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30 July 2011

Foods to avoid from mommy's diet that may be upsetting to baby (when you are breastfeeding)

  • Dairy products (eg milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt)
  • Caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, softdrinks)
  • Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapes, strawberries, mangoes)
  • Certain vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, green peppers, cauliflower)
  • Spices (chili powder, cinnamon etc)


The colic-causing properties of these foods are most likely due to the fact they are difficult for the infant to digest.

Read more:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/268313-foods-that-cause-colic/#ixzz1TYi2THm8

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/index.html

26 July 2011

35 weeks

Going into my 35th week soon. Just back from gynae yesterday. Baby is 1.9 kg. Dr Poon said that baby looks thinner and lost some weight. He asked me to eat more. I've already gained 15 kg throughout this pregnancy. Does it mean that I'm gaining most of the weight instead of baby? Hmmm, how come?

I went to google an estimated baby's growth online. It does seems like my baby is on the lighter side. She should be between 2.3 - 2.5 kg now. My strep B test results are okay and normal. Baby head is downwards now, still not engaged. Hope that Baby will be engaged by the next gynae visit. I'm seeing him every 2 weeks from now onwards.

10 weeks 20 g
11 weeks 30 g
12 weeks 45 g
13 weeks 65 g
14 weeks 110 g
15 weeks 135 g
16 weeks 160 g
17 weeks 200 g
18 weeks 250 g
19 weeks 270 g
20 weeks 380 g
21 weeks 450 g
22 weeks 500 g
23 weeks 550 g
24 weeks 650 g
25 weeks 750 g
26 weeks 850 g
27 weeks 1000 g
28 weeks 1150 g
29 weeks 1300 g
30 weeks 1500 g
31 weeks 1700 g
32 weeks 1900 g
33 weeks 2100 g
34 weeks 2300 g
35 weeks 2500 g
36 weeks 2700 g
37 weeks 2900 g
38 weeks 3000 g


Perhaps my mood plays a part? I've been easily moody and feeling sad recently at the slightest thing again. And having lots of negative thoughts even though I already remind myself to think positive. Last night I have nightmares upon nightmares again. Woke up and apologised to Baby because I was too tensed up and agitated, worried that my emotional state affected Baby.

22 July 2011

Busy baby

This week, I feel like I have to go to the toilet more frequently. Like this morning before going to work, I pee-ed twice, then upon reaching office, I have to go pee again. It's only a few drops of pee but don't know why I keep on having these frequent toilet visits.

I'm not sure if this is what mommies refer to as lightening as my tummy is not high to begin with (at least if I compare it with other mommies). Few of my colleagues also mentioned that my tummy looks low. Some people until now, still asking me whether I'm having a baby boy because I have a sharp tummy. But weird leh, coz to me, looks round.

Baby is still moving alot but the movements are kind of different. She can elbow me and jab me now. Some people say when the baby grows bigger, there's not much space for them to move and will be quieter but it seems to be different for my baby. It's also quite difficult for me to walk very quickly now and quite impossible to run after the bus or jump up and down.

Now, whenever she jabs me, I will ouch and let her finish her movements before I can walk again because at times it can be quite painful. Or when I am lying on the bed and she starts to move about, I cannot turn my tummy to the other side. Have to let her finish what she's doing, then I turn. Aiyooo my baby don't know how come so busy. LOL.

But it's good that she is active too. At least I know she is safe and well and STRONG.

Papa seems to be more excited about Baby's arrival. It's only a month away and we can carry her in our arms already. I'm excited but at the same time anxious, scared and at a loss.


Anxious when the day comes - don't know whether I can take the contraction pains, whether my waterbag burst will embarass me (sekali break in the mrt!)
Scared - really scared of the pain, scared that things screw up, scared that I cannot cope.
At a loss - hope that the confinement month will be good. I have all the information from antenatal class and all the necessary knowledge from the other mommies, I need to be more assertive of what I want for myself and Baby.

20 July 2011

Baby having her hiccups

I can actually feel my baby having her hiccups right this very moment very prominently. I thought to myself "Ahh! so this is how hiccups feel like in the womb". It's just very cute lah. She is having hiccups and swirming around at the same time.

Read 'Why Do Babies Hiccup So Much In The Womb?' and it's so assuring to know that "only more mature fetuses hiccup in the womb because their central nervous system is adequately developed in order to allow this to happen."

I ordered Sophie the giraffe for Baby through a spree. And realised that there is another seller on blogspot.com too. Quote from Sophie's website:

This is baby's first toy, and stimulates each of his senses from the age of 3 months.

Sight: At the age of 3 months, a baby's eyesight is still limited and can only make out high contrasts. The dark and contrasting, attention-catching spots all over Sophie the Giraffe's body provides visual stimulation and she soon becomes a familiar and reassuring object for baby.
Hearing: Sophie the Giraffe squeaks when pressed and keeps baby amused and stimulates his hearing. In later months, this helps baby understand the link between cause and effect.
Taste: Sophie the Giraffe is made of 100% natural rubber and food paint and is completely safe to chew, just like a feeding bottle teat.
Touch: Her soft texture and numerous chewable parts (ears, horns, legs etc) make her perfect for soothing baby's sore gums during teething.
Smell: The scent of natural rubber from the Hevea tree makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your baby to identify amid the other toys.
Easy to grip: Sophie the Giraffe's shape and size are perfect for baby's small hands. She is very light, and her long neck and legs are easy for baby to grasp, even in his early days.

15 July 2011

Something extra

Looking at some of the mommies' maternity shots (from LittleMissRabbit, Studioloft) , I also feel like doing it. I was thinking about it some time ago but decided not to (for now). Maybe I'll do it for my #2 baby. I realised that I have been overspending for #1 baby. New clothes, new pram, new toys, everything new. Definitely for #2, these things can be passed down and that will free me up financially.

Papa said that he wants to do the footprints and handprints thing for baby and he will be paying for it. The standard package for hand and foot imprints is $345. Very expensive indeed.

And I'll be paying for baby's newborn photography with Kelly Soon. $500. I really like Kelly's skills.

12 July 2011

Baby organiser


Thanks to Serene, my colleague from HR Dept. She gave me a baby organiser. It's a nice and simple booklet to jot down some of the milestones of baby's growth and development. It also has a weekly page for me to input baby's feedings, diaper change routine etc. I will make full use of this booklet.

10 July 2011

Cravings satisfied

More teng, more juicy chicken, more waffles, more strawberry vanilla cake please.
And definitely more durians.
More More More!!!

Ordered this twice at two Xing Hwa stalls.

Grandma made salted chicken for dinner.

Waffles from Waffletown. I still prefer Marche's.

In the hunt for many many different strawberry vanilla cake.

08 July 2011

Baby massage

Start with a gentle "hello" stroke from baby's head to her toes. If baby stiffens, cries, or becomes irritable, move to another body part or simply end the massage for the day. If she responds well, start gently massaging her body section by section.


Source: http://www.parents.com

Tummy

1. Hold your hand so your pinky's edge can move like a paddle across your baby's belly. Starting at the base of the rib cage, stroke down with one hand, then the other, in a paddle-wheel-like motion.

2. Massage her abdomen with your fingertips in a circular, clockwise motion.

3. Do the "I Love U" stroke: Trace the letter I down your baby's left side. Then trace an inverted L, stroking across the belly along the base of her ribs from her right side to her left and down. Trace an inverted U, stroking from low on the baby's right side, up and around the navel, and down the left side.

4. Walk your fingers around her navel, clockwise.

5. Hold knees and feet together and gently press knees up toward her abdomen. Rotate baby's hips around a few times to the right. (This often helps expel gas.)

6. Place hand on tummy horizontally and rock your hand from side to side a few times. Note: Avoid massaging tummy if the cord hasn't completely healed.

Head and Face

1. Cradling your baby's head in both hands, massage the scalp with your fingertips, as if you're shampooing. (Avoid the fontanel, the soft spot on top of baby's head.)

2. Massage her ears between your thumb and index finger.

3. Trace a heart shape on your baby's face, bringing your hands together at the chin.

4. Place your thumbs between your baby's eyebrows, and stroke out.

5. Again with your thumbs, stroke gently out over baby's closed eyelids.

6. Stroke from the bridge of the nose out over the cheeks.

7. Using your fingertips, massage the jaw in small circles.

Chest

1. Place both hands on your baby's chest and stroke outward from her sternum to her shoulders.

2. Beginning at her sternum, trace a heart shape bringing both hands up to her shoulders, then down and back together.

3. In a crisscross pattern, stroke diagonally from one side of your baby's hip, up and over the opposite shoulder, and back down to her hip.

Arms

1. With one hand, hold baby's wrist. Relax her upper arm by tapping it lightly.

2. Hold her wrist with one hand and hold your other hand in a C-shape around baby's upper arm; stroke from her shoulder down to her wrist.

3. With each hand grasping her arm, one right above the other, stroke down from shoulder to wrist with both hands rotating in opposite directions, as if you were gently wringing a towel.

4. Massage her palm, moving thumb over thumb from heel of her hand to her fingers.

5. Stroke down top of hand from wrist to fingertips. Gently squeeze and pull each finger.

6. Massage her wrist by moving your fingers in small circles.

7. Roll her arm between both your hands.

Back

1. Place baby on tummy horizontally in front of you, or lay her across your outstretched legs. Keep her hands in front of her, not at her sides.

2. With both of your hands on baby's back, move each hand back and forth (keeping them going in opposite directions) from the base of the neck to her buttocks.

3. Hold your baby's buttocks with one hand and use the other to stroke down from her neck to her buttocks.

4. Using your fingertips, massage in small circles down one side of baby's spine and up the other. Avoid pressing on her spine directly.

5. Massage her shoulders with small circular motions.

6. Massage her buttocks with big circular motions.

7. Holding your fingers like a rake, stroke down her back.

Legs

1. Lift one of her legs by the ankle and relax it by lightly tapping the upper thigh.

2. Hold her ankle with one hand and hold your other hand in a C-shape, thumb down, around your baby's upper thigh. Stroke from her thigh down to her foot.

3. With your hands grasping the leg at the thigh, one right above the other, stroke down from hip to foot with both hands rotating in opposite directions, as if you were wringing a towel.

4. On the sole of her foot, use a thumb-over-thumb motion to massage from heel to toes.

5. Use your whole hand to stroke the bottom of her foot from heel to toes.

6. Stroke the top of her foot. Gently squeeze and pull each toe.

7. Massage around her ankle using small circles.

8. Roll her leg between your hands, as if you're rolling dough.

06 July 2011

Durians

  small seeds

Papa had a nosebleed last night. I guess the durians were too heaty for him. Yup, we often have durians now; like once a week. But he always ate the least durians. I am the one who eats the most because my parents would ask me to take more. More "bu" for baby.

Other than chicken essence once a day, durians are my "bu" food since I don't get to enjoy home-cooked boiled soups all the time.

Yesterday, I cried when an elderly gave up her seat for me. I told her that she needs the seat too. She replied "no, you deserve the seat more". I cried and said "thank you". There was another mommy standing nearby. Her tummy is almost as big as mine. I wasn't sure whether to reject the old lady or offer the seat to the other mommy. I was feeling lost, not sure what I should do and yet touched by her kind gesture. Maybe that's why I cried.

So far, there are 7 kind souls who gave up their seats for me in my 8 months of pregnancy. Usually, the trains are so crowded that I'll be glad if I have standing space. Yesterday, my backache kinda worsen and I feel so much like sitting on the floor because my back felt like breaking. I sms Hubby that I will not hesitate to sit down next time as I really cannot stand the ache. Hur hur...

05 July 2011

Baby First Month Preparation

I was doing some advanced research as I read from forums and SMH page :)


I should be ordering my Full month buffet from Chu Wei San Tong. Cindy is very nice to throw in FOC red eggs because I've been ordering tingkat from her for my PIL.

  1. Pineapple Rice
  2. Ee noodle
  3. Curry chicken
  4. Kai Lan vegetable
  5. Champagne Pork Rib
  6. Sweet Sour Fish
  7. Golden Oat Prawn
  8. Chef's Beancurd
  9. Sea coconut and cocktail
  10. Barley
Additional items:
  • Red eggs
  • Ang ku kueh $0.70 per pc
  • Glutinous rice $1 per pc

I am also ordering helium balloons and deco from Freesia Birthday Services. Carole's lobang. I will choose the Hello Kitty theme balloons. Hope it looks nice and "grand" as I don't intend to hold a grand one-year old party for baby. Carole is very understanding to accept cash on delivery instead of advance payment. I hope she can cope with the business coz there are alot of mommies delivering in August and ordering from her!

I've googled, went to a few Sanrio shops, asked my colleagues and posted on Twitter on where to find infant Hello Kitty apparel. I also combed the whole of Raffles Place. Finally found one shop which is moving out soon. They have this! Going to let Baby wear on her man yue celebration.


Ordered a Hello Kitty taggie for Baby too ;)

Was thinking of ordering a Photo cake from Yiling (I ordered twice from them before), since I will be doing newborn photography with Kelly Soon. Will KIV this for baby's one year old birthday instead. I think getting the Hello Kitty cookies is a better choice. I'll order 50 pieces of these.

From: YummyBaking


I will be ordering extra confinement food via lunch tingkat after the confinement month. I thought just take more 'bu' for myself for another 2 weeks since I need the extra nutrients for breastfeeding. And I reckon I will go out in the afternoon. Have paid a $100 deposit to Carrie Pang from SMH and confirmed my meals :)

04 July 2011

Checklist for Papa

In the hospital:
(1) Contact Confinement lady
(2) Contact Jamu Massage lady
(3) Contact Kelly Soon photographer
(4) Check with auntie Baby's Ba Zi before submitting name (Birth Cert)
(5) Baby Bonus Application (to fill in form in hospital)
(6) Baby's Health Booklet (given by hospital)
(7) Baby's Bath tub (free gift from hospital)

Upon discharge from hospital:
(8) Settle Hospital and Gynae bills
(9) Book Kerrisdale Function Room
(10) Re-confirm date of full month with:
  • Full month cake order from PAPAMAMA - 6385 0038 
  • Hello Kitty cookies - Henry Lau $82
  • Chu Wei San Tong - 67439383 Cindy $450
  • Freesia Balloon - 93669005 Carole $140

02 July 2011

My first coconut drink

My first coconut drink 

  • prevent dehydration
  • relieves exhaustion
  • improving "good" cholesterol levels (HDL)
  • prevent urinary tract infections
  • promotes digestive health