Pregnancy 

Know your ginseng Popular ginseng include American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and the more potent Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) for ‘weak constitution’(体虚) women. I will discuss on Asian ginseng which is a Qi-tonifying herb and promotes well-being. Studies suggested that ginseng also improves your immune system, enhance brain function and fight fatigue. TCM view of pregnancy During pregnancy, the mother’s blood is used in the form of Yin(阴) and Blood(血) to nourish the deve

Kidney stones are excruciating when you are pregnant. They are more difficult to be diagnosed and treated. During the third trimester, stones can cause preterm labour. What are kidney stones? Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits, which can occur in any part of the urinary tract, from kidneys to bladder. 4 reasons why kidney stones are more common in pregnancy #1 Excessive calcium intake: While pregnant women are encouraged to increase calcium intake, excessive calcium may

Confinement is enshrouded in Asian culture and many practices are deep-rooted. But are these confinement practices medically sound? Confinement is a special time for your body to recuperate from childbirth. Confinement is cultural to many Asians. But remember that these practices were relevant to those ancient days when mother and baby mortality rates were high. It was a time without proper sanitation or even antibiotics. Thus, it was a safe practice to confine both baby and

A well thought-out birth plan sets your expectation for your delivery but get mentally prepared for the unexpected. “A birth plan is a guide but anything can happen during the delivery.” A birth plan indicates your preference for the labour and delivery. While I often encourage a birth plan, do remember that labour can be unpredictable and there are times when your doctor may have to gently decline your request. Not everyone may want a written birth plan. What is most importa

Now is the time to gather all the essentials that you'll need for the delivery stay. So that you can stay calm when the day arrives. Many first-time parents ask: "What do I need to pack for my delivery?" Let me suggest a list. Do not be daunted by this long list — you do not need to bring all the things that I recommend. Pick what you and your partner need. Customise your own list to make yourself comfortable at the delivery suite. Here are some hot favourite items. For Mum:

Once a routine part of childbirth, an episiotomy is now recommended only in selected deliveries. When you ​​are at full dilatation (10 cm), you are ready to push and deliver your baby. You may wonder — will the doctor make the ‘cut’ at vagina? #1 What is an episiotomy? An episiotomy is also known as the ‘cut’. An episiotomy is a clean cut with scissors under local anaesthetic (so that it is painless!) by the doctor or midwife when the baby’s head is about to deliver known as

During labour, your doctor may decide for C-section right away. This can be a sudden decision if you or baby's health takes a turn for the worse and it’s too risky to continue labour. Remember that keeping you and baby safe is the priority! A Cesarean section, also called a C-section or LSCS (lower segment cesarean section), is an operation to deliver the baby through the tummy when it is not advisable to deliver the baby naturally. A C-section can be planned (elective) or em

Women who had a previous C-section may be still be suitable for VBAC. Consult your doctor. What is VBAC? VBAC is an acronym for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean section. #1 What is my chance of VBAC? The chance of a successful VBAC resulting in a natural delivery is 50-60%. This may be higher if you previously had natural deliveries. #2 Why should I consider VBAC? As natural delivery is still feasible in properly selected cases, you can avoid a repeat C-section and the surgical

Is induction of labour natural? Do I need one? You have heard this term many times, but what does it mean? Induction of labour (IOL) is any medical intervention that stimulates the onset of labour contractions. We still hope for a natural delivery. Do I need an IOL? Yes, if you have hypertension, small baby or diabetes. This may necessitate an early delivery before due date. Only when there is no immediate danger to you or baby, IOL is safe.​ What are my risks of IOL? Hyper-s

Imagine you are in labour and you’ve been pushing for hours. The doctor brings up the idea of using forceps or a vacuum to deliver your baby. What should you expect? #1 What is an instrumental delivery? Instrumental delivery refers to Vacuum or Forceps assisted delivery of your baby. Instrumental delivery is an aid to facilitate natural birth. Your doctor will decide which instrument is more suitable for the delivery. #2 Forceps Delivery Your doctor will gently apply 2 forcep

Did you imagine horror music and picture metal instruments attached to your baby’s head? If so, take a deep breath. It’s not that scary. Ideally, during natural childbirth, your little one comes into the world with some pushing only. But sometimes babies don’t arrive according to plan and need some assistance before they are welcomed into your arms. When this is the case, your doctor may use either forceps or a vacuum to expedite the delivery. This is known as assisted or ins

Every woman experiences and tolerates pain differently. Sometimes, focussed breathing is all that's needed to get through labour, while others may need pain relief. They don't call it labour for nothing. Having a baby is hard work, and part of that work is getting through the delivery process. But don't worry. There are many ways to manage the pain, and you can choose more than one. Childbirth is absolutely not a test of endurance. There are many effective ways to manage labo

No joke when your friends warn that life is just going to turn upside down with a new baby. Your partner's role as a new father cannot be understated. He will offer the emotional and physical support as you need. And he will be popping champagne, thinking of becoming a father. Reassure you about your pregnancy Just as you are coping with the physical demands, your partner will be reading this blog and telling you all that you need. This is how he should feel involved in the p

Are you brave to cut the umbilical cord? You will be asked to do the honour at the delivery. Cutting the cord by daddy is a modern trend. This sacred task makes them feel involved in the delivery process. It is also his first responsibility as a new father. Many fathers love the honour of cutting the umbilical cord for their beloved babies and I strongly encourage this sacred act. Armed with digital cameras, fathers are the proud photographer of the most precious moments of t

Sometimes, the amniotic sac can burst suddenly when you least expect. Read on so that you can be prepared when it happens. It may sound silly but this is a possible scene. One day, you suddenly find some clear liquid leaking from your bottoms and initially, you may think that you have wet yourself. The truth is that the amniotic sac (water-bag) has just ruptured and you are leaking amniotic fluid. This is a real emergency. Get ready your maternity bag and zoom to the hospital

You’ve read about making nutritious baby food from scratch but juggling a full-time job and the new addition, with no helper, put paid to your plans. Baby plans may veer off-track and hit the speed bump Mums try to figure out what’s wrong and often, unfairly, we point the finger at ourselves. We always ask: If other mums cope so well, why can’t I? To make matters worse, mums are led to believe that the fallback option of infant formula, bottled jar food, and anything remotely

You've heard about the miracles of TCM during this period. How does it work? Confinement is a critical time for new mothers to adapt and recuperate their health. As this may be a totally new experience for some mothers, breastfeeding and looking after a newborn are exhausting. Thus, many new mothers may find little time to look after themselves and hence conditions such as insomnia, fatigue or depression may be easily triggered. In TCM, the confinement period is crucial for t

How to resume your intimacy after delivery and what are your contraception options? Making sacrifices is part of motherhood. But you need not give up your intimacy with your partner. Juggling with caring for a newborn​ as well as spending time to become an intimate couple can be challenging. But it is important to continue to focus on me time and your partner’s needs. Strong relationships are based on trust and understanding. Being open and honest is crucial. If you are too c

Most women are still confused about the stages of labour even though they had previous deliveries. Let's demystify the labour process. Labour is traditionally compartmentalised into 3 stages Stage #1 has a latent phase (dilatation of cervix to 3 cm)  and an active phase (continued dilatation of cervix to full dilation at 10 cm) Stage #2 — delivery of the baby Stage #3 — delivery of the placenta​ Stages of labour​ varies for different women. The active phase of labour can be a

Do you know the early symptoms of pregnancy? From nausea to fatigue, know what to expect. There are many common symptoms in pregnancy. You may or may not experience every one of them. These are associated with the hormonal and physical change of pregnancy. It is important that you are aware of these symptoms so that you will not worry unnecessarily. #1 Nose bleeds in pregnancy Nose bleeds tend to occur more often due to the increased blood supply to the mucosa of the nose. Th