Week 15 of Pregnancy

Sep 6th, 2007

Today is exactly the 100th day of my wife’s pregnancy.

On week-15, baby is now 3.2 to 4.1 inches long, from the top of his head down to his rump, and weighs almost one ounce.

For the mother-to-be, your uterus is just popping up above the pubic bone. You are at a very in-between stage right now.

At this stage, mommy may not yet look pregnant to the world — or may have already popped out. There is a great variation in the time your pregnancy becomes visible. This usually occurs between 14 and 20 weeks. But, if this is the second or third pregnancy, “showing” is sooner than a first-time mom because the muscles of the abdomen are a bit more lax, and the uterus tends to fall forward more easily because of the relaxation of the supporting ligaments.

As to the baby, at this stage, the baby’s skin is very thin, and blood vessels can be seen underneath. The skin is covered with a fine, fuzzy hair called lanugo, which will not fall out until the baby nears full-term. The heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood per day.

This week marks a period of rapid growth for the baby. So, mommy will need to get more rest.

14 Weeks Into Pregnancy

Sep 4th, 2007

Hey… It was like just last week that I’ve posted that my wife is pregnant, and now it’s already 14 weeks into her pregnancy.
Today marks the 98th day into her pregnancy.
During this time, it is not uncommon for a pregnant mother to become iron deficient. So it is important to get a minimum of 30milligrams of iron a day to stay healthy. You can get your iron from lean meats, low-fat diary products, dried apricots, fortified breakfast cereals, kidney beans and leafy green vegetables.
Negative reactions to certain foods might be hormones or your body’s way of keeping anything that may be harmful to your baby out of your system.

So, what’s happening to her during this time? One thing for sure is that she is ’suffering’ from major food aversion. In fact, nearly 85 percent of pregnant women have at least one food aversion.

She’ll feel nauseatic just by the sight of food. Man…she doesn’t even like the food that she once liked so much before she got pregnant. And, trying to swallow them will spell disaster.

However, this may disappear as she progresses through the 2nd trimester and her hormones stabilizes. What’s happening to the baby during this time?

Your baby is now about three-and-a-half inches long and weighs about two ounces. His or her neck is complete, and your baby even has fingerprints. He or she is beginning to move around in the amniotic fluid, which, by the way, replenishes itself every three hours. Fetal movement, or “quickening,” can occur as early as this week, so be alert for fluttering sensations in your belly. If you can’t feel them, however, don’t worry, they’re more likely to occur between the 18th to 22nd week. In subsequent pregnancies, fetal movement usually is felt earlier.

What should I eat during pregnancy?

Aug 29th, 2007

Read a post by Dr. Philip Owen in the NetDoctor.co.uk about eating during pregnancy.

It was often a misunderstood belief that a pregnant woman should eat for two people, in fact it is not true. What is true is that during pregnancy, a woman has to provide good nutrition for two individuals.
The growing baby will get all its nourishment from its mother through the umbilical cord, so the diet that the mother is very important. If the mother is lacking in any vitamins and nutrients her baby might lack them too.

While a woman who is not pregnant needs approximately 2100 calories per day, a pregnant woman needs approximately 2500 calories per day. And a breastfeeding woman needs approximately 3000 calories per day. (Calories are sometimes called Kilocalories or KCals)

All mother-to-be should maintain a well-balanced diet and it should contain something from all the food groups: dairy products, fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, fat and carbohydrates in order to get the proper amounts of energy.

During pregnancy, a mother should consume an essential amount of vitamins and minerals. During the first three months of pregnancy (and preferably before becoming pregnant) a woman needs folic acid. It is important during pregnancy for the creation of the baby’s nervous system. It can also help to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida and other congenital malformations such as cleft palate or cleft lip. You can get folic acid from a good source of natural plants. They are barley beans, fruit, green vegetables, orange juice, lentils, peas and rice.

It is recommended that all pregnant women take a daily 400 milligrams of folic acid a day for two months before conception and three months into their pregnancy.

Another essential mineral is iron. During pregnancy, a woman’s body needs more iron than usual to produce all the blood needed to supply nutrition to the placenta. Good sources of iron are green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, strawberries, muesli and wholemeal bread.

Iron is more easily absorbed if it is taken in conjunction with vitamin C - either as a supplement or in citrus fruit or juice.

Mother-to-be must keep in mind that tea and coffee can interfere with the body’s absorption of iron.

It is often recommended that all pregnant women take an iron supplement every day from the 20th week of pregnancy. However, oron supplements may cause constipation. Besides folic acid and iron, zinc and calcium are also needed for the development of the embryo. However, it is usually possible to obtain enough zinc and calcium by following a varied diet.

It is important to avoid vitamin A during pregnancy because it may cause damage to the embryo. Food that contain large amounts of vitamin A include liver, and should be eaten on an occasional basis only. Unpasteurised cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and pâté are also not recommended because of the possible risk of transmission of infectious diseases such as Listeria.

As advised by many doctors, constipation is a common thing during pregnancy. This can be caused by hormonal changes that cause the intestines to move less. Iron supplements can also cause constipation.
To avoid constipation, eat lots of fibre-rich foods such as fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread and cereal, prunes and prune juice. Drinking 2 to 3 litres of water each day will also help prevent constipation. Regular exercise will also help get the intestines moving. About 20 to 30 minutes’ swimming or brisk walking two to three times a week is a good level of exercise to aim for.
A pharmacist will be able to provide advice about over-the-counter preparations that are safe to use during pregnancy to relieve constipation.

Posted in Parenting | 2 Comments

1. 30 Aug 2007 at 7:48 am1 sharlydia

   As i was reading ur blog…it sounds to me that u’r the pregnant mum-to-be! hahaha! Ofcoz later i realised that u’r actually the hubby…very lovely!

   I miss my pregnancy…really…My boy is now 11.5 months and ofcoz we truely enjoy his company too!

   Wish ur wife happy pregnancy & have fun!

   
   
2. 30 Aug 2007 at 9:52 am2 daniel
   

   hahaha.. ya, by just reading my blog, you’ll definitely think that I am a mum-to-be hahaha…

   As a husband, and as a 1st-time-father, the only thing that I can do is to get more knowledge about pregnancy and the things that I need to know…

12th Week Vs. 13th Week

Aug 27th, 2007

12th Week:

As Yvonne is approaching the second trimester, any nausea experienced may probably will begin to subside. And the linea nigra (black line), a dark line of pigmentation, will be creeping up her abdomen.

The uterus has risen above the pubic bone, and it is about the size of a softball. Around this time, you may begin to “show“?? For first-timers, “showing” may occur a bit later, as strong abdominal muscles can help to hide your pregnancy.

And, as she enters the 13th week, the second trimester, is sometimes referred to as the “honeymoon of pregnancy.” This is because women often regain energy, with much of the arduous work of organ development now almost complete.

As you enter your second trimester, your nausea most likely has faded into a memory. (If you had to stop taking prenatal vitamins during this time, you should begin to take them again as soon as possible.)

However, is yet subject to the physical discomforts that may appear in the later weeks of pregnancy and may finally feel ready to reveal the long-held secret to the world.

At the 12th week, the fetus is now 60 to 65 millimeters long or about two and a half inches long, and weighs about 14 grams. He or she has the ability to swallow and absorb and discharge fluids. Hands, now complete, are growing fingernails. Even tooth buds are appearing.

The baby’s face now has a distinctly human appearance. The amniotic sac contains about 50 cubic centimeters of fluid (one and one half ounces). This week, the placenta takes over the important task of hormone production.

On the other hand, now in the 13th week, measuring in at about seven centimeters crown-to-rump and weighing about two ounces, the baby will spend the rest of the pregnancy concentrating on growing and becoming strong enough to live outside the uterus.

His/her intestines have now moved from outside the body to inside the abdomen. While the baby won’t be saying “Mommy” for some time, vocal cords are now developing. Your fetus also has developed many reflexes and will squirm inside of you if your abdomen is prodded.

As to the nutritional needs,

EATING FOR TWO

Soy products are a great way to boost protein and calcium intake. Make sure that soy milk products do not contain unnecessary levels of sucrose.

Yummy Soy Shakes:

Pear Soy Shake: Combine in a blender 2/3 cup drained canned pears with 2/3 cup vanilla soy milk.

Cantaloupe, Banana Soy Shake: Combine 2/3 cup diced cantaloupe with one banana and 1/2 cup soy milk.

13 Weeks Into Pregnancy

Aug 27th, 2007 by Daniel Edit |

So, what happened during the 12th week??

As much as I was surprised by the doctor claiming that my baby is now 13 weeks old, I am much eager to know what is the development my baby will go through during the 12th week.

During the 12th week, the corpus collosum, the section of the brain connecting the left and right hemispheres, develops.

And during the 13th week, the ultrasound can be used to measure nuchal translucency (thickened section of skin on the back of the neck), evaluate nasal bone, and aid in diagnosis of chromosome abnormalities, and the fetal organs such as gallbladder and urinary bladder imaged.

Surprised In Clinic

Aug 27th, 2007

Brought my wife to the clinic for the 2nd checkup on Saturday morning. We were supposed to be watching Ratatouille at the Cineleisure. Anyway, we were in for a pleasant surprise when we stepped into the doctor’s room.

Through the Ultra Sound, our Miss Doctor told us that our baby is ‘very big’ for its time/date. Upon further checking through the “Ultra-machine”, Miss Doctor said that the estimated due date for our baby is the 4^th March 2008, instead of the initial ‘predicted/estimated’ 19^th March 2008.

Damn..!!! This is a freaking 2 weeks earlier from the original estimated delivery date..!!! My wife was absolutely taken by surprised too…

That means that my baby is actually 13 weeks old instead of 11 weeks. Hmmm… I wonder how that mistake could had been done by the 1st doctor last month.

So today marks the 90th day my wife is pregnant.

From now on, I’ll have to prepare my Poodle, Browny, for baby’s arrival. I don’t want him to become resentful of my baby when he/she comes home.

What’s Happening With You When You Are 11 Weeks Pregnant

Aug 23rd, 2007

From here, I mentioned that my wife is 11 weeks into her pregnancy, and from the ‘baby sex prediction’ game I now know that I am getting a baby girl… yeah..!!!

Ok. Got to pay some attention to my wife’s condition before she @$&%^@ hahahahaha

She may be suffering with more frequent headaches as a result of the change in hormone levels. This can be prevented, I hope, before they start by eating regularly, drinking plenty of fluids, getting adequate sleep and keeping stress levels low.

A type of medicine called Tylenol (acetaminophen) can be obtained from her doctor to treat this headache. This is a pain medication that is considered safe for pregnant women.

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE BABY

The baby-to-be is about 50 millimeters crown to rump and weighs about eight grams (about a quarter of an ounce). The irises are now forming. The liver, intestines, brain and lungs are beginning to function on their own. The primitive “tail” is now gone. The intestines are beginning to migrate into the abdominal cavity and the external genitalia are present but difficult to distinguish.

Now that most of the major organ work is done, the baby adds such details as hair, fingernails and toenails. While the baby’s head is nearly as large as the rest of her body, head growth begins to slow during this period.

EATING FOR TWO

Actually, you aren’t eating for two. You are eating for one and .000007865!

Realistically, at this time, the mother-to-be only needs to increase consumption by 300 to 500 calories per day. That’s just one bran muffin and a baked potato! It’s important that every calorie consumed be one that is nutrient dense.

Okay, you can splurge on chocolate every so often, but you might not want to always gobble it down with a glass of milk. While milk is great for your baby, chocolate slightly decreases your body’s ability to absorb calcium.

Some note to remember is that if you have gained excessive weight, it’s time to nip the bad eating habits in the bud. It is recommended that a total weight gain be kept between 25 - 35 pounds. Gaining more than 35 pounds can make postpartum weight loss more of a challenge.

What’s Happening With You When You Are 10 Weeks Pregnant

Aug 21st, 2007

Moms-to-be should pay special attention to their oral health. And this is an excellent time to schedule a dental appointment. Proper cleaning — along with an adequate intake of calcium, protein and vitamins B, C and D — will help keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Hormonal changes occur during pregnancy can affect the gums and the gums may become swollen and inflamed in response to bacteria along the gum line. This is called “pregnancy gingivitis.” It usually appears during the 3rd to 9th month of pregnancy.

Be sure to tell your dentist that you are pregnant as it may affect the type of care you need and receive. Anyway, routine dental X-rays can be postponed until after delivery. If disease is suspected, or an emergency arises, dental X-rays are considered safe. You should be shielded with a lead apron.

Seek dental care right away if your gums are swollen or bleed when you clean your teeth. Familiarize yourself with the dental care your dentist advises for your new baby. Ask your dentist for advice.

Stop smoking!! Smoking can lead to increased risk for periodontal disease and of course will lead to health problems for you and the baby. And brush teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and use dental floss.

Maintain excellent nutrition and avoid sweet between-meal snacks as they lead to acid which attacks tooth enamel and causes tooth decay.

If you are troubled by frequent vomiting, due to early pregnancy nausea, this can leave stomach acids in your mouth. If this acid is not cleared away quickly, it can damage the surfaces of your teeth and promote tooth decay. Rinse your mouth with water, or use a fluoride mouth rinse after vomiting, to freshen your mouth and protect your teeth from the damaging action of stomach acids.

Hormonal influences may cause a soft tissue growth along the gum line over one or two teeth. This fleshy tag of tissue is known as an “epulis.” Although they are very vascular and therefore bleed easily with tooth brushing, they are harmless and resolve quickly after delivery.

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE BABY

By the end of this week, your baby will have verifiable fingers and toes. The tadpole appearance diminishes as the tail completely disappears. Eyelids fuse and will stay shut until weeks 25 to 27. Both the external ear and upper lip are complete, and the beginnings of external genitalia appear. The average size of your baby-to-be is 27 to 35 millimeters, crown to rump, or 1.06 to 1.38 inches.

Your little one weighs in at a hefty four grams!

At the end of the eighth week of gestation your little one is no longer an embryo; from now on he or she is referred to as a fetus.

What’s Happening With You When You Are 9 Weeks Pregnant

Aug 10th, 2007

Just from the last post a few days ago that I mentioned that my wife is 8 weeks pregnant. Now that she’s 9 weeks into pregnancy.. Wow!!! Time really flies, man..

Ok now. Don’t go asking me about the surging hormones that ‘may do wonders for your libido’ that’s quoted. (I don’t see any of that coming, and ’sadly’ don’t get some too… hahaha) - just kidding ya…

Since my baby is 9 weeks old, as usual, I go on reading what’s happening inside my wife’s body to get some understanding. So, I went to my Week-to-Week guide on pregnancy here for further reading.

So, what’s happening to my wife

“Your breasts may be feeling full and tender. This can be one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. The areola typically darkens and Montgomery’s glands, lubricating sweat glands on the areola, may become prominent and more numerous. Especially for those with a light complexion, veins in the breast often become more pronounced.

Emotionally, you may feel like you are suffering from an ongoing bout of PMS. Even silly commercials may make you cry!”

Ok… I didn’t expect this is coming. But I know my wife is ’strong’. She’s gonna get through this.. hahaha

Now. Let’s see what’s happening to my baby inside.

At week 9, baby grows to between 20 and 28 millimeters from crown to rump, or about an inch. Weighing in at one gram, your baby is very active, although you can’t feel its movements.

He or she now has all the major organs, muscles and nerves. A Doppler may be able to identify the heartbeat.

At this early stage, it is still unable to determine the gender though the testes or the ovaries are formed, but the external genitalia appear sexless. Eyelids are beginning to form and the trunk is straightening and elongating. (I wonder what’s “the trunk” is???)

According to Wikipedia, Trunk = torso, i.e. anatomical term for the central part of the human body from which extend the neck and limbs.

9 Weeks Into Pregnancy

Aug 10th, 2007

What happen to you emotionally..?

Feeling frisky? Surging hormones may do wonders for your libido. Just get the okay from your health-care provider before you and your partner get intimate.

And the Important Developments of the fetus will be its visible stomach

Hmmm…. I wonder how big my baby is in my wife’s stomach..

What’s Happening With You When You Are 8 Weeks Pregnant

Aug 8th, 2007

What’s Happening With You When You are 8 Weeks Pregnant?

Read here that feeling bloated, and indigestion are the common complaint during this stage of pregnancy.

Feeling a bit bloated is actually caused by the slow digestive process, and it allows the bloodstream to better absorb nutrients that are then passed on to the baby. Wearing loose-fitting clothes, eating small frequent meals is advisable and it is important to chew your food thoroughly and avoiding high fat food. Rest assured that your baby is oblivious to your pain and discomfort.

As to the baby, your baby’s head is quite big due to the rapid growth of the brain and the upper limbs resemble paddles. The baby’s heart begins to separate into four chambers, and blood is circulating throughout the body.

Intestines form within the umbilical cord, but will later migrate back into the abdominal cavity. In the next few days, foot plates, with the beginnings of toe rays, will appear. The external ears are now present. Your baby is now 10 to 13 millimeters long – about the size of a cherry. The cells that will become either testes or ovaries arrive, but there is no obvious sign of gender yet. Muscle contractions are beginning, but these early “movements” are not yet perceptible.

It must be noted that this period of time is especially important as most parts of the body are formed and rapid brain development occurs. And important to consume or take neither alcohol nor tobacco products, and also to reduce in the intake of caffeine.

8 Weeks Into Pregnancy

Aug 7th, 2007

Now that my wife is 8 weeks into pregnancy, I found that this is an important stage for the expansion of the ventricular system of the brain.

And the heartbeat is about 144-159 bpm.

Wow!!! Couldn’t belief my eyes reading this.

From here, I read that it’s normal to feel sluggish and sleepy, as the body (and hormones) is working overtime to develop the baby. A walk in the fresh air and frequent catnaps may help to combat fatigue.

Tips for Getting Enough Calcium in Your Diet

Aug 7th, 2007

Since I get to know that my wife is pregnant, all that I Googled are about pregnancy…

And since the doctor said that my wife needs a lot of Calcium intake, or that she will suffer from Osteoporosis after giving birth. Osteoporosis - a condition in which bone mineral density is compromised, leading to a gradual decline in the strength of the bone. So, I went Googled about Osteoporosis.

Only now I realized that Osteoporosis is a condition that not only attack younger women but also men as well. And there are many causes for this unfortunate condition. One of which is hereditary. Persons who have seen a recurrence of osteoporosis in close family members may be at a greater danger for developing osteoporosis. Persons of European or Asian ancestry appear to be more susceptible than others. Age, tobacco, poor nutrition, and anorexia nervosa, etc.

Since Calcium is the main factor in this conversation, I managed to find some tips where all mother-to-be needs to take note in calcium intake.

It is noted that all pregnant mothers need 1500 milligrams of calcium during pregnancy. And since it is a large quantity of calcium that needs to be consumed per day, there are many other ways in which a mother-to-be can do to supplement the calcium intake.

Besides taking calcium supplement daily, intake of calcium-fortified cold cereal with skim milk for breakfast, or drink the milk when the cereal is gone, is good. Drink calcium-fortified juices, and look for other calcium-fortified foods, like frozen waffles, hot cereals, and breads.

For reading the labels at the store: the daily requirement is considered 1000 milligrams for adults, so if one serving has 30% of the RDA, that is 300 milligrams of calcium.

Add milk instead of water when you prepare pancakes, hot cereals, pudding, and hot cocoa. Add non-fat dry milk if you bake bread.

Put lots of milk in your (decaffeinated) coffee.

Have a glass of warm skim milk at bedtime.

At the end of the day, if you feel that the calcium intake seems inadequate, take a second calcium supplement.

Parenting

Aug 2nd, 2007

My wife has been feeling sick, vomiting and feeling nausea lately. Asked her whether she wants to go for a checkup but she refused.

Felt so sorry to see her vomiting every time and I have to fly to Chiengmai, Thailand for a 4-day meeting. So I’ve decided to bring her for a checkup, anyway, after my meeting.

Looking at the symptom, I reckoned that she might be pregnant (ya… “learned” it after watching too much of Chinese soap opera… hahaha)

So, I took her to a clinic that only specializes in women’s ’sickness’.

Upon the initial check, the doctor confirmed my year-long ‘learning’… My wife is 7 weeks into conception. I feel very happy, though, knowing this (that’s obvious, right..). The doctor performed Ultra-sound and there appeared an image on the screen.

Couldn’t make head or tail of that image initially. But after doc enlarged the image and pointed to a specific spot where the fetus is located, I finally managed to see clearly that’s my child forming.

One thing that amazed me was it’s heart. Through the Ultra-sound, we can see clearly that the heart is starting to be formed, and it is beating very fast.

I felt so happy. But, then it strikes me. My wife is pregnant!!!

This means I am going to be a father to ’somebody’. A father to a child of my own.

Am I ready for this?!!

Honestly. I don’t really like children too much. And, I have never thought of having any children of my own.

This is now freaking me out, man…

I think I am having a pre-natal phobia syndrome… hahahahahahaha

Children See, Children Do

Sep 20th, 2007

I got this short clip from a friend of mine. It means so much to me. From the rate of crimes, bullies, thefts, abuses etc that are rampant, could the assailants have picked this up from their adults?

Parents, do you see......?

Disclaimer

1. Whatever I wrote are MY OWN opinion.

That means the words I sputtered, rant, misused, misplaced, spewed and misspelled on MY BLOG are not affiliated, related and have nothing to do with any people and organizations whatsoever.

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That means I bear no responsibility for what or how or why my readers/visitors/commenters opt/chose/decide to respond to my blog posts.

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About Me

From my first post on the things about myself when I started this blog, I am not reviewing my own post and re-writing a new post about myself again.. hehe

You may not find me interesting bcos I myself don’t think I am interesting too… but my entries can be interesting, mind provoking, challenging, funny, etc.

This is ME…

1. Yes, I am a Buddhist, but this blog is NOT about Religion.

2. I try to be a nice person BUT this blog might sometimes not.

3. I am a typical Gemini… (Love Your Friend, Love Your Enemy More)

4. I belong to myself. Nobody owns me.

5. Tell me your jokes, thoughts, opinions, ideas… anything.

6. I like to read.

7. I am a TWIN.

Is this how we treat man's best friend?

Read this article in the NST today and I am taken aback by those stupid and inconsiderate son of b***h for shooting dogs with dangerous weapons in front of small kids. Have they any brain!!? What impact will that put on those children!!?

Spotlight: Is this how we treat man's best friend?

01 October, 2007

It's a common sight in any urban township. Except that in most cases, dogcatchers seldom exercise restraint when going after strays or even pets. IT is one day an 11-year-old girl will unlikely forget. On July 15, a group of armed men stormed into her neighbourhood in Labuan and shot her pet dog twice in front of her house compound.

They hoisted the badly wounded dog, still kicking alive, by its tail and left.

Jonathan Ang, father of the Year Five student, says his daughter is still having nightmares and has yet to recover from the trauma.

The 20 to 30 “trained sharp-shooters” were deployed by the Labuan Corporation's Veterinary Department to eliminate strays in the area, with help from the People's Volunteer Corp (Rela).

In the 12-day operation which started on July 9, 471 dogs were killed, falling short of the targeted 500.

A bounty of RM30 was set on each killed dog, says Ang.

On that day, Ang's daughter Jocelyn, together with 10 other children, were playing with her dog in a playground in Taman Sea View when the men arrived and shouted at them to stay away.

They shot Jocelyn's dog in the leg, and gave chase when the dog ran towards the house, shooting at it a second time in full view of the screaming children.

Ang can't fathom why a dangerous weapon like the rifle was used, why pets were killed, and why children had to be exposed to such cruelty.

“There was no regard for safety. A missed shot hit the wall of my fence. There were people running around at that time! What if a stray bullet had hit someone?

“My dog didn't die instantly. I don't know how to explain the incident to my daughter. It was just inhumane.”

In the Klang Valley, some captured strays have been subjected to a slow and painful death, says a witness.

Most municipal councils lease dog catching contracts to contractors, and some to private dogcatchers.

Operations are conducted occasionally, but some contractors catch dogs as and when they like, says the source.

“Municipal councils pay RM35 to RM50 for a dog, so it's good business (for dogcatchers). They no longer act based on public complaints.

“At times, they encroach on other territories to hunt for more dogs - strays or pets.”

In Balakong, there was a case of dogcatchers lowering a rope into a workshop compound to lasso a blind puppy out.

Animal rights activist Jacqueline Tsang says dogcatchers have no right to trespass on a private premise to get a dog, regardless of whether or not the dog has a licence.

What they can do is to issue a summons or a warning letter requesting the owner to apply for a licence.

However, the authorities can catch any unleashed dog outside the house compound.

It is learnt that three-quarters of the dogs in the Kuala Lumpur City Hall pound are owned, but were caught when irresponsible owners let them out to roam.

Some dogcatchers don't hand over their catch to the municipal council straightaway but keep the dogs in their vehicle instead.

They make a trip to the council only when the vehicle's loaded with 20 to 30 dogs.

Due to lack of space, many puppies and smaller dogs are trampled to death, and deadly fights break out among the bigger ones.

If the dogs fight or are too noisy, the catchers would hit them with a stick. Fierce dogs have been beaten to death, the source says.

Food and water are not given as the rationale is money should not be wasted on dogs that are going to be put down in the pound with a lethal injection, as is the procedure.

As it can take up to weeks for the vehicle to be filled, dogs caught earlier would have died of starvation or thirst.

Some dogs, due to extreme thirst, lap up a dead dog's fluids which flow from its mouth.

“The stench of the dogcatchers’ van is horrible due to the many carcasses,” says the source.

“Dogs can smell it from afar and make for a dash when they see the van but most of the time, they fail to escape when surrounded by up to four catchers.

“Once caught and placed inside the van, these dogs can sense their fate.

“Would you believe me if I say these dogs cry? They don't just howl. They have tears.

“It is a pitiful sight I hope no one will ever have to see.”

Strays should be caught but they must be treated as humanely as possible, says the source.

“There is a procedure. Catch the dogs, hand them over to the pound, and wait for a week or two to see if someone claims them.

“If not, put them to sleep. At least in the pound, the dogs are fed.

“A criminal on death row is given anything he wishes to eat before he is sent to the gallows. Why can't the same be done for animals?

“Please let them die with dignity, they didn't ask to be born as strays.”

It is learnt that some dogcatchers are also involved in dognapping, selling pedigree at a discounted rate to pet shops in the Klang Valley.

Some offer a full refund if the dog dies within two weeks.

Another source, who had stumbled upon a dogcatchers’ van and pitied a captured dog, had bought it for a couple of hundred ringgit.

The dog was diagnosed with severe dehydration.

The problem is compounded when dogcatchers are not trained and when there's no proper procedure, says Christine Chin, chairperson of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (SPCA) Selangor.

“Some municipal councils like Klang, Kajang and Ampang Jaya do not even have pounds.

“Where then are these animals placed? How are they put down? Are there qualified professionals to supervise euthanasia?

“And our repeated requests to witness how dogs are put down in the Selayang pound have never been entertained. It's all a mystery.

“We have written to the municipal councils for years, but have never received a reply. If there's no proper handling, it goes against the good practice set by the Department of Veterinary Services.”

Chin says the Klang Municipal Council recently agreed to set up a pound but pleas to other councils have fallen on deaf ears.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall's pound is a model and should be emulated, she adds.

When the New Sunday Times contacted the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council and asked where dogs caught are sent to, a public relations officer said, “Adalah tempat khas dia (There's a special place for that).”

The council's deputy environmental health officer, Ghazali Abdul Wahab, says the dogs are given an injection and disposed of in a dumpsite in Klang.

He says the setting up of a pound is taking longer due to the high costs involved, which he puts at RM50,000-RM60,000.

The Klang and Kajang municipal councils couldn't be reached.

It is not known how owners can go about claiming pets, which have been mistaken for strays and captured by municipalities without pounds.

A few sources claim that employees of Vet-Fine (M) Sdn Bhd - the contractor for the Ampang Jaya, Selayang and Johor Bahru municipal councils - do not adhere to humane dogcatching practices.

Its managing director Dr Nor Bakry Mat Drus, acknowledges that there have been ‘one or two allegations’ but dismisses the claims.

“I checked each and every allegation, but so far, there is no improper practice,”

“The definition of humane and inhumane practices is very subjective. When the police round up people, it might look rough to outsiders, but it's the normal way of doing things,”

“I'm a registered veterinarian answerable to the Veterinary Association of Malaysia and the Malaysian Veterinary Council,”

“If my company is cruel, my contract wouldn't have been extended,”

Nor Bakry says his service is of great help to municipalities in keeping the population of strays to a minimum.

In Ampang Jaya alone, 250-300 dogs must be caught each month alone, he adds.

He urges councils to look into shortcomings like the lack of funds in addressing this issue.

Chin says SPCA has received tipoffs from concerned individuals on the whereabouts of cruel dogcatchers, but tracing them is almost impossible as they don't stay put at a spot long enough and can resort to violence.

“Once, for two to three days in a row, a gang of them drove past SPCA and yelled abuse at us. They were very threatening.”

SPCA has been lobbying in vain for municipalities and the veterinary department to set guidelines on dogcatching and act against cruel practices, but a recent meeting might turn things around.

The department has agreed to let SPCA draft out the guidelines, says Chin.

Proposals include compulsory registration and training for dog handlers, and hiring handlers who hold animal welfare in high esteem.

“The dogcatching profession should be revamped. Instead of dogcatchers, we should have ‘animal wardens', people who like animals but treat their job as a job, not a business.”

Attempts to contact the department for comment were unsuccessful.

Chin says irresponsible owners who allow their dogs to breed but turn the puppies to the streets are equally at fault.

Animal cruelty is an offence, but the Animal Ordinance 1953, which imposes a maximum fine of RM200 and/or six months’ imprisonment, reflects how trivial animal welfare is in Malaysia, a far cry from neighbouring countries.

“Every country recognises animal cruelty, except ours,” says Chin.

It Could Easily Been Anyone's Daughter

Actually, I didn't want to write anything about this matter after the news about it came out in the papers few days ago.

BUT, after reading the expert's as well as the missing Nurul's mother's comments on the NST, I feel that I need to put this in here bcos this is my feeling towards that's been happening lately. I feel sad and sympathy for the victims.

The world is dangerous playground for everybody nowadays... young and old.

Seeing what had happened to the poor little girl few days ago, and thinking back what had happened to the other little girls who had been through this traumatic happening, my heart felt deep pain for the monstrous thing that could be done to little innocent girls.

How could anyone have done this hideous crime? Has he no heart for the pain and suffering that the little girls experienced? Or, is he/she once been the VICTIM him/herself, that he/she now feel no remorse while deriving "pleasure" inflicting pain on innocent, defenseless little girls.

I wouldn't know who will be reading what I am writing here. But, if you happen to be someone who has this perverted tendency, let me tell you something. "GO GET HELP!!!"

But, if you ARE the pervert/monster/son-of-the-@$%&#, I have too many things to tell you.

Earthquake!!! Quick, Hide Under The Table!!!

I finally got myself to watch the famous, all favorite Transformers last Saturday. It's a very nice movie, though with pretty much CG in it... (CG = Computer Graphic)

My all time favorite, Optimus Prime looks very nice with the new look...

Okay, I am not here to talk or give my 2-cents worth about the movie.

I am writing here bcos one scene really intrigued me. It's at the beginning part where the Autobots were at Sam's parents' house compound. As they were so, shall I say, big or huge or bulky, they made the ground shook.

Did you see what was Sam's father's reaction..? Though it was funny at first. He ran taking cover under a table, shouting earthquake. But come to think about it, isn't this what our reaction should, or must, be when we feel tremor under our feet?

I believe that most of us, Malaysian, DO NOT know what to do when we are put in this situation. I am not saying that I know much about what to do if I am in that situation. But looking at the frequent occurrence of earthquakes around us, we should take the initiative to know and learn more.

I'll tell you what we were doing when the last earthquake that happened in March this year. What were we doing then...? Nothing, but sending sms-es asking our friends and relatives what had happened. Logging into the internet to look for the latest news update... and lots more.

Have We Not Learned From The Last Tsunami!!?

I am very sure everybody knows about the powerful earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale that jolted southern Sumatra at 7.10pm (Malaysian time) on Wednesday (12th August 2007) which occurred about 155km southwest of Bengkulu in Indonesia and the epicentre was 718km southwest of Johor Baharu in southern Peninsular Malaysia.

And soon after, a tsunami alert was issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department for the coastal areas of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak.

Then another measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Jambi province in Sumatera at 6.49am local time again and the Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Department had declared the earthquake as tsunami potential, as the epicentre was located only 24km under the seabed, 140km southwest of Sugai Penuh. These quakes are so powerful they can be felt here in Malaysia.

Though the tsunami alert has been lifted, it doesn't mean that we can go and 'wait' for the tsunami at the coastal area like that happened in Penang.

Have we not learned from the previous tsunami that hit us few years ago..!!? Have you forgotten about it totally that not even Malaysia, but India, Indonesia, Thailand were also hit?

Do you want to be part of the statistics when it really happen? I guess people just don't learn until they "see death" right in front of their eyes...

Stray Dogs Nuisance

Stray dogs. Are they an every existing nuisance or a product of our negligence?

All have, and had, been said and done about the "problem" with stray dogs in our vicinity and neighborhood.

Many claim that the strays are dirty, filthy, manged and full of whatsoever diseases.

I still remember vividly the words that most of the adults said to us, kiddos, when I was a young boy then. "Don't go near..!! They are dirty!!!" and "Don't touch them. You'll get their diseases!!!" or, "Don't go near.. They will bite you!!!" And the little boy will ask, "Mommy, where do all these (stray) dogs come from?"

Mommy will then say, "They are dirty and naughty dogs. So their mommy and daddy don't want them". They said this in order to tell their little ones if they are naughty, mommy and daddy will "throw" them out in the street also.

It is a pity that our folks said these things to little innocent kids. And the little kid will grow up afraid of or to hate dogs.

Can't we be more loving, caring and more responsible owner and not to neglect our pet, our dog? Do we have to see them being thrown out into the street? Do we have to resort to some "competition" in order to end the stray dogs' problem?

Undeniably, the prize is very attractive. Who would not be 'moved' by such a sum to start go catching. But, is this a wise move?

Do all these poor dogs have this ending?

Get Out Of My F@&%#*G Way!!!

Since my 1st post on the rudeness-on-the-road topic in February this year, I have seen many of such rudeness and arrogance by our motorists on the road.

It's just like what Haley Joel Osment had whispered "it’s everywhere"
And I personally witnessed such RUDENESS of our countryman yesterday after leaving my office.

It was about 6.40pm yesterday. Driving from Sungai Buluh towards Gombak on the MRR2. It was the usual traffic queue at the traffic junction before turning right going to Gombak. So I was faithfully waiting in the line for the traffic light to turn green and proceed with my journey.

However, there was a young couple and I really mean young (in their early 20's) in a Proton Wira came out from Taman Sri Gombak and out it forced itself into the queue right in front of me.
They were trying to force themselves into the very right lane where they can make a U-turn. However, they were stucked there, right in front of my car, as the van which was in front of me before they "squeezed in" couldn't give way as the traffic light was still red.

So now they can't move anywhere, and was stcuked between the van and the side of the MRR2 flyover bridge. Guess what they did...

The male driver actually hooted (and I mean the long & loud honk..) at the van!!! How on earth can the van driver move his vehicle in a traffic queue and the traffic light is still red?

Finally... the traffic light changed from red to green and when all the cars in the queue started moving, the young couple in the Proton Wira managed to manoeuvre its way out of the awkward position into the right lane. But they stopped beside the very van which "prevented" them to move just now and gave the driver what I call a "I Am Gonna Kill U!!!" stare.

Only after they satisfied with the 'stare' that they started to make a move, and it was then that the lady passenger 'made her move'. She put her hand out of the window and showed "the SIGN"There it goes...

Was that the only thing taught in the Moral lesson in school nowadays..!!? Does the chapter says "If you are frustrated with other drivers, show "The SIGN"

What kind of message are we sending to our children if it happened to be there with the so-well-mannered couple?

Is this what we expect our children to do when they are unhappy, frustrated, agitated, angry etc, learning from their mom and dad..!!?

I am really disappointed with our people, especially youngsters, nowadays after so much emphasis put to instill good manners and attitude amongst the people in our nation.

Mahathir fine after surgery

Mahathir fine after surgery

This is the header posted in The Star Online today, after more than five hours in the operating theater yesterday at the National Heart Institute (IJN).

Now, attention is on the post-surgery phase for Tun Dr Mahathir's recovery. We pray for his quick recovery.

Attention Now On Second Phase, Says Mukhriz

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- The attention now was on the second phase (post-surgery) for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's recovery and the family hoped it would go smoothly and safely, said his son Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

Mukhriz, the fifth child of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 81, who underwent a successful second coronary bypass surgery at the National Heart Institute here Tuesday, said the doctors gave 48 hours for Dr Mahathir to regain consciousness and get past the critical stage.

"This recovery phase is a "lifeline" for dad, because anything can happen during this time. So we need to pray harder and give special care and attention for him to pass this second test.

"The doctors said my father's situation is stable and that his heartbeat and pulse are normal. Tun (dad) can regain consciousness any time, we will keep the media informed of developments from time to time," he told reporters when met at the hospital's lobby Tuesday night.

Mukhriz, 43, also said that his mother Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali was very thankful to all Malaysians for their prayers and well wishes that this surgery would go smoothly.

He said Siti Hasmah was deeply touched by the SMS messages and e-mails of support the family received from Malaysians of all walks of life.

"She was so delighted when I showed her the SMSs and e-mails. Our family is very thankful to everyone for their concern," said Mukhriz, who is also an Umno Youth executive council member and chairman of its International Relations and Non-governmental Organisations Bureau.

He added that the doctors would not allow anyone to visit Dr Mahathir during this period as he needed a lot of rest and had to be monitored closely.

Dr Mahathir underwent his first coronary bypass operation on Jan 24, 1989 at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

-- BERNAMA

Well Wishes To Dr. M

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,81, will undergo his second coronary bypass surgery today at the National Heart Institute (IJN).

Here I pray for the for Dr. M for his quick recovery.

Dr M To Undergo Second Bypass Operation Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will undergo his second coronary bypass surgery Tuesday at the National Heart Institute (IJN), to be performed by a team headed by his former cardiac surgeon Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang.

He was admitted to the IJN yesterday for the surgery, the institute said in a statement today.

Dr Mahathir, 81, underwent a coronary bypass operation at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital on Jan 24 1989 following a heart attack.

IJN medical director Datuk Seri Dr Robaayah Zambahari is heading the panel of doctors which is attending to Dr Mahathir. No visitors are allowed except immediate family members.

Dr Mahathir, who retired in October 2003 after 22 years in office, was admitted to IJN on Aug 18 for a routine check-up and underwent comprehensive cardiac tests. He was discharged two days later.

"Solat Hajat" prayers were held at the Kampung Baru Jamek Mosque here tonight for a successful surgery Tuesday. It was also attended by a son of Dr Mahathir, Datuk Mukhriz.

Mukhriz told Bernama his father would undergo the operation at 8.30am and that he would wheeled into the operating theatre at 6.45am.

"The surgery is expected to take between four and five hours," he said.

He said several specialists from IJN and overseas briefed Dr Mahathir on the procedure and importance of the surgery, and that his father asked many questions, listened intently and agreed to undergo the operation.

Replying to a question, he said Dr Mahathir was in good health and was resting a lot as advised by the doctors.

"He has a good appetite. Sunday and Monday he asked us to buy him `kuih koci' and `apam manis' for afternoon tea," he said.

Similar prayers were held in several other mosques in the country.

On May 14, Dr Mahathir was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Langkawi Hospital after complaining of breathing difficulty before being flown the next day to Kuala Lumpur for further treatment at IJN.

Five days later, he was transferred out of IJN's Coronary Care Unit (CCU) to the Bunga Raya ward and discharged on May 24.

On Feb 11, Dr Mahathir was admitted to IJN for a day after a bout of flu.

The former prime minister was admitted to the institute for mild myocardial infarction (mild heart attack) on Nov 9 2006. A day later, he was transferred to the normal ward and discharged on Nov 14.

In 1999, Dr Mahathir was admitted to IJN to rest and undergo treatment for a lung infection which he suffered after returning from performing the haj.

-- BERNAMA

What Does Merdeka Day Mean To You?

Traveling down memory lane and pondering the Merdeka Days that I had been through these few, many years, it has been like a blink of the eyes that our country has been independent for 50 glorious years.

Malaysia has developed and advanced since its colonial period. From an agricultural state to an advanced metropolitan with the latest technology.

But. Have you asked yourselves, what does Merdeka Day mean to you?

Is it merely a day where everyone comes out of their 'hiding' and 'celebrate' and 'cheer'?









Or does it merely mean flying of the Jalur Gemilang?

(pls keep in mind that the photo are for illustration purpose only)






I still remember the Merdaka Days that I 'celebrated' while I was still in the school bench. It only means a rest day for me. No need to go to school. No homework. ...yeah!!!...
(mind you... too young to understand the meaning of independence then...)

I bet that all the youngsters nowadays do not appreciate the hardship that our leaders, past and present, have done to fight for the independence of our country. They will not understand the sacrifices of our arm force in fighting for our country.

Our country's leaders have done a good work to maintain peace among the many/multi races here in Malaysia. But yet, the people nowadays will do anything to cause racial discomfort, spreading rumours about racial clashes, disagreement, etc...


Our country has come so far. Though only merely a 50 years. However, do you wish for your children to live in a peaceful country, and see the next 50th anniversary of our country's independence?

We might not be around by then, or we might be too old to witness it. But I hope that my children will be able to witness it, and appreciate the independence of our country through the peaceful living of many different ethnic and background.

Global Warming. Do You Want This To Go On?

Reading from Reuters, that Global Warming is forecast to set after 2009.

Is this what we are gearing up for..? Are we prepared to face the consequences..? Are we not going to preserve this world of ours, so that we can have a better world to live in?

Are we so ignorant of what's the cause of the Global Warming? Let me tell you. It is all caused by us, mankind, homosapiens, and whatever you want to call it.

Global warming will step up after 2009: scientists

Thu Aug 9, 2007 2:13PM EDT

By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent

(Reuters) - Global warming is forecast to set in with a vengeance after 2009, with at least half of the five following years expected to be hotter than 1998, the warmest year on record, scientists reported on Thursday.

Climate experts have long predicted a general warming trend over the 21st century spurred by the greenhouse effect, but this new study gets more specific about what is likely to happen in the decade that started in 2005.

To make this kind of prediction, researchers at Britain's Met Office -- which deals with meteorology -- made a computer model that takes into account such natural phenomena as the El Nino pattern in the Pacific Ocean and other fluctuations in ocean circulation and heat content.

A forecast of the next decade is particularly useful, because climate could be dominated over this period by these natural changes, rather than human-caused global warming, study author Douglas Smith said by telephone.

In research published in the journal Science, Smith and his colleagues predicted that the next three or four years would show little warming despite an overall forecast that saw warming over the decade.

"There is ... particular interest in the coming decade, which represents a key planning horizon for infrastructure upgrades, insurance, energy policy and business development," Smith and his co-authors noted.

The real heat will start after 2009, they said.

Until then, the natural forces will offset the expected warming caused by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, which releases the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

"HINDCASTS" FOR THE FUTURE

"There is ... particular interest in the coming decade, which represents a key planning horizon for infrastructure upgrades, insurance, energy policy and business development," Smith and his co-authors noted.

To check their models, the scientists used a series of "hindcasts" -- forecasts that look back in time -- going back to 1982, and compared what their models predicted with what actually occurred.

Factoring in the natural variability of ocean currents and temperature fluctuations yielded an accurate picture, the researchers found. This differed from other models which mainly considered human-caused climate change.

"Over the 100-year timescale, the main change is going to come from greenhouse gases that will dominate natural variability, but in the coming 10 years the natural internal variability is comparable," Smith said.

In another climate change article in the online journal Science Express, U.S. researchers reported that soot from industry and forest fires had a dramatic impact on the Arctic climate, starting around the time of the Industrial Revolution.

Industrial pollution brought a seven-fold increase in soot -- also known as black carbon -- in Arctic snow during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, scientists at the Desert Research Institute found.

Soot, mostly from burning coal, reduces the reflectivity of snow and ice, letting Earth's surface absorb more solar energy and possibly resulting in earlier snow melts and exposure of much darker underlying soil, rock and sea ice. This in turn led to warming across much of the Arctic region.

At its height from 1906 to 1910, estimated warming from soot on Arctic snow was eight times that of the pre-industrial era, the researchers said.

Think Before You Whine

Think you are unfortunate? Think you are persecuted?

Do you whine when the air-conditioning went down on you? Do you whine when you can't find a nice blouse to wear for the night? Do you still whine...?

THINK AGAIN.

Are you as unfortunate as those who will be mentioned below?

THINK AGAIN..

I came across Susan Loone's Blog and one of the posts that attracted me is the 50 refugees.

"50 refugees" tells the stories of 50 asylum seekers, amongst others, from 3 different countries and different ethnicities and backgrounds.

This is a true story about abuse, fear, neglect, humiliation, persecution and violence that these poor souls went through.

I am totally saddened by the recount of Force Labour, Religious Persecution, and there are many more.

Refugees are human with flesh and blood too. Please help them

So The Haze Is Back!!

So The Haze Is Back...

This is read from the 1/7/2007 news. No wonder my wife told me that the area around her office is so 'cloudy' that she can't see the other buildings from her office.

Then we are told that the number of hotspots in Sumatra has almost doubled within 24 hours

According to Meteorological Services Department environmental studies director Lim Sze Fook, satellite images showed 171 hotspots in Sumatra as at 2.58pm yesterday compared to 91 at 3.05pm on Saturday.

Today, we see that the Hazy days expected to continue.

So, people. Please take good care of your health. Drink more water and don't engage in outdoor games so much (hmmm... I sound more and more like my mom ...... )