Good morning mommies!!
Jing Hui, thanks for enlightenment on "subsidized patient". Wow, 6-8 bedded.. won't it be a bit overwhelming? I had wanted a 2 bedded when I deliver my #1 cos friends told me during the day, I wont be too lonely, and if so happen that I am alone in a 2 bedded room, it'll still be fine. I had a gf who took the nurse's advice and took a 2 bedded room, but she was upgraded to a single room cos the 2-bedded ward was very full when she delivered.. I ended in a single bedded cos hb is not comfortable to have other patients. I was quit glad because that time, it was the H1N1 period. I got many visit-requests and even have people with flu symthoms visiting me!!! I can only control my visitors but I can't do this to my room-mate.
Jasline, my experience is the BH did not happen early, and when there is a pull, it seems like it is from the outer skin, and not the cramp like pull from within.
MamaAsh, food poisioning on board? Hope you are well and well hydrated. Take care!
Chan, RE BBPlus, if this is your first baby and you intend to have more, there is no harm buying. It did good for my son. He is more alert than most babies who were born the same time, and it was very easy to put him on a routine. I think the price is steep, you can try buying from experienced mom who wants to sell their used set. Consider writing to moms in other thread of SMHF who already delivered. I lend mine to my SIL and my gf between my #1 and this pregnancy. My gf was very sweet, she gave me a red packet. The lesson schedule can be downloaded from their website, so the device can be sold if you no longer want anymore baby in future. I intend to sell mine after this pregnancy.
Gretel, no sweat on hiring you rnew helper. If you have the time, think through what is your priority need(s), your expectations on her is and what you want her to achieve (in terms of housework) in a month. Write them down, and work out a rough schedule, e.g. baby's laundry is to be done daily, linens is once every 2 days, their clothes are to be soak and rinse out the milk residue before putting into the washer, no dryer dry only sun dry or air dry. The new helper needs alot of directions even if they can be "experienced" in their home country, some may be experienced mothers or housewives but their practice may not be the same as yours.
Also think about your house-rules, e.g. are u giving her the phone to use, if not, what is the condition of use, e.g. she can use for 1 hour every night between 9 and 10.
Curfews: if she is given off, what time do you expect her to reached home.
Personal hygiene: I am very concern with this because many of my friend's (esp Indon) helpers have BO. and I understand from my friends that they made it a house rule to have them shower in the am, use deodrant, gargle with mouth wash, shower in the pm, brush teeth and gargle... These measures helped.
In my household, everyone has to wash their hands, if possible, wash all the way to the elbow when we return from outside. I prefer everyone to wash their feet as well, but even though I set as a rule, it seems even I myself do not always remember.
If you have yet to choose your helper, I suggest you do not take one that is too young. My helper's 23 years old SIL recently arrived here and started working for a nice Chinese family. Her employer just gave birth to #2 and treated her very well. But this poor girl kept crying because she misses her family especially her 3 children!!! Her employer could have sent her back to the agency, but instead, she called her relatives here. My helper has 2 other sisters working here, and they all consoled her, encouraged her.
Being an employer, we can help them blend into our family although we can never take away all their home-sickness.
All the best!