Lil' Darling down with Fever

Little cranky girl with fever.

It was yesterday that I was having a flu in the morning. Taken a clarinase (Yes, it's safe for nursing moms, according to Dr. Koe) and taken a nap too with mild headache.

I got up at about 2ish woken by her cries. Mom told me the thermometer needed a new battery. I felt he warmth from her body immediately when I carrying her to nurse. It doesn't help that we don't have any spare battery at the very moment! While waiting to leave the house we sponged her a bit with wet hanky.

On the way back to my in-laws' place we quickly drop by a hardware shop nearby to grab some batteries. The moment we reached the house, check straight away. It's 38 degree!

We continue sponging & basically the whole house panicked trying to locate any paediatrician that opens at that hour!

Spoke to a few friends for advise, we gave her paracetamol, a cold bath, sponge with tab water, dress down with light clothing, ran to grab the koolfever for babies from Guardian pharmacy. Find out how to reduce your little one's fever without using medicine.

Everything seemed to work, we managed to bring down her temperature to 36.8 degree. While we continue monitoring, it's goin up & down but at least we kept it under 37 degree. We had to skip a wedding dinner just to keep monitoring closely.

Since it's under control we decided to observe for a night instead of going in to the admission & emergency department, hopefully she gets better the next morning.

We gave her second round of paracetamol before settling her to sleep, sponged & left the cool fever patch on her forehead. Hubs volunteered to measure her temperature every hour so that I can get some sleep. Throughout the night it's around 35 to 36 degree.

Towards the morning around 6am she woke up and I notice the koolfever patch was gone. Her body seemed to be warmer again, temperature raise to 36.8 degree. We decided to bring her to the pead which opens on Sundays:

Dr Chan Wai Yue
Chan Baby & Child Clinic
Tel: 03-7726 3348
Location in Damansara Jaya, few doors away from Jin Xiang Dim Sum Restaurant.
Consultation Hours:
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 8.30am - 12.30pm
Mon, Wed, Fri: 6.30pm - 9.00pm
Sat, Sun: 9.00am - 1.00pm

It wasn't too bad that we were no.12 as we got there, as they're up till no.5 already. Still, waited almost 2hours for our turn. Doctor did a quick check, her nasal and tonsil are clear, no ear infection, temperature 37 degree, but she said it's not fever (read about baby fever here). Doctor suspected viral infection, which the fever is helping her body to fight it off, and the fever could go up and down for 2-3 days.

So we gotta watch closely, let the fever run its course, only give her paracetamol once it reaches 37.5 degree. While observing we'll be sponging once in a while or placing a damp washcloth on her forehead which she hates it and fights it everytime we do that!

So sorry Mommy has to do that, Mommy hope you'll get well soon my baby.

Love ya
xoxoxo

SAHM wannabe!

Sitting up is your favourite position now :)

This marked the last of the 6 days of me being a SAHM. Hate to know that I'm gonna be back at work tomorrow. Gawd I miss spending time with my Darling already! These 6 days just flown by without giving any warning!

But I'm grateful to have this golden opportunity to spend some quality time together with my Darling, without distraction, just me and her in her innocent world :)

I've been so busy that I lost track of her development. I realised she's grown so much and so fast! I've been missing too much :'(

In these few days together we experienced some of our first-times, I'd like to believe it is :)

Your 8 Months Milestones, Part II:

- You're so much into gadgets. Your face shines when you saw us using our phones or laptops next to you, you'll wanna have a peek on the screen too!

Caught Mommy snapping photos of you standing up :)

- You can stand up from sitting position almost instantly by holding on to the sofa, even tries to climb by lifting up one leg!

- The sarong is becoming your least favourite item. Over the last few days I almost couldn't put you in at all. Not even half way in you started wailing already that I was carrying you to sleep most of the time! (My arms are aching the next day!)You can roll over and sit yourself up in the sarong too!

- You're starting to experience separation anxiety. When we're out of your sight, you'll be calling or looking for us in your walker ;)

- I'm super happy that Mommy is your favourite person, at least in these few days :) Everytime Mommy walk away, you'll be wailing. Or show a huge grin when you manage to see me finally. You scream in excitement when I pick you up!

- Jabbers: ufh ufh ufh, rrrrraffh rrrrraffh, tzuck tzuck (playing with tongue) mammaaa mammm...
Can't wait to hear you calling Mommy already!

- Developing strong sense of sounds, react to all kinds of sounds i.e. plane flies by, motorcycle passes by the back lane, our phones rings... You love music too! You'll look at us when we sing to you, smiling :) You'll rock lightly back and forth sitting up when we play you music from your toy, as if you're enjoying the rhythm too :) Favourite songs of the month: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Old MacDonald Had A Farm.

- You've mastered the pincer grasp by now. I discovered this when you pinching me with your sharp nails and full strength that I almost jumped! You can pick up even the tiniest sewing string.

- Crawling well with your belly off the ground :) Especially when you see my phone or your favourite book: Molly's Jolly Brolly.

- Extend your arms wanting to be carried :)

- You'll look at the door whenever you hear the keys, welcome whoever comes back with your biggest grin :)


Ain't it too sweet?
Sweeps off all my tiredness when I see my little Darling smiling :)

Love ya most,
Sweet Pea Mom
xoxoxo

Happy 8 Months Old My Little Darling!

Happy 8 months old my little Darling *cuddle*

We have a 8-month-old now! Wait, what? (Cue record scratch.) While those sleepless nights often felt like an eternity, the months have flown by, which only means one thing: When the next few months fly by, we'll have a (gulp) 1-year-old.

OK, now we're getting misty-eyed with nostalgia. I can't help thinking,"They grow up so fast. Sniff!"

My little Sunshine, here's what keeping you busy recently:

- Of late you've been talking the language of ma-ma-mam-mammmmm after doin the ba-ba-da-de-daaaaa for quite a while... I'm wondering if you mean Mommy or you're just hungry? :)

- Practicing to wave in the style of Queen by twisting your wrist often, once or twice you surprised us by waving bye-bye when we say goodbye you to!

- Mommy admit that I was jealous that you prefer Daddy over me, and was upset when you used to give me that who-are-you face. But till recently, you became really attached to me. Which of course, I'm loving it to the max! :)

- You're showing interest to all the details you get contact with, from the sounds of the plane flown by to the tiny little eye on the plushy yellow ducky. It's just so cute each time you're trying to scratch it off ducky's face :D

- Starting to understand object permanence when you trying to look for Daddy as he played peekaboo with you :)

- You love munching papaya with the Nibbler mommy bought for you. Reaching for spoon while being fed shows that you're ready to feed yourself :) Favourite food of the month: banana! Next, we'll try pear, ok?

- Learning to imitate moods and emotions from us. When I'm laughing over things you'll look at me and giggle too!

- Recent exercise: cruising around by holding on sofas and pillows. Mommy can't wait to see your very first steps forward already!

- Favourite toy at the moment: our iPhones! Crawling excitedly to grab it whenever it's within your sight! Fascinated while we showing you your pretty pictures on the phone :)

- Last but not least, your very first 2 bottom white caps officially make their appearance, finally, after all the fussiness and crankiness. In the meantime Mommy & Daddy are brushing up our photography skills trying to snap photos of those little cuties! By the way, your top middle tooth is peeking already :)


Love you more each day!
Sweet Pea Mom
xoxoxo

Breastfeeding May Boost Children's IQ?

Xena (Lucy Lawless) seen here breastfeeding her baby gal for the campaign.

"Suckling at the breast results in changes in the mother's brain—increased blood flow and oxytocin release [a hormone promoting bonding between mother and infant], and probably in the baby's brain."

Children breast-fed longer than six months scored a 3.8-point IQ margin over those who were bottle-fed, according to a seven-year study by researchers at Jagiellonian University Medical College in Poland.

Medical epidemiologist Wieslaw Jedrychowski and colleagues followed 468 babies born to nonsmoking mothers. The children were tested five times at regular intervals from infancy through preschool age. The data showed that cognitive abilities of preschoolers who were breast-fed scored significantly higher than bottle-fed infants, and IQ score was directly proportional to how long the infants had been breast-fed: IQs were 2.1 points higher in children who were breast-fed for three months; 2.6 points higher when babies were breast-fed for four to six months; 3.8 points higher in children breast-fed longer than six months. The results were published in the May 2011 issue of the European Journal of Pediatrics.

This research confirms observations reported 70 years ago by Carolyn Hoefer and Mattie Hardy in JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association, as well as many subsequent studies. This body of research provides the scientific basis for the World Health Organization's recommendation that all infants should be exclusively breast-fed for the first six months of life. But what is the missing ingredient that undermines the cognitive development of bottle-fed babies?

Chemists searching for a specific compound in mother's milk have been overlooking the obvious difference between breast-feeding and bottle-feeding—something that could easily account for the difference in cognitive development, wrote Tonse Raju, a pediatrician and neonatalogist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in the current issue of Breastfeeding Medicine, October 2011. (Raju was not involved in the Jedrychowski study.)

"Sometimes even the most obvious facts need to be reiterated," he wrote. "An infant suckling at his or her mother's breast is not simply receiving a meal, but is intensely engaged in a dynamic, bidirectional, biological dialogue." It is the physical and psychological bonding and interaction between infant and mother during breast-feeding that nurtures development of an infant's cognitive abilities.

Jedrychowski strongly agrees with Raju's statement, and adds: "I believe the IQ effect may in part be explained by this dynamic interaction between mother and child in the breast-feeding process."

Brain bulk and white matter in early life (Continue next page)

Muscle pull in lower back

Everything is so high above me!

Recently we've lowered down her playpen & crib to the bottom level, for safety purpose as she's started pulling herself up already.

We decorate the playpen with her favourite toys, distract her when we put her down. She fusses a little but got used to it really fast & started exploring her new little world :)

Now the challenge is for us to lift her up. By bending all the way down all the time to pick up a 9kg is gonna take a toll on our back. It doesn't help that me & my mom are already unfit & having a weak back muscle.

For the crib at night is even tougher for me, as we used to wear her to sleep, bend over to lay her down into the crib & slowly pull ourselves out from the sling. Now it's impossible to do that. So we put her down onto our bed & then transfer her to the crib, which risking her waking up. Putting her down gently & slowly also required much strength from the back.

My worry came true. When I'm getting her ready for bed, I lifted her up from mom, at that very moment it hurts, & I pulled my back. Later on I found out I couldn't even bend down or minor stretch. I've pulled my muscle.

What's next? Appointment with a sinseh for some tui-na or orthopedist for some painkiller jab?

My Little Darling Turns 7 Months Old Today!

My first Liverpool kit!

It couldn't be time flies just like rocket. It feels like just yesterday that i was pregnant!

My little Sunshine you've learned so much now everyday I discover new things about you!

Your 7 Months Milestones

- Ever since you mastered the ability to grasp an object, so excited you started transferring it from one hand to the other! :) I'm overjoyed witnessing your first throwing moment (I think I was the first one!)

- You're able to sit up independently, occasionally topples over. So we put up pillows barriers while you exploring around.

- Able to get from your tummy into a sitting position by pushing up on your strong arms.

- Refusing to sit most of the time, & wanting to stand instead!

- Enjoying the joy of jumping with your strong little kickers, while holding up by human jumperoo :) Mommy's getting some serious arms workout!

- You tasted your very first spoon of semi-solid food, & you loved it! Your favourite food of the month: brown rice cereal :)

- First time holding & drinking from the sippy cup by yourself, though it's more like you're playing with it like a teether :)

- Mommy managed to shed off 5kilos (yep, took me that long!) part of your contribution too as Mommy lost weight by breastfeeding :) though I still have the remaining stubborn 5kilos clinging on me :(

- You enjoy riding a imaginary pony on all fours (very furiously till u topple over!) as much as we enjoy watching it :)

- First experience of socialising with other babies. Reached out & touched each other's face. Awww...

- You amazed Mommy the most by starting to hold the objects around & pull yourself up already! :D

Love
Sweet Pea Mom
xoxoxo

Blood Test or Not?

Had fun riding the rattan horse in Dr Koe's clinic!

2 weeks ago we finally brought Darling to see the highly recommended Dr Koe Swee Lee, a consultant pediatrician & lactation consultant. Was planning to get the allergy blood test which she explained to me on the phone the other day.

Went there at about 10.15am & we're at #19 of the queue! Some families went for lunch in between so we got to skip a few slots earlier, only waited for about an hour, not too bad on a Saturday right?

Dr Koe doesn't recommend the allergy blood test especially at this young age, as the result won't be accurate. She did a few test with other patients & was very disappointed cuz couldn't find any culprit.

I shared with her on our case & diagnosis of the stool with streaks of blood. She explained that lactose intolerance is very rare in babies. If it does occur it will be from the day they born, & not after few months. Symptoms are vomitting & diarrhoea. So far Darling never experience those.

But the fact that I'm on a strict elimination diet & that still happening, it really worries me. Hence the decision of taking the allergy blood test, however that she doesn't seem to recommend. She said that happened only twice in last month, with only very little fine lines of blood & tiny bit of mucus. That indicated improvement of her condition.

Elimination Diet (Continue Next Page)

Review: Nutritionists' Choice Cookbook

Lovely gift from Lynnora!

I mentioned about receiving this lovely gift from Lynnora when I was sharing my EBM with her for her 5 months old baby boy (read about breastmilk sharing!). A beautiful [Nutritionists' Choice Cookbook]!

(Top) Fruity Snack - bananas, mangoes, yogurt & oatmeal
(Bottom) Pumpkin, spinach & potato mix... mmm...
Fish in mixed vegetable soup

Comes in useful guides & yummy recipes of baby foods with lots of pretty images. Covering all you need to know from starting solids to feeding toddler!

(Top) Meehun with sweet potato/ Fish with Kei-chi porridge
(Bottom) Minced chicken with carrot porridge/ Broccoli in tomato rice

That'll be pretty handy for me as we're just started solids, I'd really love to make our own baby foods!

Sweet Pea Mom
xoxoxo

Any recipes you'd like to share with me?

Sippy cup do's and don'ts

Plain water? Blegh...

When should I introduce a sippy cup?

Some babies enjoy a sippy as early as 5 or 6 months, and others aren't interested until after their first birthdays. Most babies seem ready around 7 to 9 months, though.

What's the best way to transition to a sippy cup?

Some babies take to a sippy cup immediately; others take a while to get used to the idea. Here are some tips on making the transition easier:

- Start off with a soft, pliable, nipplelike spout, which will feel more familiar to your baby than a hard plastic spout.

- Show your baby how to raise the cup to his mouth and tip it up to drink.
Give it some time. Until your baby masters the maneuvers, you may want to put only water in the cup. When he shakes or throws it, even a sippy might not keep purple grape juice from hitting the carpet. Don't worry if your baby doesn't use the sippy cup properly for a while. It makes a fine toy, too!

- Try different models until you find one that suits your baby. Some cups have valves that are so effective at keeping the liquid from spilling that children really have to work to get a drink.
Encourage your child to use a regular cup when you think he's ready.

What should I do if my child refuses the sippy cup? (Continue Next Page)

Starting Solids: The 10 best foods for babies

Lovely gift from Lynnora :)

Yesterday I was sharing some of my extra EBM with Lynnora for her 5 months old baby boy (read about breastmilk sharing!). Without expecting anything in return, Lyn gave me a hand book titled [Nutritionists' Choice Cookbook] which she got from the Ministry of Health Malaysia. What a lovely gift! I told her that'll be really useful as we're just started solids, & I'd really love to make my own baby foods!

Here are 10 of the absolute favorites of many parents. After introducing any new food, wait three days before moving on to the next new food to identify any possible allergic reaction. If your baby's still a beginner at eating solids (read about introducing solids to your baby), grind or puree the food as needed.

The 10 best foods for babies

Squash

Squash is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, is naturally sweet, and has a pleasing, creamy texture.

Serving idea: Sprinkle parmesan cheese and a little chili seasoning on half a squash, roast it, and scoop out a serving for your baby, suggests pediatrician Susanna Block, owner of World Baby Foods, an ethnic baby food line. "Cooked squash with a little cilantro, mild chiles, and garbanzo beans are another great combination," she says.

Lentils

Crammed with protein and fiber, lentils pack a powerful nutritional punch. They're also one of the cheapest healthy foods you can buy.

Serving idea: Combine cooked lentils with mixed vegetables, rice, and seasonings of your choice. "Try basil and oregano," suggests dietitian Karin Hosenfeld of North Dallas Nutrition. "Or toss in a bay leaf, which works really well with lentils." (Remove the bay leaf before serving.)

Dark green leafy vegetables

Leafy greens boast high amounts of iron and folate. While spinach is perhaps the best known of this group, there are many other varieties, including kale, chard, and collard greens.

Serving idea: Steam and puree a batch of greens, then mix with iron-fortified cereal to give your baby a double dose of iron. Experiment with the proportions to see what your baby likes; Hosenfeld suggests starting with two parts veggie to one part cereal.

Broccoli

Brimming with folate, fiber, and calcium, broccoli is also known for its cancer-fighting properties, says dietitian Kate Geagan, author of Go Green, Get Lean. And thanks to its sulfur compounds, it has a unique flavor that can help expand your baby's tastes.

Serving idea: Steam pieces until soft, then chill. "Steaming takes the bite out of broccoli," says Hosenfeld. "And chilled broccoli is sometimes better accepted by babies. It can also be soothing during teething."

Blueberries

The deep, brilliant blue of these berries comes from flavonoids called anthocyanins, which are good for your baby's eyes, brain, and even urinary tract, says Stephen Gass, co-author of Mix and Mash: Adventures in the Kitchen for Baby and You.

Serving Idea: Gass suggests this easy blueberry soup: Combine 1 cup of blueberries with one-quarter cup of water in a bowl, microwave for one minute, and let cool. Then swirl some plain yogurt on top.

Avocados (Continue Next Page)

Starting Solids: The 5 worst foods for babies

I'm pretty particular in terms of food selections for my little Darling. Would avoid baby jar foods as much as possible. Here's some handy tips of what to avoid.

The 5 worst foods for babies

Soda

It seems too obvious to mention, but believe it or not, some babies are served soft drinks as early as 7 months of age, according to a survey of more than 3,000 families presented at the American Dietetic Association (ADA) conference in 2009.

Whether regular or diet, soft drinks provide absolutely no nutrients. Regular soda contains a ton of sugar, which can wreak havoc on your baby's teeth. And filling up on either type means babies eat and drink less of the nutritious food their bodies really need.

Juice

Sure, it comes from fruit, but that doesn't mean it's healthy. The fiber in fresh fruit is largely lost in the juicing process, and what's left is a whole lot of sugar. "Juice is basically a waste of calories," says pediatrician Ari Brown, co-author of Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Baby's First Year.

Using certain types of juice – specifically apple and pear – to sweeten your baby's food isn't a good idea either, says nutritionist Leanne Cooper, author of What Do I Feed My Baby: A Step-by-Step Guide to Solids. The sugars in these juices can speed up the food's passage through the digestive tract. "When food passes too quickly, the body doesn't have time to absorb all those lovely nutrients," says Cooper. It can also lead to diarrhea in some babies.

What about advertisers' claims that juice provides babies with necessary vitamin C? Don't be fooled. "Babies can easily get their vitamin C from one small serving of fruit," says Brown.

What should your baby drink instead? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies younger than 6 months drink nothing but breast milk or formula. Babies 6 to 12 months old can have small amounts of water, but breast milk or formula should still be their main beverage. After the first birthday, cow's milk is recommended.

Crackers (Continue Next Page)

Breastfeed: Study - Stem cells in breastmilk be reprogrammed into other cell types

Image: Earth Mama Angel Baby

One of the greatest discovery on earth I would consider is, stem cells identified in breastmilk. The question was whether the stem cells behave like embryonic stem cells - able to be 'reprogrammed' into new tissue.

It now appears that we have the answer. New research from the University of Western Australia is now showing that these cells can be directed to become other cell types:

Serious and fatal diseases such as pancreatic cancer, Parkinson's disease and diabetes may eventually be treated using stem cells from breast milk following a remarkable discovery at the University of Western Australia.

UWA PhD student Foteini Hassiotou has potentially broken through the greatest hurdle in stem cell research - the ability to ethically obtain stem cells in a non-invasive manner.

Her finding that stem cells from breast milk can be directed to become other body cell types such as bone, fat, liver and brain cells, could reduce the need to use embryonic stem cells and therefore fast-track future therapies.

Image: Wikipedia

This breakthrough is particulary important because stem cells in breastmilk are obviously far less controversial than other sources, and are also fairly easy to obtain. Note that this research won an award from AusBiotech-GlaxoSmithKline.
Many questions remain, but one interesting one identified by the study's author is what the function of these cells is in the breastfeeding infant. One prior study suggested that they may play a role in helping a child 'fulfill its genetic destiny.'

Source: motherwear.com

Would you think that this discovery could greatly encourage mommies to breastfeed?

Breastfeed: Does beer really increase milk supply?

Does beer really increase milk supply?

It's the day after St. Patrick's Day and it just occurred to me that it would be a great time to investigate the age-old advice to down a Guinness to increase milk production.

Here's what Dr. Thomas Hale says in the must-have guide to medications and breastfeeding, Medications and Mothers' Milk:

Beer, but not ethanol, has been reported in a number of studies to stimulate prolactin levels and breastmilk production. Thus is it presumed that the polysaccharide from barley may be the prolactin-stimulating component of beer. Non-alcoholic beer is equally effective.

Dr. Hale also cites two studies which suggest that, in the immediate period after mothers consume alcohol, milk production declines significantly and babies take in less milk.

So it appears that barley, a traditional food for increasing milk supply, makes beer effective at increasing prolactin levels, but that the alcohol in it causes babies to take in less milk.

Of course, drinking alcohol while breastfeeding can pose risks for your baby if it's not consumed in moderation. And beer, non-alcoholic or not, would not be the at the top of the list of recommendations for increasing milk supply.

Source: motherwear.com

Does beer really work for you?

Breastfeed: What mothers eat can influence their milk supply

Miranda Nursing her lovely Flynn.. (Read more about her!)

What mothers eat can influence their milk supply

Around the world and throughout history, mothers have known that certain foods support their milk production. These foods were valued in earliest cultures and highlighted in mythology. Mother Goddesses were associated with barley grain, the almond, coconut, lotus, the elder tree, and many other plants and foods that were used historically to increase milk production.

Today, mothers dealing with low milk supply are again interested to learn how foods and herbs can support their milk production. Experts who work closely with low-supply mothers report that certain foods influence milk supply for some mothers. These so-called “lactogenic foods and herbs” are the subject of this article.

Dietary Guidelines Following Birth

Getting a good start the first few weeks after birth can be helpful in supporting the onset and development of a mother’s milk supply:

- Get enough to eat. Simply eating regularly and getting enough calories will support your milk supply.

- Get enough to drink, but not too much. Between 2 – 3 quarts a day is a good goal to aim for. Some mothers discover they need much more, and some find that they need to get “just enough” fluids to maintain an optimal milk supply.

- Eat at least one warm meal per day that includes a source of protein, a portion of green salad, a grain such as millet or rice, and cooked vegetables such as yam, carrot, and fennel.

- Spice moderately with lactogenic spices, for instance with sea-salt or gomasio, with dill or caraway, or basil and marjoram, and, if tolerated, with garlic.

- Avoid food that is hard to digest such as fried or extremely fatty food.

- Take probiotic yogurt or lactobacilli supplements to protect your intestinal flora and to help prevent colic and allergy in your baby.

- Get healthy fats such as butter and olive oil, and remember to supplement with essential fatty acids.

- Herbs useful after birth include stinging nettle to rebuild the blood lost during birth, turmeric, to help prevent breast inflammation, oat-straw, to nurture the nerves and to help prevent nervous exhaustion. These herbs also increase milk supply, so keep an eye on your supply and reduce or increase your dosage of these herbs as necessary.

- If you lost a lot of blood during birth, avoid taking ginger for several weeks.

A traditional Chinese remedy used in the early postpartum is homemade chicken soup, simmered with the bones for several hours and rich with chicken fat, taken only once a week—otherwise, it is said to over-stimulate the baby. This remedy is reputed to prevent depression, to restore a mother's vitality, and to help develop an abundant milk supply.

Source: mobimotherhood.org

P/S: what's your remedy that increase your milk supply?

Breastfeed: Lactogenic Foods

Angelina Jolie nursing her baby... lovely!

A traditional Chinese remedy used in the early postpartum is homemade chicken soup, simmered with the bones for several hours and rich with chicken fat, taken only once a week—otherwise, it is said to over-stimulate the baby. This remedy is reputed to prevent depression, to restore a mother's vitality, and to help develop an abundant milk supply.

Individual Dosage Requirements

Mothers have individual needs when it comes to lactogenic foods and herbs. Although most mothers produce milk well without having to consider their use at all, a few mothers find that they need to take a good amount every day, and that they may need to take a high dosage for two to four days to kick-start lactation.

As a breastfeeding mother gathers experience about her unique reaction to foods and herbs, she will learn the dosage that works best for her, both for building and for maintaining milk supply.

All mothers should consider the following: If you do not have low milk supply, and you take an abundance of herbs and foods to increase your supply, you may create unnecessary difficulties for yourself such as over-supply, engorgement, plugged ducts, or mastitis. Your baby may develop colic due to too much foremilk, or sucking difficulties due to an overly strong let-down reflex, both of which are common with over-supply. Use these foods and herbs wisely, and reduce or stop their use if you notice such problems.

LACTOGENIC FOODS

Lactogenic foods support lactation for many reasons. Eating sufficient calories and getting an abundant supply of nutrients is helpful in itself for lactation, but these foods also contain substances that interact with and support the chemistry of lactation. These substances include phytoestrogen, natural plant sedatives, plant sterols and saponins, and tryptophan, among others. In addition, a rich supply of minerals and a good balance of fats ensure that the mother’s cells and nerves are functioning at an optimal level.

Vegetables

Fennel

Fennel can be eaten raw or cooked, for instance, steamed, or sautéed in butter and then simmered in a bit of water. Fennel seed is well-known as an herb to increase milk production. The vegetable, containing the same pharmacologically active volatile oils, acts as a gentler support.

Carrot, Beet, Yam

These reddish vegetables are full of beta-carotene, needed in extra amounts during lactation. Carrot seed has been used as a galactagogue, and the vegetable, also containing the volatile oils and phytoestrogen, acts as a gentler support. The beet is a wonderful source of minerals and iron. Taking raw beet can help alleviate iron deficiency. These vegetables are naturally sweet, and they support the liver.

Dark Green Leafy Vegetables

Dark green vegetables are a potent source of minerals, vitamins and enzymes, as well as phytoestrogen that support lactation. Dandelion and stinging nettle leaves are diuretic, and can help reduce edema during pregnancy and after birth. They can be plucked from your garden in early spring and eaten whole, chopped into salad, or used to make tea. Stinging nettle can be harvested for salad or cooked as spinach. In your market, you'll find arugula, beet leaves, kale, Swiss chard, spinach, chicory, collard greens and others.

Grains and Legumes

Grains and legumes have a long history as galactagogues. The most commonly used grains include oats, millet, barley and rice. Oats are the most widely used lactogenic food in the US. Legumes to include in your diet are chickpea, mung beans and lentils.

Nuts

Nuts that support milk supply include almonds, cashews, and macadamia nuts. As much as possible, eat raw nuts, not roasted or salted. The taste of raw nuts will grow on you.

Oils and fats

Healthy fats play a vital role in cellular and neural metabolism. The kinds of fats a mother eats will influence the composition of fats in her milk. Please see the article “Dietary Tips for Pregnancy and the Postpartum” for more information.

The renowned expert in fats, Mary G. Enig, suggests that mothers get regular and substantial dosages of butter and coconut oil. In addition, use cold-pressed virgin olive oil, and take equal amounts of cold-pressed sesame oil and flaxseed oil in salads.

One way to balance the fats is to dribble a quarter teaspoon of olive oil, flaxseed oil, sesame oil, and a thin slab of butter over meals. Be sure to eliminate unhealthy fats such as partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and transfatty acids from your diet, as these will also enter your milk.

In addition, be sure to have a source for essential fatty acids. For more information, see “Dietary Tips.”

Beverages

Lactogenic beverages include getting enough plain water to hydrate the body, drinking commercial lactation teas, non-alcoholic beer, ginger ale, Rivella, and natural herbal root-beers from your health food store. Check out coffee substitutes based on the lactogenic grain barley, such as CARO, Roma, Caffix, Pero or Dandy Blend. These imitation coffees usually also contain chicory or dandelion, plus malt—ingredients that are all lactogenic. A recipe for "Barley Water," a potent lactogenic beverage, is at the bottom of this article.

Condiments (Continue Next Page)

20 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I'd Had Kids

During the toughest earliest weeks after Darling was born, it was terrible. I mean my feeling. Everyone was congratulating us even my gynae told us to enjoy our baby. But things ain't what we've imagined, not even close!

Apart from having to deal with the crazy hormonal post-natal emotion, sleep deprivation, incision recovery (I'll share my dramatic birth story soon, I promise!), trying to calm a crying baby just made us go insane.

I always thought it was mean to tell people horror stories before they had children/ went into labour/ bought a house. But I'd WISHED that someone had told me how hard babies are.

This article described how precisely I felt that I just had to share it!

Source: CafeMom

These are things I wish someone had told me before I'd had kids or been knocked up.

1. After your first pregnancy, you will look six months pregnant as soon as the positive pee stick dries.

2. Your nipples will look like pancakes.

3. When you're pregnant, you're certifiable, but you have to not realize it. Instead you think you're the only sane one left on the planet.

4. If this is your first pregnancy, you will assume that this pregnancy is the most important pregnancy since Mary birthed Jesus.

5. You will eat a lot of food to try and make yourself less queasy. While it doesn't quell the nausea, it will cause a couple of extra pounds to be added to your frame. Which will annoy you because YOU DIDN'T EVEN ENJOY PUTTING THEM ON.

6. Worrying about random things will become a part of your daily routine.

7. Suddenly everyone will waltz through your dreams and have wild passionate sex with you.

8. Someone, somewhere will buy you the ugliest clothes you've ever seen and you will have to sit there, grinning, and tell them that you looooovvvveee the little outfit with the bows on it. For your 10-year old son.

9. Honest-to-God strangers will not only feel the need to rub your belly without so much as a handshake, but will then ask you if you plan on breastfeeding.

10. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, tell no one what you plan on feeding your child. Or make tasteless jokes like, "We were thinking Jack Daniels, but do you think that Crown Royal is better?" Otherwise, you're going to get a lecture. If you're tasteless, people will run away from you.

11. Most of the baby crap out there that they try to sell you is just that: crap. It's okay. Buy as much as you want. You'll realize it later.

12. You will hardly ever spend time in your perfectly coordinated nursery. Kids don't play in their bedroom until they're about 4 or 5, so while I would never suggest NOT doing up a nursery, I wouldn't go butt-wild on it either.

13. YOU WILL KNOW WHEN YOU ARE IN LABOR. NOTHING ELSE FEELS LIKE LABOR, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WANT IT TO.

14. No one but you can figure out what is actually in the ultrasound pictures.

15. Feeling the baby kick for the first time is perhaps the finest part of pregnancy. It only becomes painful when their ickle feet get to be the size of golf balls. Mean, busy golf balls.

16. Maternity clothes will fit differently during different parts of pregnancy. What might look cute with your wee beer-belly during the first trimester will look downright ill-fitting hours before you give birth.

17. Steer clear of anyone who claims any of the following:

- I was back in my size 4s when I left the hospital!
- I've never felt better than when I was pregnant!
- Breastfeeding really helped me take those 5 pesky pounds off!
- Having a baby is soooooo easy!

I mean, even if they're not lying through their grubby teeth, they're going to make you feel bad. And TRUST ME when I tell you that you will have plenty of things to feel bad/inadequate about.

18. Pregnancy is an excellent cure for modesty. I cannot recall a time when I didn't whip down my pants in front of the doctor WHETHER OR NOT THEY ASKED ME TO.

19. Babies cry. A lot. It's not your fault.

20. Enjoy it as best you can. Sure, you feel ugly, you're gangly, you've reached hippo-like proportions, you can hardly make it an hour without going to the bathroom and peeing out a tablespoon of liquid, you have heartburn so badly you could sear paint from the walls, and you're starving yet queasy. It's all true. But it's also magical.

What would you add to the list?

Parenting: Mainstream Parenting Ideas May Be Hurting Our Children

we practice attachment parenting!

I couldn't be more agree on the article I've read on CafeMom recently. Thought it will be great help for mommies who are confused of which parenting style to practice.

Mainstream Parenting Ideas May Be Hurting Our Children

Sleep training. Crying it out. Not my thing. But it is for many parents. Does this sound familiar? At bedtime, you must be firm. You must make it clear that bedtime is not optional, that once the routine is over and they've had that "last hug" or last "drink of water," that they just need to go to sleep.

This battle of wills even starts when babies are newborns with us being told, "You must start putting them down when they're awake so they learn to self-soothe," and eventually leads to the idea that a baby needs to be put in their crib and left to cry, so they "understand" that it's bedtime and they must sleep.

We are convinced if we fail to do these things, our child will lack good sleep, the family will be exhausted, you will have no routine, everyone will be completely miserable, and your infant will "know" that they can "manipulate" you.

Did you ever wonder where these ideas come from, and why many other countries look at these practices as cruel and strange?

Psychology Today calls the practice an "Evolutionary Mismatch." People thought that extreme stern parenting is the only way to form your child into a righteous and productive member of society. Sounds fun! There are even some relatively recent parenting models that suggest that anything other than this type of parenting is un-Christian or ungodly. Oookay.

What it boils down to is that sometime during the end of the 1800s, there was also a large movement away from spirituality and a heavier interest in science for all the answers. Which produced John Broadus Watson's extreme book Psychological Care of Infant and Child that told parents not to cuddle, hug, and kiss their children that much because it "robbed the child" of time he could be learning about his universe. He even went so far as to say that he questioned if parents should even be able to raise children themselves, since science obviously could do a better job, and wasn't emotional about it. He was very firm in his insistence that well-parented children should be like robots.

Many still believe in this form of parenting. However, as Psychology Today points out, children just aren't made like that. Back in "the day," an infant or toddler who was alone in the dark was afraid they were going to be eaten. Parents now think, "There's no tiger," and therefore dismiss the baby's biologically designed needs ... however, that doesn't mean the baby doesn't still feel fearful and lonely. And they certainly aren't trying to manipulate or test you. In many other countries, it's really rather simple -- they believe a secure child is a happy child. And it's up to us as parents to make the child feel secure, even if that means you're protecting them from the tiger in the dark that you know isn't there.

Source: CafeMom

What's your parenting style & what do you think about the mainstream parenting?

Cry it out? Think again!

Cry it out? Think again!

During the toughest earliest weeks after Darling was born, I received all sorts of suggestions of letting baby cry, not to carry her all the time in fear of spoiling her & we'll end up get manipulated etc...

When we ran out of idea, exhausted & drained by trying to settle a crying baby, I was offered to try the cry it out method, which I was reluctant.

We let her cried for less than a minute, her face turned red & she's out of breathe.. Next thing I found myself crying with an aching heart. From that moment I told myself, that's it, that's all I'd try & nothing could ever get that happens again. I apologised to Darling & promised mommy will never do that to her anymore.

Sweet Pea Mom
xoxoxo

Are you contemplating on trying the cry it out method? Or what's your sleeping solution?

What An Eventful Day!

Daddy when do I get to play outside??

What's goin on in the outside world?

It was an eventful day for Darling!

Considering she’s hardly out with us, it’s a lot for her to digest! :)

1st, she tasted avocado for the very first time.

2nd, we went to the Ibu Resource Group Jumble Sale in Sri Hartamas, where she gets to meet a lot of other babies!

3rd, we’re back to GrandPa’s place. Showed pouty face & cried again when GrandPa approached to give her a kiss. But she’s warmed up in a few minutes!

Getting warmed up with Grand Pa!

4th, we brought her to Ikea! Straight to Kids’ Department, where we found her the carrot TORVA Squeaky toy! Too bad the broccoli & tomatoes are sold out :{

We also got her the LEKA Cirkus Mobile which I really love it!

Also bought the BARNSLIG DANS Quilt Cover/Pillowcase, nice!

In the end we got home around 9ish which slightly later than her usual bedtime. So we made her bedtime ritual a quick one, washed up, changed to PJs, nursed & she’s settled into dreamland within a minute! Too tired from the eventful day :)

Night night my Darling!

Sweet Pea Mom
xoxoxo

What’s your outing with your little ones like? How do you wind down in the end of the day?

Constipation in Breastfed Babies and Formula Fed Babies

DID YOU KNOW?
rice cereals, bananas, and applesauce are some of the most binding foods around and are common causes of constipation.

Constipation in Breastfed Babies and Formula Fed Babies

When solid foods are introduced, breastfed babies may become truly constipated while formula fed babies may struggle more frequently with bouts of constipation.

Breastfed babies are rarely constipated as breast milk is almost 100% completely digested and utilized by baby's growing body. Breast milk leaves little "leftovers" to cause constipation. Many breastfed babies do have infrequent bowel movements however this does not mean that they are constipated.

Formula fed babies tend to battle constipation more often than their breastfed counterparts. Unlike breast milk, formula is not as easily digested nor is it as completely absorbed and used by a baby's body.

Source:
wholesomebabyfood.com
fornewmoms.com

Baby Constipation: It is heart breaking!

potty time!

Darling hasn't been pooping for 2 days since we introduced avocado to her :( Her stomach is so visibly bloated.

We've been putting her on potty to encourage her to poop. I decided to skip a day of giving solids temporarily, just to put her tiny tummy out of stress for a while.

Out of desperate, we gave her a capsule of LactoGG which I've been taking. Hoping that'll help soothing her constipation. After taking it in the morning, she finally gave us a stinky bomb in the evening! :D What a relief for us! We decided to continue giving the probiotics.

If you ever encounter this problem, here are some useful guides from wholesomebabyfood.com:

Common Causes of Infant Constipation are:

- Introduction of solid food(s) - breastfed babies may be more prone to constipation when solid foods are introduced. This is because their tiny tummies are used to processing the easily and highly digestible mother's milk

- Diets low in fiber

- Diets of excessive dairy products (yogurt, cheeses, milk)

- Foods such as Bananas, Applesauce, Cereals, Breads, Pasta and White Potatoes may contribute or cause constipation

- A change in diet usually relieves a baby with constipation. The following tips may also help the constipated baby get things "moving".


Remedies and How to Treat Constipation in Babies: (Continue Next Page)

Loving the car ride already!

Yup. That's the car seat that Darling used to cry whenever we put her in.

Now I love it the fact that she's gotten so used to it, she never fusses a bit when I buckle her up. After amusing the scenery outside the window, she'll be drifted into dreamland.

Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby

Avocado anyone??

Is Your Baby Ready for Solid Foods? 
Learn About Baby's Signs of Readiness for Solid Foods

There are many signs that might lead you to believe that your little one is ready to begin eating solid foods. But how exactly do you know if your baby really is ready for solid foods? Has your baby doubled her birth weight? Does your baby have good head control?

Your baby may be 3 months old or 4 months old when you start to feel she may need "something more" than formula or breast milk. Maybe she is beginning to awaken more often at night or eat more often than "usual" and you wonder if introducing solid foods may be what she needs.

A Growth Spurt May be Confused with a Readiness for Solid Foods

Please keep in mind that a growth spurt will occur between 3-4 months of age. Your baby may begin to wake more frequently at night for a feeding and/or may begin to eat non-stop (cluster feed) as she once did as a newborn. This growth spurt often accounts for the increased hunger in your baby and it should not be taken as a sign that your baby needs solid foods added to her diet.

You may try offering your baby more frequent nursing sessions and/or bottle feedings instead of solids; you will find that within a week or two, your baby is oftentimes over the growth spurt and back to feeding "as usual".

Here are a few "signs" that may indicate your baby is ready for Solid Foods:

- Loss of tongue-thrust reflex - This allows baby to drink and swallow liquids with ease; with the tongue-thrust reflex still present, baby may simply drink in liquid purees or push the food back out. According to Dr. Jim Sears, in the first four months the tongue thrust reflex protects the infant against choking. When any unusual substance is placed on the tongue, it automatically protrudes outward rather than back. Between four and six months this reflex gradually diminishes, and that glob of cereal actually may have a chance of making it from the tongue to the tummy!

- Ability to let you know she is full from a "meal" with signs such as turning away from the bottle or breast. This is important so that baby is able to self-regulate the amount of food being eaten. This helps stop baby from accidentally overeating as parents may continue to feed baby thinking that she is still hungry.

- Ability to sit up and hold head up unassisted

- Interest in your food (I tend to disagree with this one as when a baby reaches the age of 4-6 months, he is interested in putting everything in his mouth.)

- Doubling of birth weight

- Frequently waking in the middle of the night when a solid sleeping pattern had been established. This may not be the best indicator that your baby is ready for solids. Please keep in mind that a growth spurt will occur between 3-4 months of age, 6-7 months of age and also 9-10 months of age. Your baby may also be waking due to an illness or teething.

Won't My Baby Sleep Through the Night If We Start Solids? (Continue Next Page)

Starting Solids!

After doin much research on starting solid, we finally gave her the very first spoon!

She's been showing signs of readiness & our Pediatrician Dr Yong also advised that we can start as soon as she reaches 6 months old. Since she's diagnosed with lactose-intolerance, I wouldn't wanna rush into it & rather observe a little bit longer. Having said that, I decided to start slowly & gently, just to let her have a taste of it :)
I gotta really pay attention on food selections to be on the safe side.


Her first feed of semi-solids was quite a happy experience. She spat out a bit occasionally but throughout she can swallow quite well. We're all enjoyed it!!

So far she's fine with the Holle Organic Rice Porridge which we mix a bit of my breastmilk. Stool was a little thicker & darker in colour, slightly greenish. Hope that's alright.

It's the 5th day of rice porridge & next probably we'll try avocado :) looking forward!

Sweet Pea Mom

xoxoxo




What's your tips on solids for your baby? Any interesting recipe that you would like to share? :)

Little Darling turns 6 months old today!

Can't believe my little Darling is turning 6 months old today!
Where exactly the time went????
Ok let's see what you achieved so far....


6 Months Milestones

- Extend your little hand to reach for your favourite things/ favourite persons (first lucky one was Popo!)

- Stick out your tongue between your little lips & blow raspberries!

- Stick up your little butt during tummy time & nudge about, starting by goin backwards!

- Grab your little feet & yes, you put it into your month! Slurp slurp... Toes sucking good! Each hand grabs each foot, & try to fit both in it!

- Adopt rolling as your primary mode of ground transportation :)

- Mastering the important skill of sitting up independently, maintain your balance while seated by leaning forward on both arms, topple over during practice :)

- Stranger anxiety kicking in. Most of the new faces that approached closely, you showed a pouty face & started crying. But later on you're able to quickly warm up & make friends!

- Started semi-solid food for the 4th day! You love the rice porridge that we mixed with EBM & happily gobbling down! :D Next we try avocado ok?


Luv
Sweet Pea Mom
xoxoxo


Does your little one experience stranger anxiety yet? How do you help him to cope with it?