Pregnancy 

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:

Morning sickness and tiredness can cause dental caries, so make sure that you visit your dentist. I cannot over-emphasize the importance of dental care to have healthy teeth and gums. Taking charge of your dental health for a healthy pregnancy. You should visit your dentist for a check-up, scaling and polishing of your teeth. Gum diseases are associated with miscarriage and preterm labour. #1 Are dental procedures safe in pregnancy? While check-ups and cleaning are safe durin

Is Natural Gender selection feasible? There is now a great deal of interest generated over this topic. Proponents of gender selection believe that it gives the couple a choice in choosing their child's gender. Opponents question the morality of such a practice. Gender selection is not allowed in Assisted Reproductive Techniques in many countries. Let's look at some natural techniques that have been suggested. However, it must be noted that these methods are not scientifically

Getting flu can be serious when you’re expecting as your immunity is at all-time low. Unfortunately, it’s harder for your immune system to fight off infections during pregnancy, which means you’re at risk of coming down with serious flu complication like pneumonia (chest infection) or encephalitis (brain infection). Flu is safe for baby but high fever isn't The influenza virus does not harm or cause birth defects of baby. However, high fever (> 39 degrees) is harmful during

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

Miscarriage isn’t something that many women want to discuss because the loss maybe too personal or that the topic is taboo. Grieving over a miscarriage It is perfectly normal to grieve over your pregnancy loss. Take your time and give yourself some space. You will definitely start to feel gradually better as time passes. Seek professional help if you find great difficulty in overcoming the grief or you are not able to cope with everyday life. Everyone who suffer loss of love

How to have a healthy weight gain during pregnancy? Read this. Eating healthy throughout pregnancy is the best thing you can do for your baby. Good nutrition optimizes the growth and development of your baby and safeguards your own health. During pregnancy, your energy requirement increases by only 300 kcal a day. On average, every woman needs 1700 kcal a day. So eating for two is a myth! Requirements for micro-nutrients (folate, calcium, vitamin D and B vitamins) are signifi

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

Consuming folic acid capsules is one of the important Do's. Read on to find out more. #1. Loud noises and horror movies in pregnancy Fear activates your nervous system to produce adrenaline hormones. Adrenaline will increase your heart rate and your breathing becomes more shallow and faster. Your blood pressure will pump up. Watching horror movies in pregnancy is more of a cultural taboo. There is no scientific proof to show its harmful effects on the baby. But fear would ev

Ultrasound scans use sound waves to build a picture of the baby in the womb. The scans are painless, have no known side effects on mothers or babies, and can be carried out safely at every stages in pregnancy. An ultrasound scan is an assessment tool commonly used by doctors during your pregnancy. It is a safe and quick way of obtaining images of your baby and knowing his/her health. Interesting Facts You can know baby's gender with a scan as early as 3-4 months. Baby's organ

Know your EDD — when is your baby due? The antenatal period is a wonderful time for you to enjoy and bond with baby. However, it is crucial that you remain healthy, both physically and emotionally. Antenatal care is part of this preparation and your first visit to your obstetrician after pregnancy is an important occasion. Calculate your EDD Your baby was conceived about 14 days after the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). Expected date of delivery (EDD) is at 40

Feeling a little queasy? Wondering why your breasts are so tender? What about those crazy mood swings? Could you be pregnant? You may suspect that you are pregnant when you have unusual pregnancy symptoms after missing your period. For a start, check out your suspicion by using an urine pregnancy test kit. There are many brands of pregnancy test kits available in the market, which are reliable. These are available at our local pharmacies or stores. Alternatively, you could g

If a couple cannot conceive after trying, they should do a check. Conception happens when a sperm swims up into the womb and fertilises an egg in the fallopian tube. This allows the fertilized embryo to implant itself onto the womb lining and grow. Any couple who cannot conceive after 12 months of actively trying should seek medical attention. It is preferable that both partners see the doctor together so that the appropriate investigation and counseling can take place. I wou

How do you prepare yourself for a healthy pregnancy? Pregnancy is an exciting & rewarding experience for any woman. Pre-pregnancy preparation is essential in the journey of pregnancy. Being well prepared optimises your chance of a smooth pregnancy and healthy baby. It prepares you both physically and emotionally. #1. What problems may older mothers have during pregnancy? Most pregnancies in older mothers have a good outcome. Traditionally, an older mother is defined as any ex

You just found out your baby’s in the breech position and you’re panicking. A breech pregnancy occurs when the baby is positioned head-up, so the feet are pointed toward the birth canal. In a most pregnancies, the baby will spontaneously turn head-down to get ready for birth, so a breech pregnancy presents some challenges. In most pregnancies, babies are born head first. This means that most would have turned to head down position by 37 weeks. In only 3-4%, the babies are bre

Losing your baby is a tragedy. Take your time to recover. Losing your baby at any stage is a traumatic event which will have an intense emotional impact on you and your partner's life. Early Pregnancy Loss About 20% is an unforeseen event in early pregnancy, and in the majority of women, the cause is not known. A miscarriage often brings about disappointment, depression and shock. This effect is more significant for sub-fertile couples. Other possible cause includes genetic

When affected by disease, our immune system innately heal. Stem cells, like soldiers in our immune system, help us heal quicker. Stem cell treatment is a novel and safe treatment of diseases such as blood cancers, autoimmune diseases and chronic joint pain. They regenerate damaged tissues in joints and also reduce inflammation to benefit autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and thyroiditis. Regenerative therapy refers to stem cell treatment to multiply new cells fo

You have heard of ‘bone marrow transplant’ or ‘stem cell transplant’ but not entirely sure what they mean. Fret not and let me explain. Cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. This collection occurs after delivery and confers no risk to the baby or mother. The blood stem cells (BSC) are useful to treat blood disorders and cancers. BSCs are also used for stem cell transplants. The patient who received BSCs will develop a new immune system. Previously, BSCs are harvested fro

A birth development may sometimes happen during first trimester. While growing in the womb, some babies may have developmental issues. This happens in 2-3% of babies. Some problems are mild such as cleft lip but serious issues like hole-in-heart may need surgical correction. Can birth defects be recognised? Many birth development problems can be diagnosed during pregnancy. We can use ultrasound scan to detect these issues. More in-depth tests, such as genetic test and amnioce