An apple a day keeps the doctor away... but what if you get sick?

The whole family was plagued by so many health issues last year, that I'm gradually changing our lifestyle and diet as we enter into a healthier and happier 2014. While I'm not 100% for naturopathy, I am keen on minimising our reliance on pharmaceuticals and unnecessarily invasive treatments. Hopefully all these changes can also improve the chances of our #2 babymaking efforts!

Here's what we're trying that seems to work so far. Thanks to Google and friends for the tips.

 1) Sore throats and runny nose: Doesn't it feel like if it's not you, a friend or family member will catch this at least once a week? The unnatural cold front in Singapore, and fluctuating temperatures doesn't help!
- Avoid dairy, bananas, cold food. Subsitute for calcium with tofu, soy beans, almonds, oranges, greens
- Nasal douche or spray with sea salt (antibacterial, isotonic)
- Diffuse or drop chamomile, eucalyptus (for older kids), camphor / tiger balm (adults) on pillow or clothes
- Apply pain relieving rescue cream twice daily from nostrils to top of nose and cheeks
- Soak flax seed overnight, boil and reduce to make a warm compress/ paste and apply to head, cheek, nose ideally for 30 mins each day

 2) Cough: If persists more than a week though, go see a doctor as there could be a respiratory infection. Don't wait like I did!
- Serve up pork rib (or vegetable roots) soup, red dates with daikon (white radish) or watercress
- Drink warm manuka honey, lemon and chamomile tea
- Diffuse or drop lavender (cramped cough), eucalpytus (congestion), thyme (suppressant), myrrh (anti-inflammatory). If no oils at hand, use Vicks BabyRub
 - Try warm curd or lemon packing too

 3) (Mild) fever, diarrhea, vomiting from an upset tummy / stomach bug: B had all of this around Christmas. We didn't see a doctor as his temperature never exceeded 38C, and I wanted to allow his immune system the chance to produce antibodies to cure the body. He recovered within a few days with:
- Drink, drink, drink! Peppermint, fennel or chamomile tea, ginger with lemon and honey water
- Ensure sufficient zinc and fiber: Fruits (bananas, apples, pomegranates, grapes, cranberries, cherries, blueberries), carrot, ginger and sweet potato porridge, wholewheat bread/flour, veggies (carrots). Cut down on dairy, white bread, sugar, chocolates, juice
- Barley tea and/or ginger to settle the tummy. The taste can be hard to swallow for kids so add to their favourite foods (i.e. porridge, fish soup ... and of course, baked goodies, like gingerbread men :)
- Wear cotton clothes, go on diapers (sets back potty training, but oh so necessary!)

4) Rash and bites: We go outdoors alot and get our fair share of mozzie and sandfly bites, no matter how much lotion and repellent we use! Our family also has a history of adult eczema although B so far shows no signs .... yet
- Aloe vera or papaya based gels, peppermint or oatmeal bath (fill a cloth bag with leaves/uncooked oats)
- Calendula, coconut oil, olive oil, tea tree oil and oatmeal based lotions. Oatmeal worked wonders for me since I first discovered Aveeno while working in New York. It's anti-inflammatory, seals in moisture, relieves irration
- If rash also includes oral sores, it could be HFMD, scarlet fever, chicken pox
- If rash is chronic, likely to be eczema. Check this out!

5) Healthy, organic living wherever possible. I was quite particular about this while pregnant and through B's first year, but slacked off last year:
- Organic grocery shopping at Fairprice Finest or if I can't find something and need it quick, I'll stop by Brown Rice Paradise or Four Seasons Market
- Organic online shopping from iherb, The Fishwives, The Organic Grocer, Fassler
- Organic (casual) dining at Real Food, Balanced Living as these are nearby. Get more recs  here or join the Organic Living Meet Up

6) Massage: Ironically, I had more massages when working full-time and traveling lots:
- This year, I'm aiming for at least twice a year (for me)
- Casual, 15 mins twice daily (for B) on the back, belly button, head, hands and feet meridians
- Don't know what oil to use?  Read this!  If inspired, make your own blend of jojoba, thyme, bergamot, cypress, tea tree and angelica oils :)

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Week 34: Darn hormones

I tried to finish up our nursery with the necessary art and electronics. Just when I took everything out, I realised I was short of 2 D batteries for the crib mobile, 3 AA batteries for the baby monitor, and a new frame for the main wall painting.  Then I got upset at myself and everyone else who basically came in commenting "Why are you doing this yourself?  Do we really need xyz?" etc. 

Sigh. I totally blame today's mood swings on these pesky things called hormones:

Anyways, it's Sunday night, and time to relax before my last 2 weeks at work.  The nursery will just have to wait.

Week 28: Cramps and dreams

Tossing and turning, lower back aches, hyperactive baby in belly, sudden leg cramps ... and dreams!

Best dream to date: I was having a really short labour, our baby boy came out and started speaking to us.  Heh. This beats my giving-birth-to-aliens dream hands down. I also found some hillarious illustrations on expecting fathers' dreams -- see right :)

Meanwhile, some tips for those nasty leg cramps:

• Avoid standing or sitting with your legs crossed for too long
• Stretch calf muscles regularly - upon waking, daytime, before sleep
• Rotate ankles, wiggle toes when you sit, eat, be a "couch potato"
• Take a walk every day, unless you're on bed rest
• Avoid getting too tired. Lie down on your left side to improve circulation to and from your legs. However, if baby feels cramped on the left (and kicks/punches you!), switch sides as needed
• Stay hydrated during the day by drinking water regularly
• Try a warm bath or massage before bed to relax your muscles

Week 27: Down to the last trimester

Yikes! Third trimester is here. Where has all the time gone?!

We're making good progress towards relocating my parents here.  That said, some logistics can only be sorted out in order: Making room for our live-in helper, shifting some of our furniture to my parents' new place nearby and setting up the baby nursery. Maybe we'll do an IKEA run next week?

I officially applied for maternity leave from work - 3 months off followed by a 3 day flexi-work week for 2 months.  One colleague gave me a new baby bottle steriliser once I start mixing breast and bottle feeding upon my return to work. Thank God for a supportive work-life environment, friends and family! 

From now on, I should gain a pound or ~500g a week which puts my final estimated weight gain at 13-14 kg - on par for most Asian pregnancies.  I haven't done a glucose screening test yet (supposedly done between weeks 24-28) as my regular urine tests have been normal so far. Will check with the doc on that.

Week 25: Rash :(

Uck. So that itchy belly has transformed into a nasty body rash.... I seem to have an onset of PUPPP or AEP.  May need stronger anti-itch lotions soon!

• PUPPP affects first pregnancies in the 3rd trimester, ~1% of women
• AEP affects women with a prior history of topical excema
• Starts out in the abdomen, i.e. close to where stretch marks would be
• Doesn't involve the belly button
• Spreads to thighs, butt, breasts, arms, necks, limb joints
• Harmless to mom and babe - just ridiculously annoying!  
• Most severe itching lasts < 1 week (please....)
• Resolves 1 to 2 weeks after delivery (sob!)
• Cause unknown.  Likely due to inflammation from damaged tissue from the expanding abdomen. One study suggests that male fetal DNA acts as a skin irritant (aiya, my baby boy!)
• Treat with steroids - creams/ointments/oral
• Antihistamines are not as effective but help with sleep
• Avoid things that normally make you itch (e.g. no seafood)
• Avoid hot showers and baths, rinse off well, towel off lightly
• Apply mild soap, unscented moisturiser - preferably oatmeal based
• Wear loose cotton clothing
• Avoid going out when it's hot (er, that's like everyday in Singapore)

Week 24: Back to basics

The angmohs really love their medication to stay healthy:

But when the going gets rough, the best medicine is still REST and ....

Week 20

It's been pretty much routine sleep-eat-work-eat-sleep. The highlight (or rather, lowlight) being a nasty bout of allergies - mainly a runny/blocked nose - since Thursday night. Called the doc on Saturday morning for some pregnancy-safe antihistamines. She suggested chlorpheniramine which cost peanuts from the nearby pharmacy AND worked beautifully, except that it knocked me out pretty good! As hubby had also just completed his Lasik operation, we both ended up recovering at home and eating home-made chicken soup most of the weekend. On the plus side, after a string of busy days, we both got some R&R and felt the baby kick several times! On Sat afternoon, we also went for part 1 of our church's Christian parenting course though honestly, I was so groggy from the meds I barely remember most of it. Thankfully, hubby took copious notes :)

Oh yes. Happy Independence Day, America!

Week 7

Bright red bleeding after a long Monday at work and late dinner. Doc confirmed placenta tear, 1 week bed rest, no work, no activities. Got a progesterone jab and twice daily doses of Duphaston. Home alone with my thoughts and the internet. Nausea, back aches and pelvic cramps starting. Horrid week.

Week 6

First ultrasound confirms a tiny gestational sac in the right place. Dream about giving birth to aliens. Note to self: No more scifi before bedtime.

Start folic acid supplements and mommy diet adjustments (aka no alcohol, no sushi or raw meat, no soft cheese. More calcium, iron and folate rich foods, Vitamins A and E, potassium):

Vegetables 
Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Pumpkin
Spinach
Cooked greens (such as kale, collards, turnip greens, and beet greens)
Winter squash
Tomatoes and tomato sauces
Red sweet pepper

Grains
Fortified ready-to-eat cereals
Fortified cooked cereals
Wheat germ
Red, unrefined rice

Protein
Cooked dry beans and peas (such as pinto beans, soybeans, white beans, lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas)
Nuts and seeds (such as sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, pine nuts, peanuts, and peanut butter)
Lean beef, lamb, and pork
Shrimp, clams, oysters, and crab
Halibut, cod, rainbow trout, herring, sardines, rockfish, and yellowfin tuna

Fruit 
Cantaloupe
Honeydew melon
Mangoes
Prunes or prune juice
Bananas
Apricots
Oranges and orange juice
Red or pink grapefruit
Avocado
Kiwis
Guavas