To any married couples, pregnancy is a joyful thing to be celebrated unless for those who do not plan to have any child due to certain circumstances. Whatever reason one might have, I strongly believe that God has given us the DICKs and VAGINAs (eh hem, excuse me) not just for us to enjoy love making but to produce and multiply. As Psalms 127:3-5 says:
"Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate."
children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate."
What a beautiful way to describe the birth of a child to the world. Being a first time parent is a wonderful experience. It's a situation whereby there's a mixture of joy and expectancy but also fear and uncertainty. Happy because the child is someone whom you are going to raise up together with your partner, a symbol of love between the couple, someone who is going to be your inheritance. Anxious and worried because you love the unborn child so much (of course you love the mother-to-be also) and it's the last thing in your to let any untoward incidents to be upon them.
I was googling the net, trying to search for more information that I need to know about the do's and dont's during pregnancy as well as the food to take and to avoid to produce a happy, healthy baby. During the first 10 minutes, I was enjoying myself with the vast and useful information provided from articles posted by doctors, experienced mothers and other internet surfers which seemed to be very logical. The advice to avoid over intake of oily and salty food as well as food which contain high cholesterol level, the advise to avoid half cooked and raw food to avoid bacteria infection are common sights to most articles written by westerners.
This is followed by advice to take nutritional food such as fresh vegetables (cooked of course), fresh fruits (washed thoroughly), meat and fish high in protein as well as food rich with carbohydrates. As it is very common for a pregnant lady to be anemic, the articles suggested increase intake of food rich in iron. Folic acid or folate is strongly recommended to prevent birth defects. During pregnancy, electrolytes such as potassium, sodium and chloride are very much needed to maintain the extra fluid in balance when the blood volume expands (it's claimed that the blood volume expands up to 50% during pregnancy).
Articles suggest lots of examples of fruits and food to take during the pregnancy. Bananas, oranges, watermelon(some controversy here during the later part), vegetables, meat, milk and grains are highly recommended food for mothers to be. There are a lot of other food varieties that have been suggested which actually get different kinds of opinions from different people.
Westerners say: Pineapple is rich with Vitamin C. Good for pregnancy (take in moderation of
course).
Easterners say: Hamik? Pineapple cannot ar. Can abort one you know. People use it to abort
lei.
Westerners say: Banana, rich in potassium. Very good for pregnancy. Can help to reduce
cramps (take in moderation).
Easterners say: Warlau ei. Eat banana. Can not lei. I don't know why but people say can not,
can not lar.
Westerners say: Spinach is recommended because of it's iron contain. Good to prevent
anemia.
Easterners say: You think you are popeye mei. Eat spinach. Can not ar.
Westerners say: Coconut juice has lots of nutritional values. Recommended for pregnant
women (click here for more information). It may even prevent neonatal
jaundice.
Easterners say: Ngai ti. Coconut. Very cold lei. Not good.
As a conclusion. I only get excited during the first 10 minutes of my surfing the net for information. The rest of the time is spent in doubt, trying to understand each suggestion of the do's and don't during pregnancy... Internet is indeed a place rich with information...
Please feel free to comment and email me suggestions about the do's and don't of pregnancy. I'd love to learn more.
p/s: Easterners: Oi, pregnant liaw, don't change bed sheet hor.
Westerners: Damn, am I going to lay on the same bed sheet for the next 9 months?
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