DOCS’ PREGNANCY TOP TIPS

Doctors share how they cope with their own nine-month journeys.

GIVE BABY A HEALTHY START

“For my first pregnancy, I was extremely careful about my diet and medication. I was also working part-time, so I had the luxury to rest for a while in the afternoons, as it was also recommended by my gynae because I was diagnosed with complications.

“I gave up coffee – which I was massively addicted to – and was eating a lot of vegetables and salads. My husband gave up smoking during that pregnancy as well. Because of the good care and effort, my son was born at a healthy 3.8kg.

“When I had my second baby, I was working full-time and had my toddler son to look after, too. I realised that I became more relaxed about prenatal care. I’d sometimes miss medication and check-ups, and didn’t take my meals regularly. I had resumed drinking coffee, but didn’t consume enough milk or take calcium supplements.

“As a result, during the last few days of the pregnancy, I had severe backache and leg pains. My daughter was born at just 2.7kg and continued to be a sickly child for a couple of years after birth. I still feel guilty about not taking enough care during the time when I was pregnant with her.”

– Dr Anupriya Agarwal, National University Hospital. She has a nine-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl.

GET A MASSAGE

“When I was pregnant with my first kid, I abstained from coffee and tea for the entire nine months. I consistently took multivitamins and fish oil supplements. I would constantly read up more on pregnancy. I did the same for my second pregnancy, which seemed easier because I already knew what to anticipate. But I wished I had gone for prenatal massage to ease pregnancy aches and keep me relaxed at all times.”

– Dr Suzanna Sulaiman, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. She has a four-year-old girl and an 18-month-old boy.

TAKE A BABYMOON (OR TWO!)

“The pregnancy went well. My wife and I – she’s also a gynaecologist – even managed to take two short holidays. The labour progressed smoothly and it was pain-free as my wife had an epidural. As a result, we could breastfeed and bond with our baby immediately.”

– Dr Christopher Ng, GynaeMD Women’s & Rejuvenation Clinic. His daughter is 10 months old.

INVOLVE THE SIBLINGS

“I wished I had involved my elder children with their younger siblings more during my pregnancies, so that they would have more memories of those special times. Looking back, I could have brought them along to my prenatal check-ups and scans. I could have also included them when I was shopping for baby essentials and even choosing the names.”

– Dr Su Lin Lin, National University Hospital. She has three daughters aged nine, seven and five.

(to be continued…)

Read the October 2011 issue of Young Parents for the full story, and more local tips to make you a better mum or dad.