Craving of the month : Chocolate coffee Cake

Every Sunday for the past month, I've bee making chocolate Coffee Cake. The recipe was given to me by a colleague. It took 3 trials to get a eatable cake but perseverance paid and this time it turned out good. From dough to half baked cake to a eatable one, it has seen it all. I'm satisfied this time. Every time, I make one, I have been having it all. So you can imagine what it has done to my weight!

I'm pregnant : What precautions should I take?

These are some of the precautions that I was advised to take by the Doctor and older memmbers in the family:

1. Do not lift weights. Almost everyday through teh first trimester I heard this advise from one and all. Lifting weights is known to cause bleeding or miscarriage. Women in India have a habit of lifting a bucket of water or a cooker full of rice and vegetables. It is good if these are avoided. Plan your day such that some member in the family can help you with your daily chores if you don't have a domestic maid.


2. I had this bad habit of gobbling tablets - self medication for everything without the advise of the doctor - be it fever, headache, dysentery or whatsoever. Getting rid of this habit was the most toughest one. DO NOT consume any tablets even as minor as paracetamol without the advise of your doctor. Anything that you eat has an effect on the foetus.


3. I was prone to indigestion and heartburn right from the begining. Hence, the doctor advised me to avoid eating out as much as I can. Ofcourse there were times when I gave into my temptation such as today ..the reaction was immediate. I ended up puking within 15 mins of consuming Gulab Jamun and Samosa. Fried foods from the outside are best avoided as are green salads. You can never be sure if they are washed and cooked well.


4. Do not stay hungry. My doctor said it is usual to lose weight in the first trimester and need not be a matter of concern. All she advised was to eat whatever I liked even after vomitting and not to stay hungry.

Week 6: Travel Restrictions

I was all slated to travel to Calcutta on official work for a work. I had to call in at work and cancel the trip on the Doctor's advise. It is generally advisable not to travel in the first trimester. The reason I'm told is travel - whatever be the means - by road or air causes exertion. The chances of a miscarriage are the highest in the first trimester due to which travel is not advised. Moreover, the first trimester also brings with it nausea, mood swings, depression etc which varies from woman to woman and can be best coped with at home.