A dash from Sha’fa to Marwah and counting…
“you sure you want 6 children?” I had just asked nizam if he was still harping on about haviing a baby boy when he retorted immediately with the above question.
Okay. So he had read my friendster profile. Heh… remember, communicate with your spouse before posting anything on the internet.
We were watching tasneem crawl diagonally across our bed fighting off of sleepiness with every last ounce of energy she could muster. So this was two nights ago and one of our off days. I was on mc for the day with a sledgehammer headache, tasneem had the sniffles and nizam had quarantined himself in another room with the flu. We had agreed for tasneem to sleep in her cot at night due to many reasons but since both of us (mum and baby) were unwell, it would be easier to tend to her if we were sharing a bed.
That was, if she would finally find a spot to settle down. She was still complaining in her baby babbles and squirming while we watched her quietly in the dark. it was already 10pm and neither of us had had our dinner yet.
We had visited the doctor’s this morning as I was wondering what was really the point? All we told her was what was wrong with each of us and she just prescribed the medicine. I could have gone shopping in their dispensary.
Can we really vouch for honesty amongst our medical practitioners nowadays? Are they too, in the business arena where profit precedes all priority, and the patients’ well-being compromised? We know doctors are initially attached with government hospitals and are paid considerably less than the private sector. But once, if they wish, move to private sector, are they really honest in their profession and carry out their admirable work with the ethics it entails?
I don’t know, these are just thought. When we first started shopping around for an OGY, I read (somewhere on the internet) that the number of c-sections performed nowadays have risen to an alarming rate of 25% in the
US . I’m not sure about in
Malaysia , but coming from an office full of female officers (majority with children), I can confidently say this is a relatively similar statistic for our country. I had also noted that c-sections could not amount to more than 17% of births in any clinic or hospital. C-sections are meant to be turned to as last resorts if a normal delivery cannot be seen through.
Anyone would know that. C-sections cost considerably more than normal births. sometimes 3 times more, 4 times even 6. that’s a major consideration all together. Advising for a c-section to patient in labour could very well result in a positive response especially if the labour is prolonged. And this would definitely translate into a dollop of profit.
Then there’s the thought of government hospitals. I may be prejudiced but the number of complaints I’ve heard of their poor service etc., is pretty much a turn off by many standards. So the majority of patients for any operation settle for the privatized institutions.
Unfortunately, I fell under the c-section statistic.
pttooeeyy! it still gets to me. though i’m grateful for the safe delivery and healthy baby.
Everyday I pray I’d be able to go per normal for my next (five?) children. And pray that they would be lesser rascals than tasneem who just can’t go to sleep peacefully.
She did finally drop off into slumber at the corner of the bed, though I’m guessing the medicine for her runny nose didn’t contribute much to that effect.
The Qur’an says that there is a cure for every ailment and every region has been blessed with medicinal properties. Even more reason to pursue our biotechnology incentive as an economic driver of growth.
A major natural health concoction, many say, is zam zam water from the zam zam well in Makkah. With mum‘s recent return we have had our fair share of zam zam in tiny goblets. Even tasneem had a teaspoon, which was quite comical to watch.
I guess a little more zam zam this weekend would benefit her. After all, the blessed water sprang forth from the striking of baby Ismail’s foot upon the barren desert land while his devoted mother, Lady Hagar, ran frantically too and from for help. But remember, zam zam really is an exception. Babies below 6 months only need nourishment from breast or formula milk. Water may hinder nutrients from being absorbed into their system.
I tell aunties of the prior generation the above, and they look at me like I’m from another planet. Good grief. As much as I question the integrity of some doctors above, there are those who are very dependable - those who stretch consultation beyond the basics; explain prescriptions to their patients; provide constructive feedback on your health; provide advise that are actually verifiable and end in amiable results. These are the doctors you should seek – be them from the private sector or government hospitals.
Tasneem slept through the night, thank God. It had been a while since she had done that and it was breaking us down. Hence the headache I guess. Anyway, it’s not only for us. Her development depends on the amount of sleep she gets at night too.
Find a good doctor for your child. It was tasneem’s pediatrician who advised to eliminate night wakings. Many parents think it’s normal for children to wake at night and continue to accommodate this until the child nears his / her 1st birthday. But with proper management, nutrition, and adequate sleep during the day,
8pm-7am night sleep for babies as young as 2 months will no longer be a dream-away. And it’s best for both baby and mum. After all – how would I cope if I really wanted six?
Salaam, take care of your health
