We all love having that cool, energizing and natural coconut water straight from the fruit itself to beat the heat on a hot and sunny day. But a lot of us Asian mums believe that coconut water might be too “cooling” and only drink it during the last trimester.
During the last trimester, a lot of Asian mums also believe that consuming a lot of coconut water will help “clean” your baby, so that the amount of vernix caseosa (the waxy or cheese-like white substance found coating the skin of newborn babies) is reduced when the baby is born.
Benefits of Consuming Coconut Water During Pregnancy
According to Dr. Hon Sook Kit, Gynaecologist, Gleneagles Medini Hospital, coconut water is rich in electrolytes such as potassium, and magnesium. These electrolytes help to relieve heart burn, constipation, and more importantly, they are necessary for healthy muscle and nerve activities during labour.
Coconut water also fights against dehydration, and replenishes lost fluids as 95% of its content is water. Good hydration helps to maintain good blood flow to the uterus and, indirectly, to the baby.
Studies have also shown that good hydration can result in good liquor volume, which is an important part of the baby’s wellbeing. And when baby is strong and healthy, he or she will be able to withstand the stress of labour much better.
Precautions to take when consuming coconut water
Coconuts are best consumed immediately after they are cut as they are ripe with nutrients then. Do also keep in mind that a ripe coconut can be harmful as it leads to constipation and can also increase a person’s body fat.
It is best to restrict the intake of coconut water to one glass a day in order to prevent an overdose of sodium or potassium. Some doctors may recommend that you stop drinking coconut water two weeks before surgery.
Side-Effects of Drinking Coconut Water During Pregnancy
Generally, coconut water is safe to be consumed during pregnancy by most women. However, just like any other food or beverage, moderation is key as coconut water also contains sodium, which should be avoided if a pregnant woman is suffering from high blood pressure and is on medication for it. Always discuss with your doctor before consuming coconut water if you have blood pressure issues.
Let’s be honest, us parents would do whatever it takes to keep our children safe from all potential dangers be it outdoors, or at home where they spend most of their time in. But unfortunately, no matter how careful we are, accidents may still happen.
But instead of panicking and being clueless about what to do, wouldn’t it be great if we had an idea on how to handle certain accidents and be hands-on ready to come to their first aid?
We’ve put together a list of potential accidents and spoke to Dr Mohammed Ridzuan Abdul Razak, Senior Resident Medical Officer, Emergency Department, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur on how we should handle certain situations.
My baby rolled off the bed and knocked his head!
Accidents like these do happen when you least expect it. If it does happen, here’s what you’ll need to do.
Notice if your baby cries immediately. Crying is a good sign that your baby is conscious.
Pick him up and console him.
If his nose bleeds, stop the bleeding immediately by pinching his nose.
If swelling occurs, add some ice cubes into a cloth and place it on the affected area.
Monitor your baby for 24 hours and look out for signs that are out of the ordinary, such as vomiting, drowsiness, fits or fever.
If worried or uncertain, always seek medical attention at the nearest clinic or hospital.
My child burned himself with boiling water!
Safety and prevention is of utmost importance when it comes to situations like these. Make sure your child is nowhere near your cooking stove, and ensure that your hot drinks or soup are out of reach. But if it does happen, follow the steps below.
Remove your child from the heat source to prevent further injury
Cool the burn with cool running water for 10 minutes – do not apply any creams or greasy substances like butter or toothpaste
Remove any clothing or jewellery that’s near the burnt area of skin, including babies’ nappies, but do not move anything that’s stuck to the skin
Cover the burn with sterile dressing or plaster
Don’t break any blisters
Please seek immediate medical attention if the burn covers a large area, affects the face, hands or feet, genital region or joint area. Cover with a clean cling film temporarily. If a burn appears infected, seek help.
My child is having a fever with seizures!
Febril Seizures are convulsion or fits that can happen when a young child has a fever over 38 degrees. The seizures usually last for a few minutes and stop on their own, but can be prevented by keeping your child’s fever down and administrating paracetamol on time, especially on the first two days of fever. If your child gets a fit:
Gently lay your child down on a flat surface
Maintain their safety – remove any objects from around them to prevent injury
Cushion their head using a blanket or pillow, but do not restrain them
Make sure their airway is open
Once seizure stops, check their breathing, pulse and whether they can respond to you.
It is possible that they may bite their lips or tongue during the seizure, but do not be tempted to put any items into the child’s mouth when they are having a fit. – Dr Mohammed Ridzuan Abdul Razak
Get emergency medical care if your child:
Has a febrile seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes
Has trouble breathing or turns blue
Isn’t responding normally
Has another seizure within 24 hours
If you are worried for any reason
In any situation where you are worried or unsure what to do, always call for help using one of these emergency numbers.
Disclaimer: This article was produced by Lily Shah for Parenthood Magazine in collaboration with Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Information published in this article and website are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. We do not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurance to the content in this article. Thebuxombabe.com disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on the information provided.
As parents, we hope that we’ll never have to use cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on our children. Nonetheless, it is super important that we equip ourselves with the knowledge and steps so that in an event of an emergency, you’ll have an idea on how to perform CPR and what measures to take.
Do note that infant CPR is slightly different than an adult’s. For the purpose of this article, ‘infants’ are referred to babies age 0- 12 months old.
CPR should only be performed if breathing has stopped and the infant is unresponsive or unconscious”.
– Dr. Mohammed Ridzuan Abdul Razak, Senior Resident Medical Officer, Emergency Department, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL).
Can I perform CPR even if I have no training or practise?
As parents, we automatically want the best for our children – to be healthy, to be safe, and to also be equipped with skills and resources that’ll help them succeed in their adult lives. A lot of these lifelong skills are obtained during their early years of learning, hence the reason why so many parents put so much thought in choosing the right pre-school for their children.
This is even more apparent in recent years where both parents are working to make a living and to provide the very best for their children. But what makes a good early childhood education? What are the key considerations that parents need to look out for in this day and age?
Check out this review of LinDees, a new intergrated playland, cafe and co-working pace in Hartamas Shopping Mall, which has a lovely Malaysian twist to it!
I’ve been to a few playlands having a 3-year-old at home – most of them have the usual slides, toys, playhouses- but none of them are as unique and Malaysian as LinDees. Nestled on the second floor of Hartamas Shopping Centre, Lindees is a place where both work and play can intersect. Being a working mum myself, walking into LinDees was like looking at the answer to my prayers- a smart integration of play, work and eat all together in this beautifully designed space (it’s so Instagram worthy I promise you!).
There are three key areas in LinDees, which include their Playland, Kerjasama Deck and Nom Nomland.
Playland
LinDees’s Playland is divided into a few sections that cater to infants all the way up to children 12 years of age. When you first enter the playland, you’ll find Manja Nest- an area for the 0-2-year-olds. The area is closed off from other parts of the playland and padded so babies can freely (and safely) crawl, roll, jump and explore as freely as they wish. What really caught my eye were the switches, locks and other common household items that kids love to play with- all placed at their eye level. With playmats, puzzles, musical instruments, books and even a steering wheel overlooking a picturesque view of Kuala Lumpur, the Manja Nest is definitely a baby-friendly play area that’ll stimulate their senses and motor skills.
As you walk through the rest of the playground, you’ll notice some Hollywood inspired stars that feature successful and notable Malaysians, which I think is a beautiful touch and not to mention educational too. The Playground also has a wide wall with beautiful Malaysian fabric designs and graphic where kids get to touch, feel and do some colouring.
Colouring isn’t the only activity to stimulate your child’s creativity, in LinDees, they have a dedicated arts and crafts area called Seni Station where kids get to create, build, paint and craft all sorts of things. There are also costumes and musical instruments in LinDees’s Ceria house to encourage imagination.
To get them moving with physical activities, LinDees has the Sukan Arena, where kids can play football, sepak takraw and basketball among other things. There’s also a wall for wall climbing and a beautifully curated playground area called Tanah Discovery. Kids can also do a little bit of gardening in Laman Green, to cultivate a love for nature, So there’s lots to do here!
Towards the end of playland you’ll find Harmoni Hall- a closed-off area with a library of books and a stage, which makes a great place for kids to do a little role-playing, read some books, and works great as a place to have birthday parties or small events.
A few other things that is worth mentioning is their washroom, which is equipped with children sized toilets, diaper changing tables and a shower area in both female and male washrooms. They also have a cozy breastfeeding room for nursing mummies, so no worries there.
Kerjasama Deck
This co-working space is located on an upper deck (sort of like a treehouse) located in between the playland and eatery. It isn’t that big, but fits 2 private meeting rooms, some private pods and hot desks to accommodate any working style. The best part about the Kerjamasama Deck as a parent myself, is the fact that it overlooks the Playland so you can keep an eye on your little one while you’re working. It may seem that you’re high above and far from your child, but rest assured that there are staffs around the playland to keep an eye on your children- plus they are also CPR certified.
Nom Nom Land
Savour the best of local and Western Delight at Nom Nom Land with dishes such as nasi lemak, spaghetti Bolognaise, sandwiches and many more. They even have a Kid’s menu to cater to juniors and are reasonably priced. I didn’t get a chance to try any of their food, but I do like the fact that they have junior tables and chairs in the cafe, where kids can have their very own space to eat and drink.
Founded by Ms Nurlin Salleh and Ms Mien Dee Yong, who are working mothers themselves, they understood the need to have a place where they can balance both parenthood and career at the same time. “Our goal is to create an environment that encourages a healthy work-life balance in all families. We want to empower mothers to come back to work after giving birth while reminding our kids of what Malaysia a unique country.”
As Malaysia’s first integrated indoor playland and co-working space, LinDees has definitely caught my eye, not just as a place for kids to play and for parents to work, but as a place that pays homage to Malaysia’s diverse culture.
So how much does it cost?
Depending on what you’re there for, be it to work, play, eat or all of it, prices will differ accordingly. LinDees prices are divided into bundle price, playground price and Kerjasama price, so you can conveniently pay according to what you need.
Here’s a little review on Cetaphil Baby Moisturizing Bath & Wash from a mummy with a boy who has sensitive skin.
Looking for the right baby wash can be a little overwhelming especially when you’re a new parent. With all the dos and don’ts and what’s good and what’s not, I can imagine what you’re going through- in fact, I know exactly how you feel because I too went through it all.
By now you probably already know that babies and toddlers have much more sensitive skin compared to an adult’s, and that is why picking the right baby bath and wash is so important. I used to think that any bath or shampoo that are ‘made for babies ‘ is good enough- that’s until I found out that my firstborn Eidrix had eczema (yup, had– he eventually grew out of it, alhamdullilah).
Ever since then, I was a bit pickier and cautious when it came to choosing the right baby bath or shampoos. Some of the things that I look out for are:
• Is it paraben-free? –More info on why we should be cautious with paraben here.
• Is it soap-free? – Soap can be drying for the skin
• Is it hypoallergenic?- which means it is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction
• Is the fragrance overpowering?
So recently I came across Cetaphil Baby Moisturizing Bath & Wash, which fits the bill for what I’m looking for. As a working mama I need a baby wash that is fuss-free, which means that it has to clean well yet gentle on the skin.
There are a few reasons why I really like the Cetaphil Baby Moisturizing Bath & Wash, so let me expand on them below.
Besides being paraben- free, soap-free and hypoallergenic, the Cetaphil Baby Moisturizing Bath & Wash also is 1/3 lotion with aloe vera and almond oil, which are 2 ingredients that are beneficial to keep the skin moisturized, soft and smooth.
It is also a product that is recommended by paediatricians – According to Cetaphil’s Website, a total of 200 dermatologist and paediatricians in Germany surveyed online in 2015 for this. That’s a relief!
It lathers up just nicely- I personally do not like the ones that don’t lather up. But I also do not like ones that lather up too much, so this one is just nice- We can still have that bubble bath effect if we want to.
I love the smell!– The best part is the scent sticks on even after bath, which kinda makes me want to hug and kiss my kids all the time… haha! But most importantly, it’s not overpowering!
DID YOU KNOW? 10/10 mums agree that Cetaphil Baby Moisturising Bath & Wash gently cleanses and moisturises baby’s delicate skin*.
I also like the packaging because it’s easy to grip and easy to bring along on our travels too. Imagine if it’s a pump-out type… susah right? There’s a risk of it leaking if you don’t pack it in properly.
In terms of the amount of liquid used for one bath, I just use a coin size amount every time and it does the job!
Besides that, the formulation is made tear-free, which means it won’t sting if it accidentally gets into your baby’s eyes.
Overall, the Cetaphil Baby Moisturizing Bath & Wash is so far the best body bath and wash for us because it meets all the requirements that a working mummy like me need, plus it’s gentle on my boy’s skin and moisturizing too!
Ohh ya, I forgot to mention that I found that I don’t even need to put on any oil or lotion after his bath anymore!- save me time and money! hehehe
If you’re interested to know about the Cetaphil Baby Moisturizing Bath & Wash, you can get more info via their links below:
It’s 2019 and all of a sudden so many of my ex-classmates are having babies! In fact, we even have a mummy WhatsApp group to share our questions and stories. And because I’m the most senior one there- the only one to have 2 kids at the moment- all my first-time-mummy friends are asking ME for a list of items to buy for their baby and advice on what’s not necessary.
So, instead of having to type out and re-think every single time someone asks me this question, I thought why not come up with this baby shopping list- so I can share with them what i think is necessary and what’s not.
So here’s a baby shopping list which I personally think are necessities, and which I think are not necessary when you are shopping for your first baby.
The Big Bulky Items
Necessary:
Crib or co-sleeper
Crib mattress
Car seat (For extra savings, pick one that fits newborn till at least 18 kg)
Stroller (Pick one that is newborn friendly and can use till at least 3 years old)
High chair / Booster seat (not an issue till 4- 6 months onwards)
Cupboard / Dresser – For baby’s clothes
Changing table – Because changing on bed/ floor hurts my back
Not Necessary:
Bassinet (You’ll only use it till 3 months, so don’t waste your money!)
Rocking chair (Although nice to have especially when you’re nursing baby)
We don’t think about it often, but it is in those moments when someone in your household sustains an injury or burns themselves that you wished you had some knowledge on first aid. Having a 2 year old and 2 months old at home means that I have to be constantly alert and ready to take on any minor accidents that happen at home. Because of this, I decided to meet with Dr Mohammed Ridzuan Abd Razak, Senior Resident Medical officer, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur to further understand what we need to do if burns or bleeding occur at home.
As careful as we may be, accidents do happen when we least expect it, so it is best that we equip ourselves with some first aid knowledge. For this issue, we’re focusing on burns and bleeding. So here are some important information as well as some steps and tips on how to handle burns and bleeding at home.
BURNS
How many types of burns are there and what are they?
Burns are generally divided into 3 types of burns as per below:
