Yes, I have officially bid farewell to breastfeeding. My little girl had her last feed of breast milk mixed with formula milk when she is 11 months and 2 weeks.
Why did I stop pumping? It was after a series of sickness - flu (due to the flu jab), then a big dose of headache and body aches (due to lack of rest) and then a ulcer that appeared suddenly. The ulcer was what made me dropped even the very last pump I had for the day. 3 days after the ulcer appeared, it became bigger and super painful when I ate, desperate I used the cream in the fridge. The cream had steroids so I decided to just not pump. Since the cream was applied in my mouth, I would have ingested some. Won't want to risk passing some of that to the little one.
So what made me give up on breastfeeding? The major reason is that I was mentally beaten. My little girl rejected EBM for 5 days in a row. I actually threw away 200ml of my EBM during those days. Yes, you could say I was heartbroken. I felt unappreciated and that my effort was all in vain. The little action of using the steroid cream for my ulcer just made way for me to stop breastfeeding. It was a bitter-sweet decision.
However, having breastfed for so long, I did see a lot of advantages. It was not only monetary (I saved a lot on formula milk after seeing how fast my little girl depletes the milk powder now). I did see benefits in terms of her health. It's something that I am proud of and never regretted doing for the last 11 and 1/2 months.
Goodbye to all the breastfeeding acessories (like breast pump, nursing bras, breast milk storage bottles and bags) for now! Till my next child will we meet again (hopefully next round I can feed direct instead...)! Live goes on... And I am looking foward to wearing those strapless underwired bras! *Yippie!*
Little N
Little M
Friday, November 27, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Precious moments!
Recently, the little girl has been making lots of different expressions... And it's not easy to capture all of them in photos! So here are the treasured moments that has been captured by papa, the official photographer...
See I can point towards my back! (U can just say that I am flexible...)
Mama and Papa are always trying to figure out what this action really means...
I like cosy little corners... NOT!!! (It's not fair... I could squeeze in... how come I cannot come out?)
Evil daddy went to get the camera to capture this moment... And mama was not home to save me! Mama shared with papa that she likes to do this when she was as small as me...
I look and feel like a pretty angel! Watch out, I have a powerful wand in my hand!
It's one of those magical days where mama would thank heaven for having me. Sitting in the high chair to finish all of mama's porridge without fuss.
Lastly, thank you papa for capturing these precious little moments!
Papa just told mama that she chose the wrong photo... was I smiling or not?
I love to POUT! (because mama refuse to let me have Starbucks coffee...)
See I can point towards my back! (U can just say that I am flexible...)
Mama and Papa are always trying to figure out what this action really means...
I like cosy little corners... NOT!!! (It's not fair... I could squeeze in... how come I cannot come out?)
Evil daddy went to get the camera to capture this moment... And mama was not home to save me! Mama shared with papa that she likes to do this when she was as small as me...
I look and feel like a pretty angel! Watch out, I have a powerful wand in my hand!
It's one of those magical days where mama would thank heaven for having me. Sitting in the high chair to finish all of mama's porridge without fuss.
Lastly, thank you papa for capturing these precious little moments!
Papa just told mama that she chose the wrong photo... was I smiling or not?
Sunday, November 15, 2009
1 more month to 1 year!!!
Little girl is going to 1 years old! As a mother, I am both happy and stressed up... Happy because it's a milestone worth celebrating! Stressed up because this mother realised that her little girl's birthday party is still in the "thinking stage" (i.e. no invites... only caterer is booked)! *OH oh...*
That aside, here are some of little girl's recent "first":
Taking (more than) a step forward!
Yes! Amazing isn't it? From just 3 wobbly little steps about 3 weeks back, she is now able to take 6 to 7 steps (3 small ones and 3 to 4 hurried steps to reach mama or papa). And with lots of encouragement and praise, she seem to improve (in the number of steps taken) by leaps and bounds! It'll be fun if she can walk well by Chinese New Year next year (which happens to fall on Valentine's Day too!), both great-grandmas will be totally amazed! However, I note that her motor developments have been pretty fast.
Drinking from the straw!
To this, I would say "FINALLY!!!". I have been trying so hard over the past 2 months on and off to get her to drink from a straw. Yesterday, she finally drank from the mag mag straw! That was after my dad's suggestion last week to feed her water using a real straw. i.e. put a straw into a cup of water. With one finger on the end of the straw, lift it up and put it in the baby's mouth. If she bites, release a little so she knows there is water. If she drinks from it, release the pressure from the end. The first few times will be messy, i.e. the water will leak out from her mouth. But who cares... 2weeks later, she's drinking from a straw! :) I am so proud of my little girl...
And another update!!!
In the "good books" of the Tooth Fairy
Yes, she is one of tooth fairy's well loved child. Since my previous post about her teeth... I am updating that post again! She is having her 7th tooth! Explains her crankiness and excessive drool... And, "sa jiao"-ness (reads whining all the time and wanting people to carry) and not to mention the whatever-I-have-in-hand-goes-into-mouth behavoir... While it's great to have teeth, having 3-4 cutting at one go can be distressing for her (and for me too!). I have been brushing her teeth and gums using the Banana-Apple Flavour First Teeth Toothpaste religiously! This was even before her first tooth emerged.
Updated chart:
Ref: http://www.diyfather.com/files/baby_teeth.jpg
*left refers to her left
That aside, here are some of little girl's recent "first":
Taking (more than) a step forward!
Yes! Amazing isn't it? From just 3 wobbly little steps about 3 weeks back, she is now able to take 6 to 7 steps (3 small ones and 3 to 4 hurried steps to reach mama or papa). And with lots of encouragement and praise, she seem to improve (in the number of steps taken) by leaps and bounds! It'll be fun if she can walk well by Chinese New Year next year (which happens to fall on Valentine's Day too!), both great-grandmas will be totally amazed! However, I note that her motor developments have been pretty fast.
Drinking from the straw!
To this, I would say "FINALLY!!!". I have been trying so hard over the past 2 months on and off to get her to drink from a straw. Yesterday, she finally drank from the mag mag straw! That was after my dad's suggestion last week to feed her water using a real straw. i.e. put a straw into a cup of water. With one finger on the end of the straw, lift it up and put it in the baby's mouth. If she bites, release a little so she knows there is water. If she drinks from it, release the pressure from the end. The first few times will be messy, i.e. the water will leak out from her mouth. But who cares... 2weeks later, she's drinking from a straw! :) I am so proud of my little girl...
And another update!!!
In the "good books" of the Tooth Fairy
Yes, she is one of tooth fairy's well loved child. Since my previous post about her teeth... I am updating that post again! She is having her 7th tooth! Explains her crankiness and excessive drool... And, "sa jiao"-ness (reads whining all the time and wanting people to carry) and not to mention the whatever-I-have-in-hand-goes-into-mouth behavoir... While it's great to have teeth, having 3-4 cutting at one go can be distressing for her (and for me too!). I have been brushing her teeth and gums using the Banana-Apple Flavour First Teeth Toothpaste religiously! This was even before her first tooth emerged.
Updated chart:
*left refers to her left
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Little girl at ION Orchard!
Hubby and I decided to go Orchard to buy some of little girl's party toppers on 2 to 3 Saturdays back. I told hubby to try parking at Ion Orchard and we were lucky to get carpark lots at the lowest floor. We went to Takashimaya then Mac'donalds... And we met little Summer there! I was feeding little girl when Xue came up to me...
I was glad that little girl was able to finish her HT jar (which I mixed with HT cereal). After that we headed back to Ion Orchard... And yeap, there was a human "traffic jam" because of Wisma Isetan's sale. And because of that, the little contented girl fell asleep in her pram... I was especially happy because I would like little girl to learn to let go and sleep while outside. This will allow hubby and I to have some little time to spend together (while pushing the pram down the aisle of the shopping centre).
Anyway, I found that Ion Orchard is a breastfeeding friendly place/ or baby friendly place. The diaper changing room has a chair (for breastfeeding mums), a dispenser (with hot n cold water for making milk) and even a Pigeon warmer! I was pretty wowed by the faciliites. However, the door to the room could not close (it's automated... but somehow do not work). Maybe the management is afraid of people abusing the room.
Here is a photo of my girl:
Little girl: "Mummy, what's that in that HUGE cup???"
I was glad that little girl was able to finish her HT jar (which I mixed with HT cereal). After that we headed back to Ion Orchard... And yeap, there was a human "traffic jam" because of Wisma Isetan's sale. And because of that, the little contented girl fell asleep in her pram... I was especially happy because I would like little girl to learn to let go and sleep while outside. This will allow hubby and I to have some little time to spend together (while pushing the pram down the aisle of the shopping centre).
Anyway, I found that Ion Orchard is a breastfeeding friendly place/ or baby friendly place. The diaper changing room has a chair (for breastfeeding mums), a dispenser (with hot n cold water for making milk) and even a Pigeon warmer! I was pretty wowed by the faciliites. However, the door to the room could not close (it's automated... but somehow do not work). Maybe the management is afraid of people abusing the room.
Here is a photo of my girl:
Little girl: "Mummy, what's that in that HUGE cup???"
Monday, November 02, 2009
ARHHHH........
Since my last entry about little girl's teeth in June, it's time for an update!
Little girl now has six teeth! Two at the bottom and four at the top. Other than the bottom central incisor, the top central incisor and lateral incisor is on-the-way. When she smiles, you can see the top and bottom central incisor most clearly! :)
So here's a snapshot of when I could feel the little bits of teeth poking out from her gums! The dates are approximate because I dare not stick a finger into her mouth everyday to check! She bites really HARD!
Ref: http://www.diyfather.com/files/baby_teeth.jpg
When two of her teeth cut at the same time, she would get really cranky. Other than placing everything she can get her hands on into her mouth (including her fingers), she will have a hard time drinking her milk and of course a hard time trying to fall asleep.
Being a curious mum, I read up and found the reasons for those difficulties. Apparently, sucking milk from a bottle would cause blood to rush into the gums, thus causing extra discomfort! The solution is to increase the teat size or flow to allow the baby to drink comfortably without sucking too hard for the milk. The baby might have a hard time falling asleep because of the discomfort from the gums. As they are trying to get to sleep, there are lesser distractions hence the gum discomfort would get more apparent!
After doing some reasearch, I found that the following can be useful:
1. Cooling the pacifier in the fridge (to act as a cooled teether)
2. Give the baby a cool teether or a piece of chilled fruit (such as apple)
3. Wetting some small towels and placing them in fridge (to act as cooled teether)
4. The medical option: Dentinox (this is widely debated since it works on some babies and not others). I usually use this together with cooled teethers for better effect
5. The soothing touches of the mother/soft soothing songs which reassures the baby can help placate them too! :)
Little girl now has six teeth! Two at the bottom and four at the top. Other than the bottom central incisor, the top central incisor and lateral incisor is on-the-way. When she smiles, you can see the top and bottom central incisor most clearly! :)
So here's a snapshot of when I could feel the little bits of teeth poking out from her gums! The dates are approximate because I dare not stick a finger into her mouth everyday to check! She bites really HARD!
Ref: http://www.diyfather.com/files/baby_teeth.jpg
When two of her teeth cut at the same time, she would get really cranky. Other than placing everything she can get her hands on into her mouth (including her fingers), she will have a hard time drinking her milk and of course a hard time trying to fall asleep.
Being a curious mum, I read up and found the reasons for those difficulties. Apparently, sucking milk from a bottle would cause blood to rush into the gums, thus causing extra discomfort! The solution is to increase the teat size or flow to allow the baby to drink comfortably without sucking too hard for the milk. The baby might have a hard time falling asleep because of the discomfort from the gums. As they are trying to get to sleep, there are lesser distractions hence the gum discomfort would get more apparent!
After doing some reasearch, I found that the following can be useful:
1. Cooling the pacifier in the fridge (to act as a cooled teether)
2. Give the baby a cool teether or a piece of chilled fruit (such as apple)
3. Wetting some small towels and placing them in fridge (to act as cooled teether)
4. The medical option: Dentinox (this is widely debated since it works on some babies and not others). I usually use this together with cooled teethers for better effect
5. The soothing touches of the mother/soft soothing songs which reassures the baby can help placate them too! :)
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