Confinement Nannies
If you need help caring for baby in the first month, a confinement maid is just the ticket. She’ll not only cook for you and teach you how to handle baby, she will show you babycare basics. Get your confinement maid to stay with you, or ask her to come in daily.
“My confinement nanny agency really helped because they took care of every detail after interviewing me at home. This included dealing with the Ministry of Manpower to allow my Malaysian nanny to stay with me for 28 days.”
Daphne Tan, mum to Maegan, 5 months
PEM Confinement Nanny – Only live-in nannies available. Tel: 6293-9249/9028-8833 (Lily Lim), Website: www.pemconfinement.com. Rates: From $1,700 for 28 days.
Maranatha Employment Agency – Live-in and part-time confinement nanny services. A nanny-sharing scheme is also available. Rates: From $1,700 for day nannies (8am to 6pm for 28 days); from $2,000 for live-in nannies (28 days). Hourly and fortnightly rates also available.
Lactation Consultants
A lactation consultant will teach you how to boost your milk supply, train your baby to nurse properly and support you in your breastfeeding efforts. Ask the lactation consultants at your hospital for tips, or hire a private one if you need help for an extended period. Look for one certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultants Examiners (www.iblce.org) in the United States, the gold standard in breastfeeding management.
“My best support has to be Cynthia Pang of KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, who was the lactation consultant for my first child. She taught me that parenting is ultimately about knowing that you are in control.”
Mary Yeo, mum to John, 5 years, and James, 8 months
Doris Fok, Singapore’s first International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She worked at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital in the early 1990s and is now much sought after as a private lactation consultant. Call 9638-7660 for rates.
Betty Lee of LC Lactation and Parentcraft Consultancy. Trained as a nurse, she is also an IBCLC who teaches parentcraft and baby massage. Tel: 9833-0170, or e-mail [email protected]. Rates: $80 an hour for lactation consultancy; $160 for a parentcraft class for an entire family (2 hours); $160 for a minimum of two sessions of massage for a colicky or restless baby at the baby’s home.
Christina Kwek, also an IBCLC. Tel: 9367-9293 for rates.
Postnatal Massage
A soothing postnatal massage and tummy wrap by a good therapist offers relief from aches, loosens sore muscles and helps you to relax. Best yet, the rubs will flush out toxins and improve your digestion.
“You must go for a tummy wrap because it helps you to recover faster.”
Gina Koh, mum to Rae Min, 9 months
Khadijah Ibrahim Besides pre- and postnatal massage, she uses hot stones to reduce swelling in the abdomen, gives steam baths with herbs, and does tummy wraps, depending on the mother’s postpartum condition. Rates: $490 for seven days, or $70 per session.
Khalsom Hassan In addition to postnatal massages and wraps, she offers a Malay traditional sauna treatment using herbs. Rates: From $350 for seven days.
Hong Lian Feng this Chinese-speaking masseuse provides whole-body massages and wraps, using a fragrant paste made of lemongrass, ginger and peppermint. Rates: $400 for 8 sessions; $50 per session thereafter.
Birth and Beyond #04-03/04 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road. Call 6736-1636 for rates, Popular services include postnatal massage and binding services, postnatal exercise classes and babysitting services.