Pregnancy 

This is an important decision for you and your family. Choose carefully as this is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to store your baby’s umbilical cord stem cells at birth. Consider these factors in making an informed decision. Family cord blood banks can differ in quality and services. #1 Trust and Reliability Your baby’s cord blood contains potentially life-saving stem cells. Look for a reliable family cord blood bank that can safeguard this precious resource for the long

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

Epidural analgesia is said to have many side effects, how true are they? (Source: Pregnancy Singapore) Epidural analgesia (EA) is reliable and effective way to relieve labour pain. Pain relief is achieved by the injection of local anesthetic drugs through a small tube into the epidural space of the lower back. This is performed by an anaesthetist. Although epidural reduces labour pain substantially, some pain may still be felt, especially when pushing of the baby. Myths vs Tr

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

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

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

For first-time mom, recognising contraction pains is challenging. On one hand, you desire to go hospital in time but certainly don't want to be embarrassed for false labour pains. False contractions (aka braxton hicks pains) Most women experience false Braxton Hicks contractions in the late trimester, typically after 36 week. These are rehearsal contractions of the womb for the D day. They feel real although they are not real labour pains. The difference is that they are irre

Every woman's account of labour is unique. You may truly recognise after your first experience! Like first love, labour is so magical that you may not know it when labour hits you. But after been through one, the bitter-sweet feeling will make labour most memorable. Many women remain puzzled about the elusive labour. Different women described labour with varying symptoms. Some said labour pain was similar to back pain, tummy pain, pelvic pressure, mucus plug, gush of watery f

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

Labour can be stressful for you and baby. During each contraction, your baby is tightly squeezed in your womb, which interrupts the blood flow. Foetal monitoring is important During labour, your midwife will be tracking your baby's heart rate to see on how is baby doing. This is called foetal monitoring. It's usually done with an electronic heart rate monitor. When you are in labour, your womb contracts to push your baby along the birth passage. The strong contractions may al

There are various labour positions that you can assume during early labour and a whole other set of good birthing positions when it’s time to push — and don't assume that you must be flat on your back. Birthing Positions Most women deliver in the traditional semi-recumbent position, which is most comfortable for the labouring mothers, especially if on epidural. This position also allows the obstetrician to assess the baby’s head position and perform assisted delivery if neces

The last few days of pregnancy are exciting time. But when your due date has passed, waiting for labour to start can be stressful too. Many parents-to-be become anxious. So, where's baby? Your OB-GYN gave you a due date ten months ago, but your little one is not on schedule. Your friends and family keep asking, "When's the big day?" Now that it's passed, you don't know what to do. #1 Why is my baby fashionably late? No one can tell why some babies delay entrance into the worl