This lousy weather is doing nothing for me and baby's health. One moment it's really hot and then suddenly cold and rainy. If my body is aching all over, I wonder if baby's is too. She has been having on and off runny nose. It will clear up in a day, then she will be okay for one day, and then it will come back on the next day. I am pretty sure it has to do with the weather. And the fact that there is air-con at her school but no air-con at home.
The weird weather is also causing temperature fluctuations in the bedroom. If the day was really hot, the bedroom would be stifling. But if the day was generally okay, the temperature would be cool. If it is rainy, the room is freezing! We have 3 types of blankets to suit the 3 types of temperatures. And then does it still apply that you put on an extra layer on baby if you yourself are feeling cold? I would wrap her up in a blanket, but then she wakes up with her clothes drenched in sweat, and I wonder if it would be okay if I remove the blanket for the next time? Can't tell if she is hot or cold when she's asleep!
But my body is aching badly, and I feel like I am coming down with some sort of fever or stomach bug. Eyes blurry, constant "cold" headaches. Hate what the weather is doing to me. I hate most being sick and spreading my germs to my baby. But I can't avoid it because she breastfeeds. In the end the close contact with me will cause her to get sick. How do I avoid these things? She won't take the bottle from me. It's such a pain.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Something funny #2
I'm telling myself, I must take a photo of this...
Baby is still sick, right now sleeping beside my husband. And the funny (and interesting) thing is they are both sleeping in the same exact position!! He is sleeping on his right side, and so is she... left and right arm positioned in the same exact way... so there's no doubt that she's definitely his kid...
Where do they pick up these things? Is it in the genes? It's strange to think that she picked these habits up in the womb. Because people say that babies pick up the mother's habit in the womb. It's pretty hard to see what daddy's doing while they're in the womb, no?
Sometimes she'll be sleeping with one knee up, just like her dad. It's so funny. When I point it out to him, he is not as amused about it as I am. He seems to think that I'm pointing out his bad habits, but no... I just think it's funny! He thinks she's inherited my facial expressions, and my impatience. Which I think so too, but is very bad. I may be the most impatient person in the world maybe. Maybe not. I can think of 3 others who are more impatient than I am... but I will not mention names...
Baby is still sick, right now sleeping beside my husband. And the funny (and interesting) thing is they are both sleeping in the same exact position!! He is sleeping on his right side, and so is she... left and right arm positioned in the same exact way... so there's no doubt that she's definitely his kid...
Where do they pick up these things? Is it in the genes? It's strange to think that she picked these habits up in the womb. Because people say that babies pick up the mother's habit in the womb. It's pretty hard to see what daddy's doing while they're in the womb, no?
Sometimes she'll be sleeping with one knee up, just like her dad. It's so funny. When I point it out to him, he is not as amused about it as I am. He seems to think that I'm pointing out his bad habits, but no... I just think it's funny! He thinks she's inherited my facial expressions, and my impatience. Which I think so too, but is very bad. I may be the most impatient person in the world maybe. Maybe not. I can think of 3 others who are more impatient than I am... but I will not mention names...
Maternal Instincts
Everytime my baby gets sick, my heart goes out to her. She's all helpless and unable to tell me in words where she's aching, and what's upsetting her. I can only guess and try to comfort her as best as I can. Salma had a fever on Sunday night, so I stayed in Monday to take care of her. She was so weak with no energy to play, she'd just lie down or nurse, or sleep. And I knew she wanted me to bring her everywhere I went. I wonder why our maternal instincts kick in when our babies are sick, but it's not so much for fathers? I'm quite surprised that my husband was oblivious to it all, and was not as concerned as I was about her being ill. For instance, their bodies don't automatically stay up at night to watch over a sick child. Why is that? He wondered why last night I was not able to sleep. I wonder if their paternal instincts start to wear off or something...
It's funny today too, because it's as if my maternal instincts were on overdrive... I usually bring my mobile phone to the lactation room so that I can achieve "let down" by staring at my baby's photos while I'm on the pump. And yesterday, I had taken a photo of her sleeping pitifully on her side, a photo of her at her "sickest" so to speak. This morning while I was in the lactation room, I chose to gaze at this very same photo, and without realising it, I was able to pump 4 oz in 15 minutes! It's as if looking at that photo of my baby being so helpless caused my body to pump out milk at top speed!
I could not sleep much last night because I was busy trying to keep her fever down. And now I feel awful that I'm at work instead of taking care of her. I don't think this dilemma ever ends for mothers. And maybe fathers only get in this mode if they are single parents. I really wish Dad would take up his share of the burden of caring for her when she's ill without having to be asked. I wish this for all moms out there! It would certainly help to take a load off my mind!
It's lunch time soon and I am very tired from lack of sleep. I think I'll take a nap and eat later? It's tough being a working mom. :(
Friday, February 13, 2009
Milk production boosters
Taking advice from comment left by ms. w on blog entry "Supermom" on Feb 11, 09, I'm going to find out what are the milk boosters out there. So far, ppl tell me that:
1. soy milk
2. green beans/french beans (kacang buncis/kacang panjang)
are pretty good milk boosters.
And also in my own personal experience,
3. tuna
is a milk booster. There were occassions where all I ate that day were tuna fish sandwiches, made with the ayam brand tuna with mildly hot mayonaise, I produced so much milk that I could pump 6 oz in just 20 mins!
If any of you out there have tried and true milk boosters, please leave your comments, and later on i'll collect all suggestions and post them in the blog.
1. soy milk
2. green beans/french beans (kacang buncis/kacang panjang)
are pretty good milk boosters.
And also in my own personal experience,
3. tuna
is a milk booster. There were occassions where all I ate that day were tuna fish sandwiches, made with the ayam brand tuna with mildly hot mayonaise, I produced so much milk that I could pump 6 oz in just 20 mins!
If any of you out there have tried and true milk boosters, please leave your comments, and later on i'll collect all suggestions and post them in the blog.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Supermom?
All mothers will go through this stage, but I am worried that it's coming too soon for me. I find that it's harder for me to pump/express my breastmilk (bm) as compared to before, and I'm wondering whether I am drying up! It saddens me a bit if I am drying up because my baby's only 4 months old. My plan was to breastfeed her (and save on formula milk costs) for at least 1 year. Over the weekend, I only managed to pump 4 ounces when usually I can pump around 10-12 ounces a day. And I used to be able to do it even though I was nursing her, and not just on days where I work and am unable to nurse her.
I am wondering whether morning after pills have anything to do with my decreasing bm production. The Obgyn that delivered me told me that all birth control pills but one brand will affect bm production. And I forgot what that one brand was! It's so cumbersome to go back and see this same doc because she's situated all the way in Putrajaya Hospital (where I delivered). My regular Obgyn is located nearby but then I haven't made the time to take leave and see her, since she doesn't operate on weekends. I went to a regular clinic to get some advice, and the doctor said best to stay clear of all birth control pills if I want to continue to breastfeed, and just stick to morning after pills, which is what I've been doing. But I wonder if those too will affect my bm production. Yes, they say that breastfeeding is the best contraceptive... but only if you manage to breastfeed for 8 hours a day. I was told this by someone. And I'm thinking, do I breastfeed for 8 hours a day? I don't think so. I think the longest she's nursed in one stretch was 30 mins. I'd have to nurse her 16 times to get 8 hours a day! And since I'm working, I don't get to do that. I only use the lactation room at my office at the most for a total of one hour. And that's if I'm lucky. Usually it's about 15-20 mins, if I get to go once. If I get to go twice, then it's double that.
We've got one lactation room in the entire office, and currently there are 4 mothers using it. Later on, there'll be more. So many of us are having babies this year and last year! Later on I'm worried that we'd all be scrambling to use the room and may not get the chance since there is a long queue. Haha.
If you don't have a lactation room in your office, then you've got to lobby for one. I can't imagine how it would be like pumping in the stall of your office toilet as I'm told some mothers have to do. That would be horrible. So uncomfortable.
I use a Medela pump, which is the best, I think. It's worth buying even though it's expensive. It's expensive in the states, and it's expensive here. So don't worry about it. Just buy it. Haven't tried Spectra, but I'm not complaining with my Medela. Have tried other pump by Tollijoy, but Medela tops it by far. Comfortable and easy to carry. Has different sizes to fit all. I bought mine at a bargain too. It was just under RM400 when I bought it, but I checked back at the store just last Sunday and saw that the price has increased to RM449. Mine is the Mini Electric. Everyone is talking about the Swing. Which is handsfree. Can't believe there's such a thing! With straps to attach it to your bra. It costs about RM799, if I'm not mistaken. But I'm happy with my mini electric. has been doing great even though I use it on a daily basis.
I am wondering whether morning after pills have anything to do with my decreasing bm production. The Obgyn that delivered me told me that all birth control pills but one brand will affect bm production. And I forgot what that one brand was! It's so cumbersome to go back and see this same doc because she's situated all the way in Putrajaya Hospital (where I delivered). My regular Obgyn is located nearby but then I haven't made the time to take leave and see her, since she doesn't operate on weekends. I went to a regular clinic to get some advice, and the doctor said best to stay clear of all birth control pills if I want to continue to breastfeed, and just stick to morning after pills, which is what I've been doing. But I wonder if those too will affect my bm production. Yes, they say that breastfeeding is the best contraceptive... but only if you manage to breastfeed for 8 hours a day. I was told this by someone. And I'm thinking, do I breastfeed for 8 hours a day? I don't think so. I think the longest she's nursed in one stretch was 30 mins. I'd have to nurse her 16 times to get 8 hours a day! And since I'm working, I don't get to do that. I only use the lactation room at my office at the most for a total of one hour. And that's if I'm lucky. Usually it's about 15-20 mins, if I get to go once. If I get to go twice, then it's double that.
We've got one lactation room in the entire office, and currently there are 4 mothers using it. Later on, there'll be more. So many of us are having babies this year and last year! Later on I'm worried that we'd all be scrambling to use the room and may not get the chance since there is a long queue. Haha.
If you don't have a lactation room in your office, then you've got to lobby for one. I can't imagine how it would be like pumping in the stall of your office toilet as I'm told some mothers have to do. That would be horrible. So uncomfortable.
I use a Medela pump, which is the best, I think. It's worth buying even though it's expensive. It's expensive in the states, and it's expensive here. So don't worry about it. Just buy it. Haven't tried Spectra, but I'm not complaining with my Medela. Have tried other pump by Tollijoy, but Medela tops it by far. Comfortable and easy to carry. Has different sizes to fit all. I bought mine at a bargain too. It was just under RM400 when I bought it, but I checked back at the store just last Sunday and saw that the price has increased to RM449. Mine is the Mini Electric. Everyone is talking about the Swing. Which is handsfree. Can't believe there's such a thing! With straps to attach it to your bra. It costs about RM799, if I'm not mistaken. But I'm happy with my mini electric. has been doing great even though I use it on a daily basis.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Kisses
My baby Salma has learned how to give kisses now! She will put her arms around my neck, press her face to my cheek and start sucking on my face! hahaha. It's so cute. But everytime she does it I know she's showing me her love. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)