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Friday, August 31, 2007

Baby of the Day! (31 Aug 07)

Hey! Looks like little Ray is learning chinese KungFu, now training on his "Zha Ma Gong". ;)
So cute isn't he?


He's the youngest darling of Mr and Mrs Pang Tee How.
His name is Ray Pang.
Age: 15 mths






(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.)

Headache during Pregnancy


One
of the common phases people, especially of women, is headache during pregnancy in the results of hormonal changes, fatigue, tension, hunger or physical and emotional stress. Considered as a common complaint during pregnancy, specifically during the first and third trimesters, doctors say it is rarely a signal of a serious problem.

The headaches you experience can get BETTER in pregnancy, because the progesterone causes the blood vessels to relax and not spasm, which is often a cause of bad headaches. If you do suffer from increased headaches during pregnancy, you may be particularly sensitive to your hormones or have had headache problems before your pregnancy.


Potential Ways to Treat Your Headaches

* Some headaches are triggered by low blood sugar. You can prevent any bouts of decreased blood sugar by not missing meals and carrying high-energy snacks with you.
* Drink plenty of water - dehydration can cause headaches.
* Whenever possible, avoid loud music, noisy restaurants, packed parties and crowded department stores.
* Ensure your environment is healthy. An overheated, smoke-filled unventilated room can trigger some people's headaches.
* Try going out for a brisk walk.
* Rest (but not too much, sometimes too much rest can worsen your overall symptoms)!
* Meditation and yoga are two ways to help you relax and decrease the effects of tension headaches.
* Try lying down in a dark quiet room with your feet up for ten to 15 minutes.
* Acupuncture, biofeedback and massage have been show to bring some relief from a headache.
* Alternating hot and cold compresses to the aching area for ten minutes can alleviate some of your pain.
* Cut a lemon into wedges and suck the juice out of the wedges.
* It's a good idea to avoid taking any kind of drugs while pregnant. However, if your practitioner recommends it, a paracetemol is OK but limit the number you take.




(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.)

Baby Heat Rash


In order to treat your baby's heat rash, you need to understand what causes heat rash.

Heat rash is an eruption of little bumps on the skin that can show up when your baby overheats. Babies are most susceptible to heat rash. Most babies get a heat rash during the summer months. You will probably notice is on their face or neck first.



Causes of heat rash

Heat rash often occurs when the sweat glands are very active, so it's easier for them to become clogged with sweat, causing the rash. But done worry heat rash is not a serious condition.

Heat rash or prickly heat is caused by the blockage of the pores that lead to the sweat glands. It is most common in very young children but can occur at any age, particularly in hot and humid weather. An infant does not sweat. The sweat is held within the skin and forms little red bumps or occasionally small blisters.

Hot, humid weather is prime time for heat rash, but you might see it in winter, too, if your baby is wearing too many layers of clothing or is running a fever. Sometimes a baby will get heat rash after a cough ointment is rubbed on his chest.


How can you treat baby heat rash?

Heat rash or prickly heat is best treated by providing a cooler and less humid environment for the child.

Start by cooling your baby off. Loosen or remove his clothing, and move him into an airy room or a shady spot.

You might place him on a cotton towel, which can help absorb his sweat. Apply cool, wet washcloths to the areas affected by the rash. A lukewarm bath with a little baking soda — 2 teaspoons per gallon — can also help.

If it's hot at night, use an air conditioner or a fan in your baby's room. Direct the fan near your baby but not directly on him. Or place it far enough away so that only a gentle breeze reaches him. You want your baby to be comfortable, not chilled.

Powders are unlikely to help treat heat rash and should be stored out of reach of the infant to prevent accidental inhalation. Avoid ointments and creams because they tend to keep the skin warmer and block the pores.



Is heat rash painful for my baby?

No, it isn't usually painful, but it can be itchy. Some of the bumps may be tender to the touch.





(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.)

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Asthma VS Pregnancy


When someone who is asthmatic gets pregnant, its useful to think firstly of how the pregnancy might affect the asthma and also how the asthma might affect your pregnancy.




Will my asthma affect my baby?

No, not if it's kept under control. But because your baby needs a good oxygen supply, you need to control your asthma so that the supply doesn't become restricted.

What if I have an asthma attack in labour?

This is extremely unlikely to happen, because while you're in labour your body naturally produces hormones (adrenaline and a steroid) that work in the same way as your medication and will keep your asthma in check.

Some, but not all doctors recommend delivering your baby with forceps if you have asthma. This speeds things up and minimises the effort involved in pushing the baby out. If you'd prefer to avoid this, discuss it with your doctor.

How can pregnancy affect my asthma?

Pregnancy can cause asthma to get better or worse. However, it is important that you do not change or reduce your asthma medication without speaking to the doctor or nurse who is caring for your asthma. Poorly treated asthma is usually more dangerous to the baby than any possible risk associated with an asthma medication.

Can I breastfeed my baby?

There's no evidence that any of the drugs taken for asthma are harmful to your baby, so it's quite safe for you to breastfeed.

Will my baby have asthma too?

Because asthma runs in families, there's a chance that your baby will develop it, especially if your partner has it too. Breastfeeding may provide some protection against it, but unfortunately this is not guaranteed.






(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.)

Baby of the Day! (30th Aug 07)

Hey! Nice pose little Claudia!
Sweetie little girl smiling at the camera, with this little red checked dress.


Precious darling of Chen ZongXing & Ai Li.
Her name is Claudia Chen.
Age: 15 mths old




(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.)

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Chicken Pox

Many parents have concern of your baby/kid get infected by chicken pox. This can be prevented by vaccination now. Read up more to understand it, so you can protect your baby in the early stage.


What Is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is caused by a virus called varicella zoster. People who get the virus often develop a rash of spots that look like blisters all over their bodies. The blisters are small and sit on an area of red skin that can be anywhere from the size of a pencil eraser to the size of a dime.
The illness also may come along with a runny nose and cough. But the good news is that chickenpox is a common illness for kids and most people get better by just resting like you do with a cold or the flu. And the really good news is that, thanks to the chickenpox vaccine, lots of kids don't get chickenpox at all. Kids who do get it, if they got the shot, often get less severe cases, which means they get better quicker.


How to prevent it?

If your child is not yet vaccinated, it is best to keep him away from sufferers of chicken pox – whether at home or in school. If he contracts chicken pox, ask your doctor about the effective and fast-acting anti-viral tablets that can ease the discomfort of your child. It helps to reduce the duration and severity of the chickenpox infection, accelerate healing and potentially diminish long-term scarring.



What to Do When Your Child Has Chicken Pox?

Chicken pox - memories of being itchy and uncomfortable pop up with just the mention of the name. In most cases, chicken pox is a mild illness. It is very contagious because the virus particles that cause it actually get into the air we breathe.
Symptoms of chicken pox usually start with a fever and rash. The rash often looks like bug bites. After a day or so, each "bite" turns into a tiny clear blister on a red patch. From blisters, these spots turn into scabs. A person with chicken pox stays contagious until all of the blisters have scabs.
A child who has chicken pox can be very irritable, uncomfortable and itchy.

There are many things you can do to soothe a child with chicken pox:

* Control the fever with acetaminophen (children's Tylenol). Do not give aspirin. It is associated with chicken pox and a dangerous disease called Reye's syndrome.
* Keep the child in loose fitting clothes that will not rub the already irritated skin.
* Cool baths sometimes are helpful. An oatmeal bath (AveenoBath) is good for the irritated skin and reduces the itching for a while. (You can buy this special oatmeal at drug stores.)
* Apply Calamine Lotion or a cool cloth to soothe the skin.
* Give your child an antihistamine such as Benedryl Elixir to help control the itching. Follow the instructions for the age and size of your child.


Q&A

Q. My daughter was one in April and contracted chicken pox. She was quite literally covered from head to toe apart from two small patches on her shoulder and calf which were the only places we could hold her. Two months on and her torso and bottom in particular still bear many purple spots - they look like faded port-wine birthmark stains. Will these ever fade or will her skin be permanently marked?

A. The amount of scarring that is left after a severe attack of chickenpox depends on the severity of each individual pox spot, and whether it became infected. If it is only skin discolouration it is extremely likely that this discolouration will disappear, but if there has been a severe secondary infection it may lead to the well known characteristic pox pitting. These become pale with time and don't usually show. It is unusual to have more than one or two of these left as a relic of an attack of chickenpox.



(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.)

Ferber Method

Have problem getting your baby to sleep? Why not try out the Ferber Method?
Below are some information about it to share with you. Hope it helps.

The Ferber Method shows parents how to teach their child to soothe himself to sleep from the age of 5 or 6 months. The method has proven controversial, mainly because it has been misunderstood as a harsh system of letting the baby cry it out until he falls asleep. As the outline below shows, there is considerably more parental involvement in the Ferber method than many people have been led to believe


Process

The first night you attempt the Ferber method, put your child to bed as you normally do. Your baby should be tired but still awake when you put him to bed, so that he is left to fall asleep on his own. After you leave the room, the baby will inevitably start crying. Allow him to cry for about 5 minutes, then re-enter the room to console him. It's important that you stay in the room for only a short time - even if he is still crying - and that you don't pick him up or rock him. This second time you leave the room, wait 10 minutes before returning in the same manner. The third time wait 15 minutes, and set this as a maximum wait time for the rest of the night.

Every time thereafter, enter the room briefly and then allow your child to cry for 15 minutes. Eventually, he will fall asleep on his own during one of the 15 minute intervals in which you are out of the room. The second night, you should begin with a 10 minute wait before re-entering the room, followed by 15 and then 20 minutes. In a similar fashion, increase your initial and subsequent wait times by 5 minutes each night.

Using this method your child will soon learn to go to sleep on his own. Although it can be difficult to listen to your baby cry, understand that the Ferber method is a safe and effective way of getting your baby to learn to sleep on his own.


Benefits
Supporters of the Ferber Method believe that the process of teaching a child to sleep on his own encourages independence. It has also proven to be highly effective in reducing nighttime wakefulness in babies, resulting in better sleep for everyone.
Ferber’s method was designed to avoid unnecessary crying and to provide comfort to the baby.


What age is suitable
The Ferber method is meant for children aged 6 months or older, when our culture has decided that most babies are capable of sleeping through the night (yet many parents will tell you that their babies feel otherwise!). Some babies are able to sleep through the night at 3 months old, but under the age of 6 months (and sometimes later than that), most children will need to be fed during the night hours.
The Ferber Method is NOT to be applied during the first 4 months because truthfully, a newborn or young infant's wants and needs are *one in the same* and should not be ignored or second-guessed, just simply attended to! If your newborn or infant is unable to sleep on his/her own, that is very typical in the early months.




(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.)

Kid of the Day! (29 Aug 07)

Hey! Check out this cutie little Minnie Mouse Girl in the car!
Enjoying herself so much in HongKong Disneyland :)

She's the younger little darling of Mr Edwin Tan and YokeMun.

Her name is Regine Tan.
Age : 5 yrs old


She enjoys alot yummy food such as rice, fish ball, vanilla ice cream, chicken rice...
One of your favourite cartoon character is Stella from the Winx Club!
Got her this picture, hope she likes it!











(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.)

Homemade Glutinous Rice

I love to eat glutinous rice since I'm a kid. It's so yummy, and I think it really goes well with roasted peanuts! So I finally got the recipe from my mum and started to make one myself! This is my 2nd attempt! Looks and taste quite nice..heehee....:)






(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.)

Baby Teething and How to ease their Distress

There's no fixed time for teething, but on average, most babies sprout their first teeth between four and seven months of age.
Some may get their first white cap as early as three months, while others may have to wait until they are a year or older.
While teething, baby will be in discomfort and cranky.




How can parents help to ease their distress?
Here's some tips to share. Hope this helps.

  • To ease his discomfort, give your child something to chew on, such as a firm teething rings, water filled, chilled rubber teething toys or a cold washcloth.
  • If your baby is old enough for solid foods, he may also get some relief from eating cold foods like chilled applesauce, yogurt and pureed peaches as they will looked more appealing to your baby and also more nutritious than a chilled teething ring. The cold may numb the pain temporarily.
  • Offering your baby a cold bottle of water can also help. If sucking on the bottle bothers your child, offer a cold cup of water. The water can also help replenish your baby’s fluid if they’re drooling a lot or have loose bowel movements.
  • Giving your baby a hard, unsweetened teething cracker such as zwieback to gnaw on is another way to help relieve his pain.

*Avoid carrots or lollipops, as they can be a choking hazard.
Try to ensure that your baby is getting the sleep he needs to during this uncomfortable time. Keep a consistent nighttime routine to help your baby sleep better.




(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.)

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Potty/Toilet Training For Your Baby

Alot parents have the worries of when should you potty trained your baby.
Here's some tips for sharing. Hope it helps.

What is the best time to start?
The average age a toddler will potty train is 2½. If you use cloth diapers you can expect your toddler to potty train 5 months to 1 year earlier. Girls tend to potty train faster than boys.





Signs your child may be ready:


  • Your child is staying dry for longer periods of time (often two hours or more). This indicates that her bladder capacity is increasing.

  • Your child recognizes when she is in the process of urinating or voiding. If you try to potty train before this time, you'll likely run into trouble, since your child isn't really aware of what she's doing and so is unable to control something she can't understand.

  • Your child is able to easily pull her pants up and down.

  • Your child is able to sit and engage in an activity for several minutes without becoming distracted or irritable.

  • Your child is walking and running well. Because the urge to potty is often sudden in toddlers, and because a potty isn't always steps away, it's important for your child to be able to make it to the toilet before an accident occurs.

  • Finally, and perhaps most importantly, your child shows interest and desire. Interest in keeping dry or clean. Interest in wearing "big kid" underwear. Interest in what you're doing when you go potty and a desire to do what you're doing.

Remember, age is not the most important factor. Potty training will be best accomplished when your child's physical and emotional development are taken into account as well.

Once your toddler and you are ready for potty training go out of diapers completely. Doing away with diapers will reinforce potty training.



(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.

Yummy Recipes for your baby!

Headache of what to prepare for your baby?

Here's some interesting yummy & healthy recipes to share with you. Hope it helps with your problem.

(Freshly prepared dinner)
(1) Eastern Rice with Baby Veg
- Thinly slice the mange-tout, baby carrots, baby corn into even-size pieces to make sure that they can cook evenly.
- Put the rice, water, cardaman pods and cinnnamon stick into a saucepan, stir well, then cover and bring up to simmering point. Simmer for 11 mins without removing the lid.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Throw the sliced vegetables on top of the rice and quickly replace the lid, then cook for another 14 mins.
- Remoev the cardamon and cinnamon stick. Add lime juice, toss everything together and scatter in a little fresh coriander. Mash it if necessary.

Ingredients:
3 mange-tout
3 baby carrots
3 baby corn
200g basmati rice
400ml water
4 cadamon pods
1 cinnamon stick
squeeze lime juice


(Quickly prepared dinner)
Fish baked in orange juice
- Put the fish into a baking dish with the orange juice. Cover with foil and bake in an oven at 180 degree Celsius until cooked throughout(approximately 5-10 mins).
- Finely chop or lightly mash before serving with a piece of bread and unsalted butter or mash potato.
Ingredients:
75g piece raw white fish, skinned and boned
4tbsp fresh orange juice
bread & butter or mashed potato, to serve




There's alot more healthy, yummy and easy prepared meals for your baby...do come back for more...;)
I'll featured yummy breakfast & lunch as well...










(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.)

New Disney Cartoon - Ratatouille Dinner Affair

YEAH!!
The new DISNEY cartoon is in TOWN!!



Ratatouille Dinner Affair
Release Date: 30th August 2007
Language: English
Running Time: 111 mins
Genre: Animated / Comedy / Action
Starring: Brad Garrett, John Ratzenberger, Patton Oswalt

Movie Plot
"Ratatouille" is about a lovable rat - Remy - who constantly risks his life in an expensive French restaurant because of his love for good food, as well as a burning desire to become a gourmet chef. Obviously, this is rather far-fetched for a rat but opportunity knocks when a young boy, who desperately needs to keep his job at the restaurant despite not being able to cook to save his life, makes Remy a partner. The two of them learn to avoid the insane head chef, bring the rest of Remy's family up to his culinary standards, win the boy a girlfriend, and of course, produce the finest ratatouille in all of France!

Autism in Kids

Autism can be a very serious problem if you do not handle it properly. You can see them in kids and this should be taken care while they're young. Because the earlier the treatment, the better it is.
Parents play a very important role in understanding them and bring them for appropriate therapy if necessary.

Here's some information about Autism to share with you:


What is Autism?

Autism causes kids to experience the world differently from the way most other kids do. It's hard for kids with autism to talk with other people and express themselves using words. Kids who have autism usually keep to themselves and many can't communicate without special help.

They also may react to what's going on around them in unusual ways. Normal sounds may really bother someone with autism — so much so that the person covers his or her ears. Being touched, even in a gentle way, may feel uncomfortable.



Some symptoms you may find if you kid has autism:



Kids with autism often can't make connections that other kids make easily. For example, when someone smiles, you know the smiling person is happy or being friendly. But a kid with autism may have trouble connecting that smile with the person's happy feelings.

A kid who has autism also has trouble linking words with their meanings. Imagine trying to understand what your mom is saying if you didn't know what her words really mean. It is doubly frustrating then if a kid can't come up with the right words to express his or her own thoughts.

Autism causes kids to act in unusual ways. They might flap their hands, say certain words over and over, have temper tantrums, or play only with one particular toy. Most kids with autism don't like changes in routines. They like to stay on a schedule that is always the same. They also may insist that their toys or other objects be arranged a certain way and get upset if these items are moved or disturbed.




What causes Autism?

The bottom line is, no one really knows for sure what causes autism. Most experts will say that autism is probably caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Even those experts, though, do not have a definite answer. For many people, this uncertainty is terribly frustrating. On the plus side, interest in and funding for autism research is on the rise, so new and better information should be forthcoming in the next months and years.


How is Autism treated?

There is no cure for autism, but doctors, therapists, and special teachers can help kids with autism overcome or adjust to many difficulties. The earlier a kid starts treatment for autism, the better.

Different kids need different kinds of help, but learning how to communicate is always an important first step. Spoken language can be hard for kids with autism to learn. Most understand words better by seeing them, so therapists teach them how to communicate by pointing or using pictures or sign language. That makes learning other things easier, and eventually, many kids with autism learn to talk.

Therapists also help kids learn social skills, such as how to greet people, wait for a turn, and follow directions. Some kids need special help with living skills (like brushing teeth or making a bed). Others have trouble sitting still or controlling their tempers and need therapy to help them control their behavior. Some kids take medications to help their moods and behavior, but there's no medicine for autism.

Students with mild autism sometimes can go to regular school. But most kids with autism need calmer, more orderly surroundings. They also need teachers trained to understand the problems they have with communicating and learning. They may learn at home or in special classes at public or private schools.




To read more about true live cases of Autism, you may find it in this link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7006980/




Understand Autism. There's a Autism Association setup in Singapore, to seek help. You may approached help:
http://web.singnet.com.sg/~autism/contact.htm









(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Kid of the Day! (27 Aug 07)

Nice shot taken in the studio!
This little princess is so sweet looking...a very gentle little girl...


She's the elder daughter of Mr Edwin Tan and YokeMun. She started to click here and there since she's a little girl...she enjoys playing online games, one of her favourite site is barbiegirls.com.

Her name is Rachel Tan.

Age: 6 yrs old.




Her favourite cartoon character is Flora from the Winx Club! I've put her photo here as well. Hope she likes it! ;)












(Send in your baby/kids photo to mykidzspot@yahoo.com.sg for a FREE write up in this blog! More details, check out the "Baby/Kid Write up" Section in the blog.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Online Girly Games

Here's some online games which I find them rather interesting. I'm guess little girl will enjoy playing those dolly dress up games! Just like those paper dolls games which I used to play when I'm small.

Quite cool actually, so check it out yourself!



http://www.dressupfairy.net/dress-up-fairy-beverley.html
http://www.tygirlz.com/demo/freeGames.cfm
http://www.tygirlz.com/index.cfm
http://www.onlydressupgames.com/game.php?linkid=251






There's more to share with you...will update again...if you come across any nice games, do let me know too! Thanks! (",)

Christmas Tree Shortbread

It's the last quarter of the year and our favourite festive season is coming!!
YEAH!! Christmas!!!

To get ourselves prepared, you might want to try some these Christmas shortbread recipe?
It's wonderful and take this opportunity to ask your kids to join in the fun together, I'm sure they'll love it!


Christmas tree Shortbread cookies
(Can make about 40 shortbread)

Ingredients:
Shortbread cookies: 1 ¼ cups plain flour, ¾ cup almond meal, 125g butter softened, chopped, 1/3 cup icing sugar, 1 egg, 1 tbsp milk
Icing: 1 eggwhite, 1 ½ cups icing sugar, food colouring- green



Steps:
To make cookies: process the flour, almond meal, butter, icing sugar, egg and milk until well combined. Then knead the dough into a ball on a lightly floured surface. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough out between two sheets of baking paper until a 5 mm thickness. Cut Christmas tree shapes from the dough using a cookie cutter and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper, 3 cm apart.

Bake in a moderate oven, 180 degrees Celsius for 8-10 minutes. Leave to cool on wire racks. Spread biscuits with icing when cold



To make icing: beat 1 egg white in a small bowl with electric mixer until just frothy then gradually add sifted icing sugar until mixture forms stiff peaks. Tint the icing with 3-4 drops of green food dye, then spread the icing onto the cooled biscuits.


*Tips: You can sprinkle some colorful sugar strands/ nuts/ chocolate chips...etc to further decorate the cookies!
Be creative and have fun with your kids!

Saving Life With Newborn's Cord Blood


Newborn's cord blood can save life...
Many of you might not be awared of its benefits. It can potential treat diabetes, stroke, heart and Alzshiemer's diseases...so find out more about how saving your baby's cord blood can benefits your baby and family.

Here's some information to share, hope it'll helps to give you a better understanding:

What is Cord Blood?
The blood that remains in your baby's umbilical cord after it has been cut is called cord blood and is rich in stem cells. Stem cells are one of the most promising areas of medical treatment for a number of common illnesses such as heart disease and Alzheimer's. They're the body's "master" cells and can regenerate into the cells that form all other tissues, organs, and systems in the body.

Donate blood cord
Before your baby is born, the umbilical cord is a lifeline. After birth, that lifeline can provide hope to patients with leukemia, lymphoma or other diseases.
After delivery, the umbilical cord and placenta are no longer needed and are often discarded. But the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta is rich with blood-forming cells. These healthy blood-forming cells can be collected and stored so they can be used by a patient who needs them.

Cord Blood Is Changing Lives Today
The umbilical cord is a lifeline: before birth, it provides the nutrients and oxygen necessary for your baby’s growth. After birth, your baby no longer needs that lifeline. But it could help someone else. You can donate cord blood to give hope to someone in need.

Real Life Story
New life can bring new hope through umbilical cord blood
Chicago Sun-Times, Jun 6, 2005 by Jim Ritter

Newborn Sofia Hogue was just a few minutes old when she performed her first good deed:
With her mother's permission, Sofia donated her umbilical cord blood, which some day might save a life.
Donated cord blood is used in stem cell transplants for patients with leukemia, immune system disorders and other life-threatening diseases.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed and sent to the Senate legislation to add 150,000 units to the nation's cord blood banks, which now store about 40,000 units. The vote was 431-1. Each unit contains cord blood from one newborn. The more units in the nation's cord blood banks, the greater the chance a patient will find a match.

A relatively new source of stem cells is cord blood, which offers certain medical advantages. However, an umbilical cord holds only three to five ounces of blood. Consequently, cord blood transplants are used more often in children and small adults, who need fewer cells.

There have been about 1,000 cord blood transplants to date, with a potential for thousands more.

When a mother decides to donate her baby's cord blood, she calls the cord blood bank during her pregnancy. About a month before the due date, the blood bank sends a collection kit, which the mother brings to the hospital.

Painless, poses no risk
After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped. Blood remaining in the cord and placenta is drained from the mother's side and sent to the cord blood bank, where it's stored at minus 320 degrees. The collection is free and painless and poses no risk to the mother or baby. If not collected, cord blood is discarded as part of the afterbirth.

It's possible a baby donor could later get sick and receive a perfectly matching cord blood transplant from his or her own stored blood. But there's no guarantee the cord blood would still be available, since it would be donated to the first matching patient who needs it.

Hi-5 Show in Singapore!

YES! Razzle Dazzle with Hi-5 is here in Singapore! Bringing them the CIRCUS to TOWN!


"The CIRCUS StageShow"
31 Aug - 09 Sep 2007


Venue:
Singapore Expo

Details on Date and Time:
31 Aug - 7 Sep 07 : 4pm & 7pm
8 - 9 Sep 07 : 1pm & 4pm
* No show on 5 Sep 07.





*For more details and booking of tickets, pls visit :www.sistic.com.sg!

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Kid of the Day! (23 Aug 07)

Hey! Looks who's this sweetie little pie? Big round eyes with a sweet sweet smile...:)
She's just like a little big sister now, taking care of her parents and grandparents...and her little brother who is on the way soon...(year end)




Darling of Moe and Christina...
Her name is Cheyenne Isabella.
Age: 6 yrs old


Just like other little girls, she loves all the Walt Disney stories, especially those princesses....
One of her favourite cartoon/toy is Winx Club! Which I've also posted it here..
Hope she'll likes it! :)















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