Gynea Visit 006 - It's getting closer and closer

It's getting closer and closer (Less than 100 days to go!) and Daddy and Mummy can't wait to see you..I'ts been a while since the last gynea visit and in between that actually mummy has gone to 3 different checkups. This time we decided not to go to Gombak Medical Centre anymore as we find it quite expensive, instead we went to mummy's other gynea panel near our new house which is cheaper and friendlier. At the same time mummy has started to go to local government clinic with her best friend Aunty Amy who's also about 1 month behind mummy. So there you go, she's going to be your new friend :-) So far, Alhamdulillah, mummy went through all the checkup and she's doing quite well and you too! Preparation is going well and we have bought a lot of stuff for you..

Dedicated Drawer For You

Stainless Steel OrganicKidz Bottle - Cool eh!

Stainless Steel OrganicKidz Bottle - All the way from US!

For those interested for the OrganicKidz bottle you can get it HERE online. It's really cool BPA Free bottle, not too heavy except for the tiny little problem of measuring the water level (There's an level indicator *inside* the bottle and also the lid doubles as a built in 2oz/60mL measuring cup). Next up, daddy's going to order a couple more stuffs for you and Aunt Farah will bring it back for us when she comes back from US in a month's time. This week mummy and daddy plan to look around for your crib, guess what color it would be? Yes, White..like everything else in our room..your mummy really loves white color.

Last weekend, mummy and daddy was given a sad news by a good friend of daddy, Uncle Sabre. They lost their baby due to miscarriage and the sad part is that it's their first baby girl which is due just next month. We went to PPUM and visit them with Uncle Megat and Aunt Mar. After that we went to A&W for dinner together as it's been a while since we last met Aunt Mar and Megat Amsyar (your soon to be friend :-) ).

Aunt Mar and Uncle Megat changing Amsyar

Last 2 weeks, daddy got  a present from mummy for our first anniversary, a Mountain Bike! Guess that I'll be riding on weekends after this with Uncle Hezry. I need to keep my self fit so that I can have my daily 'battle' with you soon! :-D and when you grow up I'll buy you a bike and we can ride together ya!

Mummy's present for daddy

Nausea During Pregnancy

Nausea during pregnancy is a very common symptoms for all pregnant mothers. According to some research, only half of pregnant women will get drunk pregnant (morning sickness), while some do not. Although this is called morning sickness you might as well have it in the afternoon or evening. I have a few modern and traditional tips to share for those having the nausea symptoms. For the traditional methods, it's been passed on from generations to generations by my ancestors. First off, let's take a look at the modern tips.

'Miracle' Aussie baby born during deadly floods

The 'Miracle' baby they called it when a baby was born during the deadly floods that now rampaging parts of Australia. At time of difficulty, the birth of the child seems to lift up spirit and hope for some. Read on..

SYDNEY (AFP) - – An Australian woman gave birth to a baby boy as deadly floods devastated areas around her home, an official said Wednesday.

Baby Delivery Cost In Malaysia

Today I'm just just share out what is the cost that you have to bear in order to deliver a baby here in Malaysia. Source of the info are taken from a couple of reliable sources, of course cited below. I'll update from time to time the list and hopefully it will benefit those whose looking for such info (that includes me :-) as I also need to scout around for my wife). Mind you that these baby delivery costs could be outdated and depending on types of treatment(s) received. Your are advised to consult with your doctor for further information.

Penang

Peace Polyclinic:
Normal Delivery: RM1300 and above (Baby care included - 4 bed shared room)
Vacuum: RM 2000 and above
Cesarean: RM 3000 and above
O&G Specialist: Dr. Woo Kin Chong
Website: None

Gleneagles Medical Center:
Normal Delivery: RM 1700 and above (With 3 days and 2 night stay package) - (baby care and usage not included)
Vacuum: RM XXXX
Cesarean: RM 5000 and above
O&G Specialist: Dr. Yeoh Chee Lim
Website: Gleneagles Penang

Kuala Lumpur

UKM Specialist Centre
Normal delivery : RM 1900 (2 days 1 night - Single Room with shared bathroom)
+ Epidural RM 400
O&G Specialist: http://www.ukmsc.com.my/?page_id=508 (Dr N.A in the list.)
Shared by: Syd G
Website: UKM Specialist Centre

Sex During Pregnancy - Is it safe?

I stumbled upon this OLD article titled 'Sex During Pregnancy' when I was browsing around reading articles. It catches my attentions as I found it very common questions asked by expecting parents (Even I do asked my self this question :P ) For those interested to know..read on..

CAN I have sex when I’m pregnant? This is a common question that I get from my patients, particularly couples who are having their first child.

Most of them wonder if it is safe to continue having sex, even up to the third trimester. There are also other couples who have real cause for concern if their pregnancy has some challenges, such as bleeding in early pregnancy or a history of miscarriage.

Usually, it is the husband who prompts his wife to bring up the subject, and she will shyly or sheepishly ask me about it. While I can understand their embarrassment, I find it ironic that sex should be considered such a taboo subject during pregnancy. After all, the miracle of pregnancy starts with the act of sex (medical interventions like IVF notwithstanding)!

The apprehension towards sex in pregnancy may stem partly from the belief that pregnant women have to be treated like fragile flowers in bloom; not to be handled roughly or put through strenuous activities like work or?sex.

Is this true? Let’s take a look.

How To Increase Your Sperm Count

How to increase your sperm count?. It is not something new that by having a larger number of sperm could give you a better chance of conceiving. Rather than blaming the women on infertility, a men should also take part in making sure they are also fertile and having the best quantity of sperms. Now, how do we increase the amount of sperm count in a man's body? The secrets of making millions ;-) are as follow:

One-third of 9-month-olds already obese or overweight

The path toward obesity starts at a young age — even before babies transition to a solid diet, according to a new study.

Almost one-third of 9-month-olds are obese or overweight, as are 34 percent of 2-year-olds, according to the research, which looked at a nationally representative sample of children born in 2001. The study is one of the first to measure weight in the same group of very young children over time, said lead researcher Brian Moss, a sociologist at Wayne State University in Detroit. The results showed that starting out heavy puts kids on a trajectory to stay that way.

Best and worst celebrity baby names of 2010

Celebrities who had babies this year didn't go out quite as far on the baby-naming limb as in years past. Quite a few celebrity baby names showed up on the year's top 100 list, including Olivia, Grace, Stella, Eli, Hudson, and Levi.

Of course, unique celebrity baby names strutted their stuff, too. Take Egypt and Cosima, for example.

Did you like the stars' choices this year? We asked 2,000 BabyCenter moms and here's how they voted.

Diabetes and Pregnancy

This post talks

about the risks that diabetes can have during pregnancy. With each pregnancy, all women have a 3% to 5% chance of having a baby with a birth defect. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your health care provider.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly.Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone in the blood that is necessary for providing our cells with energy to function.Insulin helps sugar (glucose) move from the bloodstream into the cells.When glucose cannot enter our cells, it builds up in the blood (hyperglycemia).This can lead to damage of organs including the eyes and kidneys, or damage of blood vessels and nerves.

Spotting In Pregnancy

Today I'm going to share with you a topic about 'Spotting In Pregnancy'. Though some might  interpret this as normal in pregnancy, this can become a serious thing if the bleeding didn't go away after a while.  Go and see your doctor right away even if it stops after that, it's better safe than sorry. Spotting does happen normally and it did happened to my wife and I took her to see the doctor after that..Different women may need different treatment, so the first thing your doctor should do is give you an evaluation.This could mean you need to take a few tests like a physical, an ultrasound, and blood tests. When these tests come back normal, your doctor will know for sure you and your baby are healthy and make sure there are no complications.for a couple of days. Pregnancy spotting is one of the most common pregnancy complications that can occur during the first trimester. So let's get some better understanding on what is spotting in pregnancy shall we?

Whats the difference between bleeding and spotting?

Spotting is very light bleeding, similar to what you may have at the very beginning or end of your period. It can vary in color from pink turned to brown (the color of dried blood).

Why spotting during pregnancy happens?

There's a lot of different reasons to why a spotting can happen and even your doctor cannot be sure of why. Here's a couple of reasons why it could happen.

1. Early Implantation Bleeding

Before you even take a pregnancy test, its possible to experience bleeding, even this early in a pregnancy. Doctors aren't for sure but they believe this is caused by the fertilized egg trying to burrow into the uterus.

2. Sex/Intercourse

When you have sex, more blood goes to your cervix, so it's normal if you see some light spotting after sex. Some women may develop a cervical polyp (a benign growth on the cervix), and not even know, but this could be the reason why we are seeing the blood after sex.

3. STD Infections

Sometimes your spotting may be totally unrelated to your being pregnant. Your cervix may get irritated and become inflamed because of vaginal infection (yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis) or even an STD. An inflamed cervix is known to cause spotting after sex and certain tests.

Placental problems or premature delivery bleeding or spotting during the 2nd or 3rd could be a sign of a more serious problem such as placenta previa, placental abruption (placenta separates from the uterus), late miscarriage (Week 13 in mid-pregnancy), or preterm labor. Even if you see bleeding in the 1st quarter, this could be a sign of another problem with the placenta. Studies showed that there has been a greater chance of complications later in women who experience early pregnancy spots, such as premature labor or placental abruption, particularly if too much bleeding.

4. Ectopic Pregnancy or Miscarriage

If spotting is followed by abdominal pain and cramping, this may be a sign you are having a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Its important to let your doctor know about any signs of blood or spotting, because a miscarriage could be life threatening, not only for you but also the baby.Studies show about 25% of pregnant women show some spotting during early pregnancy. About half of those end up being a miscarriage. You should get an ultrasound between your 7th and 11th week of pregnancy. And if it shows a strong heartbeat in the baby now, the chances of your pregnancy continuing normal are higher than 90%.
 
5. Internal Exam or Pap Smear

Normally, after a Pap test or other types of internal reviews is done, one can also observe this light bleeding. It is caused by more blood flows to the cervix area.

6. Impending Labor

When you get close to giving birth your cervix dilates and you may pass your mucus plug. It may be colored red from blood, this is why they call it the "bloody show". Anytime past 37 weeks you may pass your mucus plug, and this is normal. But if it looks red like there's a lot of blood, make sure you call your doctor.

So that's some of the reasons that can cause spotting. Remember to have a regular visit to your doctor and consult with then for every doubts, concerns that you have.

Disney Online Study: Moms Spend 24 Hours a Week Online

Latest study by Disney on Moms online habits shows that they spend their time online at least 24 hours a week. Disney Online‘s M.O.M. – Mom on a Mission study was conducted in June 2010 by Ipsos OTX MediaCT, with the objective of gaining insights to understand today’s Mom, her roles, and how technology and the Internet affect her life. The study was conducted in two phases: consumer immersion blogs and online quantitative study. In Phase One, nine moms interacted in an online, secure blogging environment by uploading images, video and text for one week. In Phase Two, an online quantitative study was conducted with a sample of 3,300 females, ages 21-54, who were either currently pregnant or had one child in their household between the ages of 0-14 years.

When asked about how they use technology, Moms said that the different devices they use make being a Mom easier. According to the study, Moms use the following technology and devices:

• Computer (89%)
• Internet (87%)
• Mobile Device (84%)
• Television (80%)
• Digital Camera (77%)
• CD/DVD Player (75%)
• Social Networks (55%) 

Moms said they also use technology to create more opportunities for family bonding activities such as playing games on the Nintendo Wii and watching movies on their DVD and Blu-ray player.
Moms Start Their Day with Coffee and the Internet
Moms spend the most time on the Internet between the hours of 5am and noon, so they can get a lot done! They use the Internet to connect with others, find information, plan activities and for entertainment. They check email, visit their favorite sites, manage tasks and read the news. With all that Moms have on their plate, they are very task oriented while online:
Three out of four Moms go online with a specific activity or goal in mind
Moms spends an average of 6.9 hours a week online connecting with family and friends: 84% stay connected through email and 69% through social networks
In an average week, Mom spends one full day online!
Moms Turn to the Internet First for Information:

For subjects other than their child’s health, Moms turn to the Internet as their primary source of information:
71% go online to find deals or discounts
71% to find recipes
62% for family activities, entertainment and travel
59% for personal health questions
56% to find arts/crafts projects
54% for holiday planning and activities
50% to find dieting information
49% for beauty/style
46% to seek answers for financial questions
42% for parenting advice
41% to answer questions on baby/pregnancy

Now...what about how many hours a week a father spend online for things matters about their family?

8 Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms

I'm going to share with you today on 8 pregnancy signs and symptoms in hope it will be useful to couples who plan to have a baby. Why I'm saying this is that, it is more to precautions to not overdo yourself after knowing that you're pregnant to avoid miscarriage or worse, this goes to the partner also, It's good to be alert especially if you're planning. I've heard a lot of miscarriage stories because they didn't realize that they were pregnant. So for those planning to get pregnant, this would be a good read. This list is derived from my wife's symptoms when she get pregnant.

1. Fatigue/Exhaustion
This normally happens on the early stages of pregnancy and also towards the end. The cheerful and energetic wife of mine became weak and easily exhausted.

2. Missed Period
This is a very obvious sign for those on a regular period cycle but not in the case of irregular period cycle like my wife. It's best to avoid any physical activities once you've passed your regular period cycle to be safe.

3. Heartburn & Gastric
This is a very popular pregnancy signs and symptoms which also happens to my wife right now and I can tell you that it's not an easy feeling looking at your wife having the pain due to the higher amount of acid in the stomach. The enlargement of the uterus puts pressure on the stomach causing acid build-up. This can be avoided by drinking milk and avoiding spicy and oily food.

4. Frequent Urination
Enlargement of the uterus not only puts pressure on stomach but also the bladder causing the feel of going more often.

5. Soreness of the Breasts
Although this sign is also very common for an impending period but the soreness in this case is caused by the tissue changes preparing for pregnancy. You will also experience the breast became larger and the nipple will become bigger and darker.

6. Strange Cravings
Yup..I'm having more Chicken Rice now than ever in my entire life due to my wife's craving of it :-D

7. Dizziness
This is because of the low blood pressure due to pregnancy, it do become worse at times if you are having the symptoms even when you're not pregnant like my wife.

8. Cramp
Cramping during pregnancy is usually confused with impending period.

So guys...that's 8 of the pregnancy signs and symptoms that you can look into while planning. Remember future daddies, DO NOT allow your partner to do heavy physical works when they're pregnant, keep them happy & smiling all the time, be there when they need you, and do your share of house chores ;-) Happy Planning!

100 Most Popular Baby Names of 2010

To the pregnant ladies and expecting daddies out there..have you thought about the best baby name for your child yet? I'm pretty sure it has crossed your mind countless times (I did) but you just can't decide on which ones the best yet? or it's too early (like me)..Well I've compiled a set of most popular baby names and trend for 2010 just so if you need an inspiration, referenced from Baby Center website. You can also buy this highly rated baby naming book from Amazon called The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby for $11.19 by Laura Wattenberg if you prefer more in-depth naming methods rather than picking from any names from the top 100 list according to BabyCenter.com.

Click on the name to get more details on origin and meaning from BabyCenter.com

	Girls' Names	Boys' Names
1	Sophia	Aiden
2	Isabella	Jacob
3	Olivia	Jackson
4	Emma	Ethan
5	Chloe	Jayden
6	Ava	Noah
7	Lily	Logan
8	Madison	Caden
9	Addison	Lucas
10	Abigail	Liam
11	Madelyn	Mason
12	Emily	Caleb
13	Zoe	Jack
14	Hailey	Brayden
15	Riley	Connor
16	Ella	Ryan
17	Mia	Matthew
18	Kaitlyn	Michael
19	Kaylee	Alexander
20	Peyton	Landon
21	Layla	Nicholas
22	Avery	Nathan
23	Hannah	Dylan
24	Mackenzie	Evan
25	Elizabeth	Benjamin
26	Kylie	Andrew
27	Sarah	Joshua
28	Anna	Luke
29	Grace	Gabriel
30	Brooklyn	William
31	Natalie	James
32	Alyssa	Elijah
33	Alexis	Owen
34	Aubrey	Tyler
35	Samantha	Gavin
36	Isabelle	Carter
37	Arianna	Cameron
38	Charlotte	Daniel
39	Makayla	Zachary
40	Claire	Christian
41	Lillian	Joseph
42	Gabriella	Wyatt
43	Lyla	Anthony
44	Amelia	Samuel
45	Sophie	Chase
46	Aaliyah	Max
47	Taylor	Isaac
48	Audrey	Christopher
49	Bella	John
50	Leah	Eli
51	Allison	Austin
52	Sydney	Colton
53	Alana	Hunter
54	Maya	Tristan
55	Keira	Jonathan
56	Lucy	David
57	Kayla	Alex
58	Lauren	Colin
59	Savannah	Dominic
60	Brianna	Cooper
61	Ellie	Henry
62	Reagan	Carson
63	Evelyn	Isaiah
64	Carly	Charlie
65	Julia	Julian
66	Bailey	Grayson
67	Jordyn	Cole
68	Victoria	Oliver
69	Annabelle	Jordan
70	Cadence	Thomas
71	Katherine	Sean
72	Stella	Brody
73	Molly	Adam
74	Kennedy	Levi
75	Jasmine	Aaron
76	Gianna	Parker
77	Abby	Sebastian
78	Makenna	Xavier
79	Morgan	Ian
80	Caroline	Miles
81	Maria	Blake
82	Brooke	Jake
83	Nora	Riley
84	Alexa	Jason
85	Camryn	Nathaniel
86	Paige	Adrian
87	Eva	Brandon
88	Scarlett	Justin
89	Adriana	Nolan
90	Juliana	Jeremiah
91	Ashlyn	Hayden
92	Megan	Devin
93	Kendall	Brady
94	Harper	Robert
95	Jada	Josiah
96	Violet	Hudson
97	Alexandra	Ryder
98	Gracie	Bryce
99	Nevaeh	Micah
100	Sadie	Sam

Christmas: Top 5 gifts for the new dad

Since Christmas is around the corner, i believe for those celebrating Christmas this would be the busiest time before Christmas..and probably the mums are also in the hunt to get something for their dad-to-be..A new father gifts must be something that's useful not only for them personally but also something that they can share with their sons and daughters. So I'm going to share my top 5 wish list (even though i didn't celebrate Christmas ;-)) with you guys.

1. Baby Books

Especially for the expectant fathers, basic books about babies are something for is very essential and very useful. Most of the books will share about what to expect before and after a baby's birth, so basically information for the Dad to be fully involved in the child rearing world for example this interesting book by Jennifer Margulis, James di Properzio called The Baby Bonding Book for Dads: Building a Closer Connection With Your Baby selling at $10.85 on Amazon. 

2. Baby Carrier

Although most of the early months after birth the mother will be the one whose close to the child all the time, a dad should also take this chance to bond by having a baby carrier such as the Over the shoulder carrier, front baby carrier, etc. I would prefer the front carrier in their earlier years and switch to the back carrier as they get older due to the weight-to-gravitational-proportion ratio LOL. Just look at this sleek looking baby carrier Evenflo Snugli Front and Back Soft Carrier, Black/Gray selling at $29.99 only, plain, simple just as what I would like in a baby carrier...Add to Cart!! :-D

3. Baby Car Seat

Did i hear somebody said "Bucket Seat"? Yea i heard ya..It is so..definitely the things that I'll be checking out each time me and my wife went out for a walk/window-shopping at the mall..Baby car seat is definitely essential for those having cars. But I have to remind you Dad's to choose wisely as baby do grow and appropriate car seat for the age/weight is also important. Although I love things that is plain and simple but in the in this case i would prefer more strong, sturdy design like the Graco Snugride 35 Infant Car Seat, Brunswick, in the case of children i prefer to be safe than sorry. Last but not least, Safety First! make sure to properly install the seat and buckle-up nicely every time in use.

4. A Camera & a Scrap Book

Being a shutterbug myself, i really loved and looking forward for the prospect of capturing all the growing-up moments of my child. So a camera and a scrapbook to keep all the 'moments' is really becoming a trend now especially for the facebook savvy moms and dad, perfect for a new father gift. I'll be snapping with my Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera for now until i can get my hands my dream DSLR Nikon D7000.

5. Diaper Bag

This is a MUST! for those always on the move. It's storage bag with multiple pocket like spaces enough to carry all the basic necessities for a baby such as diaper, wet wipes, bottle, bibs, pacifier, etc. It usually comes with different styling and colors and for us men, nowadays they even have the rugged look in the ever growing sector to appeal to men. If recommendation is required, i believe this cool, hip, funky diaper bag Diaper Dude Diaper Bag at $43.99 from Diaper Dude is the one to look for. With dad in mind for the design, WE Men can now carry it proud wherever we go ;-).

Well that's all i can think of right now on what would appeal to me and probably to other dad's also..feel free to share with me on what you think about it or your ideas on other great items on top of what I've listed in this post :-) Happy Hunting!

For those celebrating Christmas...May you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays..cheers