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Sunday, September 28, 2014

Bump to Mum

Have you checked out my Bump to Mum videos?

This 2nd episode captured an extremely beautiful moment in my life...seeing and touching Baby Elroy for the first time.



If you haven't watched the first episode of Bump to Mum, here you go...


Please do subscribe to the channel if you enjoyed watching it and wish to see more! :)

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Hungry Monster

I thought I was eating a lot during my pregnancy and would stop after I've given birth because "eating for 2" would no longer apply. Well... after giving birth, I AM WORSE?!?! I am hungry ALL THE TIME. It really is true that breastfeeding makes you hungry. VERY HUNGRY. I have like 6 meals a day and all the meals are all full of carbs. For breakfast this morning at 8am just now, I just had half a long baguette + sugar & butter, an apple, a raisin bun, a bowl of cornflakes and a cup of milo and now, I feel like I haven't eaten - it is only 9.45am and still a long way to lunch. :'(

But my nanny said she thinks I should have managed to lose at least 5kg now cus she said I look much slimmer than the day I was discharged. So happy to hear that! If it's true, it's really effortless and must be the beastfeeding! To be able to eat so much and still lose weight is A DREAM COME TRUE.

Maybe I should go weigh myself today! Kinda curious after she told me that. Hehe. Must not be obsessed w my weight since it shouldn't be a priority at the moment though. Need to Breast Feed baby boy.

This morning I think Elroy's jaundice got worse. He looks rly yellow and "dark". Time to leave him under the sun for 10min. Please get better!

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Post-Partum (Week 1)

I can't sleep! What's happening?!?! Haven't had over 3 hour sleep for the past 5 days. I'm still feeling ok actually. Like Not THAAAAT tired? Weird. I am having a massive headache now though! Could be because I washed my hair. I couldn't take it! The oiliness was driving me nuts. I also took a nice herbal bath. Much needed after 5 days. 5 days without washing my hair is like whoaaaa. However, I'm really wondering if I made a mistake by breaking the confinement rule of washing my hair....cus the headache doesn't seem to be going away. *worried* My body especially my neck is all achy too. 


Baby Elroy has to sleep in this special light bed as he has jaundice. We are going for a Check Up on Friday and hopefully it got better.

Gonna go out for a lil while to get Baby Elroy's birth cert done! A bit afraid to go out for long hours because of my boobies leakage. And also the uncomfy feeling of a boob full of milk. Hopefully it'll be a speedy process.

Saw this somewhere and after giving birth and being a mom, I completely agree!
"I look at postpartum as a time when moms and their new babies spend three weeks cuddled up getting to know each other," she says, "not a time to see how fast they can get themselves back into the gym or the real world."

Now that I've given birth and am a mummy, getting my figure back is the least of my concerns. I refuse to weigh myself right now!! My baby is 3.46kg which means Im probably around 14-16kg above pre-preg weight. Which is weird because when I was pregnant, I was googling so much on how to lose weight and I was so worried about all the weight I've gained. But now I'm just like, super ok with my ugly tummy and fat thighs after seeing my healthy baby boy. It is pretty sad to look at how my body has transformed but losing weight can wait. I want to eat well and have a good supply of milk for Elroy. I also became more health conscious. I even made the switch to brown rice cus I want to be healthier. I was never really a healthy eater and this change is shocking to me. Hopefully, I might drop some pounds from breastfeeding since it burns around 500 calories/day? But then again, my confinement nanny is such an excellent cook. I will finish up whatever she cooks for me. I've read stories of how mummies lose weight effortlessly through breastfeeding even when they eat a lot. I also hope that will be the case for me!!!

Bath Time! Cute lil froggy hehe


Every time I would stare at Elroy and be like, "I can't believe I gave birth to you". I love how quiet he has been at home so far! Only cries when he is hungry which is every 2-3 hours. Pretty easy to handle! Hope it stays this way. He is so so adorable yknow! It is true when they say every mother would think their baby is the cutest. Haha. In love with his fat cheeks, tiny hands and super ultra soft feet. My doula dropped by today and said his feet are one of the softest on a baby. Hehe.

Im thankful my nanny is here so things are easier for me. In fact, super easy because she doesn't let me do anything. I love her already! Wish she could stay for a very very long time. She is super good at everything! And I am amazed at how much energy she has despite not sleeping for long hours. Such a tough job! She definitely deserves a big big pay check at the end of the month :) 

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Breastfeeding Mummies

(If you are a guy, I suggest you not read this post!)

WALAU? Like that also Stomp? Got so desperate for the $50 voucher meh.

Anyway, I don't see what's wrong with sharing that I've an oversupply. It is true and I am convinced it's awesome because the nurses were rly shocked but happy for me. I like to share my journey as a new mom and my experiences. I am a new BFing mummy! I don't think ppl would understand till they start BFing - Being able to provide more than enough for my baby (and also in time to come, helping other babies) is something I should be happy about.

Oh and then the Breastfeeding Mums FB page had a discussion and I can't believe some people think I'm "bragging" and being "insensitive" when I blogged about how much I could pump. Some even doubt it's possible. Seriouslyyyyy? :/ why do you see someone in such a negative light!?! Can't we be happy for each other since we are all proud Breastfeeding mummies? We are all made differently and how much each of us can produce is different. Obviously mine is quite rare but it's true and it's possible. Why would I wanna make something like that up to show off? I just wanted to share......don't see what's wrong w that, really. And if u are still in doubt and need picture of my milk as evidence pls refer to a tweet I posted ytd. Can't believe I have to resort to doing that but I hate being called a liar.

My nanny suggested I give it away to mummies who need it or donate my milk to the hospital and I will!! Have already started to pump and store and freeze. Will do so for the next few months and see how much I can accumulate. To be able to help those who can't produce enough will also be a wonderful feeling. 

Oh and having an oversupply is good for baby but not exactly great for mummy. I'm always leaking and soaking up my breast pads. No matter how much I pump, I just can't seem to stop leaking. My boobies are extremely sore and hard all the time and it really really hurts. Oh and I went up from a C to now probably an E/F cup...filled with so much milk it's so heavy. It is not easy!!!

Exclusif


Exclusif aims to quickly acquire a large beauty presence through its unparalleled assortment of prestige beauty products, commitment to excellence in quality and customer service, and to its well trained and dedicated employees. It features an ever-increasing amount of classic and emerging brands across a broad range of product categories including skincare, makeup, fragrance and body care.


Here are some of my favorite cult products which can be bought from Exclusif - online store for make up, skincare, hair care and fragrances! 

I love how convenient it is to be able to get my stuff online. For myself and for gifts for friends' birthdays! Great website because when i'm too busy to go out to shop for a gift, i can just order and deliver it to my friends' add. I've received my products and they are definitely authentic. No more going out to hunt for products. Just order online and wait for it to be delivered right at your door step. Only problem i have with this website is the navigation isn't easy so it's not easy to find products. But i love that it is a Singapore based company and they have a huge range of products.
Below i'll recommend some good stuff i swear by! (but of course, do understand what works for me may not work for you.)

Here are my Top 5 picks you can buy online from Exclusif...

(This list is pretty short and random but this post is an introduction to Exclusif! There are so many products i love so i would definitely do another Top Picks post from the website in future! :) Look out for it!)

1. Deadsea Salt Softening Butter Salt Scrub



I am a scrub junkie and this is AWESOME! Skin is soooo super soft and smooth after exfoliating. The scrub rinses off easily and skin smells very nice and clean after.

2. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation – Ceylan


I like liquid foundations with light to medium coverage and a natural or dewy finish. I can't due matte foundation at all because my skin is dry, and while I love dewy finish some brands go a little crazy and get into the shimmer and glimmer territory. This looks great on and doesn't look caked on of heavy, ymmv but for me it's the perfect level of coverage and finish. Not too heavy, not to light. Not to matte, not too glimmery. Sheer Glow is just right.

3. KOSE Sekkisei Liquid Face Wash


A little bit of this goes a long way. 1 pump is enough for the whole face and a bottle lasted me for 2 months! The liquid foams easily and Smells wonderful too - like the other KOSE products.

4. NARS Blusher – Super Orgasm
One of my favorite shade for blusher!

I love that Exclusif carries NARS! I have like 6 NARS products in my shopping cart now waiting to be checked out! Hehe. (Some products I haven't tried before but I just love how NARS products look hehe)

5. Marc Jacobs - Daisy Eau de Parfum
I've been using this for a year already! :)


Exclusif also offers many of the world's leading designer brand cosmetics including Chanel, Chloe, Clinique, DIOR, Estee Lauder, Giorgio Armani, Givenchy, Gucci, Hermes, Lancome, Marc Jacobs, NARS, Tom Ford and Yves Saint Laurent, and over 8,000 products from cult classics to the latest in beauty releases.

It's dedicated customer care team is available to assist you with all of your needs. From discovering Exclusif, checkout to delivery, to post-sale care, Exclusif customers can enjoy an effortless and convenient shopping experience. Not only that, Exclusif is also strongly committed to providing the ultimate in luxury, authentic and superior quality products, advice and customer care.

The customer care team is available to assist you with:

Detailed product information
Find an alternative for a discontinued product
Delivery questions
Exchange and return queries
Placing order






We do free worldwide shipping for all products except FRAGRANCES, and free domestic shipping for ALL products.

Skincare/Makeup usually take not more than 7 days, while Fragrances usually would take not more than 3 days to reach the customers. 


The FragrancePromo is a limited time promotion!


Exclusif Instagram: @ExclusifSG

Like Exclusif's Facebook page/follow on instagram account to be updated of the latest promotions and any new brand arrivals. 

In addition, they can also @ExclusifSG upon receiving their purchases and stance a chance to win a perfume and be featured on the Exclusif gallery.




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Use discount code: TAMMY5

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Monday, September 22, 2014

Bye Hospital!

Day 3 of being a Mom


Baby is in the nursery now because i wanted to get a good 3 hour sleep just now. Which I did and am so so glad. I feel energetic now! Getting 3 hours of sleep for new moms is like getting 8 hours of sleep for normal people. My eye bags are surely going to get worse and my complexion too. :'( 

It is 7am now...3 more hours to Check Out!

Today we head back home from the hospital. Which I kept calling a Hotel. LOL. That goes to show how much I enjoyed my stay at Thomson Medical Centre. My room is the Premier Suite (Newton). Im not sure if it's as comfy and awesome in the other rooms but my experience with the nurses sure was wonderful. 


I really enjoyed the food! Very very yummy. I was never hungry cus they served me Breakfast, Lunch, Tea Break, Dinner, Supper - and i always finished it all cus Breastfeeding sure made me a hungry monster! 

Here are some picx of how my Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner looked like....




YUM YUM!

I also discovered I have a hidden talent. I must've been a cow in my past life. My breast milk supply came in quick (some more I delivered via C Section), by only the second day, I could express 150ml from one breast in around 30min? I had such an amazing and good supply of milk. Plus, it was yellow (better than white) + opaque which was "the best" milk according to the lactation expert and nurses. All the nurses who came in to check on me were like "I've never seen someone with so much milk before! You can already start to donate! ". It made me feel like a proud mama seeing how amazed they were and going "Your baby is so lucky!!!". I'm sure I'm a topic discussed in the nurses' room lol! My jugs are humongous though. It probably went up to an F. Pretty sick! 

I think I have Hyperlactation, oversupply of milk. I am feeling engorged and full all the time. Even after feeding. So I have to pump or I'll be in pain. Oversupply is actually a problem. Just not as common as people who can't produce enough milk. It can get pretty bad as I read about it online but the lactation consultant told me to just monitor myself first. This is super good for my baby though, he has more food!!! And hopefully his jaundice would go away. The more he pees and poops, the faster jaundice will go away.

Wonder how baby will be like when he goes home later! So glad the nanny I engaged could make it today so I have someone at home to look after both baby & i. I hope she is a good cook! The hospital has been feeding me so well and I hope I can still enjoy the food at home as much. I also hope to be able to take more afternoon naps and start "recovering". My bf nagged at me yesterday cus I couldn't stop moving around and entertaining my friends. Haha. It's like a party in my room when I should be getting plenty of rest and recuperating from surgery. So I promised him no more visitors and I'll be good and rest well at home. His parents are sooo worried for me cus everytime they came to visit me id have plenty of guests and I refuse to sit down. I am happy my friends distract me from the pain from the c section wound though! Plus, moving around means blood circulation which means faster recovery right?

Oh and it's day 3, i still haven't washed my hair and taken a bath. The last time I did so was 18 Sep at 7pm. I can't wait to do that at home but am worried my wound would hurt. Maybe I'll only start bathing after I feel the wound is better? Would love to wash my hair later at home though! That is, if the confident  lady allows me to. I hope she's flexible and not strict. Hair is starting to feel oily and eekie already. 



Hello little bao!!!! I love you so so so much! Words cannot describe how happy i am to finally hold you in my arms. I am so thankful and blessed. :')

Some pretty flowers i received on Day 2! Day 1s stuff were brought back home by my bf so sorry i didn't post a pic of em, couldnt really walk much on Day 1.

 Thank you all for taking time to visit me in the hospital! Time passed so quickly, I really enjoyed the company of soooo many of y'all. LOVE YOU! I think the nurses were shocked at how many visitors i had and how energetic i was after a major op. I was moving around so much entertaining my guests. It was a celebration. So many friends were so excited because most of my friends don't have kids yet. Haha. But now it is time to get serious and start my confinement so my body won't fail in future (better to be safe than sorry). The older folks just gave me a lecture for not resting well. Shall listen to them and take the next 1-2 months to get plenty of rest. :)


Saturday, September 20, 2014

Baby Elroy: Birth Story


Welcome to the world, Little One! Finally, the wait is over!!! No more kicking inside me...no more giant belly...no more nights I wake up to pee over 10 times...I am SO IN LOVE WITH HIM. I am so obsessed I cannot stop staring at him. The day he was born, i requested he sleep in my room with me so I could stare at him. And I did....I just couldn't take my eyes off him!

If you don't already know, Baby Elroy was born on 19/09, weighing 3.46kg & 51cm length.

He was born via C-Section. The initial plan was to deliver him vaginally but I was feeling extreme discomfort and pain in my pelvic region for weeks. It was driving me mad. Since Week 36, I've been feeling the pain and it has been getting worser and worser at days go by. It was making me feel extremely miserable and depressed because i just couldn't do anything. I don't deal so well with the whole "depressed" feeling which explains why at 40 weeks I decided to opt for an elective c-section although many (including Dr Paul) discouraged me from doing so. The decision for Caesarean Section was made less than 48 hours before.

Went to Thomson Medical Centre at midnight to check in. We went at midnight because my bf wanted to be deliver the baby at an "auspicious timing". Time passed so quickly at the hospital. Was busy w paper work and etc. Before I know it, I was wheeled into the operating theatre. I chose to do epidural C-Section meaning only half my body is numb so I can see my baby the moment he is out. My body had such a bad reaction to the epidural it scared me!! The moment the epidural kicked in, I held the metal bar at the side of the bed to keep still. I couldn't breathe, I felt so weird...I felt like I was going to...die. The doctor asked how I felt and I was just shaking like mad?Seriously, I was so scared but I thank God for Angelyn & my mom's support. My mom and Angelyn entered the operating theatre with me. Angelyn is my Doula from ParentLink. She has been extremely wonderful helping me throughout this whole pregnancy. If you do need a Doula, feel free to contact Angelyn for more details +65 9008 6556. Many would think my bf would be the one entering with me but due to it being "inauspicious" according to a FS master, we arranged for a doula to enter to give me the support I needed. 

It's not true when they say you can't feel anything because I could feel the tugging and all? I can't describe it though. It was not painful but painful...? Especially at one point where they part they pressed my tummy super hard. Good thing is, your baby will be out in 10-15 min from the time the Surgery begins. And then your doctor will take another 30-45 min to stitch you up and clean up. Once the baby is out, you'll be so distracted that the 30-45 min where he is stitching you up will pass by so fast. 

So that was easy. Right? But sadly, there ain't a painless way of giving birth. You'll suffer someway, somehow.

The first night I couldn't move at all and was bedridden. I felt great though. No pain or whatsoever. However 18 hours after my surgery I was made to get outta bed to start walking. So I did and that was when I realised how DAMN EFFING PAINFUL it was. When I asked someone who went thru both vaginal and c section deliveries, they said the vaginal one was sooo much easier and I finally understand why.

No regrets though! It really doesn't matter what method you choose to deliver your baby. It is a personal choice and there are pros & cons to all the different birthing methods. I am super happy he is very healthy. All the nurses who came to see him at diff shifts all go "wow he is so big and healthy!". :) 

I'm recovering slowly but the pain is worth it whenever I look at how beautiful he is. I think he looks like a clone of his daddy! Seeing daddy hold and kiss Baby Elroy is such a cute sight because they look so alike it's crazy adorable! Some said the bottom half of his face looks exactly like me though? Hehe.

He has been a pretty good baby in the hospital and the nurses love him! He is pretty quiet and easy to handle So far. Most babies are quite well behaved in the hospital though...so things might change when he goes home. I hope not!! I have another 2 more nights here at the hospital. Man, c section recovery is much longer so my stay here is longer. I am extending another night because the confinement nanny can only come on Tueaday. I'm breastfeeding him and wow, it ain't easy! I've to feed him every 2-3 hours which means I'm extremely sleep deprived. It feels amazing to be able to sleep 3 hours straight...I just did that and it felt so good like I slept a whole 10 hours? This is gonna be my life for the next few months! I can do this. Good luck to me.

Welcome to My Life as a New Mom!

Btw, remember to subscribe to my Bump to Mum videos on YouTube! It is gonna be an educational series of videos for people who are new to Motherhood or just curious to know what it's really like to be a mommy!

Link here: http://youtu.be/CbQWN8x2akw

Can't wait to share all the cute pictures of him on this blog!! 

Friday, September 12, 2014

CarrisLabelle

 Carrislabelle


Carrislabelle is a young, cheerful and sophisticated brand that caters to young ladies and adults. The idea of the brand Carrislabelle came from it's owner named "Carris" and a French word La Belle, which means "beautiful or lovely woman" in English. Every woman deserves clothing that best represent their style, and we hope you will find yours in Carrislabelle.

Besides apparels, Carrislabelle also offers bags and accessories at affordable prices! 
Statement necklaces starting from just SGD$14.00

Missed the chance to purchase the item you had your eyes on a long time? 
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Glamourise your outfit by pairing it with a statement necklace! 

Accessories can be found here:


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Sign up for mailing list here to get the latest updates and promotions just for mailing listees:

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Thursday, September 11, 2014

The Last Week? (Hopefully)

Hello Week 39! Still no baby in my arms. Sadly.

The most asked questions now are...

"Where's your baby? Why still no baby? Can you feel if it is happening soon? Are there signs?"
I also want...haha. Can you imagine how the last 2 weeks have been? I'm due next week and have been experiencing stronger contractions now but it's all irregular. Had so many false alarms but nope, labor hasn't happened! I also read many labor stories, it usually happens when you least expect it to? Many times in the middle of the night. But after reading that it usually happens in the middle of the night, I keep going to sleep expecting it to happen which will then keep me up all night. And I end up not sleeping well. Zzz. 

Had a check up yesterday. All is good! And when I asked the doctor if he had any idea if it was gonna happen this week or not, his answer was "I wish I knew too! My job would be so much easier if it could be predicted.". 

So yeah...I have to just keep waiting...

I also dare not make plans to go anywhere now because I'm so scared it'll happen when I'm out. So I'm just really bored now. Which explains why I'm so quiet on social media (kinda?)...which led to a lot of people assuming I gave birth already. Haha. The wait is killing some of my friends too. Yeah I know many of you are as excited! :) 

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Natural Ways to Induce Labor

This week i am 39 WEEKS PREGNANT! Ok, only 1 more week to my due date. Great? It's really soon. BUT THEN MY DOC LETS HIS PATIENTS GO TILL 42 WEEKS SO WHAT IF BABY DOESNT COME OUT. Ya, my doctor is great and everything, he wants the best for his patients and all and believes in the "natural way" but this last few days have been so torturous I feel really REALLY depressed. I hate to keep complaining but I really am miserable.

I really want this baby out of me ASAP! My mood has been pretty bad lately because of all the pain I'm feeling all over. I can barely walk because of the pressure in my pelvis.  Everyone is like "it's only a week or so only what...you already went through 9 months". Easy to say! Wait till you're pregs, you'll understand how tough the last few weeks are. I can't "enjoy pregnancy" anymore. I hate how I'm feeling everyday. I wake up extremely disappointed everyday cus I haven't gone into labor. I have started trying a lot of natural ways to induce labor and well, some do give me rather strong contractions while I'm at it but none works because as you can see, I am still here with a baby in my belly. 

Here are some Natural and Safe Ways to Induce Labor. Please don't try it if you are under Week 38 as it might be too early!

1) Eat Date Fruit

It is concluded that the consumption of date fruit in the last 4 weeks before labour significantly reduced the need for induction and augmentation of labour, and produced a more favourable, but non-significant, delivery outcome. The results warrant a randomised controlled trial."
Just bought a packet of dates so imma munch on them later!
2) Sex
Sex is a commonly suggested method of natural induction due to semen containing prostaglandins – which help to ripen the cervix. 
I did not try it because I am absolutely grossed out by my body I can't feel sexy :( i feel uncomfortable being touched and cuddled. It's really quite sad whenever I look at my expanded body filled with stretchmarks. My stretchmarks situation is getting from bad to worse. I don't know of anyone with a worser case than mine. What makes me even more annoyed is that I have been religiously applying the best stretchmark prevention oils and creams throughout but nothing works!
3) Nipple Stimulation
Nipple stimulation produces oxytocin and can produce some strong effects, so you can try stimulating your nipples (including your areola, as a baby would when sucking) with your fingers, massaging one at a time. An alternate option is if you are still feeding a toddler, let him attach and the sucking action will do the same thing.
Massage the first nipple for 5 minutes (when there are no contractions), then wait to see what happens (around 15 mins or so) before doing more. It’s a good idea to take your mind off things by getting on with your usual duties than sitting and waiting for something to happen – so try and keep busy!
This was something I did almost everyday since I hit Week 38. I did feel contractions every now and then! Sometimes it gets so strong I'll get all excited cus it might be it! Then I'll go to sleep in hope to wake up in labor but sadly, it hasn't happened yet. :( 

4. Eat Pineapples

Pineapple, mango, and kiwi contain en enzyme called bromelain that is supposed to work like a prostaglandin, ripening and softening the cervix.

I ate a whole pineapple (small one) one day and had cramps thinking it's gonna happen. Then that night, I had diarrhea and was in and out of the toilet all night. Plus they said diarrhea was a sign of labor too so it got me so excited! Sadly, it didn't work for me but i actually think it might work for some people!

5. Eat Spicy Food

It didn't work for me though and I'm not surprised because I eat spicy food everyday. Not even Mala Xiang Guo or Steamboat would work on me. My body is too used to extremely spicy food. But if you aren't such a die hard chilli lover like I am, it might work for you!

6. Raspberry Leaf Tea

Raspberry Leaf is a uterine tonic, which also has added benefits after the birth for breastmilk production.
Some women like Raspberry Leaf tea, however if you don’t like the taste or want a specific, stronger dose, you might like to buy some from your health food store. It’s generally recommended anytime after 12 weeks in a healthy pregnancy – make sure you check with your medical carer and a naturopath for doses and to see if it’s appropriate for you.
Haven't tried this but am on a hunt for this! No idea where I can get it in Singapore. 

7. Sweeping Membranes (done by doctor)

Sweeping the membranes involves your medical carer separating the membranes from the cervix by vaginal exam. This may be a little uncomfortable for some women and on the other hand, some have said they didn’t feel much at all. Some spotting or bleeding may occur as a result and some find they have irregular contractions after a sweep, which may be uncomfortable and still not progress into labour.
A sweep can be performed on women who are at term and have no other complications.
Ideally though this method is more of a last resort of all of these methods, as it is invasive and not really natural. You also give bacteria the opportunity to grow when you have things unnecessarily inserted into your vagina, right up to your cervix.
As mentioned, my doctor is extremely pro natural. He doesn't even check if I'm dilated or not and do any vaginal checks on me. So there's no way I can get this sweep done but you can try your doctor! I have read forums of people doing the sweep in the morning/afternoon and then going into labor at night!
8. Acupressure Treatments
Try self-applied finger pressure. Firmly press the "webbing" located between the the thumb and index finger for about one minute and release. Press or rub the large muscle located between the neck and the shoulder. Another pressure point to try: the area on the back above the buttocks and lower back. Finally, find the pressure point inside the leg above the ankle or the one on the outside of the ankle just behind the bony 
Tried. Didn't get any contractions or feel any different though.
9. Walking
If your body is ready to give birth, walking can help induce labor or encourage stronger, more regular contractions once labor gets underway. Walking uses the force of gravity to pull the baby down and to put gentle pressure on the cervix, which encourages dilation. Walking also helps to move the baby into the correct position for birth
Haven't done much walking because of the pressure in my pelvis but everyone highly suggests I do it to get labor started faster. 
Although none worked for me YET, I'm going to keep trying most of it till this baby is out! Hope this post was helpful for you. 
 Baby Boy, when will you be ready to meet Mummy?!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Cleaners in Singapore

Recently, I spoke with an elderly cleaner aunty at a hawker centre. She seemed to be in her 70s, shrivelled skin and her hands were shaking as she held the food-stained tray with one hand and wiped the table with her other hand.


There have been quite a bit of news recently about this thing called Progressive Wage Model being legislated within the cleaning sector, and i wondered how it has impacted cleaners like herself in Singapore. 

She shares that she now earns $1,100 each month, since the Progressive Wage Model was lobbied by NTUC in recent years (compared to a stagnant $800 monthly salary). She also hopes to earn more also as finances are tight for her, with medical bills and rental take up the bulk of her salary. It is crazy because looking at the amount of work she does everyday, she deserves so much more. And what makes it worse, most people don't even appreciate the work the cleaners do. I can't say I do a lot for them but well I do hope to brighten their day by smiling more and talking to them. 

With PWM being legislated as of 1st September, cleaners can now expect a career path where there is a built-in progressive wage structure to be adhered by cleaning companies who used to pay cleaners low wages, to maximize profit margins. So instead on cost and headcount, companies now compete, based on productivity instead.

The new legislation for PWM which cleaners can look forward to includes:
·      Increase to a base wage of at least $1,000
·      Acquire new skills (e.g. operating cleaning machines which makes work easier)
·      More ladders implemented for career progression for all cleaners, both outdoor and indoor
·      Wage increase each year with added productivity and value to the company (no more stagnation of wages)
    
From the Progressive Wage Model shown below, you are able to see the wage rate given to the following industries:


Something that NTUC Secretary General Lim Swee Say mentioned recently that struck a chord with me: “We believe that, starting from today, we should no longer look at our cleaners as cheap labour. Starting from today, let us look together to treat our cleaners as a manpower resource ... just like the way we treat other (types of) manpower.”

Indeed, these are the people we should appreciate because without them, we'd not be able to enjoy a clean environment. 

How often do we get to thank them and show them how much we appreciate their work?

I do hope that the relevant employers would take into consideration the pay adjustments of hardworking individuals, so that they are able to enjoy a better standard of living. In fact, PWM should be applied to all other sectors too and not just limited to the cleaning sector.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Week #38


Baby bump at Week 38

So close...SOOO CLOSE. 

Not knowing when my baby will come is making my brain go crazy! I even had thoughts of getting myself induced but then my doc said no cus I'm totally healthy and baby will come when he is ready. I'm going cray cray though! Every night I've been talking to my belly and telling Baby E how excited I am and how I wish he'd come out already!

Baby seems to be moving lesser and lesser as the days pass. Always makes me super worried when I don't feel his movements! More and more contractions this week. I find it hard to "time" it though because it doesn't hurt at all and it can be so easy to ignore. But I guess when actual labour begins it'll confirm be painful and strong and I'll definitely have no problem recognizing it right? Or it's different with everyone? Wonder if it's possible for it to not hurt and not be aware?


Week 38
Current Weight: 68kg
Started At: 51kg 
Total Weight Gained: 17kg

Appetite is smaller but I gained weight because I guess I've been really inactive. Been lying in bed so much because Baby is so heavy it's painful to walk. A lot of people recommended me to walk more though? The more I walk the faster baby will come? Not sure how true that is but as much as I wish to be all active and exercise, my body just wants to be glued to my comfy bed. 

Had my Week 38 check up this morning and baby's head is now "engaged". 

You may be wondering what it means to be told your baby's head has engaged. As you journey through the third trimester of your pregnancy you may experience a feeling of being 'full up' and find it more difficult than usual to breathe deeply. This is thanks to baby now pushing up into the space where your lungs and stomach are! However, as your due date approaches you may feel these symptoms ease, or feel a heaviness in your pelvis - this is known as your baby's head engaging, and essentially it means that your baby is in the correct position for birth, so that their head has moved down to sit in the pelvis.


However that isn't an indication as to when labor will start :( my doc is super pro natural so he will not induce me unless he really has to. Eg. at week 42 Heard people getting induced at Week 38 onwards but my doc discourages that as he said baby will definitely come when he is ready...our bodies are made to do this!

Oh did I mention I walk like a penguin now?! I feel like baby is going to drop out anytime cus he feels so low. I have to open my legs wider when I walk and sit. Yeah...so classy. Haha. 

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