More women giving birth after 40

When it comes to changing diapers, breastfeeding and swaddling, 40 is the new 30.

A recent national report found birth rates falling in virtually every age group of women in their childbearing years — except for those between 40 and 50. The group aged 40 to 44 had its largest birth rate since 1967.

Benefiting from improvements in reproductive technology and the fact that most Americans are living longer, more women 40 and over are choosing to have children in later life, particularly after they've accomplished career goals.

That means that as the nation celebrates Mother's Day, over-40 moms are still scheduling visits with the pediatrician while some their age have become grandmothers. Yet several local over-40 moms said they'd have it no other way; the births come when they're more settled, selfless and focused on family.

Pukul anak biar berpada

KUALA LUMPUR: Ibu bapa masih mempunyai pelbagai pilihan mendidik anak termasuk memukul, namun tindakan itu tidak boleh keterlaluan sehingga mendatangkan kecederaan dan boleh diklasifikasikan sebagai penderaan.

Peguam Kanan Persekutuan Seksyen Syariah, Jabatan Peguam Negara, Mahamad Naser Disa, berkata ibu bapa perlu bijak mendidik anak bukannya mengikut emosi dan panas baran.

Menurutnya, memukul anak secara keterlaluan dan mendatangkan kecederaan boleh mengakibatkan ibu bapa terbabit didakwa dan dikenakan tindakan undang-undang.

In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

No milk, please: The lowdown on feeding newborns cow’s milk.

MANY Malaysian mothers do not breastfeed their newborn babies. The babies are given bottled milk at birth or within a few months after birth. The bottled milk is usually derived from cow’s milk which comprises protein, fat, sugar, vitamins and minerals mixed with water. Some babies are allergic to the proteins in cow’s milk. This occurs despite the efforts of the milk manufacturers to produce bottled milk that is as close to mother’s breast milk as possible.

It is generally accepted that about 1% to 5% of infants are allergic to the proteins in cow’s milk and its various formulations.

Letter: Daughters are a parent’s assets

EVERY mother, I guess, would hope to have a daughter primarily due to the belief that daughters would take care of their parents better.

I don’t really know how true that is.

I come from a small family and have two brothers. Being the only girl, I’m the one closest to my mum and I was my Dad’s girl when he was alive. However, my elder brother is the favourite of my parents and the younger one, as usual, is treated as the bongsu (youngest child).

My brothers and I are now in our 50s and have our own families. My elder brother migrated to the West with my mum after my father passed away. I migrated to Malaysia because of marriage and my younger brother stayed back in our home country.

At first, it was difficult for my mother to overcome her longing for her children because we couldn’t all be together to see her regularly due to financial constraints. I communicate with her through letters and phone calls. I had the opportunity to visit her in 1997 (after eight years) and then again in 2008. She managed to be reunited with my younger brother after 15 years.

Surah pilihan untuk wanita mengandung: Maryam

Bayi tercekik bebola ikan

TAMPIN: Seorang bayi lelaki berusia sembilan bulan maut dipercayai akibat tercekik bebola ikan di sebuah taman asuhan kanak-kanak (taska) di Jalan Cantik di sini, pagi semalam.

Dalam kejadian kira-kira jam 9 pagi, mangsa, Wan Nur Alif Wan Arif Fadhla terpaksa dikejarkan ke Hospital Tampin kira-kira 50 meter dari taska itu untuk mendapatkan rawatan. Bagaimanapun, dia disahkan meninggal dunia sejurus tiba.