BW..is in lah

All this while kan, i tot carrying babies in a sling is an ordinary thing as strolling them in strollers. I can't remember why in the 1st place i bought my RS. I bought it while doing my confinement after delivering Hafiy. Maybe because of its convenience in carrying baby. But due to lack of knowledge (and practise too), it was left unused & folded away until recently.

Akif is a little more clingy than his brothers were. Mesti nak bau mami jugak :). Maklumlah..yg ni baby yg fully BF & co-sleep dgn mami. Kalau tak..as i put him down on the bed to sleep after BF, sure will wake up one ;P

Cuma..i wonder..kalau dah ramai yg do BW ni, how come very hard to stumble upon them? Siap dah ada forum lagi. Tapi..rasanya baru sekali dua je ternampak. Bukan je susah nak jumpa parents yg BW..tapi whenever i do it pun..orang mesti pandang-pandang (ke..i je yang perasan hehe).

I'm planning to add a couple of carriers to my collection-soon. Maybe another RS and one PS. Currently..eyeing on

Latte from JumpSacBaby

Actually berkenan yg ni tapi..my baby is a boy la huhu.. ( i loooove pink colour!!!)

Also..berkenan dengan yang ni..Both from mamapatch


Lawakan? hehe..kena start kuMpOL duit....

Wearing my baby

This is me, babywearing Akif using a Ring Sling i bought after Hafiy was born from The Baby Loft.

@home..

@F.O.S Mid Valley

in the car

in the kitchen
*ermmm... please ignore the background please ;P

**hmmm..perasan tak..dalam semua pictures, Akif tidur je hehehe..

Natural Parenting

Natural parenting...a new nurturing concept yg saya pertama kali tahu through MommyLuna's blog.

Natural Parenting is about exploring gentle, instinctive and attachment parenting methods by avoiding common products and customs designed to separate us from our offspring and choosing more organic, instinctive and attached parenting techniques such as breastfeeding, babywearing, cosleeping, homeschooling and elimination communication.
(quoted from http://parenting.amuchbetterway.com/).


Looking at myself..apa je yg saya buat yg in line dgn natural parenting? Let see..
1. Breastfeeding - Have been doing that for 3 months now (well..almost ;) ) . Love every single moment of it!

2. Babywearing - I have an RS pouch a.k.a kain gendong komersil hehe. Dah pakai beberapa kali bila outing dgn anak-anak. Belum boleh adapt sepenuhnya sebab everytime pakai, after sometime mesti sakit bahu. I'm sure i have put it on correctly..(coz it had free tutorials from youtube heheh). Maybe..after banyak-banyak kali nanti..oklah kot, kan?

However, will not say no to stroller coz to me..once the baby gets bigger (and heavier) it is much comfortable for him to sit on a stroller especially when he wants to nap during outings.

3.Co-sleeping- Started this with my 2nd son. and now sambung dengan 3rd son. Easy for night feedings. Mula-mula memang takut in case terpenyekkan baby. But then, as mommies, even in our sleep,i think unconciously kita tahu baby ada disebelah kita so..insyaAllah tak terjadi kes tergolek atas baby.

4. Homeschooling - Tak la banyak tapi..rasanya semua yg kita ajar anak kita di rumah..from how to play to how to talk, eat, recognize ABC & 123, mengaji, doa, solat, self hygiene, manners and so on..di kira homeschooling lah jugak. Cuma saya masih hantar ke playschool/preschool/sekolah untuk expose kan mereka kepada formal learning, utk berkawan dan juga for them to gain more knowledge coz as parents, i too have my limitations to teach all that my children need to know.

Tu je lah kot. Apa-apa pun, do what ever you feel is right for you& your children. Tak perlu nak mengikut orang lain / 'trend' semasa dalam parenting unless memang baik untuk semua. There's no right or wrong in parenting. Trying to be the best parent makes you the best parents. Everyday...every child..is a new experience. So..bereksperimentasilah dgn kehidupan anda!

Happynye mummy

Semalam pegi 2nd month nye check up. Akif gained 1.5kg -> 5.5kg.
Mami orang yang paling happy.All those doubts have vanished. Bukan apa..sebab waktu 1st month dulu naik tak sampai 1kg.

Pada org lain maybe biasa je tapi pada saya it's a very BIG achievement for ME.Why? Sila baca di sini

Nak tahu berapa BF babies patut gain weight? Klik kat sini ek..

Doozing by the pool

Sedapnya dia tidur. Dengan angin sepoi2 bahasa :)
Supposed tinggalkan kat rumah Tok tapi sbb EBM tak fully thaw so terpaksa bawa sekali. Lupa nak keluarkan dr freezer ke frigde malam tadi. Baru keluarkan pagi tadi.Fresh EBM yg expressed bagi tadi plak tak cukup.

Ada parent kata dia suka tidur kat pool sebab waktu saya pregnant, every weekend gi pool. Maybe, kan? Who knows? Sebab tu kot hari2 dok bawak dia sekarang ni ( sebab ada kelas intensif renang ), dia tidur elok je.

Alhamdulillah. Senang pun mami nak buat kerja :D

Banyak nye ujian perjalanan BF ku yang baru bermula

Panjang betul tajuk hehe..

I'm sooo..new with full time BF and yet have been tested so many times. Sejak dari Akif dilahirkan sampai la sekarang bila Akif dah 2 bulan.

1) Susu lambat keluar
Sampai nurse menakut-nakutkan nanti baby dehydrated, hipothermia so 'terpaksa' bagi consent utk mixed feeding.

2) Prolonged jaundice
Baby jaundice lebih 2 minggu dengan level yg sikit tinggi. Dah turun pastu naik balik. Membuat saya rasa susu saya tak cukup..Poor latching?..Mmm..baby latch ok je.

3) Slow weight gain
When Akif turned 1 months, berat dia naik 750g je. Again..tak cukup susukah? Tapi.. Akif kencing ok je. Hmmm..

4) Tak kerap poo poo
Biasanya baby BF poo poo sehari beberapa kali. Walaupun ada juga yang poo poo beberapa hari sekali. Normal for BF babies sebab most of the BM content diserap baby. Tapi ada juga baby yg kurang poo poo sebab kurang minum due to poor latching..or low milk supply. Adakah saya...tertanya lagi

5)Demam @ 2 months
Semalam tetiba je Akif terasa panas dari biasa. Mula ingat kot sebab dia tidur lama kat dlm carrier seat barunya yg penuh padding itu. Tapi lama2 BF dia terasa bahang plak. Rupa-rupanya demam. Sebab malam..so tak nak pape berlaku bawalah gi klinik amik ubat. Temperature nya 38.1.

Orang kata kalau fully BF baby susah nak sakit. Ada yang dah setahun pun tak pernah demam. Tapi baby saya? Terlintas...susu mami tak cukup antibodi ke?

Akhirnya..untuk setiap dilema diatas..saya simpulkan....Allah menguji saya. BF anak ni perlu determination & strong will. InsyaAllah mami akan sentiasa berikan yang terbaik untuk Akif.

Akif, please recover soon. Sian mami tengok. Tido je...Abang2 sume tunggu nak tengok Akif senyum & 'sembang' balik :D

BF : is not an easy thing OR is it?

I have been breastfeeding for 60 days now. WOW! A very huge achievement for me. Never thought i could get this far. Bukan takde keyakinan cuma tak nak letak harapan yang tinggi.

Sebelum-sebelum ni, saya rasa saya adalah incomplete mother sebab tak boleh BF anak. Sangat jealous pada kawan saya Nadiah yang mampu BF both anak dia sampai 2 tahun. Saya...hampeh.

Tahu tak, saya tak percaya tin FM yg saya beli sebagai standby andai kata saya tak mampu nak BF, telah saya buang dengan isinya hampir tak luak :D (tergunalah sikit pada minggu awal bersalin dulu sebab ta tak berdaya (?)). Buang sebab dan expired - once open must be consumed in 30 days...siap dan berhabuk tin tu.

Setelah 2 bulan fully BF, i kinda get the hang of it. Dulu rasa susah sangat. Susah sebab sebelum ni dah biasa dgn bottle feeding. Memang bottle feeding leceh sebab kena cuci botol bla bla bla.. tapi senang sebab orang lain pun boleh tolong beri kalau kita nak berehat, nak keluar pun senang tak perlu pam susu...nak feed di mana-mana pun senang.

BF ni...walaupun a little tiring...tapi advantage nye (selain drpd kelebihan susu ibu) ia lebih dari segi emotional..Memberi terapi selain daripada bonding. It is an describable feeling when Akif latch on, suckle and drinks...Hanya saya yang mampu beri apa yang Akif perlu..Saya orang yang paling penting dalam hidup Akif..the ultimate feeling :)

Hmm..tak sabar rasanya nak tengok Akif jadi gebu. Bukan dengan FM tapi dengan susu saya :D

Akif's 1st experience drinking EBM

Semalam mami had to work- kelas swimming cuti sekolah start semalam so mami kenalah turun padang. Akif tinggal dengan tok. Mami awal2 lagi dah start expressed BM walaupun dapat ciput je. Mami tak tahu exactly berapa Akif minum coz selama ni bagi direct je. Mlm sblm tu mami thaw kan dlm fridge ada 5 botol semuanya. 10ml + 10ml + 20ml + 30ml makes about 70ml = lebih kurang 2.5oz. Dan ada spare 1 botol 30ml in case tak cukup.
Alhamdulillah, tok kata Akif minum elok, cukup dan tak yah tambah...Lepas minum terus tidur balik.

Goodboy Akif :D. Mami suka kalau anak mami tak susahkan orang..

Mami balik kerja..tunggu kejap je..pastu Akif pun bangun. Apa lagi...direct feed la...miss Akif walaupun kejap je tinggalkan..

Susu cukup ke tidak? Pam sikit je keluar

Ramai yang mesti tertanya-tanya soalan ni. This is the answer i found that really makes me feel 'normal'.

What is normal when it comes to pumping output and changes in pumping output?

Most moms who are nursing full-time are able to pump around 1/2 to 2 ounces total (for both breasts) per pumping session. Moms who pump more milk per session may have an oversupply of milk, or may respond better than average to the pump, or may have been able to increase pump output with practice. Many moms think that they should be able to pump 4-8 ounces per pumping session, but even 4 ounces is an unusually large pumping output.

It is quite normal to need to pump 2-3 times to get enough milk for one feeding for baby (remember that the pump cannot get as much milk as a baby who nurses effectively).

Many moms are able to pump more milk per session when they are separated from baby. Milk pumped when you are nursing full-time is "extra" milk -- over and beyond what baby needs. Don't get discouraged if you are trying to build up a freezer stash when nursing full time and don't get much milk per pumping session -- this is perfectly normal and expected.

It is very common to have more milk than baby needs in the early weeks, which regulates down to baby's needs over the first few weeks or months. When your milk supply regulates (this change may occur either gradually or rather suddenly), it is normal for pumping output to decrease. For moms who have oversupply, this change often occurs later (6-9+ months postpartum rather than 6-12 weeks).

It is normal for pumping output to vary from session to session and day to day. Having an occasional low volume day is not unusual.

During a growth spurt, don't be surprised if baby drinks more expressed milk than usual, making it harder for mom to provide enough expressed milk. Growth spurts are temporary - try increasing nursing and adding a pumping session or two at home until the growth spurt is over.

Menstruation or ovulation can result in a temporary drop in milk supply. You might also notice cyclical dips in milk supply before your period returns, as your body begins the return to fertility. Hormonal changes also cause milk supply to decrease during pregnancy.

Remember that the amount of milk that you pump is not a measure of your milk supply!

Source: www.kellymom.com

Breast Feeding - Getting Started

How to get started with breastfeeding:

The process of breastfeeding and your milk change as your baby grows and develops. A newborn's feeding routine may be different than that of a breastfeeding 6-month-old. As the baby grows, the nutrients in your milk adapt to your growing baby's needs. The anti-infective properties also increase if you or your baby is exposed to some new bacteria or virus.

• early breastfeeding
  The first weeks of breastfeeding should be considered a learning period for both you and your baby. Do not expect to work as a coordinated team immediately. Give yourselves plenty of time to recuperate from labor and birth, develop a daily routine, and overcome any initial breastfeeding difficulties.
  
  It may help to keep a simple checklist chart to mark daily feedings and diaper counts until your baby is gaining weight appropriately. To make a chart, take a piece of paper and number down 24 hours from midnight to 11 p.m. Then make several columns for breastfeeding, wet diaper, and stool, and put a check in the appropriate column as it occurs. (Some mothers add extra columns for pumping sessions and alternative feedings if a baby is having difficulty and they must express milk and offer it or a substitute at times.)
• day 1
  Most full-term, healthy babies are ready and eager to begin breastfeeding within the first half hour to two hours of birth. Then many sleep or act drowsy for the next two to 20 hours, so a baby may not be very interested in breastfeeding again on his/her birthday. However, a baby should breastfeed several times that first day. Expect to change only a couple of wet and dirty diapers during the first 24 hours.
• days 2 to 4
  Although he/she may need practice with latching on and sucking, by the second day your baby should begin to wake and cue (show readiness) for feedings every 1 1/2 to 3 hours for a total of 8 to 12 breastfeedings in 24 hours. These frequent feedings provide your baby with antibody-rich first milk called colostrum and tell your breasts to make more milk. Your baby should suckle for at least 10 minutes and may continue for about 30 minutes on the first breast before letting go, or "self-detaching," without help from you. When he/she finishes at one breast, you can burp and change his/her diaper before offering the second breast.
  
  As with Day 1, you probably will change only a few wet and dirty diapers on baby's second and third days, and do not be surprised if your baby loses weight during the first several days. The number of diaper changes and baby's weight will increase when your milk "comes in."
  
  You may feel uterine cramping when breastfeeding the first two or three days, especially if this is a second or subsequent baby. This is a positive sign that the baby's sucking has triggered a milk let-down, also called the milk-ejection reflex (MER). It also means your uterus is contracting, which helps minimize bleeding. A nurse can give you something to take before feeding if needed for the discomfort. Some mothers briefly feel a tingling, "pins and needles," or a flushing of warmth or coolness through the breasts with milk let-down; others notice nothing different, except the rhythm of baby's sucking.
  
  Because your baby still is learning, you may experience nipple tenderness when he/she latches on or during a breastfeeding. Other factors also may contribute to this tenderness, but usually it is mild and disappears by the end of the first week. If tenderness persists, develops into pain, or nipple cracking is noted, contact a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC).
• days 3 to 5
  The volume of breast milk produced increases dramatically at about 3 or 4 days after birth, and the milk is said to have "come in." Your baby probably will drift off after his/her 8 to 12, 10 to 30-minute feedings and act more satisfied after a meal. Within 12 to 24 hours, you should be changing a lot more wet diapers. The number of dirty diapers also increases, and the stools should be changing in color and consistency. From the dark, tarry meconium stool, they should progress to softer and brown color before becoming a mustard-yellow and loose and seedy. Weight gain should also pick up within 24 hours of this increase in milk production, so your baby begins to gain at least half an ounce (15 g) a day.
  
  You may notice that your breasts feel fuller, heavier, or warmer when your milk comes in. Some mothers find their breasts become uncomfortably engorged due to increased milk volume and tissue swelling. Then the breasts feel hard and tight; the areola and nipple may seem stretched and flat, making it difficult for a baby to latch-on. The most important thing to do when your milk first comes in is to move the milk out of your breasts by feeding your baby frequently. If your baby has difficulty latching on because of severe engorgement:
  • Soften the nipple and areola by expressing some milk and then let baby latch on.
  • Breastfeed or express milk by hand or breast pump frequently (every one to two hours)- your breasts should feel noticeably softer after breastfeeding or pumping.
  • Apply cold packs or sandwich bags filled with ice or frozen vegetables to the breasts for 20 to 30 minutes after a feeding or pumping session. The application of cold packs has been shown to relieve the swelling that may interfere with milk flow. Some women do report improved milk flow if they also apply warm compresses to the breasts for a few minutes immediately before breastfeeding or milk expression, but there are no studies that support this as effective. Using heat for more than a few minutes could increase the amount of swelling.
• days 5 to 28
  Your baby will become more proficient at breastfeeding as the first month progresses. Expect to feed your baby about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours and for approximately 10 to 30 minutes at the first breast before he/she lets go of the breast without your help. You can then burp the baby, change his/her diaper, and switch to the second breast. Usually, a baby will breastfeed for a shorter period at the second breast, and sometimes he/she may not want to feed on the second breast at all. Simply offer the second breast first at the next feeding.

  Babies that guzzle their food nonstop may self-detach in 10 to 15 minutes; babies preferring to savor their meals often take 20 to 35 minutes on the first breast, because they tend to take a few several-minute breaks between "courses." Whichever type your baby is, it is important to let him/her choose when to let go of the breast, as this self-detachment will increase the amount of higher fat/higher calorie milk (hindmilk) your baby takes in.

Your baby should continue to:

• Soak six or more wet diapers.
• Pass three or more loose, seedy, yellow stools.
• Gain more than one half ounce (15 g) a day, more than four to five ounces (120 to 150 g) a week, or one pound (454 g) a month (from lowest weight), regaining birthweight by 2 weeks.

Your baby probably will go through several two to four day "growth spurt" periods when he/she seems to want to eat almost around the clock. Babies commonly experience a growth spurt between 2 to 3 weeks, 4 to 6 weeks, and again at about 3 months. It is important to let a baby feed more often during these spurts. Within a few days, your baby will have returned to a more typical pattern.

Let your baby set the pace for breastfeeding. Pay attention to his/her feeding cues. The number of feedings each baby needs and the length of time each feeding lasts will vary from baby to baby. Trying to force a breastfed baby to wait longer between feedings, or fit a particular feeding schedule, can result in poor weight gain.

Source : internet, can't remember the site (sorry!)

My challenging breastfeeding journeys

When i got pregnant with Akif, i planned to try to breastfeed him for at least 6 months. Eksklusif ke tak, itu decide kemudian. Bukan tak nak..tapi ada byk obstacles yang perlu ditempuhi.

Some may say..apa yg susah sgt breastfeeding ni. Well, to me bukan susah tapi mencabar coz 2 anak sebelum ni tak berjaya. First baby - Lack of knowlegde, kurang support led, to poor latching to mastitis and failure to breastfeed. Second baby - had a good start yg mula di labour room...tapi because mixed feeding so baby got nipple confused. Alhamdulillah went to see a lactation counsellor so dapat la menyusukan semula. It lasted for nine months tapi mixed feeding jugak la.

Kali ni determined to do better. Did lots of reading. So lepas bersalin je, BF di labour room. Tapi susu lambat jugak datang. Nurse advised to mixed feed sampai susu established. Mula2 reluctant tapi bila nurse cakap nanti baby hipotermia la..kuning la..tak poopoo la so..akhirnya setuju dengan syarat, bila baby lapar, let me BF dulu. Kalau nangis baru bagi FM.

Tapi..kali ni cabaran lain pulak datang. So..i decided to share my BF problems, segala kemusykilan that i had, with other mommies that might be going through or are having the same doubts themselves.

Happy reading!

My Bundle of Joy..