Great news for me! MIL has agreed to take care of the baby when I return to work. I'm in my 36th week right now. However, I am thinking of going on No Pay Leave after my maternity leave. At least till the end of this year. I would like to spend more time with my girls and watch them grow. We'll see how it goes.
I can feel the baby moving further downwards in the womb. I get too tired to walk at times and I'm always tired. I think I can sleep the whole day. But not fitfully, of course. It's very uncomfortable sleeping with the baby pressing against you.
I'm currently teaching Princess to read. She's currently 2years 2mths.I let her watch Leapfrog's Letter Factory DVD. She loves it and is always the one requesting to have it switched on. I also read to her the LadyBird Series. Actually, I've been reading to her for quite some time. It's just that this time round, I get her to read to me. So I take one page at a time. I also used the ToddleWrite cards that I bought for her and get her to match the uppercase letters with lowercase letters. We play it in game form and she actually likes it. I do all these activities during separate timings and each activity only takes about 5minutes; except for the Letter Factory DVD which takes about 35mins.
Princess knows how to use my Iphone really well. I didn't teach her how to do it. She just figured it out on her own. So I downloaded a few softwares for her. Such knowing shapes, ABC Tracer and Counting Games. She loves these 3 and will always play them on her own. She's actually very good with shapes. And now she's gotten really good at counting. Previously she knows how to count but does not associate it with the quantity. Now she does, thanks to the game.
Princess has always been very good at memorising things. She loves songs and learns the lyrics fast. The other day, I was so surprised to hear her recite a prayer in full -she learnt it in school.
All in all, I'm pleased with Princess's development. I do not want to force her so I teach her when she wants to. Lucky for me, Princess is always the one requesting me to read her a book or play card games with her.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Useful websites for mothers & babies and pregnant women (even daddies)!
I chanced upon these websites which I thought were quite useful especially when I had Princess.
http://www.babycenter.com.sg/
This is Singapore's very own babycenter. It helps you track your pregnancy and lets you know how baby is growing. It also features experts' advices on pregnancy-related issues. I love this website.
http://www.baybsupplies.net/
Another great website that I went into. You can purchase baby products and there is also a forum where you can post questions or just chat with parents or would-be-parents. Best of all, one of the forum threads lets you know of any upcoming events or sales on baby products!
http://www.bimandruth.com/daniel/resources.htm
This website is extremely useful as it provides links to 'Shopping for Baby', 'Shopping for Mother' and 'Support Groups'.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/parents/yourchild/prebirth_18mnths/index.shtml
This website informs you of things you can do with your baby especially in the area of music.
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/
I used this website for recipes for Princess. Varied recipes for babies.
http://www.easy-kid-recipes.com/
Another great website to get recipes for baby food.
http://breasttalk.wordpress.com/
BreastTalk@KK. I used this website when I thought I had mastitis for poor latching on when breastfeeding. You can pose questions on breast-related issues to the doctors at KKH.
http://www.babycenter.com.sg/
This is Singapore's very own babycenter. It helps you track your pregnancy and lets you know how baby is growing. It also features experts' advices on pregnancy-related issues. I love this website.
http://www.baybsupplies.net/
Another great website that I went into. You can purchase baby products and there is also a forum where you can post questions or just chat with parents or would-be-parents. Best of all, one of the forum threads lets you know of any upcoming events or sales on baby products!
http://www.bimandruth.com/daniel/resources.htm
This website is extremely useful as it provides links to 'Shopping for Baby', 'Shopping for Mother' and 'Support Groups'.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/parents/yourchild/prebirth_18mnths/index.shtml
This website informs you of things you can do with your baby especially in the area of music.
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/
I used this website for recipes for Princess. Varied recipes for babies.
http://www.easy-kid-recipes.com/
Another great website to get recipes for baby food.
http://breasttalk.wordpress.com/
BreastTalk@KK. I used this website when I thought I had mastitis for poor latching on when breastfeeding. You can pose questions on breast-related issues to the doctors at KKH.
Who to take care of baby after birth?
I'm having a dilemma here. I have no idea who is going to look after the baby after my maternity leave is over. With Princess, I had the help of my aunt who took care of her till she was 2 years old. With the next one, dear aunt will not be able to look after as she is currently taking care of her own grandchild who is about 2mths old. On top of that, she's also looking after her grandson who is 4 years old.
My mum cannot take care of the baby either as she is occupied in the morning and will only be available in the afternoon. However, my work requires me to report in the morning. Mum suggested getting a maid to look after the baby in the morning. I'm quite reluctant of having the baby be taken care of by the maid unsupervised. The recent reports I hear from the news about maids abusing their employer's children adds to my fear of having the maid look after my child.
The other option is getting my mother-in-law (MIL) to look after the baby. She is free in the morning. However, in the afternoon, she has to look after brother-in-law's 3-year-old and 2 primary school going children. It might be taxing on her to look after so many grandchildren.
The other option I've thought of is infant care though the thought of it makes me feel guilty.
The last option would be for me to work from home. I'm not very entreprenurial. So I really do not know what to do.
I hope I'll find a solution to this predicament. I'm just hoping that everything will fall into place and that I do not have to spend the rest of my pregnancy and maternity leave worrying about this issue.
My mum cannot take care of the baby either as she is occupied in the morning and will only be available in the afternoon. However, my work requires me to report in the morning. Mum suggested getting a maid to look after the baby in the morning. I'm quite reluctant of having the baby be taken care of by the maid unsupervised. The recent reports I hear from the news about maids abusing their employer's children adds to my fear of having the maid look after my child.
The other option is getting my mother-in-law (MIL) to look after the baby. She is free in the morning. However, in the afternoon, she has to look after brother-in-law's 3-year-old and 2 primary school going children. It might be taxing on her to look after so many grandchildren.
The other option I've thought of is infant care though the thought of it makes me feel guilty.
The last option would be for me to work from home. I'm not very entreprenurial. So I really do not know what to do.
I hope I'll find a solution to this predicament. I'm just hoping that everything will fall into place and that I do not have to spend the rest of my pregnancy and maternity leave worrying about this issue.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Guilt of a Working Mom
I'm sure I'm not the only working mother who feels guilty each time she spents time at work which equates to less time with her child. I can never get over this feeling. Yet I know that nothing much can be done other than trying as much as I can to leave my workplace on time to pick Princess up from childcare. The older she gets, the guiltier I feel coz I know she's at the stage where she would like her parents to be there for her all the time.
Before I had Princess, I was a workaholic. After I gave birth to her, I was still a workaholic. But now that she knows how to speak and how to express her feelings, I just want to stay home with her and watch her grow. I'm afraid to miss anything for fear of regrets. Whenever I'm working, I feel guilty for leaving her at the childcare centre (though I know she's in good hands).
At times, she tells me not to work. My heart sinks whenever I hear that but I have to put a strong front as I do not want her to feel what I'm feeling. So I will tell her that I need to work to provide her with food, milk and diapers. Note that I did not say "toys" here as I heard from Princess's teacher that once a parent told her child that and the child replied that he doesn't want any toys. Therefore I only name the necessities - things that she cannot go without for now, at least. She will then understand; or probably knows that there is no way that I can stop working; and be resigned to the fact that she has to attend school. She will then say, "Later mommy will come" - to pick her up that is.
I've been thinking of what I can do to work lesser hours or work from home but so far there's nothing I can come up with. I know I am very good with my current career and that is the safety net. I also enjoy my work thus making it more difficult for me to try out something new. *sigh*
Anyway, 2nd princess (the one in my tummy) is now 33 wks old. Oh did I mention I fell down at my workplace the other day? Fell down the steps and landed on my knees. I was so shocked, I almost cried. No one was around to assist so I had to get up on my own. Then I went to the washroom to check for bleeding. Luckily there were no bleeding and baby was moving. I realise that for this pregnancy I'm constantly tired. At times, the baby shifts a certain position and I have difficulty walking.
I'm pregnant with my 2nd baby but this is my fourth pregnancy due to 2 miscarriages. Well, I'll share that story another day.
I'm seeing my gynae next week so I will have to check with her whether this is normal. Need her to check whether I might have an early delivery with this one. I certainly hope not although friends have been saying that I look ready to burst.
Well, we'll see what gynae has to say.
Before I had Princess, I was a workaholic. After I gave birth to her, I was still a workaholic. But now that she knows how to speak and how to express her feelings, I just want to stay home with her and watch her grow. I'm afraid to miss anything for fear of regrets. Whenever I'm working, I feel guilty for leaving her at the childcare centre (though I know she's in good hands).
At times, she tells me not to work. My heart sinks whenever I hear that but I have to put a strong front as I do not want her to feel what I'm feeling. So I will tell her that I need to work to provide her with food, milk and diapers. Note that I did not say "toys" here as I heard from Princess's teacher that once a parent told her child that and the child replied that he doesn't want any toys. Therefore I only name the necessities - things that she cannot go without for now, at least. She will then understand; or probably knows that there is no way that I can stop working; and be resigned to the fact that she has to attend school. She will then say, "Later mommy will come" - to pick her up that is.
I've been thinking of what I can do to work lesser hours or work from home but so far there's nothing I can come up with. I know I am very good with my current career and that is the safety net. I also enjoy my work thus making it more difficult for me to try out something new. *sigh*
Anyway, 2nd princess (the one in my tummy) is now 33 wks old. Oh did I mention I fell down at my workplace the other day? Fell down the steps and landed on my knees. I was so shocked, I almost cried. No one was around to assist so I had to get up on my own. Then I went to the washroom to check for bleeding. Luckily there were no bleeding and baby was moving. I realise that for this pregnancy I'm constantly tired. At times, the baby shifts a certain position and I have difficulty walking.
I'm pregnant with my 2nd baby but this is my fourth pregnancy due to 2 miscarriages. Well, I'll share that story another day.
I'm seeing my gynae next week so I will have to check with her whether this is normal. Need her to check whether I might have an early delivery with this one. I certainly hope not although friends have been saying that I look ready to burst.
Well, we'll see what gynae has to say.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)