As much as there's so much that I would like to write about since Motherhood happened, time is a limited commodity these days. But! Since Yuguo is probably the second best thing that I've done for Jaime (apart from exclusively breastfeeding her), I think I need to put this down.
My experience with Yuguo started when Jaime was about 2 months old. She sounded like she had plenty of phlegm and mucus, but Illidain and Steimar didn't help enough. I tried to find out what were the available solutions and finally found Yuguo, since Pds prescribe the same nose drops and spray and wouldn't prescribe medication anyway (medication loads baby's liver and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary). To be honest, I was skeptical but went to try it out anyway since it wouldn't do any harm. Not like there were many other options
Yuguo is famous for children massage and treat many common baby issues without (oral) medication. They're packed with babies and children every single day and queues are 1-2 hours long. I usually spend about 2 hours there each time; 1 hour on good days. You've to go to the counter for a number, wait for your turn at Room 7 to see the doctor before waiting at the massage area to be massaged. Massages usually last about 20 minutes or so. What they basically do is stroke their hands, back and face lightly. Most strokes are done on their hands.
At her first session, I was chatting with the doctor doing her massage. She was just gently stroking her hands and 5 minutes into the massage, Jaime puked a blob of phlegm out. She was facing the doctor and I didn't see it, I was somewhat shocked when the doctor passed me a piece of tissue to wipe her. Throughout that first session, she puked another blob out.
We were given a cloth belt with pouches of herbs to place at her belly button after that session. The phlegm would be either puked out or come out through her shit. After the massage, she slept more than usual and she did indeed puke some phlegm out after her milk feeds. She also cleared her bowels fully after it. Being her main caregiver, I witnessed the results and obviously became a convert.
After the initial 3 days in-a-row session, I went back weekly for the next 6 weeks or so during my maternity leave. We stay in the West, and the journey to Kembagan isn't short, yet I truly felt that it's worth the effort as it benefits her immune system. She always slept more and cleared her bowels after her massages.
Fast forward to now, she has been in infant care since she's 3.5 months old and has never had fever the past 8 months. There was only once when she had lots of phlegm and mucus, we brought her to a PD to help suck them out (it was stuck in her cleft). Other than that, she's a happy baby and hasn't really fell sick. I haven't brought her to Yuguo ever since I started work, BUT, I went for their massage class and have been massaging her often at home! I've got to say that I am a believer and it has worked wonders for her.
Child massage or tuina is gaining popularity rapidly, in Singapore and also in China. What used to cost very little is now pretty expensive in China. Yuguo has also been treating children for a very long time, and the long queues daily is testament of their effectiveness - which parent wants to bring their sick child there and queue for hours if they didn't see the results right? Child massage is most effective for children below 3 and works up to 12 year-olds; I suppose due to body mass.
I'm really thankful to have found this for Jaime, and I would recommend learning it and massaging your babies yourself at home daily - it would do wonders for their immune systems and helps with bonding. Like Yuguo says, babies who are massaged often does not fall sick. Even if they do fall sick, they recover quickly. It's not magic and requires consistent effort over time; I do it in conjunction with essential oils and fully breastfeeding her. I can't tell if she has a strong immune system to begin with or if these help her, but it seems that babies who do not frequent PDs and fall sick often are rare nowadays - especially when they're placed in childcare centers from young.
