“Hey you are glowing Kanchan. What’s the secret?” – Asked Priya. Little did Priya know that Kanchan was about 3 months pregnant. Pregnancy & glowing skin – what is the relation? It may not be uncommon to see mothers fairer prior to conceiving her first child. A lot of people say that when you are happy & well-rested your mind and body are more relaxed and hence you look beautiful. Afterall, your face is a reflection of your feelings & emotions.
When you are happy inside, you look happy outside. Scientifically, this is caused due to the sudden rush of hormones in your body. As your body is preparing itself to welcome the coming of a new life, a host of changes take place biologically. If you are experiencing the glow during your pregnancy, feel blessed & enjoy it while it lasts.
While some to-be mommies look fairer, some look dull. This maybe caused due to fatigue & breathlessness that increases with the second trimester. As the body is forced to pump in more oxygen to supply oxygen to the foetus, there is more pressure on the body to meet the growing needs of the life inside.
For those women who are worried about looking dull & tired, don’t fret. This is a common sign of pregnancy. You can adopt some of these home remedies which maynot alter the biological changes , but definitely will help you eradicate the dullness of skin. These top 5 home-remedies are readily available in your kitchen & are absolutely safe for application since they are natural.
Best Home Remedies For A Glowing Skin
Mix 1 tbsp gram flour (kadalai maavu/ besan) with 1.5tbsp fresh curd. You can also add a pinch of kasturi manjal (haldi). Apply on your face & let it dry for 20 minutes. Wash with warm water. This can do wonders for under eye dark circles & lightening of dark spots.
Soak 1 tbsp coarsely grounded oats with 2 tbsp hot milk along with 1 tsp honey. This mixture helps in exfoliating the skin while milk & honey makes the skin soft & supple.
Tomato puree (grated tomato) applied on the face superficially removes excessive oil & dead cells. It brings the freshness to the skin & makes it look lighter & fairer.
Sandalwood paste is an age old tradition that has been passed on by our ancestors. We are not talking of the sandalwood tablets that are readily available in the market. We are referring to the original sandalwood bark that smoothens the skin & regular application makes the skin fairer as the pores eradicate the dirt which is accumulated in the epidermis.
Aloe vera – Aloe vera is a “Super plant” which is extensively used in treatments of various diseases & allergies. It does wonders on the skin making it spotless & healthier.
We spoke about how to tackle dull skin. What about those who are showered with never-ending compliments of glowing like never before? Well, enjoy all the limelight. Afterall, which woman doesn’t love compliments. Coming back to square one – Why does the skin glow? Reasons are plenty. It depends on one’s body type. Some of them are listed below –
Why Does A Pregnant Woman’s Skin Glow?
Healthy Diet For Glowing Skin
When you are pregnant, you have a responsibility to take care of the “God’s gift” inside your womb. Most women resort to a healthier lifestyle that encompasses a healthy diet which is rich in protein, omega-3, energy & all the essential vitamins & minerals that are a pre-requisite for the healthy development of the child. And all this along with gallons of water to prevent you from dehydration. Extra water helps you to flush out the toxins in your body & clear the pores in your skin, thereby eradicating the probability of accumulation of dirt in oily skin or dullness in dry skin. Preventing intake of fried & sugar-loaded foods can also cause acne in many women.
Hormonal Influx During Pregnancy
Along with tremendous physiological changes, a woman also experiences intense hormonal changes. Some hormones can cause the sebatious glands to secrete more oil which makes your skin glow. Too much oil secretion can be countered with a regular application face-wash or oil-free cleanser to remove the excessive oil from your face.
Physical Activity During Pregnancy
Every obstetrician will recommend you to indulge yourself in some form of physical activity to promote blood circulation & keep gestational diabetes, thyroid, obesity & body pain (including back pain, leg pain & head ache) at bay. It is proved that blood circulation increases by about 50% during pregnancy making you look brighter.Most women prefer to walk for 45-60 mins every day to transfer the goodness of inhaling fresh air(oxygen) to her baby. Blood circulation is quintessential for a healthy skin. And thus, it is a blessing in disguise.
On the contrary, some mothers experience acne, pigmentation, moles on the neck, patches or darker nipples. Do not fret. Nothing is permanent. In most cases, these disappear just in few weeks after delivery. A worried mind will only upset you emotionally & make you look duller. So, enjoy your pregnancy & adopt a healthy lifestyle with a good skin care regimen. Time & efforts invested your health will never go in vain. Ultimately, you will look beautiful at 24 as well as 42. 🙂
Time & again we ask ourselves, “How much is too much?” Be it buying new clothes, binging on your favourite chaat, letting your children watch tv, grumbling to your husband, online window shopping or facebook time. So, How much is too much? Too Many Toys For Your Little Brat?
The other day, I saw my friend’s room scattered with myriad of toys from Hamleys, Fisher-Price, Hot Wheels & Chota Bheem like a musical piano, laser top, building blocks, countless soft toys, puzzles, drawing books, sketch pens, fancy cartoon bags & a lavish battery operated car. Once again I asked myself this question – “How much is too much”?
MasterCard’s current marketing campaign tagline says “There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else there is MasterCard”. The money spent on buying these wonderful toys brings a lot of happiness to a baby. And much more happiness to the parents. But how much happiness can it bring to a 2-year old baby? How many games or playthings does a child need to play with everyday? It maybe difficult to comprehend the answer, but, there is a bigger question. Does an avalanche of toys make your baby happy & the way you want your baby to be when he grows up?
Ask an underprivileged child the value of a burger – Priceless! Because he probably had one few months back. Your child relishes one almost every week. With so many choices & amenities, a child dispassionately dismisses the value of many things big & small like pull-over toys, sketch pens, colouring book or a barbie princess dress. When your child loses an eraser at school, you oversight the loss since it is negligible. But the child of a carpenter will keep his belongings safe since he values things much more. If you do not check this habit, will your children learn to value money? Actions become habits. Habits become nature. Nature becomes character. Do you want to teach your children the right value system? If the (obvious) answer is yes, then, no matter what your disposable income is, do not pamper them with unlimited trinket games. But why & how? These are the possible reasons we envisage.
Sharing is caring
If a child is engrossed with his toys the entire day, a robust sense of possessiveness & attachment evolves within them. They refrain from sharing it with their friends & become aggressive if anyone touches their belongings. It creates covetousness in children. On the contrary, some children don’t really care about missing toys or games. They have plentiful to play with. Hence, one or two missing from their kitty doesn’t really bother them.
Tidy rooms
Children have the habit of scattering their toys all over the place. They just love creating “mess”. Don’t they? Fewer toys means limited wreck. It comes to you as a blessing in disguise, as you will end up spending lesser time clearing the mayhem.
Encourage outdoor activities
If your child is a couch potato, glued to his IPad, Xbox or Monopoly, he is less likely to indulge in outdoor activities & games. If a child is bored of his playthings, he will look for newer avenues of entertainment. This will spur enthusiasm in playing outdoors. Physical activity prevents obesity in kids (a phenomenon on an all-time high), improves brain activity & creativity, helps in balancing essential vitamins like Vitamin K which inturn strengthens bones & several other health benefits. To sum it all, making your baby taller, stronger & sharper.
Spawn creativity in children
Introduce your child to drawing, painting, art like origami, pencil shading or punch craft. Instead of playing with the same toys over & over again, let the creativity juices flow. A study says that creative children are more confident as it brings them appreciation which makes them happier.
Sissy kids
A child who is deeply attached to his toys, can easily flare-up if his toy breaks & will want one just like that one, NO MATTER WHAT. A child’s temper tantrum is very well known by every parent. Hence, even if they are your child’s best friend, toys should just be toys.
Happiness is not in quantity but quality, the quality time spent with your children. Do not invest money in the play toys. They can break in a minute. Instead, invest time in playing with your children in the beach, in a park or take them for a swim. A bi-weekly activity like dance, tennis or craft also helps in developing interest in other things that are far better than sit-at-home activities. Let them play hide’n’seek in the apartment with the neighbours, read a book & enjoy every little thing that you enjoyed as a kid. We had so little, yet, had so much fun. Today’s children have so much, yet, so dissatisfied.
Research has proved that about 90% of the brain develops before the age of five. Pre-school lays the critical foundation of imparting a holistic learning for the child. An overall development comprises of not only intellectual but also social skills along with inculcating the right values that will help your child go beyond horizons. Finding the best play school for your child is always a challenge. Considering the activities, quality of education, proximity from home, timings, value for money and several other factors, we have compiled a list of the Best Pre-schools In Chennai.
Many preschools in Chennai also provide day care and after school care for the convenience of working couples.The right school fosters courage, self-determination & wisdom in your darling preparing him/her to face the competitive world. It is this period when the core of one’s personality, social being & etiquette and the child’s phenomenal physical development takes place.
Neelankarai Campus: Vels Kangaroo Kids – 480, 3rd South Main Rd, Sri Kapaleeswarar Nagar, Neelankarai, Chennai – 600 041.
Mylapore Campus: Vels Kangaroo Kids – No.9, Dr. Ranga Road, Mylapore, Chennai – 600004.
The Preschool offers:
An Australian curriculum based experimental learning with activities like dance, yoga, swimming, painting, art and craft, water play, aerobics, puppetry and story-telling.
Higher school affiliated to ICSE and has accreditation for IGCSE.
Air-conditioned classrooms, state-of art science lab & art lab, audio-visual room are some of the key offerings.
An e-library with 24-hour internet connectivity.
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Elemenopy PreSchool – Best PlaySchool In Chennai 2019
In an environment of Structured Freedom, Elemenopy is one of the Best Emerging Playschools In Chennai.
Their activity and experience based approach, motivates children to feel free to question and experiment.
From 9 months – 5.5 years, they offer different programs for children offering smooth transitioning through exploration & discovery.
In today’s world of tabs and screens, Elemenopy aims to strengthen the real, tangible bond between you and your child and hence the “Little Learners” course lays a strong foundation in developing cognitive, physical, emotional as well as fine and gross motor skills from an early age.
Address: 1st Main Rd, Kottur Gardens, Adyar House, Kotturpuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600085
The Pre School offers:
Curriculum is play based – Physical play, Creative play, Imaginative play, Sensory play, Heuristic play.
Courses are available for the age groups of 6 month olds to 1.5 years, 1.5 years to 2.5 years, 2.5 years to 3.5 years and so on until the child is 5.5. years.
Core skills inculcated include critical thinking and problem solving, communication and collaboration, citizenship, creativity and imagination, digital literacy and student leadership and personal development.
Apart from serving as a pre school, Vibgyor has other facilities like a breakfast club (7.30 AM to 9.30 AM), a day care centre (1.00 PM to 7.00PM) and a place for after school activities (4.00PM to 6.30PM) through the weekdays and is open for birthday celebrations (4.00PM to 7.00PM) and doubles up as an activity centre (10.00 AM to 1.00PM) over the weekends.
Indus Early Learning Centre – Best Playschool In Chennai
Address: No 27 AB/13 A, Karpagam Gardens, Opp Avvai Home Girls School, Besant Avenue, Chennai 600020.
The Preschool Offers:
Well planned programs to empower children (age between 2-6 years as per July 31st) to build cognitive abilities, communication, conceptual thinking, creativity and cultivate positive attitudes.
Wi-Fi campus with interactive smart boards to prepare kids for digital age.
Nutritious lunch, health drinks and snacks are provided to ensure hygiene and over-all health of the child.
KiwiLearners – Best International Playschool In Chennai
Address: Door No.3, Ayshika House, Stillwater Court, 2nd Cross St, Off Sunrise Avenue, Neelankarai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600115
The Preschool Offers:
An international childhood centre for children aged 0-6 years.
Holistic play based education offering half day, full day, kindergarten and after school programs.
Specialized childhood curriculum as per New Zealand standards.
The managers have a repertoire of learning methodologies they can choose from (including digital methods) to ensure adequate learning requirements are met.
Address: Old 27, Ranganatham Avenue Street, Near Sylvan Lodge Colony, Kilpauk, Chennai – 600010.
The Preschool offers:
Play school, pre-school, kindergarten, after-school and daycare programs are offered from 1.5 years & above.
The various amenities are air-conditioned classrooms, healthy meals are provided (breakfast, lunch & snacks), large outdoor play area, pet zoo, splash pool along with transportation.
Address: 178 B, St Mary’s Road, Alwarpet Chennai 600018
The Preschool offers:
A comprehensive program helps children develop problem solving and creative thinking skills. Extracurricular activities including dance, music and puppet show.
Spacious and air-conditioned classrooms with smart classes.
Hands-on activities along with spacious outdoor play area with slides, splash pool and swings.
Bambino Kindergarten – Best Play School In RA Puram
Address – No. 404/187, Lloyds Roads, Gopalapuram, Chennai 600086.
Between the age of 2-7 years, children have an absorbent mind and experience the most sensitive period. It is best to cultivate strong positive habits at this age to enhance their overall hoslistic development as they grow up. iSpark is a one-of-it’s-kind centre for children, which emphasizes on developing the mind, body & soul rather than just educating the child with bookish knowledge.
Their flagship programme for children starting 1.8 years is called the “Sparkling Stars”(The Pre-school Programme) which focuses on all aspects of a child’s development – including physical movement, active play, music, art, stories, life skills, imbibing values of kindness, empathy, friendship and peace.
iSpark also offers programmes such as:
Young Champs (The After School Programme)
Physical Fitness & Mindfulness
Dance powered by RAACK Academy
Kidzee – Best Playschool Chain In Chennai
Kidzee is Asia’s largest chain of Preschools with 1700+ centres & 550+ cities in India & >450000 students.
Website: http://www.kidzee.com
Phone: 022-40343900/ 022-26743422
Address: Zee Learn Limited, Fun Republic, Level 6, Link Road, Andheri West, Mumbai – 450053.
The Preschool Offers:
Kidzee exclusive learning tablet to help develop child’s brain.
Kidzee Nuvo – A program exclusively designed for toddlers.
3 assessments through the year to gauge the degree of learning & development.
Srishti Montessori School – Best Preschool In Chrompet
Address: New No.24, Ramanathan street, Mahalingapuram, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600034.
The Preschool offers:
Materials that stimulate independent exploration. They are self-correcting that build the child’s intelligence, independence & analytical thinking.
Every child comes with his or her own plan for the day. No two children have the same type of day at Patasala.
Admission begins at the age of 2.5 years.
These were some of the top pre-schools in Chennai. There are few more pre-schools that are worth exploring are listed below.
Little Cubs, Alwarpet
Apple Kids, Royapettah
Vanilla Play School, Anna NAgar
Little Angels, T.Nagar
Arise ‘n’ Shine, Anna Nagar
Little Millennium, Anna Nagar
Kanchana Paati, Adyar
Every parent carefully chooses a pre-school for his/her kid. We hope our article has made it easier for you to short-list few while you pay a visit personally & understand what the play school has to offer. We would love to hear back from you. You can also share your feedback on your experience with your child’s playschool. This will help other parents take a better decision & build a bright future with a strong foundation for their precious one.
“Life of a child does not begin when he or she is born, but right from the moment of conception”. A mommy-to-be feels ecstatic when she feels the kick in her womb. It is heartening to see her dream, smile, silently pray for the wellness of her baby & possibly knitting colourful socks for her unborn child (well this is a rarity these days). Suddenly there are many reasons to thank God, to pray to him & ask him to grant you those secret wishes. In this phase when you unconsciously tend to align yourself to everything positive, with the science of the mind hoping that it will have constructive effect on your baby. Read more about Arham Pregnancy Review.
Your joy knows no bounds if your child grows to be purrrr-fect kid every parent years for. Perfection is not just being successful & buying an independent home in Aamby valley. It is someone who is responsible, noble to the society & an idol for generations to come. Arham Pregnancy believes that a mother imbibes the good qualities in the foetus even before birth aiming to reform & mould the unborn child to be a boon for the society.
I was introduced to Arham Pregnancy through one of my friend. A holistic approach to pregnancy can last a lifetime. The ideology is that when you sacrifice & dedicate so much since birth, why not right from conception. Laying the right foundation with an ideal healthy diet, lifestyle, physical activity & meditation benefits the parents & the child physically, mentally & spiritually. Arham Garb Sadhana is a non-profit foundation that aims to harness spiritual energy to the child.
Arham Pregnancy Review – My personal experience
I met Mrs. Rachna, (my teacher/facilitator) during my 2nd trimester at Vepery, Chennai. I had a couple of personal one-on-one sessions with her. She encouraged me to attend the sessions with my husband. She emphasized both parents to jointly as a happy frame of mind & vision creates positive vibes for the child too.
Session 1:
Introduction to Arham Garbh Sadhana
Basic introduction – Education to lay emphasis on the importance of improving the intelligent, emotional, social and spiritual quotient of the unborn child.
Health history – Information on the mother’s health history, any complication or previous medical ailment or allergies that is prevalent.
Importance of Arham Pregnancy – The rhythmic harmony of “Arham” is aimed at awakening the several centres of consciousness & kindle the life-force.
Session 2:
Power Of Namothunam – Chanting of Namothunam; the meaning, importance & power of the mantra. Channelize your spiritual energy to little one angel.
Alternative therapies to problems – AGS believes that every problem should be countered with naturally available foods & spices. Allopathic medicine can provide immediate but temporary relief. However, it has other side effects that is harmful to the baby. Natural medicine tackles the problem from it’s roota & eradicates the problem thereby strengthening the immune system.
Diet Plan – Your baby eats what you eat. Avoiding preservatives, fried, sugar packed foods is the first step towards a healthier lifestyle. Introduction of wonder foods that help you prepare your body physically & builds energy to nurture the little one.
Session 3:
Chant of Mantra : Chanting of mantra using colours forms the fundamental foundation of meditation. The recitation ensures health & imparts tranquility. The incantatory word – “Arham” produces powerful vibrations that yields long-lasting peace of mind & happiness.
Dealing with Challenges – Gestational Diabetes, fatigue or vomiting – there is an alternate therapy to almost every problem that you may face during your pregnancy. I consider myself lucky as I did not face any complication, but many women do. At Arham Garbh Sadhana you deal with your problem in a way mother nature wants you to.
The follow-up class was conducted to ensure that I was comfortable with what I was taught & how it was making a difference in me. I was also invited to the group classes which add to the positive energy when all the expecting mothers chant together. I would strongly recommend every expecting mother to indulge in some form of engagement that connects you with the divine. You do not necessarily have to be a Jain to chant a mantra that holds great significance to their community. I recited it although I do not follow Jainism. If your family encourages you to abide by their family’s spiritual teachings only, you should probably respectfully do so. However, I would suggest you to attend the diet & lifestyle classes that holds no barrier on religion or caste.
Motherhood, as they say, is the most important phase your life. A mother is a sculptor who can shape her child’s life by inculcating the right value system. Your time invested in these 9 months can have an ever-lasting effect on your baby doing unimaginable wonders. After, research has proven that your baby can hear, feel & connect with the mother right from conception even in the womb. Isn’t it?
If you desire to benefit from Arham Pregnancy Programme, you can connect with them on +91 9500029541 or +91 9094101808. Or visit them on http://www.arhampregnancy.com.
Boy playing with toy car on pregnant mothers stomach
A second child? What is the ideal gap? When is the right time to go for a second child? It is difficult to ascertain the correct answer. If you have made the decision to go for another child, then go ahead & read what the experts have to say. Unsurprisingly, many parents do not want another child. And this number is only rising by the day. Is it because kids these days are more demanding? Or raising another one is requires much more commitment in terms of time, effort & planning your finances more efficiently. I recollect my friend telling me once – “Are your crazy? I can’t go through this pain all over again. I’m finding it so difficult to manage one kid. I’m done. My husband and I can’t handle another one”. Wonder how our grandparents managed to nurture 10 kids effortlessly with second string amenities & finances.
Having a sibling for your child has a positive bearing on the both kids. Although the elder child is showered with all the love & affection, jealousy & insecurity seeps in the formative years of the child. However, once they grow up, they can be the best of friends. While you become a judge, doing the tough job of deciding who is right and who is wrong (which is more difficult than deciding which stock to invest in. Yes, it is.), you enjoy parenthood as a more confident parent & your children learn to bond well with other children of their age.
The question arises. What is the ideal gap between the two pregnancies. It is a known fact that fertility in women reduces with age. As it reduces drastically after 35 years, it is ideal to plan your pregnancies before you are in your late 30s. Problems of infertility, hormonal imbalance, PCOS & fibroids increases after early 30s. Hence it best to conceive both your children before you hit your mid 30s. Infertility in men decreases at about 50 years. There is a reduction in the sperm quality & quantity.
Pregnancy takes a heavy toll on your body in terms of hormonal & biological changes. Therefore, it is better to space out your pregnancies which gives your body enough time to recover mentally & physically. Research has proven that a gap of about 1.5 to 2 years gives you sufficient time revive your energy & prepare you for your second pregnancy. If the pregnancy is unplanned then there is little you can do about it (unless you don’t want the child).
There is no one-size-fits all rule that holds good in each one’s case. It really depends on how supportive your spouse & family is. However, it can work to your advantage if there is about 2.5 years – 4 years gap between both your children. When the difference in the age is not much, both the siblings play together & grow up together. This gives you more time for leisure activities & for completing the house chores. Ideally by 6-7 years both your kids are in school & share similar schedule which makes life a lot easier. When children have company of their age, they need not be introduced to second source of entertainment such as televisions, games on the cell phone or xbox gaming. They can be encouraged to play scrabble, monopoly, pictionary, snakes & ladders, ludo, uno & every other fantastic game that requires atleast two people. However loving you are, your children eventually enjoy the company of the same age group.
Speaking of the advantages of striking the right balance for an ideal age gap between the children, we should throw light upon the benefits that the mother enjoys in terms of her well-being. Research has proven that the chance of a miscarriage increases as the as woman’s age advances. With advancement in technology, IVF(In vitro fertilization) is becoming increasingly popular. But the hassle & stress of multiple visits & tests causes more tension than happiness. Well, if you have a healthy child, eventually all is well. But in many cases, the truth is otherwise.
Many working women prefer to have a child much later than at-home mommies. The fear of a parenting-break(rather motherhood-break) from their career holds them back to go for a family. Having said that, some women strongly recommend to have less gap between two kids as they want to get back to their office routine as usual. Those couples who are career-oriented are happy with one child. With nuclear families on an ever rising tide, it’s becoming increasingly challenging for the couples to nurture two kids without the support of their family.
A delayed pregnancy also increases the chances of twins. This is caused due to the hormonal imbalance in the body, that the ovary releases two eggs which get fertilized & implanted in the uterus resulting in the birth of twins. Twice the joy also brings twice the responsibility of being cautious about your lifestyle, diet, activities & holistic well-being physically, mentally & biologically. Often, conceiving twins can lead to complications that are either caused due to drastic weight gain or due to sudden gush of hormones that are produced to support two lives instead of one.
Having children & watch them take baby steps is the most beautiful experience ever. Let time take it’s course. Go for another child only when you are prepared, even if it is after a couple of years later than what your family expects. Go for a vacation, join Zumba, enjoy your “Flab to Fab” moments & rejuvenate yourself to welcome your second delight with a healthy beginning. Let the coming of a child be a delight to you and your spouse as much as your first child did. Happy parenting! 🙂
Mrs. Sharmila Bhaskar gave a peck on her son’s cheek – “Boys don’t cry Ravi. Come on, wipe off your tears now.” Mother of a happy & proud 5 year old, tried pacifying her son when he fell off the chair. We often see little girls play with their Barbie dolls & their doll houses. Also, it doesn’t just stop with the dolls. There is no dearth of options for kids these days. From Barbie make up set, doctor set & kitchen set… you have it all. On the contrary you find the little boys zooming with their cars. They are proud owners of their Audi & Ferrari. But why this gender stereotype?
In this 21st century where women refrain from taking a backseat, are moving leaps & bounds to set an example for their peers, why this gender bias? We talk about equality. We talk about abolishing child discrimination. But deep down in our heart, our culture, our family decree we incline towards an invisible prejudice that is prevalent in almost every household.
The question arises – How can we make a difference? Well, by Breaking Gender Stereotypes with the new age kids!
Let’s begin with the toys
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A change happens in phases. A seed sown can’t blossom into a fruit over night. Can it? Toys ( a child’s best friends) keeps your little one engaged through the day & hence becomes a part of it’s unbringing. Do not restrict your angel to play with a battery operated hot wheels car. Encourage your son to play with your daughter’s Barbie hospital set if he is enthralled about it. Siblings learn to share, and that’s a great skill we need to inculcate in our children sooner or later.
Let them live their passion
Young African American soccer player kicking the ball.
Only a child knows what he or she likes. You cannot decide. You can only introduce a child to a sport or to an art. If your child is intrigued by a particular sport or a hobby, you should let him live his passion. Mary Kom, the 5 time world champion has been the idol for many Indian women for years making India prouder than ever. Beating all odds of the society, Heena Sidhu became India’s first pistol shooter last year to reassure that women can break all societal pressures to live their dream. Sanjeev Kapoor, Sanjeev Brar & Vikas Khanna are few chefs who have put India in the Global Culinary Map. Breaking Gender Stereotypes , see that? 🙂
Let us be the change
cute girl preparing healthy food vegetable salad
Children learn from what they see & hear. Daughters often hear – “It’s time you learn how to cook” or “What will your in-laws say if you throw these tantrums after wedding”. Yes, it is important to cultivate the right value system. We might sound like hypocrites, but teach the same values to all the children. Both should not waste food, both need to clean their wardrobe and both should take their plate to the sink. Well, the list doesn’t end here. An inward introspection suggests ways to improvise your approach towards nurturing your children without gender bias.
Today we will share home remedies on how to remove stretch marks after pregnancy. I stumbled upon an athlete who posted her post pregnancy photo on twitter which featured her stretch marks soon after delivery. She was gearing up for her marathon just about 2 months after her delivery. A bipolar feeling of being coy (showcasing her ugly stretch marks) but audacious (recuperate courageously to run the marathon) was evident in her emotions & comments.
The tweet went viral with several people re-tweeting & liking. What was amazing was her determination to repress the post-partum blues & live her passion for running. She mentioned that she uses natural remedies to remove stretch marks.
Stretch marks are small streaks that appear on the skin of a pregnant woman from the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. The elastic fibres under the skin tend to break because the body grows faster than the skin’s ability to cope with causing.
While exercise is an inevitable component of losing the flab & reducing the stretch marks, you can also combat it by employing some home-made remedies that are proven time and again. After all, anything natural can never really harm you. Apart from being absolutely safe (unless one is seriously allergic to any of the below mentioned remedies), natural things are pocket friendly in comparison to the expensive laser treatments, injections or the chemical lotions available across the counter.
Causes Of Stretch Marks
It is believed that a dramatic weight gain or weight loss causes the skin to stretch leaving awful scars. It can occur on the stomach, thighs, hips, back (lower portion) & buttocks.
In teenagers it occurs due to sudden growth spurt.
Some corticosteroid creams, lotions, and pills decrease the elasticity of the skin & cause stretch marks. Some diseases and medical conditions can also cause these marks.
These marks reduce with time. If you are blessed, most of it will disappears with time, but for many, some of it stays for a lifetime (unless you want to remove them clinically). Having said this, life sustains on hope. And every woman hopes that she bounces back to shape doubly accelerated to the efforts devoted for the same, since tend to have an effect on people’s confidence.
Precautions For Stretch Marks
Most experienced mothers recommend you to take precautions even before the condition worsens. It may be a grievous mistake to believe that these marks occur for everyone & will remain for life. You can start applying these from your 5th month. Ideally because your skin starts stretching and tugging from your mid second trimester & increases as your pregnancy advances. You can be sure that whole-hearted efforts never go in vain. Efforts are temporary, but, scars maybe forever.
We bring to you easily available home remedies for reducing stretch marks or scars notably. None of them can harm your body, however, one or more may be more effective for you basis your skin type & body type. We hope you find it useful.
Home Remedies For Reducing Stretch Marks
Aloe Vera – How To Remove Stretch Marks Permanently
Incredibly useful, one of the most widely used plant, aloe vera has tremendous health benefits, one of which is accelerated healing of scars, stretch marks, burns or any other skin ailment naturally. You can either apply it superficially or drink the juice in it’s pure form.
It has about 12 essential vital nutrients & vitamins making it a terrific option for a healthy start in the morning. Peel the outer layer of the leaf & apply the sticky gel on stretch marks twice a day. Wash off with normal water after 2-3 hours. Alternatively, you can also combine it with Vitamin E oil and Vitamin A oil from the capsules in 2:1 ratio and store in a cool place.
Compounds such as glucomannan and gibberellin increase collagen synthesis and fasten healing process. Aloe Vera Gel is also one of the best home remedy to lighten skin.
Honey – How To Remove Old Stretch Marks
Honey is also a great curing agent for scars and stretch marks. It is important to keep your skin well moisturized post pregnancy for the quick recovery. Apply honey on the affected area or you can alternatively make a paste of honey with a dash of salt & few drops of glycerine. This can give you relief & makes the skin soft & supple.
Castor Oil – Best Essential Oils to Remove Stretch Marks
Castor oil has holistic healing properties for the skin diseases & hair fall as well as it is rich in ricinoleic acid, a skin-conditioning agent. Apply warm castor oil on the stomach and thighs in circular motion & let it rest for few minutes until it seeps into the body. Place a soft cotton muslin cloth and rest for 30mins. It has magnificent anti-ageing properties.
Alternatively, you can also try almond oil, argan oil, cod liver oil, wheat germ oil, apricot oil, tea tree oil, rosehip oil or lavender oil as most of these aromatic essential oils are rich in Vitamin E which are great for the skin. These oils nourish and heal the damaged skin & diminish ugly scars. The collagen and elastic fibers of the skin are rejuvenated by essential oils application.
Olive Oil – How To Remove Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
Known popularly as a healthier option for cooking oil, olive oil also has great healing properties for skin disorders. Any massage in circular motion helps increase the blood circulation thereby reduces the effect of stretch marks.
Lemon Juice – How To Remove Marks Naturally
You may recollect your grandmother recommending you to soak soiled clothes in warm water with a lime squeezed for 20 minutes. Just like the lemon has dirt removing properties, it also acts as a tan removal / bleach on the skin. Apply lemon juice on the affected areas thrice a week to see marked benefits in the scars. Lemon Juice is also one of the best home remedy to lighten skin.
Cocoa Butter – How To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks On Breast
There is much hype about using cocoa butter on stretch marks. It is best known for it’s anti-ageing properties as it tightens the skin. As it is rich in Vitamin E, it works wonders on the scars. You can also use Shea butter for similar results.
Home Made Cocoa Butter
Mix all ingredients- 2 tsp kernel oil, 1/4 cup cocoa butter, 2 tsp wheat germ oil, 2 tsp apricot oil, 1tsp beeswax, 2 tsp vitamin E oil – and heat until the bees wax completely melts and store in glass jar in the refrigerator. Apply twice a day for deep hydration.
Fine granulated sugar mixed with few drops of lemon & almond oil acts as a great exfoliating agent which removes the dead skin and revives the skin. It tightens the skin & quickly heals the scars.
Alternatively mix sugar, olive oil and lemon juice to form a scrub. Apply for 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Apricots – Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks Naturally
Although apricots are not widely available easily, these are rich in vitamins A & vitamin C which help in smoothening of the skin. Deseed & apply paste & let it dry for 15 minutes before washing away with cool water. This is one of the easiest home remedies to get rid of stretch marks naturally.
Rich sources Of Vitamin C
Eggs – Best Remedy To Remove Stretch Marks
Vegetarians would not consider the last remedy. But, egg (egg white) which is a power house of proteins and amino-acids, acts as a building-block for damaged cell repair. Apply egg white on the marks & allow it to dry. This may be smelly, but, on regular usage has fabulous results on skin – It lightens the scars and tightens the skin.
Potato – Best Home Remedy To Lighten The Skin
A surprise to many, potatoes contain starch & skin lighting enzymes thus lightens dark circles, spots and blemishes from the skin. It bleaches the skin and effectively reduces the visibility of stretch marks.
Apple Cider Vinegar For Stretch Marks
Rich in acetic and malic acid, Apple Cider Vinegar is effective in reducing stretch marks. Pour the entire contents of apple cider vinegar into a spray bottle and spray every night before going to bed. Use everyday for best skin lightening results.
Super Effective Skin Mask
An incredible effect of this mask is tested and proven by many mothers who are fighting to get rid of their ugly scars. Mix all contents to make a smooth pasts and apply thrice a week for DEFINITE MARKED IMPROVEMENT in your skin. The contents include 1 egg yolk (beaten), 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1tsp oatmeal, 1tsp almond paste and 1 tbsp milk.
Homemade Belly Butter – Homemade Moisturizer
Mix coconut oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter in
Melt the mixture in a microwave or a double boiler. Finally, add a little vitamin E oil and apply it on your skin. This is a great homemade “belly butter” for preventing pregnancy stretch marks.
Home-Made Moisturizer
Regular use of moisturizers help improve skin elasticity and retain the skin hydration. But choosing the right one according to your texture & skin type is essential.
For Dry Skin: Use cocoa butter
For Oily Skin: Use aloe vera
Procedure:
Mix olive oil, aloe vera gel and wheat germ oil in equal quantities. Mix this with clay if your skin is very oily.
Home-Made Lotion – Homemade Moisturizer
No additives, chemicals or artificial colours and fragrance. This is a very effective remedy to keep your skin supple and curb dryness. Apply twice a day for best results.
Procedure:
Take 50gms aloe vera gel, 100 gms extra virgin olive oil. Extract oil from six vitamin E capsules. Extract oil from 4 vitamin A capsules. Bind all ingredients thoroughly, store it in a glass jar and store in the refrigerator.
Dietary Remedies To Remove Stretch Marks
Vitamin E
Dietary remedies to remove stretch marks: Present in most beauty products as it acts as an antioxidant that fights free radicals while deeply nourishing the skin. Vitamin E rich foods should be incorporated in your daily diet – Almonds, avocado, broccoli, swiss chards, pumpkin seeds,sunflower seeds, olives, sesame seeds, spinach and papaya.
Sparingly available in vegetarian diet, packed in sea food, Omega-3 fatty acids also help increase elasticity in the skin. Foods like walnuts, tofu, cauliflower, soybean and flax seeds for vegetarians and salmon, sardines, cod liver, beef, shrimps are super foods which should be included in your daily diet.
Vitamin C
Rich in anti-oxidants that help our bodies to fight the toxins or free radicals, Vitamin C is present in citrus foods like oranges, lemons, berries like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, kiwis, broccoli, pineapple and tomatoes.
Gelatine contains collagen which is also present in your skin and is responsible for providing elasticity to your skin. Bone broth (chicken, lamb or beef) is an excellent natural source of gelatine in your diet. Alternatively, Hyaluronic acid can also be consumed in the form of a capsule or extract to restore collagen in the dermis.
Coconut Oil
Virgin coconut oil is an excellent source of saturated fatty acids which do not get easily oxidized, thus providing good moisture to the skin & preventing stretch marks.
Zinc Rich Foods
Zinc deficiency hampers your body’s ability to produce adequate collagen and antioxidants. Include zinc-rich foods such as cashews, spinach, pumpkin seeds, garlic, mushrooms, wheat germ, broccoli, avocado, pistachio, sesame seeds, almonds, dark chocolate, chickpeas, eggs, chicken and nuts to prevent the marks.
Vitamin A
Retinoids make skin appear smoother and more youthful. Vitamin A rich foods like carrots, gooseberries, sweet potatoes also protect skin against UV rays. There are present in abundance in foods like cod liver oil, beef & lamb liver, salmon and mackeral.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa detoxify the body and contain antifungal properties. The paste of alfalfa leaves and 5 drops chamomile oil applied twice a day for results shows significant improvement. They provide amino acids, Vitamin E & K.
Sandalwood & Turmeric
Sandalwood is an age-old grandmom remedy for beauty and removing scars. Equal amounts of sandalwood and turmeric, leads to skin lightening & brighter skin tone. Turmeric has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties as well. You can also use turmeric with curd or yogurt and apply twice a day for fabulous results in a short span.
Lifestyle Changes To Shun Stretch Marks
Exercise regularly to improve blood circulation and skin elasticity. Tighten muscles with the right kind of workout.
Switch between hot and cold showers for micro-circulation of blood in the dermis.
We bring to you 3 Healthy Snacks For Children To Enjoy This Summer to beat the milk-y blues. It’s never been easy to feed your little one. No mother would deny this fact. Children love anything colourful. Hence, try to incorporate as many colours, sizes & shapes possible. Many parents resort to tasty but not so healthy snacks that their child will love, but, definitely not healthy.
We bring to you healthy (OBVIOUSLY NOT FRIED) recipes that your kid will love. These easy to make recipes are especially for those who have had problems with making their kids drink milk. Well, which parent never has. We definitely are not rooting for maggi or ready to make pasta here. We are talking of very healthy, very very tasty snacking options you would love to adopt for your little one. These fuss-free recipes are a sure hit with most children. Let us know which of these did your little champ enjoy the most.
Fruit Custard – Best Healthy Dessert For Summer
9 out of 10 mothers complain about the never ending milk tantrums of their children. This is a fabulous way of rendering the goodness of milk in the healthiest way possible. Fruit custard has all the essential components of the perfectly balanced snack/dessert that you would like your child to enjoy over an ice-cream or maggi.
Serves – 2
Preparation time – 25 mins
Ingredients –
Milk – 300ml
Sugar – 3 tsp
Kesar (Saffron) – 4 strands
Cashews – 4 nos finely chopped
Almonds – 4 nos finely chopped
Pistachio – 4 nos finely chopped
Mango – ½ mango finely chopped
Banana – ½ banana finely chopped
Custard powder – 1 tbsp
Method –
Boil the milk & keep stirring in low flame until the quantity of milk reduces to half. This should take about 20-25 minutes. Take care to stir the milk every 5 minutes to avoid solidifying at the bottom of the saucepan.
Soak the kesar in 2 tbsp of water for the colour to dissolve.
Once the milk becomes thick, add sugar & kesar.
Take a bowl & dissolve custard powder in 3 tbsp water such that there are no lumps formed.
Add this mixture to the milk & constantly keep stirring for 5 minutes until the custard blends well with the milk & thickens. Make note that once the custard is added you have to keep stirring continuously to avoid browning / burning at the bottom of the pan.
Let the custard cool at room temperature for half an hour & place it in the refrigerator for half an hour.
Add all the dry fruits & fruits before serving.
Mouth-watering fruit custard is ready to be relished.
Pin Wheel Sandwich- Best Healthy Snack For Children
You don’t need much energy to convince your child for a yummy sandwich. Ofcourse, never if it is a pin wheel sandwich. But why? Because it is colourful, looks very different & pleasing. And who doesn’t love cheese? Cheese (a by-product of milk which is a power house of protein). Enough reason to call it one of the Healthy Snacks For Children.
Serves – 1
Preparation Time – 15 mins
Ingredients –
Sandwich bread – 3 slices
Green pudina chutney – 1 tbsp
Sauce – 1 tbsp
Cheese – ½ cube grated
Carrot – ½ carrot grated
Milk – 4 tbsp
Method –
Cut the sides of the sandwich bread from all four sides.
Soak the bread slices in milk for just 3 seconds just enough to dampen it slightly.
Roll the bread (with a rolling pin) separately such that it becomes thin (reduces to half the thickness).
Take an aluminium foil & place it on a flat surface.
Apply Sauce on one slice & spread a layer of grated carrot on the slice.
On the second slice, apply some butter evenly & spread a layer of grated cheese. Place this slice on top of the first one.
Take the third slice. Apply green pudina-coriander chutney evenly. Place the bread on top of the other two slices.
Now gently roll (by folding inwardly) all the three slices of bread together to form a cylindrical shape. Wrap the aluminium foil around it as you fold the slices of the bread.
Gently press from all the sides such that the sandwich is tightly packed.
Now refrigerate for about half an hour.
While serving, remove from the refrigerator & remove the aluminium foil wrap.
Cut the sandwich into 3 or 4 smaller pieces which are easy to eat.
Yummylicious pin wheel sandwich is ready.
Strawberry Banana Milk-Shake Recipe
As straight forward as it can get, you can never go wrong with a milk shake. It is power packed with protein & all the essential vitamins & minerals packed in your fruits, much more than simply Healthy Snacks For Our Children. Milkshakes are the best when consumed fresh WITHOUT SUGAR. It is said that added sugars get to blood stream much faster than in the solid foods consumed. Fruits are naturally sweet; hence the necessity of adding sugar gets knocked off. However, if your child refuses to drink without sugar, you can opt to replace it with honey.
Serves – 2
Preparation Time – 5 minutes (Can we ask for more)
Ingredients –
Milk – 150 ml (1 cup)
Strawberry – 4 nos
Banana – ½ banana
Method –
Boil the milk. Cool it at room temperature & refrigerate it for half an hour.
Dice both the fruits & churn it in the mixer.
Add half the quantity of milk to avoid over-flowing of milk from the mixer.
Once the milk blends well with the fruits, add the remaining milk & churn again.
Thanda-thanda cool-cool & delicious milk shake is ready to be gulped down.
Note : Since strawberry is a seasonal fruit, you can also use mango (1/2 mango) or de-seeded dates (6 nos) or chickoo (1 nos).
It is absolutely amazing to see your baby grow. As your little one learns new things, we also learn along. We bring to you amazing facts about your baby you probably did not know. Their capability to relate, recognize & reciprocate is simply superb. From pregnancy to delivery & motherhood, babies are capable of accomplishing some astonishing feats. Go on & read these interesting facts & tell us which one has surprised you the most.
From conception to birth, a baby’s weight increases about 3,000 million times.
Children who are exclusively breast fed for more than 3 months have about 30% better cognitive abilities than those who are exclusively formula fed.
A baby can’t taste salt until it is about 4 months old. This may be related to the development of kidneys, which start processing the sodium around that age.
Well, this might sound quite strange. Yearning for twins? Binge on yams. A recent research has shown that consumption of yam increases the chances of twins or multiple births considerably.
New born babies have over 10,000 taste buds; many more than that of adults. Gradually these disappear as they grow up.
A baby’s eyes at birth are 75% of an adult size, but his/her vision is around 20/400. By six months, a baby’s vision reaches 20/20.
On birth, babies do not have kneecaps. They have cartilage that resembles the kneecaps which develops fully after 6 months. This sure is one of the amazing facts about your baby, isn’t it?
A baby’s inner ear is the only sense organ to develop fully before birth. It reaches its adult size by the middle of pregnancy. That’s why they say your baby can hear your voice & the surrounding noises.
An infant at birth has about 300 bones. Adults have only 206. As they grow up, the cartilage fuse together to form bones.
Parents generally respond to about 50% of their baby’s vocalization. However, your baby’s language development could be sped up you respond to them about 80% of the time.
Babies eat before their mothers do. They derive the nutrients through the umbilical cord and leave mom the rest. So, now you know why you need to eat frequent, healthy meals.
At about four months into pregnancy, your fetus develops a mustache that, over the a period of 3-5 weeks, spreads over its entire body. This hair is called lanugo and it all falls off before birth (if you’re lucky) and is eaten by the baby while in the womb. It gets digested and comes out in it’s first poop called “meconium”.
Do you know how many births occur in the world every minute? Any guesses? The answer would be 255.Whoa! That’s a big number.
The largest number of babies born to a woman is 69. A Russian peasant woman gave birth to 16 sets of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets of quadruplets between the year 1725 – 1765.
Your infant’s grip your little one is so strong that it’s whole body can hang in midair, with it’s fingers supporting the entire body weight.
The age of fecundity is that age which has the maximum chance of fetus survival. It is when a girl is 22 years; precisely why people say that you should not delay your pregnancy.
