Buying a Stroller...

Safety:
For small babies , it is important to have a 5-point harness as the baby may slip from any direction.

Material:
Singapore weather can be warm for the baby. Check that the material is comfortable for the baby to sit on.

Washable:
It will be good if the pram can be removed easily, and machine washable. Quick dry material will also be useful, for some of the babies are extremely dependent on their only pram.

Single handed manipulation:
It will be good if you can push the pram with a single hand (and not sway in all different directions). Most of the prams with a single push bar can maneuver single-handedly. With a baby, you wished that you have 4 pairs of hands at times. Especially when the baby wanted you to carry, and you have only 1 hand left to push the pram.

Weight:
For most Singaporean small size mothers, weight may be a concern.

Easy to open and close:
Getting the pram in and out of the storage, or car, may be irritating. Ensure the mechanism for opening and closing the pram is intuitive and easy.

Shade:
Consider the size of the shade to cover the lights from the ceiling (of the malls) and the sun (especially if you like to take your baby out for a stroll in the sunset). Some prams can change the pushbar from front facing to backfacing. This will be useful to avoid the sun that shines straight into your baby's face.

Able to lie down flat:
Small babies sleep for a long time. Allowing the baby to lie down flat in the pram helps to ensure his comfort, for longer sleeps, and hence the parents' comfort too!

Leg rest:
Some babies have longer legs that may dangle uncomfortably in the midair. Choose a pram that has a good leg rest.

Food, food and more food...

Every nationality, race, religion, auntie, uncle has a list of "what to eat" and "what not to eat" during pregnancy...sigh...

To avoid...
- Coffee (by doctor)
- Alcohol (by doctor)
- Ginseng (by book)
- Dried Longan (by book)
- Raw food such as sashimi (by all...)
- Shark (due to mercury content)
- Stingray (by serene @ Oct2009)
- Mango (by serene @ Oct2009 supposed to thicken your blood and also increase blood pressure)

To reduce...
- Grapes (due to high sugar content, by book)


To consume...
- Lots of water
- Birdsnest @ 2nd trimester onwards
- Coconut water @ 3rd trimester. Green thailand coconuts

Infant Milk Powder Formula

There's so many types of infant milk powder (whether to supplement breast milk or to replace), so what types should we choose? Nevertheless, however much homework we did to try to select the "best" milk powder, it is still a matter of trial of error as the infant may react against it. Hence, it is advised to always buy a small tin to try it out first, before proceeding to bulk discounted buys..

They also can differ significantly in prices. There's a saying that the 1st child always drink the more expensive types, while 2nd/3rd/etc usually drive the less expensive ones. Due to budget lah...

* NAN HA
- recommended by pediatrician that it is closer to breast milk (babysparkz @ Oct2009)
- Nan HA (HypoAllergenic) better if infant is sensitive/ slightly lactose intolerant, vs Nan Pro (Probiotic)
- Nan HA taste a little bitter, compared to other formulas. Hence recommended to try this out first, as infants may not like the taste after consuming other formulas

* Enfalac
- Has "anti-reflux" milk if infant tends to vomit

* Karihome Goal milk
- Retail at S$23.75 for 400g. Bulk purchase available for 12 tin with 10% discount and 1 tin free i.e. S$20 each @ punggol plaza

* MAmil Gold

* Friso Gold
- recommended by (redjn @Oct2009)
- Friso Soy

* Similac
- Step 2 is heaty

* S26
- heaty

* Dumex

Postnatal Jamu Massage

For normal delivery, you can do the massage 2 - 3 days after you discharge from hospital. For csect, either 3 - 4 weeks after discharge from hospital OR when your wound has healed properly at least

Kalimah
- A shop @ Yishun, hence you can choose for home service or have your massage done at the shop itself

Ida
- Tel: 9424 9829
- Sister-in-law of Masita, Sister of Mariam, Cousins of Suria & Zaliah
- $50 per session + 1 time $20 for cloth for wrapping
- Complimented @Jul2009 by (1) Sharon (2) Shawna
- Complimented @Aug2009 by (3) DevLina (4) LisaTan (5) babywoofie
- Complimented @Sep2009 by (6) Dianajs
- Complimented @Nov2009 by (7) swanston (8) Lim (9) elise31
- Complimented @Dec2009 by (10) AngHuiLing (11) dreams (12) EvonChan

Mas/ Masita
- Tel: 9006 8026
- $490 for 10 days post natal massage package
- $50 per session 1.5 hours - full body massage, stomach wrapping and clear blocked milk ducts
- $40 for 1.5 hr pre-natal or normal massage
- Stay Chua Chu Kang
- Complimented @ Jul2009 by (1) babypureen (2) Siti bte yadi (3) Christinalee (4) Joy (5) Sharon
- Complimented @Dec2009 by (6) bb_jul (7) cynthiadora (8) vixen mum (9) annalisa
- -ve @Dec2009 by (-1) minghui801

Origins Jamu Massage
- 10 days * 75 mins for $678
- Complimented by SiohChong @May2009 (Therapist: Mdm Lathifa)
- Complimented by cyruskitty @Aug2009 (Therapist: Mdm Khalsom)
- Complimented by babymoon @Oct2009 (Therapish: Mdm Lathifa)

Zaria
- Tel: 9449 5857
- Complimented by Cheyenne @May2009
- Complimented by asiancow @Aug2008
- Complimented by deela07 @Sep2009

Rokiah
- Tel: 9271 6091 / rrwelnes@singnet.com.sg
- From traditional & Holistic postnatal centre
- Without package $50 per session, $18 for tummy wrap cummerbund
- $420 for 7 days massage + jamu + cummerbund + 5 days baby massage
- Complimented by adlinzul @Feb2009
- Complimented by Adeline @Jul2009
- Complimented @Sep2009 by (3) AnneTay (Therapist: Emmy)
- Complimented @Nov2009 by (4) Nina (Therapist: Rokiah herself @ $70 per hr)
- Complimented @Dec2009 by (5) GraceLoh

Baby Bellies
- 7 days for $385 + $70 transport = $455
- 10 days for $530 excluding up to $10 transport per trip = $630
- Complimented by mich_liu82 @ May2009 (Therapist: Juriah)
- Complimented by Chillaxville @ Jun2009

Maya Mummy Massage
- 10 days * 90 mins for $720

Malay Postnatal Retreat
- 10 days * 75 mins for S$685

Mdm Sheda
- Tel: 94361463
- 7 days for $450 for those who are staying in hougang and ponggol area
- Complimented by Mummy5 @May2009

Farah
- Tel: 94479565
- Complimented by Satellite @ May2009

Nur
- Tel: 8251 5154
- $45 for prenatal, $55 for post natal
- Work with Ida
- Complimented @Jul2009 by (1) Bettyseah
- Complimented @Aug2009 by (2) fionasim

Yati
- Tel: 8154 4153
- 7 sessions @ $550, 90 mins each
- Pre-natal/ Javanese Massage $60 per hr
- Complimented @Apr2009 by (1) Shanaz


Leha
- Tel: 9018 1705
- $45 per hr
- Complimented by tanlengleng @Aug2009

Hana Siti
- Tel: 9193 6126
- Pre-natal $50 for 90 mins
- Post-natal 10 days $450, 90 mins for mummy, 10 mins for baby. include binder, slimming & scrub for last 2 sessions
- From Lillium

Rose
- Tel: 9787 4710
- Pre-natal $60 for 60 mins
- From Lillium

Liz
- Tel: 9175 6227
- Complimented @Aug2009 by (1) vixenlady

Tanti
- $60 per post-natal session
- $50 for 1 hr pre-natal or normal massage
- good strength, complimented by angelia286 @Dec2009

Hamida
- Complimented by ZannChan @Sep2009

Olak
- Tel: 02 012 731 1270
- $50 for 1 hr
- Complimented by camomile @Oct2009

Zilah
- Tel: 9388 5280
- 10 days for $520
- Complimented by Ivy

Christina
- Tel: 9005 3518
- Complimented by Doreen

Sadiah
- Tel: 9772 4579
- $50 per 75 mins session
- Complimented by Leah Keh @Jul09

Romah
- Tel: 9031 7331

Maya
- Tel:9169 0543

Tutik
- Tel: 9697 1378
- $400 for 7 sessions

x Mdm Siti Suriah
- Tel: 8118 2160
- 1.5 hrs post-natal massage including tummy wrap and special fat burner slimming oil and baby massage for $50
- 1 hr pre-natal or normal massage $40 an hour
- no down payment or transport fees
- complimented by siow_lee_chin @ Dec2009
- -ve by indy_kaur @ Aug2009
- Complimented by siow_lee_chin @Dec2009

x Mas
- Tel: 9084 5556, stay in Woodlands 786E
- -ve @Aug2009 by BrendaHo

x Mdm Khatijah
- Tel: 9800 1394 (9875 8762 ?)
- 1 hour per session
- $500 for package of 7 times
- +ve by LoVes @Sep2009
- +ve by stonston @ Oct2007
- +ve sha_82 @ early2009
- negative by tika @Aug2009
- negative by daisy12moo @Oct2009
- negative by Stan @Oct2009

x Latifah
- Tel: 8220 2351
- Katijah's sis in law
- +ve by tordis @Aug2009
- -ve by sha_82 @Dec2009

Gynae

Hmm...My guess about one of the 1st things to do, would be to choose a Gynae. If you already have an existing gynae whom you visit, I would suggest to simply continue seeing him/her. For those of you who don't have a regular gynae whom you visit, hey, you should start! (if you are a female, of course..hee)

Some of us have preferences over whether gynae is male/female, which hospital to deliver in etc. I would suggest going to one who is convenient, imagine the transport time/fees simply by going to a far away and inconvenient gynae. Hospital wise, choose one that is convenient for your family, or one which you are familiar with.

There's a website which collects feedbacks about gynae:
http://sggynae.blogspot.com/

Due to popular demand..

Due to demand by this blog's subscriber, am being requested to use this platform to record down on findings of pregnancy/baby stuff. By the way, the word "subscriber" is truly intended to be singular..heehee.

While, first of all...I finally managed to buy a pregnancy guide book that's in Chinese. This not only make it easier to repeat to mother/mother in law etc who prefer Mand/Chinese than English (instead of having to translate!) but more importantly, it makes a much better case during debates. When arguing over why certain "grandmother procedures" need not be followed, it is no longer a case of "ang mo books of course write differently lah"...it is now "if the china book also say so, it must be valid"..heehee.

Quoting an article in the Chinese book, it does say that there shouldn't be any house renovation when pregnant - but it gives a reason, which is that the glue/paint fumes/smells during renovation is not good for mother-to-bes and children alike. It never mentioned about "if u hammer a nail, your baby will be borned with a scar of a nail" thou

So...ms dear subscriber, am keeping the book for you ok! heehee...more for ur mil loh...i think our mothers at times, even more angmo than us ourselves. My cupboard doesn't have that much spare storage spaces, so, quick quick, take the book before the pages turn yellow hor! (of course, i have the "normal" English ones too )

Gardens
Some places to consider - one @ Yishun and another @ Kranji

Charmy Charms
For a friend...no, she's not pregnant (at least not yet). More to symbolize a "next phrase" in life as she was leaving her previous job.
For a sweet lady in the office, who has been taking care and watering a orphan plant (left behind, by an ex-employee). The name "Flower gal" reminds me of a korean drama where this rich fierce (but pretty, cos it is korean drama leh..everyone is pretty!) lady lost her memory and was made to believe that she is the wife of a thrifty man. There is a character in the show whom is called "flower gal" - the ex-gf of the thrifty man, who always try to act gentle by holding some flowers :P Hmm...can't remember the drama's title..do you?

Aqueen Hotel Balestier
Looks good...however, the normal price stated in the website is SGD 200, and have no idea on how to reserve rooms using the promotion prices of SGD 78

Decal
New fad of mine...putting up decals , all over the place