The Milk During Pregnancy for Extraordinary Nourishment

Pregnancy is a journey of extraordinary changes for both mother and her developing baby. As a mother of two lovely girls, I know pregnancy is loaded with emotions change and tons of questions. From the growth of your fetus to what diet to follow, almost everything is a question mark while you are expecting. Hence, I have attended the exclusive workshop by Anmum Materna held at Colony @ KLCC Office Space to find out more on last Saturday.

While the mother adapts physiologically to sustain a life within her, her child goes through astounding growth from a cluster of cells to an amazing baby with beating heart, facial features and kicking legs – all in a span of 40 weeks.

One of the most significant change in a pregnant woman is weight gain, which comes mainly from the phenomenal increase in the volume of body fluid to protect the baby in her womb. A healthy weight woman puts on an average of 11.5 to 16kg during pregnancy(1). Besides the weight of the baby, she also gains weight from the increase of blood, about 30 to 50% or 1.5 to 2 litres more to transport oxygen and nutrients to her developing baby(2).
With the increase of blood volume, her heart needs to work harder to pump it throughout the body, so her resting heart rate would increase correspondingly to about 10 to 20 more beats per minute(2). She would also need about 20% more oxygen for both herself and the developing baby(3), and her breathing rate increases as well.

Within her womb, the baby is developing astoundingly. At 4 weeks, the little one has transformed from a group of cells into an embryo, which is the size of a poppy seed – 10,000 times bigger than the size at conception(4). At the same time, her 3 primary brain parts are formed(5). By week 6 to 7, her heart starts beating at a regular rhythm(6), which is twice faster than an adult(7). She can even feel touches by week 8(8).

Fast-forward to week 10, her facial features become more distinct(6) and can have different facial expressions and even smile in the following week(9). By week 26, the baby’s unique fingerprints have developed(6). Around 4 to 5 months, her heart pumps more than 28 litres of blood a day(9).

Healthy Kids is Happy Kids - NANO Japan Biogenie Kids Booster

I’m gratitude to be a mother of two lovely girls. But I have a feeling that it’s getting more and more expensive to raise a kids over the years. Inflations, bad economy and moreover with the extremely expensive treatment fees charged by the professional pediatrician, we always find money is not enough.  And hence keeping the kids healthy in order to avoid doctor visits is always prudent.

Sadly, my elder daughter was born with weak immune system and hence she gets sick easily. She always catches a fever, cough and flu easily.

While my younger daughter is not as bad as the elder one, still she gets constipation easily due to her cravings for biscuits.

What’s more, with the haze and terrible weather (where the normal hot season has turned haywire to hot and cold in a day), my girls fall sick more frequently. Not only that, they have suffer from skin irritation and asthma sometime.

I have been feeding them supplements but it has not improved much, and hence I am always thinking of the ways to improve their health. I have been researching by joining some parenting forums and discussed about this topic with other parents. Recently, I was introduced to NANO Japan Kids Booster that’s call “Biogenie” by some mothers there. I checked the price is quite affordable so I ordered a few bottles to try.

Apparently NANO Japan Biogenie is the most advance and effective booster supplement for kids. According to the brand, it helps improves Gut Health (IMMUNE SYSTEM), Reduce Flu, Cough, HFMD, Inflammation, Constipation, Bacteria Infections. Eventually kids will be concentrating better and be more alert too.

Thalassemia 地中海贫血症 - Something We Should know As a Parent in SEA

I’ve always wanted to share this information since long time ago but somehow I’ve dragged until now. If you are Live Lite FM & Melody FM supporter, you should have heard about it too sometimes ago from the advert, a disease called Thalassemia 地中海贫血症.

Thalassemia is caused by variant or missing genes that affect how the body makes hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. People with Thalassemia make less hemoglobin and fewer circulating red blood cells than normal, which results in mild or severe anemia.

There are 3 types of Thalassemia: Alpha, Beta and Delta. Thalassemia is very common in South East Asia including Malaysia. According to a government report, 1 out of 8 Malaysian Chinese is a Thalassemia carrier. If husband and wife are Thalassemia carrier, they could Inherited it to their children. So, I think it’s important to know this when you are married and expecting a child.

We could have a normal baby in 25% chance, and a Thalassemia carrier’s baby with 50% chance, and worst case scenario a Thalassemia Major 25%.

Thalassemia carriers is not a major disease, we would be getting tired easily because of blood disorder. Other than this, we are just as normal as others.

I am here to share my experience as me and hubby is both Alpha Thalassemia carriers. We knew this when we did the DNA test few years back. We both are strongly disagreeing to a HK TVB drama recently, that a couple cancelled their wedding because they are both Thalassemia carriers and CANNOT have a child! It is rather misleading. In fact, we COULD have child, and Not Only One, we can have many many childs.

Though I agree that we could not predict if the fetus is infected by Major Thalassemia before conceive, but we could prevent from suffer by doing Chorionic Villous Sampling(CVS) test.

CVS is usually performed at 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. In Malaysia, CVS is commonly done for women with the risk of having a baby with alpha or beta Thalassaemia major. These are blood disorders, which can severely affect the baby.

Although CVS can detect many of the same congenital problems earlier in the pregnancy, it carries a 1% to 2% risk of miscarriage. Bed rest is a must after CVS, and I usually bed rest for a week to make sure I’m fully recover.

I’ve done my CVS tests at Fetal Medicine and Gynaecology Centre (FMGC) by Doctor Patrick Chia. FMCG used to situated at Taman Tun but they have shifted to Jaya One few years back.

There are two ways to perform CVS: through the abdomen, trans-abdominal CVS or through the cervix (neck of the womb). Dr Patrick normally did it through my abdomen. It was a bit pain but don’t worry, just relax and the procedure will be done in less than 30 minutes. If you are curious on how to do it, ask for my video documentation from Doctor Patrick, he has recorded my procedure using his iPhone last year but I forgot to get a soft copy from him hence couldn’t share with you here.

We paid RM 1850 for CVS tests since year 2008 till last year, and if you want to do a further down syndrome test and confirmation on the sex of fetus, it would cost RM 500 extra. Report normally is out in a week time, and Doctor Patrick will call to tell you the result.

If you want to pay a visit to FMGC, do make an appointment in advance because FMCG is always crowded with patients.

FMGC website http://www.fmgc.com.my/

If the result is showing that the fetus is unfortunately a Major Thalassaemia, then it’s time the parents to make a decision. In many cases, the doctor would not advice patient to raise the baby to prevent suffering. As an adult, I think we should accept the fact and make a wise decision. I have relatives who have not do the CVS test and their babies died on birth. This is rather sad to me. It’s a painful path in our life but that’s what makes us a better parent to our precious children.

I hope this article would help you, who are a Thalassaemia carrier like us. Don’t give up and you will get what is gifted to you at last!

Experience the Journey of Growing Up Together

In line with the launch of its’ newly improved formulated milk powder for children fully imported from Holland, premium milk powder brand Friso Gold has joined hands with a group of celebrity mothers to call for Malaysian moms to experience the growing up journey with their children.

Supporting the call to “Be a G.U.T. Mom”, which abbreviates ‘Growing Up Together’ are actress, TV host, entrepreneur and joyful mother to a pair of twins, Sazzy Falak; actress, model, TV host and proud mother to a 1-year-9-months-old girl, Belinda Chee; fashion designer, creative director of fashion label PU3 and mother to a 2-year old boy, Putri Azalea Ramli; TV host, film producer, director of Kakiseni and mother of four children, Low Ngai Yuen; and a group of like-minded Malaysian mothers who strongly believe in the importance of experiencing with their kids during the growing up years.

L-R- Sazzy Falak, Ms Anja Henze (Marketing Director of Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad) and Belinda Chee launched the new pack of Friso Gold with newly improved formula, fully imported from Holland

In her speech during the launch of this community movement, Anja Henze, Marketing Director of Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad which markets Friso Gold explained the brand’s rationale behind the “Be a G.U.T. Mom” advocacy. “At Friso Gold, we believe that the journey of growing up is one of life’s most unique experiences; as such, we encourage both parents and children to embrace these experiences and share the precious moments of growing up together,” she said.

She continued: “In a world where human contact and interaction is gradually being replaced by technology, it is important for mother and child to share a bond that can only be strengthened by creating memorable experiences together”.

Studies have shown that a child develops best through experiences and discoveries. A mother’s role is to encourage her children by joining them to explore and discover the world together. There will be times when children may stumble and fall, but allowing them to learn while holding their hands and cheering them on is the best support a mother can provide along the way.

Explaining Friso Gold’s role in the incredible journey of growing up, Anja expressed that the brand is delighted to introduce its newly improved formula, developed specifically to help improve a child’s natural body resistance. “Friso Gold helps strengthen children from the inside to support their growth and development, so that they are able to explore, play and learn, allowing them to experience the priceless journey of growing up together with mommy,” she said.

Urban Retreat Spa – The Best Prenatal Acu-Pressure Massage

If you’ve met me recently, you must have thought ‘oh gosh, this woman has putting on weight so much until her tummy has bloated up like a balloon, she must have lost control during the Holiday season!’ Right, In fact, I’m 26 weeks pregnant already! ^ ^

Lucky me, I have not suffered much from morning sickness, but I’m suffering back pain, hip aches and legs cramp during night time and it has affect my sleeping quality a lot.

One day, I found that loving touch is healing and soothing and can make my body feel wonderful from an online article, I quickly took up the offer for a maternity massage from Urban Retreat Spa.

Urban Retreat Spa has won several awards including Best Prenatal Acu-Pressure Massage from Harper’s Bazaar 2012. I've also heard a lot of raves about Urban Retreat Spa before.Hence I can't wait to enjoy my prenatal massage there.

Urban Retreat Spa using good quality Massage Oil and skin care products

是时候再怀孕了

今天我的前经理跟我谈天，提醒我是时候再怀孕了。她说小孩们之间的年龄差距最好不要超过18个月。上个星期也有人跟我说，最好要在24个月内再怀孕，因为我们的子宫已经撑大了，不要等到完全收缩后才再度撑大它。

这真是谈何容易呢。我担心害怕的是第四个月做详细产检，过不过关。老公和我都是地中海贫血，嘉嘉不是严重型的我已经是很感激老天爷了。下一个孩子命运又会如何？真的只有天知道。但愿会是健健康康，没有贫血的孩子吧。

仅剩两天的2009年

眨眼间，来到了2009 年12月29 日，再过两天就是新年倒数，迎接2010 年了。

2009 年做了些什么，学到了什么？最特别的是荣升母亲的职位了。从不简单的怀胎十月，到生产和培育小嘉嘉，这些日子多谢老公和家人的鼓励与陪伴，和朋友们的关心。照顾小孩真的是不简单，尤其是他生病的时候。但是，我相信我们会应付得来的。加油！来吧2010 年，我们准备好了！

终于

今天终于有了决定。2009年6月13日，星期六早上八点半会开刀让贝比来到这个世界了。虽然这个决定的后果是没有了一个我要的包包，但是，我终于可以放下心头大石，也不用再忍受等待的滋味了。

原本还以为妈妈和姐姐会劝我自然分娩的，但是却出乎意料之外。可能他们最近看到大嫂和 Carmen 的个案，而改变想法了吧。

希望手术顺顺利利就好了。

又一天了

又过一天了，还是没有什么动静啊。难道，真的要催生？神啊，什么时候贝比才会出来啊？就今晚吧，好吗？

恭喜

2009年6月8日，原本是小贝比的预产期，却变成了大哥大嫂女儿的生日。恭喜大哥大嫂！祝福他们的贝比快高长大，健健康康。 :D 妈妈又做奶奶了，看得出她好开心哦，因为这是大哥第一个千金。今天他们会下麻玻探望嫂嫂和贝比，可惜我不能去。但是，我还是衷心恭贺他们，好开心哦。

等待

还以为医生会告诉我们说，贝比就快会出世了。但是听到的却是观察多一个星期，如果6月15日都还没迹象的话，就要催生了。听说催生很疼的啊，我可不要催生！看来这几天得好好儿跟贝比沟通了，我们知道她一定会乖乖听话，6月10日那天就会顺利出来的。呵呵。 :)

六月

眨眼见，到了2009年6月4日了。这几天家人朋友都开始紧张贝B 何时出来见大家。虽然预产期是6月8日，但是little Rane 的爸爸和阿姨都希望她能在6月6日就出世。哇，那天可是最高元首华诞叻，如果贝比真的听她爸爸的话在那天出世，那不是很厉害咯。呵呵。我想啊，贝比的爸，你连贝比的名字都还没有想好，哪好意思要她早点出来？

这两个星期人很容易就累了，可能是肚子越来越大，加上夜晚睡不好吧。真的不知道贝比出世后我肚子空空的会是怎样，一定很不习惯吧。前几天在面书写到——〉
矛盾：期待着你的到来，但是又希望你可以待在妈妈肚子里久一点。喜欢感觉你在肚子里摆动，却又想早日看见你可爱的样子。。。

又是血拼的时候咯！

今天得知 Body Shop 开始减价，第一件事情就是广播这个好消息给好友们知道。跟着自己也要求老公载我去血拼一番。因为从今天起到星期天，会员会有额外十巴仙折扣，和划算耶。幸亏老公肯点头呵呵。

这一次的减价没有以前那么吸引，所有五十到七十巴仙的产品一人只限买两个。很多产品只有十巴仙折扣，就算加上会员折扣也并不多。所以我的荷包出血也不多，大概一百五马币罢了。开心的是我买到了我需要用到的护肤品和磨砂膏。

这几天贝比很顽皮，一直踢呀踢的，可能是她厌倦了在妈妈肚子里的生活，想快点出来看世界吧。想到自己就快要“坐牢”一个月，心里就怕怕的。所以现在有机会就要争取去 shopping 逛街，不然下个月我可会闷透咯。

满腹子的计划又泡汤了

闷，满腹子的计划又泡汤了。

今天要求老公载我上下班，除了要帮我扛东西回家之外（下个星期开始我就在家工作+待产，不用去公司咯），另外一个原因是要他载我去 Jaya 33 的大促销。我没事先跟他说，因为知道他一定又有很多意见的了，结果他六点半才从公司过来。一路上又遇到别人车祸和塞车的，哎呀，现在七点半了都还没到我公司楼下！大促销八点就关门了，一定赶不及了啦。郁闷！

讨厌，怎么这两天那么倒霉啊？要做的事往往都遇到绊脚石呢？晚上又失眠，害得我早上不够精神的。BB 又时常在肚子里翻来覆去，好不难受，唉。明天卫塞节还是去庙里拜拜好了。祈求保佑万事顺利，我和敬不再吵架，和宝宝乖乖成长和出生就好了。

宝贝，要肥肥白白哦！

自从怀孕之后，家人和老公都对我特别照顾。除了中药补品，丞燕千禧泉不说，连平常一年才喝两三次的燕窝也吃得频繁了。虽然mother 有炖燕窝给我吃，但是老公还特买了两罐老行家即食燕窝要我吃。说吃了之后宝贝皮肤会很漂亮。因为是baby girl，所以这很重要呵呵。那是不是说如果下次怀男的就不用吃了呢？

无论如何，还是要谢谢你们啦！还有六个星期我们就可以一齐验证啦。

31周怀孕脚肿

这个星期是31周怀孕，昨天我的脚第一次水肿。好恐怖啊，红红的脚，按下去里面呈现白色的。打电话问妈妈，她说那很正常，而且只要肿和消肿三次，就表示可以分婉了。但是敬有点担心，因为上次看中医时中医提到肿这一点，但是忘了是什么。

上育儿网察看，得到以下解释，心头终于可以放下了。


腿、脚肿在孕期里是很常见的，总的来说，孕期腿、脚肿可以分为两种，一种是正常的，另一种是不正常的，不正常时需要及时就医。　　

正常孕期腿、脚肿的特点　　
●在下肢足踝的两侧、足背及小腿前面可出现“可凹性水肿”，即用手指按压后所按处出现一凹陷；　　
●休息6至8小时后，腿、脚肿消失。 　　
正常孕期腿、脚肿的原因　　
●血容量增加　　怀孕后，孕妇的血容量会随着孕周的增加而不断增加，至孕32至34周时达最高峰，比妊娠前约增加35%，平均增加1500毫升。　　
●血管通透性改变　　由于循环血容量增加，心脏排出的血量就会增高。同时，全身的毛细血管床数目增多了，管径也增粗了，其结果就是会有更多的（平均增加25%）液体“穿过”毛细血管壁进入组织间隙。　　
●下肢静脉压增高　　因为妊娠后大量的血液要从胎儿“居住的”子宫流至下腔静脉，从而会导致下腔静脉压升高；另外，妊娠20周以后，增大的子宫又会压迫盆腔静脉及下腔静脉，使静脉血液回流受阻，于是下肢静脉压就进一步升高了。　　请注意以下3项变化是孕期里本该发生的正常变化。　　减轻腿、脚肿的对策　　
●孕期内应经常活动，如轻微动作的体操或散步，有利于血液循环；　　
●要经常变换体拉；　　
●睡眠时取侧卧位，以左侧臣位为最佳，而仰卧位则会加重下腔静脉的压迫，从而加重水肿；　　
●下脚稍垫高，以利血液回流；　　
●不要长时间站立；　　
●经常穿紧身袜，以减轻下肢静脉曲张的程度。　　异常的孕期腿、脚肿的特点　　
●水肿范围较大，由踝部及小腿延至膝以上，甚至外阴部、腹部、上肢、颜面部等；　　
●一般卧床休息6至8小时后不消退；　　
●伴有血压升高或血尿。　　

异常的孕期腿、脚肿的原因　　
异常的孕期腿、脚肿的根源就是妊娠期高血压综合征，因为妊娠期高血压可以引孕妇肾脏、心脏功能的异常。　　

特别提示　　
休息8小时以后腿、脚肿仍不消退，或者是妊娠晚期体重每周增长大于500克，就要警惕有发生妊娠性高血压的可能，要及时到医院做全面检查。

竟然呕黄疸水

今天早上睡醒后罕有的觉得想作吐，但是肚子空空的，搞了好久，竟然呕黄疸水出来！一团荧光黄，苦苦的水，这还是第一次如此经验。

打电话问医生，他问我是不是吃错东西，或者吃太酸辣和喝太多汽水。我想应该是吧，昨晚吃了一碗鸡酒面线，前几天连续两天吃肉骨茶，asam laksa，麦当劳，汽水等等的。原来这些都是对 baby 不好的。为了baby，我一定要戒口，别再那么贪吃了。

希望我们的baby girl 会像侄女们那么可爱就好了。

忙碌的人生

最近公司同事个个都很忙。我忙着照顾身体和宝贝，有人忙着结婚，有些人忙着装修屋子，也有人忙着搬家。。。人生就是如此，每个人有自己的生活，应该做的事儿。忙碌归忙碌，但是我们还是得注意实事和社会吧？！今天知道竟然有朋友连明天我们国家第6任首相上任也不知道，我真的吓了一跳！如果我们对政治和国家还是那么冷漠，那么我们如何能够拥有好的政府和国家发展呢？

Week 27

Little Rane is 27 weeks now. Daddy Mummy 和你去检查，医生说你好小哦，好像25个星期的baby那样。爸爸说女孩子小没关系，不要像我们那么胖就好了。但是mummy 还是不是很放心。是不是妈妈着两个星期生病所以害你也吃不下呢？我得快快好起来，要把健康带给你。baby girl，和妈妈一起加油抗病，快高成长好不好？

久违的周末

自从嫁了之后，就很少回家跟家人一起过周末了。上个星期，因为回家住，所以和家人过了一个很愉快的周末。
星期六载了侄儿补习放学后，就跟妈妈一起去广场逛街。晚上则与一家人去姑姑的新家参观和祝贺。那天真的好累，但是很开心。
星期天一早，跟家人去了湖滨公园“跑步”。妈妈陪我走了一大圈，好累啊！ 我想，呼吸大自然新鲜空气，对宝宝是很好的吧。之后哥哥请吃点心。晚上，姐姐和哥哥一家人回来家里吃饭，好热闹啊！吃饱之后我吵着叫他们陪我打 Rummy，结果玩到晚上11点左右我才让他们回家去，呵呵。宝宝带运气给我，让我赢了十多块，呵呵。
再过一晚我就要回自己家了。希望到时候能够叫到我老公每个星期天参与我家人的早晨跑步吧。