Shika Prasad does not hold back when telling us about the emotional struggle during the later half of her pregnancy, which continued till the first 100 days after giving birth. “I didn’t know what was happening. My life like took a 360 degree turn!” she recalls. The wife of film actor Skanda Ashok was just about celebrating her own impending new role when, just like the rest of us, COVID-19 put a dampner on her plans. However, she learnt to find her way through the uncertainty with a little bit of gratitude, a whole lot of anxiousness, and learning the ropes of being a hands on mum, too! Here’s her story in her own words..
THIS IS US
Ours was the classic ‘girl meets boy and falls in love’ kinda story. Like me, my husband, Skanda, is a passionate coffee planter, and enjoys travelling—we travelled to about 20 countries in a matter of two years, post marriage! When we were jetting across Russia, I had a hunch that the stork paid us a visit, so I did a test, and much to our surprise, we were pregnant! Although it wasn’t planned, we were on cloud nine. Our family and friends too, couldn’t contain their excitement. I am the only child to my parents, so they were now going to welcome another baby in their lives after 27 years. We have inside family joke: that our baby is ‘made in Russia’!
‘BUMP’Y RIDE!
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LIKE A BOSS!
Isha Kachru, partner at India’s leading toys manufacturing company Funride Toys, lets us in on how mommyhood has made her feel more empowered than ever..
How To Be You With A Bump
Make the shift to mum-to-be while still living the life you love. Yes, it is possible…
In the ‘prick' of health
Vaccination is crucial for all babies. Make sure you don’t skip any
Homecoming and after…
Congratulations! Your little bundle of joy has finally arrived. The pregnancy and birth are behind you and now you can concentrate on baby activities. But, although you may be too busy to realise it, this is the time to take good care of yourself too. Here’s our ready reckoner on how to smoothe your postpartum period...
Top 10 threats to watch out for!
There are seemingly innocuous things in her environment that could be a potential hazard for your baby. M&B shows you how to protect her from them
First Aid
Learn to handle any emergency with these handy tips from M&B’s panel expert and well-known paediatrician Dr Geetanjali Shah
What does a nutritionist feed her TOP 10 tips to survive eating with children
At face value, Dr Jane Bowen is a hard-core academic. With a PhD in nutrition and two bachelor degrees, her work as a research scientist and dietician might seem a little removed from the trials of the daily grind
Eating out when pregnant
M&B’ panellist Sonali Shivlani is an Internationally Certified Pregnancy Consultant and a child nutrition counsellor. She is the executive director of CAPPA India, and also trains aspiring birth professionals to achieve certification in pregnancy, birth and lactation counselling.
Womb in your heart
While surrogacy is certainly a boon for childless couples, there are many factors around it that must be kept in mind. We shed some light on the process, procedures and laws around surrogacy...
Can she hear you?
Make sure that you get your baby’s hearing screened early and evaluated regularly. Experts tell M&B, it’s imperative to get the first hearing test done within 48 hours of birth or before three months of age in order to prevent hearing impairment
From Russia With Love
Seen throughout Alaska, the matryoshka nesting dolls are as poignantly meaningful as they are increasingly adorable.
the Valley of the Dead
On the Trail of a Russian Movie Star
Russian Chronicles
Russian Chronicles
China, Russia Agree To Build Lunar Research Station
China and Russia said they will build a lunar research station, possibly on the moon’s surface, marking the start of a new era in space cooperation between the two countries.
US CHARGES NORTH KOREAN COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS IN GLOBAL HACKS
The Justice Department has charged three North Korean computer programmers in a broad range of global hacks, including a destructive attack targeting an American movie studio, and in the attempted theft and extortion of more than $1.3 billion from banks and companies, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
US STILL UNRAVELING ‘SOPHISTICATED' HACK OF 9 GOV'T AGENCIES
U.S. authorities are still working to unravel the full scope of the likely Russian hack that gave the “sophisticated” actor behind the breach complete access to files and email from at least nine government agencies and about 100 private companies, the top White House cybersecurity official said Wednesday.
''Journey Into Thyself''
A key part of my process involves inquiry and reflection.
VITALY UGOLNIKOV 23-Year-Old Russian Bodybuilding Sensation
It is a great pleasure to feature 23-year-old Russian bodybuilding sensation Vitaly Ugolnikov in Muscular Development. MD readers will discover a new young champion who might be one of the most promising pros in the circuit in the near future.
Tenders of the Vine
Visiting Russia’s Nascent Wine Region
Finding St. Nicholas
To the undiscerning eye, the Turkish city of Demre is not much to look at, let alone stop for. Rows upon rows of greenhouses covered in clear plastic sheeting cover nearly every plot of land. The drab outpost in southwestern Anatolia lacks the luxuriant resorts and Turquoise Coast panache of such places as Bodrum, Marmaris, and Antalya, the latter a renowned haven for Russian vacationers.