I realized I’ve been neglecting my blog, yet again. So sorry guys. I was busy with work in the past, and since last 2 weeks, I’ve been busy with baby projects DIY! Yeaay!

Ever since I started working on baby DIY projects, I’ve been more and more excited about baby’s arrival. It made everything seems more real. I’m at 36 weeks at the moment, and honestly, sewing is a challenge when your tummy is in the way. It was much harder for me to measure, and cut fabrics especially. So that slowed down the progress.

Anyway, baby project #1:

1. DIY baby binder

Made 6 of these. My mum recommended me to make 10, to last between washes. I also made them in slightly varying sizes, only because I don’t know how small or how big my baby will be. It costed me RM1.60 for the ropes for all these. All the fabrics are scrap fabrics I found in my fabric stash. I was surprised to find that much cotton scraps in my stash, and they are all perfect for baby’s skin! It would cost RM5 each to buy at the stores for plain ‘ol white ones. I say, BORING!

I’ll probably make some more when I’m bored. It only takes me about 10 to 15mins to make one. So easy. 🙂

2. Baby travel nap mat.

This is for my baby to take a nap on when we’re visiting or out and about. This is not really a huge necessity. I mean whenever I’m travelling, I can just find a regular comforter and fold them for the baby but hey, I’m a stylish mama, I want my baby to look and feel stylish too! HAHA.

The straps keep all the components together; two pillows, a mat, and a blanket.

I added batting onto the blanket for extra comfort. I also made my own nap mat. The chevron and doll house fabrics are both Robert Kaufman’s fabrics. The pink pin polka dot fabric is English cotton from Jakel. 

It’s confirmed, we’re having a girl, InshaAllah! The next day I found out that we’re having a girl, I went to get pink baby clothes and little socks. They are really tiny so cute!

On other note, I’m now almost 30 weeks and honestly I’m really tired of being pregnant. It feels like an eternity only because I had to restrict myself so much (especially when it comes to food) and I hate it! Ugh!

Anyway, I want to share about an antenatal class I joined last Sunday at Darul Ehsan Medical Center, DEMC Shah Alam. It started at 9am-5pm. Let me go through the topics and the review. I hope this will be somewhat helpful for first time moms and moms-to-be out there.

Nutrition in Pregnancy

The dietitian was a little boring, her explanation was kinda vague. It was sufficient for most people, I must be honest. But for me, I’m always in for a little more in-depth details. I don’t mind doctors who throw common medical terms as I think nowadays the public is more educated and more aware of health.  If I don’t understand any of the terminologies, I would ask.

Nevertheless, this is a good time to ask the dietitian the myths about the no-no’s in pregnancy. Don’t be surprised that a lot of our grandmothers’ pantang-larang are busted!

Pregnancy & Labour Process

This topic was conducted by an ob-gyn. He was quite interesting and I loved that he explained things in great detail. Labour can be scary for first time moms (myself included) and personally, I would like to educate myself as much as possible about it. The more I know, the less scared I become.

So he basically explained what’s gonna happen in the labour room, the process, possible complications and how the doctors deal with them. All in all it made me scared of labour (HAHA) but the doctor was somehow more reassuring. So it made me feel slightly less nervous.

Pain Relief

This topic was, to me was an eye opener. We’ve heard the grandmother’s tale of epidural gives us long term side effects bla bla bla, apparently it’s just a myth! At first I totally didn’t want epidural. Now, once I know what epidural is, I’m sure as hell I’m gonna get that epidural. I mean, why suffer if you can save all the energy and pain to push the baby only when it’s REALLY needed?

I won’t tell you to take it too. But if you’re deciding, go to this class and come prepared with questions. Then you’ll be able to make an informed decision. Even if you don’t want any pain relief, you should get informed about it in case your labour is not as easy as you’d hope for.

Care of Newborn

This was interesting but since I couldn’t imagine taking care of a baby, I didn’t really have any questions. Apparently I wasn’t the only one. However, it was good to know what do the hospital do to take care of newborn baby, the routine right after the baby is being born and such.

Also, I find it such a relief that DEMC is very pro breastfeeding. They will always return the baby to the mother within 30 minutes to one hour for the baby to be breastfed.

Successful Breastfeeding

This was the most entertaining talk ever. Pn. Jasmeen is soo hilarious. At first I was also deciding whether to breastfeed exclusively only because I heard all these pain and horror stories. But she taught us how to breastfeed successfully and successful breastfeeding should not be painful! So all the mothers who are in pain when breastfeeding are actually not doing it right.

Truthfully, reading about breastfeeding didn’t really help for me. I still couldn’t understand. However Pn Jasmeen explained it crystal clear and even made a demonstration using a dummy breast and a dummy baby. So it was very easy to understand. Note that I said UNDERSTAND. There are steps, but if you understand you will remember how to do it.

Breathing Techniques During Labour

This was also a helpful topic. This time we had to practice the breathing. It was quite enjoyable. I would recommend pregnant mums to practice this. I think it would be helpful. Make sure to bring your husband and it is very important for him to do the exercise also so that he will remind you in the labour room!

There was supposed to be a topic on Postnatal care which I was looking forward to. For some reason, they didn’t have that session on that day. I was quite disappointed. But I didn’t bother much because I was already so exhausted by then.

Overall, I think the RM120 fees (per couple) is so worth it. I highly recommend attending antenatal class. Not just DEMC but any antenatal class. Honestly, you don’t have the luxury to ask this much information during your doctor checkups because we only get 15 mins with doctor, MAX! This antenatal class is such a good time to address all your concerns regarding pregnancy and birth. The best time to go is during 2nd trimester, so you’ll prepare earlier. Third trimester is okay too.

Again, make sure you do your homework and have all your questions ready. No matter how stupid it sounds, chances are there are probably parents out there wondering the same thing.  It will be such a waste if you attend the class and go home only to realize you have a question!

You can check out more about this class at their website http://www.demc.com.my

*Warning: Lots of photos ahead*

This year’s Eid-ul-Fitr was a new one for me. A new celebration. Typically, my family and I would drive 8 hours long to my grandma’s in Kelantan. However this year, I am not following my family. Instead, I celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with my husband, Eddie, just the two of us, in Shah Alam.

Last year, we celebrated Eid 3956 miles away from each other. I was in Melbourne, my family was in Mekka, while my husband was in Penang at his grandparents’. This year, Alhamdulillah, I get to celebrate Eid with my husband. We didn’t follow my family because I couldn’t stand being on the road without puking and the flight tickets were sold out.

The eve of Raya, Eddie treated me to a nice last iftar at Chilli’s, Paradigm Mall. Thanks hun, it was really nice.

On 3rd of August we were shocked by the lost child, Wan Aisyah. According to sources, the mother handed over her own child to her so-called fiance who then disappeared on her. The social media was really helpful in spreading the news and pictures using hashtag #findAisyah.

Among the images that was spread in social media #findAisyah

Of course, to everyone’s relieve, she was found well and alive, Alhamdulillah.

Although, I can’t help but wonder why did this happen.

Let’s recap on what happened. According to the report,

1. On 30th July, 2013 @ 3.20pm the mother, Pn. Arbaiyah gave her daughter, Wan Aisyah to his fiance, Mohd Faisal bin Ibrahim at EON Jusco Rawang.
2. She also gave her daughter’s documents to him.
3. The reason why she gave her daughter, is that she believed that Mohd Faisal was going to introduce her daughter to his sister who lives in Damansara.
4. The mother claimed that Mohd Faisal was going to marry her after this Eid-ul Fitr.
5. They met on facebook and had only met for 4 times and they got engagged.

This one event already raised suspicious question on why would a mother let her daughter to be taken away from her. Rawang and Damansara are not exactly side-by-side. And, even if Mohd Faisal wanted to introduce the girl to his sister, why didn’t he bring Arbaiyah also since they were gonna get married?

To make it even more suspicious, the mother gave Wan Aisyah’s documents to Mohd Faisal.

Following the event,

1. on 2rd of August, at 8:00am, they met again at Jusco Rawang and she gave him RM25,000 to help him startup his gold business. However, Wan Aisyah was not with him.
2. When Arbaiyah asked her fiance the whereabout of her daughter, she was told Wan Aisyah was with his sister.
3. The next day (3rd Aug), she waited for Mohd Faisal to pick her up at her own house and he never showed up.
4. So she went to his house and apparently the address was a fake address and the house is someone else’s.

By this time, she knew she was conned and went ahead to make the police report.

Big, big question mark.

Why did she give her daughter with her documents? 

and why did she even give RM25,000 to someone?