Motherhood Roadmap (SG Edition): Detailed Guide By Months

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When I was searching for information online in desperation in the middle of the night, I kept wondering why wasn’t there a detailed guide or roadmap to motherhood for first time mothers like myself? Since I couldn’t find any, I decided to record down my personal account (and hopefully add on more diverse POVs along the way) to help fellow Singaporean mothers out there who may be struggling too.

While I understand that the roadmap to motherhood may look different for every mother, here’s a detailed account of mine that you may use as reference to kick off your own planning for the months ahead.

Think of this roadmap as the central guide to bookmark, linking out to many more motherhood related resources, because I cannot possibly cover everything within ONE article. This article will be constantly updated with new links and resources as I write more about the various milestones.

Read on to learn more!

Before Birth – Preparation For The Baby

There’s so much to do yet so little you know at this stage. Here are some guides that I hope will make your preparation journey a little less stressful, and a little more enjoyable (as it should be!).

Newborn Essentials (If you haven’t already gotten them)

• Newborn Checklist: An SG Mum’s Go-To Guide – Feeling overwhelmed by all the things you need to get before the baby arrives? Let me help you go through category by category – essentials only.
• Newborn Baby Clothes Essentials: Recommended By SG Mummy – Don’t know what clothes you need for your little one? Let me break it down for you in detail.
• Bamboo Baby Clothes Brands in Singapore: Review By SG Mum – Between cotton and bamboo, I’ll choose bamboo every time for my little one!
• How to Get Free Diaper Samples in Singapore? – Here’s a comprehensive list of diaper brands in Singapore. Try out the various brands for free or cheap to see what works for your baby’s butt!

Birth Preparation

• Why I Said NO to Cord Blood Banking (and What I Did Instead) – My personal choice for consideration if you are still on the fence.
• Pilates for Mummies: Prenatal & Postnatal Pilates in Singapore – Getting your body ready for birth! It did wonders for my backaches during pregnancy for sure.
• My Gestational Diabetes Diet in Singapore – Suffering from GD? Here’s what I did to get through those painful 3 months (Daily diet included for reference!)
• Crafting A Birth Plan in Singapore (Template Included) – A birth plan is a great way to communicate your preferences and wishes to your healthcare team. Here’s a step by step guide on how to do so.
• The Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist For FTM (TMC Edition) – EDD arriving? Here’s a comprehensive hospital bag checklist to ensure you have everything you need for the big day
• Planned C-Section Birth At Thomson Medical With Cost Breakdown – My personal experience of a C-section birth for mummies who might be considering one.

Other Preparation

• House Rules for Domestic Helper in Singapore By SG Mummy – Hiring a helper to help with the baby? Make sure you set expectations right from the start for a good working relationship!

Motherhood in The Initial Weeks – Postpartum Recovery & A Steep Learning Curve

I will not sugar coat anything here because I don’t believe it will help. The initial weeks of motherhood (or parenthood) will be some of the toughest days of your life. From recuperating from the pain of delivery (whichever the method), to sleep deprivation from caring for your newborn. BUT I also want to assure you that this tough time will pass. I have emerged from those days a stronger mother, as many before me and many after will!

Want to get prepared for the steep learning curve ahead? Here are some of the key resources I believe will be helpful in the various areas.

Postpartum Recovery

• Postpartum Recovery Struggles That No One Talks About – Get an unfiltered account of what to expect in the initial weeks of recuperation as well as tips to deal with them.
• Caesarean C Section Recovery Tips: What Helped & What Didn’t
• Postpartum Self-Care: A Guide To Setting Boundaries With Family – Trust me, you cannot rest and recuperate if people are constantly up in your face and space.
• Confinement Nanny Duties – Need to know what your confinement nanny should be helping you out with during your postpartum period? I listed out everything my nanny helped me out with!
• Postpartum Checklist For Husbands – Send this to your husband so he is aware of the many ways he can step up in the household to help you out!
• Open Letter to The Father of My Child – Want to let your husband know how you feel during the postpartum period? Consider penning a letter like this to help them understand and support you better.
• Postpartum Depression Support (SG Based Resources) – Feeling unlike your normal self? Need to speak to someone? Here’s a list of resources that might be helpful.
• Postpartum Body Massages (natural birth) – Work in Progress

Breastfeeding (Optional)

Only relevant if you opt for breastfeeding route.

• Breastfeeding Help & Resources in Singapore – Need help in anything breastfeeding related? Here’s a compilation of lactation consultants to lactation masseurs who can help you out!
• Breastfeeding Checklist 101 – Everything I used in my breastfeeding journey from the great to the not so useful.
• Breastfeeding Supplements I Eat While Pumping – Make sure to care for your body while you breastfeed
• Strategies to Increase Breast Milk Supply – Effective strategies which worked for me in the initial months to help ramp up my milk supply.
• I Tried Out 7 Nursing Bras For Breastfeeding So You Don’t Have To – My honest review of the many nursing bras I tried out to let you know which sucked and which didn’t.

Newborn Care & Others

• Register Baby Name Within 42 days from Birth – Here’s the official website to go to!
• What to Look Out For When Applying for Hospitalization Plan? – Work in Progress
• Infant Diaper Bag Checklist – Bringing baby out to the PD or just out for a visit? Here’s some of the essentials you’ll need to bring along.
• Beblum Lavo 5 Baby Cot Review – Looking for a baby cot? Here’s my personal recommendation.
• What to Do on Your First Visit to the Paediatrician? – Work in Progress
• Newborn Care 101: Guide to Feeding, Sleeping, Diaper Changes & More – Work in Progress
• How to Set Up A Baby Diaper Changing Station? – A Step By Step Guide + Essentials You’ll Need!
• Baby’s First Photoshoot – Looking for a newborn photographer to capture baby’s precious moments as a wee lil baby? Here’s a list of trusted baby whisperers to help you achieve that!
• Newborn Photoshoot Prep: Insider Tips By Pro Photographers ’24 – Need some tips for preparing for your newborn photoshoot? Read on!
• Shaving Baby’s Head For The First Time: What was the Experience like? – Work in Progress
• Baby Toys SG: Review Of Infant Toys I Bought from 0-6 Months – Things to consider before you buy toys, and my personal recommendations of what worked best for my girl at each month milestone.
• FTM to Pro Mum: Crash Course in SG Mummy Acronyms – Confused about all the parenting acronyms in your mummy groups? Read this for a quick download!

Motherhood in the 2nd- 3rd Months – Continued Postpartum Recovery & Establishing Routines

Feeling tired? It’s perfectly normal in motherhood – you have just had a ton of responsibilities thrust upon you as a new parent responsible for a very vulnerable and needy little being. Just wanted to give you some encouragement that some semblance of normalcy will be returning soon. The key to that is routine – the critical theme of this few months.

Continued Postpartum Recovery

• Pilates for Mummies: Prenatal & Postnatal Pilates in Singapore – Got the green light from your gynae to start exercises? Here’s one that is great for getting your body back in form.
• Postpartum Checkups – Work in Progress
• Postpartum exercises- Work in Progress
• Body shapers or binders that help with mum tum – Work in Progress
• Postpartum body massages (c-section birth) – Work in Progress

Newborn Care & Routines

• Baby Sleep Essentials & Tips That Helped My 4 Month Old STTN – Start creating a good sleep routine so you can get your much-needed sleep back.
• 3 Must Have Apps for Parents – From online PD consultations, daily tracking of feeding/naps/diaper changes to transition to solids, these are 3 apps that I rely on all the time!
• My FREE Doctor Anywhere Baby Vaccinations Journey (Review) – I got my baby’s 2nd month vaccinations and onwards in the comfort of my home, and so can you!
• Hands Off, Please: 10 Tactful Ways to Say ‘Don’t Touch My Baby – Very useful if you are starting to bring baby out
• Essentials For Baby’s Health – 3 Products I used to keep baby safe for 8 months and counting
• Guide to A Fuss Free Baby’s 100th Day Celebration – All the things to consider when planning your baby’s first celebration with cost breakdown. And also why I skipped the full month celebration!
• Applying for Baby’s Passport – Here’s the official website to apply. We took baby’s photo with our handphone against a white wall and got it approved within a week!
• Baby Carriers I Own: Konny Vs Ergobaby Vs Minimonkey [Review] – Starting to plan trips out and looking for a baby carrier? I provide an honest comparison of 3 popular ones I used.
• How to Track Baby Daily Routine? – Work in Progress

Motherhood in the 4th- 6th Months – Developmental Milestones Galore & Back To The Workforce

After the steep learning curve that was the 4th trimester (first 3 months), you are likely getting into the groove of your routines and hence coping better at home. This was at least the case for me (a part time WFH mum). But for working mothers, there might be another challenge ahead- heading back into the workforce post maternity leave.

I personally also really enjoyed this period, because I found my baby so much more interactive during this age. There were so many growth spurts where so many new skills were acquired – from rolling over, semblance of crawling, sitting up, grabbing things and more. It felt like she was levelling up every day and becoming so much more fun to engage and play with.

Also, at around the 6th month mark, I started to introduce solid foods when her neck was strong enough and she was able to sit up well. So much fun (but also stress) when it comes to introducing baby to a world of new food!

Hoping that you’ll enjoy this phase as much as I did!

Developmental Milestones Galore

• My FREE Doctor Anywhere Baby Vaccinations Journey (Review) – I got my baby’s 4th & 6th month vaccinations done in the comfort of my home, and so can you!
• Baby Toys SG: Review Of Infant Toys I Bought from 0-6 Months – Things to consider before you buy toys, and my personal recommendations of what worked best for my girl at each month milestone.
• Best Teether Sg: My Baby’s Favourite 7 Teething Toys – I go through the pros and cons of the different types of teethers and when best to introduce them.
• A Day in the Life of a 6 Month Old Infant – Need a reference to build off your day to day schedule? Or not sure what to do with your kid? Here’s a sample schedule to refer to!
• Guide to Introducing Solids (Baby Led Weaning & Traditional Weaning) – Everything you need to kickstart the process. From what you need to buy, to a food tracker to keep track of what you’ve introduced!
• Infant Diaper Bag Checklist – Bringing baby out more these days? Don’t forget to bring these essential items!
• The Complete Travel Packing List (For Short Getaways) – Bringing baby on your first trip? Here’s everything you’ll need for a short weekend getaway!
• BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light Review – Looking for a trusty travel crib? Here’s my personal recommendation!
• Keenz Air Plus 2.0 Review: Budget Travel Stroller w Huge Basket! – Looking for an affordable travel stroller? Here’s my choice!
• Resources for Introducing Solids (Websites / Apps That I use) – Work in Progress
• Resources for Tracking Developmental Milestones (Websites / Apps That I use) – Work in Progress

Heading Back To The Workforce

Work in progress – Will reach out to working mothers to learn more about the concerns in this area! If you are keen to contribute, please reach out and let me know too!

• How to Search For Infantcare? – Work in Progress
• Applying for infantcare?- Work in Progress
• Infantcare Subsidies?- Work in Progress

Motherhood in the 7th- 12th Months – Even More Developmental Milestones

You are now an experienced mother compared to the you almost half a year ago. Give yourself a pat on the back. Everything is now more under control at home with better established routines and time back in the workforce.

Now is the time to enjoy the even more rapid rate of development that is happening in your baby like crawling, standing, and for some even walking! What this also means, is time to baby proof the house, and introduce more toys or activities for baby to learn better?

For some who are looking to introduce baby to playgroup when they are at 18 months, this could also mean time to start the search for an Early Years Centre?

More Developmental Milestones

• 8 Month Old Baby Sample Daily Schedule (Feeding, Naps & Play) – Here’s my lil girl’s routine at 8 months for your reference if you need one.
• The Essential Baby Proofing Checklist for Singaporean Parents – It’s around the time your little one is starting to climb, walk, and grab at any and everything. Here’s what you can do to baby proof your home.
• Questions to Ask on a Preschool Tour: Guide for New Parents (SG) – For parents looking for an IFC or preschool, I’ve all the important questions you need to ask on your school tour!
• Baby’s First Dentist Visit: When to Go and What to Expect – Baby spouting their first tooth? It’s about time to head for your first dental visit soon!
• Guide To Choosing the Best Full Cream Milk for Toddlers Singapore – At 1 year old, it’s about time to wean off formula milk in favour of full cream milk! Here’s a guide on how you can choose the best!
• Daily Schedule for 1 Year Old Toddler (Feeding, Naps & Play) – Here’s my lil girl’s routine at 12-13 months for your reference if you need one.
• Fun recipes for Baby – Work in Progress
• My Baby’s First Library – Work in Progress
• Places to Bring Baby for Educational Fun – Work in Progress
• My Search For Baby’s Playgroup – Work in Progress

Find this article useful? Do help share this article with your fellow mummy and daddy friends and spread the love! It’s not easy putting all this information together and I do hope for more to benefit from it!