mellomouse* » Parentcraft

Asian Parenting Today.

mellomouse — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:06:15 +0000

This book was 1st introduced to me by the writer herself, Jennifer during my confinement. I called her for a postnatal home visit — RM150 for 1.5hrs — to help me with my breastfeeding dilemma, and she was an enlightenment. Natey has been fully breastfed ever since!

Sadly, I didn’t really pay attention when she mentioned her book. Else I would have gotten this sooner and save another RM150 for Natey’s sleeping dilemma 2mths later. Not forgetting the headaches of disagreements on what should and shouldn’t be done.

Asian Parenting Today
Jennifer Hor, Ho Ai Ling & Jocelyn Oo

My verdict:

A definite gem for every 1st time Mommies & Daddies!

This book is so relevant — for Asian, especially Malaysians — and easy to read. The best time to begin would be weeks before delivery. Then everything would stay fresh in mind. Otherwise, a handy bedside bible!

What I like about this book is the FAQ right after each tiny topic. Some questions might seem ridiculous but they were some of our doubts exactly. And I bet, it could be yours too

I highly recommend buying this book — whether as a gift, or for yourself — as it would certainly be cheaper (RM39.90) than calling Jennifer for SOS when you can get everything in these pages!

Btw, if we knew about Jenlia Maternal Services during my pregnancy, we wouldn’t have signed up for Gleneagles’ Parentcraft and somehow feel cheated of our RM180 for 3 lousy sessions. Instead pay RM310 for 4 sessions at Jenlia, with Jennifer being one for the speakers.

Since I can’t turn back time, but you are on the crossroad of deciding for yours, why not check them out

You Might Also Be Interested:
Little Bean Sterilizer.
Parentcraft – 2 of 3.
Parentcraft – 3 of 3.
Postnatal 06: Nursing Bra, pt 1.
Gifts From Heaven, pt 3 – GHG2 vs GHG3.

Parentcraft – 3 of 3.

mellomouse — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:29:41 +0000

We had our 3rd and final Parentcraft session last Saturday. It started right on the dot at 2pm even though only half of the couples were present. By 2.30pm — 15 minutes before the 1st part was finished — all the late couples finally filled the room *Malaysia Boleh!*

#1 — Common Problems in Infants (45 minutes)
by Dato Dr Iean Hamzah, Pediatrician

He spoke really quick, but was quite thorough. Somehow I don’t feel that he is a very people person by the way he presented — lacking warmth.

I wonder how he is like with children…

#2 — A video on Epidural (20 minutes)
The video looked like it was filmed back in the 1980s — judging by the video quality, hairstyles and what the people wore *LOL*

Hasn’t medical technology improved since then for a newer video?

#3 — Bathing Baby (10 minutes)
Ms Yap, the Labour Room Manager gave a quick demonstration on how to bath a newborn. It looked easy bathing a Doll, but a newborn baby is so fragile.

Would I dare? I’ll most likely let MIL bath LBJ the 1st week or two

#4 — Tour of the Nursery & Labour Room (15 minutes)
The nursery is very big, but unfortunately we only got to see 3 babies — 1 was under the ultraviolet light (bililight) — because the rest was all away being breast fed at that time.

The Labour Suites are comfortably spacious with a long sofa for the husband, an attached bathroom and all required medical equipment inside. We won’t need to leave the room unless an emergency C-Sec is required.

I was happy to learn from Ms Yap, that they do accommodate delivery on all fours! But it still depends on the ObGyn. So hopefully Dr Tan would be ok with it — shall find out tomorrow! *fingers crossed*

#5 — Pain Management (40 minutes)
by Dr Chua Kok Seng, Anesthetist

Dr Chua was very detailed and a friendly man. But I’m still not convinced about using an Epidural despite him assuring that there are no long term side effects.

The husband said I am stubborn. But honestly, I want to be able to do this sans pain killers. Millions of women had done it, why can’t I? *pray for strength*

Btw, if you’re wondering how much it cost? It is RM800 on top of your normal delivery charges.

So there you go. All 3 parts — 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 — of Parentcraft at Gleneagles Intan Medial Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

I’ve given my 2 cents, purely on my own experience. Now it’s up to you to decide if you’d want to sign up too

You Might Also Be Interested:
Parentcraft – 2 of 3.
Parentcraft – 1 of 3.
Cloth Diapers, pt 3 – Finally!
Little Bean Sterilizer.
Cloth Diapers, pt 6 – Journey thus Far, Recap.

Parentcraft – 2 of 3.

mellomouse — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:29:59 +0000

Yesterday’s session took place at the Physiotherapy Department, on the 4th floor of Gleneagles Main Block. This time the session was much more inducive because it involved theory and practical hands on.

The different environment could have possibly played a big part too. The place was spaciously wide and we were divided into 2 groups due to the big crowd. We were then seated on exercise mats instead of a rigid chair that gave me backache last week and the husbands could use the provided pillows on us as backrest

During the “full” 2 hour session, 2 Physiotherapists took turns to speak to us about Pre & Postnatal Exercises and Breathing Techniques. Here were the topics covered by each.

Physiotherapist 1: Ms Siti

#1 — Posture Care (10 minutes)

#2 — Basic Back Exercises: Pelvic Titling (5 minutes)

#3 — Basic Abdominal Exercise (10 minutes)
i) Static Abdominal, ii) Isotonic Abdominal and iii) Semi Sit-up

#4 — Stretching Exercise (5 minutes)
i) Calf Stretch and ii) Adductor Stretch

Physiotherapist 2: Ms Lim

#5 — Circulatory Exercise: Ankle Pedaling (2 minutes)

#6 — Pelvic Floor Muscle & Care (20 minutes)
Kegel Exercises

#7 — Breathing Techniques for Labour (50 minutes)
Chest Breathing: Lamaze

The topics that I found most beneficial would definitely be the Lamaze and Kegel Exercises. Ms Lim presented it very well and explained thoroughly. She shared that in overseas, #6 itself is divided into 3 separate sessions. She then added: “Unfortunately we don’t have the time to cover all.” I wonder why since we are paying?!?

I will be diligently practicing my breathing and pelvic floor exercises these coming weeks. Lamaze has been proven to help distract the mind and successfully reduces 20-30% of labour pain. That’s a whole lot of reduced pain on just breathing alone!

As for the Kegel, all women should do it. Not just the expecting and expected, but ALL. Including the men! It is a simple exercise of learning to hold your pee when you’re not peeing. But you have to do it at least 200x a day! And the result is saving us the humiliation of incontinence when in our golden years

You Might Also Be Interested:
Parentcraft – 3 of 3.
Parentcraft – 1 of 3.
Cloth Diapers, pt 3 – Finally!
Little Bean Sterilizer.
Cloth Diapers, pt 6 – Journey thus Far, Recap.

Parentcraft – 1 of 3.

mellomouse — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:23:36 +0000

Besides having a gastronomical fulfillment yesterday morning, we attended the 1st session of Parentcraft at Gleneagles in the afternoon. I don’t want to be too quick to judge, but that session was a big disappointment.

The session was divided into 4 parts, with a 20 minute tea break in between. Don’t be surprised when you’re made to wait — Malaysia Boleh! — it started 15 minutes late and finished 10 minutes early. So in total adds up the 2 hours *wth*

Topics Covered

#1 – Optimum Nutrition in Pregnancy & Lactation (30 mins)
Our primary school’s Science Textbook have more facts than what the Dietitian presented! *shakes head with utter disappointment*

#2 – Labour & Delivery Process (40 mins)
Jargons, jargons and jargons. Why didn’t I raise my hand? I rather Google it myself *sigh*

#3 – Breastfeeding (0 mins)
We need to make separate appointment for this. The Lactation Consultant will check our breasts and show us how to breastfeed.

#4 – Cord Blood Banking (4 mins)
Why was she here? The girl is clearly inexperience and bullet trained her way by skipping slides *dizzy*

Why are we paying RM180 to be recited to? The class was said to be 2.5hours on the leaflet, but then short changed to 2 hours on our programme sheet. The materials presented was so pathetically watered down, I can find more information by a single Google.

All the speakers did a very poor presentation. With their experience and expertise, we would expect to hear at least some case studies with real life examples. Besides reading directly from their slides, that was it. There were no further explanations or quote of examples.

I hope in our next session, covering fully on Pre & Postnatal Exercises and Breathing Exercises, the speaker would not further disappoint

You Might Also Be Interested:
Parentcraft – 2 of 3.
Parentcraft – 3 of 3.
Cloth Diapers, pt 5 – Snap Buttons!
Little Bean Sterilizer.
Gifts From Heaven, pt 1 – GHG2.

Pregnancy Updates 29: Little Benjac is 1.6kg!

mellomouse — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:05:26 +0000

If we were to draw a 3D graphic of LBJ now, he’ll probably look like this baby — head down, facing right with a thumb in his mouth ♥

30 Weeks 6 Days
LBJ in his Glorious Nakedness

Earlier we didn’t get an ultrasound print from Dr Tan, because LBJ has gotten too big for the screen. Everything is looking good, and we should be welcoming this little bundle of joy via normal delivery on March 4th, 2010 *fingers crossed*

My weight is also increasing steadily too — 1.6kg in 3 weeks, previously 5kg in 4 weeks! — now that I am no longer drinking half a liter of milk everyday.

“Milk is a very fattening source for Calcium,” warned Dr Tan. Although that was not the reason why I took it, so he advised me to take hardboiled eggs instead. And it has worked minus the kilos! *hooray*

Our Antenatal Class — called Parentcraft — begins this Saturday at Gleneagles, for 3 consecutive Saturdays from 2.00pm to 4.30pm. I’ll share on the table of contents later on after each class. I look forward to learn more about the delivery process, life after and breastfeeding

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Pregnancy Updates 33: Little Benjac is 2.1kg!
Pregnancy Updates 37: Little Benjac is 2.4kg!
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Pregnancy Updates 20: Little Benjac is 642g!
Pregnancy Updates 24: Little Benjac is 1.07kg!