my agency charge me $1.8k for confinement lady and $200 for commission and $168 for the permit.
and of course not forgetting the long whole list of items required for confinement.
too long unable to digest...
For pots & pans it's better if u invest in slow cooker. Not only u can use during confinement... you also can use it to cook porridge when yr bb is abt to eat solid food (abt 5-6mths old). You should have both (medium & small). Medium size will b good for boiling yr dates tea and thereaft, could also brew chix sp for the whole family (yr hubby & yourself) esp. after a stressful day at work, after confinement. Next, will be pots requiring for preparation of your bath water (this pot should not have any grease/oil in it as it's only use for brewing yr bath water). Alternatively, you can 'ask' from yr mum the following: frying pans (medium size), soup pot (medium size) or even a claypot (brewing vinegar). Get yourself a vacuum flask so that you could bring yr dates tea wherever u r. to sum up...
Slow cooker x 1 med
slow cooker x 1 small
pots x 1 med
pots x 1 big (bathe)
frying wok
vacuum flask
claypot x 1 med (remember to soak it under water for 30min if you buy)
Next, plastic pails and bowls....
Big x 1 (bb bath)
med x 2 (bb's clothes)
2 pails laundry (dirty cloths)
3 small tub (cleaning bb's buttocks, eye, mouth)
one more med for CL's clothes(washing).
As for herbs,
your red dates tea ingredients (per day consumption) would need:
hong zao, red dates 20-25 pcs
hei zao, black dates 4-5pcs
nan zao 4-5 pcs
dang sheng (depending on the size,med size= 8 sticks (3-4cm each) smal size=12 sticks
bei qi 5-6 slice (cut into 3 sections)
gou qizi, wolfberry one handful
water should be 1.5litre (brew in med slow cooker)
The list is for reference and however is still subjected to your own health well-being...
For the herbs I really don't know how to compile and how much u can understand from here. Listed below were tonics which can be bought from the medical hall and the next list was herbs needed to cook for your confinement diet... to promote lactation and reduce pain & swelling of breast & lower part of the body...
1st wk herbs
------------------
Sheng Hua Tang x 2 pkt (natural birth or x 1 if c-sect)
Bazhen Bu Qi Tang x 3 pkt
RenShen Bu Qi Tang x 2 pkt
Shi Shen Tang x 2 pkt
2nd wk herbs
-------------------
He Shou Wu x 3 pkts
Ming Mu yu tang x 3 pkts
Tian Qi Bu Tang x 2 pkts
Ren Shen Dun Ji Tang x 2 pkts
3rd & 4th wk herbs
----------------------------
Du Zhong Bu Yao Tang x 5 pkts
Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang x 3 pkts
Dong Cong Cao (flower) (mix w red dates & wolfberries only) x 2 pkts
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang x 3 pkts
Herbs for Diet
==========
This recipe promotes lactation, suitable during first wk aft delivery.
Sea Bass w Astragalus Root
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Ingredients
========
1 sea bass
4 slices ginger
1 teaspoon of chinese wine
salt to taste
Chinese Herbs
===========
3g cinnamon twigs (gui zhi)
15g codonopis (dang shen)
15g astragalus root (huang qi)
3g rice-paper pith (tong cao)
This recipe moistens the lungs and invigorates the function of the stomach. Promote lactation too. Have 3pkts. Only u can consume not yr hubby... [IMG=http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/clipart/happy.gif]
Otherwise, u need to consume the fish head / bones with papaya soup.
This soup next is suitable to consume aft yr menses finished. It replenishes the vital essence of the liver, heart & spleen, helps to prevent dizziness and headaches during postpartum period.
Chix w Wine
Ingredients
---------------
half chix
5 dired black mushrooms
600ml chinese rice wine
Salt to taste
Chinese Herbs
----------------------
6g eucommia bark (du zhong)
3g ligusticum (chuan xiong)
3g cinnamon twigs (gui zhi)
3g chinese angelica root (dang gui)
15g astragalus root (huang qi)
12g wolfberry fruit (gou qi)
8 red dates (hong zao) Suitable for yr hubby & u to consume
Can have 3-4 pkts.
This recipe could be taken during 3rd/4th wk confinement period. Elliminates general aches and anaemia.
Cordyceps & Grouper Sp
------------------------------------
Ingredients
========
1 grouper (abt 400g)
1 teaspoon of chinese wine
salt to taste
Chinese herbs
---------------------
12g cordyceps (dong chong cao)
15g astragalus root (huang qi)
12g wolfberry fruit (gou qi)
6g eucommia bark (du zhong)
Have 3pkts.
Generally these are the main stuff surely not enough for the whole period and I also don't know how much can u prepare.... Just do yr best.
Next, was items to buy (dry food stuffs) and wet market items.
Dry food stuffs e.g. black fungus, black & red beans, one pkt of qou qi zi & hong zao, yu zhu, ginger, sesame oil, light soy sauce, shallots, chinese rice wine (white or shao xing/hua tiao jiu), black vinegar sauce, brown coconut sugar, mushroom (dried chinese type) mien sian, bee hoon, red glutinous rice wine and etc.. can buy when needed.
Wet market,
1st & 2nd wk
-------------------
Pork (without fats)
Pork ribs
Pork kidneys
Red spinach, Kai lan (small type), Chye Sim (small type), Brocolli, french beans
Thread Fin fish head (2 cut into 4 pcs) or bones
Black/Red garoupa (Black is cheaper now)
Buy sufficient for two week's supply. From 3rd wk onwards, can consume chix options -(hen/black/chix drumsticks only).
