Birthmarks and Pregnancy

My 2nd baby was born with nary a birthmark, but my elder one was a different story.

She had about half her back and bottom covered with greenish pigmentation. Most babies I know have this sort of green patches on their backside, but my daughter had really quite a lot ! We received some some comments from, my cleaning help at that time who is a local Chinese. She said that at birth, my daughter's spirit was not willing for her physical body to be birthed out, hence the some struggle cause the bruising. Hmm, right. What a load of hogwash.

My daughter also had a reddish mark on her forehead, just above the centre between her eyebrow. Up till 2 years old, the marks were pretty visible, and some days more than others. We have had concerned friends asking if she had a recent accident and hurt her forehead.

Despite all the comments, my husband and I have never been bothered by the comments or birthmarks. However because of the comments received, my daughter did ask me why she has these markings. I have always assured my daughter that she is special, and God made her an unique person and hence the birthmarks. 

For parents who have babies with birthmarks, do note that kids are often affected by how their parents view things, hence this should be handled with sensitivity. At the end of the day, the birthmarks are not in any way the fault of the child or the mother, rather its just the way nature has created your child.  Love them and accept them.

Here are some information on Birthmarks.

What are Birthmarks ?

Birthmarks are discolored areas of skin that babies are either born with or appear shortly after birth. These birthmarks may fade over time, disappear completely or stay around for several years. While most birthmarks are completely harmless, doctors should always take a look at them to ensure that everything that the mark is not dangerous.

There are two types of birthmarks: vascular birthmarks and pigmented birthmarks. Vascular birthmarks are red, pink or purple and caused by abnormal blood vessels on the skin. Examples are shown below:

Pigmented birthmarks are caused by clusters of pigment cells and are they range from bluish green, to tan or reddish brown in colour. One of the common ones are Mongolian spots (greenish patches often on the buttocks and lower back of the baby) .

What causes Birthmarks?

Birthmarks in newborn babies are caused by abnormal blood vessels or clusters of pigment cells in or on the skin. There is nothing that mums can do during pregnancy to cause or prevent their babies from being born with birthmarks. Pregnant mums cannot alter their diet or prevent the birthmark from occurring.

Should I be concerned about my baby's birthmark?

Since most birthmarks are harmless, pregnant mums shouldn’t worry too much about their children being born with either type of birthmark. Many birthmarks fade over time, and the permanent birthmarks-like port wine stains-while aesthetically not appealing are harmless too.

Some parents may choose to have their children’s birthmarks treated due to cosmetic reasons. If a birthmark is near the eye or is constructing blood to an important part of the body, these birthmarks should be treated.

While birthmarks can be surprising in a newborn, there is no need to worry about the children having pain or medical consequences from it. Since pregnant mums cannot prevent birthmarks from occurring, it’s best to eat healthy, exercise and get plenty of rest during pregnancy. This will increase chances of having a healthy baby after nine months of pregnancy. 

*Important note: The information in this article is for general information only and should NOT be relied upon as medical advice.

Prints Perfect Collection

 

Get Real : The Perfect Holiday Nursing Dress

The Marseille Maxi Dress . The perfect holiday dress.

"Some Veggies are more Equal than Others" ~ Top 5 Vegetables for a Pregnancy Diet

Re-quoting the famous Charlotte's Web quote, some veggies are truly more equal than others.

By making discerning choices of the type of vegetables in their diet, pregnant mums can maximize the amount of nutrients to benefit both mother and baby.

Here are our list of the top 5 Vegetables for pregnant moms:

1. Broccoli

This tree-like vegetable has earned its name as one of the super foods thanks to its high levels of vitamins A and C.  They are also packed with folate, a vitamin which cuts the risks of birth defects; and calcium. Overall it can help in boosting the immunity of pregnant mums.

One cup  (156g) of boiled broccoli has :
168% of Recommended Daily Value (RDV) of Vitamin C
 276% of RDV Vitamin K
                                         48% of RDV of Vitamin A
                                         42% of RDV of Folate

                                                    Tasty Tips: Stir-fry broccoli with chicken or preferred meat with                                                                             teriyaki sauce.

                                                     

2. Carrots

What's up doc? Carrots are an excellent source of Vitamin A and beta carotene, which are so important for the development of baby's eyes, teeth and bones  1/2 cup (78g) of boiled sliced carrots will meet 266% of the RDV of Vitamin A.

Tasty Tips: Add sliced carrots into soups.




3. Dark Leafy Greens



We are spoilt for choices when it comes to dark leafy greens : Spinach, Bok Choy, Chye Sim, Kai Lan, to name a few. Most of the dark green leafy vegetables are naturally high in folate as compared to their paler counterparts. They are a pregnancy power food as they  are packed with vitamins C and K , minerals iron (impotant for development of baby's blood cells) and calcium. Their high fibre content will also help prevent constipation which is quite commonly experienced during pregnancy. They also act as antioxidants in the body by removing free radicals from the body before they become harmful.

Tasty Tips: Stir fry with garlic and oyster sauce.



4. Avocados

Avocados are a tasty way of getting your vitamins as they are rich in folate, vitamin C and vitamin B6 (important for baby's developing brain an nervous system)  and potassium. They also contain good fats in the form of omega-6 fatty acids, which will benefit your skin especially as the belly stretches during the pregnancy. One cup of avocado provides almost a quarter of your recommended daily intake of folate.

                                                      Tasty tip : Sliced together with salad greens.




5. Tomatoes   


The humble tomato has been hailed as a wonder food. In addition to being rich in vitamins especially vitamin A and vitamin C,and iron, tomatoes contain carotene lycopene, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants which are believed to protect cell damage in the body.

Tasty tip: Add fresh chopped tomatoes to pasta sauce.

New Collection of Nursing Covers ~ Nov 2013

Our  nursing covers are great for discreet breastfeeding anytime and anywhere.

They come with  a tie-back function for privacy. Packaged in a stylish re-usable pouch, 

these nursing covers  make lovely gifts too.

Check out our latest collection of nursing covers in gorgeous prints.

Stylish Maternity Look of the Day ~ the Dresden Nursing and Maternity Top

Beat the cool weather in our super soft Dresden nursing top ~
http://www.ubermums-shop.com/nursing-wear/nursing-tops/dresden-duo-top-black.html

Don't forget your Calcium during Pregnancy

Calcium is an important mineral especially during pregnancy. Your growing baby will need large amounts of calcium for its skeletal development as well as nerve and muscle development.  If there are not enough reserves of calcium for the baby to draw upon, the baby will draw what it needs from the mother's bones! This would cause a decrease in bone mass for the mother and putting her at risk for osteoporosis.

How much Calcium do I Need?

The Health Promotion Board recommends that the dietary allowance for  pregnant / breastfeeding women should be 1000mg of calcium each day.  For comparison, the recommended daily amount of calcium for an adult is 800mg.

Sources of Calcium

Although the richest source of calcium are found in milk, cheese and dairy products. there are lots of other sources of calcium found in our everyday foods.  That was a relief to me when I was pregnant especially since I did not particularly enjoy drinking milk. 

The table below is a good guide for dairy and plant-based sources of calcium. 

Food	Serving Size	Calcium content (mg)
Dairy Products
High-calcium milk powder Low-fat milk Full-cream milk Low-fat yoghurt Low-fat cheese*	4 scoops (25 g) 1 glass (250ml) 1 glass (250ml) 1 carton (150g) 1 slice (20g)	500 380 300 240 200
Non-dairy foods
Canned sardine (with bones) Dried ikan bilis (with bones) Silken tofu Tau kwa Dhal (raw) Baked beans, canned* Kai lan, cooked Spinach, cooked Chye sim, cooked Broccoli, cooked	1 fish (80g) 2 tablespoons (40g) package (150g) 1 small cake (90g) mug (50g) can (210g) mug (100 g) mug (100 g) mug (100 g) mug (100 g)	270 270 100 150 85 110 195 140 140 50
Calcium-fortified products
High-calcium soybean milk Enriched bread Calcuim-fortified orange juice	1 glass (250ml) 2 slices (60 g) 1 serving (240 ml)	450 100 350

Credits : Health Promotion Board , Calcium for Greater Bone Strength

Stylish Maternity Look of the Day: The Madison Dress in 2 ways.

Get more mileage from your dresses.
The versatile Madison Maternity & Nursing Dress (in Amber Gold) styled in 2 ways. Take your pick!
Just a change if accessories can take you from day to night.
This dress needs no ironing and is a great piece especially for travelling.

Swollen Feet & Ankles during Pregnancy

Many pregnant women experience mild swelling in the ankles and/or feet especially towards the end of the third trimester of the pregnancy. You may notice that the extent of the swelling may vary during different times of the day. For eg. It is quite common to find your feet to be more puffy at the end of the day.

What causes swollen ankles and feet during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, up to 50% more fluids is produced in a woman's body as reported by the American  Pregnancy Association. This is part of the process to prepare the mother's body for the growth of baby as well as for the birth of the baby. Excess fluids are retained especially in the feet and ankles due to the law of gravity and causes the the swelling in the ankles and feet.
Also, the additional weight gained during pregnancy actually slows down the blood and fluid circulation in the body and causes water retention to take place, commonly in the ankles and feet.

What can you do about it?

While they may not be a avoided, there are some ways to help minimize swollen feet and ankles during pregnancy:

1. Avoid long periods of standing up or being on your feet. 
 Prop up your feet or keep your feet slightly elevated when sitting down.
 (Tip: In the office, stack up two telephone directories and prop as a foot rest.)

2. Prop up your legs on a pillow when you sleep at night. 
(Tip: with the feet propped up, get the husband to massage feet, gently massaging the swollen areas away from the feet and ankles.)

3. Reduce your intake of salt(sodium).  
Avoid adding additional sodium in your diet (for eg .sliced chili that is drenched in soya sauce- a common Asian favourite) and cutting down on processed foods which are commonly known to have high salt content.

4. Increase you intake of potassium rich foods.
Potassium balance the levels of fluids in the body. It also stimulates the kidneys to eliminate excess fluids and along with it excess sodium.

5. Drink adequate water each day
Water hydrates the body and flushes out toxins and excess sodium from the body.

6. Wear comfortable shoes. 
With many choice of stylish flat shoes such as ballet pumps, you won't be 
sacrificing style for comfort!

Keep Baby Safe from Secondhand Smoke

Do you know that breathing even a little secondhand smoke can be harmful to your unborn child?

What is Secondhand smoke?

It is the smoke that is comes from tobacco products which is released into the environment by smokers, and unintentionally inhaled by nonsmokers.

What so bad about it ?

The American Cancer Society[1] reports that secondhand tobacco smoke contains 7000 chemicals, with 250 or more being harmful, and at least 69 are known to cause cancer. Nonsmokers who inhale the secondhand smoke, also inhale the nicotine and toxic chemicals.

Effects on the Pregnancy and Secondhand smoke

Exposure to secondhand smoke may have the following negative effects on your unborn baby, as reported by the Surgeon General[2] in the US:

•  Increases the chances of your baby being a low-weight baby
•  Increases the incidence of respiratory problems in your baby such as pneumonia and bronchitis
• Increases the risk of the baby having weaker lungs
• Increases the risk of the baby developing bronchitis and pneumonia
• Increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) in the baby’s first year

Protect your Baby

• Make your home and car smoke-free zones. If you have family members at home who are smokers, seek their understanding and request that they smoke in the balcony or outside the home.
• Avoid places where there would be smokers. For example, sitting at the in-door area of a restaurant, rather at the al fresco dining area where there would more likely to be smokers.

Hooray for Singapore's Anti-Smoking Laws. Know your rights as a non-smoker, Mums-to-be!
We should be thankful that in Singapore there are many place where smoking is prohibited by law. Besides the interior of malls and public buildings, did you know that in the following places, smoking is not allowed:

• Bus Interchanges , Bus shelters and within 5m radius of bus shelters
• Any common area of any residential premises or building, including void decks, common corridors, staircases & stairwells
• Enclosed common areas of offices, e.g. corridors, lobbies, stairwells
• Any area within 5 m of any entrance/exit/window/ventilation intake of a buildings
• Covered drop-off or pick-up points

See the 2013 updated list of places in Singapore where smoking is banned on the National Environmental Agency (NEA) Website

So pregnant mums, know your rights to a smoke free environment.  The NEA has Guidelines on handling errant smokers,some parts of which I found to be quite amusing. For example: "The manager/operator should speak to the person(The errant smoker) 
privately in a polite way (talk in a soft tone or whisper into his ear)."  Hmmm.

To report errant smokers, do inform the building management, or for  public places where there is no management , call NEA at 1800-CALL-NEA (1800 225 5632) to file a report.

Lets be empowered to know that we can take steps to protect our baby from secondhand smoke.

 [1] American Cancer Society Website

 [2]  Public Resource "Secondhand Smoke: What it means to you"  by the Surgeon General (US)

Stylish Maternity Look of the Day : Glam up for the year end festivities

With the year end approaching, invitations to dinner parties and functions will start to roll in soon.
Be prepared to look your best in a stylish yet comfortable dress.
We recommend our Giada Maternity dress with nursing function. With half sleeves and a gorgeous navy lace with a beige underlay, this dress is a great evening dress for the pregnant or nursing mum.

Baby Care Workshop

Little Naomi at birth

Upon researching for some courses on the One PA website, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they have a Baby Care Workshop catered specially for first time parents.

For those who are not familiar with One PA,  it is a government initiative to equip the various interest-groups with activities and workshops and ultimately to bridge the communities in Singapore. The courses and workshops organized by them are held at the various community centres located around Singapore.

An excerpt on the Baby Care Workshop taken from their website:

"Be equipped with the techniques to prepare yourself for the many challenges ahead. This baby care workshop is designed to introduce participants to the delight of caring for a baby (up to 6 months) in a simulated environment through hands-on practice. A high-quality and substantial involvement in baby care plays an important role in the growing up of a child and helps in language and IQ development. Participants will acquire the basic skills of baby care such as basic handling, bathing, dressing up, diapers changing, swaddling/safe sleeping, feeding and winding after feeding. Dummies and baby care requisites will be used for demonstration and practice. Handouts will also be given on the skills learnt in the workshop. "

The trainer is a qualified registered Nurse with 22 years of teaching experience in training student nurses in the care of adults and children.

3  plus points about this workshop:
1. Hands-on practical workshop
2. 1 day workshop that is 3 hours in duration (Fabulous for busy mums)
3. Affordable cost at S$25

For first time mums,  having some hands-on knowledge on how to handle your new born will help you to be more prepared when the baby arrives. Another plus point is first time grandparents and domestic helpers have the opportunity to equip themselves too by attending this course.

When I was pregnant with my first child about 5 years ago, I attended a hospital based ante-natal class. This was held over 10 sessions with one session was on handling the new born baby. While I found that session informative, it wasn't a hands-on class. The trainer demonstrated on the dummy baby while we stood around to watch. I thought I would  just learn along the way when my baby arrived. The reality was that I was quite unsure how to handle new born Naomi in the bath tub. And  it didn't help that she was really tiny, just 2.3 kg at birth. Thank goodness my mother-in-law did a hands-on demo to show me how to bath and handle little Naomi.  

For all new mums, you may wish to consider equipping yourself with this workshop. 

To date the workshop is available at:  Serangoon CC , Ayer Rajah CC, Chua Chu Kang CC, Hougang CC, Marsiling CC and Tampines North CC.

You can check out the updated information of the locations and dates of the workshops here.  For easy navigation, search for Baby Care in the Search Box on the top right corner of the page, that will bring you to the whole list of Baby Care Workshops. Alternatively you may contact One PA at 67832900.


Best, 
Edwina

*Important Notice: This is not a paid advertisement or marketing promotion. I am not paid in cash or kind for this write up. The opinions are purely on a personal basis.

Stylish Maternity Look of the day ~ Corporate Chic for the working mum-to-be. 

With the Studio DUO dress, all you need is a bold lipstick and your favourite black handbag and you're set for the office.

New Twist to Favourites

Our Antoinette lace maternity and nursing dress was a sell out when we first launched it late last year. We have just launched our Antoniette II lace DUO dress in a slightly different lace from the original one, as well as the Giada lace DUO dress which comes in a elbow sleeve style.

Spa Promotion

We love massages ! The easing of tensed and knotted muscles in a relaxed environment under the hands of 

an experienced massage therapist is such an enjoyable treat.

We are pleased to have a promotion with award winning Aramsa ~ the Garden Spa, whereby any purchase with Ubermums of S$150 or more will entitle you to a S$50 voucher off any one of their treatments.

Each voucher will have a date stamped based on the date of your purchase and will be valid for 3 months from the stamped date. The voucher together with the spa menu will be mailed together with your order.

We do have limited vouchers and they are subject to availability.

In addition to their extensive massage menu,  Aramsa ~the Garden Spa has 2 special massages that cater to new mums and mums-to-be : their prenatal massages and post natal massages.

Their pre natal massage is targeted to release tension on the lower back and reduces water retention. This is suitable for pregnancy after the 3rd trimester. Their post natal massage focuses on firming and toning muscle tissues.

If you have never been to Aramsa ~the Garden Spa, its worth a trip to check it out. It is located in the middle of Bishan Park, and it has an amazing decor and ambience that gives you a feeling that you are in a resort. A lovely treat to unwind yourself from the stresses of life.

                                                                           Garden Bath

                                                  Spa Treatment Room with individual garden courtyard

Back to Basics Collection

Our Back to Basics maternity and nursing DUO wear collection is great for relaxing in style.
They are also versatile as base layers for office wear, worn with a cardigan or jacket over it.

 

Bean Sprout Husk Pillows

Delicate as they are, babies(especially newborns) do get easily startled at the slightest noise or sudden movements.  To counteract this, Asian mums have traditionally used bean sprout husks pillows or bean filled pillows to cushion the little ones from sudden noises and movements, and thus resulting in a calmer and better rested baby.

Compared to bean fillings which could potentially germinate or decompose, bean sprout husks are light, creates air pockets and hygienic.

These pillows are not compact like ordinary pillows. The pillow casings are intentionally sewn with ample space inside so that the bean sprout fillings can be evenly distributed into a thin layer.

To use the pillow, hold both ends of the pillow and shake it sideways to evenly distribute the bean sprout husk fillings. Gently place it over baby's chest or tummy.

Each pillow comes in an inner white cotton casing and an external patterned pillow case. 

Do not wash the inner pillow, but rather sun it regularly to keep the inner filings crisp, dry and odour free.

Caution: Babies below 12 months should not be left unsupervised while sleeping with the pillow.

Bean Sprout Husk Pillows are now available here:http://www.ubermums-shop.com/for-kids/bean-sprout-husk-pillows.html

Happy Lunar New Year 2013

Here's wishing all our chinese friends a  Happy Lunar Year! May this year bring abundant blessings from above.

Here are my girls ( yes one is holding on to her barbie doll and the other her milk bottle!) on our way to do our visitations. I'm wearing our Lumiere DUO Dress in fuchsia.

Little Me Baby and Little Mom-To-Be Products

We started our Ubermums webstore carrying mainly our own brand of maternity and nursing wear and accessories. Along the way, we have had more and more mums asking if we would be bringing in body care products.
Well, it took a while before we decided to do so. We wanted a brand that has organic ingredients and at a price that is affordable ( most organic baby products are pretty expensive in our opinion); and found the Little Me Baby brand to meet both this criteria and more.

We really love their wonderful scents and their cute packaging!

Little Me baby is a UK brand that has been around since 2004 and was developed together with well-known aromatherapist Glenda Taylor. Certified organic lavender and mandarin are the key ingredients in their gentle formulations.

Choose from 3 of their range:
The Shhh Little Me Sleepy Head range is great for fussy babies as it contains the wonderful and comforting aroma of Dill & Organic Lavender, helping baby to calm down and to sleep better.Soothing Lavender is also effective in leaving their tender skin moisturised.

The Little Me Oh So Gentle range - with hydrating pear and mallow( a herbaceous plant with soothing agents that counters irritation and mild inflammation, and sooting organic aloe vera, baby's skin will be left soft, supple and moisturized.

The Little Me  Mmm Moisture Babies range keeps baby's skin hydrated and locks in moisture where it is needed the most. It contains the calming blend of Organic Lavender and Chamomile.

Their Hair and Body Wash are priced at S16.90 while their Body Cream are at S17.90. All come in a decent sized 150ml packaging.


Wait , there is  also a little something for moms. The Little Me Mom To Be range contains Rose Hip, Organic Vanilla and Grapefruit. These delicious smelling ingredients help ease your skin int pregnancy, minimising the occurrence of the dreaded stretch marks.

There are 2 formulations :The Stretch Mark Oil (200ml) with the added formulation of Sunflower Oil; and the Rich Tummy Cream(150ml)  containing Shea Butter. Both are priced at S$21.90.

Don't miss our Facebook promotion.

Happy 2013!

2012 has been a good year and we are looking forward to a fantastic 2013. 

We  kick start with our Spring Collection in vibrant shades. Perfect for the festive season! 

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