favourite photo of the hubs and me taken at 

jooch&enhui's wedding yesterday. =) 

dream bathroom

source: http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/photos/dream-bathroom-designs-pictures-1379591147-slideshow/dream-bathroom-new-york-photo-1379692637222.html

so it aint that bad right.... =)

1. Myth: Do not drink plain water

This comes from the belief that drinking plain water causes water retention or will cool down the body too much.

The truth: There is no harm in drinking plain water. In fact, because new mothers tend to sweat heavily because of hormonal changes, they have all the more reason to drink water and keep hydrated. However, new mothers should be encouraged to drink warm water instead of cold water.

2. Myth: Consume alcohol

Drinking alcoholic beverages or eating dishes cooked with alcohol is thought to boost blood circulation and warm up the body.

The truth: It is correct that alcohol is used in TCM to expel cold and promote circulation. That said, new mothers should not regard alcohol as essential to their recovery. In fact, nursing mothers should avoid alcohol, since it can be passed on to their baby through breast milk.

3. Myth: Do not shower or wash one’s hair 

Contact with water is thought to cause “wind” to enter the body and lead to headaches and rheumatism later in life. This taboo may have originated from northern China of the past. Since water quickly became freezing because of the cold weather, it was easy to catch a chill from bathing.

The truth: It is perfectly fine to continue one’s bathing habits. Besides maintaining personal comfort, regular bathing helps prevent skin and wound infections. However, the mother should not bathe with cold water. She should also dry her body immediately after bathing to prevent exposure to cold air.

4. Myth: Consume plenty of herbal supplements 

Since childbirth drains a woman of Qi, it is recommended that she stock up on specific herbal soups and dishes that boost energy and blood.

The truth: Since every woman’s health profile is different, she may not benefit from the same remedies that help others. It is better to consult a qualified TCM physician for personalised advice and treatment. That said, one dietary recommendation can be generalised to all new mothers. In TCM, it is best to avoid cooling foods during confinement. Eating such foods carry a risk of harming one’s Spleen and Stomach and hampering recovery. Foods to avoid include bamboo shoots, bananas, crabs and oysters.

5. Myth: Do not read or cry 

Childbirth is thought to weaken the Liver, which is linked to the eyes. Therefore, one should avoid putting stress on the eyes by reading or crying. Otherwise, one might experience eye problems later in life.

The truth: There is no basis for the belief that reading or crying would lead to eye problems. However, TCM experts do hold that the large loss of blood during childbirth may weaken the eyes. This is because blood is related to the Liver, which is associated with the eyes. Regular consumption of Liver-protecting foods, such as Chinese Wolfberries, would help maintain eye health.

6. Myth: Wear warm clothing and do not use fans and air-conditioning 

As with bathing, any exposure to cool air is said to cause “wind” to enter the body and lead to health problems later in life.

The truth: The key here is moderation. The new mother should do what makes her comfortable. In a hot and humid climate, fans and air conditioners may even be essential for preventing heat rash. However, the new mother should not let the fan or air-conditioner blow directly on her.



source: http://www.euyansang.com/index.php/tcm-lifestyle/living-well/beware-these-6-confinement-myths

random rantings..

am sick again and resting at home now.. =(
this time round is gastric flu... not sure if my stomach is getting more sensitive or i keep eating bad things..

2 weeks ago, i was down with diarrhoea for 2 days after i think some unclean fruits.. the fruit uncle was busy with orders so the 收钱 uncle helped him. but he did not wear any gloves and my fruits was "dirty" with black dirt.. i washed them again before eating but too bad, i was still sick.. anyway i have black-list that shop already..

last week i ate with a selfish man who was VERY sick with flu but had no qualms about not using common utensils at dinner.. =( right after dinner, my nose started to sniffle and drip....

anyway, just to share... the immune system of pregnant women are lowered slightly in order to stop her body from rejecting the unborn baby. hence they are more venerable to colds, flu and other inflections. so be considerate to them okie?

i was once sick for 2 weeks with flu cus some woman sneeze at me from her seat opposite me.. was nodding my head on the train to work.. suddenly i was awake by a loud sneeze. it was the woman sitting opposite me and she have nodded back to sleep.

why was the sneeze so loud? maybe because the train was quite empty?

again, i heard a loud sneeze and looked up quickly to see if my guess is correct but i was too slow.. finally at the third time i caught her sneezing without covering her mouth and her saliva landed on my legs! YUCKS! YOU ARE SO DISGUSTING! i glared at her and she gave me the sheepish look and "fall back to sleep".. rest of the train ride i never took my eyes off her and she quickly hurried off the next stop... where did such people come from!?

*** 

minibean is approaching the 33weeks soon and that means 7weeks more till i can have her in my arms. =)

i am still scare but i think i have reached a point that i want to get over and be done with the birthing part. backaches, the dull ache at the top of the belly and braxton hicks are not getting any better. 

the stubborn backaches are here to stay 24/7... the dull ache appears whenever i lean forward, sleep on side and even when i am sitting straight up. cant remember the last time i had a good sleep. everyday i wake up to aching back and cramp legs. there was once the backache was so bad that i cant keep my back straight the whole day. there were also times that cramps were so painful i was stuck for like 10mins before i could get myself out of bed. not fun at all..but i have learnt the trick of recovering from cramps is to tilt my toes towards myself instead of away. the stiffness goes away faster. =)

braxton hicks are also pain in the ass. it just would not leave me alone! if i sit for too long, it appears. if i get up from my seat and start walking, it appears. if i walk too fast, it appears. if i insist to continue to walk, it starts to hurt. when i do nothing, it also appears.
-_-"

not sure if its the weight i gained or the weight of minibean that is making me feeling heavy and breathless easily.. nowadays chores like hanging the laundry and ironing just takes my breathe away... hang a few pieces or iron one piece of clothing i will also get out of breath and have to rest for like 5mins.. and when the hubs sometimes take the "outside" of the bed, i will get breathless rolling myself to the sides of the bed. have to probably sit there like a min before i could catch up with my breath.
-_-"

the pregnancy hormones are also getting quite out of hand.. getting irritated very easily and most of the time of nothing.. i know some people are just concern and i know i that i am now fat, nose has grown bigger, complexion is not that good nowadays with pimples popping out, water retention at my ankles, etc.. but is it possible for people not to come to me and point out the obvious without any real solutions or concern? er..  i dun mean that they should lie to me either.. just that changes in my body is not open to small talk.. thanks. tell me about your wonderful weekends, latest shopping hauls, etc. anything that could take my mind off the ugly side of pregnancy, i would be so glad to hear about them. =)

i really wonder how other mothers out there have more than one kid. i already cant manage this pregnancy, mentally & physically, without any little crazy monster running around. 

***

went to the doctor's last friday and horrors of horrors, minibean has "turned upwards"! she was already in the downwards position the last 2 times when we had our checks. the hubs says must be because i requested her to remove her feet from her face to take photo... =(

i am sorry minibean, you can put your feet at your face now if you like.. but please turn down soon okie?

anyway, dr says she has till 36 weeks to turn down if not he would have to schedule a c-section for me... =(

other than that, minibean is growing well. =) this time round i only gained a kg and she is now about 2.3kg, about 400g gain. =)

***

THIS IS NOT RANTING.. =)))

at chloe and chin's wedding last saturday. 

=)

***

i miss my heels and coffee very bad i want them back now!

er.. heels not so much already since i got to wear them for 4 hours for chin's wedding. =)

dont worry, most of the time i just sit on the chair and looked pretty.

but i need coffee please? getting very tired easily and i really need a good coffee to like "zapp" me awake.. lol  =(

***

new level of pregnancy brain attained. 

finally got my hands on a bowl of beef noodles i have been craving for badly..

#pregnancyfoodcravings

just too cute not to share!

baby indian palm squirrel asleep on the keyboard.

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2423317/Nodding-keyboard-This-tiny-palm-squirrel-fall-asleep-ANYWHERE-prefers-owners-shirt-pocket.html

shermaine and jolene's hello kitty birthday!

cake made by aunty ivy. =)

both the little girls are growing up so fast! 

excuse me sir... is that for me? 

lol...

went for a monthly routine check and someone is growing fast! =)
minibean was only 1.1kg the last time we visited dr lee but two week later (today), she is 1.9kg already! no wonder my back is aching so much...

anyway, i have also been "diagnosed" with braxton hicks... =(
did some further reading after the dr's on my best friend and it says that it usually "felt" at around 37 weeks... why my "comfy period" so short-lived one!! still at 30 weeks only lor... *sulky
maybe my body knows that i am going to sux at labour so need more practice.... fyi.. braxton hicks contractions is also known as practice contractions..

with my best friend, i feel so much smarter. =P

and hor.. minibean arh...
2 times in a row you have refused to let the doctor take a 3d photo of you.... 2 times in a row you put your feet right in front of your face.. -_-"
okie.. i get it.. you are flexible and may want to be a gymnast when you grow up..
so do you think the next time round you can let the doctor take a nice photo of you? then i will put it in your album for your okie? =)

this is a photo post of not-my-dog fluffy tan fifi. 

i have always wanted to do it but he is always so hyper and moving and so i never was able to capture nice photos of him to post. 

anyways, fluffy is getting old already =( and does not move that much or fast anymore and hence i was able to take photos of him but mostly of him sleeping..... Zzzzz....

looking just like a pup here. =)

see how fast he falls asleep? it only the third photo...

"what you doing human, i am trying to sleep here..."

patting him back to sleep.. 

his right hind leg was injured cus he kicked the bricks of the sidewalk while getting too excited during his daily walks. 

cctk says its getting better already but it still looked painful to me.. =(

sigh.. this dog, always so silly.. 

favourite photo of him taken by the dodo.. 

yah i know its behind my butt.... =P

what chu dreaming of? 

♥

dinner at namnam.

its LT's 30th birthday and we went to namnam for dinner.. strongly recommended by both the boys.. 

my bowl of sliced beef pho.. 

i really think that this is a decent pho that one can find in sg. 

though it does not comes with freeflow green leaves and tou-gae 

but the price in the city is hardly expensive at all. =)

happy birthday leelee! 

30 is a milestone and i remember telling the guys that we should do something more extravagant than the usual dinner and coffee - maybe a treat to a nice restaurant or something... but my pregnancy brain could only remember that its LT's birthday but forgot the numbers.. i am so sorry about about my p-brain. hope my brain is well at the next milestone and we will have something better =)

happy happy birthday to you!