Essential steps for new mums to take after realising a pregnancy

pregnancy scan

Congratulations on your pregnancy! It can be an overwhelming episode if you’re a new mum as you go through the joys of conceiving your first child to the nerves of having to mind your body from day one.

However, fret not as we show you the essential steps to take after realising your pregnancy. Stay on this page!

Find a doctor you can trust

Apart from the pregnancy being a delightful family affair, you will need a doctor you can work hand in hand with during your pregnancy.

You should ask for recommendations from friends or family members and schedule a visit as soon as possible. Do expect some blood tests, prenatal vitamins prescription, and miscellaneous information to help you prepare for your next 40 weeks.

According to Healthline, here’s a general guide on how often you will be seeing your doctor:

  • once per month until week 28
  • twice per month from weeks 28 to 36
  • weekly from week 36 to birth
Talk about medications with your doctor
pills

Image Credits: everydayhealth.com

Once you’ve decided on your preferred doctor, let the healthcare professional know about your existing medications and supplements.

Since some drugs can pass through the placenta, they may drastically affect your precious baby. However, do not simply stop taking them because some medications can cause severe side effects if stopped abruptly.

The safest way is to seek a medical opinion and follow through with whatever the doctor recommends. With a baby growing inside you, it’s best not to simply Google and heed online advice.

Make plans for your work schedule

Ladies who are working and plan to continue during your pregnancy and after giving birth must mind your work schedule.

Don’t forget that you will still need to keep up with your doctor appointments, and your employer should be kept in the loop of your need for time off from work. For working mums with higher-risk pregnancies, you may also wish to consider reducing your workload gradually.

Now’s also the time to start researching the child care centres near your house so your baby can be assured a place in infant care when they reach two months old.

Relook what goes into your mouth
a pregnant woman saying no to alcohol

Image Credits: walnuthillobgyn.com

Since you’re not walking alone anymore for the next few months, you’ve got to assume responsibility for the life inside you. One of the main ways to protect your growing baby is to pay close attention to what you eat.

In short, alcohol and tobacco are harmful for your little one. All forms of alcohol, including beer, can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or even disabilities. As for tobacco, the nicotine inside it can damage your developing baby’s brain and lungs.

In addition, you should also decrease your caffeine intake to about just two cups a day. Anything more than that can increase your risk of miscarriage so stay away from that if you can. By caffeine, we’re not just referring to coffee, but tea, soda, and dark chocolates too.

While you must limit the harmful stuff, be sure to have balanced meals to get all the nutrition you need for a healthy baby. Here are some excellent foods to take:

  • Dairy
  • Legumes
  • Whole grains
  • Cooked lean meats
  • Fruits and vegetables

Have an incredible pregnancy journey and a smooth delivery!

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Looking for a Home Tutor in Singapore? Here's Why You Need One

In today’s extremely competitive world and educational system, one needs to perform well in academics to help one succeed. 

But the thing is, even the best schools fail to cater to the individual needs of their students. In fact, according to a report, 76% of students feel anxious when taking an exam even if they’re “well prepared.”

That’s because every student is different and has various learning capabilities. Some students can easily understand the lesson, while others need that extra guidance (and push!) to know the lesson well. 

In this post, we’ll walk you through the benefits of hiring a home tutor in Singapore: 

Learn At Your Own Convenience

One of the biggest benefits of home tuition is the convenience that it offers.

With education and learning right at your door, you’ll get to learn at the comforts of your home. This gives you the flexibility to decide what your preferred days are to get tuition.

Students can also discuss with their tutor things like the tuition place, time, and days.

Personal Attention

A home tutoring service is usually on a one-to-one basis. Meaning, students are getting full attention that’s otherwise available in a room packed with 20 or more students.

Students don’t have to worry about failing to grasp a concept as fast as their peers. By increasing focus on the student, a professional tutor can work on areas for improvement. This also allows them to work at the learning pace of the student.

Because of the undivided attention given to them, students can also clear out any misconceptions that they might have.

Positive Learning Environment

Many students usually hesitate to ask questions to a teacher. Some are embarrassed to let the teacher re-explain the concept to them.

This isn’t the same with home tutoring. A home tutor will be the one who will encourage a student to ask questions and will re-explain a concept if needed. As a result, students feel more confident and open up their concerns with the tutor.

Detailed Feedback

At school, a teacher might miss out on important subtleties. Often pressed for time, they might miss correcting every student’s faulty areas.

On the other hand, home tutoring allows the student to analyze and then work on their weak spots as they go.

A professional tutor will usually provide detailed productive feedback, which will motivate students to improve and do better on their work the next time.

Improve Performance

As mentioned earlier, if students are weak on a particular subject, they might need special attention to enhance their performance. But this doesn’t often happen in school.

With home tutoring, students can get their tutor’s undivided attention and have more time to work on a particular subject or concept.

Apart from tutoring on subjects, a home tutor can also mentor the student, helping them develop great time management and study skills. Doing so improves the students’ overall performance.

Work With The Best

More often than not, schools don’t give the students the chance to choose their teacher, affecting results.

One of the primary benefits of a home tutor is that one can pick the best tutor on a particular subject. You have the option to consult with home tuition agencies as you choose the best tutor.

This is important because a great tutor can easily understand the student’s needs and give them the right guidance.

Final Thoughts

If you’re struggling with your studies, home tuition may be necessary to help you get a quality education.

That’s why you need to work with the best professional tutors who will cater to your needs and assist you with your studies.

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Why It’s Ideal to Buy a Home Amidst the Ongoing Pandemic

Property buying has been a concern of many because of the pandemic. While some proceeded in purchasing their dream homes, there are also some who held back. If you’re one of the people who are still pondering whether to get that dream home now, here are some reasons why you should.

1. Competition is less fierce.

Many of your fellow prospective homebuyers are preoccupied with other things and aren’t looking at properties for the meantime. Consequently, you’ll have fewer people to compete with.

As such, you don’t have to rush your purchase. You don’t need to try outbidding others as well. Moreover, you don’t have to settle for properties that are cheap but in hostile communities.

Be confident at exploring housing options that are in peaceful communities but are still sold at affordable prices. Take your time studying their benefits, too.

2. Sellers offer great deals.

To entice more buyers, developers offer different promos and flexible payments schemes that would be of help for buyers to proceed with their real estate investment.

Consider the homeowners who are selling their properties right now as well. This could be due to financial issues brought about by the pandemic. To get funds sooner, some of them may sell at prices lower than what you would assume. The downside, however, is that the properties may be poorly maintained. This makes newly built homes an attractive choice. Check the house listings online to see the available houses you can choose from. Once you see a property to your liking, inquire about the available payment terms and promos they offer.

3. Impending Price Increases

Sooner or later, various industries have to recover from months of low revenue or even deficits. More often than not, the way to do so is to increase the prices of the goods and services they’re providing.

So, if manufacturers of construction materials raise their prices, the prices of property developments would also increase.

When values of properties increase, your monthly repayments for a mortgage loan may become too high. Another possibility is that the seller may maintain the same amount of monthly repayment pre-pandemic, but the repayment period will be longer.

Before the inflation rate becomes too high, it’s good to study the market now and make a purchase.

4. Home purchasing has become more convenient.

You don’t have to go out of your current home to look for new property investments. If you are an OFW, this is even more convenient for you. Nowadays, real estate developers like Lessandra has offered digital tools to help homebuyers purchase real estate without having to travel back to Philippines. If you are an OFW, you can visit their website or their YouTube Channel to see the virtual tours. You can also reserve your property of choice and make payments online!

See FAQs and Guides to know more on how to buy a property in the Philippines online.

Get a glimpse of the community through the virtual tours

Photo source: Lessandra website

Real estate is a huge investment. Even if you’re looking for an affordable house and lot, choose a reputable developer. For a quality and affordable house and lot developer, check Lessandra homes. Tagged by the London-based website Start Up Pill as one of the best residential start-up companies globally, Lessandra offers quality yet affordable homes worthy of your investment.

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What you need to know about the stages of Parkinson’s disease

an elderly man looking out from the corridor

As our parents grow older by the year, there is a higher possibility of catching Parkinson’s disease. According to Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s disease usually develops among old folks who are 60 or older.

We’re sure you have heard of the condition, but if you have not, it’s essentially a brain disorder that results in specific symptoms like:

  • Stiff limbs
  • Unmanageable tremors
  • Delayed movements (also known as bradykinesia)
  • Balancing difficulties thus leading to issues standing up

To identify the severity of the condition, doctors may use the Hoehn and Yahr rating scale to aid them in assessing. Here’s what you need to know about the five stages of Parkinson’s disease.

Stage 1

At the first stage, the symptoms may not be that obvious. Even if they present themselves, it’s not severe enough to impact daily activities and current lifestyles.

However, watch out for slight changes in an older person’s walk, posture, or facial expressions. There may also be mild tremors and movement restrictions on one side of the body. Should you notice such signs, bring your parents to the doctor so they can receive medications to minimise the possibility of it worsening.

Stage 2

As Parkinson’s disease progresses to the second stage, facial expression changes can appear more vividly. Your parents may also feedback that they are experiencing more trembling and stiffness.

Due to muscle contraction resulting in stiffness, an individual may take more time than usual to complete a simple routine. But at this stage, it should not impact their balance. Some may start to feel the symptoms on both sides of their body. Selected people can even find it tough to express their thoughts verbally.

Stage 3
old people in Singapore

Image Credits: todayonline.com

The third stage is the midpoint of Parkinson’s disease. At this phase, a person suffering from the condition will start experiencing loss of balance, decreased reflexes, and slower movements overall.

Stage 3 is important because the elderly person may be more prone to falls. While tasks are significantly affected at this juncture, individuals are still able to complete them. Do consider sending your loved one for occupational therapy as they continue to consume medication to reduce the symptoms.

Stage 4

As we approach the second last stage of Parkinson’s disease, know that stage 4 is a critical phase because individuals won’t be able to stand and complete daily tasks alone.

With significant drops in movement and reaction times, the senior person at this point will require either a walker, assistive device, or a physical person to assist them in their lifestyle. It’s not an exaggeration to say that leaving someone with Parkinson’s disease at stage 4 to handle their daily routine is dangerous.

Stage 5

This is the final stage of Parkinson’s disease, a phase where an individual will require 24-hour attention to prevent unnecessary falls due to heightened stiff legs.

Apart from physical challenges, older people at the last two stages of the condition are likely to experience confusion, delusions, and hallucinations. Dementia may also come into the picture, and medications taken previously will start to exhibit its side effects.

If you’re new to Parkinson’s disease and need more information, please head to parkinson.org.sg for support initiatives and reliable resources by the Parkinson Society Singapore.

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4 new property launches in Singapore to eyeball

liv at mb condominium

Thanks to the pandemic, Singapore’s property market has been on a rollercoaster ride. With changing restrictions in place, this affected showflat and property viewings. As such, there was also a slowdown in new launch activity.

But as our tiny red dot takes small steps to reopen the economy, the property market is also expected to prosper in the months to come. For folks eyeing a new house, here are four new property launches to look out for!

#1: Klimt Cairnhill

Klimt Cairnhill

Situated at district 9, Klimt Cairnhill will be sited at the former Cairnhill Mansions along Cairnhill Road. You will find the freehold property between Orchard and Newton, and an 8-minute walk to Far East Plaza. This also means that you’re just a short driving distance to other major shopping malls in Orchard.

Its developer is Glopeak Development, a subsidiary of Low Keng Huat, which has completed projects like South Bank, One-North Residences, and Paya Lebar Square. As a potential homeowner of Klimt Cairnhill, you can expect a 36-storey residential tower with over 130 units. There is also a single-storey bungalow clubhouse.

#2: Les Maisons Nassim

Les Maisons Nassim

Les Maisons Nassim is also another property to consider if you’re planning to stay in the heart of Tanglin and Orchard in district 10. Similar to Klimt Cairnhill, it also has a freehold tenure. It’s sited at 14 Nassim Road and an 11-minute walk to Tanglin Mall. Singapore Botanic Gardens is just a mere 15-minute walk away.

The luxury condominium is developed by Shun Tak Holdings, with a portfolio of buildings like Park Nova and 111 Somerset Road. In fact, the developer also has an extensive record in construction projects in Macau, Hong Kong, and Mainland China. There will only be 2 penthouses and 14 meticulously crafted residences amid lush greenery.

#3: Perfect Ten

Perfect Ten condo

What an apt name for a building! Perfect Ten has a freehold tenure and will be located at 317 Bukit Timah Road, formerly home to City Towers. You can find it right at district 10, an alternative to consider other than Les Maisons Nassim. It’s just a 5-minute drive to United Square Shopping Mall.

Developed by Japura Development, you can look forward to 24-storey twin towers with over 200 units. There will be 1- to 4-bedroom options for you to choose from. Just so you know, Japura Development is affiliated with Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-Shing’s CK Asset Holdings. CK Asset Holdings has completed iconic buildings, including One Raffles Quay and Marina Bay Financial Centre.

#4: LIV @ MB

liv at mb condominium

Last but not least, we have LIV @ MB. The 99 years tenure property is a redevelopment of the former Katong Park Towers along Arthur Road. Want to stay at district 15? LIV @ MB could be the project to keep your eyes on. You will just be a 3-minute drive to East Coast Park and a 7-minute drive to Katong V.

Bukit Sembawang Estates will be in charge of its development. If it sounds familiar, that’s because they are also the hands behind The Atelier along Makeway Avenue. Bukit Sembawang Estates has a portfolio of buildings like 8 St Thomas and The Vermont on Cairnhill, so you can expect standard facilities like a jacuzzi, yoga deck, sky garden, swimming pool, barbecue pavilion, and more to be built.

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