Confinement

When I told Lorraine about our Chinese confinement practice in Malaysia, she gave me a puzzled look. She is from Leicester, England. I guess, the no bathing for a month rule, is too much. In contrast, when I shared with Leah, from Hong Kong, she understand. But for the Cantonese, they eat a lot of pork trotter with sweet vinegar and ginger. So she recommended me 'Pat Chun' sweet vinegar. Is a must for all HK moms, I guess. Daddy D and Allen went down to Chinatown to get for me. When Daddy D came back with the big jar of vinegar, I wonder, can I finish it within one month time? No I did not finish, I only managed half of it. No more, please.

Pat Chun Sweet Vinegar, Can You Handle It ?

So the question is, why all new moms need to go through confinement after childbirth? Does it really helps? After 3 kids, I am still wondering. I guess like my mom always says, you will know it when you are old. For me I just follow what I think is rational, and not over doing it. I hit shower the moment I am back from the hospital. And yes, I washed my hair. I never wear 'sarong' or socks. I turn on the air conditioner and also fan. I lived in Malaysia, not China. So I guess the 'wind' won't get me.

Confinement Meal

But one thing for sure, I eat (and drink) diligently, all thing ginger for 30 days. First week, the food always taste yummy. Second week, starting to struggle, third week, wondering when is going to end. Fourth week, eating less and planning what to eat AFTER the confinement. Why mom, why? I guess it's for our own good.

More Confinement Meal

And on top of that, everyday there will be a tonic soup for me. It does not taste good. But one thing I enjoyed best is the red dates water. I can drink that any time. I bought my herbs from Effective Herbs in One Utama during Princess C and Speedy C confinement. For this time with Tiny C, I got it from Yin Onn, Mid Valley. Just want to try out others. Both equally good. The herbs were good quality and no preservative sulphur added. Nice. But is not cheap.

Red Dates Water

After 30 days, I can say that I felt great. Recovered well and lose weight as well. For all new moms, when it comes to confinement practice, do what you think is rational. Is your body. When in doubt, consult your doctor. My confinement is over now. Heading for buffet next week. The poshest one in town, please.

Tonic Soup

Missing You

Daddy D is always with us. His scope of work does require him to travel a little bit, but not far from home. If he is going on a business trip, he will always bring us along. He just don't want to be away from us. I will take care of the children and he will do his thing. But I got to admit, not all men can do that. Maybe only him and my father in law. 

Our recent trip was to Singapore. 5 days. I was almost 36 weeks pregnant with Tiny C. Thinking back, I was quite daring.What if, suddenly Tiny C wants to come out? Lucky us. it did not happen. It was a busy trip for Daddy D, fun trip for both Princess C and Speedy C, but a really tiring trip for me. Well, as long as we are together, and the children are happy. I am happy.

Swimming Time At Pan Pacific, Singapore

Daddy is away since last Friday for business trip again. But this time we can't tag along. 2 weeks in USA. A week in Atlanta and another in Dallas. 3 kids under 5 and almost a day of travelling. No way. Poor Speedy C, he misses Daddy D a lot. Every morning when he wakes up and night before he goes to sleep, he will ask for Daddy D. We Skype everyday, 12 hours difference is not that bad. Daddy will be back next Saturday. Along with my Kitchen Aid mixer, Princess C's Frozen scooter, Speedy C's Radio Flyer tricycle. And RL polos for everyone. Cool. Thanks Daddy!

Daddy's Boy

To Cut Or Not To Cut

Year 2009.

I was pregnant with Princess C. At around 7 months, I decided to check out the pre natal class offered by the hospital. It cost TB4500. Snacks included. I was there for the class. Daddy was there for the food. We learned a lot from Becky, our instructor from US. She is also a doula. We met 3 most wonderful couple who are expecting just like us. Max and Tracy from Australia. Andrew and Fon from Germany and Thailand. Graeme and Rie from South Africa and Japan. We all hoped for a painless NATURAL birth.

Pre Natal Class At BNH Hospital

Year 2010.

Fast forward. I was the first to give birth. And to much disappointment (or relief), I was scheduled for an elective Caesarean section. Reason being, Princess C was in a breech position. It was a quiet but not so peaceful Friday evening. The Red shirt protest in Bangkok. The situation was bad. Every where there were road blocks. Army and police patrolling. We reached BNH Hospital around 9 pm after a heavy dinner. Check into my ward. And it was huge, like huge for a single room standard. The nurse wheeled me in the operating theatre early in the morning. Since it was a planned c section, Daddy D was allowed to join in. It was really fast. Dr Rainni gave me the spinal, then within few minutes, I can't feel the lower part of my body. Then the operation began. I was quite nervous. Okay. Really scared. There was so many people in the operating theatre, my Ob Gyn, the other Ob Gyn that I haven't seen before. The Paediatrician. The Anaesthesiologist. And at least 5 nurses. Is like a party in there. Within 5 minutes after the spinal. Princess C was born. Tears in our eyes, our first born. Our beautiful Princess C. After the baby is out, I was given some gas to sleep, and Dr Suchittra continue to stitch me up. By the time I woke up, I was in the recovery ward, and within few minutes I was wheeled back to my own ward. First day after the operation, I was not allowed any food by mouth. Only drip, I was really hungry. Starting to feel the pain from the C Section, but was bearable, as I was also given painkiller in the drip. Bed rest for the whole day, can't move. They inserted a catheter in my bladder. Then second day, I was allowed only soft food. Not good. I can move a little, I tried to walk. The nurse gently remove the catheter. The journey to the wash room was like to me, climbing mount Everest. Third day, normal food. I never thought that plain rice can taste so good. I can walk without pain, everything goes back to normal. I was discharged on the fourth day.

Happy Birthday Princess C

Year 2012.

Here we go again. Another C Section for me. This time Speedy C was in a good position. Just that he was too big for my pelvic I guess. Dr Suchittra suggested me to go for another C Section as she worried my old scar will rupture. Sounds so scary. Well everything was just the same, same procedure, same team. I was just as nervous as last time. The operation theatre is always so cold and so over whelming. After I got my spinal, the labour began. I was shaking and wanted to vomit, but luckily I did not. They put up the curtain to cover the lower part of my body, and the team of doctors and nurses did their magic. I even imagined is like a magic show, they put up the curtain, and 'poof' the baby is out. Magic, right? And I didn't feel anything, except for the tugging and pulling, is not painful, but felt so strange. Recover this time was a little bit faster I guess. My body was telling me I need to heal fast now. I have a newborn and a toddler to take care now.

Happy Birthday Speedy C

Year 2015.

First time giving birth in Malaysia. Dr Loo Suat Chin is the best Ob Gyn in Malaysia, well if you ask me. Her appointments is always full. I have to wait for 2-3 hours every visit, and I only get to see her for 10 minutes, but is worth it. She is always so bubbly, caring, and kind. I didn't even need to ask, she ordered another C Section for me, as it was to late to try VBAC. Well, fine to me. The time has come for Tiny C to see the world. Third time's a charm, but not for me. Nervous as usual. To make it worse, is a different hospital and different environment. Procedure is so different from BNH Hospital. Dr Paul gave me the spinal, and again they put up the magic curtain. And Dr Loo ever so swiftly cut me open and 'poof' comes out Tiny C. But no this time, Dr Paul did not give me any sleeping gas. I was awake the whole operation. Not good. I can here the stitching and cutting. Good thing is I get to see my precious bundle and breastfeed her immediately. She look exactly like her sister. Recovery was so much faster. Like I can eat after the operation, like proper dinner. And I was expected to walk the day after. That was fast. I did not feel drowsy. But this time, it was painful. I can feel like every time I moved, some one is slicing my tummy. Ouch! But I heal faster. Now I have a newborn, a toddler and a pre schooler to take care.

Happy Birthday Tiny C

I still think that if I was given a chance to try natural birth. I would. But hey, C Section is not all bad. But if you can do it. Go natural.

Simple as A B C

Children nowadays are very privileged. I Pad, tablet, almost everyone or every kid has one. They are always playing games, watching video or Youtube. What happen to those days when playing outside with friends, cycling around the neighbourhood, playing hide and seek or just playing 'catching'?

I remembered when I was 6 or 7, playtime were alot more fun then. I used to go to my friend's house and we played 'masak masak'. My best friend and neighbour then, Mun Yee, she got a really cool set of 'kitchen'. We always pretend to cook and her younger brother, Mun Chun will always be our customer or sometimes patient, as we can be chef and also Chinese physician that knows a lot about traditional Chinese tonic soup at the same time.

Like this ABC soup recipe that I am about to share. Is really simple and I guess most people knows by heart how to cook it. But I find that most of the ingredients in the soup will go to waste as most people will just drink the soup and discard the rest of the meat or vegetable. Here is what I do with it.

ABC Soup

Serves : 4-6

6 Tomatoes

2 Potato (or half a small pumpkin)

2 Carrot

2 Onion

Half Chicken (with meat and bone, cut into small pieces)

2L Water

Salt and Pepper to taste

* Few white or black peppercorn (optional)

Cut all vegetable in equal size.

Bring water to a boil and put all vegetables and chicken into the pot. You can add some peppercorn if you like your soup spicy. Boil for 2 hours.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

* Now you get the soup. And you can get more out of it with this other simple recipes.

I usually boil the soup for 30 minutes and then will take out the chicken pieces.

Let it cool down. Shred the chicken pieces, save the meat. Put the bone back into the soup and continue boiling.

Save the shredded chicken for sandwiches, noodle, pasta or even porridge.

Or save half of the chicken, blend it together with some of the vegetable, bread crumb and one egg. Mould it into the shape you desire. You can use cookie cutter to shape it too. Coat it with bread crumb. Brush it with some melted butter or spray it with some olive oil. Bake it at 180 Celsius for 10 to 15 minutes.

Home Made Nuggets

Tada! You have yourself home made healthy Chicken Nuggets!

Lunch Time

And we are not finish yet. Take the potato, carrot and tomato, blend it with a knob of butter (be generous), and you have yourself, a healthy mash. Top it up with some parmesan cheese, bake it for 5 minutes and you are in heaven!

And if there is any left over soup, strain it, put it in the fridge, use it as soup stock for noodle or pasta dishes.

Nothing goes to waste.

And now this is the real 'masak masak'.

Happy Meal Time

Bathing Time

I have known Daddy D for almost 9 years. We have been married for 8 years. We have three beautiful children together. There is Princess C, Speedy C and also the new member of the family, Tiny C.

I have never say this to Daddy D before, but I would like to write it down here. He is a wonderful husband and father. He work hard for us. He provide for us and put us before himself. He always give the best to us. He would buy expensive toys for his children but never buy anything for himself.

During Princess C first few months, he dare not help me to bathe her as he felt that she is too fragile. But once she is around 6 months old, and she can sit on her own, Daddy D starts to help me to bathe her. He really enjoy those moment with her.

Daddy D & Princess C

Then came Speedy C. Daddy D suddenly became superdad, everyday he wakes up super early, just to bathe, the then 2 years old Princess C first, and after that, he will bathe Speedy C before going to work. He try to help me as much as possible as I am just recovering from another c-section. The way he bathe Speedy C, with his full beauty regime, could sometimes take more than 20 minutes. I am very proud and very thankful for Daddy D. Not all daddy could do that but he did.

Daddy D + Speedy C

Now Tiny C is here. He could not spend much time with her, as he got his hands full with Princess C, now going to be 5 soon and also Speedy C, which will be 3 in a few months time. But he still try to help me as much as possible. He even took 2 weeks off his work so he could be there for me. He told me before I went in the operating room for yet another c-section, that he might be a little rusty, but he did watched back those video on how to bathe newborn. He may not be the most romantic guy, but that to me is everything I could I ask for in a guy. When we came back from the hospital, the following day he bathe Tiny C.

Daddy D & Tiny C

We love you Daddy. Always.