Car accidents are the leading cause of death for pregnant women and the leading cause of trauma-related hospital stays during pregnancy. Wearing a seatbelt is the best way for moms-to-be to prevent injury and death from a motor vehicle accident. Bellow you will find the answers of the most common questions you may have as a pregnant woman.

Is it safe for my unborn baby if I wear a seat belt?

Research shows that unborn babies have the best chance of surviving car accidents when mom uses her seat belt properly. There is no evidence that suggests seat belts can harm unborn babies.

Seat belts greatly reduce mom’s risk of injury in a car accident. If mom stays unharmed, there is a good chance her unborn baby will, too. But if mom is hurt in an accident, her unborn baby could also suffer. Maternal injury during a car crash is linked with:

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Placenta abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterus before birth)
• Distress of the unborn baby
• Death of the fetus

Studies show that the use of a seat belt reduces the risk of injuries and these poor outcomes.

10 Tips on how to travel safely in a car

The key to keep you and your unborn baby safe is to proper buckle up preferably using the three-point restraint system that gives the maximum protection.

1. Place the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly and across your upper thighs.
2. Place the shoulder portion of the seat belt between your breasts.
3. Make sure there is no excessive slack anywhere on the seat belt.
4. Always wear the lap and shoulder portion of the seat belt.
5. Never take the shoulder part of the seat belt off and place it behind you.
6. Do not place the lap portion of the seat belt across your abdomen.
7. Keep the airbags turned on at all times. Experts say the benefits of an air bag outweigh any risks to a pregnant woman and her baby.
8. Adjust your seat. Keep your seat as far back from the dashboard as you can – at least 10 inches if possible.
9. Keep trips in the car brief. Limit time spent in the car to five to six hours at most each day. Taking breaks at least every two hours. Get up and walk around, stretch your legs and wiggle your toes often. This helps lower the risk for blood clots and eases swelling in your ankles and feet.
10. Call your doctor right away if you are involved in a car crash, even if it’s minor.

If seat belts are not worn correctly, women are at increased risk for abdominal injuries and uterine rupture. Check your seat belt to make sure it’s not too loose or too high.

August 1st, is the first day of the 19th World Breastfeeding Week (WBW). This year, it celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global effort to ensure hospital maternity services support breastfeeding.

BESIDES having enough information on normal breastfeeding, successful breastfeeding also depends on having support from knowledgeable people (be it the doctor, nurse, or a family member) and having a positive mindset that it can be done.

Yet, mothers today still experience barriers that can discourage them from breastfeeding. Health professionals might not know much about breastfeeding and some of them may not be supportive of breastfeeding, notes paediatrician Dr Koe Swee Lee.

On top of that, many mothers who delivered their babies in the 60s to 80s – when the bottle-feeding culture thrived – may not be supportive of breastfeeding, as they do not have enough information.

“The role of the father is also very important. If he supports the wife in breastfeeding, she would more likely be successful,” says Dr Koe.

To overcome the barriers to breastfeeding, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched a worldwide programme called the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, an effort to ensure all hospital maternity services support breastfeeding.

Mothers can now visit baby friendly hospitals (almost all Malaysian government hospitals and a few private hospitals) – hospitals that practise the Ten Steps (below) to successful breastfeeding as listed by WHO and UNICEF policymakers in the Innocenti Declaration in 1990 on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding.

The Ten Steps are:

1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all healthcare staff.

2. Train all healthcare staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.

3. Inform all pregnant mothers about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.

5. Show mothers how to breastfeed, and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.

6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated.

7. Practise rooming-in – allow mothers and infants to remain together – 24 hours a day.

8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

9. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.

10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

“It is best for mothers to tell their obstetrician or gynaecologist earlier that they would like to breastfeed their child exclusively,” says Dr Koe.

Today, although an estimated 28% of all maternity facilities in the world have at some point implemented the Ten Steps, it is still far from the original goal of ALL maternity facilities practising the Ten Steps by 1995 as stated in the Innocenti Declaration, says the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in its press release.

As studies have shown that with more of the Ten Steps in place, the more likely women are to achieve their breastfeeding goals, it is important for every maternity, hospital, clinic and community to strive to increase the number of steps in place, even if they cannot achieve all ten steps immediately.

“Therefore, every step counts!” says WABA.

(Source: The Star online, August 1st, 2010)

Breastfeeding may be a natural act, but it is also a skill that needs to be learned.

IT is a question that perplexes many mothers (when it comes to breastfeeding). “If it is natural, why can’t I seem to get it right?”

It may be that all these years, women have been told, even as young girls, that nursing is a natural, maternal instinct all mothers have. And it may be that all along we have assumed that once our baby arrives, we will naturally know what to do.

But these assumptions – as experts agree and studies show – are not exactly accurate. Even the WHO, in its web page on exclusive breastfeeding, spells it out: “While breastfeeding is a natural act, it is also a learned behaviour. An extensive body of research has demonstrated that mothers and other caregivers require active support for establishing and sustaining appropriate breastfeeding practices.”

The instinct to care and provide for the baby is natural, but when it comes to nursing, many mothers need to learn how.

Actress Erra Fazira believes that nursing is a natural process for a mother, but she also believes in being prepared. When she was pregnant with her first daughter Aleesya, who celebrated her first birthday four months ago, she knew that breastfeeding is a process she didn’t want to miss.

Without going into details – we were in mixed company – her excitement still shows as she candidly described the way she prepared for it. “I, type yang suka prepare myself mentally. So I baca buku banyak, especially those for new mothers. Bahasa Melayu, Inggeris, semua I baca.” (“I’m the type who likes to prepare myself mentally. So, I read a lot of books, especially those for new mothers. Malay, English, I read everything.”)

The preparation had helped her prepare herself mentally, but nursing for the first time was still a challenge. The soreness she felt all over and adjustments she had to make to her sleep patterns when she was in confinement was the toughest to bear. “After that, everything went smoothly,” she gushes in relief.

Although she only breastfed for three months due to work commitments, there is little doubt that she would do it again. “As a new mother, I get very excited and tried to do everything myself. Next time, I’ll do it with more help.”

Nursing starters

With the increasing amount of books, websites, and support groups dedicated to help women learn how to breastfeed, one does wonder, just how did our ancestors do it?

Paediatrician Dr Koe Swee Lee explains, “Young girls (those days) grew up seeing their mothers, aunties, and neighbours breastfeed, but nowadays, a lot of young women grow up without seeing their mothers breastfeed.”

Today, the difference is if women don’t learn from their mothers the skills to nurse, they can now learn them from their own reading, lactation consultants, or even some nurses.

Dr Koe tries to make it as simple and natural as possible when she teaches new mothers how to breastfeed. “If a mother wants to breastfeed, she needs to remember only three things: feed early, feed frequently, and feed properly,” she says.

Feeding early means mothers should be encouraged to feed their babies within the first half or one hour after they are born, or as soon as possible if the baby has medical conditions that require immediate treatment.

All a nurse has to do is clean the baby and place him on his mother’s abdomen or chest. “Experiments have shown that when the baby is born, if you put the baby on top of the mother’s abdomen, the baby will actually crawl and look for the breast,” says Dr Koe. This reflex is called the ‘breast crawl’.”

When the baby gets there, the mother needs to learn the proper way to breastfeed so the child can feed easily and she could do so with minimal discomfort. “Though the mother’s breasts may be more sensitive during the first week (of the child’s life), breastfeeding should not be painful,” Dr Koe notes.

It sounds simple. At least, when you read the guide Dr Koe hands out to new mothers.

“Hold the baby at breast level, lying on his side, chest to chest. Stimulate the rooting reflex with nipple touching baby’s lips. (The rooting reflex is a behaviour seen in newborn babies, who automatically turn their face toward the stimulus and make sucking motions when the cheek or lip is touched.)

“Quickly bring baby to breast when his mouth opens wide. Baby latches on properly and prevents sore nipples, when the nipple and much of the areola (the coloured skin around the nipple) are in the baby’s mouth.”

Even when help is available, breastfeeding is challenging (see Common problems in breastfeeding), and it takes much practice to get it right.

Practise, practise, practise

While babies suck naturally, they need to be taught how to suck correctly. This involves learning how to sit properly and hold the baby properly.

“If the baby sucks only on the nipple, the mother will get sore nipples,” says Dr Koe. So if the baby does not suck correctly, the mother needs to pull him away and let him latch on again.

How long do you let the baby suckle? It is up to the baby. “Let the baby suckle until he is asleep. It may take 20 to 30 minutes, and once the baby has finished, don’t pull him off the nipple, wait for the baby to let go,” Dr Koe explains.

Mothers can gauge whether their child is getting enough milk by observing their sleeping habits and bowel movements. If a child is able to sleep for at least an hour, is passing urine five to six times a day and starts to produce stools that are yellow instead of the initial, dark green and almost-black hue, then he is getting enough milk.

After that is done, the next step would be to feed the baby frequently, whenever he feels like it. This is because the sensations a mother feels while her baby suckles will send signals to her brain to release prolactin and oxytocin (hormones that stimulate milk production and promote milk flow respectively) so mothers can produce sufficient milk for their babies.

As a mother’s milk contains all the nutrients and water a baby needs, there is no need to give the baby water, glucose, or formula milk, at least for the first six months of his life.

According to the WHO model chapter for medical textbooks on infant and young child feeding, artificial teats, milk bottles and pacifiers are not encouraged as it may make it more difficult for the baby to learn to attach at the breast and breastfeed satisfactorily. If a baby cannot feed from the breast, the safest alternative is to feed him from a cup.

“If the baby has not been introduced to a bottle, the baby will suck naturally and latch on well,” says Dr Koe. “It is only when mothers start giving the bottle – the teat of the bottle is very different from the nipples – the baby gets used to the rubber teat, and he will forget how to suck on the breast. It can cause a lot of damage to a mother’s nipples,” she adds.

While the time between feeds varies from baby to baby, a general estimate is about one and a half hours to two hours because breast milk is very easily digested.

This can be a problem for working mothers when they return to work. However, they can learn how to express their milk with their hands or breast pumps and store them (up to three months in the freezer and five days in the refrigerator shelves) one month before they return to work so their baby so can still feed while they are away at work.

Making choices

Despite its challenges, breastfeeding offers many benefits to both mother and child. Breast milk is the best nutrition a mother can give to her baby, and with the nutrients and antibodies, her baby can grow up healthier, with less infections and reduced risk of long-term, immune related diseases.

As for the mother, she can reduce her risk of excessive bleeding after delivery if she breastfeeds immediately, and exclusive breastfeeding (feeding with breast milk only) can also delay fertility and help mothers return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster.

But for Erra, it is the mother-daughter bond she feels the most. “I feel more attached to Aleesya and she to me,” she says.

The question is, can all women breastfeed?

While women with certain medical conditions, like HIV infections, are generally not encouraged to breastfeed in countries where clean water is readily accessible and formula milk is a safe alternative, Dr Koe says almost every woman can breastfeed.

“I’d say that 98% mothers have enough milk. There are only one to two percent that have problems: they don’t have enough breast tissue or their breasts do not develop during pregnancy,” she explains.

However, despite all the good breastfeeding can give to mothers and their children, some may find its demands overwhelming (it is not easy) and some may not be able to do it due to health reasons.

In the end, it is still the mother’s choice whether they want to breastfeed or not, but Dr Koe says it should be an informed one.

“If a mother comes to me, I always encourage her to breastfeed, and if the mother still says no, that it is fine too. It’s your choice. But you need to get information first,” says Dr Koe.

For more information about breastfeeding, visit World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) website www.waba.org.my or breastfeeding support websites such as susuibu.com and kellymom.com.

(The Star Online, Aug 1st)

Even if they aren’t staffed to handle emergency cesarean sections, hospitals should respect a woman’s informed choice to have a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), new guidelines say.

VBAC is known to increase the risk that the scar left in the womb from a previous cesarean will tear during labor, leading to massive bleeding that can threaten the baby’s life. That has led to previous guidelines urging caution for women who have had cesarean sections.

But recent research shows so-called uterine rupture occurs in less than one percent of women who opt for vaginal birth, and that between 60 and 80 percent of VBACs are completed successfully.

While the new guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) still say a full surgical team should be present in case an emergency cesarean is required, they now put a bigger emphasis on the woman’s decision.

“Respect for patient autonomy supports that patients should be allowed to accept increased levels of risk; however, patients should be clearly informed of such potential increase in risk and management alternatives,” they say.

“For most women with a previous cesarean delivery, a trial of labor is a safe and appropriate option,” said Dr. Jeffrey L. Ecker, referring to a planned VBAC attempt.

Ecker, who directs maternal-fetal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, co-wrote the new guidelines, published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Even women who’ve had two prior cesareans might be good candidates for vaginal birth, he said.

He added that he hoped the new recommendations would help reduce the concerns about medical liability that many doctors have held out as a reason for not offering VBAC.

Today, about nine in 10 pregnant women in the U.S. end up with a repeat cesarean if they’ve already had one. By comparison about a third of all women who give birth have cesareans.

“I really think the cesarean rates are going up too fast,” said Dr. Peter Bernstein, of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. “There is no good evidence that newborns are better off now than they were 20 years ago.”

Bernstein, who is an ACOG fellow but did not work on the guidelines, said he was pleased with the new recommendations.

He said they updated information on what women would be good candidates for VBAC and were important in the discussion of delivery options that a woman should have with her doctor.

But he said it was hard to say if the guidelines would have any impact on the low VBAC rates.

Indeed, the guidelines note that health providers who feel uncomfortable with the delivery choice a woman has made may want to refer her to another provider.

(Reuters, Obstetrics & Gynecology,  July 21, 2010)

Make sure your family knows the rules for the pool or beach before anyone sets foot in the water.

It’s a hot summer day, and that sparkling pool water sure looks inviting. But before you jump in and cool off, don’t forget your family’s safety. From toddlers who wander into family pools to swimmers caught up in the ocean’s currents, neglecting to take the proper precautions can lead to deadly results. 

Drowning
More than one in four drowning deaths in the U.S. involves children. For each child who dies from drowning, four more are treated in emergency rooms for near-drowning incidents, which can lead to brain damage.

Backyard pools are especially hazardous to young children. Above-ground pools are less dangerous because the height of the pool itself is a barrier, as well as the fence at the top of the steps that many of these pools have.

Young children and those who can’t swim should wear an approved Type I personal floatation device (PFD) when playing in or near water. When the child has more control in the water, he or she can move into a type II PFD. All children should still be closely supervised by an adult when near the water, even if they are wearing a PFD.

“Water wings” or “floaties” are not replacements for PFDs and will not keep a child who falls into the water afloat. Don’t let the idea of floaties give you or your child a false sense of security. A Coast Guard-approved PFD is the only safe option for young children and those who can’t swim.

Rules for home pools

• Learn to swim yourself.
• Teach children to swim. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends swimming lessons for children age 4 and older. According to the AAP, swim classes may also reduce drowning risks for children ages 1 to 4. Remember that children develop at different rates. It’s up to you to decide if your child is ready for and would benefit from lessons.
• Never leave a young child unattended near the pool. Don’t take your eyes off the child, not even for a few seconds.
• When near the pool, have children who are young or who can’t swim wear Coast Guard-approved PFDs.
• Don’t allow running near the pool or rough play in the pool.
• Don’t let anyone swim alone.
• Keep a phone by the pool for emergencies.
• Know how to do CPR.
• Install a fence around your pool at least four feet high (local laws and ordinances may vary) with a self-closing and self-locking gate, with latches out of reach of a child.
• Keep lifesaving equipment near the pool.
• Don’t let inflatable toys or floats replace parental supervision. Such devices often fail.
• Don’t drink alcohol while swimming or supervising children.

Rules for lakes, rivers and the ocean

• Swim within sight of a lifeguard.
• Supervise children at all times.
• Have young children and those who can’t swim wear Coast Guard-approved PFDs.
• Don’t let anyone swim alone.
• Never dive without knowing the depth of the water, and never dive into shallow water.
• Don’t swim so far that you don’t have the energy to swim back.
• Don’t drink alcohol while swimming or supervising children.
• Don’t swim against the ocean’s current. If you’re caught in a current, swim across – not against – it. You will gradually swim out of it.

Safety devices

Finally, if you have your own backyard pool, invest in a safety device to protect young children. Safety devices include poolside alarms and alarms for doors, gates and children’s wrists.

No device, though, can take the place of a parent’s watchful eyes. The best way to protect your children is to always know where they are and to never assume that someone else is watching them.

(MyOptumHealth, June 2010)

In May, a month-old baby boy was found abandoned in a shack, covered with ants and mosquitoes. That same month, two teenagers from Malacca were charged with burying a newborn boy.

And just this week, the body of a baby, his umbilical cord still attached, was found by a road in Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya. Police believe the boy was dumped three hours after his birth.

Cases like these convince the committee members of OrphanCARE that the newly-installed baby hatch at their centre in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya, is crucial.

OrphanCARE, a smart partner of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry that aims to find every orphan and abandoned baby a loving family, decided to build one after its inception in 2008.

A baby hatch is a place where mothers who are unable, or unwilling, to take care of their babies, can leave them in a safe environment, where they will be cared for. There are hatches in countries like Pakistan, Germany, Japan and India. (See Different names, same aim)

Many abandoned babies die from exposure to the elements. Some survive, but their health usually suffers – chest infections are common.

Initially, the NGO considered purchasing the design of a baby hatch from Germany, where there are 80 babyklappen scattered around the country. However, the price was daunting.

OrphanCARE then decided to come out with its own hatch, which cost RM15,000 to build. It is located at the centre’s premises, a bungalow situated in residential Kampung Tunku.

The hatch is actually a room measuring one square metre. It is equipped with a bed, an air-conditioner, a lamp and a sensor that sounds an alarm in the caretaker’s room upstairs whenever a baby is placed in it.

“The area is secluded although it’s near the main road,” says OrphanCARE president Datuk Adnan Mohd Tahir.

Location is often a dilemma: People may hesitate to approach a more public place; on the other hand, a secluded place might not be accessible. The centre hopes to build more baby hatches and place them in hospitals.

Adnan and his wife Elya became orphan activists after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, which left many children orphaned in places like Acheh. A business friend told Adnan that he hoped to bring 15 orphans from Acheh to Malaysia, so that they could be adopted by families here. The couple decided to help by spreading the word around; in no time they started getting calls from people eager to adopt.

However, something unforeseen cropped up. When word of their efforts got to Unicef, they were suspected of running a baby trafficking operation.

Elya and Adnan were called up to Bukit Aman for questioning, but they managed to clear the air.

“We were not selling babies, we were getting help for orphans. Unfortunately, the Indonesian government put a stop to them leaving Acheh. As a result, there were many disappointed parents here,” says Adnan.

Rather than be discouraged by the turn of events, and seeing how good the response had been to the Acheh appeal, he decided to gather a few friends to do something for Malaysian orphans instead. That was how OrphanCARE began.

Adnan says the baby hatch is a natural progression, especially if you look at the statistics: Between 2005 and 2009, the police recorded 407 cases of abandoned babies in the country.

These are just those found and reported; many abandoned babies go undiscovered and forgotten.

Objections

Baby hatches have existed since medieval times, but they often stoke controversy, no matter where they’re built. Since the launch of OrphanCARE’s baby hatch on May 29, response from the public has been divided. Detractors wrote to newspapers expressing their disgust; they said it would encourage people to have premarital sex and engage in reckless behaviour.

Shelter Home executive director James Nayagam was quoted in The Star (Get to root problem of baby dumping; June 1) as saying that baby hatches are a waste of taxpayers’ money because they just treat the symptoms and do not resolve the issue of abandoned babies.

It is not true that the baby hatch was built using taxpayers’ money, says Noraini Hashim, deputy president of OrphanCARE.

“The money was donated by our president’s interior design company. We also did fundraising last year during our launch, which gave us enough to rent the house and pay the staff.”

The government has promised them RM100,000, which they have yet to receive, she adds.

“Our main target is to save babies, We are not saying that (the baby hatch) is the solution to the baby abandonment problem,” says Noraini, who works in the corporate sector.

“The point at which a young girl abandons her baby is the end of a series of events. We are tackling that phase of the problem. We totally agree that the root cause must be addressed.

It goes back to parenting, education and more,” says assistant secretary Azra Banu.

But the baby hatch has supporters too, such as Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria, who believes unwanted babies should be saved.

“At first I didn’t agree with this idea as I was afraid it will send the wrong message, especially to teenagers. However, now we really need baby hatches for sinless babies,” he was quoted in a Berita Harian report of May 31.

The mufti believes that those who abandon their babies should face harsh penalties. However, the folks at OrphanCARE stress that one should not put the blame solely on the mothers, many of whom hide their pregnancy – out of shame and fear of repercussions from society and family for having a child out of wedlock. Some are victims of rape.

“We had a university student who hid her pregnancy from her roomate because you can get booted out of university if you get pregnant and are not married. It’s not easy, trying to hide that from friends and family,” Adnan says.

“For a person to abandon her baby, she must have been in a terrible state of mind. It’s difficult to imagine.”

The procedures

Whenever a baby is deposited at the baby hatch, OrphanCARE has to inform the Social Welfare Department (Jabatan Kebajikan Malaysia, or JKM). “We then have to send the baby for a check-up. If it is left without a signed consent form – available in Malay or English, and placed at the side of the hatch – we have to lodge a police report,” says Adnan.

The legalities come into play here. It is vital that the mother signs her consent to give her child up for adoption, failing which it will be a deemed an abandoned baby and a police report is mandatory.

Under the Malaysia Child Act 2001, anyone found guilty of abandoning a child is liable to a fine not exceeding RM20,000, or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.

“In other countries, there’s no form. But in Malaysia, because of the law, we have to encourage them to sign one,” Adnan says.

Once OrphanCARE has received a baby and informed JKM, it will contact a prospective parent on its waiting list. Currently, there are about 200 applicants on the list.

“We look for parents who have financial stability and good parenting abilities. Preference is given to childless couples,” says Kim Nazli Rosali, coordinator of the parents’ committee.

So far, the committee has interviewed 50 potential couples, using questions set by JKM.

After the interview, their application goes to JKM, which then sends a counsellor to visit their home.

If a couple is deemed to be suitable as adoptive parents, JKM gives its approval, and the baby is passed to them.

“The process is almost ‘instantaneous’ – it takes just a few days because we have the list of parents ready and they’ve already been interviewed,” says Kim.

“The only thing (that’s) slow is the wait for the baby, as we do not know when one will be deposited. Therefore, the more publicity we get, the better, so that mothers can leave their babies at a safe place,” Noraini adds.

OrphanCARE welcomes volunteers. For more information, visit www.orphancare.org.my or call 03-7876 1900. Its baby hatch is located at 6, Lorong SS1/24A, Kampung Tunku, PJ.

(The Star Online, June 6th)

In Asia, mothers are all for e – that’s electronic, not Channel E!

In a new study by Microsoft Advertising and Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG), it has been discovered that Asian mums spend about 17 hours a week online.

“Mothers are becoming increasingly digital savvy, and conversely, much more cynical to overt advertising,” said Kenneth Andrew, marketing director, Microsoft Advertising Greater Asia Pacific.

The study’s top 5 Asian truths are:

1) Mums love to talk

Asian mums know what they like and don’t like and they are not shy to tell you about it or complain about something they’re unhappy about.

Of the Malaysian mothers surveyed, 92% agreed that “good brands are worth talking about” and 72% said they can persuade family and friends to buy the same product or brand.

2) Mums trust other mums

Hey, mothers know best, right? Mums in Asia agree and they know that the best way to get good advice or to find out which doctor/kindergarten/product to choose is to ask another mother. This applies to not just their mum friends but also online forums where mothers network.

For purchasing decisions, 58% of mothers surveyed said the most used sources were online networks made up of friends, family members and colleagues. This was followed by online customer reviews (46%).

3) It’s about the mum-stage

Asian mums participate in various types of online activities depending on the age of their children. While new mums tend to rely more on online peer-to-peer interactions, experienced mums prefer email and search engines.

4) Mums embrace online shopping

With Asian mums being tech-savvy and naturally (as with all mums) having less time, it’s no surprise that a lot of mums end up buying online. It’s convenient – no hassle with parking, manoeuvring the stroller or dragging screaming kids from shop to shop.

More than two-thirds of mothers surveyed purchase products online and close to 70% said they plan to do so in the next 12 months.

5) Mum’s radar is always on

Mums today read a lot and are always interested in learning about products. Mums are more inclined to read the labels on products carefully as well as search for information online to ensure they don’t buy any product that could be potentially dangerous for their children. Today’s Asian mum doesn’t take anything at face value. She knows she has many options and she wants to make informed decisions when it comes to her child’s health and wellbeing.

Spanning eight markets in Asia, the research findings include China, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. Approximately 3,000 mothers between the ages of 20 and 49 years participated in the survey.

The goal of the survey was to provide advertisers with new approaches to reach a prominent population.

(The Star Online, May 20th 2010)

If your child is a fan of the Pokemon show, you’ll be happy to know that Pikachu is coming to Malaysia.

In conjunction with the launch of the latest Pokemon DVD series, Speedy Video is organising a Pikachu roadshow.
There will be fun and games as well as a photo session.

Dates and venues as follows:

(The Star Online, May 14, 2010)

Making a baby is supposed to be fun and exciting. But for many couples it can be frustrating when months drag by with no results. If you’ve been trying to conceive for a year (or six months if you’re 35 or older), it may be time to see an infertility doctor.

Although you may see your gynecologist or family doctor for your first visit, he or she may then refer you to a reproductive endocrinologist, who is an infertility specialist. If you are 35 or older or have a history of fertility problems, such as miscarriages, your doctor may make this referral right away.

It’s common to be nervous about going for your first fertility checkup. Having an idea of what to expect may help you feel more at ease during this process.

What happens at the first visit?

The first doctor visit will give you a chance to talk and ask questions. The doctor can help you understand what problems can cause infertility and what treatments are available to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

It takes two to make a baby, so both partners need to attend this visit. A fertility problem is about equally likely to be caused by male factors as female factors. In some cases, both partners have problems that can prevent pregnancy.

Be prepared for lots of very personal questions about your past and your lifestyle. Your doctor will need honest answers to all these questions to get to the bottom of your fertility problem. For example, you both will likely be asked:

• How long you’ve been trying to conceive?
• How often you have sex?
• Whether you smoke, drink or use illegal drugs?
• How much you exercise?
• What your diet is like?
• Whether you have gained or lost weight in recent years?
• What medications you take regularly (including over-the-counter drugs, supplements and herbs)?
• What kind of work you do and what chemicals you use at home (to look for possible exposure to toxic materials)?
• What your ethnic background is (to look for genetic diseases)?
• The woman’s initial workup?

The woman will complete a medical history that includes questions about:

• Her periods, such as how often she has them and how regular they are
• Whether she’s had abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or pelvic infections
• Any previous pregnancies or miscarriages
• Her mother’s age at menopause
• Previous surgeries
• History of sexually transmitted infections
• Types of birth control she has used
• Any current health problems

Next, she may have a physical examination. This will likely include:

• A thyroid exam. The doctor will feel the front of the neck to check for any growths or swelling of the thyroid.
• Checking for unusual hair growth on the face or body. This can be a sign of hormone imbalance.
• A breast exam. The doctor may squeeze the nipples to see if anything comes out. If it does, this may point to a high level of prolactin, which can prevent ovulation.
• A pelvic exam to check for discharge, sores, growths or other signs of infection. The doctor may also do a Pap test to look for cancer or infections of the cervix.
• The woman may also have some blood tests done, such as a complete blood count (CBC) and Rh factor test. Some blood tests have to be done at a certain point in the menstrual cycle. If it’s not the right time, these may be scheduled at a later date.

The man’s initial workup

The man will complete a medical history and may have a physical exam. A man’s medical history will include questions about:

• Any genital injuries or surgeries
• History of urinary tract or prostate infection
• History of sexually transmitted infections
• Whether he has fathered children in the past
• Any ejaculation problems
• Any current health problems
• A semen analysis is usually the first test done to check a man’s fertility. The man gives a semen sample, which is sent to a lab. A doctor will check the number and shape (count and morphology) of the sperm, how well they move (motility) and whether they show signs of infection. This test may be done more than once.

If the semen analysis shows problems, the man may be referred to an andrologist. This is a doctor who specializes in treating male infertility.

(MyOptumHealth, 2010)