Friday, April 19, 2024

My confinement nanny experience

As usual, during your pregnancy confirmation, we will need to seek for confinement centre or looking for confinement nanny. However i think i start searching when I was pregnant for 6 months old, and my due date is close to CNY, so it is quite expensive.

In many Asian cultures, the practice of postnatal confinement is deeply rooted. Let’s explore why hiring a confinement lady (also known as a confinement nanny) is essential during this period:
1.Postnatal Recovery:
After childbirth, mothers need time to heal physically and emotionally. The confinement period allows them to rest and recover.
Confinement ladies assist with daily tasks, allowing new mothers to focus on their well-being and bonding with their newborns.
Traditional Practices:
In Chinese culture, postnatal confinement involves specific traditional practices aimed at helping new mothers recover smoothly from delivery.
Families hire confinement nannies to care for both the mother and the baby during this period.
The confinement period typically lasts for about a month, but it can be longer depending on the mother’s health
2. Baby Care:
Confinement nannies are skilled in handling newborns. They provide guidance on feeding, diaper changes, and soothing techniques.
New mothers, especially first-timers, may feel overwhelmed by the demands of caring for a baby. A confinement nanny offers valuable support.
3. Rest and Recovery:
Mothers need adequate rest to heal properly. Stress during this period can increase the risk of postpartum depression.
Confinement ladies ensure that mothers get enough rest by taking care of household chores and baby-related tasks.
4. Nutritious Meals:
Confinement nannies prepare curative meals for mothers, focusing on ingredients that aid recovery.
Proper nutrition is crucial during this time, and confinement nannies ensure that mothers receive balanced meals.
5. Breastfeeding Guidance:
Many confinement nannies provide breastfeeding guidance, helping mothers establish a successful breastfeeding routine.
Learning how to feed the baby correctly is essential for both the mother’s well-being and the baby’s health.

In summary, confinement ladies play a vital role in supporting new mothers during the postpartum period. Their expertise, care, and assistance contribute to a smoother recovery and a positive start to motherhood. 

So I posted my confinement lady requirement and start seeking for an experienced confinement nanny and found one from Kluang with reasonable pricing. And prior to the labor, she already started to ask me prepare the stuffs she needed during the period such as sterilizer, milk bottles, types of baby clothes, cooking materials etc. She is quite helpful and help me explain the details.

And when I was ready to give birth, I already contacted her and she already prepared to come to Singapore from Malaysia. During my confinement, M was very kind and explain and take good care of the baby.

She will sleep with my baby, milk her every 3 hours, and bath her once daily. She will cook for my hubby and myself for 3 meals. She always stay in kitchen, not taking long nap during afternoon, boiled herbal water for my shower, do laundry for 3 of us plus herself using washing machine and clean the kitchen. She will help me to wash my pumping accessories plus milk bottles for 3-4 times a day including night. She will cook red dates water for me. She will share her tips and tricks for taking care of newborns and ask us to start hand-on.

Everything is smooth for the first 5 days. However she started to ask my husband to buy 1 specific item per day by not letting him to know what she wants one short. Plus she used a lot of water to wash dishes, my water bill is crazily high (5 times than usual). During the 14 days with us, she finished two bottles of mamalemon dish detergent. Look at this!


She will also rant to my husband for telling that i not drinking the water she prepared.  We did not talk much during the day. I am unhappy she like to rant to my husband for small stuffs that she is unhappy.

Thus, i let her go after 14 days and it was not a happy experience during my confinement.

I will wish that I did set some expectation before engaged and confirmed my nanny else it will be quite a distressing episode for a newly mum.



 

Saturday, May 9, 2020

ULTIMATE TO DO LIST BEFORE BOREDOM KILL ME

Hi Dearies,

Long time I didn't update the blog. Due to Covid 19 circuit breaker I am still staying home since the beginning of March 2020. So I will be sharing with you what is the ULTIMATE LIST to spend time when you are stuck in home.

ULTIMATE LIST TO KEEP ME ALIVE HOME WHEN BOREDOM IS A KILLER


  1. WATCH MOVIES AND DRAMA SERIES
  • I love handsome guys and those chickflix, however movie and drama production has been impacted by this global epidemic, therefore not much nice new drama is available so I have to rewatch or watch the epic drama again. Here are some of my recommendations if you have time 
1. The Untamed: Nice drama with two hot guys. Story of two boys Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji finding the truth to clear their injustice past with lots of demon/ evil spirits along the way.




2. Crash Landing on you: Korean drama talked about a love story between a North Korea officer and South Korean rich heiress. Lots of funny scenes and definitely worth your time



3. The Story of Minglan: Sheng Ming Lan has been mistreated by her legal mother and half siblings her whole life after her mother's death. Although she is the daughter of an official, she is the sixth child, and is often looked down on despite her beauty and intelligence. With her intelligence and tolerance, she managed to found the man she can trust with her life and revenge for her mother, and protect her family and kids.






4. The Big Bang theory: 5 stars show!! love it to max, to see funny and real friendship to protect one another in life. I really love the ways they interact and stay true to themselves. The story starts with the lives of four socially awkward friends, Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj, take a wild turn when they meet the beautiful and free-spirited Penny.


5. Grey's Anatomy: Surgical interns and their supervisors embark on a medical journey where they become part of heart-wrenching stories and make life-changing decisions in order to become the finest doctors. This drama is so real and close to life and you will rethink what is important in life and thanks doctors and healthcare workers for saving our lives.


2.  COOKING LIKE A MASTER CHEF

I believe I have train myself to be the next Gordon Ramsay. Here are some of the youtube chef show that I followed. To be honest,  cooking is not difficult at all, is just the way you cook and it needs to turn out to be like an art pieces and sell them for USD 50+ is difficult :) Anyway I tried out Sweet potatoes balls, bubble teas and spaghetti. Still, I can't make them look like art pieces
  1. Gordon Ramsay: Learn how he handles egg like an art
  2. Taste Show: Master Piece, pork belly
  3. Wang Gang: Chinese Dishes if you love spicy and wanna learnt good knife skill, on your subtitle 
  4. Tasty: easy dishes to make your day happy

3. SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTOR

I know lots of people will be complaining they will be bored to death for not be able to meet their friends, doing their weekly karaoke session, or meeting with family. But somehow with internet everything is possible, except physical touch. We are basically in a "Surrogates" world haha

  1. Facebook Messenger: Connect friends for a big gathering for up to 8 pax. You no longer need to chat by typing using WhatsApp messenger anymore because I hate typing especially after work.
  2.  Quan Ming Karaoke: google play, apple store best best invention to create a room and invite friends to sing songs together. Plus you get to sing with people you don't know and you may make friends from people around the world. How cool is that. It makes me to listen to lots of talented singer in Taiwan when I have sleepless night
  3. Talk to people you miss them: Covid 19 situation reminds me lots of people may be as bored as you are. So it is time for you to reconnect with your long lost closed friends and reignite the friendship fire. Cool huh~ 

4. GAMES

I know guys love games. But I have zero knowledge on this. But I have to share PS4 Sony users they are giving out free games, so thanks the opportunity and download before they leave. My hubby is a complete PS4 magnet, he can't leave PS4 except when he wanna do his big business. Haha

Alright that's all for today. I am thinking to start a youtube channel to share some of my daily life, to heal my boredom soul haha. See you next time xoxo


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Monday, February 3, 2020

How i spent my Chinese New Year


Hi Dearies,

I think you will be curious what Chinese will do during CNY, I will share with you how I spent time with family this year.

1. Giving Red packet (Ang Bao)
This year is my first year celebrating CNY as a married person. There are two legends about Ang Pow in ancient china. In one of them, the Eight Immortals transform themselves into coins to help an elderly couple save their son from a demon named Sui. On the eve of Chinese New Year, these eight coins were wrapped in red paper and placed under the child’s pillow to ward off the demon. Parents eventually adopted this practice and would give their children money wrapped in red paper, which was termed ya sui qian 压岁钱(money that can suppress the evil).The second legend recounts the joyous occasion of the birth of the son of Emperor Xuanzong, during the Tang Dynasty. The emperor gave gold and silver coins to his concubine to be used as charms to protect the baby. The people subsequently adopted this practice and began giving money to their children as gifts, normally for people younger than you. So it is a bit heart pain, if you have lots of relatives because in Singapore, we will give $6, $8 or $10 (in even numbers), because Chinese believe good things come in pairs.




2. Reunion Dinner on Eve of CNY

It is often considered the most important get-together meal of the entire year and symbolized full family together in Chinese Traditions.

3. Putting up Decorations

The color red is much loved by the Chinese in general as it represents happiness and good fortune. Below are some popular decorations used to create festivity for the celebration.The most common word is fu 福, happiness and good fortune. It is written with calligraphy onto a square piece of red paper. These can then be pasted onto walls, doors or windows.

5. Lou Hei

In Singapore and Malaysia, we love to Lou Hei and eat Yu Sheng. “Lo Hei” in Cantonese, where 捞 “lo” (literally mixing) means “tossing up good fortune”, refers to the ritual adopted in Singapore of tossing the yu sheng and saying of auspicious phrases before eating it. We believed that the higher the toss, the better your prospects and fortune in the year ahead so you will see all kind of tossing online, and the purpose is wishing good luck in the coming year.


6. House Visiting to friends and relatives house
Once in a year event, you will need to get kids gifts and CNY goodies to express good wishes to each other and an important Chinese New Year tradition is to visit relatives. Generally speaking, people drop in at relatives and friends' houses, bringing gifts or red envelopes, and greeting one another with 'Happy New Year' within these 15 days.


 7. Visit River Hong Bao 2020

Once a year even you shouldn't miss. Dress up in your new clothes and take nice photos with the lovely decorations and read up your chinese zodiac prospect this year. Also, enjoy some live calligraphy artwork by some chinese association, and bring home a piece.

I love the fireworks and the performance there.



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Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Chiang Mai Trip

Hi Dearies,

Just back from my Thailand Chiang Mai Trip with family. I took my flight with Scoot, the flight duration is around 3 hours.

Yes after reaching at Chiang Mai airport, remember to find a taxi with airport crew in uniform. Fixed rate of 150THB to any city location.

And there we reached our guest house: Phathai House, they have excellent big 4 person family room and walking distance to night market and old city.

Booking link
 2 night markets available during weekend, Sunday Walking street is the biggest runs from Tha Pae Gate going towards Ratchadamnoen Road in the west. There are plenty of foot massage on the street, and eateries as well. You will need to take your time and find a table and grab all the food you like.




Opening Hours: Sundays 16:00 – 22:00
Location: Tha Pae Gate to Ratchadamnoen Road


Wualai Walking Street happens on every Saturday. The market is named after Wualai, which links to Thipanet Road – just off the south side of the old city walls.



Apart from visiting their famous temples, I booked a tour to Chiang Rai to visit the famous white temple depicts heaven and hell. We will visit some local tour group to compare the price and you can ask for discount. Remember to check with them whether the entrance tickets fee is included.

From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, the ride is about 3.5 hours, and we paid around 980 baht for a day trip, includes a simple buffet lunch.

Wat Rong Khun - White Temple
Super beautiful temple created by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat.

The bridge of "the cycle of rebirth" is so pretty. Inside the wall in the temples, you get to see Doraemon, Harry Potter, all the super heroes, according to the tour guide, it means if you did good deeds like saving people, you will be in heaven.

Inside the temple, we are not allow to take any photos :(




Wat Rong Suea Ten - Blue Temple

The name ‘Rong Suea Ten’ in Thai, translates as ‘house of the dancing tiger’ because historically, the area surrounding the temple, was full of wildlife, in particular tigers who leapt into the nearby Mae Kok river. The creator of Blue Temple was an artist named Putha Kabkaew who is the apprentice of Chalermchai Kositpipat, the artist who designed the White Temple.




You can try their beautiful coconut ice cream at the exit of the temples

Royal Park Rajapruek

A must visit place for beautiful flowers, architectures, and places to learn about agriculture.
The place is huge, you can take the free buggy ride, comes with the 200THB entrance fee to explore the whole garden. I personally recommend the orchid garden. Inside you get to see nice tulip too :)





Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
A must visit temple when you are in Chiang Mai. You will need to pay 50 baht for admission and 30 bath for cable car so you dont have to climb the 300+ naga staircase.

But the view is absolutely worth the visit. 




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Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Staycation: Oakwell Premier with GIN

Hi Dearies,

Recently I went to a fun Öops, I've Ginned! Staycation with Mr J at Oakwood Premier AMTD. It is so much fun and the package includes the following:

A stay in a one-bedroom serviced apartment at Oakwood Premier AMTD Singapore

  • Complimentary breakfast for two persons at SE7ENTH restaurant
  • A DIY Cocktail Kit comprising of a full-sized bottle of Brass Lion Distillery’s Singapore Dry Gin and other ingredients for two persons
  • Personalisation service of the in-room gin bottle is available at an additional cost^
  • Brass Lion Distillery guided tour for two persons every Saturday at 5pm. Two-way transport is provided#
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi services and usage of in-room tablet and mobile phone.

After check in, we explored the room and then embark our journey to see the home for Singapore first Gin birthplace.







Meet Nara- Brass Lion copper still is custom-made and handcrafted by master coppersmiths in Germany.



We ended the tour by trying our Singapore Dry Gin, Butterfly Pea Gin and Pahit Pina Gin (Not available in the Market yet). 



If you are keen to learn more about Gin, you can book a tour here

BRASS LION DISTILLERY

 40 Alexandra Terrace, Singapore 119933

 +65 69540602






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