Dad shares the heartbreak of losing his baby to Kawasaki disease

Little Aiden was just 7 months old when he came down with fever.

“His fever was persistent and his mood was erratic. The initial symptoms were rash, and swollen lymph nodes”, recalls his father, Jeremy Chew.

“He was given fever medicine and it was treated as a normal fever by his paediatrician in Mount Alvernia Hospital.”

It was May 2015, and nobody suspected the baby of having Kawasaki disease.

“If only Aiden was treated earlier and given the right treatment…”, says Jeremy wistfully.

A heartbreaking story of Kawasaki disease in babies

Aiden’s condition soon deteriorated and he had to get admitted to the hospital.

“The A&E doctor from Mt Alvernia then suggested that Aiden might be suffering from Kawasaki Disease (KD). We had no idea about the illness.”

“His paediatrician tried to treat it, but the standard IVIG treatment was unable to bring down Aiden’s fever. The irresponsible doctor then told us that he was not capable of treating Aiden anymore as his speciality was actually something else.”

“So he requested us to send Aiden to KK Hospital for further treatment.”

“In KKH, Aiden was treated with immediate care as the Doctors there know about KD and the importance of early treatment.”

However, the delay in getting the right treatment proved costly.

“Aiden was found to have massive heart aneurysms and was required to have injections daily to prevent the clotting of blood in the aneurysms, that would trigger a heart attack.”

Unfortunately, on 25 June 2015, Aiden suffered a massive heart attack.

Fought till his last breath

 “Aiden was placed under a heart support machine called Centrimag which was the first for a baby in Singapore”, reveals Jeremy.

“We were totally devastated by this outcome as we knew it was hard for us to have heart replacement as in Singapore, organ transplant is only compulsory for adults and not for children.”

“An organ transplant would have helped but we knew it was very rare plus it was not practised in Singapore.”

Aiden passed away in November 2015, after 6 months of battling the illness.

“Aiden passed away on Nov 25, though we had already got the Ministry’s approval for another heart support machine, called the Berlin Heart. But due to infections and complications in one of the small surgeries, he couldn’t survive.”

“Aiden fought till his last breath, but left us.”

Creating awareness for Kawasaki disease in Singapore

Today, daddy Jeremy devotes his time and energy to creating awareness for Kawasaki disease and organ transplant in Singapore. Mummy Marie works as an HR recruiter. They have 2 other kids, Adele, 2, and 5-month-old Alden.

“The key reason why we are promoting Kawasaki disease (KD) and organ transplant awareness is due to the fact that the faster KD is identified and treated, the better the outcome will be”, Jeremy tells us.

“In the KD Community that a group of mothers has created, they want to promote KD awareness as some of their children also suffered due to inexperience or late diagnosis of this illness.”

“As for Organ Transplant, it is my personal view that as Singapore is very small, there is no organ transplant policy for children and if you are willing to donate your kids organs, it is also a very tough path to go.”

“In Aiden’s case we actually requested the Organ Transplant team to request to donate Aiden’s organs such as the corneas or other parts of the body that are not affected by the heart attack or KD. However, in the end. the team told us that it was impossible to donate due to the fact that Aiden was not brain dead.”

Advice for other parents

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Looking back, are there any regrets? If you could, would you have changed anything?

“There are many ifs and definitely many regrets…”, says Jeremy.

“We were first-time parents at that time, and assumed that all paediatricians would be equally competent. If we could change anything, we would have appointed our current PD who we researched about carefully and was recommended by many friends.”

“The difference lies in the devotion and care of the doctor.”

‘If Aiden was treated earlier and given the right treatment, his heart might not have been impacted that much. Lastly parents’ gut feeling is always important, and if you don’t feel comfortable, you should always seek more advice from the doctor. “

What advice would you give other parents in Singapore whose children are going through a medical crisis?

“In Aiden’s case, we had communicated to many parties including the Ministry and the PM, as well as many medical professionals.”

“I would say that help is always available, so do not feel desperate. You can always seek help from the hospital or the government as long your request is valid. Always seek second opinion if you are uncomfortable. Trust your parental instinct in terms of seeking treatment.”

“Stay strong as you will require the strength to support your kid’s journey.”

Thank you, Jeremy, for sharing your story with us. It is really admirable how this dad drew strength from his grief to create more awareness about this illness, and help many others.

Parents, do note that, the symptoms of Kawasaki disease include:

A high fever (as high as 39-40 °C) lasting at least five days

Red eyes

A body rash, especially on the stomach, chest, and genitals

Sore irritated throat

Swollen, red, cracked lips

Swollen tongue with a white coating and big red bumps (called “strawberry tongue”)

BCG scar may be prominent

Swollen, red feet and hands

Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

According to the
Kawasaki Disease (KD) Support Group Singapore
 , there are over 200 cases of KD in Singapore every year. Treatment of Kawasaki disease should begin within 10 days after a fever starts, to avoid cardiovascular complications.

If parents or medical professionals recognise the symptoms early, children with Kawasaki disease can fully recover within a few days.

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"My maid had sex with my neighbours in my bed"

How would you feel if you found out that your domestic helper had been having sex with your neighbours in your bed?

This nightmare became a reality for Esther (not her real name) when she found out her FDW of a few months had been secretly sleeping with her neighbour and his son-in-law, in the bed she shared with her husband.

Esther was devastated when she found out that Jean (not her real name) – who was highly recommended by her sister-in-law and who Esther and her husband trusted immensely  – had invited men into their home and bedroom in their absence.

“Jean was left on her own for most of the day but my husband and I never questioned what she got up to. As long as the house was clean and there was food on the table when we returned home, we were happy,” she said.

Esther trusted her maid but her trust was betrayed.

“We gave her the freedom to use her mobile phone whenever she needed to and even let her access the internet on our computer,” she added.

RELATED:

Maid woes: I think my maid is stealing from me

Being able to trust our FDWs is crucial. After all, they look after what is precious to us, such as our homes and our kids. But the million dollar question is, how much should you trust your domestic helpers and how much freedom should you give them?

Esther said: “I’ve not hired another domestic helper since – I’m scarred by the scandal. Should I hire a maid in future, I will monitor her closely. I won’t leave her alone at home for long stretches of time, that’s for sure.”

Inviting a stranger to live with you is a big decision. And this is exactly what happens when people employ live-in domestic helpers. Having a live-in helper can be uncomfortable if you haven’t established some level of trust and understanding.

When employers don’t fully trust their helpers, they are forced to resort to measures such as restricting or banning mobile phone use; having strict rules about her appearance such as short hair and no makeup; banning the maid from mingling with other maids during work days, and so on. As a result, neither the maid or the employer is happy.

How much freedom is too much? How do you enforce a moral code of conduct?

How much freedom is too much for a domestic helper? How do we allow this freedom, and still keep them in check? And w
here do we draw the line?

In Esther’s case, she fully trusted her domestic helper, without ever questioning what she was up to during the day. Jean definitely took advantage of the freedom given to her by Esther.

But is Esther partly to be blamed for what happened? Should she have monitored Jean’s movements more closely? And should she have laid down some ground rules at the beginning of Jean’s contract?

It’s not easy handling a live-in helper, especially if it’s the first time you have ever employed one. Remember that a respectful relationship works both ways. If you want her to respect your rules, make sure you respect her rights to privacy and rest. It definitely helps to lay down some basic rules.  Some rules our readers suggested are:

Lay down some rules right at the beginning of your maid’s employment with you. These could be related to mobile phone and Internet use (eg. she can use her mobile phone at fixed times like after 9pm when her work is done); how you’d prefer her to dress when she is working etc.

Make it clear to your helper what the consequences will be if she breaks your trust (e.g. she gets 1/2/3 chances; or you will not tolerate any breach of trust and immediately send her back to the agency).

Avoid keeping money or jewellery lying around. This is unnecessary temptation, especially if your helper is new.

If you are not at home, always keep cupboards or drawers where you keep your valuables, locked, or keep your valuables in a safe. Similarly, lock your bedroom door when you are away from home.

Be very clear about whether you allow her to bring her friends to your house, even when you are not there. Avoid leaving a new maid home alone for long stretches without checking in on her regularly.

Ask her to be honest with you – if she is not happy or uncomfortable with anything, she should feel comfortable enough to approach you with her problem.

Make it very clear about who, if anyone, is allowed into your house in your absence.

Give her a copy of your rules, ideally in a language she is comfortable with.

Once you lay down your ground/house rules, do make it a point to stick by them and also go through them occasionally with your helper to refresh her memory about your expectations. A working relationship built on trust and mutual respect will ensure that both you and your helper are happy.

Do share your opinion on Esther’s story. Has anything similar ever happened to you? Let us know by leaving a comment.
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Tips for Sleeping on Your Side to Avoid Stillbirth

Pregnant women are exposed to a world of advice (sometimes welcome and sometimes unsolicited!) from the moment they test positive for their pregnancy. And among the advice that filters through as sound medical directive rather than old wives tales, is that related to sleeping on side during pregnancy.

According to the largest study of maternal sleep position and risk of stillbirth
 published in
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
, women who suffered a
stillbirth
 after 28 weeks gestation were 2.3 times more likely to have slept on their backs than on their sides, the night before the stillbirth occurred.

Sleeping on side during pregnancy, and in particular sleeping on your left, has been reported to help ease the pressure off your liver and kidneys. This allows them to function better thereby flushing out waste products and fluids from your body, and reducing edema (swelling) of your ankles, feet, and hands in the process.

Although we now learn that sleeping on either side is fine
, there are reasons that you might choose to sleep on your left. It is still often regarded as the perfect scenario as it also allows for optimal blood flow from the inferior vena cava (IVC), which is a large vein that runs parallel to your spine on the right side, and which is responsible for carrying blood to your heart and also to your baby.

Sleeping on your left side during pregnancy is often regarded as the ideal scenario. Photo: iStock

Sleeping on side during pregnancy

Tips to make sleeping on side during pregnancy work for you

So we have read the research and we now know that sleeping on side during pregnancy is
the safest form of sleep
, but what if you have always been a supine sleeper or a tummy-sleeper? What if you dislike sleeping on your side and find it difficult to get comfortable and drift off to sleep in such a position?

Here are our top tips to help you fall asleep on your side and stay that way for the majority of your sleep episode – regardless of whether it is your daily seven hours of sleep at night, a daytime nap, or even going back to sleep after any night-time awakenings.

Sleeping on side during pregnancy: Pregnancy pillows

Pillows could be your new best friend and perhaps even replace your partner by having more access to you and the one you reach for more to get comfortable and cuddle up to sleep, during pregnancy!

Always have a few extra pillows in bed with you. This can be just about any extra pillow that you have lying around, a bolster pillow, or you may want to invest in a pregnancy pillow that works all throughout pregnancy and can sometimes aid you through breastfeeding as well.

Pillows are great aids to side-sleeping during pregnancy. Photo: iStock

Pregnancy pillows come in all shapes and sizes. There are extra-long pillows that contour to the shape of your body and come in giant U or C shapes; these wrap around your entire body to help with side sleeping so you can position the pillow so that it runs along your back, and then hug the front while simultaneously slipping it between your knees. There are also wedge pillows that you can slip under your tummy for a bit of extra support and to keep yourself from rolling onto you back, or under your knees to help ease the pressure off your legs. There are even ones that are specifically shaped with a divided centre and fortress-walls to make sure you remain in a side position throughout your snoozing.

Here are a few links on popular e-commerce sites linked up to pregnancy support pillows, to help you chose one that is best for you if you do decide to invest in one:

https://www.lazada.sg/pregnancypillows

https://www.amazon.sg/pregnancypillows

https://shopee.sg/pregnancypillows

https://www.qoo10.sg/pregnancypillows

Either avail the use of such pillows or even use any extra ones that you may already have in your homes, to place around your belly and in between your legs so that your abdomen stays raised and your back and hips are adequately supported.

Wedging a pillow in between your legs helps to foster a more comfortable side-sleeping position by keeping your legs level. Pregnant mums usually report issues with discomfort and even pain while sleeping on the side, in which cases their top leg is almost always dipping down on to your bottom leg, but keeping them level using a pillow gets rid of this issue and facilitates a smoother side-sleeping experience.

You may also use an extra pillow to prop up the head of the bed a few inches, which can also help to ease breathing and help prevent any backflow of stomach acid from reflux, reducing heartburn.

However, if you simply cannot get used to
sleeping on your side
, try using pillows to prop your upper body at a 45-degree angle so you do not lie completely flat, and sleep with bent knees to take the pressure off your back. This will also take the compression off your IVC.

Cultivate a good day-time routine to help you sleep better at night. Photo: iStock

Cultivate healthy habits during the day to foster quality night-time sleep

Exercise every day (but please check with your doctor first), for staying active can help in fostering better sleep quality. Try to take a 30-minute walk or a pregnancy exercise class (there are short pregnancy workout videos on YouTube for free as well), at your own pace. However, make sure your exercise is performed earlier on in the day and avoid any activity that brings your heart rate up, within 4 hours of bedtime as this can be stimulating enough to keep you up.

Try to stick to a relaxing nighttime routine. A warm bath and/or a massage, some relaxing tunes, deep-breathing exercises, and even a pregnancy yoga video are all good ways to relax before bed.

Stretching, especially performing leg stretches and concentrating on your calves and other areas that you usually cramp up in, can prevent nighttime cramps from springing sudden surprises on you.

Despite pregnant mums needing extra fluids, try to limit drinks later on in the day. Stop drinking within 2 to 3 hours of bedtime so you won’t have to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Caffeine should be avoided as much as possible during pregnancy but in particular closer to bedtime as it can keep you up, as well as act as a diuretic that makes you have to use the bathroom more.

Make one last trip to the bathroom before you turn out the light to sleep.

Try to maintain a cooler temperature in your room, as you are bound to feel warmer while being pregnant.

Take daytime naps. Be sure to apply the same rules on sleeping on side during pregnancy while you take a day-time nap as well.

Most importantly, relax. Try to apply the tips above to ensure you remain on your side, and if you’re especially concerned about your sleeping position, you may even ask your partner to check on you from time to time and help nudge you into a better position.

As long as you go to sleep on your side, it does not matter as much if you wake up in the middle of the night and find that you are in a supine position, as research indicates that the position you went to sleep in is held the longest during sleep. Simply roll back on your sleep and carry on sweet-snoozing mama!

This article has been republished with permission from
theAsianparent Singapore
.

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LEGO's Chinese New Year Sets Make Us Proud To Be Asian

We don’t know about you, but growing up, there were very few toys that actually represented our Asian heritage. Most toys, like toys and cars and the like, mostly carried a lot of Western messaging and brands. Since many of the brands originated from Western countries, this should come as no surprise.

But recently, we are seeing a lot more Asian representation in toys and most recently, we see an iconic brand, LEGO, take on an Asian twist with their Chinese New Year
LEGO sets.

Celebrating classic Chinese culture and legends with the LEGO® and LEGO® DUPLO sets is something that we never thought we would experience but it’s so wonderful that our children can now enjoy it. It is a great way to preserve our heritage through the generations.

So if you’re keen to get your child to learn more about their Chinese culture from a young age with these age-appropriate toys, here is what we recommend you get:

Chinese New Year LEGO Sets To Check Out

1. LEGO® Story of Nian
 (suitable for kids 8+)

This set is inspired by the Chinese legend where a mythical beast
Nian
 comes around to attack villagers every Spring, and is only driven away by the colour red, fire, and loud noise.

Villagers back then would also stay up late to keep a watch for
Nian
 during the eve of Chinese New Year. It was said that the story started the festival traditions of lighting firecrackers, Chinese New Year Eve’s vigil (守岁
shou sui
), and the practice of wearing red for luck. It is also especially apt as we look to usher in 2021 with optimism and good luck after a challenging year.

The set features a brick-built Chinese residence with traditional decorations including buildable fireworks, firecrackers, hanging lanterns and Chinese couplet, a snowy scene that is brought to life with a posable
Nian
 creature, a snowman figure and six minifigures including grandpa, grandma, three children and a person in an ox costume to mark the Year of the Ox in 2021.

Children will thus be able to learn the story about
Nian
 and the various traditions that stemmed from the folklore in a fun way with LEGO bricks.

2. LEGO® Spring Lantern Festival (suitable for kids 8+)

This set recreates the magical atmosphere of the festival which marks the end of the lunar new year celebrations. It features a brick-built Chinese garden with moon gates, pavilion, bridge, pond with frog and koi fish figures, bamboo trees, a special ox lantern illuminated by a LEGO light brick as well as other must-have items during the festival like a rabbit lantern and a
Tang Yuan
 rice ball. For a modern take, it even comes with features such as buildable bubble tea, mobile phone and selfie stick.

To inspire children to learn more about Chinese traditions when building, illustrations are added to the building instructions of the two sets, which will tell the legendary stories of
Nian
 and The Lantern Festival. This is the first time this kind of feature appears in the LEGO Chinese Traditional Festival theme.

3. LEGO® DUPLO Town Happy Childhood Moments (suitable for kids 2+)

 This DUPLO set introduces pre-schoolers to two exciting events with its two alternative building designs – the Chinese New Year celebrations as well as the first day at kindergarten. The children can play out Chinese New Year family traditions, including exchanging their red packets and eating dumplings, or choose to role-play and prepare for the daily routines of kindergarten.

A stand-out, feature-packed gift that lets pre-schoolers play and learn about the fun details of some of the big occasions in their lives, this is also the first LEGO DUPLO set that is customised for Chinese pre-school families.

All three sets are currently available in Malaysia at authorised sellers such as Toys”R”Us and Box of Bricks
.

From 15 January 2021 till 21 February 2021, families can also visit the Mid Valley Megamall at Kuala Lumpur and The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey for a one-of-a-kind festive playground, named Moove Academy.

Over at Mid Valley Megamall Kuala Lumpur, shoppers can put their strength and agility to the test. From navigating the LEGO Year of the Ox in a gyro-sphere before escaping the maze board, to spinning a wheel and mastering yoga poses, there is so much to enjoy this Chinese New Year.

Other activities include checking out the dioramas by the Synergy LEGO User Group in Malaysia who have recreated scenes of Chinese New Year and LEGO themes such as LEGO City, LEGO Friends and LEGO Ninjago around the mall as well as photo opportunities with the LEGO CNY decorations at East Atrium, South and North Void areas of Mid Valley Megamall Kuala Lumpur.

Festive promotions await all shoppers too.
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15 – 17 January 2021:
 As part of the first weekend special deal, every purchase of the LEGO Story of Nian (80106) and LEGO Spring Lantern Festival (80107) at the event in a single receipt will entitle shoppers to a Lunar New Year Prosperity bag that comes with LEGO red packets, a RM18 voucher, as well as limited-edition LEGO LNY Lantern, LEGO LNY Pagoda and LEGO Year of the Ox builds. This is limited to one redemption per person per receipt, while stocks last.

15 January – 21 February 2021:
 Shoppers who purchase LEGO playsets worth RM238 and above (excluding LEGO sets 80105, 80106, 80107) at the event will receive a limited-edition LEGO Year of the Ox. Those who have purchased LEGO playsets worth RM68 and above will receive a set of LEGO red packets. Purchases of LEGO City, LEGO Friends, LEGO DOTS and LEGO DUPLO playsets worth RM138 and above will also entitle shoppers to participate in a lucky dip for LEGO mystery gifts and stand a chance to win limited-edition LEGO Zodiac sets from previous years.

18 January – 21 February 2021:
 Shoppers who have purchased the LEGO Story of Nian (80106) and LEGO Spring Lantern Festival (80107) will receive a limited-edition LEGO LNY Lantern and LEGO LNY Pagoda as gifts with purchase, while stocks last.

Visit the
LEGO Malaysia website
 and
LEGO Malaysia Facebook page
 for more information on the Chinese New Year LEGO sets, the LEGO® Chinese New Year Event, as well as the latest offerings and promotions.

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Study: How children prefer to eat based on gender and age

If you hate mealtimes with your picky eater, then this article will bring you hope. A new study suggests that presenting their meals in certain ways could affect whether a child will eat the meal or not. What’s more, presentation style should differ between boys and girls for more success. Here’s what the study reveals and some more tips on how to get a child to eat when they refuse.

Could the way you present the food better encourage your picky eater to eat? Science thinks so.

Food Presentation Can Help Your Child Eat His Veggies, Says Study

A new study, which was published in the
Journal of Sensory Studies,
 shares some interesting results in relation to picky eating habits among kids: Apparently, little boys and girls of different ages have different inclinations to meals based on how they’re arranged.

The study was conducted to analyse if kids favoured their meals organised in a specific way, and if the child’s gender or age affected their choices.

Annemarie Olsen, the author of the study, knows that children tend to like their meals arranged in a specific manner and order. However, this knowledge was only based on stories from parents.

She admits that “we do not have much evidence-based knowledge about how children sort and eat their food.” Knowing whether children’s preferences are scientifically backed can be “very relevant when… we want our children to eat more vegetables – or eat their food in general,” says Olsen.

How the Study Was Conducted

For their study, scientists recruited 100 school children who were between seven and eight years old, and 12 to 14 years old. The researchers then tasked them to order pictures of six different meals presented differently based on their liking. The meals were presented in three ways:

ingredients arranged independently such that they didn’t reach one another

a meal consisting of isolated ingredients and ingredients which were well-combined

all of the ingredients stirred into a smooth mixture

By ordering the photos based on how they liked the food being presented, scientists were able to distinguish which forms of food arrangement the children favoured most, and which they favoured least.

How to Get a Child to Eat When They Refuse

One of the key methods to help kids in eating their fruits and veggies is to organise them in small servings.

Making the food easily accessible so they can reach for it also helps.

The study suggests that there’s another key player. How the food is actually presented can influence whether the children eat or not.

“At the same time, it would be nice to know whether there are big gains to be made just by arranging food on the plate in a certain way,” added Olsen.

The results of the study showed that:

Girls between 7-8 years old favoured the food presented separately.

Boys who were 7-8 years old weren’t affected by how their meals were presented.

Older children aged 12 – 14 years old liked their food presented in two styles:

all the ingredients mixed together

or delivered as a combination of ingredients on their own with food that’s stirred together.

According to Olsen, these results suggest that when it comes to seven- and eight-year olds, parents should arrange their food separately on the plate.

“The child can mix the food when the various elements of the food are separated on the plate, while the reverse is not possible,” explains Annemarie.

Presenting food mixed together will make it less likely for your child to try it out. | Image source: stock photo

Other Tips on How to Get a Child to Eat When They Refuse

In our
previous article
, we discuss five tips to on how to get a child to eat when they refuse:

Be creative with your food presentation
. Cutting food into different shapes and letting your child be familiar with different food textures by allowing her to touch her food will help. Making the food look tastier than it actually is makes it easier to convince your kid to eat it.

Mix what they don’t like in other foods
. For instance you can play with textures, colours and mix flavours. Combine veggies in the patties or meatballs that he might like. Also, if your child doesn’t like a certain dish, just think of different ways to serve and cook the same foods.

Involve them in the process.
 Growing your own food and cooking it on your own definitely brings about some level of satisfaction. Try involving your toddler in growing his own leafy vegetables. That way, he will be more appreciative and willing to take in vegetables that he grew himself.”

Be patient and don’t pressure them.
  Expose the kids to different varieties of foods without pressuring them too much. Consider serving a new type of food along with some other food that you know that your child likes to see if she’ll eat it – just don’t force the child to eat food.

Talk to your child about other good aspects of food
 – other than its flavour. Encourage your child by talking about a food’s colour, shape, aroma and texture — not whether it tastes good. Focusing less on the taste will make kids think that the food really doesn’t taste that bad!

References:
Economic Times

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5 Ways To Know If You Are Ovulating, Time To Have Intercourse!

Technically and scientifically speaking, you will only get pregnant successfully if and when you have sex during the female ‘fertile’ period, which is when you are ovulating. That is why it’s important to know what are symptoms of ovulation.

Symptoms of ovulation: What is ‘ovulation period’?

Each month between 15 to 20 eggs mature inside your ovaries. The ripest egg is released and swept into one of your fallopian tubes – your fallopian tubes connect your ovaries to your uterus (womb).

Once there, this egg then waits to be fertilised (waiting for mister right sperm, you could say). So in essence, ovulation is the term used to describe
the period where one or more eggs are released from one of your ovaries.

When is the best time to have sex if I am trying to conceive?

While sperm can live for up to 2 to 6 days, an egg is only around for 12 to 24 hours. So based on this, each woman will have a fertile window that only lasts up to 6 days – and that too depends on each woman’s individual cycle.

However, timing intercourse to fall in the six days leading up to and including ovulation day is your best bet for the highest chance of conception.

So the statistic goes like this: If you have sex five days before you ovulate, the probability of pregnancy is about 10%; The probability of pregnancy rises steadily until the two days before and including the day of ovulation.

As soon as the
 ‘fertile window’
 ends, the chance of getting pregnant declines rapidly. In fact in as little as 12 – 24 hours after you ovulate, you will no longer be able to get pregnant during that cycle. However, if you’ve had sex three days before your ovulation period, then the chances for getting pregnant are around 27% – 33%.

So based on this info, it is really important to find out what is symptoms of ovulation, and where your ovulation period lies if you want to get pregnant.

Myth: All women ovulate in the middle of their menstruation cycle

The general belief is that women ovulate mid-cycle, but this belief is
rather misleading
. It really depends on each woman’s cycle.

Some women have 28 day cycles, some 26, some 30 day cycles and more. In fact, each month can also vary slightly due to hormonal changes that are affected by diet and stress levels as well.

Typically women ovulate 2 weeks or 14 days before their next period – not mid cycle. So if you have a 28 day cycle, then you’ll ovulate on day 14, but if you have a 35 day cycle, you would ovulate around day 21, not day 17 (Note: Day 1 is the first day of your period).

This of course makes it harder for women who have irregular periods to trace their ovulation period thus making it harder for them to pinpoint the optimal period for intercourse.

What are symptoms of ovulation?

Unfortunately, while most women experience some symptoms during their premenstrual period (hello PMS!), most women don’t during the ovulation period.

Only a very small percentage may get sensitive and tender in the lower abdomen, some may get a sore back, or even experience some change in their discharge. There are some cases where women get a little extra ‘frisky’ during this time too, but that is completely subjective.

These changes are not significant enough for a woman to track down the big day easily, but luckily there are other accurate methods that can help us to work out the day.

1. Check your pee with an Ovulation Predictor kit

Probably one of the easiest and fastest methods you could use is an Ovulation Predictor Kit. You can get a kit from your local pharmacy and do the ovulation test at home.

Ovulation predictor kits are able to pinpoint your date of ovulation 12-24 hours in advance by looking at your levels of luteinizing hormone, or LH, which is the last of the hormones to hit its peak before ovulation actually occurs.

All you have to do is pee on the stick and wait for the indicator to tell you the result. If the result is positive, that means you are going to ovulate within the next 12-24 hours.

The Good: Straight forward, no messing around, accurate, convenient.

The Bad: Expensive – only for one time use, and you’ll need to use it a few times a month.

2. Keeping track with a Calendar

If you’re good at remembering to keep track of days, then counting through your calendar can be useful to predict your ovulation day. The menstrual cycle begins from the first day of one period (day one) to the first day of the next period – that would count as a full cycle. And your own cycle may vary slightly from month to month.

But generally, the ovulation period is 2 weeks before your next period. By keeping a menstrual calendar for a few months you’ll get an idea of what’s normal for you.

So based on the above calculation,

If your cycle is 28 days, your ovulation day may fall on day 14, and the best time for intercourse may be on days 12, 13 and 14.

If your cycle is 35 days, your ovulation day may fall on day 21, and the best time for intercourse may be on days 19, 20 and 21.

If your cycle is 21 days, your ovulation day may fall on day 7, and the best time for intercourse may be on days 5, 6 and 7.

The Good: Economical, convenient.

The Bad: May not be accurate as menstrual cycle may vary from month to month. May not be a good method for those who have irregular periods. You will need to be diligent in keeping track.

You may use the
ovulation calculator provided by some websites
 too, if you don’t want to count manually.

3. Basal body temperature (BBT)

BBT is the baseline reading you get first thing in the morning, after at least three to five hours of sleep and before you get out of bed, talk or even sit up. To measure this accurately you’ll need a special basal body temperature thermometer. Your BBT rises about half a degree Celsius after ovulation has occurred which is what you wanna look out for when you’re
charting your temperature
 so you can work out your own pattern of ovulation. The way it works is that just before ovulation, your BBT will reach its lowest point and then rise immediately and dramatically (about a half a degree) as soon as ovulation occurs. It’s not enough to track your BBT for just a month, you’ll need to track it for at least three months in order to help you to see a pattern to your cycles, enabling you to predict when ovulation will occur in future months — and when to hop into bed accordingly.

The Good: Economical, you will spend time listening to your body more.

The Bad: Be prepared to be very patient as you require at least three months in order to get an accurate reading of your ovulation day. May not be an easy method for those who have irregular periods every month.

4. Cervical mucus test

This is for those who don’t mind keeping an eye on the changes to their mucus (and knickers). Around the time of ovulation, you may notice your vagina’s mucus is clear, slick and slippery – like the consistency of egg whites. This is a good sign of when ovulation is happening. The change in hormones causes the mucus to change, making it more slippery and wet because this is better for intercourse and for the sperm, causing you to increase your chances of conception.
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Changes in mucus during ovulation:

Clear to transparent

Quantity increase

Slippery, wet also egg-white like texture, where it can pull up to 10cm long

The Good: Economical, teaches you to understand the changes in your body, for most women it is quite easy to notice these changes.

The Bad: Need to be patient and observant, best to use this method in conjunction with one or more other methods to ensure the best results.

5. Saliva test via Lipstick Microscope Analyser

If you’re not into peeing on a stick, then
the saliva test
 might be your next best bet. This little gadget will look at your saliva under a lipstick-like microscope, and analyse the levels of estrogen in your body through your saliva – which is pretty cool if you think about it.

If you are ovulating, the microscopic pattern will reveal a fern plant pattern on the windowpane. I used it myself and I love that I can bring it anywhere, plus it is very exciting to get a good ‘fern’.

The Good: Handy, light, reusable, cheaper than the ovulation predictor kit.

The Bad: Not all women get a good ‘fern’, it is very hormone dependent, and some women do not have hormone levels that can be detected. Need to strictly follow the instructions in order to get accurate results.

I hope that the tips above will help you figure out your ovulation day to increase your chances of getting pregnant. However in order to get pregnant, there are other things that you will need to take into consideration, after all, everyone is different. So seek professional advice if you need further support. And remember, don’t stress, just relax and enjoy the journey!

Reference:

https://infertility.about.com/od/tryingtoconceive101/a/ovulationsigns.htm

https://www.whattoexpect.com/preconception/fertility/five-ways-to-tell-you-are-ovulating.aspx

https://yourfertility.org.au/for-women/timing-and-conception

https://www.babycenter.com/0_when-to-have-sex-if-you-want-to-get-pregnant_1809.bc

https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/understanding-ovulation/

This article has been republished with permission from
PurelyB

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Masks have become a part of our daily lives – I don’t remember the last time I went out without wearing a mask. I’ve even made it a point to wear a mask when I go for a walk (you can never be too careful with the Delta variant going around, right?). As soon as I leave my home, my mask is on until I come home. So when I got the chance to try out the LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier for review, I was looking forward to trying it.

#TAPReviews: LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier

Priced from RM749 (available for pre-order at leading electronic appliance stores), this is the most high-tech “mask” available in the market. At first glance, you might be wondering if it is heavy. That was my very first thought. But as I took it out of the box, I was surprised at just how light it is. In fact, it only weighs 94 grams, making it about double the weight of my glasses.

I made sure to read the manual cover to cover to set up the LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier properly.

It was really easy to “configure” and the settings are very straightforward. To turn the device on, all you have to do is long press the power button.

Then, because there is a built-in microphone in the mask so people can hear you easily when you speak, all you have to do is press the power button once to activate or deactivate it.

To power off, just long press the power button again. That’s all there is to it.

Setting up the LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier

There are three easy parts to the LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier, the actual “mask”, the face guard and inner covers. The inner cover is very similar to our reusable mask PM2.5 filters.

You just need to put an inner cover, then layer the faceguard on top of it, which will clip on magnetically so you don’t have to figure it out. It’s all very straightforward and user-friendly.

Then wear it and adjust the straps according to your fit.

What I like about it is that it’s a very intuitive product and the “learning curve” to use the product is very basic, so anyone can figure out how to use it with just one use.

After I put it on and turned it on, I felt a gush of circulating wind and that was the air purifier fan kickstarting. I enjoyed this very much considering our tropical heat here in Malaysia.

I tried using the product both indoors and outdoors. The great thing about this product is that it tracks your breathing patterns so that air circulation can meet your needs.

Ultimately, my verdict is that I would rather use this product indoors than outdoors. Firstly, if I ever need to sit in an office or go to the mall for many hours, this mask is far more comfortable than the usual cloth or disposable masks. It offers more air circulation and it is very easy to breathe in it for long periods of time.

Each charge can last for about 8 hours, making it convenient for long usage.

Why I would prefer not to use it while outdoors is because I sweat rather excessively and while the sweat on my forehead is not able to seep into the mask itself, the sweat that generates on my upper lip tends to make me feel uncomfortable because there is nowhere for the moisture to escape.

This would be perfect for the outdoors if we lived in a more temperate climate.

Maintaining the product

Cleaning and maintaining the product is also really easy to do. I wore make-up while wearing the mask for the first few wears, leaving the face guard quite dirty after each use.

I just took the magnetic, silicone face guard off the mask and rinsed it with water, dried it with a towel and it was ready for use instantly.

For every charge, it only takes about 1-2 hours for the mask to be fully charged.

Microphone function

One of my favourite things about this mask, aside from the cooling “fan” circulating air inside, is the microphone, of course. The VoiceON™ function makes it very easy for people to hear me when I speak. Though a few have commented when I forget to turn off my mic, I sound like Darth Vader.

(Considering I named my son Jedi, I don’t mind being Darth Vader at all.)

Jokes aside, why this is convenient is also because I am also able to easily pick up calls and speak into my phone with the microphone function. Interestingly, the LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier is also built with bluetooth functionality, which will ultimately allow for the wearer to pair it with their smartphones using an app. Bluetooth connectivity lets you track your breathing and also reminds you if your product requires maintenance.

However, the app is still in progress and has yet to be released so I am not able to give any comment on it so far. The app is due to be released in Q4 of 2021.
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Overall, my thoughts on the product are that it is definitely a cool wearable air purifier and certainly very relevant for use in times like these. Breathing is made much easier with it on and when I walk past “smelly” areas, the smell does not seep in as much as with other masks.

Pre-order your LG PuriCare™ Wearable Air Purifier by finding an LG authorised dealer
here
.

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website

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Unsung Hero

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Sunway Mall Launches Reusable Antibacterial Fabric Masks, Here is How You Can Redeem Yours

The ‘new normal’ takes a lot of getting used to – face masks have become compulsory and those who do not comply are subject to heavy fines.
However, these precautions are absolutely necessary for the public safety and most importantly, ourselves as well as our families.

Following this, Sunway Malls have launched their ‘Mask-On’ campaign, which will introduce four special edition reusable fabric face masks that have been certified by reputable inspection corporations to ensure its effectiveness.

Sunway Malls ‘Mask-On’ Campaign

To ensure the safety of their customers, Sunway Malls recently launched their eco-friendly fabric masks in a bid to reduce wastage and protect people from the spread of germs.

These reusable protective face masks are made with 99.94 percent Antibacterial Effectiveness antimicrobial fabric. Furthermore, its outer
 layer is made with propriety washable knitted fabric, while the inner layer features soft-style cotton that absorbs heat emitted from the body, adding to the breathability of the mask.

“Providing our shoppers with peace of mind and safety while shopping is our top priority as we want them to feel secure with us. We hope the ‘Mask-On’ campaign will be a fun way for everyone to practice safe measures whilst ensuring that we all do our part to protect ourselves and others.

“It will also be a unique way for our shoppers to find out more about the stories behind Sunway Malls’ one-of-a-kind architectural designs while wearing the masks,” said Sunway Malls Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Tan.

Stay safe in style with four designs

These eco-friendly masks will feature a special edition print inspired by the different architectural styles of Sunway Malls. The styles take inspiration from these four malls:

Sunway Pyramid – The Egyptian Pyramid:
Taking inspiration from Sunway Pyramid’s notable structure, the Egyptian Pyramid symbolises intellect, strength, stability, peace and passion. The Egyptian motive echoes throughout the mall with hieroglyphics decorating facades and numerous Pharaonic statuaries. Sunway Pyramid is now a main component of Sunway City, including a theme park, 5-Star hotel, world class exhibition centre, an integrated health specialist centre and award-winning campuses.

Sunway Putra – The Sun-Drop Diamond:
Part of an integrated development comprising a mall, hotel and office tower, Sunway Putra is situated within the Diamond Triangle in our capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The mall’s eye-catching architecture is inspired by South Africa’s Sun-Drop Diamond and the overall shape and main colours of the gem are reflected on the building’s façade and interior. This can now be seen on the Sun-Drop Diamond limited edition mask, which symbolises rejuvenation, promotes hope, renewal and prosperity.

Sunway Velocity – The Renaissance Globe:
Born out of Sunway’s ambitions for the Cheras community, Sunway Velocity’s design concept borrows from the Renaissance Globe, which marks the transition from the middle ages to the modern era – aligning with the urban regeneration Sunway wants to achieve. As the only spherical retail development in Malaysia, Sunway Velocity’s façade of glass roofs and façades welcome a flow of natural light, provides acoustic improvements and its themed floors form a world within worlds for endless exploration. The design on this mask signifies a clear worldview, aspiration and ambition to bring about an urban renaissance for Cheras.

Sunway Carnival/Big Box/Citrine – The Astute Cube:
Last but certainly not the least is the mask inspired Sunway Carnival, Sunway Big Box and Sunway Citrine. The Astute Cube epitomises the many facets of life where positivity prevails and is inspired by the juxtaposition of different size cubes that adorn the façade of Sunway Carnival Mall, as well as the large format stores at Sunway Big Box and Sunway Citrine which offers close to 100 retail, F&B and entertainment stores.

How to redeem your reusable mask

To redeem a mask, you will need to spend a minimum amount at the participating malls during a certain time period. However, the spending limit will vary between malls.

Check out the breakdown below to understand how you can get your special edition mask.

Atita Haris & fmaily wearing Sunway Malls masks

Here are the participating outlets:

Sunway Pyramid (14 to 31 August 2020)
: Spend RM250 in a minimum of two receipts to redeem a face mask and a mask holder, with a maximum of two mask set redemptions a day, per customer. Huawei customers only need to spend a minimum of RM200 in two receipts to redeem the same deal.

Sunway Velocity Mall (27 August to 9 september 2020)
: Spend RM200 in two receipts
(RM150 for Sunway Pals or Sunway Velocity Mall mobile app users or VeloKiddie members)
 to redeem an adult face mask and holder. Kids’ mask redemption are available for VeloKiddie members only. A maximum of three redemptions a day per customer are allowed.

Sunway Putra Mall (14 August  to 31 August 2020)
: Spend RM150 in a one receipt to redeem a face mask and a mask holder. New Putra Junior Club or Autsome Members will only need to spend RM100 in a receipt to redeem a kid’s face mask and a holder.

Sunway Carnival Mall (14 to 31 August 2020)
: Spend RM250 in a minimum of twi receipts to redeem a face mask and a mask holder.

Sunway Big Box Retail Park (14 to 31 August 2020)
: Spend RM200 in four receipts to redeem a face mask and a mask holder. A maximum of two NSK receipts are accepted per redemption.

Sunway Ctrine (30 to 31 August 2020)
: Spend RM200 in two receipts to redeem a face mask and a mask holder.

Here are some extra fabric mask tips

However, with fabric masks you will need to have extra care to ensure your mask stays clean throughout all your uses. Here are some helpful tips on  fabric mask usage:

#1 Tip:
 Use a hand sanitiser before wearing or removing your fabric mask on-the-go. Hand sanitisers are readily available at retail outlets in the mall such as L’occitane or AEON Wellness.

#2 Tip:
 Use a drop of Claire’s Essential Oil on your fabric mask for a calming scent all day long, and treat your lips and skin with a soothing balm.

#3 Tip:
 At the end of your day, hand wash your mask daily with warm water and a few drops of Guardian’s antiseptic liquid to banish germs.

Shop safe at Sunway Malls

Nana Mahazan & family staying protected with Sunway Mall fabric masks.

In line with its ‘Your Safe Space, Our Safe Space’ initiative, Sunway Malls has put in place 82 safety and hygiene measures including the installation of 4,000 CCTV cameras, 12 units of high accuracy thermal cameras and 30 cameras equipped with facial recognition to encourage physical distancing.

For peace of mind, all family-friendly amenities and frequent touchpoints in the mall such as the kid’s toilet, baby rooms, baby strollers, wheelchairs, playgrounds and play areas are disinfected every 45 minutes and coated with Nano Coating Technology to effectively eliminate viruses and bacteria.

Care ambassadors and physical distancing officers are stationed within all malls to ensure that customers observe physical distancing, safety and hygiene guidelines.

For more information on the ‘Mask-On’ Campaign and to get more tips and tricks on how to stay protected in style with your fabric mask, visit
www.sunwaymalls.com/mask-on
 or Sunway Malls’ individual social media pages.

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on theAsianparent Malaysia website.
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Try This If You’re Struggling to Teach Your Kid

Imagine you want your child to use the word ‘please’ when he wants something. Or you want him to practice writing his numbers. But telling him just isn’t cutting it.

If you’re having a hard time getting your kid to do a specific task or act socially appropriate, try using a method that’s popular among teachers and therapists:
a token economy
.

What a Token Economy is

A token economy is a behavioural modification system.

It’s a way to get your kids learning, or build interest in something he doesn’t normally enjoy. The system uses the concept of ‘positive reinforcement’ to shape desirable behaviours. Basically, when your child follows a certain expectation (such as eating his carrots), you will give him a ‘token’.

When the child has a certain number of tokens, he can exchange it for something he wants, like a cookie.

When to Use It

A token economy is typically used once your child is a bit more capable or familiar with a new skill, but hasn’t mastered it yet. Or if your child knows how to do something, but
doesn’t
 like doing it.

If your child is still in the beginning stages of picking something up, a reward is usually given directly—without the use of tokens.

Rewarding effort immediately is more motivating in the early stages (when tasks are especially hard and it becomes easy to feel dejected or intimidated).

Why It’s Helpful

Young children are concrete thinkers, so using a token economy with tangible tokens and rewards can help them see what they are working for, thus helping them stay on task.

A token economy also teaches your child the two following things:

1. What a correct response is

For kids struggling with understanding a task (for example, ‘point at the triangle’), you can use the giving of a token to show when an action is correct. If he gets a token when he points at the triangle, he will associate that behaviour to the instruction given.

Be sure to repeat the activity a few times though, so he truly understands.

2. Delayed gratification

Tokens are secondary reinforcers, which means that the actual reward isn’t given to the child right away. This teaches kids patience, focus and adaptability.

Steps to Implement it

Try these steps if it’s your first time:

1. Create a Token Board

For your board, you need some sort of flat surface (e.g., tiny whiteboard). You need to then create clear places for tokens to be attached or placed onto the board.

Check out this token board I made, using Velcro, magnets and a clipboard (the photograph in the middle represents the reward, e.g., ‘play time with mom’):

Get your child involved in its creation by picking out a theme and decorating it too. This will get them feeling like they have ownership over the process –and makes it more fun!

Tokens can be made of tiny toys, stickers or laminated paper smileys. Whatever makes it more attractive for your child.

2. Choose the Reward

Ask your child what he wants for the task and agree on it together, if possible. Have pictures of rewards your child typically likes at hand (such as ‘rest’, ‘candy’, or ‘video’).

If your child is non-verbal, get him to point at one he wants.

Place a picture of the reward (or a symbol representing it) on the token board, so your child knows exactly what he’ll be working for.

3. Decide the Reward Cost

For very young children, try using less tokens and then gradually making it harder to earn tokens.

Do explain to your child before you use the token economy how many tokens are needed for a specific prize.
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4. Keep the Tokens in a Safe Place

The tokens should be with you. If your child carries out the intended behaviour, then only do you give him a token. The child can then place the token on the board.

Ways to Approach it

Below are some suggestions for using a token economy:

1. Reward Small Steps

For children with special needs, try rewarding small steps and not just the final outcome of a task. Rewarding small steps helps with confidence building and motivation.

2. Use Prompts

If a child struggles to stay on task, use prompting (verbally, gesturally or physically) and remind them that they’ll get a token if they carry out the behaviour.

3. Remove Tokens if Child Misbehaves

If your child starts throwing a tantrum, you could warn him that a token will be removed from his board.

4. Keep Consistency in Different Settings

You might confuse your child if the same strategy isn’t used in other settings, like with teachers or different family members. Discuss behaviour strategies with other key people in your child’s life.

This article has been republished with permission from
Kiddy123.

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How Parents and Caregivers Can Help Kids Manage with Increased Stressors with Covid-19

The current Covid 19 pandemic has left almost of all us adults and children alike in some form of either physical or mental stress. Physical stress perhaps easier to be detected albeit at times difficulty in treatment associated with poor outcome.

Mental stress on the other end perhaps is the one often ignored, not easily detected, or diagnosed and most likely uncertain outcome.

Stress to the Children

Credit: Freepik

To ease discussion, I would recommend we divide the stress into two-part, one is physical stress and another mental stress.

Physical stress means the Covid 19 illness effecting our physical health. Of course, it has been widely discussed but not much attention given to how parents can prevent if not minimize the illness.

We would agree that prevention of your children from getting the infection is tedious but of utmost importance. Tedious does not mean difficult, but it’s just something responsible parents would do to keep their children safe and sound. These measures are strongly advocated.

Get yourself vaccinated to promote herd immunity, as of now vaccines for Covid 19 are only given to the youngest age of 12 years (in other parts of the world). So, if you are vaccinated you are reducing the risk of getting the severe form of this infection and you would passively transfer the immunity to your child. Any Covid 19 vaccines are good and should be taken if available. Just a gentle reminder Prevention is best, better than treatment.

Enough said on the ways we can protect ourselves from getting infected. The bottom line is good hygiene, Avoid the crowd AND practice all the simple measures to avoid ourselves from getting any infection, not just Covid19.

Credit: Freepik

Parents may inquire about any vitamins or medication to help reduce the risk of this infection if not preventing it. Steps 1 and 2 Must be prioritized before embarking on this. Medical research has shown taking Vitamin C at least 2000 mg a day and vitamin D at least 500 mg a day may help. The oral form of both vitamins is sufficient and easily available. Parents ask would it be alright to prescribe to children, but lacking evidence-based data to support efficacy in children does not mean these measures is not effective for children.

Since our children below 12 years old elsewhere and 18 years old back home might not receive the Covid 19 vaccine, parents are strongly advised to give their children all available vaccines particularly those preventing respiratory infections. Medical data support that the probable reason adults fare worse in Covid 19 infection could BE attributed to not vaccinated against other illness. Get to your doctors (or your children Pediatrician) to ask more about these.

Mental Stress to the children is a topic most doctors (myself included) would rather avoid but we will in our best interest advise parents if asked. The majority of parents would say that their children feel confined or constrained due to the “stay home” order.

In my opinion, it’s all that we want to think of what it is. Do we really need to go to the mall or eat in a restaurant or go on a beach vacation for family bonding? We could not do these in the comfort of our home?

I would agree many of us (If not most) has cultivated the idea of
e-ternak
 environment is of great importance for normal, quality, family time. How have we missed the good old time of getting our children involved in house activities like cooking, gardening, reading, playing board games and of course watching movies at home?

Credit: Freepik

All our children need their parents’ devotion, attention and love and we don’t need to give them these only by going on a beach vacation, eating in fancy places and etc. It is just that during this pandemic going out is statistically proven to increase chances of getting the infection.

Eating fancy food can be purchased online to be enjoyed at home. Older children undergoing online education may feel stressful but we can tell and show them methods of stress reduction like getting involved in their school work as our parents did.

Perhaps these are easier methods to be practised. However a point (or two) for all of us to ponder, “would the pandemic has a long term effect on the child mental development particularly as I have been frequently asked, like increase risk of autism spectrum disorders?”, my answer would be your guess is good as mine.

We are not sure at least for now if in the next few months or years these cases would see a rise. Matter of fact to date no full-proof statistics or medical-based evidence can pinpoint the exact cause of this disorder.

Doctors and other health personal are also affected during this trying time. We would in our best interest and capacity to ease the physical and mental burden of parents and children. Let’s play our part in hasting the pandemic demise.

The article is written by Dr. Khairul Zaman Omar, Paediatrics (Haemato Oncology) of Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur
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7 Natural Remedies For Food Poisoning

If hunching over a porcelain bowl purging is not how you’d like to spend the rest of your day, why not raid your pantry for some all-natural items that will eliminate those nasty pathogens in your body.

Note: For extremely severe cases of food poisoning, it is strongly recommended that you seek medical attention immediately.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is akin to a miracle potion of sorts, and ACV helps with the body’s elimination channels to
rid it of harmful wastes and toxins
. Often prescribed as a home remedy for indigestion issues, ACV’s antimicrobial properties are so potent that the organic acids in vinegar (especially the acetic acid) actually pass into cell membranes to kill bacteria. A
study
 also found acetic acid to be extremely lethal against E.coli strains, while lemon juice, or a combination of lemon juice and vinegar, battle salmonella well.

Combine two tablespoons of ACV with warm water and drink. Go for the raw, organic and unfiltered type that has the ‘mother’, or strands of protein and other helpful enzymes, still intact.

2. Rehydrate!

Food poisoning poses the risk of dehydration, due to the purging experienced during diarrhoea and vomiting. Mild dehydration is common and can be fixed by increasing your intake of fluids. However, severe dehydration may prove fatal, as the body has an insufficient volume of water to sustain normal physical functions and regulatory activities.

Replenish by drinking more fluids. Consume fresh, clean water as well as electrolyte-rich drinks. Instead of going for sports drinks saturated with chemical sugars, give an easy yet natural recipe like
switchel
 a go. Another solution is to create your
own Oral Rehydration Salts
 from a litre of water, two teaspoons of lemon juice, ½ teaspoon of salt and six teaspoons of sugar. A more flavourful option is to have chicken soup.

3. Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal may sound peculiar as a prescribed remedy, but it is often administered to those with food poisoning. Activated charcoal works its magic by adsorping (and no, it’s not a typo!) the harmful bacterial. Adsorption is technically the property of a substance to
attract and hold something to its surface
. It’s a fast process that neutralises foreign invaders, and activated charcoal is an effective adsorbent that prevents the toxins from being absorbed into the body, hence stopping food poisoning from progressing. Activated charcoal
does not irritate the mucous membranes
 of the gastrointestinal system. However, it is only able to retrieve the substances that are still in the stomach or intestines, not those already absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract.

4. Pegaga By PurelyB Herbal Blend

This traditional Asian superfood has been used for generations for its natural effectiveness especially pertaining to gut health. Our blend of pegaga known as
Pegaga by PurleyB
 is known to nourish the intestines with it’s high fibre, antioxidants, etc. so consuming pegaga when your tummy needs it most is a good idea. The other ingredients present in addition to pegaga (gotu kola) are
turmeric, papaya leaf, habbatus sauda, green apples & dates.

5. Honey

A sweet yet sensational
natural remedy
 for virtually anything, honey’s antifungal antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities has made it an invaluable staple in both the kitchen and our day to day lives. Manuka honey is known to be an
extremely powerful variant
 of honey that is able to inhibit the growth of the bacterial strains causing the food poisoning. Add in to your tea, or dilute a spoonful in water for a sweet, energising yet soothing drink. Honey can be combined with several of the other natural remedies listed here for a one-two punch!

6. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is another versatile natural remedy that is often used due to its immunity boosting, antiseptic and antibacterial properties. The acidity of pure, undiluted lemon juice increases the acidity of the stomach, killing the microorganisms and toxins, such as E.coli, that are in the gastrointestinal tract. Add it to your tea, or drink a tablespoonful of pure lemon juice once every 4-5 hours to help cleanse and soothe your stomach.

7. Basil

Basil is another extremely powerful natural home remedy to curing acute stomach infections caused by tainted foods. Basil juice helps to stop vomiting instantly, and adding a teaspoon of honey, a fellow antibacterial and antifungal agent, provides quick relief.
Another alternative
 would be to mix chopped or crushed basil leaves and sea salt to three tablespoons of yoghurt with a pinch of black pepper. Consume this three times a day until the symptoms of food poisoning stop.

Sources:

1.
https://www.homeremedyshop.com/13-home-remedies-for-food-poisoning/

2.
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/food-poisoning

3.
https://www.prevention.com/mind-body/natural-remedies/how-treat-food-poisoning-naturally

4.
https://ijrpb.com/current%20issues/1/v1_is3/ijrpb%201(3)%207%20page%20314-323.pdf

This article has been republished with permission from
PurelyB.

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Your husband has 5 basic needs – are you satisfying them?

According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, in order to be a self-actualised person, one must first satisfy the one’s basic needs and work one’s way up, starting with physiological needs, safety needs, need for belonging and love, and need for esteem, respectively. Did your husband has 5 basic needs?

The same principle applies to marriage.

If you want to be a self-actualised union, you must satisfy each other’s most basic needs; and your husband has these five basic needs that all wives has to be aware of.

“Having the desire to fulfill your husband’s needs is in no way submitting yourself to an inferior role as a wife,” said Becky Squire of Family Share. “If you truly love
 your spouse
, then you want to make him happy, and these five things generally make men happy — simple as that.”

1. Recreational companionship

“My husband and I are a classic example of a couple with hardly anything in common, especially when it comes to hobbies,” Becky admitted. “We enjoy doing our own things—which can be good in a marriage.”

That doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t pay attention to your
 husband’s interests
. Every once in a while, show some genuine interest in his hobbies.

“He may even return the favor and spend the day doing what you want to do!”

2. Sexual fulfillment

“One thing my husband and I have learned is to never treat intimacy like a game—to never withhold it as punishment,” Becky said. “Doing so only intensifies feelings of negativity and resentment. Intimacy brings couples together better than anything, and if it’s important to your husband, it needs to be
important to you.”

3. Admiration

“My husband works 8-10 hours a day, then spends his evenings going to school or doing homework,” shares Becky. “You may not physically see how much your husband does for your family every day, which can make his efforts easier to forget—out of sight, out of mind.”

Do not only tell him how much you appreciate and love what he does for you and your family—show it, even through little things such dedicating some alone time just for the two of you, brewing his morning coffee, getting ready his work clothes for the following day.

4. Domestic support

This involves creating for the two of you healthy, peaceful, well-managed home situation.

“You and your husband may share household chores and other home responsibilities equally, or your husband may need you to handle these responsibilities more often if he is busy handling others.

“Again, in a healthy relationship, your husband should be doing his part. If this is the case, fulfill hubby’s needs by cooking meals, washing dishes, keeping your home clean, etc.”

5. An attractive spouse

People often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, that beauty is subjective, and that one’s physical appearance shouldn’t be the focal point of any relationship.

Although there are a lot of truth behind these tenets, it also won’t hurt to pamper yourself once in a while and try to look good your your significant other.

“As a mother of four, I know how easy it is to stay in my pajamas all day, how luxurious it is to wait and shower when I actually have five minutes of privacy,” said Becky. “Some days are like that, and that’s OK, but don’t let this type of thing become a habit.”

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them with us!

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12 Ways to be a mean mum

One of these days, your child will call you a mean mum for not letting them do what they want. You might be taken aback by this. And when another person sees how well you’ve disciplined your child, you’ll get praise. Confused yet?

Take it as a compliment.

You’ve heard about spoiled children before, and it scares you. But you know that it isn’t their fault. It’s usually the parents’ fault. So when you catch yourself
not
spoiling your kids and being called a mean mum, don’t worry! That just means you haven’t given up yet.

So come on ladies, be a “mean mum.” It’s easy to see through tantrums and fits thrown by children. All you need is a firm but gentle hand – it’s all about tough love, emphasis on love.)

12 mean mum ways

1. Telling your kids to go to bed

Have you ever told your children how going for days without sleep can seriously mess them up? You should. And they shouldn’t be mad about it. Because everyone needs sleep. And if they can’t sleep,
you
can’t sleep. It’s a win-win.

2. Not giving your kids dessert everyday

The best sweets are often the ones you rarely eat. You get to savour the moment! That’s what makes the sweet a “treat.”

And kids should learn that too much sugar can rot their teeth faster than they can say “high fructose corn syrup.” Would they like to have black ugly teeth for the rest of their lives? Do they want to go to the dentist all the time? We didn’t think so! So yeah, they have you to thank, mean mum!

3. Making them pay for their own stuff

If you want something, you have to get it yourself. That’s how life works. So teach your kids the value of paying for your own stuff. Tell them how amazing it is to have full control over what you buy. Plus, they’ll learn how to spend wisely and appreciate what they buy more.

4. Not manipulating the world to your kid’s advantage

Your children will definitely experience a time when not everything will be handed to them on a silver platter. One day they’ll learn that they’re not exceptions to the rule.

So please stop manipulating the world so your kids always get what they want. You’re not preparing your children for the future, you’re setting them up to fail miserably.

5. Making them do hard things

Don’t just immediately help them when they have difficulty doing things. Let them struggle. And when they do overcome the obstacle, they empower themselves.

6. Giving them a watch or an alarm clock

Your child should learn how to value and manage their time. If they can’t, they’ll just end up being late to everything and not being able to do the things they want. A watch can also boost their confidence. It helps them feel responsible and grown up.

7. Not buying them the best and the latest

You aren’t doing your child any favors when you spoil them. So be a mean mum and teach them that  they can’t have it all.

 They should know that having the best and the latest things isn’t the most important thing in life. Give them a lesson about the true value of things. And teach them gratitude and satisfaction for the things they already have.

8. Let them feel loss and failure

If your kid breaks something they own, you don’t need to replace it. So just don’t do it. They need to learn a valuable lesson in taking better care of their stuff.

In fact,
let them fail
 all the time. Experiencing failure makes them realise that they have to work for something to get it, and that not everything will be given to them. It teaches them responsibility and accountability.

9. Controlling their media consumption

We’ve said it again and again,
children’s media consumption
 should be regulated. And just because other parents let their kids go crazy on gadgets doesn’t mean you should, too. Put your foot down when it becomes an unhealthy obsession, or when the media they consume is inappropriate.

Stand up for decent parenting and let the rest follow.

10. Getting them to apologize

If your child can’t recognize when something’s wrong and own up to it, how are they going to be well-balanced adults in the future? How will they be able to have healthy long-term relationships?

If your kid does something wrong, make them realize what they did wrong and make them face the consequences. You can’t just ignore rudeness, bullying, and dishonesty. You have to nip it in the bud.

11. Making them mind their manners

Children should learn to mind their manners at an early age or rude behaviour will turn into habit. Courtesy and politeness should be practiced, not just by your children, but by you as well. Good manners will take them far.

12. Making them work for free

Teach them the value of volunteer work, whether it’s cleaning the house or helping their grandparents with something. It teaches them about generosity and compassion.

Making them work for free in the service of others, even just their family, teaches them empathy. It teaches them to put themselves in other people’s shoes and realise that other people have needs, too. They learn that people have their own problems, and these are often greater than their own.

Being a mean mum can be good sometimes

Don’t worry about your children calling you a mean mum when you know you’ve done the right thing. In fact, you should probably treat yourself for teaching your kids better behaviour.
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And even if your kids call you a mean mum to your face, please let them know that you love them. They will change, and they will realise that what you’ve done for them will help them grow into better human beings.

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Fertility and the Pursuit of 5Cs

Husband: Errr…Darling, we’ve all the 5Cs, but I feel we have another C missing!

Wife: Let’s go through the directory and make an appointment with a doctor…

Conventionally, society chooses the five Cs of life, namely, Cash, Car, Credit Card, Condominium and Country Club membership. If you have those 5Cs, you are most likely to be considered as successful and in a prestigious status.

 However, it is time for us to redefine success and to look into an equally important C, which is – Child.

Credit: iStock

The proportion of woman who delays childbearing beyond the age of 35 years has greatly increased in recent decades.

Additional factors include women are now more independent, change in lifestyle and the search for freedom. Occasionally, they are still waiting for Mr Right.

The consequences of advancing maternal age are not only relevant to the risk of natural and medical assisted conception, but also for the outcome of pregnancy.

 In a woman, there are 1–2 million oocytes at the time of birth, about 250,000 oocytes at menarche, 25,000 oocytes at 37 years of age, and only a few hundred or thousand at the end of their reproductive life.

A substantial amount of eggs are lost before puberty and at every menstrual cycle. The progressive loss of eggs is a normal process, and the loss of eggs is accelerated after the age of 35. The decrease in fertility with female ageing is mainly due to a decrease in the quantity and quality of eggs.

Credit: News Medical

Due to the ageing process, the quality of eggs is affected whereby there is an increased risk of genetic abnormalities called aneuploidy. Aneuploidy refers to an abnormal number of chromosomes in the fertilized egg, resulting in a condition such as Down Syndrome.

Thus, as women age, they become less likely to conceive easily, more likely to have miscarriages and also higher risk of having children born with chromosomal problems. Not to mention, complications associated with pregnancy in ageing mothers.

Fibroids, Endometriosis, Endometrial Polyps and Ovarian cysts are acquired gynaecological diseases, which are more common when women age and in women who have not given birth before. These diseases might affect your chance to conceive in future.

The Advancement of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has allowed and helped many couples to fulfil their dreams to conceive.

ART is used to treat infertility, which could be due to various reasons. Types of Assisted Reproductive Treatment include Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI), in In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF/ TEST TUBE BABY), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS), among others.

A suitable treatment plan is chosen based on the cause(s) of infertility and the couple’s preference after thorough counselling with a gynaecologist or fertility specialist.

Thanks to advancements in women healthcare and fertility services, women who choose to delay pregnancy for whether medical or social reasons, can opt for oocytes cryopreservation (eggs freezing). It is a procedure to preserve a woman’s eggs for later use.

Egg freezing enables women to protect the current health of their eggs and increase the chances of conception through IVF in the future.

Credit: iStock

 Can you imagine: You are 40 years old when you opt to have a baby, you can use the eggs which you have preserved earlier to have a better success rate in IVF.

Eggs freezing may be the way out but there is some decrease in the overall success rate in IVF as age increases because we cannot deny our body from physiological and physical changes in ageing. Nevertheless, the eggs freezing outcome is much better than those individuals without eggs freezing.

For a relatively healthy woman, it is crucial to have scheduled health checks with your gynaecologist because early diagnosis and prompt treatment can reduce the impact of gynaecological diseases on your fertility journey.
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The conventional 5Cs should be changed to 6Cs, with a child(ren) in the picture. A child should not be a hinder for you to pursue the 5Cs. Starting a family and gaining economic stability should go hand in hand.

Source:
This article is written by
Dr Tan Chee Hoe
,
Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G)
 of
Pantai Hospital Cheras (PHC)

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website
.

Read more:

Why It Is Important to Wear Your Mask, Even After You Have Been Vaccinated?

Read more:
 Pregnancy and COVID-19 Vaccine

Read more:
How Parents and Caregivers Can Help Kids Manage with Increased Stressors with Covid-19

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How Do We Joyfully Tidy with Kids?

As certified KonMari Consultants, one of the most frequently asked questions we hear is:
How do we make our kids, spouses, loved ones tidy up?

The answer?
Look inward first
.

We can’t force anyone to do anything and expect them to do it joyfully. Lead by example and they will naturally be influenced by experiencing what a calming well-organized environment can do for our wellbeing. Tidying may not be the kind of ‘self-care’ promoted on social media, but transforming your space into a sanctuary is absolutely a form of self-care! Take a quick look around you right now, is your environment supporting who you are and who you are becoming?

If you have read Marie Kondo’s books or watched the Netflix show, you’ll know that there are basic steps to following the method: making a firm commitment right at the start to see it through, keeping only what sparks joy, and tidying by category rather than room. This last one might sound counter-intuitive, but it creates a clear mental inventory of everything we own in a particular category which helps us make more mindful and intentional purchases in the long run.

Photo by
Shirota Yuri
 on
Unsplash

Tidying with kids requires turning it from a chore into a fun activity…

“
Kids, it’s time for a scavenger hunt! Let’s find ALL the legos in the house and bring them to your bedroom.”
The same approach can be used for cuddly toys, coloring pencils, or just about anything else!

“Hey gang! Let’s organize the bookshelf, who wants to make a rainbow?”
  Alternatively you can arrange by theme or even book size, there’s no hard rules – see what sparks joy in your household!

“Girls, I’d love for you to show me what your most favorite things are, and what things we can bless other children with”
Involving the kids in the donation process is a great way to teach gratitude and generosity.

Photo by
Vanessa Bucceri
 on
Unsplash

There are many wonderful consultants out there who specialise in working with families and have amazing strategies to make it fun. KonMari’ing with kids is also a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and spend quality time. Not only is learning what sparks joy a journey of self-discovery for them, it also helps us parents develop a deeper appreciation for our children’s passions and preferences.

My 7 and 5 year old daughters have been KonMari’ing since they were 2 years old and instilling this practise in them has paid dividends. They have gained more confidence by having their voices heard and decisions respected during the tidying process, have learned to hold gratitude for their living space and belongings, and become more discerning in terms of what toys, books, games and clothes truly spark joy for them.

Once the foundations have been laid by completing the initial “
Tidying Festival
” (and the kids have been included as active participants in the process) regular maintenance through “Joy Checking” is quick and easy. We do a family joycheck every three months as the girls physically and mentally outgrow their stuff so quickly at this age!

Like tidying and decluttering, Joy Checking with kids can be fun and empowering. Ask them to share why they love a particular item, or don’t enjoy it anymore. What, or who, do their favorite items remind them of?  As a parent, the hardest part is to reserve judgement and not project our own views on what should or shouldn’t spark joy for our children. We learn to hold space for their opinions, and acknowledge that those opinions and preferences change over time, just like ours.

Following the Tidying Festival, it’s important to create a system that ensures all your children’s prized possessions have a “home”. This makes future tidying, finding items and maintaining order much easier.

(Before & After Slider) Photo by Erica Knecht /
That Wild Road

In recent years there has been increased interest in the neuroscience behind decluttering. One
Princeton University
 study found that physical clutter competes for our mental attention, resulting in decreased performance and increased anxiety. Add to the mix a child’s growing brain which already makes focus, impulse control and emotional reactivity a challenge and there should be no question as to the benefits of decluttering for your whole family!

Tidying with kids may seem daunting at first, but it’s well worth persevering. The Konmari Method offers a tried and tested framework to help you get started, and once you find the strategies that work best for you and yours, that home sanctuary will be just around the corner!

Written by:
 Rebecca Jo-Rushdy

The Tokyo-HK-NYC transplant is Malaysia’s first KonMari certified consultant and founder of
Spark Joy & Flow
 – professionally and passionately dedicated to creating space for joy in people’s lives. Rebecca is also a mother of two daughters and a few dozen house plants.

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website
.

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Parents, Here Are 10 Ways To Get Your Kids Doing Chores At Home!

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“My husband is a sex addict and I only just found out!"

Sex addiction: A compulsion that hurts partners in a way no other addiction can.
This is a story of sad revelation – how a Singaporean woman’s life took a completely different turn upon discovery that her husband of 2 years was a sex addict.

My Marriage Problem Starts With A Sex Addict

“His sex addiction (to put it bluntly) was like playing emotional ping pong.”

Eunice (not her real name), a 37-year-old HR executive and second wife to 38-year-old Daryl*, shares with us her story of what it’s like to live with a highly sex-crazy man.

I met Daryl at a company event. He was an engineer in the same company I was working for, which meant that I was well aware of his recent divorce. But that didn’t stop me from being attracted to him, and then accepting his invite to our first date. One thing led to another and we tied the knot a year later.

I never got to know why Daryl’s first
marriage failed
. He was not a very outspoken person and hardly shared emotions or details about his past. I’m also never one to bring up uncomfortable things, and to be honest, everything was going so well that I didn’t think it mattered at that point.

It was only after about a year into our marriage that things started to get unusual…in the bedroom. Sex was frequent, but felt very mechanical and intimacy always felt slightly out of reach.

Daryl kept asking me to
watch porn with him
, and I did it a few times, then realised that the moves and positions we tried were a mere imitation of what we had just watched. I couldn’t help but think that he was imagining the porn star as the one he was making love too. His sudden escalation in intensity and vigorous movements in bed (not forgetting the loud grunts) which were all so unusual, only led to me thinking that it wasn’t me he was having sex with.

It started to worry me even more when Daryl got mad at me and aggressive at times, saying that I wasn’t giving him enough sex. He would throw a fit and sometimes our fights would end up in him walking out of the house, returning only the next morning. He wouldn’t pick up my calls and ignored all my texts.

His work trips to Bangkok began then, and would be as often as twice a month. In my mind, I know where my head went when I thought of him being away for nights in a city that is known for accessible sex. But I knew that my husband would never resort to paying for sex. Boy, was I wrong.

Daryl then revealed to me that he had made frequent visits to strip clubs whenever he was ‘working’ in Bangkok. He cockily announced that there was this one time that he tried to kiss one of the girls in the club. This sent me into a tailspin. And rightfully so.

I went beserk, and sought advice from our mutual friends. This was the time that his closets buddies revealed to me the reason for the failure of his first marriage – his ex-wife had found emails that led to telling her that he was cheating on her.

I felt stupid because I took too long to find out the truth and also because I didn’t find it necessary to probe about his failed marriage. Was I not enough? Were we not sexually compatible? I was hurt beyond words.

Of course, I put on my FBI cap and started doing something I never thought I’d have to do- I looked through his phone. To my horror, I found explicit sexts to a couple of random women he had met on nights out.

They were mutually fantasising about having sex at the park and planning their next rendezvous. In one of the texts, one of the women had suggested that I was an inadequate wife for him. He hadn’t disagreed. Instead he went on to describe the curve of her breasts, and how much he loved fondling them. Imagine the pain that engulfed me at that moment.

That also brought me to think about what he used to tell me – “Sometimes,” he said, “sex is just sex.” This, I suppose, could have been interpreted as a handy rationalisation from someone who’d been having lots of it, with other women. Had I been so stupid and blind in his love? How could I miss the signs?

Daryl, upon confrontation that evening confessed  that he was addicted to sex. I found it ridiculous at first… addicted to sex? is he really a sex addict? Was this just a way to get out of the trouble he was in? Was this the reply after cheat gave their partners?

I am now even more poised to leave him than ever before, but I do still love him slightly. Despite this flaws, despite this major setback in our marriage. I don’t even know if I can forgive him for cheating on me… but he dismisses it as a ‘medical problem’.

Yes, this issue started way before he met me, but it does affect me. I’ve now put him in the ‘addict’ box but how do I lump him together with all the other stories I’ve heard about other sex addicts? Just thinking about that makes my heart sink and my body shudder.

A series of bad thoughts play in my mind all day. Is there hope for recovery for sex addicts? Is this all a lie or a manipulating game? Trust is definitely an issue now with us- how do I know this will not happen again?

Is sex a medical condition or a lame excuse to be a jerk? I’m tired of this ping pong game, and would like to put my racquet down now.

(Story as told to Pavin Chopra)

Sex addiction is a state characterised by compulsive participation or engagement in sexual activity, despite negative consequences. In most cases, the sex addict (SA) refuses to accept that they’re addicted, almost always resulting in compulsive behaviour which can damage the relationship they have with their loved ones. In worst cases, the SA can even result to cheating.
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Telltale signs that your man is a sex addict

An unhealthy love of pornography (mostly enjoyed in secret).

Many sex addicts will still masturbate even after sex.

They’re extremely confident sexually, and sometimes slightly aggressive.

He’ll become secretive about his phone and maybe even sneak off for late night booty calls.

He’ll become extremely uptight and angry if you withhold sex from him when he demands it.

If you know anyone who has such an addiction, or is engaged in a marriage problem such as this, click
here
 for help.

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