There’s only 5 weeks to go! Although I feel that it will be much less. My friend just gave birth 3 weeks in advance of her due date, even my sis in law didn’t reach her due date for her first child. I am getting so heavy that this is the time that I felt the baby needs to come out soon!
At my last checkup at The v institute Sydney, and I should say that they take care of you really well. I put on way too much weight. I blame it on all the feasting during CNY time, this is just last time as Josiah was born in the midst of CNY too. It’s quite hard to stay away from all the mum made cakes and cookies. 🙂
I’ve also decided to stop visiting Dr Bedi, as all the while I was getting checkups at both the government and private clinic. But now I have to checkup every 2 weeks, and I feel that a visit to Dr Bedi isn’t necessary anymore, or more like waste of money as every 2 weeks it cost over RM100 compared to free service at government clinic. We really need to save for the confinement fees later, which cost at bomb at RM3.5k. At my previous checkup at Dr Bedi’s, I was having cough and flu and he even gave me a Influvac vaccination. Means I won’t be getting flu for the next 1 year which is pretty awesome. I hope the vaccination lives up to it.
Our preparations have been pretty much done, baby bag is ready, my hospital bag is packed, our room is prepared, baby room is also rearranged. We got a new mattress for the baby cot in hopes Jordan will sleep longer in the cot than Josiah ever did as the old mattress was hard and plasticky.
Only thing I want to add is a baby bouncer so I can spend more time with Jordan and Josiah downstairs or anywhere without being confined to the bedroom. I think a bouncer will be a cooler option than a cot or playpen in our very hot weather. If I’m up to it, I might even go out. Then we also gotta shop for confinement herbs but this time I’m gonna go easy on it and we over bought the last time and spent too much which ended up most of the herbs being useless and thrown out.
These are some recommended herbs taken from Baiboo.
Recommended food/herbs
Boxthorn fruit or Chinese wolfberry used in conjunction with other herbs is effective for improving energy and strength
Chinese angelica root or dong kwai is supposed to nourish the female organs, alleviate menstrual pain and prevent haemorrhage
Chinese yam (wai san) used in conjunction with meat and other herbs aids digestion, regulate sugar level and control inflammation of the uterus.
Solomon’s seal (yok chuk) is used to alleviate many ailments especially those affecting the throat and lungs
Cordyceps is an excellent strengthening tonic for convalescing patients, and those with reduced appetite and anaemia.
Sesame oil, besides being rich in Vitamin E, Iron & Calcium, helps heal the womb and rid it of “dirty residual bloodâ€.
Black vinegar is made from glutinous rice and lowers ph of food. It leaches calcium from bones cooked with it, therefore it is used to prepare high calcium food especially for breast feeding mothers and it also relieves a windy abdomen
Dill has antibacterial and antispasmodic properties. It is a warming herb which aids digestion, gets rid of gas, encourages lactation, freshens the breath and soothes colic
Gallanggal is a member of the ginger family and it functions as an antibiotic. It warms the body, cleanses the blood, improves appetite, reduces wind and energises the muscles.
Kani seeds contain antioxidants to promote youthfulness, tighten vaginal muscles, prevents excessive discharge, odour and itchiness. It firms the breasts and promotes healing of the reproductive system after childbirth
Ginseng is a cure all for every ailment. Best to take pau sam as it is not too heaty. Korean ginseng is the heatiest of all.
I really don’t know how these herbs look like, I just have to trust my local chinese medicine hall to pick and choose for me.
I also need to get those black and red dates for the only drink allowed to take during confinement is the Red Dates Tea. Can you imagine no water or juice for a month?
Dates tea
Ingredients:
50g black dates
50g nan dates/ nan zhao
150g red dates
50g dried longan
1500ml water
Method:
1) Rinse dates and flatten. Remove the core.
2) Cook dates with water until boiling. Simmer over low heat for approximately 2 hours.
3) Remove from heat, strain well and serve hot.
4) Place the remainder into a thermos flask and drink throughout the day
From http://chineseconfinementfood.blogspot.com/
It’s funny coz when I stayed at the hospital last time, they even provide us coffee to drink and then ask us to breastfeed. Big difference in all cultures eh.