Pregnancy Essentials You Must Buy

1. Maternity Clothes and Pants

The belly will become bigger and bigger, so maternity clothings are must to invest! Some of the valuable purchase styles and essentials are:

-A pair of maternity jeans shorts that you can pair with any t-shirts for outing:

- Maternity Underwear 

because your belly is growing bigger and bigger! I prefer a very low cut underwear at the front with curve shape, because towards the end of the pregnancy that curve shape will allow room for your belly to grow. Refer Amazon link below:

-Dresses that are loose and comfy for a pregnant belly

nevertheless you can still wear them even after pregnancy. For example:

2. Pregnancy Supplements

-Folic Acid

Starting from before pregnancy, mom who is preparing for pregnancy should consume standalone folic acid up to at least 3 months pregnant. You can read more about the benefits of Folic Acid here.

-Multivitamins for Pregnancy (to be consumed during pregnancy & breastfeeding)

Multivitamins contain the basic essential vitamins that you will need and for your growing baby. 

-Fish Oil with DHA

Fishoil can help with baby’s healthy cognitive and visual function, and overall brain development. But advice from doctor is to be careful to consume only fishoil for pregnancy/ breastfeeding, because the fishoil needs to be pure enough to be beneficial to the baby. Fishoil made from deep sea big fishes might contain heavy metals (such as mercury) that can cause damage to the baby.

-Antacids for Gastric Reflux

One of the common symptoms during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, is the terrible heartburn and gastric an expecting mom can get. It will cause you to have difficulty sleeping at night, or morning/evening sickness. As much as possible, I avoid taking medication during pregnancy, but when acid reflux really gets into me at night, i will take one teaspoon of Gaviscon and the symptom will subside immediately (safe for pregnancy).

-Milk for pregnant/breastfeed mom, or Calcium pills

Milk is essential to provide the nutrients for the mother and growing baby's needs, especially in terms of calcium needs. I am lactose intolerant and unable to consume milk, hence the doctor prescribed calcium pills for my consumption. Lacking of calcium will cause pregnant mom to have legs cramps in the middle of the night. So make sure you get sufficient calcium intake!

3. Pregnancy Pillow

Pregnant moms are adviced to sleep on your left for maximum blood flow and nutrients to your placenta. Truthfully as the belly becomes bigger, you will need a pillow to support the belly. I highly recommend using a pregnancy u-shape pillow and this will greatly increase your comfort to sleep throughout the night.

4. Stretchmarks Oil

It is recommended to start applying stretchmarks oil, once during the day and once during the night to your belly starting the second trimester of your pregnancy until delivery. Bio Oil is the brand that I've used, and so far so good with no stretchmarks 29 weeks into pregnancy (with fingers crossed). The application method - - starting with your hands forming a heart shape from the belly button, apply the oil in an outward motion to other parts of the belly. Be careful not to apply pressure or massage, as it may cause contractions.

5. Consumer Products free of harmful chemicals

-Shampoo for Pregnancy

After pregnancy I have since replaced my shampoo to minimize harmful ingredients with 0% silicones, parabens or dyes- Pantene Micellar series.

-Skincare for Pregnancy

Skincare products that I've been using are the Laroche Posay line, and you can check out my review of the products here. The products are gentle on even sensitive skin, and will be a good choice during pregnancy.

6. Have a good mood, eat a balanced diet, and enjoy your pregnancy!

Maintain a healthy mood, as having sad or angry emotions will generate hormones in your body that's harmful for your baby's brain and body development. According to a medical doctor, it is not uncommon to hear about a wife who quarreled with her husband and experienced contraction afterwards. Other than emotional health, eat as healthily as possible, with proteins, vegetables, and fruits everyday (one word of caution is to consume fruit in moderate amount, as fruits are high in sugar content and will cause gestational diabetes!)

I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy!

Insider Information: Living and Working in Singapore as a Foreigner

How is it to work and live in Singapore? How much do I need to earn?

Let's start first with the Top 3 PROS of working and living here:

Pro #1: Relatively low tax rate for a First World Country
For example, if your salary is about SGD60k per annum, your tax rate will be equivalent to 3.25% (or SGD1950 per year). Compare to USA tax for USD60k per annum salary, the tax bracket will be at 22% (equivalent to USD13200 per year).

                                  Singapore Tax Rate: Source@ Income Tax SG Gov Website

USA Tax Rate (2018-2019): Source @ Smart Asset

Pro #2: The public facilities are well developed. The place is clean, neat, and safe
Public transportation is well developed, you can get to anywhere using public train (MRT system) and buses. Use this app Singapore Map to navigate around. You purchase and reload the EZlink card to tap on the public transportation. The place is clean, neat, and well maintained despite the crowded population. The government is very serious about enforcing laws for keeping the place clean (no littering, smoking only at designated area), and keeping Singapore a safe place (people are generally not worried about crimes here).

Pro #3: The daily consumables and products are cheap
Products and food are relatively cheap in Singapore if you earn and spend here. For instance, you can get the following prices:
Detergent ~SGD4
Shampoo (pantene) ~SGD6
Food at foodcourt ~SGD3
Basic Clothes ~SGD20
Taxi/ Cab services ~SGD10-25
Monthly phone bill ~SGD30-60
Cut hair ~SGD10-35



Now, let's move to the TOP 3 considerations that you can take into account when considering whether to move here, work here, or live here.

CONSIDERATION #1: You will need a considerably high income to raise a family here, comfortably
Cars are expensive here, as they are imposed a COE (Certificate of Entitlement), which represents the right to vehicle ownership, to use the road for 10 years, after which you will need to scrap your car if you do not renew your COE. The COE prices bidding below is only for the certificate for 10 years, without the cost of the car. Hence, most "commoners" here will take public transport for cost saving.

                         COE Prices 2019, and Quota. Source: Automobile Association of SG

CONSIDERATION #2: Education for kids is quite pricey
Approximately, child care is about SGD900 and above for office hours care taking, and infant care will be about SGD1500 and above per month. There is subsidy if you are Singaporean of about SGD600 per month. School is competitive to get in, and you often hear about parents having to volunteer so that their kids can get into public school (I've heard of opening car door for others as volunteering work).

CONSIDERATION #3: Land is limited, living can be crowded
Due to the scarce land, living can be quite expensive. As of 2019, the rent for a HDB (government housing flat) small room without a bathroom attached, is about SGD700 and above. A master bedroom with bathroom attached is about SGD1200 and above. To rent the entire house, it cost about SGD2000 and above, to have your own space. You can find housing listing at Property Guru and 99.co.

                                                   Government housing/ flat (HDB)

Approximately and overall, SGD8000 per month per household (with kids) may be sufficient to live a decent life with your family with 2 kids.

House renting: SGD2000
Kids Education and expenses (2 kids): SGD3500
Food and Daily Expenses: SGD2000
Public Transportation: SGD200
Utilities/Phone/Internet: SGD400

In conclusion, if you are ready to have some cramping and competition (in public transportation, schooling for your kids, and living place, expensive healthcare), then Singapore is the place for you as you will gain access to the best in class services and systematic environment (top education for your kids, top healthcare services, competitive and skillful work force, safe and clean environment).

Disclaimer: This post is based on personal opinion and experience, it does not represent the view of any organization



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