Mothering Corner

Hubby and I were thinking of canceling our insurance policies in Malaysia because the policies are not valid in Bangkok anymore. But after some consideration, we decided not to do so and continue paying for them since they are affordable. Besides that, if anything really happens to us, like an accident or so *touch wood*. we might just come back here and claim the medical expenses by consulting the local doctors, so the policies can still be used.

It’s a really overwhelming dealing with a family member who suffered with personal injury as a lot of money and emotional constrain are involved. But if you are staying in the City of Austin, maybe you can talk to the Personal Injury Attorney Austin to better understand your legal rights. I will just talk to my lawyer friend, if I ever need any legal advice.

Anyway, our insurance policies come with savings and investment, so we will still get some return after some years. It’s still best to keep them alive.

I was all over my pubbing years when I decided to get married. Besides that, I don’t drink and thus I don’t miss the taste of alcohol at all. But there was once when I saw a pregnant lady took a few sip of beer at a wedding dinner. I know that some mothers will think that taking a few sips is not hurting their babies in the wombs but if who knows how frequent this is done? If possible, just stay away from alcohol as soon as you know you are pregnant and during those months when you are breastfeeding.

But if the pregnant mother still continue her excessive drinking habit without fail, her baby will most probably suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome when he is born. Babies with fetal alcohol syndrome are generally suffering from mental retardation. They might have learning disability and the head size is smaller than a normal baby too. Some babies have deformed facial features and poor coordination of limbs.

The effects are permanent on the baby, so it’s hard to understand why some pregnant mothers are totally ignorant with their drinking habits. Let’s just say that if you love your unborn baby and want him to be as healthy as possible, stay away from your wine clubs until he’s born. Of course, try to breastfeed him and stop drinking until you wean him off.

I’m down with flu for 3 days and there’s no improvement yet. I can’t take medication as most of the flu medicine makes me dizzy and sleepy. I don’t have time to rest since I’m occupied with my kids and daily stuffs. Nonetheless, I’m trying out some home remedies for flu by doing so:

1. Increase my vitamin B and C supplements. I used to take only one of the recommended 3 pills per day, but I’m taking 3 these days.
2. Drink more water to keep myself hydrated.
3. Sleep in early at night and no late nights for a while.
4. Take more garlic and onion. They work for me mostly.

Let’s see if the flu bug is going away by this weekend. I have more travel plans by the end of the month and I need to be fit for it.

I brought along a gallon of sterilized drinking water to KL last weekend as we don’t have a water filter there. All the while, we will buy drinking water from the stores or water dispensers if we stay at hubby’s place in KL. I wonder why he refuses to install a water filter too as it’s pretty troublesome to bring the water along.

If only there’s a local company here provides home bottled water delivery like o premium waters, then I don’t mind ordering some for my kids when we stay in KL. I can’t risk them from getting sick! It’s so tiring taking care of sick kids, you know?

A friend of mine told me that she knows someone who’s been caught with drugs and pills. She was so surprised to hear about this as he doesn’t look like an addict nor a drug dealer. Frankly, it’s not easy to identify a drug addict since most of them are great at hiding or disguising their addiction. Some of them may even deny that they have an problem with Drug Abuse and refused to be helped.

That’s why some parents, friends or family are caught with surprised when they find out that someone they know dearly is involving with drugs. Over here in Malaysia, we can send the drug addicts to rehabilitation centers and it’s free of charge. But in other countries like US, there are lots of drug rehabilitation centers, such as Renaissance Malibu, that provide 5 stars facilities and a better environment for the addicts. Of course, not everyone can afford the treatments from exclusive rehab centers, but they can just look for one that best suits their needs.

Most importantly, just don’t give up hope on the patients as some of them really wish to be clean and clear from drugs. There’s a possibility of going back to drugs again, but if the patient is determined and gets lots of supports from friends and family, he might get a second chance in life.

Both hubby and I enjoy sunbathing, and that’s what we loved to do as a couple before we have kids. We would go on a beach vacation just to enjoy the sun. Of course, we played golf sometimes, so we were exposed to the sun pretty often.

After I have kids, I try myself to protect my kids from sunburn. They are just like us, and enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities, but since children have thinner skin, they have a higher risk of having a sunburn or developing skin cancer. However, there are certain precautions which can be done.

• Try to avoid being under the sun when it’s highest overhead. If you have to go to the beach, plan your trip well and reach there before 10am or after 4pm. I would suggest going there in the morning as the breeze is pretty cooling.
• Get a bottle of kid sunblock ready. Try not to use the normal adult sunblock as some sunscreen has ingredients which might not suitable for children’s skin. I would suggest putting on the sunblock before the kids are leaving the house as most sunblocks take at least 30 minutes to “create” a layer of protection.
• On normal days, try to dress little children well with hats, long pants and use an umbrella!
• If possible, get them a pair of sunglasses too. Make sure that it provides 100% UV protection.

Did I miss anything?

Even though being out in the sun is harmful, but don’t just hide your kids behind the roller shades all the time. With the proper precautions, most children can enjoy playing in the sun. Don’t you forget, the sun is the main source of vitamin D which helps absorbing calcium for stronger bones. So, do you have any special outdoor plan for your kids this weekend?

When I was planning for my first child, I took note of my menstrual cycle well because I wanted to track my ovulation. It took me 2 cycle to conceive my baby and I was so happy about it. I know all the while when I’m ovulating as the discharge is heavier. However, if you are interested to know more about ovulation, check out the facts listed by Yahoo! Health.

The American Pregnancy Association offers the following information about ovulation:

• Once an egg has been released from the ovary, it can live for 12 hours to 24 hours.
• Women are born with millions of immature eggs. Typically, only one egg that has matured is released each month.
• Ovulation can be affected by factors such as stress, anxiety, illness, or an interruption of usual lifestyle and routine.
• Ovulation may cause feelings of aching, tenderness or soreness in and around the ovaries.
• Each egg that is unfertilized is absorbed by the uterine lining.

Funnily, they didn’t list out the difference in discharge. So, do you know that you are ovulating?

I used to go for yoga class regularly until I stopped for the past 2 months again due to my frequent traveling. My yoga instructor conducts yoga and pilates classes for kids too, but I didn’t enroll my boy. Most kids after 3 years old can join in the yoga class, but since we are moving away, it’s not a good idea for him to join the class now. Once we settle down in Bangkok, I would try my best to look for a yoga class both for myself and my kids.

If you are interested to know more about the benefits of kids yoga, check this out:

• Promotes flexibility and endurance.
• Promotes better thinking
• Improves concentration and memory skills
• Helps in relaxation
• Improves digestion
• Reduce Stress and increases the ability to handle stress
• Increases self-esteem and boost confidence
• Strengthens the muscles, spine and promotes good posture
• It improves sleeping patterns
• Helps in weight loss for obese children
• Helps children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to concentrate better

You can find out more about the schedule from Inspire Mum and Baby. If your kids don’t like it, take it easy. Anyway, it’s never too late to learn yoga no matter how old you are.

 I haven’t donate my blood for years and anyway, I have low blood pressure and it’s best to avoid blood donation when I’m not fit for it. But something came across my mind just now and I was curious if a breastfeeding mother can donate blood? I found some answers from Kellymom:

There are conflicting opinions about donating blood while breastfeeding. The US Red Cross okays blood donation for nursing moms after 6 weeks postpartum. Donating blood causes a small loss of blood volume (and therefore a loss of fluid), so there is a theoretical possibility for a short-term temporary reduction in milk supply. Moms with vulnerable supplies may want to avoid donation. In general, women who are not pregnant, have good iron levels (that will be tested before donation), are not taking antibiotics, and are at least 100 pounds are good candidates for blood donation.

and La Leche League:

La Leche League’s sources differ in their opinions on blood donation for breastfeeding mothers. Dr. Gregory White does not recommend it. Dr. Jack Newman says any otherwise eligible mother who is not anemic can donate blood. The Canadian Blood Service (a division of the Red Cross) asks breastfeeding mothers to wait six months before donating blood. LLL recommends that mothers consult their own physicians and make an informed choice.

If a breastfeeding mother chooses to donate blood, she needs to be very careful to stay hydrated. Human milk is 87% water, and a blood donation takes 16 ounces of blood from the body. This is a lot of liquid to replace. All blood donors are cautioned to eat a substantial meal before donating blood and drink large quantities of water afterward. After a donation, donors are advised to avoid heavy lifting with the arm used to donate (to prevent excessive bruising). This may be a consideration for mothers who may not be able to avoid lifting and carrying their babies or older children.

I pasted most of the text here because I know that not all mothers have the time to go to the links I inserted. Personally, I would not go for blood donation until I’ve weaned off my baby. It’s been 6 months after I stopped breastfeeding, so if I’m healthy enough, I would donate blood again.

I didn’t read the papers for days but just now I caught a glimpse on the news about a flu outbreak in Hong Kong that killed 2 children.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong children stayed home on Thursday after the government shut elementary schools for two weeks to contain a seasonal flu outbreak as experts probed the deaths of four children.

Two of the children were infected with seasonal flu while the causes of illness in the other two were not known. A fifth child, a 3-year-old boy, was in stable condition in hospital.

The elementary schools are shutting down for 2 weeks for precaution. No one knows that if SARS is back but are you worried as a parent? I just hope that the other 2 infected children will be doing fine soon.