I am writing this in agony as i am waiting for my maid to arrive since last year. Haih!
I applied last year Oct (2013) when i was 8 months pregnant, the agency told me the maid would arrive in 3 months time. We chose few maids and finally conclude to this lady called Julie, having her working in Malaysia for 2 years.
We phone interviewed her, and at that time i have a bad feeling because during our phone conversation (interviewing her) she kept asking for handphone and day off which the agent told her, it all depends on your working performance. The better u work, the lenient we can be in giving day off and handphone. So i told her no of ppl staying in the house, what is expected of her daily, etc and all the work and chores that needs to be done.
After 2 months applying, early Dec, the agent called us and said the maid is not coming. WHY?! Because she decided that she does not want to take care of kids. Haiyo, she should have make it clear in the beginning that she doesnt want to take care of kids, while in the phone interview, she OK to everything we said. I think maybe because i told her no handphone and no off day !
So we chose another maid this time, and we have been waiting ever since. Agent told us Malaysia immigration is really slow when it came to releasing docs and maids relevant info, hence the delay. Supposingly to arrive in Feb, then delay to March and now Agent told me probably early or mid April. I told hubby if maid is not coming next month, might as well no need to take live in maid. We can just hire those part time maids that comes once or twice a week for cleaning.
To be honest, when i gave birth to Arissa, it was tough, being i have to handle a 2 years old on top of the baby. And now fast forward, baby is already 4 months, coming 5 months old next week. The toughest time is over right? Cos after delivery, thats when u need help THE MOST. Ah well.. we shall see if the maid is able to come next month. Otherwise, we will have to take another option.
Life has been ever so busy. I hardly have time to go out, let alone having a drink or out window shopping. But soon, i will be able to, maybe in another 6 months time.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Confinement Lady
I got the below contact details from Aunty Yuki, one of the confinement lady who is ‘famous’ in the forum. Some sings praise, others commented negatively. Guess this is up to the individual and ur expectations.
Aunty Yuki couldnt do for me so she introduced the below aunty. So just in case anyone of you came across her, below is my experience with her, just a guide to you who is reading this.
It’s only Day 7 and I fired my confinement lady. Below is her detail in case any of you come across her name or she is referred by her friends.
Her name is Aunty Heng Jie, 60+ with short curly hair and she previously stay in Cheras before moving to Kolam Air Panas. She has a brother staying in Shah Alam (Jln Anggerik) and Aunty Heng Jie just got back from Perth (did confinement there) Her mobile number is: 016-277-942. She asked for RM3,800 plus an angpow upon leaving.
Hubby and I interviewed her beforehand as she requested for RM500 deposit and asked me to bank in immediately. Hell no! Why would I wanna bank in money for a stranger I never met? I also read a lot of horror stories that mummies pay money to book the confinement lady only to realise these aunties disappeared the moment mummies are due to deliver. So we met up one month before delivery (Oct 2013) and I sort of interviewed her for over an hour.
Below are the questions that I asked:
1. How many years have u been a confinement lady?
2. Do u sleep with the baby and how u showered the baby?
3. How do u take care of the umbilical cord? (This is the most important!)
4. What do you cook for breakfast, tea, lunch, tea and dinner?
5. What are the food that mothers supposed to eat and drink daily?
6. How pro are u on breastfeeding and formula?
7. Do u do housechores (light)?
8. Usage of nappy instead of diapers for newborn?
9. Personal questions so I get to know more about her and I can share with u all
10. Cleanliness and hygiene
I am very satisfied with her answers. In fact I thought I was really lucky to able to find such a god confinement lady since it was so last minute. She also told me all the mouthwatering food that she can cooks. After we proceed to nearby medical hall shop to buy herbs because I have no clue what to buy and upon reaching, she acted like a boss instructing the owner to pack red dates, black dates, some Chinese herbs I don’t know the names , sesame oil, ginger wine (stone brand) and she wants most of the herbs to be around 1kg if not more. I keep stopping her and tell her that we will buy again when it run low cos I don’t want to stock up my fridge. In the end she obliged. Spent around RM500.
We picked her up around noon (she took bus down from kolam air panas approx. 2 hours journey) and when she reached we told her where all the things are (bottles, hot water flask, her bedroom, etc) and I didn’t tell her anything at all about food because she is a confinement lady and as one she will know EXACTLY what to cook and what to do right? Well, we are SO wrong about that.
The next day, she slept till 9am. I woke up at 8am, her door is still closed. I knocked and went inside, she is still asleep with the baby. And my mom has cooked. Already bad impression.
Noon, she insisted on cooking sesame chicken using 1 whole chicken! My mom told her nicely that no need to cook for her and my bro, and only to cook for me alone so there is no need to use 1 whole chicken because there will be too much leftover and to prevent wastage. She is not happy. She told my mom if she didn’t cook whole chicken, she don’t know how to cook, furthermore cooking quarter of chicken will have no taste and bland. My mom ignored her and told her to make soup for me. That’s when she instructed my mom to cook.
Around 2pm, after she has eaten, she came up and slept with the baby until 6pm. She didn’t take out the chicken or veges, and she expect my mom to do it and also expect me to eat the leftover from lunch. I didn’t want to voice anything because I know it could be quite tiring and it’s her first day and probably she is still trying to get used to everything.
But NO, she has this attitude until Day 4. So I had a serious talk with her in the kitchen telling her what I expect from her. She showed me her black face and said “I know I know” (her fav word EVERY SINGLE TIME when we tried to advise /tell her)
I also pen my thoughts on dayre.com/jojochua on my daily encounter with this confinement lady.
On Day 5, she woke up early to prepare breakfast for me which is inedible. I don’t know how she cooked the pork kidney and pork liver, the soup was bland and the pork was just yuck. I couldn’t swallow at all and not to waste, it took me about 2 hours to finish eating them leaving still few pieces in the bowl. Thought I take the bowl down and throw away the pork, and guess what? SHE ATE THEM !! *horror
Then she proceeds to cook lunch by 12pm and at night by 9pm she is already in bed. So I jokingly said to her, Well, if u plan ur time well we can all retired by 10pm. And yesterday at this hour, u are still preparing ingredients to cook in the kitchen. She just smiled and said yes yes.
She is a dishonest lady too. When my mom bought home all the meat and ingredients she unpacked and put everything in the fridge. Today after she left, we organised the fridge, my mom found ‘hidden’ pork liver/kidney and meat stashed in aside and wrapped up in a very small plastic bag (twist the unfrozen meat in plastic bag and make it into a ball ) in hope that we will not found out. No wonder she spend so much time downstairs (3 hours and the meal is either half cooked or not cooked), looks like she has been cooking and eating my food. Luckily I stopped her from opening my DOM / Martell because from the very first day she already insisted on using ONE BOTTLE OF DOM to cook the chicken.
Oh and she said I should get her the plastic mat to put on bed because every time baby pees, the bed is wet. (Baby is on nappy) So I decided to test it out myself. I brought baby over to our room and I checked on her every 10 mins or so and changed the wet nappy. In that one hour, I think I changed like 6-7 wet nappy. So I bought all the wet nappy to her room (there is a pail for nappy in her room) and as usual she is in the room ‘resting’ and she said wah so many nappy? I said of course and my bed is not even wet. U didn’t change the wet nappy that’s why it leaked out. U let her pee like 5-6 times then only u changed, that’s why the bed is wet. Imagine a baby’s pee, how many ml? Tiny bit only right? And to get your bed wet, the baby’s clothes wet, imagine how long the nappy has not been changed?? Again she kept quiet.
AND im on the verge of scolding her but I kept my calm.
So I had a discussion w hubby that night and we decided to terminate her service. So this morning when I told her, she was shocked and asked me to let her try out another week. She said “ I will do whatever you want me to do”. Well, too bad the damage has been done and I have given you chance but u didn’t treasure it. When I passed her the due money, she asked me “You don’t want me to try again” I said NO.
So hubby sent her off. I called Aunty Yuki and told her the whole story. She is shocked and said Aunty Heng Jie is actually her friends’ friend. I strictly warn her that not to intro this Aunty Heng to anyone as this will tarnish her name on the internet. She keep saying she is very very sorry and keep apologising the whole time and thank me for telling her.
*Phew, what a long 7 daydrama confinement!
Aunty Yuki couldnt do for me so she introduced the below aunty. So just in case anyone of you came across her, below is my experience with her, just a guide to you who is reading this.
It’s only Day 7 and I fired my confinement lady. Below is her detail in case any of you come across her name or she is referred by her friends.
Her name is Aunty Heng Jie, 60+ with short curly hair and she previously stay in Cheras before moving to Kolam Air Panas. She has a brother staying in Shah Alam (Jln Anggerik) and Aunty Heng Jie just got back from Perth (did confinement there) Her mobile number is: 016-277-942. She asked for RM3,800 plus an angpow upon leaving.
Hubby and I interviewed her beforehand as she requested for RM500 deposit and asked me to bank in immediately. Hell no! Why would I wanna bank in money for a stranger I never met? I also read a lot of horror stories that mummies pay money to book the confinement lady only to realise these aunties disappeared the moment mummies are due to deliver. So we met up one month before delivery (Oct 2013) and I sort of interviewed her for over an hour.
Below are the questions that I asked:
1. How many years have u been a confinement lady?
2. Do u sleep with the baby and how u showered the baby?
3. How do u take care of the umbilical cord? (This is the most important!)
4. What do you cook for breakfast, tea, lunch, tea and dinner?
5. What are the food that mothers supposed to eat and drink daily?
6. How pro are u on breastfeeding and formula?
7. Do u do housechores (light)?
8. Usage of nappy instead of diapers for newborn?
9. Personal questions so I get to know more about her and I can share with u all
10. Cleanliness and hygiene
I am very satisfied with her answers. In fact I thought I was really lucky to able to find such a god confinement lady since it was so last minute. She also told me all the mouthwatering food that she can cooks. After we proceed to nearby medical hall shop to buy herbs because I have no clue what to buy and upon reaching, she acted like a boss instructing the owner to pack red dates, black dates, some Chinese herbs I don’t know the names , sesame oil, ginger wine (stone brand) and she wants most of the herbs to be around 1kg if not more. I keep stopping her and tell her that we will buy again when it run low cos I don’t want to stock up my fridge. In the end she obliged. Spent around RM500.
We picked her up around noon (she took bus down from kolam air panas approx. 2 hours journey) and when she reached we told her where all the things are (bottles, hot water flask, her bedroom, etc) and I didn’t tell her anything at all about food because she is a confinement lady and as one she will know EXACTLY what to cook and what to do right? Well, we are SO wrong about that.
The next day, she slept till 9am. I woke up at 8am, her door is still closed. I knocked and went inside, she is still asleep with the baby. And my mom has cooked. Already bad impression.
Noon, she insisted on cooking sesame chicken using 1 whole chicken! My mom told her nicely that no need to cook for her and my bro, and only to cook for me alone so there is no need to use 1 whole chicken because there will be too much leftover and to prevent wastage. She is not happy. She told my mom if she didn’t cook whole chicken, she don’t know how to cook, furthermore cooking quarter of chicken will have no taste and bland. My mom ignored her and told her to make soup for me. That’s when she instructed my mom to cook.
Around 2pm, after she has eaten, she came up and slept with the baby until 6pm. She didn’t take out the chicken or veges, and she expect my mom to do it and also expect me to eat the leftover from lunch. I didn’t want to voice anything because I know it could be quite tiring and it’s her first day and probably she is still trying to get used to everything.
But NO, she has this attitude until Day 4. So I had a serious talk with her in the kitchen telling her what I expect from her. She showed me her black face and said “I know I know” (her fav word EVERY SINGLE TIME when we tried to advise /tell her)
I also pen my thoughts on dayre.com/jojochua on my daily encounter with this confinement lady.
On Day 5, she woke up early to prepare breakfast for me which is inedible. I don’t know how she cooked the pork kidney and pork liver, the soup was bland and the pork was just yuck. I couldn’t swallow at all and not to waste, it took me about 2 hours to finish eating them leaving still few pieces in the bowl. Thought I take the bowl down and throw away the pork, and guess what? SHE ATE THEM !! *horror
Then she proceeds to cook lunch by 12pm and at night by 9pm she is already in bed. So I jokingly said to her, Well, if u plan ur time well we can all retired by 10pm. And yesterday at this hour, u are still preparing ingredients to cook in the kitchen. She just smiled and said yes yes.
She is a dishonest lady too. When my mom bought home all the meat and ingredients she unpacked and put everything in the fridge. Today after she left, we organised the fridge, my mom found ‘hidden’ pork liver/kidney and meat stashed in aside and wrapped up in a very small plastic bag (twist the unfrozen meat in plastic bag and make it into a ball ) in hope that we will not found out. No wonder she spend so much time downstairs (3 hours and the meal is either half cooked or not cooked), looks like she has been cooking and eating my food. Luckily I stopped her from opening my DOM / Martell because from the very first day she already insisted on using ONE BOTTLE OF DOM to cook the chicken.
Oh and she said I should get her the plastic mat to put on bed because every time baby pees, the bed is wet. (Baby is on nappy) So I decided to test it out myself. I brought baby over to our room and I checked on her every 10 mins or so and changed the wet nappy. In that one hour, I think I changed like 6-7 wet nappy. So I bought all the wet nappy to her room (there is a pail for nappy in her room) and as usual she is in the room ‘resting’ and she said wah so many nappy? I said of course and my bed is not even wet. U didn’t change the wet nappy that’s why it leaked out. U let her pee like 5-6 times then only u changed, that’s why the bed is wet. Imagine a baby’s pee, how many ml? Tiny bit only right? And to get your bed wet, the baby’s clothes wet, imagine how long the nappy has not been changed?? Again she kept quiet.
AND im on the verge of scolding her but I kept my calm.
So I had a discussion w hubby that night and we decided to terminate her service. So this morning when I told her, she was shocked and asked me to let her try out another week. She said “ I will do whatever you want me to do”. Well, too bad the damage has been done and I have given you chance but u didn’t treasure it. When I passed her the due money, she asked me “You don’t want me to try again” I said NO.
So hubby sent her off. I called Aunty Yuki and told her the whole story. She is shocked and said Aunty Heng Jie is actually her friends’ friend. I strictly warn her that not to intro this Aunty Heng to anyone as this will tarnish her name on the internet. She keep saying she is very very sorry and keep apologising the whole time and thank me for telling her.
*Phew, what a long 7 day
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Live in maid
Whoa!
Looks like I have been neglecting this blog. In fact I have been so caught up with life that I hardly have time for myself (this blog!)
I am a full time mom to a 22 months old and I have another one popping out soon in less than two months! Life is going to be one roller coaster ride and keeping my fingers crossed, hopefully hubby and I will be able to cope.
We are also looking for live in maid, preferably indon but no luck so far. Might end up with philiphine maid. I will update again on the agency we chose and the process, selection of maids so anyone who is looking for maid will have an idea where and how this process is going.
Until next time!
Looks like I have been neglecting this blog. In fact I have been so caught up with life that I hardly have time for myself (this blog!)
I am a full time mom to a 22 months old and I have another one popping out soon in less than two months! Life is going to be one roller coaster ride and keeping my fingers crossed, hopefully hubby and I will be able to cope.
We are also looking for live in maid, preferably indon but no luck so far. Might end up with philiphine maid. I will update again on the agency we chose and the process, selection of maids so anyone who is looking for maid will have an idea where and how this process is going.
Until next time!
Friday, December 21, 2012
East and West Medicine
End of the year and It has been few hectic weeks, for me anyway. Me falling sick (cough, flu, fever and spotting!)
Last month after my period, i noticed im having some light spotting which is unusual. Hence i made a trip to my gynae, Dr Loh and after checking, he confirmed that there is no growth or cyst but my womb has dropped! Yes it has dropped almost 2 inches and resting above my vagina. *horror*
Dr Loh further explained that this is due to heavy lifting or carrying infant in most cases. Also i explained to him that i have been feeling slight pain below tummy area almost every night when i lie down on bed. Dr Loh mentioned that this could be the pressure applied when carrying infant hence the pain when you have 'relaxed' your muscles.
Actually i have been carrying my baby girl almost 3-4 hours daily and sometimes beyond that. I normally stand for a very long time while carrying her while i watched TV or just show her around. Mind you, she was almost 8 kg at 6 months and i continued to carry her until Oct - when i made that fateful trip to gynae and i carry her less now.
No wonder people recommended 'urut' after giving birth but i havent gone to any! *sigh* I must make time to go, i keep reminding self. I need to take care of my womb because Dr Loh said my womb will drop out one day!! Its scary to even think about it.
I also made a trip to chinese doctor and he too prescribed me medicines, bitter syrup to drink and some herbal tablets. (i finished Dr Loh's medicine and stopped for a week before starting on chinese med). Dr Luke Tiong is from Miri and his shop is right above AMbank in Miri. He 'listened' to my pulse and said that he too, felt my womb has drooped! (Of course i told him i have been spotting after period) and the med he gave me is supposed to 'uplifting' my womb back to its original position. So far i have not carried my baby, i really hope the meds i took will make a difference. Will need to go for Dr Luke again once im back in Miri.
Dr Luke Tiong can be contactable at 085 425435
Last month after my period, i noticed im having some light spotting which is unusual. Hence i made a trip to my gynae, Dr Loh and after checking, he confirmed that there is no growth or cyst but my womb has dropped! Yes it has dropped almost 2 inches and resting above my vagina. *horror*
Dr Loh further explained that this is due to heavy lifting or carrying infant in most cases. Also i explained to him that i have been feeling slight pain below tummy area almost every night when i lie down on bed. Dr Loh mentioned that this could be the pressure applied when carrying infant hence the pain when you have 'relaxed' your muscles.
Actually i have been carrying my baby girl almost 3-4 hours daily and sometimes beyond that. I normally stand for a very long time while carrying her while i watched TV or just show her around. Mind you, she was almost 8 kg at 6 months and i continued to carry her until Oct - when i made that fateful trip to gynae and i carry her less now.
No wonder people recommended 'urut' after giving birth but i havent gone to any! *sigh* I must make time to go, i keep reminding self. I need to take care of my womb because Dr Loh said my womb will drop out one day!! Its scary to even think about it.
I also made a trip to chinese doctor and he too prescribed me medicines, bitter syrup to drink and some herbal tablets. (i finished Dr Loh's medicine and stopped for a week before starting on chinese med). Dr Luke Tiong is from Miri and his shop is right above AMbank in Miri. He 'listened' to my pulse and said that he too, felt my womb has drooped! (Of course i told him i have been spotting after period) and the med he gave me is supposed to 'uplifting' my womb back to its original position. So far i have not carried my baby, i really hope the meds i took will make a difference. Will need to go for Dr Luke again once im back in Miri.
Dr Luke Tiong can be contactable at 085 425435
Monday, October 15, 2012
Hello again!
It's exactly a year plus since my last entry about being pregnant. And baby Lexi is almost 1 year old too! Talking about time flies and tick tock tick tock..
Just a summary on my childbirth. It was on 11 Nov 2011, talking about special delivery! Dr Mattu was helpful and all and thank God everything was fine except for a 'fish hook' scar on baby's right cheek due to forceps handling. But luckily the wound heal up well.
This is a picture of baby Lexi on Day 21.
I am now a stay at home mom, and this amazing journey continues to surprise me with baby's every movement, her first words and how persistent she is in getting what she wants or should i say dangerous places she wants to crawl. She looks like her dadddy when she first came out and now slowly i can see her face changes.. resembles both of us, with a more feminine look... tee hee!
Signing off before baby wakes up..will write again! PROMISE
Friday, September 23, 2011
Dr Roland Mattu - Gynae in Miri, Sarawak
I visited Dr Mattu last weekday to follow up on baby's developement. Appointment was made at 1030am, and it took about 5 mins of waiting time.
Dr Mattu is a kind, gentle guy, very detailed too especially when scanning baby. Although i find his monitor screen a bit darker and hard for me to catch glimpse of baby's physical feature, but he seems to be able to see just clear. He pointed out to me baby's ear, thigh, leg and even foot!
Dr mentioned that baby to date is 2.1kg, although from the ultrascan the weigh shows 2245g. Could be just an estimation. Paid RM120 for consultation, without baby picture or vitamins which i find a bit expensive as my visit with Dr Loh is around RM80 with picture and vitamins.
Next appointment will be the following week, and i shall update again.
Dr Mattu is a kind, gentle guy, very detailed too especially when scanning baby. Although i find his monitor screen a bit darker and hard for me to catch glimpse of baby's physical feature, but he seems to be able to see just clear. He pointed out to me baby's ear, thigh, leg and even foot!
Dr mentioned that baby to date is 2.1kg, although from the ultrascan the weigh shows 2245g. Could be just an estimation. Paid RM120 for consultation, without baby picture or vitamins which i find a bit expensive as my visit with Dr Loh is around RM80 with picture and vitamins.
Next appointment will be the following week, and i shall update again.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Pregnancy - Week 33
Time is drawing closer for baby and I. Excited. Nervous. Scared. Confused. Life gonna be a total turnaround and i am anticipating!
Weather in Miri has been humid and hot. During last weekend's church service i fainted, for about 5 minutes before i re-gain consciousness. I felt dizzy, and sleepy.. thank God my other half was with me. I dont dare to imagine what will happen if i fell backwards (sitting on a bench) :(
I have been drinking alot of water, eating alot of fruits which helps with bowel movement. Have been constipated since getting pregnant, guess the medicine from gynae is kinda 'heaty'.
Made appoinment with Dr Mattu, cant wait to see baby's update. Next blog, till then!
Weather in Miri has been humid and hot. During last weekend's church service i fainted, for about 5 minutes before i re-gain consciousness. I felt dizzy, and sleepy.. thank God my other half was with me. I dont dare to imagine what will happen if i fell backwards (sitting on a bench) :(
I have been drinking alot of water, eating alot of fruits which helps with bowel movement. Have been constipated since getting pregnant, guess the medicine from gynae is kinda 'heaty'.
Made appoinment with Dr Mattu, cant wait to see baby's update. Next blog, till then!
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