29th week of motherhood

21mar - 27mar

- returned to work and contacted the stake-holders again
- there's flu bug around and suddenly people around us start to fall sick
-

Wagyu cattle and its rearing story

- do wagyu cows listen to music daily, and eat apples and receive massage?
- world popular wagyu cattle is bred and how is the beef graded?
- a farm has about 1500 top-grade wagyu cattle (black wagyu cattle) in Kagoshima, Japan
- 7am in the morning and 7 deg C in the streets
- sun sets at 4.30pm in Autumn

- before entering the farm, everyone has to gear up from head to toe in white caps and robes
- the robes are meant to ward off external diseases and illnesses
- workers wear uniforms that they can't take out of the farm

- the Japanese shower wagyu cattle with devoted care in rearing them
- they provide the cattle with a comfortable environment to grow 24/7 and 365 days a year
- the wagyu cattle listen to music and feel relaxed, which improves the beef texture and becomes more tender
- to breed superb wagyu beef, even the water for the cattle's consumption is monitored

- the cattle eat organic hay
- grains made from natural ingredients and protein-rich wheat and feed are fed to the cattle
- the cattle is strong and healthy

Biofactors for Young Children

- on average, children grow 5-6 cm per year during their preschool and early school years
- most healthy children also gain between 2-3 kg each year

- as young children grow, they’re building “bone mass”—the bone tissue in their skeleton
- most bone mass accumulates during childhood and adolescence
- helping bones reach maximum strength and density reduces the risk of childhood fractures and adult osteoporosis—a disease that causes bones to become fragile and break easily

- calcium is essential to developing bone mass
- studies indicate that young children often consume less calcium than is recommended

- calcium, along with biofactors that promote its absorption
- besides fortified with vitamin D, a balanced addition of phosphorus and low saturated fat levels
- too much phosphorus can interfere with calcium absorption, as can saturated fat

- zinc is another biofactor that is important for growth
- specifically, zinc triggers reactions for more than 300 body enzymes involved in growth, and there are studies that have found a positive link between zinc and gains in weight and height

Biofactors for Toddlers

- although growth rates slow after the first birthday, toddlers still experience significant growth
- they won‘t have a growth spurt this big again until they are teenagers

- during this time, calcium and vitamin D are essential for growing bones
- the diets of many toddlers fall short of the requirements for these nutrients
- the incidence of rickets—a disease resulting from vitamin D deficiency that can cause children’s bones to become deformed—peaks in the 1- to 3-year-old age group

- a biofactors blend that helps ensure that your toddler absorbs calcium—it has the right amounts of vitamin D and the mineral phosphorus
- low in saturated fat, a kind of fat that can hinder calcium absorption is recommended

- zinc is another biofactor important for growth
- if children do not have enough zinc in their diets, their growth is slowed

- children’s nutritional needs change as they grow, and toddler eating habits can be irregular & unpredictable
- toddlers can be at risk of nutritional deficiencies as they tend to become selective about what they eat & their food consumption varies

Vitamins and minerals for bb during weaning

- Vitamins and minerals are essential for normal body functioning and growth.
- fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of many vitamins and minerals.
- if you choose to prepare these foods yourself, rather than buy commercial baby food products, use fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.
- avoid using canned products, which may contain added sugar or salt

some important Vitamins and minerals:

    * Vitamin C: Children can get vitamin C from citrus fruits and various vegetables.
- their bodies need vitamin C both to form certain chemicals and to put others, including one of the B vitamins, to use.
- Vitamin C also plays a key part in helping children's bodies absorb iron.
- children who do not have enough vitamin C in their diet may develop weakness in their bones, anemia, and other medical conditions.

    * Vitamin D: Sunlight helps the body make vitamin D, and, for some children, sunlight alone may provide sufficient levels of this important vitamin.
- Vitamin D is crucial because the body uses it to help get calcium into the bones.
- this is why vitamin D is sometimes added to cow's milk (this is called "fortified" milk).

Best medical website

The tutorials listed below are interactive health education resources from the Patient Education Institute.
Using animated graphics each tutorial explains a procedure or condition in easy-to-read language.
You can also listen to the tutorial.

JUST CLICK ON YOUR PREFFERED AILMENT

NOTE: These tutorials require a special Flash plug-in, version 6 or above..
If you do not have Flash, you will be prompted to obtain a free download of the software before you start the tutorial.

MedlinePlus

Tips for a healthy diet

1. Relax. Getting the right nutrients during pregnancy to give your baby the best possible start in life is easy to achieve if you eat a well-balanced diet.

2. Diet. A healthy diet will keep you strong, positive and energized, making it easier for you to cope with the big life changes of pregnancy and afterward.

3. Lifestyle. Pregnancy is a great time to establish new lifestyle habits you can continue in future, as you care for your newborn and for yourself.

4. Benefits. Your baby will benefit from increased protection from some birth defects and go on to enjoy lifelong benefits if you eat a well-balanced diet.

Infections during pregnancy

- expectant mothers fear that it'll harm their unborn baby if they get ill during pregnancy

Some of the infections:
1. Thrush
- common infection among pregnant woman
- more often seen in women who are also diabetic, have a high sugar/carbohydrate intake or who are overweight during pregnancy
- at times occur due to poor hygiene when pregnant women have difficulty reaching and cleaning the groin

2. Group B Streptococcal (GBS or Strep B for short)
- some bugs can be transmitted to baby through the placenta or during birth when women gets an infection during pregnancy
- infection found in up to 25-30% of pregnant woman's vagina or rectum
- can cause profuse vaginal discharge in any trimester
- a small percent of mothers can pass GBS to her baby during pregnancy, resulting in severe infection of the lungs and brain resulting in the possible death of the baby within the first few days of birth

- test swab of the vagina can be done at betw 35 & 37 weeks during the routine antenatal visits
- other symptoms include rupture of membrane before 37 weeks, fever during labour (>38 deg C), GBS urinary tract infection during your pregnancy and a previous baby infected with GBS infection
- doc will administer intravenous antibiotics during your pregnancy to prevent baby from becoming infected

3. Chickenpox
- can be more severe if you're pregnant, and more likely to develop dangerous complications such as pneumonia
- have to bear with discomfort as there's no specific treatment for chickenpox except for anti-viral drugs at the early stages
- seek medical assistance should you have any breathing problems

4. Toxoplasmosis
- caught through eating raw, undercooked or cured meat as well as contact with animal faeces
- can cause infection in unborn baby resulting in eye problems and brain abnormalities if left untreated
- symptoms such as fever or flu-like symptoms
- antibiotics are necessary to destroy the parasite

5. Common Cold
- expectant women have lower immunity and more likely to catch colds and coughs
- check with your doctor as some medications contain substances decongestants that are not tested for safety during pregnancy
- caffeine & alcohol could affect baby's development and health
- unlikely that flu will harm baby
- should you have fever, seek medical help

Natural remedies to ease discomfort:
- add a few drops of eucalyptus oil into a bowl of hot water, lean over and inhale
- drink plenty of fluids to replenish lost fluids through the mucus or fever
- for sore throat, concoct a soothing drink of honey with a slice of lemon in a cup of warm water. Alternatively, gargle with salt water
- sleep and have more rest for your body to recover by itself

Boost immune system:
- eat a healthy diet including plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods
- substitute caffeinated drinks for water or fruit juice
- get plenty of rest and try to manage your stress levels by keeping it to a minimum
- consider taking a vitamin and mineral supplement specifically formulated for pregnant women

Alternatively,
- avoid crowded places, eat healthily and visit your gynaecologist regularly
- do not hesitate to schedule a visit your doc should you suspect you have an infection

Infant Care Standards in Singapore

- NUH and NTUC First Campus launched its partnership to enhance infants' holistic development and enhance training programmes for local infant care teachers
- areas such as the health, nutrition, and language and mental development of the child will be covered
- this partnership is one of the 2 inititatives to raise local infant care standards

- 27 out of 68 NTUC First Campus pre-school centres offer infant care services
- may double to 50 by 2010 year end
- infancy period is the age where the child develops the most, lots of changes occur from day to day and good or bad habits are inculcated as well
- diseases in adulthood do often have their roots in childhood and even in early infancy

Singapore Cord Blood Bank

- donating your baby’s umbilical cord blood is encouraged because of its potential to save lives;
- i.e. the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood can help to cure patients of diseases such as leukaemia, thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia, other blood cancers and disorders, as well as immune disorders

- expectant mothers and their spouses who are interested to donate their baby’s cord blood after birth should speak with their ObGyn (Delivering Physician) from 28 – 32 weeks of gestation (you must not have blood transfusion within 12 mth of donation)
- Alternatively, you may wish to contact Singapore Cord Blood Bank SCBB directly at 6394-5012 or info@scbb.com.sg after 32 weeks of gestation to complete the Donation Process

- you would be required to make an appt directly with the Nurse Coordinators who will meet with you (and your spouse) to explain all the donation details including completion of the Informed Consent, the Maternal Risk Questionnaire and the Family Medical History Questionnaire
- preferably after 32 weeks of gestation, when you are stable in your pregnancy and awaiting labour
- This process MUST be completed before you go into labour