Wall Decorations for the Nursery

Umbra Mariposa - Set of 9
USD $10

Finally caved and bought these Umbra Mariposa Wall Decorations from Amazon! Been searching for these for the longest time and being an online shopping junkie, I finally found a good deal that I must share!

If you haven't heard of these before, their most common design is the Wallflower (see pic below), which is a set of gorgeous 3D flowers you can attach to your walls to decorate however you like.  These do come in some other colours too (I've seen Hot Pink, Lime Green and Glossy Black) so it's great for adding a pop of colour to plain white walls.

However, I have decided to go with a slight butterfly theme for the nursery and so have swayed more towards the Mariposa design. Aren't they just gorgeous!  I'm going to put them above the crib along with some other wall decorations I have in mind (shall be revealed in due course) - loving the 3D effect!

Umbra Wallflower - Set of 25 (USD $19.99 from Amazon)

Anyway, back to the great deal that I found - you can get these on Amazon for only USD $10! Shipping to Singapore was pricier than the item itself (USD $14.54), but overall (total works out to be about SGD $30) it still beats most of the prices I've seen around (ebay sells them for about USD $23 onwards and that's before shipping costs).  I've seen these around Robinsons as well, but I'm pretty sure they cost more than what I've paid too!

Of course the only drawback to buying them online is that I will now have to wait patiently for them to arrive in the mail... But if you're an online shopping junkie like me, you'll know how exciting it is when your packages arrive in the mail. It's pretty much like Christmas and I love it :) It's only about 15 weeks or so till bub arrives so it's about time to start doing up the nursery... can't wait for these to arrive!

Here are some ideas on how you can use these to decorate the nursery, bedroom and pretty much just any empty wall space in your home that needs that extra oomph!

Pssst: If you're looking for a Singapore-based wall decal company to customise some text decals to go along with your newfound 3D wall decorations like above, look for Decorette Wall Decals - they will be able to customise your favourite phrases for you!

Update: They have arrived!!! I absolutely love them! Received them via post from Amazon in only 3 days! Amazing service!

My Big Flopsy

My hubby got me a Big Flopsy for my birthday! Before you start imagining things, the Big Flopsy is a huge pregnancy pillow filled with comfy beans that provides total support and comfort while you sleep, plus will come in handy when it comes time to nurse baby.

Leachco Back 'N Belly Contoured Body Pillow
USD $59.99

It comes in a U-Shape so you can use it to lie on your back (providing great back and arm support when reading or using the iPad in bed), or sleep in the recommended side position - on your left of course - by hugging one end between your legs and wrapping the rest of it around your back for back support (I love this position!).  Later on, as belly gets bigger, this will be useful for providing belly support too - will let you know how that goes!

The best part is, when baby comes along, you can use this as a nursing pillow by wrapping it around the front of your belly so you can rest your arms and baby while nursing.  The pictures even show how you can use this so baby can be propped up in a sitting position, or lie in it like a pillow form bassinet. LOVE IT!

I couldn't find the Big Flopsy I have selling online, but these alternatives (better known as maternity pillows) ship for only USD $18.98 from Amazon. Pretty good deals considering mine was from Isetan and cost almost 180 bucks (oh the pain of spending all that money before baby arrives).

I would encourage you to splurge on these so you can enjoy your sleep before baby arrives and at the very least, comfortably! I know I can't do without mine every night now... :)

Boppy Prenatal Total Body Pillow
USD $49

Wishlist: Timi & Leslie Diaper Bags

Adding this to my wishlist! I think I'm falling in love with these Timi & Leslie Diaper Bags, especially the Dawn range! They look so chic and functional at the same time, exactly what I have been looking for. Most of the other diaper bags I've seen around are flowery and a bit too feminine for me (or the hubby for that matter) - not that the hubby would be likely to lug this bag around either, but hey at least it's not as girly. 

It's been hard to find an online store in US that would ship at a reasonable price so I am pleasantly surprised to see that Amazon will ship this to me in Singapore at only US$18.98! Oh... the temptation....

The only thing holding me back are some negative reviews that the quality of the hooks are not that great and break easily.  Not a good thing if the bag will be stuffed full of bub's things (i.e. HEAVY to the max).  Will be keeping this on my wishlist nevertheless!

Kegel Excercises

Ok, so I'm learning that doing Kegels is pretty important for an expecting mum (especially if you wish to have more "control" - if you know what I mean!).  Sounds slightly gross but by strengthening the pelvic muscles, us preggy mums have more chance of preventing (or at least controlling) urinary incontinence (tmi?).  

I found this "How-To" guide online at Mayoclinic.com so hopefully this also helps all you mummys-to-be out there like I hope it's going to help me! :)

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How to do Kegel exercises

It takes diligence to identify your pelvic floor muscles and learn how to contract and relax them. Here are some pointers:

• Find the right muscles. Insert a finger inside your vagina and try to squeeze the surrounding muscles. You should feel your vagina tighten and your pelvic floor move upward. Then relax your muscles and feel your pelvic floor return to the starting position. You can also try to stop the flow of urine when you urinate. If you succeed, you've got the basic move. Don't make a habit of starting and stopping your urine stream, though. Doing Kegel exercises with a full bladder or while emptying your bladder can actually weaken the muscles, as well as lead to incomplete emptying of the bladder — which increases the risk of a urinary tract infection.
• Perfect your technique. Once you've identified your pelvic floor muscles, empty your bladder and sit or lie down. Contract your pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction for five seconds, then relax for five seconds. Try it four or five times in a row. Work up to keeping the muscles contracted for 10 seconds at a time, relaxing for 10 seconds between contractions.
• Maintain your focus. For best results, focus on tightening only your pelvic floor muscles. Be careful not to flex the muscles in your abdomen, thighs or buttocks. Avoid holding your breath. Instead, breathe freely during the exercises.
• Repeat three times a day. Aim for at least three sets of 10 repetitions a day. You might make a practice of fitting in a set every time you do a routine task, such as checking email, commuting to work, preparing meals or watching TV.

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*Note: The above information is taken from the mayoclinic website, visit this link for more information on Kegel excercises. 

Scouting for Breastpumps

Been peeping into babystores lately (mostly window shopping) and mentally taking notes of the necessary stuff that I will have to get and how much they cost.

Medela Freestyle Breast Pump

When it comes to breastpumps, I notice that Singapore stores mainly stock Medela and Avent brands, with the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump coming out to be one of the more popular choices (at least according to most online forums). Generally, I tend to be more skeptical when it comes to buying "THE" brand, as I always think prices are marked up that much more just because they are "well-known". But hey, this time even my gynae is recommending it! Her rationale is that these are really quiet and discreet especially when you have to pump in public places or in the office. I guess it could be embarrassing if it sounds like a rocket is taking off everytime you step into a cubicle...

Anyhow, these Medela's are pretty damn expensive! The Freestyle is priced at around SGD$988 in most stores (I saw a sale in Isetan for about $700+) and to me that is like "whoa, really??? For a breastpump???"

So being the online junkie I am, I turned to US sites to see if they would be cheaper getting from abroad, even after paying shipping and gst... and they are! If you have friends/family in the USA, even better! Get them to buy these for you and bring them back with no additional shipping or taxes to be paid.

After shipping and 7% GST and conversion into SGD, the Medela Freestyle works out to be about SGD$550 or thereabouts - that's SGD$450 savings!!! compared to buying from Mothercare or any of the other babystores around. Think of all those extra baby clothes you can buy...

So if you have time to wait for this to ship to you (takes about 10-16 days), it will be well worth the savings. I'm going to do more research and make sure this is the one for me and if so, will definitely be getting this one online!

Luxury Wants - Changing & Bathing

In one of my previous posts, I listed a baby checklist of stuff that was "necessary" in preparation for a baby, this post is all about luxury WANTS to do with changing and bathing baby - i.e. stuff that probably isn't so practical in the long term and much more pricey than what I'm willing to pay, but fun to wish for nevertheless! So here goes...!

Puj Baby Bathtub

Liking the look of this Puj Tub! It's foldable so it's space-saving and fits under a tap to bathe baby. Although, I do realise this may only last a few months and baby will grow out of it pretty quick. Not so practical in the long run? But what baby item really is... (you see, that is how I convince myself...).

Oeuf Changing Station

If you need a space saver like me, this change table that fits above the crib would be perfect! If it wasn't so pricey, I would love to have the Oeuf, but it looks like I have to search for a more affordable alternative... oh well, eyes are peeled for a good deal!

Diaper Depot

Actually, this may well qualify as a "need" rather than a luxury. Apart from the obvious fact that I will have to purchase actual diapers, I think this Diaper Depot would be pretty handy to have hanging over the crib or changing table so baby's diapers, creams, wipes and everything else is easily within reach.

The Amazing Belly Belt

Went shopping today and come home with this amazing find... the Belly Belt! As a growing pregnant lady (19 weeks today!), I am finding it harder to fit into my pants and jeans (well, the waist bit at least) and when I stumbled across these, it was like having one of those eureka moments (you know, the "why didn't I think of that!" moments).

Fertile Mind Women's Maternity Belt

What this amazing belt does, is strap onto the button-hole of your existing jeans/pants to expand the waistline so you can hang onto them for just that little bit longer without having to spend huge amounts on specialty maternity clothing early on in your pregnancy. It's pure genius.

The set I bought is from Fertile Mind and comes with 2 button-hole belts and 2 slide fastening belts, plus 3 different fabric cloths that you can slide the belts through later on in your pregnancy so you only see the nice fabric (not the ugly buttons stretching all across your tummy).

You can find them online here for only US$19.95, a bargain if it means you get to continue wearing your comfy designer pants for that much longer :)

Pregnancy Bellyphones

I'm 18 weeks today and according to BabyBump, the baby's ears are developing and can start hearing sound - yep, time to start playing the baby some music!

Bellybuds - Pregnancy Bellyphones

Which brought me to discover Bellybuds! i.e. Pregnancy Bellyphones (uh huh! Headphones made just for your belly!) so your baby can listen to some music while it bounces around in your womb.  

According to the reviews, it scores 4.5/5 which is pretty damn good. Means the mummies out there must find the bellybud a pretty good investment. Makes me wonder if baby will really remember these tunes... will the song I play baby now possibly soothe him/her when he/she is out of the womb? Will it really help form a stronger bond between parent and child?

Hmm.. I'm slightly skeptic, but a sucker for fun gadgets. If anything, I'm sure you'll feel like you're doing something for your baby before he/she is even born :)

Prenatal Yoga

Yay! Had my first session of Prenatal Yoga today!  I've been feeling a bit restless (and unfit) during the past 4 months that I was not "allowed" to do any exercise - or even lift a shopping bag for that matter. 

According to what I've been reading online, it's "safer" to wait till you are at least 16 weeks (or 4 months) before doing any exercise in order to make sure the foetus has properly attached to your womb (and to avoid any chance of a miscarriage). 

So I'm so glad I'm finally able to do some stretching to relieve all that shoulder and backache that I've been feeling lately.  If you have not tried yoga before, it's pretty much the safest exercise a pregnant woman can do (since it's low-impact) apart from swimming.  It stretches your limbs, relieves aches, increases strength and flexibility (great prep for the tiresome labour that is about to come!), plus you get to meet other pregnant ladies and share some experiences with each other.  I'm also hoping it will do something about the leg cramps I've been getting recently in my sleep due to the pregnancy.

As I already had a previous yoga membership, I didn't have to sign up for anything new to start these classes. But if you do not have a regular class to go to, you can try buying some DVDs to try out in the comfort and privacy of your own home, or download Prenatal Yoga with Mimi Solaire to your computer so you can start practicing NOW!

If you don't mind waiting for the DVDs to be delivered to your home though, try Suzanne Bowen's Long and Lean Prenatal Workout and Yoga for Pregnancy which has 6 individual workouts to follow (keen to get this one myself!).

Manduka Yoga & Pilates Mats

Don't forget you will need a good mat to lie on to support your knees and back while you exercise.  If I didn't already have one (and wasn't on a budget), I'd be tempted to get these Manduka Yoga Mats! I saw them on Martha Stewart's show the other day and apart from all the goodness about this mat (life-long guarantee, comfortable, slip-resistant, non-sticky), they are Green and support a charitable cause as well.

Happy exercising!

Feeling Baby Kicks!

At 17 weeks 4 days today, I'm sure of baby kicks for the first time! I think I've been feeling them for a few days now, but they were always quite subtle and I couldn't be sure.  It's a bit like popcorn popping in your tummy, or a strange rumble towards the lower pelvic area.  In a morbid way, it's as if there is something in your belly trying to find a way out.

The only way I was sure these are now kicks is by staring at the spot where I was feeling the popping and sure enough, I can actually see little bumps protruding when baby kicks! It's so amazing!

Hubby has managed to catch one or two "jumps" so far and also watched the strange protruding from my belly, it's very surreal to see for the first time :)

Baby Kick Monitor

So we have a super active baby by the looks (feels) of it! Wondering if I should get this Baby Kick Monitor to keep track of baby's kicks... I know I can just sit back and manually count the kicks, but gadgets are always fun to have (plus it's on sale)!

Edit: I found an iphone app that's pretty handy to count kicks with, plus it's free! It's called bmotion and it helps you keep track of how long it takes baby to make 10 movements, after which you can email the results to yourself or the doctor if necessary. If not, just keep for fun! I'm waiting to see if there's any "trend", i.e. does baby kick more during certain times in the belly and if this is the same when he/she is out of the womb! Will be interesting to observe... :)

Baby Checklist

At 17 weeks 5 days and into my 2nd trimester, it's time to start baby planning! After some research online and poring through forums, I've consolidated my own personal list of "needs".  In my next few posts, I'll post some luxury wants (i.e. stuff I've found in online stores that I just may not be able to resist)!

Sleeping
Cot / Mattress / Sheets
Waterproof Liners	To protect the mattress and sheets.
Bassinet	For day-time rocking.

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Changing / Bathing
Baby Bathtub	Preferably one with a plug so it's easy to release water after baths.
Change Table	We will need a space-saver; one that sits on top of the crib and is also portable.
Towels / Face Washers	One for everyday of the week to minimise washing.
Diapers	About 10-12 per day for the first few weeks.
Nappy Wipes
Cotton Wool / Buds
Nappy Rash Cream
Diaper Bin

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Going Out
Baby Sling / Carrier	Liking the Baby Bjorn!
Stroller	So far, we love the Peg Perego Pliko Switch...
Infant Carseat

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Dressing Baby
Onesies!	Pretty sure I'll be needing plenty of these!
Mittens & Bootees
Swaddle Cloths

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Feeding Baby
Burp Cloths
Nursing Bra
Breastpump	So far, the Medela's seem to triumph in terms of "popularity".
Bottles for expressed milk
Bottle Steriliser
Breastpads

Phew! That's a pretty long list of stuff for a teeny baby! I'm sure it's not even complete yet and knowing myself, I will end up with plenty of useless things that are just to "cute" to resist.  We shall see!