The Confinement Lady Search

After a month of searching, we finally found one. But we've realised that whether we get a good one or not is really a "heng-suay" matter. Afterall, someone's idea of good is still subjective isn't it?

The good one recommended by a friend (a reliable one) was already taken for the month of August. So was the one my cousin used last December.

Then, an ex colleague recommended hers, but when I called, she was charging an exorbitant rate, and I didn't quite like the way she spoke. Yes, they all speak Mandarin, but this was was a bit off, a bit difficult to understand. So I passed.

Then there was one who called me and told me she was referred to by another confinement lady. And her price was the cheapest amongst all so far. And she went on to tell me about how she would like to deal direct with me instead of the referee so that we wouldn't have to give the referee a commission. Honestly, her price was attractive but the whole thing all sounded a bit iffy, so I passed too.

Then we had my cousin's nanny's friend whom, really we felt would be good. But unfortunately, in the month of August, she had to pray and would not be able to provide confinement services.

Then another of my cousins got me a contact which her friend had used. She seemed pretty ok. When I asked her where she was from, she replied, "Pi Li Joe" (at least that's what I heard). So I went, "Billy Joe?". And she said: "Dui ah, ma lai si ya de pi li zhou." (Yes, Malaysia's Billy Joe). Now somebody tell me, where in the world is that? Or who the hell is that? But that wasn't the reason we passed her on. The real reason was that when she asked me who I was living with and I replied, "Wo zhang fu, fu mu qin he gong ren" (my husband, parents and maid), she asked, "Ni ma ma bu hui bang ni meh?" (Your mum cannot help you meh?). Seriously if she could would I be even looking for Billy Joe?? My mum and I didn't quite like that, so we passed on this one too.

So my cousin got a few more contacts from her friends, one which sounded pretty good, but wasn't available in August. Then finally I got one who spoke in decently accented language, albeit still mandarin, who was available.

I guess we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. Like I said, it's really a "heng-suay" thing.

I just wish there were confinement ladies who could speak English. It would make the month a whole lot more bearable.