Mothering Corner

My SIL has only gave birth to her baby about 4 months ago and she has lost a lot of weight but is yet to go back to pregnancy shape. Like most women, she’s facing a lot of pressure in getting back in shape. I tried to convince her that she’s not fat at all and I went through that weight loss struggle just like her too, but with a balance diet, some exercise, sleep deprived from taking care of the baby and breastfeeding, most women managed to get back in shape. Not everyone can loss weight just after confinement and we just have to be perseverance and positive about ourselves.

On top of that, I went to Yanhee International Hospital and plastic surgery is pretty common here. Some women spent a lot of money in getting back in shape. My SIL is still reluctant to do so, but I think she looks great now. Maybe it’s just the flabbiness, and she just needs to tone up her body.

Frankly, part of the reasons why I don’t want to have another baby is I hate to go through the stress of losing weight. I know that I did it twice successfully, but I can’t ignore the fact that I’m not getting any younger and my metabolism is slower. LOL!

I suddenly realized that it’s been so long since my last breast self examination, so I better get it done after my period ends. That’s how I remind myself as our breasts tend to be swollen during menstruation, so it’s best do it the examination on other days as long as you remember to do so. If you are interested to read more about breast self examination, check out the link. The diagrams will give you a better idea too, and I got the diagram from a breast cancer awareness campaign many years ago.

My mother was a breast cancer patient, but she survived. It’s been about 10 years since her mastectomy, and she’s doing well now. There was a period of time when she was fighting for her health with medications, radiation and chemotherapy, but we are all glad that she’s fully recovered now. That’s why breast self examination is so important to me as I have a higher risk as there’s a family history of breast cancer.

If you are not sure about how a lump feels like, just talk to the doctor or nurses. I found that those breast cancer campaign booths are great as they have a sample breast lump for you to feel. But don’t panic if you find anything hard, it’s best to let your doctor examine again before making any conclusion.

Both my kids can walk by themselves but sometimes, they prefer to be carried by hubby and me. If hubby is not too tired, he will carry both of them in his arms so that I can walk freely and do some shopping. That’s why I’m buying more high heels now as I don’t have to walk in them with a toddler in my arms.

Nonetheless, if you are not comfortable walking in heels, don’t forget to get some Foot Pain Relief products to provide extra comfort to your feet. It’s not easy walking in high heels with a baby in your arms, so worrying about how hurt your feet are would be the last thing in your mind.

But if you prefer to walk comfortable, go for flats. Ballerina flats are fashionable for most mommies!

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?

My SIL has just given birth 2 months ago, but she slimmed down very fast by keeping herself busy with a baby and juggling her work at the office. She is nursing her baby exclusively but if she’s away from the office, her baby will be fed with formula milk by the office staffs. She brings her baby to work because there’s no one to take care of her, and she can’t leave her own business.

Like I said previously, it’s much easier to lose weight if you are breastfeeding. Some of the breastfeeding mothers I know lost their baby fat six months after the labor and they can still eat normally. But if you are not a breastfeeding mother, you can try lots of methods in losing weight like exercising, taking diet pills like Acomplia, doing on diet and etc. No matter which method you choose, please make sure that it’s safe and consult your doctor before you take any pills. It’s best to lost weight the safer way, but I know how frustrating it can be if you can’t see the pounds losing before your eyes with all the diet plans you tried!

Seriously, I am controlling my diet now. I can’t be eating the same since I weaned off my gal. I missed my breastfeeding days when I could eat anything I want.

As usual, I received a bouquet of roses from hubby on Valentine’s Day. I have asked him to stop sending me flowers, but I guess he’s clueless of what to give me so he picked the flowers again. Flowers are so expensive on that day, and he better get them from wholesale roses since he has some friends in Cameron Highlands!

But then again, did you receive flowers on the day you gave birth to your baby? My doctor asked hubby to get me a bouquet of flowers on the days we had our babies at the hospital, but he didn’t do so. I wonder which daddy did this because it would be nice to get some flowers after the labor.

Are you planning for a wedding soon? My neighbor is getting married next month and she planned her wedding from gathering the information online. She found lots of best deals and wedding tips I haven’t heard of all my life and I wondered why I didn’t search the internet when I was planning mine?

Some women will tell you not to spend so much money on your wedding as you won’t be looking back at the wedding photos, the video clips or even wearing your wedding dress. But nonetheless, if you can afford it, make sure that your wedding is as near as what you have in mind. After all, you might only have it once.

There was a time in my marriage when hubby and I were emotionally separated because he was busy with his business and traveling around while I was busy taking care of a toddler and a newborn baby. We hardly talked and spent time together because both of us were exhausted and worn out.

Nonetheless, we realized how bad it would be for our marriage and we worked it out. We went for a honeymoon last year and we managed to patch things up. It’s pretty common in some married couples that the passion would die away a few years after marriage, but there is always a way of keeping the romance after parenthood.

If you are trying to work out the flame, how about going for a romantic trip to Cancun? Some of the Cancun Vacations are meant for adults and you can treat it as another honeymoon. I would certainly wish to go there one day.

I went for my pap smear last week and my gynae advised me to go for the vaccination against Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV is a common virus that affects both females and males. There are more than 100 types of HPV that can affect different areas of the body. Most types are relatively harmless —like the ones that cause common warts on hands and feet. Some types of HPV can affect the genital area and can lead to cervical cancer, abnormal cervical cells, and genital warts.

Before I can take the jab, I need to perform a cervical check to identify is I’m a carrier for HPV. If I am, I can forget about the vaccination as it’s not going to help to prevent cervival up to 90%. But if I am not, I will have to take the jabs at 0, 2 and 6 months for better prevention. Once you are immune, you will still have to perform pap smear every year as the vaccination doesn’t provide 100% protection. Any girls above 9 years old can get the vaccination, regardless of being sexually active or not.

I can’t take the jab now as I’m moving to Bangkok and I’m not sure when I will be back. But I will find out more about this before I decide to go for the jabs. If you are interested, check out the related information about HPV at http://www.tellsomeone.com.my/

Frankly, I don’t believe in fairy tales. I don’t believe in living happily ever after and till death do us apart as well. I don’t think that a marriage should last forever, unless both parties are willing to make it happened. I have seen a lot of divorced women who are much happier and more successful without their husbands, which they thought they couldn’t make it at first. If there is a will, there is a way.

However, I’m always touched when I see those old married couples walking hands in hands and still caring very much to each other. I have a friend who’s in her 50s but her husband is at least 20 years her senior. He is really old, and he suffered from stroke years ago. She’s taking very good care of him and to let her husband occupy his time, she lets him enjoy sport betting. You may argue that gambling is bad, and so I thought, but she said he’s not getting senile if he has something to do at his age. She does have her point, and he is not losing a lot of money anyway. At their ages, it’s more like looking for an “interest” rather than gambling. If that works well for them, what else can we say?

As long as they are happy with their lives, I’m happy for them. He’s very old now, what else do you want him to do?