeks, but it can also include vomiting and despite its name, can happen anytime, day or night.
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Fatigue Even those women we all secretly envy, who run their own business, juggle the house work, three children, do Yoga, and attend every PTA meeting on time with cupcakes in hand, and still have bags of energy; can find themselves simply having a catnap during the day when pregnant. This can be very noticeable in the first three months due to the strain from the increased weight, frequent trips to the toilet during the night and the sleep disturbance it causes.
5
Sore breasts Your breasts may feel instantly tender, or for some people, this may not occur until the second trimester. Some women find their breasts become fuller with more visible veins, or their nipples more sensitive or tingle; however these are all normal reactions to the hormonal increase within the body during pregnancy.
Whilst most of us know our bodies’, many fail to spot the early signs of pregnancy. Here’s our guide to finding out for sure if your body is trying to tell you are about to under-go the most miraculous journey imaginable. You may notice signs within as little as one week of conception, although most appear around 4 weeks. e following signs and symptoms may not necessarily mean you are pregnant, however they are the most common clues.
4 6
Frequent trips to the bathroom This is most common in the first 3 months of pregnancy, when the pressure of an enlarged uterus makes them feel the need to frequently pass water. Many women find they have to get up during the night (maybe even several times).
WEEK BY WEEK PREGNANCY
Headaches You may notice headaches at the initial stages of your pregnancy due to the sudden increase in hormones. After the first trimester, they can be treated with a recommended dose of paracetamol.
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Food cravings or adversities One of the earliest signs of pregnancy, food cravings or adversities can occur shortly after their first missed period. Many women also experience dislike towards smells, such as cooking fat and cigarette smoke, which may raise the question: am I pregnant?
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Spotting, bloating and cramps Cramps and bloating are easy to mistake for PMT (Pre-Menstrual Tension), especially alongside bleeding. Yet this can occur through hormonal changes and growth of the uterus. Vaginal bleeding or spotting during in pregnancy is not uncommon but please always check with your GP or Midwife if you are already established in pregnancy.
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Constipation The progesterone hormone released during pregnancy relaxes the muscles and affects the movement in the intestine to variable degrees. Although this is not a definitive sign, for those women who normally go more regularly, it is an additional indication.
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Skin changes Changes to the skin are common during pregnancy. Skin can become dryer or more prone to breakouts often lasting several months. Yet, you may be relieved to know that most women report their skin has never looked as fresh and glowing as it did throughout their pregnancy!
Every week brings new developments when you’re expecting. Your baby changes day-by-day and your body is trying to adapt to the pace. So, it is only natural you will have a host of questions or want to know what’s happening at every stage of your pregnancy. Throughout future issues of Indi Mamma Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine, we will bring you information on the stages of pregnancy covering each week of every trimester, so you can find out what’s happening to you and your baby.
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SIGNS YOU MAY BE PREGNANT
Image accredited to: BSGStudio
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IN YOUR JANUARY ISSUE 100 pages tailored with engaging content for today’s British Asian parent
IVF ‘the taboo, or the norm?’ 5 New Year resolutions The grandparents’ role Baby sleep advice INCLUDING ALL OUR GREAT REGULAR FEATURES: Support & advice Cultural events and festivities Something to share Pregnancy stages & development
Delicious, easy recipes Fantastic competitions WE LOVE product guide and so much more!
Family holiday destinations
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