Showing posts with label Babies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Babies. Show all posts
Monday, August 13, 2012
Reasons for not having children in Singapore
1. I am not able to commit 100% of my life to the kids.
If you can’t spend time with your children then please do them a favour and not have any. I have seen people have kids just for the sake of having kids. They don’t spend time with them. Don’t educate them. Don’t play with them. They just dumped them to the maid and this is very wrong.
The kids will just ends up as social pests and make other Singaporean life like shits.
2. Singapore is an expensive place and not pro-family.
Imagine the cost of houses, public transports, education. We need to have 2 working parents to support a family in Singapore these days. Not to mention a high stress working environment, long working hours, MOM rule don’t even protect graduate mothers which were forced to leave the companies when they are pregnant.
We are constantly competing with cheap foreign workers and the government only give lips service or “baby bonus” without solving the root cause. Singapore needs a pro family society.
3. Education in Singapore is ridiculous.
I remember the time where I actually enjoy going to school. We study and play. Nowadays the kids have no time to play.
Parents are crazy, kiasu and mad. They start to educate the kids while they are still in the womb! Then send them for pre-school at 1 year old! Holy shit! The kids’ childhood are being robbed even before they are born.
Besides going to “branded” school, you are seen as a failure if your grad is no good. Therefore parents are spending billions on tuitions every year. Where are the funs of learning? It’s all competition these days. No wonder tuitions centres are earning big bucks these days. They prey on the parent’s kiasuism
Friday, September 12, 2008
Desperate means to get more babies.
Too young to have babies? Think again?
Today Online Friday • September 12, 2008
THE question seemed out of place in a lecture theatre of over 100 young university students: “Are you at risk of childlessness?”
Yet, as obstetrician-gynaecologist Teoh Seng Hin went on to point out, eight to 15 per cent of couples will experience fertility problems at some point in their lives, and couples who have sex during their fertile periods stand only a 30 per cent chance of conceiving.
“When people use contraception, the underlying assumption is that they are fertile,” he said.
But while female age is the overwhelming factor in sub-fertility, men’s age is “grossly overlooked”, said Dr Teoh, who was speaking yesterday at a sexual health awareness talk at the Nanyang Technological University organised by the Singapore Planned Parenthood Association, Bayer Schering Pharma and the university.
From the time men are in their late 20s, the chances of their contributing to a successful pregnancy fall by 11 per cent each year.
The chances of a successful live birth also dip, while the likelihood of passing on genetic abnormalities increase, warned Dr Teoh. Dr Teoh — who also has a Master’s degree in men’s health and andrology — said he was sharing his experience with the students so that they can be forewarned about the problems that may emerge later in their lives.
“If you see enough patients, you’ll find that a lot of them miscarry,” he said.
“Many problems can’t be reversedbecause of age,” he added.
Another fertility doctor, Prof Christopher Chen, told Today that none of the men in the couples who consulted him in the last five years has passed the “sperm test”.
“I have couples who come to see me to ask if they are all right making babies in two to three years’ time.
I tell them, ‘You don’t have to worry about contraception or abstaining because your sperm is poor anyway.’
“Within their means, couples should try not to delay too long,” advised Prof Chen, who runs a private practice at Gleneagles Hospital.
Today Online Friday • September 12, 2008
THE question seemed out of place in a lecture theatre of over 100 young university students: “Are you at risk of childlessness?”
Yet, as obstetrician-gynaecologist Teoh Seng Hin went on to point out, eight to 15 per cent of couples will experience fertility problems at some point in their lives, and couples who have sex during their fertile periods stand only a 30 per cent chance of conceiving.
“When people use contraception, the underlying assumption is that they are fertile,” he said.
But while female age is the overwhelming factor in sub-fertility, men’s age is “grossly overlooked”, said Dr Teoh, who was speaking yesterday at a sexual health awareness talk at the Nanyang Technological University organised by the Singapore Planned Parenthood Association, Bayer Schering Pharma and the university.
From the time men are in their late 20s, the chances of their contributing to a successful pregnancy fall by 11 per cent each year.
The chances of a successful live birth also dip, while the likelihood of passing on genetic abnormalities increase, warned Dr Teoh. Dr Teoh — who also has a Master’s degree in men’s health and andrology — said he was sharing his experience with the students so that they can be forewarned about the problems that may emerge later in their lives.
“If you see enough patients, you’ll find that a lot of them miscarry,” he said.
“Many problems can’t be reversedbecause of age,” he added.
Another fertility doctor, Prof Christopher Chen, told Today that none of the men in the couples who consulted him in the last five years has passed the “sperm test”.
“I have couples who come to see me to ask if they are all right making babies in two to three years’ time.
I tell them, ‘You don’t have to worry about contraception or abstaining because your sperm is poor anyway.’
“Within their means, couples should try not to delay too long,” advised Prof Chen, who runs a private practice at Gleneagles Hospital.
Now I think they are getting overboard with trying to get Singaporean to have babies.
They are not giving talk to University Students telling them not to delay too long, quickly go and make babies as soon as you can.
University student qre like, 19-24 years old women and 21- 26 years old men. Most are able to have kids physically but I don’t think they are mentally mature to raise a child.
Ask them how many of them cook for themselves and wash their own laundry?
How many of them are still taking pocket money from their parents?
Geez…. Give them some chance to start work, experience what it is like in the REAL world and then let these kids decide whether are they willing to work the rest of their life to feel an extra mouth or two.
Friday, August 22, 2008
The failing Baby Bonus Scheme
Singapore first introduced The Baby Bonus Scheme in April 2001 and enhanced in August 2004, supports parents’ decision to have more children by helping to lighten the financial costs of raising children.
Again this year the government further enhanced it from 2009 onwards.
Does giving more money really encourage Singaporean to make more babies?
Or is it just a short-term plan by the government who are unwilling to solve the root cause of falling birth rates? (Higher cost of living, lousy education system, non pro families working environment, etc….)
Looking at the fertility rate of Singapore over the year, we don’t see a dramatic increase after April 2001 and Aug 2004.
Year Fertility
1997 1.61
2002 1.37
2003 1.27
2004 1.26
2005 1.26
2006 1.28
2007 1.29
Judging by the trend I will say the fertility rate will raise by 0.03 the most to 1.32. Failing to meet the healthy rate of 2.1.
Look like it is getting expensive to get Singaporean to make babies.
Cheaper to import foreigner?
But the government have to tackle this issue very carefully due to our National Services Act.
Again this year the government further enhanced it from 2009 onwards.
Does giving more money really encourage Singaporean to make more babies?
Or is it just a short-term plan by the government who are unwilling to solve the root cause of falling birth rates? (Higher cost of living, lousy education system, non pro families working environment, etc….)
Looking at the fertility rate of Singapore over the year, we don’t see a dramatic increase after April 2001 and Aug 2004.
Year Fertility
1997 1.61
2002 1.37
2003 1.27
2004 1.26
2005 1.26
2006 1.28
2007 1.29
Judging by the trend I will say the fertility rate will raise by 0.03 the most to 1.32. Failing to meet the healthy rate of 2.1.
Look like it is getting expensive to get Singaporean to make babies.
Cheaper to import foreigner?
But the government have to tackle this issue very carefully due to our National Services Act.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Family in Singapore.
Has not been blogging for a while now been busy lately with some traveling and well maybe I was just being lazy.
Will be heading off to Hong Kong tomorrow for a short trip so just decided to enter a blog entry before I disappear for the week.
This week saw a clip during prim time by The National Family Council.
A girl was narrating about her Dad taking care of her since young after her mom passed away, they as she grew older she admitted that it is getting more and more difficult for her Dad to cheer her up. Once scene shows she wanted a $70 red shoes but her dad managed to convince her for him to get her the $15 one. Unfortunately the shoes broke on her first date and she was quite pissed with her day. But next day, when on the way to work, she found the $70 red shoes on the shoe rack and her Dad sound asleep after working the night shift. She goes on saying her dad is a generous man beyond his mean about the greatest gift he gave her was the un-condition love.
Although I am not a pro family kind of person but I still find that this short clip is actually quite good.
First it talk about a Father’s love, which is seldom touch on and what the actress said was quite true that most parent love their child unconditionally.
So what is the purpose of this clip?
Well I guess its one of those campaign by our government to try to encourage Singaporean to have more babies.
Like I said before, I feel that the government should do more if they are serious wanting Singaporean to have more babies.
Firstly is the rising cost of living, then there is the work-life balance, better child care system, better education system etc etc…..
Showing a 3 min clips on TV or giving baby bonus will not solve the babies shortage problem.
But I guess the government had half given up by importing Foreign Talents.
I foresee some social problem coming up really soon.
Once of them is National Service.
When a Singaporean Boy reaches 18 years old, he is obliged to serve his county till 40 years old.
Let say 20 years ago, 1/3 of Singaporean man is defending 1/3 of woman and 1/3 of children and old folks. But today its ¼ of Singaporean man defending ¼ of woman , ¼ of children and old folks and additional ¼ of Foreign Talent.
Where is the logic to that? These FT are here to work and enjoy the good life while paying the government taxes to be around but they don’t serve our country. Their loyalty is not here.
If war come, they are the first one to get out of this country.
So my dear government, please do something significant to improve our population if you are serious about it.
Will be heading off to Hong Kong tomorrow for a short trip so just decided to enter a blog entry before I disappear for the week.
This week saw a clip during prim time by The National Family Council.
A girl was narrating about her Dad taking care of her since young after her mom passed away, they as she grew older she admitted that it is getting more and more difficult for her Dad to cheer her up. Once scene shows she wanted a $70 red shoes but her dad managed to convince her for him to get her the $15 one. Unfortunately the shoes broke on her first date and she was quite pissed with her day. But next day, when on the way to work, she found the $70 red shoes on the shoe rack and her Dad sound asleep after working the night shift. She goes on saying her dad is a generous man beyond his mean about the greatest gift he gave her was the un-condition love.
Although I am not a pro family kind of person but I still find that this short clip is actually quite good.
First it talk about a Father’s love, which is seldom touch on and what the actress said was quite true that most parent love their child unconditionally.
So what is the purpose of this clip?
Well I guess its one of those campaign by our government to try to encourage Singaporean to have more babies.
Like I said before, I feel that the government should do more if they are serious wanting Singaporean to have more babies.
Firstly is the rising cost of living, then there is the work-life balance, better child care system, better education system etc etc…..
Showing a 3 min clips on TV or giving baby bonus will not solve the babies shortage problem.
But I guess the government had half given up by importing Foreign Talents.
I foresee some social problem coming up really soon.
Once of them is National Service.
When a Singaporean Boy reaches 18 years old, he is obliged to serve his county till 40 years old.
Let say 20 years ago, 1/3 of Singaporean man is defending 1/3 of woman and 1/3 of children and old folks. But today its ¼ of Singaporean man defending ¼ of woman , ¼ of children and old folks and additional ¼ of Foreign Talent.
Where is the logic to that? These FT are here to work and enjoy the good life while paying the government taxes to be around but they don’t serve our country. Their loyalty is not here.
If war come, they are the first one to get out of this country.
So my dear government, please do something significant to improve our population if you are serious about it.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Yet another effort for babies.
Baby-making: Get on board earlier, says woman MP
Straights Time Nov 11, 2007
AS people look set to live and work for longer, women ought to consider putting their career on hold to have children as they will a lot of time to focus on work later, said a woman MP.
Making the pitch to young couples on Sunday, MP Josephine Teo (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) urged them to include both work and family in their lives.
Mrs Teo, who has a son aged nine and twin daughters aged seven, was responding to PAP members who raised concerns during a dialogue with PAP leaders about the low birth rate, despite national efforts to boost it.
The efforts have included a slew of cash and tax incentives - including a parenthood package of $575 million in 2005.
But the increase in the birthrate has been small: there were 400 more babies in 2005 than the year before. Last year, 36,200 babies were registered, 700 more than those in 2005.
Mrs Teo urged young couples to relook the conventional approach of putting career before children, as lifespans stretch.
'If we think of...85 and beyond being a likelihood, what is the hurry to do the things that can be done later?'
'I would arrange my life so that I have more children, start a family earlier, start it sooner, and then when the children are a little bit older, I can put my heart back to work,' said Mrs Teo, a human resources director with the labour movement.
But putting children as a top priority was no easy decision, she conceded.
In fact, she and her husband, had made a tough call to give up careers in Suzhou, China, to return to Singapore, so Mrs Teo could tap on their families to care for the babies.
Once again we see yet another articles of our government trying to con (encourage) Singapore couple to product babies.
Why are they so eager? Again in all boiled down to workforce replacement. So the gahment will still have enough people to tax tax tax and tax.
Again I like to stress that if a couple really want kids, they will just have it no matter what the government says. Infact, I think these constant efforts from our government will only backfired sometime.
I already am sick of these millionaires trying to convince the peasants (people) to have babies.
Look how careful they select the right MP to give the speech. Josephine is a good “role model”, with a successful career and 3 kids.
Note these following female MPs are single or have no kids.
Indranee Thurai Rajah, Single, 44
Ellen Lee Geck Hoon, Married no kids, 50
Sylvia Lim, Single, 42
Low Penny, Single, 40
Ng Phek Hoong Irene, Married no kids, 44
Eunice Elizabeth Olsen, Single, 31
Thio Li-ann, Single,39
So my point is, we all choose the way we want in life. Not all people love children or like to be near one. So the “carrots” our gahment are dangling will only attract a small portions of those couple that are still deciding whether they want to have babies or not.
If the gahment truly wants Singaporean to have more babies the I urge them to seriously do something about it.
Some things my non-million dollar brain can think of:
1) 6 months maternal and paternal leaves.
2) Free childcare
3) Free basic medical for pregnant women.
4) Childcare center open 24 hours.
5) Companies which sacked pregnant women are to be fined.
Also I also try to come up with some reason why couple are not having babies:
1) High cost of living.
2) Need to plan for retirement.
3) Lousy child-care.
4) Lousy education system.
5) Not family orientated workplace.
6) Freedom – Couple with no kid and just go oversea tomorrow. Try to do that if you have kids.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Babies Babies Where are You?
SM Goh's speech, Sunday 20th Aug on, guess what? Babies shortage in Singapore
Drawing from his personal experience, Mr Goh said, "My wife and I are fortunate that our son and daughter are not DINKs. They do not have a double income. My daughter is not working; my daughter-in-law is also not working, so no double income. They have three children each, which means my wife and I have six grandchildren - and they are all granddaughters. And because they are all granddaughters, there may be a chance that my son and his wife, my daughter and her husband may want a boy - or that's what I hope!"
Drawing from his personal experience, Mr Goh said, "My wife and I are fortunate that our son and daughter are not DINKs. They do not have a double income. My daughter is not working; my daughter-in-law is also not working, so no double income. They have three children each, which means my wife and I have six grandchildren - and they are all granddaughters. And because they are all granddaughters, there may be a chance that my son and his wife, my daughter and her husband may want a boy - or that's what I hope!"
Mr Goh's son, Dr Goh Jin Hian, is a medical doctor and the executive director of Parkway Shenton.
And his daughter, Goh Jin Theng, is in England with her English husband, Lee Craven.
Let see, if my dad earn about S$1.5million a year = $115,000 / month (Safe estimate) and my hubby as Executive Director who is a medical doctor, I estimate monthly pay to be at least S$10K ($5K /month for junior doctor).
Gosh I affort to be a stand home mum too!
And I guess these salaries can buy lots of diapers and I sure can hired one maid each for my kids.
This again showed how detached out gahment are from the people on the street. SIGH… remember who said $600,000 is peanut?
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Babies in Singapore
From Channel News Asia 16th Aug
More babies born in H1 but Singapore still stuck in low fertility trap
More babies were born in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2005.
The Registration of Births and Deaths recorded 18,294 births in the first half of this year, some 300 more than the same period last year.
The Singapore economy is on an upswing and so are the birth numbers: 37,492 babies were born last year.
But in the first half of this year, more babies were delivered, compared to the same period last year.
Not only are there more first-borns, more parents are also having their second, third and fourth child.
But a population expert tells our reporter that this marginal increase is still not enough to lift Singapore out of its low fertility trap......
Here's the rest of the article
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/225038/1/.html
What ironic about this is during the 70s-80s, our gahment had extensive campaign of restricting 2 kids per family to prevent over population.
I remember my aunty was FINED for having her 3rd baby.
I also heard horror stories of Grumpy nurses and doctors scolding pregnant woman for coming in too early for delivery.
At the turn of the century, our Gahment realized that our population is ageing due to less babies being born every years. Is this due to the successful campaign?
Singapore had followed the trends of every “developed” national where birth rates are declining years after years.
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2054rank.html
Looking at the table , we only have about 9.34 babies born / 1000 population.
Therefore in recent years we’ve seen our gahment dramatically stepped up their encouragement campaign for couples to have more babies.
They were giving out baby bonus, increasing maternal leaves from 2 months to 3 months and airing pro-family advertisement during prime time.
But are they solving the root cause of falling birth rates? I don’t think so.
First let me analysis why birth rates are falling in Singapore.
Ask any of your young friends and the main reason they give are the cost of living is going up, stressful work environment and poor child care facitlitis.
Today it is not cheap to give birth. Note only the delivery are cost about $3,000, excluding those pre and pos delivery treatments.
http://www.kkh.com.sg/ForPatientsnVisitors/SOCs/Womens/Maternity+Services/index.htm
If a young couple had a baby, who is going to look after him/her? In the seventies, my mum can afford to be a housewife and she took care of my sister and myself.
Today with the cost of living going up and with salaries increment slowing down, there is a dangerous exponential increase in the cost of living. Therefore both parents HAVE TO work in Singapore.
Working environment is still not family friendly. Not to forget there should be more benefit to be given to fathers as well.
My company use to have only “child-care-leaves” for general staffs and none for executive. Only last year did they extends the leaves to the executives.
I am glad that there is some improvement but I wonder which idiot came up with the separation in the first place. Does it meant that executive’s babies and less subject to sickness?
Until the infrastructure of,“Pro families Singapore” and the cost of living improved in Singapore, I doubt there is any way the gahment can increase the birth rates. In fact I think they had already give up and try to “import” foreign talenst.
More babies born in H1 but Singapore still stuck in low fertility trap
More babies were born in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2005.
The Registration of Births and Deaths recorded 18,294 births in the first half of this year, some 300 more than the same period last year.
The Singapore economy is on an upswing and so are the birth numbers: 37,492 babies were born last year.
But in the first half of this year, more babies were delivered, compared to the same period last year.
Not only are there more first-borns, more parents are also having their second, third and fourth child.
But a population expert tells our reporter that this marginal increase is still not enough to lift Singapore out of its low fertility trap......
Here's the rest of the article
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/225038/1/.html
What ironic about this is during the 70s-80s, our gahment had extensive campaign of restricting 2 kids per family to prevent over population.
I remember my aunty was FINED for having her 3rd baby.
I also heard horror stories of Grumpy nurses and doctors scolding pregnant woman for coming in too early for delivery.
At the turn of the century, our Gahment realized that our population is ageing due to less babies being born every years. Is this due to the successful campaign?
Singapore had followed the trends of every “developed” national where birth rates are declining years after years.
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2054rank.html
Looking at the table , we only have about 9.34 babies born / 1000 population.
Therefore in recent years we’ve seen our gahment dramatically stepped up their encouragement campaign for couples to have more babies.
They were giving out baby bonus, increasing maternal leaves from 2 months to 3 months and airing pro-family advertisement during prime time.
But are they solving the root cause of falling birth rates? I don’t think so.
First let me analysis why birth rates are falling in Singapore.
Ask any of your young friends and the main reason they give are the cost of living is going up, stressful work environment and poor child care facitlitis.
Today it is not cheap to give birth. Note only the delivery are cost about $3,000, excluding those pre and pos delivery treatments.
http://www.kkh.com.sg/ForPatientsnVisitors/SOCs/Womens/Maternity+Services/index.htm
If a young couple had a baby, who is going to look after him/her? In the seventies, my mum can afford to be a housewife and she took care of my sister and myself.
Today with the cost of living going up and with salaries increment slowing down, there is a dangerous exponential increase in the cost of living. Therefore both parents HAVE TO work in Singapore.
Working environment is still not family friendly. Not to forget there should be more benefit to be given to fathers as well.
My company use to have only “child-care-leaves” for general staffs and none for executive. Only last year did they extends the leaves to the executives.
I am glad that there is some improvement but I wonder which idiot came up with the separation in the first place. Does it meant that executive’s babies and less subject to sickness?
Until the infrastructure of,“Pro families Singapore” and the cost of living improved in Singapore, I doubt there is any way the gahment can increase the birth rates. In fact I think they had already give up and try to “import” foreign talenst.
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