The Chill Mom | Singapore Mum Blog

I miss my confinement lady (pui yuet). She arrived at our doorstep even before we got home from the hospital. She was right there, swept into action as soon as baby Lauren entered our home for the first time. She set up the baby nap area, reorganized my kitchen and made lunch for me. She also helped with midnight feedings, showed me how to bath a baby, made tonics and herbal drinks for my postnatal recovery.

I had initially rejected the idea of hiring a confinement lady. I’ve always been very independent and I wasn’t really sold on the idea of confining myself at home for a whole month. I just didn't want someone who would nag me to practise old-fashion confinement rules of no bath/shower, no hair wash and no fan/air-con for an entire month! Having a newborn is already life changing enough, would I want a stranger living with me for a whole month too? But my dad insisted I hire someone and even offered to pay her salary for me.

Here are the reasons why I'm glad I hired a confinement lady when my baby was born:

1. Sleep
You've just gave birth and lost lots of blood in the process. In order for your body to heal and produce milk (if you are breastfeeding), you will need lots of rest, and of course sleep. Sure I was waking up by 6am every morning to pump my milk, but at least I didn't have to be awake every 1.5 hours to nurse my newborn. The confinement lady did all my night feedings.

2. Cook

Don’t kid yourself. You think you can look after a newborn and still have time to prepare nutritional home cooked meal for yourself? Well, I thought so. I clearly didn’t know that life with a newborn could be so overwhelming and time consuming. You will spend most day breastfeeding or pumping. Yup, you will feel like a cow, just chill and remember: This too will pass.

3. No mom or mom-in-law

I love my mom-in-law to bits and she is quite modern too but I’ll still take hired help anytime. Just so I can still be in-charge. Most mothers or mother-in-laws mean well when they offer to look after you during your confinement period. But let’s face it, once they are in your house, you play by their rules. Because they are the elderly and supposed to know better. Mostly because you feel indebted to them because they are there for you. Also, your hormone will be all over the place, you’d feel all emotional at the slightest thing they say.

4. Housework

No house chores for a whole month. Whether your va-jay-jay is still hurting too much from birth or not, help with housework is always welcomed anytime.

5. You can ignore her

You still play by your own rules. There are some pretty ridiculous confinement rules that is still being implemented these days, like only drink warm water/beverage, no handwashing with tap water, no fan/air-con. With hired help, you are free to choose whether to follow these rules or break them. I’m the worst, I broke every single rule.

6. She has way more experience handling newborn

Whether this will be your first, second or third child, she would still have more experience than you, Pick her brain. Learn the basics of baby-care from her. You could even learn a thing or two on how to handle your older kid. You’d never know until you ask.

7. Someone to talk to

It gets quite lonely in the first month after giving birth. Unless you have a big family and they drop by al the time. For someone like me whose both sets of parents and in-laws are overseas, she was like a de-facto mom to me.

In my opinion, the pros of hiring a confinement lady outweighs my initial worry and reservation. I'm glad I hired one when I had Lauren. Now that baby number 2 is arriving soon, it is a no-brainer for me; just too bad the same confinement lady won't be available then. I really miss her cooking too.

How was your first month with a newborn? Did you get any help?

*Guest post*

Areyouconfused on what to preparefor your kid's breakfast? Yes, this can be a daunting task since childrenare choosy eaters. Preparingyour child's breakfast is not justpicking on easy foodstuff, as most moms usuallysettlefor thehighlyprocessedcereals which are not thatnutritious andsometimes can be soboring. Youneed to ensureyour youngonesgetthenecessarynutrients from thevariousgroups of
food. Makeit a pointthatthe three foodgroups are part of your toddlers'breakfast. Preparemealsthat your kidswill love to eat. Includerecipes that will setthechildrenrushing to the dining table.

Teaching your kids to consume nutritious foods at an earlyage will encouragethem to adopthealthyeatinghabits throughout their life. Therefore, hereare 3 healthybreakfastideasthat your kidswill love. The three ideasmakebreakfastplanning an easierjobenablingyouto prepare a healthybreakfast within theshortesttimepossible.

Overnight Oats

Themostamazingaspect of thisrecipe is thatyoucan come up with severalcombinationsandprepareenoughfood to lastformorethan 3 days. OvernightBanana-Blueberry Oats will provide your kids with therelevantnutrients.

Ingredients:

· A banana, pounded.
· A cup of mashed up blueberries
· A cup of non-mashed blueberries
· A cup of unsweetened almond milk
· 1 cup of ancient oats
· Scoop of vanilla whey
· Teaspoon of vanillaextract
· 1 to 2 tablespoons of natural sugar

Direction

· Mix the banana andblueberry in a bowlthenmash them up.

· Add all theremainingingredientsthenstirthem up thoroughly.

· Put the oats in a vesselovernightandblotall theliquids.

· Serve cold in themorningor warm in microwave forabout 30 to 60 seconds.

Egg Puffies

Thismeal is goodforthewholefamily since all will takeit. You can makeitmoredelicious by complementing it with meatandvegetables. Youare advised to prepareit in bulksoas to leavesomeforanotherdayordays.

Ingredients

· A cup diced onions
· 1 cup of fresh spinach
· 9 eggs
· A cup of diced mushrooms
· A cup of diced red bellpepper
· 4 strips of diced bacon

Directions

· Warm up oven to 350 Celcius

· Glaze muffin tins with coconut oiloroliveoil

· Blend theeggs in a dish

· Add the spinach, red bellpepper, bacon, mushroomsand onions into thedishandblend.

· Pour theblend into muffin tins

· Heat in oven about 10 to 15 minutes

· Serve themeal to your kids.

Berry Smoothies

Thismeal has severalhealthadvantagesforyour kids. It is rich in calcium, fiberand vitamins. Themealalsoboosts their digestionandrich in antioxidants.

Ingredients

· 1 cup of Plain Greek yoghurt with a pinch of vanillaextract.
· 6 strawberries
· 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
· 2 smallamount of raspberries
· Small quantity of red grapes
· 2 to 4 smallamount of ice

Directions

Mix all theingredients at onceandlet your kidsenjoythesumptuousshake.

Since breakfast is themostsignificantmealof theday, youneed to choosewisely on what your childreneat. Thiswill boost their activeness thewholeday which is beneficial to their overall development.

****

Guest blogger's bio:

Amelia Verona lives in Cambridge, UK, is an avid reader and blogger. Her areas of interest are Food, Blogging, Reviews (Book/Movie), Travel, Fashion, Lifestyle and Fitness. Currently she is creating awareness on e111 which aims to provide quality medical care for the residence of Europe.

****

*Media Invite

I admit I don't feel confident (look-wise) during my pregnancy. I used to know what type of clothing looks good on me but once I got pregnant, I had no idea. Maternity clothes in general looks frumpy and old-fashioned to me, so I kept on wearing non-maternity clothes that are slightly bigger which could accommodate my growing waistline. Let's just say sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

So when an invitation arrived for a beauty and fashion workshop called Dream Mama, organized by Dream Factory by Ines Ligron, I jumped at the opportunity to learn from the best. Google Ines Ligron and you'd know what I mean. Besides her impressive resume, Ines is also mom to 3 boys!

Dream Mama is all about embracing motherhood - while looking and feeling our best. The monthly workshop focuses on styling to keep moms looking fashionable and sophisticated - even throughout pregnancy.

Ines showing us a versatile top that can be dressed up or down easily with a pair of jeans.

And here are some transformation photos. It is all about picking the right pieces for our body type, and don't be afraid to try something out of your ordinary style.

A fellow mommy that took part in the workshop. She looks great after some simple styling by Ines.

Yoshida is 3 months pregnant. How chic does she look?

I normally wouldn't pick this top but I'm surprised to find that it looks pretty good! (If I was to say so myself :) It is also heaps comfy.

After the styling session, there was a health and nutrition sharing session where we talked about everything from supplements, immunization, detox trips, to how to feed vegetables to your kids.

Ines' assistant, Miss Japan Universe 2008 Hiroko Mima gave us some nutritional pointers too.

Some of the health products discussed during the workshop.

Dream Factory stocks clothing carefully curated all around the world by Ines Ligron, a make-up studio for makeovers, and a runway where you will learn to strut your style and walk with confidence.

With the gorgeous team at Dream Factory. From left: Miss Singapore Universe 2011, Valerie Lim, me, celebrity stylist and beauty guru Ines Ligron and Miss Japan Universe 2008 Hiroko Mami.

Dream Factory by Ines Ligron

76A Peck Seah St, The Pink Door,

Singapore 079331

(Tanjong Pagar MRT - Exit A)

w: http://www.dreamfactory.sg

e: info@dreamfactory.sg

p: (+65) 6221 0774

*Sponsored post

I've recently discovered that not only you can shop for clothes at Zalora, you can now purchase beauty products there too. I must confess that I'm absolutely a fan of online shopping. It is convenient (I can browse in my pajamas with a bar of chocolate next to my laptop on the couch), and I can do it anytime of the day (mostly late at night after Lauren has gone to bed).

Here are some beauty picks from Sephora online only at ZALORA that I'm currently lusting after:

The name of this moisturizer says it all. I can hear my dry skin crying out for it // SGD39 for 50ml

I love how this lip balm boost your lip's own natural colour while keeping it moisturized. Great for 'natural' look days // Colour Reveal Lip Balm SGD26

Nice healthy blush for someone with a tan complexion like me. I could also use the colours individually as eye shadows // Blush Me Trio Apricot SGD26

I don't usually do my nails. When I do, I go all out and go for the boldest colour // Nail Designer Effect 3D Blue Glitter // SGD16

Next time you see me on the street rocking this nail colour and made up to the nines, you would know where I get my stuff from :)

Which websites do you shop at? Do share!

I dedicate this week's Wordless Wednesday post to my wonderful husband, Nick who is a great dad to our daughter, Lauren.

The staring game

Multi-tasking

Weeee!

Lauren's first birthday party

Copy-cat

Matchy match

Proud daddy

Daddy is number 1!

Happy Father's Day, dearie.

PS: Conversation with Nick one night led to this post.

Pregnant friends have been asking me if they can eat such and such food when we dined together. Sometimes it is not just because a particular food is best avoided because they may contain something that may harm the baby (e.g. avoid mackerel for the high level of mercury, thus avoid assam laksa), it is the risk of food poisoning that you should be aware of.

Food poisoning would cause dehydration, which then can cause uterus muscle to contract, possibly causing premature labour. So get in touch with your doctor if you suspect you have food poisoning.

Here are some simple tips to lessen your chances of food related illness during pregnancy:

Avoid unpasturized foods and drinks. This means green juice too and scrumptious apple cider fresh from the farm! If you really want fresh juices then clean them and juice them yourself and consume right away.

Make sure your food is cooked thoroughly, especially meats. Sorry beef/lamb eater, only well-done can do for now. Avoid hot dogs and deli meats. When it comes to meats it is simply best to make sure we are cooking ourselves.

Chicken is a high risk meat. Avoid pre-roasted chicken on supermarket shelves. Harmful germs on chicken can multiply extremely rapidly at room temperature.

Do not eat anything that seems to have a funny odor to you. This may seem obvious but it’s surprising how many of us don’t trust our instincts, especially when we’re at a reputable restaurant. Remember, you can get food poisoning from Les Amis as well as the hawker stall around the corner.

Avoid all buffets and prepared food that has been sitting out for long periods of time. You know, the ones with heat lamps and limp pieces of lettuce. That’s right, say au revoir to the buffet, even the one at Shangri-la!

When it comes to prepared foods in general, you just don’t know what you’re really getting, who made it or if it was cooked and stored properly. When eating out, stick to simple, fresh ingredients that have not been left to sit for long periods of time.

PS: What should you eat during pregnancy?

*Review post*

If you've been following my blog, you probably know by now how much I love online shopping. Just the other day, I started training my 19 months old toddler to brush her teeth. Although Lauren usually copies everything I do, she didn't spit the tooth paste afterwards! I can only hope there isn't too much damage done by ingesting some fluoride in the kid's toothpaste she swallowed. *cringe*

Immediately afterwards, I logged on to Agape Babies to shop for a tube of fluoride-free tooth paste. Agape Babies is an online store which retails premium baby products such as skincare, organic food, books, toys and essential gear for mothers and babies. Their products have been carefully evaluated for safety before they are put on sale on the website. No more worries if Lauren continues to swallow tooth paste!

So while I was there, I also grabbed a Kumon colouring book and Bambino training pants for Lauren (she is due for potting training soon), and Bellamy's Organic Infant Milk for baby 'numero dos'.

The products arrived the VERY NEXT DAY! I'm very impressed by the efficiency. It could have taken me longer to actually drag my 'very pregnant' self to a physical store to get the items I needed. Even in a department store, I would have to go to different departments to get a book, training pants and fluoride-free toothpaste, if you know what I mean. I couldn't be happier with my purchase and the ease of shopping at Agape Babies.

I think Lauren is happy with the purchase too!

I'm off to attempt brushing Lauren's teeth now!

Bonus for all readers: Agape Babies is offering The Chill Mom's readers 5% off all items* with '5%offchillmomblog' for the next 10 days.

*Valid from 17/6/2014-27/6/2014
Not including breast pumps

This is a letter I wrote to Lauren when I was pregnant with her. I knew life would be very different when she arrives and wanted to jot down how I had felt then. She came into my life 2 days after the letter was written.

"Dear baby,

Your very first birthday is coming up very soon. You have been growing inside me for 40 weeks by this Saturday. And if you still haven't make an appearance by then, mommy and daddy will have to choose a date as your birthday.

I still remember very clearly the day I found out you are living inside my belly. It was my own birthday but I had been cranky and moody all day. I had planned to have dinner with a few close friends and then spend a quiet night at home daddy. However, at the very last minute, one of my employee couldn't make it to work and I had to spend the whole day at The Soupery.

After a long day on my feet and a minor tiff with your uncle Bryan, I got home and got in the shower. Just prior to that, I took out the pregnancy kit and peed on it, expected it to turn out negative. We've been trying for a few months, and I've disappointed to see only one line appearing at every test. Right after the shower, in between slapping on creams on my face, I glanced at the pregnancy kit, and saw one very prominent line (it is the control line which mean the kit is working). Which is normal. However, this time something was different, there was another very faint line next to it. It is marked 'T' which means the test line. I wasn't sure what it meant, so I dug out the box from the bin to read the instructions. "If a second line appears, even if it is very faint, you are very likely to be pregnant", it said. I was in shock. Oh. My. God. After months of trying, daddy and mommy finally made you!!

I quickly put on some clothes, raced out to the living room where daddy was watching TV, and showed him the kit. All I could say was, "Oh sh*t." I was both excited and petrified! Although I had wanted a baby since we got married 2 years prior, the reality that a baby is on the way was overwhelming. I had no experience with baby and I will have to be responsible for another person other than myself!

Your dad stared at the pregnancy kit for second before shifted his gaze on me. He was smiling. He was perhaps as shocked as I was but he didn't show it. As we hugged and kissed, we knew our lives would never be the same again. We then had a little celebration with the surprise cake daddy got for my birthday. I wouldn't have wished for a better birthday present.

Love,
Mommy"

PS: Lauren's cheek and her first walk.

As a mom, we want the best for our children. But with so many brands of diapers, toiletries and services catered for children these days, how do we choose?

Enter Vaby, a brand new membership-only site that offers baby, toddler and mommy products at bargain prices. Sign up for Vaby Box and receive 5 to 8 premium mommy and kids product samples delivered to your doorstep monthly. Each box is customized to you and your child's profile. It is such a great way to discover and try new products without committing to buying the full sized product. If you do find the samples satisfactory, full sized versions can be purchased at Vaby shop too. How convenient!

As a member, you will also have access to flash sales that offers up to 80% discounts. Who doesn't like a bargain?

You are invited!

Sign up now, and get an invitation to Vaby's Official Launch Party on Saturday, 28 June 2014 at The Playhouse, Rochester Park. You will also receive your first limited edition Vaby Box for FREE (by liking Vaby's Facebook page), win lucky draws, enjoy light bites while your little one gets busy at the gated play area at the venue.

I'll be there too. See you!

PS: I'll leave you with a video of Lauren having a great time at The Playhouse, the last time we were there!

Help! Our second baby is due in a month. Nick and I are still undecided.

Apparently we are not the only parents who find naming their offspring tricky. There are meaning to the name to consider, if it has been taken by someone else we know, and if it is too popular at the moment.

When we had our first, we were tossing up between Lauren and Georgia. So when we found out we are having another girl this time, Georgia is back on the list. Somehow, I not so fond of it anymore. I've added Cordelia, Lara, Arianna and Willow too. Nick strikes off Cordelia (too 18th century for him) and Willow (his excuse is we might want to name our future boy Will or something as absurd, I can't really remember. My pregnancy brain is failing me again).

To be fair, he has some other names which I objected. Simone (I have a weird friend named Simone, so my impression of the name is tainted. Apologies to all Simones out there!), Shannon, Giselle and Chloe. They are nice names but I'm just not in love with them. You know what I mean?

So here are final three names we're still debating. Which one do you like?

Lara: Short and simple. Most people associate it to Lara Croft, who is a strong and passionate character in a movie. I don't mind the association. Some of my relatives doesn't speak English very well, it could be mispronounced as 'La la', which is clams in Cantonese.

Georgia: It is a classic name and we still like it. There aren't many Asian girls by the name of Georgia.

Arianna: Most Ariannas I know are beautiful. However, it has 4 syllables and may be a tad too long too call out on a daily basis? It might be shorten to Ari or Anna, which is quite common. I also like the name Aria.

Are we being picky? Do you care if a name is too popular? Or it has already been taken by someone you know? We'd love to hear any advice.

PS: I still need to pack my hospital bag and shop for the newborn.

I have succumbed to hiring a full time helper at home. I've been training her for 2 weeks now, often explaining and showing her how to clean the house the eco-friendly way by using less chemicals / products that could potentially be toxic to young children. Since I'm going through what we use to maintain a clean and green household, I thought I would share it here too.

White distilled vinegar:

Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.

Clean kitchen counter tops, shelves and walls of refrigerator and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar. Keeps ants away too.

Kill germs all around the bathroom with a spray of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Mix a cup of white vinegar with half a bucket of water to mop the floor. It removes grease, disinfect and shines your non-waxed floor. It is also fast-drying.

Remove ugly film in narrow-necked glass jars, flower vases, and bottles by letting undiluted white distilled vinegar sit in them for a few hours. Add a little rice or sand and shake vigorously to loosen stubborn stains.

Shine metal eating utensils by soaking them for a couple of hours or overnight in a glass or bowl of undiluted white distilled vinegar.

To rid grease off exhaust fan grids, soak them in a mixture of half hot water, half vinegar with a little washing liquid before scrubbing.

Deodorize the toilet bowl by allowing 3 cups white distilled vinegar to sit in it for about a half hour before flushing.

Bicarb soda /Baking soda:

Stop buying Cif. Make your own scouring cleanser by combining ¼ cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.

Get rid of sour milk smell in baby milk bottles by adding a teaspoon of bicarb soda and water after washing.

Fill some containers with baking soda and place inside to absorb stale smell in the fridge.

Remove stains from coffee and teacups by scrubbing them gently with equal parts of bicarb soda and white distilled vinegar. Rinse clean.

Lemon:

Get rid of lime deposits in a tea kettle by boiling water with a few pieces of quartered lime/lemon in the kettle. Drain the water and lemon before your next use.

Diluted lemon juice not only cleans stains from cutting boards, but helps kill germs as well. Rub the juice full strength onto the stain and let sit until the stain fades. Can be left overnight, then rinsed well and dried.

Soak plastic food storage containers in dilute lemon juice to remove stains and odors. Add baking soda and scrub, rinse and dry.

Remove grease stains from clothing. Rub lemon juice into the spot and let sit overnight and then wash as normal.

Unclog your drain with a mixture of baking soda followed by lemon juice. The foaming action will clear minor clogs.

Eco-friendly cleaning products, like Ecover ZERO:
(The good folks at Ecover kindly sent some products to review for the purpose of this eco-friendly post)

No more sour milk / strong detergent smell in my baby milk bottle with Ecover ZERO washing-up liquid. Its fragrant-free and colouring-free formulation cleans well without leaving any harmful residual traces in baby's bottles. All their products are also safe for sensitive skin. My hands are not sensitive, but god knows how much washing up a mom does in a day, so a gentle formulation for the skin is always welcomed.

Eco-friendly laundry with Ecover ZERO Non Bio laundry liquid This detergent uses natural plant oils and acids to clean clothing, therefore it isn't packed with phosphates that can wreak havoc on water supplies causing algal blooms and red tide. Washing my clothes was no different with this detergent than any other, put in a cap-full, close the lid and walk away. The clothes felt clean, soft, and had a certain "earthy" smell that I enjoyed.

Alternative uses for Ecover ZERO fabric conditioner:
Remove hard-water stains Dab fabric conditioner onto the stains and let it soak for 10 minutes. Then wipe the conditioner and stain off the glass with a damp cloth and rinse well,

Float away baked-on grime Forget scrubbing. Fill the casserole with water, add a squirt of fabric conditioner, and soak for an hour, or until residue wipes easily away.

Giveaway:
I've got 3 bottles of 500ml Washing Up Liquid by Ecover worth SGD14.85 to give away to one lucky reader.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what you like to read more on The Chill Mom. Don't forget to leave your email address as well. If you don't want to leave your email address here, do leave a comment and email me at mich.hon@gmail.com

Contest will run from 27 June until 10 July 2014. Results will be posted on the The Chill Mom Facebook page on 11 July 2014. So 'like' the page to keep yourself updated!

Bonus for all readers: Ecover is offering The Chill Mom's readers 20% off all items* with promo code 'ECV20TCM' for the next 2 months!

*Valid from 27/6/2014-31/8/2014
Promo code is only valid on Ecover website: www.ecover.com.sg
Except promotional items

Ecover products are being sold at all Home-Fix Singapore outlets as well as on www.ecover.com.sg

For updates on offers, new products etc, follow Ecover Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/EcoverSG

It's always a treat to take a day off from the kitchen and dine out. The only downside, however, is having to pay full price for kid's smaller portion. Wouldn't it be great if kid's meal is free? Say no more! These restaurants in Singapore offer free meals to their tiny diners. Location participation, however, does vary, so call ahead before taking advantage of these delicious deals!

Brussels Sprout
On Friday and weekends, between noon to 3pm, kids 10 years old and under get a free kids meal with every adult item from the Big Eat or Moules Frites menus purchased.

source

Robertson Quay: 80 Mohamed Sultan Road, #01-12, Singapore 239013, Phone: 6887 4344
Big Splash: 902 East Coast Parkway, Block F, #01-27, Phone: 6346 4344
Sentosa Cove: 31 Ocean Way #01-01 Quayside Isle, Singapore 098375, Phone: 6684 4344

Chili's
Mondays to Fridays, kids under 12 years old dine free with evert adult entree order.

source

Tanglin Mall: 163 Tanglin Road, #02-23, Singapore 247933, Phone: 6733 3317

J Cube: 2 Jurong East Central 1, #03-10, Singapore 609731, Phone: 6684 3811

Central, Clarke Quay: 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #01-18, Singapore 059817, Phone: 6225 1687

Hog's Breath Cafe
Every Sunday, a kid under 12 years old eats free with every paying adult. There is also a playroom to keep kids occupied while you sip on cocktails.

CHIJMES: 30 Victoria Street, Blk A, #01-26/27, Singapore 187996, Phone: 6338 1387

Delicious
Kids eat free every weekend with the purchase of every 2 Delimains for Dinner Special.

source

Scotts Square: 6 Scotts Road, #B1-16/19 Singapore 228209, Phone: 6636 0903

Pizza Hut
On weekdays, order any selected a la carte meal or pizza set meal for free. Dine-in only.

source

Various locations

The Bank Bar + Bistro
All weekends, order a main course and get a kids' entree for free.

source

One Shenton: 1 Shenton Way, #01-01, Singapore 068803, Phone: 6636 2188

TGI Fridays
From Monday to Thurdays, 1 free kids meal from Kids Stars Menu with every purchase of adult entree.

112 Katong: 112, East Coast Road, #01-13, Singapore 428802, Phone: 6636 0533

Olive Tree Restaurant
Children under 7 years old eats for free for every paying adult.

source

The Intercontinental Singapore: Level 1, 80 Middle Road Singapore 188966, Phone: 68251061

PS: Do follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram for new posts and tips on parenting, motherhood in Singapore.

So it has been 15 weeks since I last wrote an update on my current pregnancy. How time flies! My belly is now massive and heavy. I have also given up trying NOT to waddle when I walk - my vain self has lost to the pregnancy.

Baby Size: At check-up, doctor informed me the baby is already 2.8kg!

Weight gain: 6kg.

Maternity clothes: No more regular clothing. Even some of the maternity leggings are getting snug now. I rotate between 3-5 outfits that are still able to fit me.

Toilet run: I have a choice of dying of dehydration (the weather in Singapore has been insanely hot!) or running to pee every hour. My guess is our water bill will be higher this month due to constant flushing.

Movement: Baby is already in the upside down position, but that doesn't stop her from kicking and turning around. Very strong kicks and punches from this one.

Appetite: I ate a LOT in my 2nd trimester, and I mean A LOT!! However, for the past couple of weeks, I can't eat that much at a sitting anymore. I read that it is because my tummy is losing real estate space to the growing placenta/baby.

Symptoms: Varicose veins has gotten worse than ever. My right leg looks alien-ish at the moment from the very visible bulging and purplish veins. According to my aunt, my mom had them when she was pregnant with us too. So I guess it is heredity and there is no escaping from it. Pressure in the groin area is also getting unbearable. Standing and even sitting up for too long hurts! :(

That's it for now. Next update would be the about the birth itself. Wish me luck!

PS: As I'm going to be a sleep-deprived milk producing machine when the baby is born, I doubt I'll have any energy left to blog. So I'm looking for any kind soul who would like to guest blog for me during my absence. Please drop me an email at mich.hon@gmail.com if you like to contribute. All credits will be linked back to you of course!

One of my biggest worry these days is how Lauren would react when we bring home the newborn. I tried my best to explain to Lauren that in this big belly of mine, is her 'mei mei' (younger sister in chinese), but she doesn't seem to get the concept of another baby. In fact, she still refer to herself as THE 'baby'.

I imagine being in her position. She is used to be the only child. She currently spends all her waking time with me; she gets a hug whenever she runs to me; we go for walks and playgroups together; but soon this will all change. In the early days, I'll spend most of my time nursing the new baby, Lauren might feel left out. How can I show her that I still love her just as much?

So I read up, asked for ideas and here are some of the advice I got:

*When your older child meets new baby for the first time, let someone else hold the baby or have the baby laying down in moses basket, infant seat, etc. This way, she can focus on the baby one-to-one instead of being confused seeing a baby in your arms, which is their usual territory.

*When your older child visits you at the hospital, let your partner and your older child go to the nursery together and bring the baby to you. This way, she would feel like she is welcoming the baby and introducing it to you instead of finding her missing mommy holding another baby.

*Schedule quality alone time with your older child, to let her know you still love her very much.

*Ask everyone who visits to first greet your older child first before looking at the baby.

*Constantly tell your older child a lot about what a great big sister she is and how proud they must be for being the older one.

*Get your older child a baby doll for her to look after, so you both can be 'moms' together.

*Get your partner to pay more attention to your older child, it is the perfect time for them to bond, leaving you with the newborn.

*Buy and wrap little gifts in advance. Whenever your older child feels upset about being left out, give her a gift and says it is from her little brother/sister.

*You will find yourself saying, "Just a minute, I have to do this for baby." Make a point of 'telling' the baby, it is now time for you to do something for your older child.

*If your first child is older, involve her in the decisions making process. Let her picks out the baby items when you shop, or even have her picks the name.

*Get your older child a "Big Sister" t-shirt, blanket or whatever she likes to feel special.

*If you have always been the one to put your older child to bed, continue to do so after the new baby arrives. Let her know you'll always be there when she needs you.

*If both children are crying at the same time, attend to the older one first. The new baby is too young to know any better.

*Children love to hear praise. Say to your partner,"Lauren is so helpful today. You should have seen her. She got diapers and wipes for the baby just when I needed them!"

So how did you prepare your older child for a new baby? Any recommendation on children's books about siblings? What happened when your older child met new baby for the first time? Do share. I would appreciate any insight. Thanks!

PS: How to enjoy your third trimester.

Less than 14 days now! The countdown begins. I still remember the anxiousness and the excitement I felt during the days leading up to my first delivery. How would I know if I'm having contractions? How does it feels like? What the heck is mucus plug? And my biggest fear of all is my water bag breaks when I'm in public. Or not having enough time to get to the hospital and giving birth in a taxi.

This time around, I'm more chill because I know what to expect. However, according to the doctor, the second baby would arrive a lot faster than the first (the first took 15 hours from the time I was admitted), so the fear of giving birth whilst on the way to the hospital still lingers.

So I've pooled a group of mommy bloggers and asked the question: Any tips to overcome fear of child birth? Here is what they have to say:

Go in without any expectations except that you will see your beautiful baby at the end of it and it will all be worth it, take the epidural, it's not as scary as it looks! - Elizabeth Soh-Teo

Relax. Trust yourself, trust your body and trust your gynae. If u need pain relief, use it, epidural was my life saver and I didn't turn out a bad mum because I used epidural and I didn't experience any long term side effects. - Seng Tzer Jing

Read up on hypnotherapy prior to birth (no we din'y do hypo birthing). One of the things i put in heart is not to bring fear with you. It worked! I didnt feel pain at all when epidural was being administered! The first time when it entered the spine, I almost wanted to kick the fellow…but with baby number 2, it was so much better. - Janice Wong

I had my 3 births without epidural. I had only one thought: if my mum could do it, so can I. - Christy Wong

Save all your energy for the pushing! Take everything slow and chill and when it's time to push, give it your best. After 3 deliveries, I realized that how I pushed really makes a difference. - Elizabeth Wu

I can't even hold my breath long enough to swim a quarter of the breadth (not even the length, thank you very much) of a swimming pool, but I managed to take a super deep breath, and push the baby out anyway! If I could do it, I'm sure you'll have no problems at all. - Adeline Tan

I faint (or almost) whenever I have to do a blood test but I gave birth to Nakayla naturally with only laughing gas. Nothing will hold the baby back when it's ready to say hello! They'll even do all the work. - Mabel Lee

I got no tips except "be prepared that the breathing/gas/epidural might not relief any of your pain. I know it's not very encouraging but it happens..it happened to me! And not being prepared for it was the worst feeling. Believe in yourself and your body anyway. You were meant to do this and it'll be all worth it once you see your baby. - Madeline Heng

Go on a social media-television-youtube-pregnancybooks blackout. don't read or watch anything to do with birth or labour. Instead spend time strolling by the park hand in hand with the husband, and eating to your hearts content! Free your mind of anything and everything, and just absorb the wonders of life, especially of the one inside of you. - Nadia Cheong

Focus on seeing your baby and take deep breaths. And remember that labour is not a competition and you don't have to prove anything to anyone. So don't be shy to ask for pain relief. Having an epidural won't make you a bad mum. - Adora Tan

Keep calm and relax. Think of all the positives and the joy of seeing your baby afterwards. - Jolin Poon

My tip would be not be over-plan the delivery. It is good to have a birth plan, but don't be too hung up on it. Go with the flow, and do whatever makes you feel most comfortable. - Shermeen Ching

My tip is... Epidural. Depending on your pain threshold, don't be afraid to talk to your gynae about it and discuss options. Sure, listen to other people's advice, read books but at the end of the day, go with what you are most confident with. For me, I KNEW I would take the epidural, it is not up for discussion. Haha! - Sandra Tan

If it is your 1st child, what's written on all the books and shared on all the talks may not apply to you. Giving birth is an experience, it needs to be an accumulated experience. So, go on, please have more babies if you can. - Jenn Lee

Take epidural early. My first labour was 6 hours so I guess second labour would be faster. Each epi last about 5-6 hours so I went ahead. Just stay relaxed and take a nap while waiting. Follow the gynea's instruction to push and I hope you can get to see your precious little one as you push out just like me. Trust me, the feeling is wonderful when baby is in your embrace. - Serene Seah

Knowing that I have low pain threshold, I requested for epidural early. So that I conserve energy to receive my bundle of joy! - Waiwai Leong

Practice visualizing a smooth delivery - close your eyes and see yourself giving birth to a healthy baby and that your birth plan went as you planned. Prayers work the same way - ask for smooth delivery. Don't watch any baby delivery videos if this is your first baby. Best of luck! - Meiling Wong-Chainani

And finally, this one is from me - Think of the weakest person you know who is also a mom. For example, I have this friend from high school who is easily frightened by everything. So I would tell myself, "If S**** could give birth to 2 kids, so can I." (Sorry, S!)

I hope these tips helped ease some of your fears. We all have concern and worry if things would go wrong, it is only normal. I blame it on our hormones, Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. If you have other tips to add, do share!

Last month, a group of mommy bloggers and I have been invited to discover a new online store dedicated to mothers and children's products called Vaby. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen some photos of the Vaby box and how much fun Lauren had at the launch party held at The Playhouse.

So what is Vaby?
Vaby provides a one stop solution for all baby products and services. At Vaby, you can discover new parenting solutions and trusted brands delivered right to your doorstep, shop great savings of up to 90% on hand-picked quality children’s apparel, maternity wear, toys, baby gears and even the best deals on full month parties or baby spa services.

What is Vaby box?
Subscribe and you'll receive premium samples from both well-known brands and emerging gems each month. In a beautifully curated box, 5 to 8 mommy & baby product samples will be delivered to your door step. It is such a great way to discover and try new products without committing to buying the full sized product.

This is the July Box that I received at the launch.

July's box content L-R: GOO.N Japan Version Diaper, Ban Kah Chai Zhui Feng Feng Su Ho Oil (helps relieve pain and itchiness), Nurturmeals, $10 voucher from The Playhouse, Chu-Chu nursing pads, Naturally Kinder Wet Tissue, Hiruscar gel, Pure by Phytocare papaya ointment.

I have 5 Vaby boxes to be given away to 5 winners, with each walking away with a box of premium samples from well-known brands and emerging gems tailored to you and your kids' age.

1. Join and LIKE The Chill Mom Facebook Page and Vaby Singapore Facebook Page.
2. After you've done that, comment on this blog post with your name, child/ren's age and your email address.
3. If you'd like a second entry, share this blog post on your Facebook wall with the Caption "Win premium subscription box from Vaby". (Remember to TAG The Chill Mom, so I can keep track on who has done it)

For those who are new to the process, just copy the this link: http://www.thechillmom.com/2014/07/giveaway-vabybox.html and paste it on your own Facebook wall. Remember to add the caption and tag @thechillmom.

Winners will be announced on 2 August 2014, right back here at the bottom of this post and on our Facebook page. Good luck!

And here are some photos from Vaby's Launch Party!

I was hoping the bag would cover my belly.

Generous buffet spread prepared by The Playhouse team

Cutest baby contest!

One of the winning babies and moms.

The winner of the cutest baby contest. How adorable is that face?

One of the lucky draw winner.

Pregnant moms are not left out too. I wanted to win this so bad.

But I won this instead! A set of Mollers's Cod Liver Oil - more Omege 3 for Lauren and bub no.2.

Fellow mommy bloggers and the Vaby's team.

Lauren has become quite a chatterbox lately. Sometimes she gets a few words out perfectly, but mostly, she is still babbling away. It is funny to see the serious expression on her face and the urgency in her voice when she is trying to get her point across. She would even have a resigned tone and a little sigh when she realizes no one understands her. Sometimes, I think I get the hunch of what my toddler is trying to say to me and here are some things what a toddler babbling could mean:

1. Here is the remote control. Please make The Wiggles appears on tv.

2. Stop putting the hat on me. I don't like it. I much prefer these pants on my head, or your colourful undies would work too.

3. Bang, bang, bang, bang! Lie down and pretend you are dead. Bang, bang, bang!

4. Hi! I knew I would find you in the toilet, mommy. Let me keep you company. *Smile*

5. Don't take the pen away. Can't you see how lovely the couch now looks with my scribbling on it? See? I have them on my thighs too!

6. Nope. No more porridge for me tonight. I heard you've ordered pizza.

7. I know you don't want to get up now. But I know just the move to wake you up, you just can't resist when I do this. *Proceeds to dig mommy's belly button*

8. Look, ma. I can put both legs into one hole of my pants and still walk like a geisha. Hee hee..

9. Mommy, open this bag of blocks for me. *Tip the bag and pour out all 70 pieces of blocks* Oh wait, I change my mind. This sticker book looks more interesting.

10. DADDY! Thank god you are home, daddy. I'm getting a little bored playing with mommy.

11. I saw the block of chocolate, mommy. No point hiding it behind your back now. Didn't you say we must learn to share?

12. *While looking into the mirror* Wah! I look so cute with 2 ponytails today.

13. Hello? I have no idea why I'm taking into a phone but adults seem to do it all the time. So here I am, talking. Yabba, yabba, yabba. Oh, yes, have to do the occasional laugh too. Hahahahahaha…

14. I'm NOT getting into the carseat. Want to see how loud I can cry? HUWAAAH!

15. Okay, I'm in my stroller now. Let's go out.

16. Carry me! I don't want to be in the stroller any longer. Huh? What? Oh, raisins. Yum!

17. Why are you wiping my artwork off the wall? I thought that is what you want by giving me those crayons.

18. *While playing chase* Aaahhhh.. don't chase me. *Stop to gasp for air* Okay, chase me now!

19. *After getting on the trike by herself* Mommy, mommy! Come push me. Yes, I can pedal but I want you to push me instead. Weeee…

20. Open the fridge door. I have to have a bottle of Yakult now!

Think you know what your toddler is carrying on about? Prove it! Head over the The Chill Mom Facebook page and post your best toddler babbling video and/or speech translation in the comment section. Favourite video will win a pair matching outfits for yourself and your kid! Submission ends midnight 14 Sept 2014. Winner will be announced on 15 Sept 2014 on our Facebook page.

I was talking, okay whatsapping with my sister today and it got me thinking about inheritance or rather what would I leave to my children after I'm gone. It all started like this. She is a little upset with my dad.

They were having dinner with some of dad's friends when someone suggested to dad to invest his money into commercial properties. It brings better yield than letting the money sits in the bank. Dad answered that he is happy with his current financial status and that he doesn't want the extra work/effort of managing the properties. Fair enough.

Then the bomb dropped. He continued by saying he wants to check himself into one of those luxurious retirement village / elderly care home when he is older and lives off his savings (by the way, dad is only in his 50's now). When he passes on, he would donate all his money to the elderly care home. He won't leave anything to any of his children.

Bang! That felt like a slap in the face to my sister.

She told me she wasn't upset by the fact that dad doesn't want to leave us any inheritance but it was the way he said it; it apparently sounded like we are desperate for it.

Funnily enough, I was not upset or remotely affected when she relayed the story to me. I feel that he has his right to spend the money whichever way he wants. It is HIS hard-earned money. Besides, family is just not my dad's strongest suits. He is not a kid person. He admitted it himself. He doesn't really give hugs or kisses to us or any of his grandchildren. I'm surprised he has 3 children.

Anyhow, this brought me to my thoughts. Would I leave my children any inheritance when I leave the world? Probably not all of it. I would love to set up a trust fund for them and their children to use towards education. Beyond that, if they want good things in life, they would have to work for it themselves - not handed to them on a silver platter. I'd rather leave them with strong values and principles in life that would guide them through their darker days.

I've asked Nick. He agreed with the education fund idea, and he has actually started a company that he could pass on to our children. To him, that is his way of leaving a legacy for our future generations.

Have you thought about how you would leave a legacy or your possessions? If so, do share if you agree with our plans or if you believe in keeping everything for your children and hope it will lessen their burden in life?

After my "Best Shoes For Pregnancy" post which I featured lots of flat shoes (for obvious reason) I had non-pregnant readers asking me how to wear flats. Hmm.. while I'm not your typical fashion blogger, I'll dispose some tips I've learnt through many years of being dressed for fashion shows. Okay, I lied. Back in my days, we used to model EVERYTHING in heels. Even when we were wearing maternity clothing with a fake baby bump underneath, we were still rocking 4 inches heels.

However when models are off duty, we turn to flats. It is comfortable and highly versatile. And here are a few pointers to look out for to avoid looking too casual or frumpy, while wearing flats:

Right: Espadrilles & pointy ballet from Aldo Online

Wear pointy / ballet flats / espadrilles with shorts / skirt or dress (any length, except maxi) - In fact, the shorter the skirt, the flatter your footwear should be. That's my shoe-mantra. Otherwise, you might just look skanky. However, you are excused if you are petite and you wear heels all the time, then I would recommend you stop reading this post and head to my tumblr page dedicated to heels. Yes, I'm a closet high-heels lover who could only pine for them from afar. As a mom, my heels wearing days are a distant memory now. Anyway, ballet flats can be worn with everything. It is elegant chic for a polished casual look.

Sandals from Aldo online

Wear sandals with maxi dress or skirt - The long length of the skirt makes you look lean and glamourous, and when your sandals peek out, the look is not too 'done'. A pair of embellished sandals adds a fun, summery vibes to the look.

Sandals also look good if you want to dress down any outfit. Sandals for day, heels for night. Voila, same outfit, 2 looks.

Wear sneakers / espadrilles with shorts / skorts for that sporty, easy breezy look. They are so darn comfortable, you'll feel good too.

Source

Wear loafers / pointy / ballet flats with skinny jeans or capri pants, making sure the width of the pants is not too large or your feet will look disproportionally small. These styles elongate your leg and the best way to wear them is to show some ankles. Styles that cut off at the toes (toes showing) are younger and sexy looking too.

Wear high-cut flats such as ankle boots / brogues / loafers with anything, as long as you show a bit of skin between the hem and the top of the shoe. Beware though, this style may not suit you if you have chunky calfs, it cuts of the length of your leg making the calf looks bigger than it really is.

Above all, take risks. Have fun mix and matching your outfit with your shoes. If you have questions about shoes not mentioned here, please ask me in the comment section below!

To keep updated, and to show me some love, like my Facebook page or follow me on Instagram! Tag photos of yourself wearing flats with #funwithflats, so I can check you out! :)

I know I just posted a post on why you need to hire a confinement lady not too long ago, and now I'm talking about doing it yourself? What the hell, Mich? Make up your mind! Well, I have 3 good reasons for DIY-ing my confinement this time round. Please hear me out?

Reason #1: I have a very capable full time live-in helper at home now.
Reason #2: I have discovered Mummamia Confinement.
Reason #3: A confinement lady now costs $2500 + lodging + food for 28 days. So I'm saving almost $100 per day. Imagine how much money I could spend on supplements and herbs to 'nourish' myself instead.

So are you with me yet?

For those who are not familiar with this Chinese tradition, I hear you ask what is confinement, or 坐月?

According to Chinese, a woman's body is the weakest and most vulnerable to future ailments after childbirth, thus a confinement period of at least 4 weeks is necessary to ensure recovery and long term health. During confinement, the new mom will have to follow and endure a series of taboos, rituals and consume a strict diet of confinement meals.

To me, confinement food is probably the most important element of the entire practice. It is necessary for mothers to replenish energy (Qi), blood loss, vitamins, iron, calcium and restore Yang energy that had been lost during childbirth. We are after all what we eat. However, when I look up the internet for confinement food recipes, they are filled with ingredients which I'm not familiar with. The chinese herbs are either in chinese character (I can't read Chinese), or they are in their scientific English name (the TCM shopkeeper doesn't know what the hell I'm after). Needless to say, recipes on internet doesn't help.

Here is where reason #2, Mummamia plays a huge part in my decision to DIY my own confinement. They have a product called Pre-packed Confinement Herbs. The name says it all. Prescribed by TCM physician, the herbs are packed for confinement recovery via 5 stages - Expel, Remove, Rejuvenate, Recuperate and Tonify. The herbs are packed in accordance to suit most new mother, be it caesarean or natural birth. Each pack is numbered Day 1, Day 2, and so on for easy reference.

Cooking it can't be easier - all I need to do is add 250g of pork or 2 chicken thigh meat (for lunch and dinner each) with each pack, boil and let simmer with 1 litre water, and it is done after 1.5 hours. At first I was afraid that it might be bitter due to the dark colour of the soups, but it is actually quite yummy and goes well with rice. I've been told that the soup is tasty enough without adding any meat to it and suitable for vegan mothers.

Besides the pre-packed soups, another product I like from Mummamia is the Pre-packed Red Dates Tea. During confinement, red dates tea is to be taken daily as a replacement of water. Its ingredients which include red dates, black dates, dried longan, Dang Shen and Huang Qi is preferable as post natal drink because it is rich in iron and Vitamin C, promote Qi, has tonification and calming effects. Drinking plain water during this period may cause excessive water retention and getting 'cold' during this period.

This drink is naturally sweet and thirst quenching, so as a breastfeeding mom who needs lots of liquid, I really like sipping it though out the day. Again, having it pre-packed, makes it all the more convenient and a no-brainer, even for my Filipino helper to prepare.

***

Mummamia's products are dedicated to help modern mothers recuperate, strengthen, and regain health through diet and care during their confinement month. This review is the first of a 3 parts review of Mummamia products that I use during my confinement month. All words and opinions expressed here are my own.

7 Reasons To Hire A Confinement Lady

3 Healthy Breakfast Ideas that Your Kids Will Love

Overnight Oats

Egg Puffies

Berry Smoothies

Dream Mama by Dream Factory

Where Do You Shop For Beauty Products?

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Father's Day

How To Avoid Food Poisoning During Pregnancy

I Love Online Shopping!

Letter to Lauren: You Were My Birthday Present

You Are Invited To Vaby's Official Launch!

What Should We Name Our Baby?

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips (Plus Giveaway and Discounts!)

8 Western Restaurants In Singapore Where Kids Eat For Free

2nd Pregnancy Update: 37th Week!

How To Prepare Your Older Child For A New Baby

How To Overcome Fear of Childbirth - Tips from Experienced Mommy Bloggers

Win A Vaby Subscription Box (5 Sets To Be Won!)

What Your Toddler Babbling Could Mean

Leaving a Legacy

How To Wear Flats

DIY Your Own Confinement