A blog for Justin and Isabelle

Lilypie 4th Birthday TickerLilypie 3rd Birthday Ticker

February 21st, 2008 by shoppingmum

I showed Isabelle an old photo of her nursing, and she thought it was another baby.

Isabelle: Baby ya.

Me: No, it’s you, it’s Isabelle when you are a baby. You can’t remember?

I lifted up my top and showed her a breast.

Me: See? Still remember how you drink milk milk last time?

Isabelle took a look and smiled. She came closer and shy away too. I was pretty amused and I told hubby that she’s so shy to see the b**bs now. Hubby asked her to nurse and she just kissed my n*pple and moved away! LOL! Then, she said something…

Isabelle: No milk milk. Papa?

She lifted up hubby’s tee and did the same to his n*pple. :P She has never done this when she’s a baby. She could differentiate who’s the milk source, but now, she’s checking on hubby. Then she said something again…

Isabelle: Papa no milk milk.

So, my gal has totally forgotten how to breastfeed huh?

October 16th, 2007 by shoppingmum

When I was breastfeeding my kids exclusively, I used to set a daily output which I needed to pump and store up for them just in case I couldn’t breastfeed them directly. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself, especially the time when Justin was a baby. I had to travel for my work, but my longest trip was only 4 days away. However, I was worried that he didn’t have enough, so I wanted to store more milk in the freezer.

MIL complained that I was occupying her refrigerator and she joked that I should get my own fridge! I didn’t do that though because she got herself one of the walk-in coolers to keep her raw food in the kitchen. Thus, I had the whole freezer all to myself.

My other worry was what should I do when there was a power failure. If I was around at home, I would go to 7-11 and get a big bag of ice. Then I would stuff the freezer with all the ice to maintain the temperature and prevent my milk from getting thawed. But there was once when I was so desperate to bring all my frozen milk to BIL’s walk in coolers at his factory where he keeps the butter and eggs because there was no current for more than 6 hours. Any breastfeeding mothers will be as anxious as I did!

So, if you can afford it, get those commercial refrigeration at home to store your milk. I’m not joking, if you are a mother who travels a lot, a freezer is always better than a normal refrigerator. Of course, if you are involving in restaurants or florists, you will definitely need a good walk-in cooler. Just check out those models offered by Gala Source if you are interested. I found that some of the models are quite suitable for BIL’s factory, but I am not sure if he needs one now.

My good old days as a moo is over. I don’t have to worry about milk production or output anymore. It’s a great relief to me.

September 1st, 2007 by shoppingmum

Isabelle is still struggling going to sleep without nursing, but I am so proud of her. After 3 days of attempted weaning, she didn’t nurse more than 5 times, and comparing to her endless comfort nursing, this is a great progress.

But I know there are a few advantages to me once she weans off. I cannot eat as much as I do now because I do not burn more calories with breastfeeding anymore. Any extra calories will make me fat! What if I become too fat and become obese? That is something scary to me. Even if I know that I can get gastric banding to cut down my appetite and make me lose weight faster, but I still prefer not to be fat in the first place. However, if I’m very fat, I will go for it! It’s way simpler than going to the gym.

So, I better stop taking that much supper. Gee… I’ve lost my license to eat.

September 1st, 2007 by shoppingmum

Isabelle is 16 months old, and I have been getting a lot of pressure of weaning her off. My mum insisted that she weaned off breastfeeding during our stay in Penang for these few days. Everything is progressing well and she only nurses for less than twice in 24 hours. However, she still has problem going to sleep without nursing, and will be very fussy at bedtime.

I know the day will come anyway, but I thought of delaying it until she is much older. But since she is showing some positive signs of weaning off, I may as well give it a try. After all, it seems like she prefers chocolate milk over breastmilk now. :)

June 9th, 2007 by shoppingmum

I’m a breastfeeding fanatic, and that I don’t have to repeat again in my blog on how much I can go on brainwashing mothers into breastfeeding. :P

Both my kids were exclusively breastfed, and now, I’m still breastfeeding Isabelle. When I was working, I relied heavily on breastpumps to store up my milk so that my baby could still be fed with breastmilk and not being supplemented with formula. Breastpump is one of the necessity to new mother who have plans to breastfeed your baby successfully.

There are various of brands in the market, but if you are a working mum and you would like to have faster pumping session, Buy Ameda Breastpumps with dual pumps. Double pumps can always stimulate better letdown and promotes more milk than single pumps.

So, good luck in your breastfeeding journey!

February 6th, 2007 by shoppingmum

A lot of people have been asking me when am I gonna wean Isabelle lately. She’s nine months old now, and is still on exclusive breastfeeding with solid food.

I’m thinking of supplementing her with goat’s milk in April, when she’s about 1 year old. I’ll be going to Bali, if everything goes well, but I don’t want to stress myself out stocking up this time as she’s an older baby now.

At the same time, I don’t pump as frequent as before as I prefer to nurse directly, so the stock might not be able to sustain for more than 4 days sorely on expressed breast milk. Hubby said it’s ok to supplement her if I want, he leaves me to make the decision. But I’ll still express if I’m going to Bali and will find ways to bring back the milk. I need to keep the production going as I know she’s not really to wean off so soon. And I’m reluctant to do so as well.

July 14th, 2005 by shoppingmum
Lots of friends and relatives know that I fully breastfeed Justin, and I am frequently asked the following questions. I’m not talking about those FAQ which can be found from babycentre or other breastfeeding website, but some really funny and ridiculous ones (at least to me, they sounds funny!). Most of them are asked by my race, so please don’t be offended if I mentioned our different races in M’sia. I just want to release my frustration.

FAQ:
1. Will you nipple be long, darker, bigger, and uglier after breastfeeding?Shoppingmum: My dear, your nipples changed when you’re pregnant, and when you get older. So, even if you don’t breastfeed, your nipples will also change! May as well make good use of it, I mean its MAIN purpose in feeding babies.

2. Will your breasts sag?
Shoppingmum: Again, breast tissue / size change when you’re pregnant and aging. So, if you wear proper bra, your assets should be safe (for a few years!)

3. But why those Malay women’s breasts look sagging after bf? (Normally asked by my Chinese friends / relatives)
Shoppingmum: Not only Malays, Chinese’s breasts will also sag. And it’s not because of breastfeeding!!!! Looking around those Ah Soh, their breasts still “stand still” with they’re in their mid-forties meh???

4. Why still breastfeed? No money to buy formula ah? Only poor people breastfeed.
Shoppingmum: *Smoke coming out from head* Mmmm….what do you think? *Holding fist behind* OK, it’s good for both mommy and baby. It helps mommy to slim down faster after giving birth, and can still have a well balance diet, no need to starve like hell or pay money to Marie France. For baby, it’s the best milk they can get.

5. Sure or not? Formula milk all got DHA, EHA, SA,…ABC, your milk have ah?
Shoppingmum: You think cow / goat milk got but human milk don’t have?

6. Yes, that’s why we buy formula.
Shoppingmum: It’s because the milk company wants to make formula as close to breastmilk as possible, that’s why they add all those artificial stuffs in it! Breastmilk has all of them!

7. Ya meh? Why most Malays breastfeed and their babies still not smart?
Shoppingmum: *Want to kick butt liao* How do you know they’re not smart? You test their IQ? Breastfeed babies normally have higher IQ, but no matter how smart a baby is, it’s still depending on the upbringing and environment. Besides, when a mother breastfeed, she’s holding the baby close to her, and baby will feel calmer and contented.

8. How you know so much? You only have 1 baby. I have more leh.
Shoppingmum: That’s because I get my facts straight (you morons!)

9. Got enought milk meh? You’re not cow leh…
Shoppingmum: Cows are mammals. Mammals breastfeed. Humans are mammals, we SHOULD breastfeed too. If you do it and forget about your bottles / formula, you’ll sure have enough. If there’re some day your productivity goes low, come and see me! I know where, how, and from whom to get help! *Very proud, got MMB*

10. Then, what do you do with the bottles I gave?
Shoppingmum: Make rattles for Justin. *Smile*

11. Huh? That means at night you still have to take care by yourself? Didn’t rest during confinement too? (To Chinese, it’s best to EAT & REST only during confinement)
Shoppingmum: Yes, I bf from confinement till now. And take care of Justin by myself at night, no matter how many times he wants nen nen. And can still go to work tomorrow!

12. Next time when you’re old sure got lots of pain, didn’t rest during confinement.
Shoppingmum: Ok, worry about that later. *No eye see*

13. Don’t understand you, got money don’t buy formula; got maid don’t let maid take care at night and sleep more; Why so susah being a mother?
Shoppingmum: If I don’t take care and breastfeed my baby, why give birth in the first place? Why be a mother and don’t fulfil the responsibilities? *No mood to talk already*

14. Ok lah, ok lah. See one day when your son don’t want to quit (they mean after 1 year old), and want nen nen from you, sure others will laugh at him.
Shoppingmum: *Going to faint* It’s advisable to breastfeed until 2 years old. Children will wean off when they’re ready. If others laugh at him, it’s not because he’s weird. I’ll tell him that he’s special, and mommy is giving the best milk to him. A mammal / mother has to do what a mammal / mother has to do!!!! It’s normal to breastfeed!

June 15th, 2005 by shoppingmum

After reading the blog from Mycuppa, and Sarong Party Girl, and of coz 5xmom’s question about what breastfeeding mums think about our breasts, these are my thoughts:

Before becoming a mum:

1. Breasts are part of my body that makes me feel like a women. Of coz, if you have the perfect size and shape, you may attract the attention from both genders. (Ladies, admit it, we watch somebody’s body too if she looks good).

2. Have to buy and wear appropriate bras to make me feel and look good.

3. If possible, my breast can withstand and fight the effect of gravity, aging, and thus will remain the same without being slagging or out of shape.

4. If I’m exercising, I don’t wish my breast to be swinging around, especially during running! Too bad my cup size is not that big!

5. Never, never, and never flash my breasts around in public!

 

After becoming a mum:

1. My baby Justin’s main food source, and he takes milk only from me.

2. I’ll be more than glad if they don’t get engorged or having block ducts at the wrong time, ex: in the middle of the night so I don’t have to get up and pump.

3. I’ll nurse and pump everywhere in my house, and in front of everyone except BILs.

4. Only wear comfortable nursing bras that’re easy for nursing.

5. Breastfeeding at public is every woman’s right to be a mother, so that’s nothing wrong with it. May all those “chi cho pak” stop looking and mind your own business.

6. Justin, please don’t bite or pull mummy’s nipples coz that hurts!