It seems that I'm picking up one respiratory bug after another at RCH, no matter how often I religiously de-bug with microshield. ><" I guess it cannot be helped, given I'm currently in a huge pool of relatively active kids with loads of love (and microbes) to share. However, I can contend with the fact that since I've been exposed to a cesspool of bugs within a short span of time, I'm buffing my immune system up for the winter!!! =P 
But I must admit, working with children is more fun than I thought. Especially with the younger ones - they don't complain much, are usually bubbly (unless they're terribly ill), and when they do get better, they recover really quick. Also, people would HARDLY reprimand you for being childish/disinhibited in front of kids, which is an added bonus. =P
Two more weeks to go, and I'm dreading it will soon end already..... =(
Now I understand why Dad went into paediatrics in the first place. Paeds may be a world's away from adult medicine, but I'm loving every moment of it.
Labels: Medicine/Hospitals/Medics, Random thoughts
Ah, doesn't this bub look so satisfied with her baby formula? =P
We had a nutrition tutorial this morning with a paediatric dietition down at the Royal Children's Hospital (ie: my current base till next rotation). It was an interesting session in general, but the highlight of the day was actually sampling a few infant milk formulas (as prepared by the dietition herself)......
By doing so she aims to get a few points across by requesting us to:
1. First imagine a baby being on a type of formula milk for at least 6 whole months - which essentially means thriving on one TASTE during that interim.
2. Then imagine introducing different types of food to a child from 6 months onwards - more choices, a wide variety of taste, textures and colours.
At the end of that tute, we had the following to sample:
1. S26 (a cows' milk based formula)
2. Soy-based formula
3. Pepti Junior (a partially hydrolyzed formula) Needless to say, we (unanimously) came down to this verdict: 
Out of the three, S26 was the most palatable. I suppose that was not surprising, given that it IS cows' milk formula (and therefore the taste is quite similar to fresh cow's milk, obviously!)
The other two had mixed reviews however - some didn't mind the soy formula so much, although I personally felt that was the most disgusting-tasting milk I've ever had! (Pepti Junior came a close second)
Our dear dietition made an interesting comment at the end though: She said the taste of breast-milk varies according to the lactating mother's diet, and therefore babies who are exclusively breast-fed do have a variety of taste to sample from. What's even more intriguing is the fact that perhaps because of this, studies have also shown that exclusively breast-fed babies are usually more open to experimenting/trying new foods later in life...... =)
So there you have it - another one more reason to advocate breast-feeding! Labels: Medicine/Hospitals/Medics
Was over the moon when my PBL-cum-clinical tutor commented I was well-versed in paediatrics during a mid-rotation formative feedback yesterday. It was quite surreal actually, to have a Fellow saying that knowledge-wise, I am almost at the level of a paediatrician(!!). My only flaw, she quipped, was perhaps my modesty and lack of confidence in my own strength(s).... so my "homework" for the remaining 4 weeks is to get out there, see as many children as possible and consolidate everything in clinical settings.
Given that I'm still quite afraid of unwell/unhappy children with equally unhappy/tired/anxious parents (seriously!), that was a timely morale boost for me!!!! =P
Labels: Medicine/Hospitals/Medics, Moments
Yeap, I (finally) decided to register for the 5.7km route on Sunday, 5th April 2009 in conjunction with the Good Friday Appeal. ^_^
My endurance level isn't what it used to be though, so training was a little difficult to get used to initially. Two weeks (4 days, to be precise) into training with a team of marathon 'veterans' can be both grueling (My current stamina couldn't even match Jack, Trudi's two-year old toy poodle which she took for a 4.0km training session this morning!) and enjoyable (great view at the Royal Botanical Gardens) at the same time. =P
Sure I still get those sore legs post-run, but they aren't as bad as the week before (could barely climb up the stairs at RCH and sit down properly!!!).
[Note: My trusty mate at the mo - Dencorub Heat Gel with salicylate. Heaven-sent. =P]
Anyhow, 27 more days to go before the run, so gotta get up and moving! ^_^ Besides, I can't keep losing to Jack the poodle all the time now, can I?
Labels: Events, Friends, Moments
