Be a Super Mum

Everything Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:53:00 +0100

Loving Yourself

We've been brought up believing that we must behave in certain ways heavily influenced by our families, culture, religion, etc. It is very important that we must learn to love who we are and accept what we love.

It is healthy to accept our sexual desires. Having sexual feelings are natural and we should embrace these feelings.

A friend of mine had recommended the following test for me and my partner to do. Why not have a go to get a better understanding about yourself as well as your other half. My friends and I had quite an interesting discussions comparing our test results.

http://bdsmtest.org/r/A3m38Ly2

Here's mine and my partner's. We have a fantastic love life and our test results were inline with our compatibility.

Alternatively, for some bedtime light readings. You can always read up on other intimacy challenges and quiz before/after trying the online ones.

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Everything Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:30:00 +0100

Spice up your marriage / relationship

Where some are more than happy to talk about sex toys with their friends and partner, others still view them as a taboo subject. A new relationship usually begins with plenty of lust and passion. Moving on to a stable relationship from the honeymoon period does not mean boring or repetitive. Keeping an open mind between the sheets and be honest with your partner could really keep your sparks going.

How about experiencing with sex toys to keep bedroom activities interesting?

If your sex life has come to feel monotonous, sex toys can help you conjure more intense versions of sensations you already enjoy, and help yourself feel more closely connected to your partner Sex toys can enhance the intimacy between two people and it's a good way to maintain a level of sexual intimacy with each other.

Clitoralal stimulation is the key to an amazing orgasm. Why not try this as part of your foreplay to steam up your bedroom?

https://amzn.to/3CKO7XA

This model comes with loads of positive reviews from users and it's a great one to begin with if you are new to it all.

Fertility & Maternity Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:07:00 GMT

Chestnut puree / Mount Blanc Dessert

Chestnut puree truffle

Chestnuts are packed with protein, fat, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and vitamins that are essential during pregnancy. These nutrients help to regulate blood flow as well as promoting better bones and reduce fatigue during pregnancy.

Chestnut puree is very easy to make from fresh chestnuts. They can be frozen after being picked in Autumn for use over winter.

Ingredient

500g chestnuts (peeled)
50-80ml full-fat milk
pinch of salt

Method

Boil peeled chestnuts in hot water in a saucepan.
Reduce heat to medium-low and cook till soft.
Drain chestnuts and let them cool.
Mash chestnuts with milk (quantity according to the texture you prefer, the more the lighter the puree).
Pipe over the tart/biscuit base for Mount Blanc dessert, to make chestnut puree truffle, or fresh cream sponge cake.

A cake I made with fresh cream and chestnut puree.

If foraging, pureeing, and baking all seemed a bit too much for you. Why not include chestnuts as snacks as part of your healthy diet?

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Raising Children

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:34:00 GMT

Sweet Chestnuts foraging

Sweet chestnuts with prickly cases and tails

October is the perfect time to forage for sweet chestnut in your local woods. They are tasty for savory or sweet dishes and highly nutritious for growing children.

Collecting Sweet Chestnuts

Conkers are mildly poisonous, therefore the last thing we want is to get horse chestnuts and sweet chestnuts mixed up. You tend to find fallen horse chestnuts starting in August through September, whilst chestnuts usually start falling towards the end of September. The key to identifying their difference is to look at their cases. Sweet chestnuts look green sea urchin while on the tree and usually turn brown by the time they fall. They are prickly and sharp to touch and always have a tail at the end of each nut.

Horse chestnuts with thorny cases and no tails.

Conkers have only short thorny cases, they are usually quite large and with no tails. It's not difficult to differentiate between the two when you know what to look for.

It really is a fun day out in autumn and the kids get to understand where food comes from. I normally grab a load of them and freeze them for use throughout winter. I will be sharing some recipes using my own foraged chestnuts too.

Everything Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Wed, 9 Sep 2020 13:56:00 +0100

Acupuncture for Fertility

Speaking from personal experience, acupuncture worked wonders for me. In my early thirties when we were trying to get pregnant for our first child, it just didn't happen for the first year. According to the clinical definition: Infertility is "a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse"...(WHO-ICMART glossary1).

As having a few children has basically been my life-long dream since I was a child, I went to an acupuncturist specializes in treating infertility in Hong Kong, as I was living there at that time. Before making an appointment to see her, I had already heard numerous success stories from my friends and family. I went with my then-husband and we received a 7-day acupuncture treatment as well as taking herbal medicines every day during that week. By the end of the treatments, the acupuncturist worked out my fertile dates and told us to "work hard" during those three days. We did exactly what we were told and I fell pregnant for my first child that month.

I was very lucky the treatment worked for me after just one attempt. My cousin and her husband who were in their early forties after trying for over a decade went to see her, she too fell pregnant after receiving treatments for just over three months. I was particularly inspired by her case as her husband is a family doctor and her father-in-law was a gynecologist before he retired. A family with such strong western medical background opted for a natural less invasive fertility treatment was truly inspiring for many eager parents to be.

How does acupuncture for fertility work?

According to The Guardian's news pages in 2008, "Acupuncture can increase the chances of getting pregnant for women undergoing fertility treatment by 65%." Its history dating back 5,000 years in Chinese medicine. By applying needles to fertility pressure points, acupuncture regulates the flow of energy in the body and brings it back into balance.

Acupuncture treatments help to increase blood flow to the uterus, regulate reproductive hormones, and reduce inflammation to increase the chances of conceiving. After conceiving, further treatments will be required to stabilize the pregnancy.

Acupuncture involves placing thin needles into the fertility pressure points of the body. You can hardly feel the needles when applying correctly and it's a completely relaxing process.

Fertility & Maternity Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Tue, 8 Sep 2020 23:26:00 +0100

Ginger

Ginger originated from the southern part of ancient China, it gradually spread to India and the rest of Asia. Ginger was discovered in Europe around the first century when the Romans traded with India.

Health Benefits of Ginger

The main bioactive compound in ginger is called Gingerol, it is a powerful anti-inflammation agent in the body. Conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis which greatly affect fertility, are related to inflammation and can be helped by consuming ginger. Consuming ginger regularly can help reduce inflammation and increase the chances of conception. It is also effective in reducing nausea during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.

How to include Ginger in our diet?

1. Fresh Ginger

You can include fresh ginger in tea with honey; grated in soup; cooked with fish to neutralize any unpleasant fish, or add a few slices in stir-fried vegetables to bring out the aroma of your dish.

2. Dried Ginger Powder

If the taste of hot spice in ginger isn't your cup of tea, try including couple tablespoons of ginger powder in a fruit smoothie. The heat will hardly be noticeable in smoothies but all the benefits remain. You can buy ginger powder online or from any health food shop.

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3. Ginger tablets

If eating fresh ginger nor dried ginger powder isn't for you, then you can always take it in tablets form which is widely available from health shops too.

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Everything Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Tue, 8 Sep 2020 22:23:00 +0100

Vitamins for Good Sexual Health

Vitamin C

Most of us take vitamin C supplements for preventing the common cold, flu, or Covid-19 if we are lucky. The good thing is, vitamin C can also boost our sexual health as it helps improve blood flow and promote erectile function. Since vitamin C can't be stored in the body, we should eat enough vitamin c rich food on a daily basis.

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Vitamin C rich foods include:

1. Guavas

Vitamin C per 100g

(228mg (254% DV))

Guavas powder is an easy way to supplement it in our diet.

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2. Bell Pepper

Vitamin C per 100g

(128mg (142% DV))

3. Kiwifruit

Vitamin C per 100g

(93mg (103% DV))

4. Strawberries

Vitamin C per 100g

(59mg (65% DV))

Why not switch to a healthier snacks from crisps and sweets?

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5. Oranges

Vitamin C per 100G

(53mg (59% DV))

6. Papayas

Vitamin C per 100g

(61mg (68% DV))

Dried Papaya is one of my favourite snacks.

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7. Broccoli

Vitamin C per 100g

(89mg (99% DV))

8. Tomatoes

Vitamin C per 100 g

(23mg (25% DV))

9. Snow/Mangetout peas

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Try grow your own snow peas at home. It is such a rewarding and satisfying midsummer treat.

Vitamin C per 100g

(60mg (67% DV))

10. Kale

Vitamin C per 100g

(18mg (20% DV))

Raising Children with Fun and Love

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 15:09:00 +0100

Seafood foraging

Playing with iphones and ipads just aren't the way I want to raise my children. Going to the seaside during summer to forage for food is a great way to get your children out of the comfort zone of their home.

Southend-on-sea

Great opportunity for children to learn where food come from.

We visit Southend-on-sea whenever the weather is nice enough. Remember to check the tidal times beforehand,. https://www.tidetimes.org.uk/southend-on-sea-tide-times. Plan your trip so you can visit the beach during low tides and collect oysters, mussels, winkles, cockles, even crabs if you look under the rocks.

This end of the coastlines has gigantic oysters.

Oyster bigger than my palm.

Oyster as big as my palm.

I like eating oysters raw and fresh from the sea, medium size oysters are actually tastier if eaten raw. The big ones are also delicious if cooked over a good old barbecue.

Just opened.

Creamy inside during summer.

If you are not a big fan in raw seafood or shucking oysters, cooking them will allow them to pop open on their own.

Cooking on my DIY barbecue.

cooked meat over barbecue

You can also collect crabs, mussels and winkles at the other end of the coastline of Southend-on-sea closer to Chalkwell Beach.

mussels, cockles and clams

crabs if you look under the rocks

Fertility & Maternity Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 21:56:00 +0100

Blackberry Muffin

You can find blackberries throughout England from June to October, blackberries have been
foraged and eaten by British since the beginning of time. Blackberries are filled with vitamin C, beta carotene, potassium, folic acid and antioxidants, all are vital for baby's healthy skin cells and immune system.

Ingredients

400g fresh blackberries (washed and drained)

Blackberries collected from backyard.
100g caster sugar
100g melted butter
300g self raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 large eggs
150ml milk
brown sugar (for sprinkling)
nutmeg (for sprinkling)

Instructions

Add mixture with blackberries

Pre-heat oven to 160C or 325F.
Pour milk and butter in a measuring cup and place in microwave for 30 second or heat gently to melt butter.
Whisk gently till butter liquidized, then add the eggs and whisk gently again to mix up the eggs. Then, set aside.
Mix all the rest of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. (make sure all ingredients are sifted)
Pour No.3 in the mixing bowl while whisking.
Whisk through the batter mixture till it is smooth.
Half filled each baking cups and add 3-4 blackberries before filling the cups again.
Place a few more blackberries on top.
Sprinkle brown sugar and nutmeg on top before baking.
Bake for 10-15 minutes or till golden.

Fertility & Maternity Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 12:11:00 GMT

Poached Apples with Red Wine

Drink this fertility boosting natural remedy in the morning for that extra boost.

Ingredients

1 apple
half fresh lily bulb
1 lime
300 ml red wine
1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon brown sugar

Instructions

Slice lime and soak in cool water.
Wash, peel and slice fresh lily bulb.
Cored, peel and cut apple into eight slices.
Add apple slices to lime water.
Heat red wine in pot gently on low.
Add Cinnamon and sugar to wine.
Bring wine to boil then add apple and lily bulb slices.
Boil on medium heat for 15 minutes.
Turn off heat and let it brew for two hours before serving.

Everything Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 04:19:00 +0100

Acupressure to boost sexual pleasure (Geshu)

Benefits

Massaging the Geshu point promotes blood circulation and increases pleasure during intercourse.

Location

Geshu is located on the back between the shoulder blade and the spine, one on each side. It is below the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra.

Instructions

Begin massage by applying pressure on geshu point or in pairs with circular clockwise motions for a minute. Then repeat counter clockwise for a minute.
Gradually increase massage duration as you get more comfortable with it. The longer you endure, the better the result.

Here is more for you to read up

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Fertility & Maternity Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 03:31:00 +0100

Deep Fried Green Peas

Ingredients

400g Fresh green peas
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons corn flour
2 tablespoons chilli (chopped)
1 tablespoon fresh ginger (crushed)
1 tablespoon garlic (crushed)
2 tablespoons spring onion (chopped)
1 cup chicken / vegetable broth
salt (seasoning)
soy sauce (seasoning)

Instructions

Deep fried fresh green peas in hot oil for 3-5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Heat pan with oil, add chilli, ginger, garlic, sugar, salt, soy sauce and vinegar.
Mix corn flour in small amount of water and add to pan.
Cook mixture for 2 minutes.
Turn off heat and add spring onions.
Mix everything together with deep fried peas in a bowl and serve.

Everything Postnatal

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Thu, 7 Aug 2014 11:01:00 +0100

Afterpains

Just as you thought you have said goodbye to the unforgettable memory of childbirth. The pain of contractions silently creeps back to you especially while you are nursing. What you are experiencing are afterpains, which helps your uterus shrinks back to its normal size after child bearing.

You can probably feel the afterpains more intensely if it is your subsequent pregnancy since your uterine muscles are more likely to be lacking in tone due to stretching from previous births. Painkillers can be taken if prescribed by your practitioner.

Everything Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Wed, 6 Aug 2014 04:52:00 +0100

Acupressure to boost libido (Kaku)

Benefits

Massaging the Kaku point promotes blood circulation and boosts libido.

Location

Kaku is located between the shoulder blade and the spine, on each side.

Instructions

Begin massage by applying pressure on kaku point or in pairs with circular clockwise motions for a minute. Then repeat counterclockwise for a minute.
Gradually increase massage duration as you get more comfortable with it. The longer you endure, the better the result.

Fertility & Maternity Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Tue, 5 Aug 2014 09:38:00 +0100

Spicy Salt Prawns

Ingredients

500g prawns
50g diced pumpkin (optional)
20g green peas (optional)
6 sprigs fresh coriander
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon chilli oil
1 tablespoon white wine

Instructions

Clean prawns and bathe in 90°C water.
Add salt and wine to the water.
To remove the heads, simply twist the head to remove it.
Then, remove the shell then cut out the veins.
Bathe cleaned prawns in cold water. Drain and set aside.
Cook diced pumpkin and peas in boiling water. Cool and mix with prawns.
Heat pan with oil on medium heat.
Add chopped coriander and 2-3 tablespoons water. Cool and sprinkle over prawns.
Sprinkle salt and chilli oil over prawns and serve.

Everything Postnatal

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Tue, 5 Aug 2014 06:40:00 +0100

Weakened Pelvic Floor

After all the pushing, squeezing and tearing during childbirth, our pelvic floor muscles became weakened. There are several exercises you should practice daily to strengthen your muscles.

Kegel Exercises

Practice kegel exercise in combination with one of the following positions, e.g. cross-legged position, Child's pose or lying on your back.

To begin, firmly tense the muscles around your vagina and anus. As if you are trying to stop the flow of urine midstream while peeing on the toilet. Tense for 5 seconds and relax for 5 seconds. Repeat each set at least 10 times at a time. Practice as many times as you can daily for optimal results.

Everything Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Tue, 5 Aug 2014 03:02:00 +0100

Acupressure to promote sexual health (Shenyang)

Benefits

Massaging the Shenyang points promotes health for the digestion system and boosts the metabolism. These factors are both important for good sexual health.

Location

Shenyang is located on the side of your thumb. It is about 2mm away from the outer side of your finger nail.

Instructions

Begin massage by applying pressure on shenyang point with circular clockwise motions for a minute. Then repeat counterclockwise for a minute.
Gradually increase massage duration as you get more comfortable with it. The longer you endure, the better the result.

Fertility & Maternity Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 20:36:00 +0100

Chicken and Avocado Melt

Ingredients

80g cooked chicken
1/2 avocado
30g cheddar cheese
1-2 slices of wholemeal bread

Instructions

Shred or strip chicken evenly on top of slice bread.
Add stripped avocado on top with cheddar cheese.
Heat under grill till cheese melted.

Fertility & Prenatal Exercises

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 20:19:00 +0100

Waist Twists

Benefits

tones waist muscles flexibility
stretches shoulders
stretches neck muscles

Instructions

Stand up straight with feet at shoulder length apart, knees may be slightly bend if you feel more comfortable.
Raise both arms to shoulder height to the left side.
Turn your head to the right side and focus on an object directly on your right.
Stay in position for a minute and breath steadily.
Slowly turn both arms to the right and repeat steps 2-4 for the other side.

Everything Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 19:48:00 +0100

Acupressure to boost male sexual health (Shenshu)

Benefits

Massaging the Shenshu points eases symptoms of reproductive problem, boost energy level and potency. Regular massages can improve premature ejaculation.

Location

Shenshu is located on the waistline of the back at the second lumbar vertebrae, about 1.5 inches away from the spine on each side.

Instructions

Begin massage by applying pressure on shenshu point or in pairs with circular clockwise motions for a minute. Then repeat counterclockwise for a minute.
Gradually increase massage duration as you get more comfortable with it. The longer you endure, the better the result.

Fertility & Maternity Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Tue, 1 Jul 2014 11:20:00 +0100

Lemon and Garlic Green Beans

Ingredients

800g fresh green beans.
2-3 tablespoon olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic (crushed and chopped)
1 lemon zest
salt and pepper (seasoning)

Instructions

Blanch green beans in boiling water with a tablespoon of olive oil for about 2 minutes.
Drain and rinse in ice water. Set aside.
Heat pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil on medium heat.
Add garlic and saute for less than a minute.
Add beans and saute for 5 minutes.
Finish off with lemon zest and seasoning.
Stir well and serve.

Fertility & Prenatal Exercises

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Tue, 1 Jul 2014 09:35:00 +0100

Bound Angle Pose (Baddha konasana)

Benefits

heats up the groin area
opens up hip
stimulates reproductive organs
massages bladder and kidneys
promotes blood circulation in lower body
improves fertility
soothes PMS and sciatica

Instructions

Sit on a mat and bring the soles of your feet together.
Grab your ankles with your hands.
Elongate your spine and straighten up your back.
Inhale. On exhalation, gently hinge forward at hips. Lean as far as you can.
Allow knees to relax and never force them down.
Stay in position for 1 to 5 minutes.
Slowly raise your torso to return to sitting position.

Everything Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 20:23:00 +0100

Acupressure to boost potency (Ba Liao)

Benefits

Massaging the Ba Liao points increases male sexual potency, ease symptoms of reproductive problems as well as relieves sacral and lower-back pain.

Location

Ba Liao is a group of acupressure points located at the base of the spine directly above the tall bone.

Instructions

Begin massage by applying pressure on each Ba Liao point or in pairs with circular clockwise motions for a minute. Then repeat counterclockwise for a minute.
Gradually increase massage duration as you get more comfortable with it. The longer you endure, the better the result.

Fertility & Maternity Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 18:15:00 +0100

Goji Berries & Chrysanthemum Jelly

Ingredients

5 small Chrysanthemum flowers
2-3 tablespoons dried Goji berries (soaked in water)
2-3 tablespoons sugar
20g gelatine
250ml hot water
250ml cold water

Instructions

Soak dried Goji berries in hot water till soften. Drain and set aside.
Brew Chrysanthemum flowers in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Drain and save the tea.
Boil Chrysanthemum tea in a pot, add gelatine and stir in sugar.
Turn off heat. Add 250ml of cold water.
Add Goji berries and Chrysanthemum flowers.
Pour into jelly cups and put in fridge to set.

Fertility & Prenatal Exercises

noreply@blogger.com (Be a super mum) — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 17:24:00 +0100

Seated Forward Bend Pose (Paschimottanasana)

Benefits

boost fertility by massages and stimulates ovaries and uterus
stimulates liver and kidneys function to boost fertility in male and female
relieves PMS symptoms
improves reproductive health by massaging reproductive organs
improves digestion system
stretches hamstrings and lower back

Instructions

Seat on a mat with legs stretch straight in front of you.
Elongate your spine and sit up straight.
Inhale. Raise your arms with fingers pointing to the ceiling.
Bend your torso forward to reach your feet with your hands.
You may use a towel to extend your reach if necessary.
Exhale. Elongate your spine and lean forward from your hip joints, not from your waist.
Stay in position for at least 1 minutes to 5 minutes if possible.
Continue to push your belly towards your thighs during each exhalation.
Return to sitting position and relax.