Ms MAY 24, 2015
ISSUE NO. 153
Should you be working during pregnancy? page Beauty on board A flight-friendly beauty regime
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inside En vogue — A touch of drama
Domestic goddess —
Orange chiffon cake
Section In-Charge: Dilaira Dubash Sub-Editors: Amna Hashmi Nisma Chauhan Designer: Umar Waqas Feedback: women@tribune.com.pk
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The perfectionist Sania Maskatiya
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The buzz
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 24, 2015
WORK NG
WHILE regnant Hav Having a full-time job while expecting isn’ isn’t easy but nowadays most doctors reco recommend it for a smooth and healthy preg pregnancy By Is Ishrat Ansari
Yes or no? Gone are the days when women would give up their jobs upon the first signs of pregnancy. “This is a normal condition and not an illness,” explains Dr Nighat Shah, a gyneacologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in Karachi. “Contrary to popular belief, working doesn’t cause abortions. Regardless of whether you work as a teacher, doctor, journalist or anything else, it is completely safe to continue working up until the last trimester. In fact, women from rural areas perform field work and yet, deliver normal and healthy children!” There is ample scientific evidence that retaining a job actually boosts the health of the mother and baby. This comes as a relief to many career-oriented women like 32-year-old Hina Mir, a company secretary and head of corporate affairs at the Pak Oman Investment Company. “I went to work until four days before my delivery and fortunately suffered no complications,” says Hina who gave birth to a baby boy just two months ago. “I am glad I continued working because it helped me focus and kept my mind occupied.” According to Dr Asifa Ghazi, head of gyneacology and obstetrics at the Civil Hospital in Karachi, pregnancy should never be used as an excuse for women to give up on their ambitions. “Medically speaking, if a woman has been working prior to conceiving, her body has already acclamitised to the physical exertion,” explains Dr Asifa. “Therefore, there should not be any reason for an expecting mother to resign, unless and until a complication arises. “ In our part of the world, many women are under the misconception that the physical and emotional stress of deadlines, meetings and daily commutes etc, can not only take their toll on the health of the mother and baby but also, in extreme cases, lead to a miscarriage. “In Pakistan, even climbing up or down the stairs is avoided during pregnancy,” says Dr Nighat. “The reasoning behind this is that if a pregnant woman uses the stairs too much, she might lose her balance and get injured. Granted, this is a possibility but there are various other causes of a miscarriage and being employed is almost never one of them.” Of course, the decision and ability to maintain full-time employment is subjective and contingent upon the nature of the pregnancy itself.
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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 24, 2015
After all, not every woman has a smooth sailing journey through these nine months. Hina, for example, admits that she has been extremely lucky to have given birth without any nausea, acidity, pains or anxiety. “During the very last stage of my pregnancy, my feet swelled up and it became difficult for me to sleep due to a breathing problem,” she shares. “Other than that, I got up early every morning and even had to travel for work during my time, until 10 days prior to delivery. Personally, I think having something to do really supports a mother-to-be mentally.” On the other end of the spectrum is 31-year-old journalist Mifrah Haq who had to resign right at the start of her second pregnancy, despite having worked throughout her first one. “In my experience, the first and third trimesters were the toughest,” says Mifrah. “In the first, I suffered from nausea and during the third, my legs started swelling up, making me feel fatigued. Therefore, I couldn’t sit for too long.” She also experienced some bleeding because of which she had to resign. Dr Asifa sheds light on Mifrah’s predicament by suggesting that sometimes, if a woman develops complications in her first trimester, she is advised bed rest. This leaves her with little choice but to quit her job, at least for the initial month or two. “There is no clinical condition which warrants complete rest but if a patient is bleeding in the first three months, she need not resign permanently,” she suggests. “If she is prescribed rest then it is never for the entire period but only for that month or so.” Both Hina and Mifrah are of the opinion that managing a full-time job with a home, family and a baby on the way can be made much easier provided that the woman has a good rapport with her boss. “Every job involves some stress but my boss made it easy for me,” recalls Hina. “If the boss is understanding, anyone can continue working while pregnant.” Luckily, her working environment was very accommodating and her senior position allowed Hina to delegate her work as well. As for Mifrah, there were days in her first pregnancy when she felt too sick to work and had to leave early. “Nine months is a very long time to be idle so I thought it was better to keep working,” she says. “There were times when I had to force myself to work just to stay busy but it takes one’s mind off their delicate physical condition. It is difficult to manage but definitely not impossible.”
Striking a balance For women who leave their jobs to focus on their health during pregnancy, Dr Nighat has one thing to say. “Resting 24 hours a day will not help you bear a healthy child. This approach is completely wrong.” According to her, continuous employment and an active lifestyle actually normalises the blood flow of the foetus so long as the mother is not over-exerting herself. In fact, research conducted by Janet DiPietro, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University, showed that moderate stress in the mother actually accelerates the development of foetal nervous system. Therefore, it is important for expecting working mothers to eat well, exercise daily and rest for at least one hour during the day. According to Saima Rasheed, a consultant dietician at the National Medical Centre, maintaining the right diet is essential for a sound pregnancy. Not only is this important for the growth of the baby, but a balance diet can help counter morning sickness and other pregnancy-related problems as well. For instance, Saima recommends light breakfasts to tame nausea. “Women should avoid eating bread, biscuits or chappatis,” she suggests. “Instead, eat an omelette or kebab with a small piece of bread. Orange juice is particularly good for nausea as well.” Dr Moti Khan, a senior dietician at AKUH explains, “Pregnant women should increase fluid and fibre intake and keep away from excess salt and rice. In fact, rice shouldn’t be eaten more than twice a week. Lentils, fruits and vegetables should be given priority, as well as eggs.” Also, fizzy drinks must be replaced my nutritious juices, water and lassi to maintain hydration. Of course, working off what one eats is just as crucial. Dr Moti recommends a 10 minute to 15 minute walk before breakfast and dinner, especially for expecting mothers with high blood pressure. A proper diet and regular exercise regime will help keep the pregnancy cycle smooth, thereby ensuring one’s ability to retain a full-time job.
Ishrat Ansari works on the Karachi desk at The Express Tribune.
Maternity leaves around the world Planning to move abroad and starting a family there? Worried about the extra cost of raising a child? Read on to find out what different countries offer to help their expecting mothers.
Germany
Pakistan
The maternity and postpartum benefits that Germany offers include a midwife for routine check-ups on the baby as soon as the mother and the baby come home. An additional allowance for child rearing, known as Kindergeld, is provided for a year following the birth. In fact, Kindergeld also covers the cost of a parent staying home with a child instead of returning to work. If the mother decides to re-join work soon after delivery, she is protected by Mutterschutz, a law that allows pregnant women to start their maternity leave six weeks before the delivery date and forbids them from returning to work until eight weeks postpartum. Mutterschutz also forbids women to work extra shifts and entitles them to take a 30 minute break apart from lunch time for breastfeeding.
In Pakistan, there are different acts that provide maternity benefits. However, according to each, a mother is entitled to take 12 weeks paid leave, six weeks before delivery and six postpartum. The pay would be equal to her gross weekly salary as per contract. The mother will, however, only be eligible for the leaves if she has served at least six months at her workplace before delivery.
Australia
United States of America
There is no maternity leave in Australia but instead a parental leave that either of the parents can utilise. These government paid leaves can be taken up to 18 weeks and the job is protected for about a year. Apart from this, other free benefits include baby wellness programmes, depression checks and new parents’ support groups. Soon after birth, nurses at governmentsponsored Early Childhood Parenting Centres check the baby’s weight and offer breastfeeding and sleeping assistance.
Surprisingly, the US provides its employees with no real benefits. Only about 13% of the private sector offers designated paid family leaves. Just about 60% of all workers are covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows companies with more than 50 employees to take a job-protected (but not paid) leave of up to 12 weeks. However, to qualify one must have worked with the employer for a year and delivered more than 1,250 hours of employment. Despite this, California, New Jersey and Rhode Island have added paid family leave insurance programmes to their State Disability Insurance which allows contributing employees to receive a portion of their wages for up to six weeks after the birth of a child.
Design by Hira Fareed
Ms
En vogue
A touch of drama
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Dramatise your evenings with Zohra Alam’s latest collection Designer: Zohra Alam Hair and make-up: Depilex Photography: Hasan Habib Hashmie Model: Zara Abid`
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 24, 2015
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 24, 2015
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Beauty
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Lifestyle
on Board
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 24, 2015
It may be difficult to look good after a long plane journey but these simple beauty regimes can give you a quick fix By Neha Javed
It’s natural to end up looking like a zombie by the end of a long-haul flight. The sporadic sleeping pattern and recycled air in the plane can make anyone feel exhausted. Add to that, being cramped in a miniscule seat for the entire time and it becomes virtually impossible for you to look and feel fresh upon reaching your destination. Fortunately, there is a way to beat the cabin fever! Get ready for your coming summer vacation with these amazingly simple tips on how to look fresh during the tedious flight and after.
If you are travelling for four hours or less K Keeping away from too much make-up is the way to go while on board. It is best to just put on some lip gloss and dab a o little gloss on your eye-lids too. This will help to give you a healthy looking glow till you reach your destination. U Use the tried and tested spritz bottle technique, popularised b by models and celebrities. Simply carry a spritz bottle filled with water and a few drops of lavender oil. Spray it on your face halfway through the flight to rejuvenate. T The more stress you take while travelling, the more exhauste ed you will look so keep yourself calm. Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated and apply a moisturising hand cream with a soothing scent that you can enjoy during your journey. The familiarity of the smell will calm you when you feel restless.
If you are traveling for long hours Long hours with too much make-up are always bad idea, regardless of whether you are travelling or not. The cosmetics seep into your skin and damage it from the inside. So if you are scheduled for a long flight but want to look your best, try replacing your base with a tinted moisturiser or BB or CC creams. Most of these come with a variety of tints to suit all skin tones and are great for hydrating your skin while masking the discolourations. Balms are your best friends as they can repair skin vulnerable to cabin air. Dryness and flaking are some of the various skin problems that arise during flights. If your skin is prone to irritation, apply rose or carrot oil balms — both recommended by top beauty experts — on your lips to protect them from cracking, peeling or general discomfort. Your skin isn’t the only thing that requires maintenance. It is equally important to keep your hair in check. Thanks to all the struggle of having to rest your head on a tiny seat, hair tends to become really static and wild. The air-conditioning in the aircraft also flattens your strands and spurs oil production. But you can give your hair a smooth and shiny look by investing in invisible oil products. They are not only flight-friendly but are also easy to carry as they come in small bottles that can be stacked inside your hand-carry.
Jet, set, glam! Experts from the beauty industry share some advice to help you look glamorous in the air! Nadia Hussain of Nadia Hussain Salon and Clinic: “It’s ideal to wear less make-up on board to give your skin the much needed breathing space. Instead of a heavy base, apply cream and use products that are not easy to come off as people end up sleeping on long flights. Matt lipsticks and a waterproof kajal are great options.”
Rukaiya Adamjee of Rukaiya’s Salon: “Keeping it light is the key. Just apply a lipstick, kajal, mascara and a blush and you are good to go.”
A page from the diary of a stewardess Who would know better about flight-friendly beauty regimes than an actual flight attendant? Poly Sharifa, a senior inflight supervisor with Oman Air, lends us a peak into her personal flight fashion to help us look our best. Poly Sharifa: “One of the most important things is to drink a lot of water at adequate intervals. You may not realise it but your body needs more water than usual while on board. Secondly, you should be able to manage stress as constant anxiety makes you look tired and exhausted. Some people stress about travelling in aircrafts. They should try to relieve it by diverting their attention towards something constructive, such as reading a book. You should also make sure your carry-on luggage contains a toothbrush, toothpaste, perfume (maximum 100ml), cream and a nude or bronze tinted moisturiser. Also, oil-control facial wipes are a must if you wish to clean your face quickly upon landing. This will help get rid of the excess oil and impurities that may have germinated under your skin during the journey and also remove make-up. Once your face is clean, you can hit the airport bathroom and put the items in your carry-on to good use or even re-apply your make-up completely.
Neha Javed is a textile designer. She likes to write about fashion and beauty in her free time.
Design By Maryam Rashid
Domestic goddess 7
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, MAY 24, 2015
By Hirra Pervaiz
Orange chiffon cake
A light and airy sponge cake with a hint of tangy orange
Did you know? The great thing about sweetmeats and desserts is that they remain fresh for much longer than savoury foods. This delicious cake can also last you a good while. If you store it in an air-tight container at room temperature, the cake will stay edible for up to three to four days. You may also refrigerate it to keep for a week or freeze the leftovers for a month.
Ingredients • • • • • • • • •
Eggs (separated) 7 All-purpose flour (sifted) 2 and 1/4 cups Caster sugar 1 and 1/2 cup Baking powder 1 tbsp Salt 1/2 tsp Orange zest (grated) 2 tbsp Vegetable oil 1/2 cup Orange juice (freshly squeezed) 3/4 cup Vanilla essence 1 tsp
Method
Orange glaze Want to add a unique taste to your cake? Top it up with some orange glaze by following this recipe!
Ingredients • Butter 1/2 cup
• Preheat oven to 170 oC and keep a nine-inch tube pan (ungreased) ready. • In a bowl, separate the egg yolks and white and set them aside until further use. • With a hand or electric mixer, combine the sifted flour, sugar (keep 1/4 cup for the eggs whites), baking powder, salt and orange zest. • Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the egg yolk, oil, orange juice and vanilla essence. Beat the mixture until it becomes a smooth paste. • In another bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks start to appear. Gradually, add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and beat some more until stiff peaks take form. • Using a spatula or a wire whisk, gently fold the egg whites into the prepared batter in three additions. Be careful not to over mix lest the batter deflates. • Pour the batter into the ungreased pan and bake for about 50 minutes to 60 minutes, until a skewer/toothpick comes out clean. • Once the cake is ready, retrieve it from the oven and immediately invert the pan on a cool, flat surface so that it is suspended over the counter. Allow it to cool completely. • Loosen the sides of the cake using a metal spatula so as to remove it from the pan. Invert it on a greased wire rack, dust it with caster sugar and serve along with whipped cream, ice cream or fresh berries. Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 60 minutes Yield: Serves eight to 10 people
• Confectioner’s sugar 2 cups • Orange juice (fresh) 2 to 4 tbsp • Grated orange peel 1/2 tsp
Method • In a small saucepan, melt the butter and then add in the remaining glaze ingredients. • Stir the mixture until it becomes completely smooth in texture. • Pour the glaze over the top of the cake, allowing it to drizzle down over its sides.
Diaries e world A glimpse into th rhouses we po i of Pakistan
What sparked your interest in the fashion industry? Since childhood, I was fascinated by colours and patterns and drawing was my favourite pasttimes. Later in life, the fascination grew into passion for all things artsy. Therefore, I opted for art during my O- and A-levels. I also did my bachelors in textile designing from Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture. What is the most important thing to keep in mind before designing? While designing, comfort and wearability are the most important factors. There’s no point in creating beautiful ensembles that can’t be worn or anything that is uncomfortable. How has the Pakistani fashion industry changed over the past years? In the recent past, we have seen an exceptionally positive growth in the industry. It’s heartening to see so many new designers surfacing and so many new exciting opportunities for the young and old. There is a lot of healthy competition between designers that not only aids in the development of the industry but gives customers a lot of
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variety to choose from as well. What do you have to say about new designers? It’s exciting to see so many new faces entering the industry and most of them seem to be quite promising. You have already worked with an impressive roaster of celebrities from the show business. Is there anyone that you would like to work with whom you haven’t? Well, no one in particular. Your brand has also been shortlisted for the 2014 global ‘Woolmark Award’ — one of the world’s most influential design awards. How does it feel to represent Pakistan in the global market? Honestly, it feels amazing to represent Pakistan on such a prestigious forum. Not only is it a great opportunity for us as designers to showcase our creativity but also a great way to put Pakistan on the global map and display the immense potential our country has.
Me at an even t.
How do you bring your inspiration into reality? Hardwork and dedication are the key factors that turn dreams into reality. What constitutes a good fashion show? A theme that you follow with a cohesive, well edited collection and great music.
Sania Maskatiya and Umair Tabani at the Lux Style Awards.
Fashion designer
One material for all season? For Pakistan, one has to say lawn/ cotton is the fabric for all seasons.
On the ramp wi th models.
A Change of Heart Incorporate these small lifestyle changes to boost your cardiac health and secure your future
H
ave you ever heard of the saying ‘scared to death?’ We often use is to emphasise the impact an incident might have had on us but have you ever wondered if it can be true? Can one actually die of fright? According to experts at online science portal asapSCIENCE, it is indeed possible to get scared to death as sometimes, extreme stress can perpetrate fatal damage on the heart. Scientifically speaking, when we get frightened, our body releases a surge of adrenaline. This adrenaline rush expedites our heart rate and a physiological reaction known as the fight or flight response builds up. When the scare is particularly strong or the heart is relatively weak, the latter tends to get overwhelmed and, therefore, unable to keep up with the increase in heart rate. This, in return, can cause the heart to stop entirely. Fortunately, it is very rare for a human to react so strongly. Not to mention, the condition can be avoided through a healthy heart. And because a healthy heart goes a long way, it’s time we started aiming for one. The following changes can bring you closer to a sound lifestyle and healthy heart:
Ditch the salt One of the leading ingredients of heart problems is the excessive salt. Keep your meals heart-friendly by reducing the amount you add as this will keep your blood pressure at bay, ultimately leading to a happy heart. Also, it is advisable to be vary of the high salt content in processed foods. Any edible item is considered rich in salt if it has more than 1.5g of salt (or 0.6g sodium) per 100g.
Get active
Get five a day
Stop being lazy and start doing things for or yourself! Even if it is taking your dog outt for a stroll or walking to the kitchen to get water, don’t rely on someone else to o do it for you. Become independent for the he small things first and get yourself into the he habit of moving around.
An apple a day might keep the doctor away but for a healthy heart, at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day are a must! You can also add dried fruits to your breakfast cereal or vegetables to your our pasta sauces and curries.
Walk to Manage your weight reduce stress Shedding extra pounds has always been on top of our to-do-lists but we don’t always get round to it. However, it’s time you get serious about losing that extra chub. Manage your weight properly and you’ll be on your way to a healthy heart and body image. But don’t forget that it is not about becoming skinny. Maintaining a strong and sturdy body is equally important.
If you are feeling stressed and anxious, take yourself out for a walk. Relaxed walks, for even as short as 15 minutes, can help alleviate stress and make you feel lighter, healthier and happier.
Design By Maryam Rashid