April 30, 2009 at 8:35 am | In baby AH, breastfeeding, feeding | 5 Comments
I’m thinking of McD’s breakfast. Not so random because I can see McDs from my hotel room. Har har har.
I had my brother get me some curry sauce from Singapore McDs and he got me TWO packets of it. Wel,, actually he got me a few but he said it burst on the plane or something like that. The two packets will be put into good use- 1 packet for McNuggets and 1 packet for Fillet o Fish. Nyums!
Whilst thinking of McDs is not random, this is probably a random post. There is actually so much to talk about but….
On AH, he is now 17 months! Oh my, he has grown so much. I wonder if I can last till 18 months without introducing him formula. Yes, I am looking at introducing him to FM at 18 months subject to my frozen EBM lasting that long. I suppose from that you can read between the line that my direct supply is not so great anymore that AH has shown a preference to feed directly from the bottle (am assuming because he can’t get much from me?). During our recent trip, I did not express at all and for this trip, I have only pumped once (9-10 0z in 48 hours!!!). So yes, I am thinking of giving pumping a break and rely on my frozen EBM before going on FM, especially since I am still get pains when pumping (I think I have posted about this before?).
So that is my bf update in a nutshell. I am not very happy about it but I know it is time to go on a break. I am bit worried on how to introduce AH to FM though, he likes soy milk though, so I hope he takes FM alright. I did ask my doctor about giving AH just fresh milk or soy milk but she was not too keen about the idea. Adam’s mum did mention that if your toddler eats a well-balanced meal, fresh milk should be okay as he is getting all the necessary nutrition from his meals anyway. But after much discussion and deliberation, we might be taking the FM direction considering that AH at times may not want to eat (ikut moodnya tuuuu. of recent, he likes to eat nasi and sayur but not beef and ayam!).
Anyhoos, I’m going to go off for breakfast now! xx
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April 25, 2009 at 4:08 pm | In Uncategorized | Enter your password to view commentsGone on Holiday
April 14, 2009 at 1:00 am | In baby AH, travelling | 1 Comment
We are finally going on a proper holiday and it looks like it may be awhile until we have our next one too! It is AH’s first long flight too, which is why we have chosen a night flight and hope we can catch some snooze on the plane (okay fine, as my parents have said kami inda mau rugi 
)
I know I have been posting frequently as of late but in the next week or so, depending on time and Internet access, I might post sporadically and if I do, it may be of photos or videos from our holiday for AH’s fans (*ehem*nininya*ehem*).
As of the password protected posts, those are private posts for me at the moment
Protected: Trying to Remember
April 13, 2009 at 8:52 am | In Uncategorized | Enter your password to view commentsWeaning Off.
April 12, 2009 at 7:37 am | In baby products, breastfeeding, feeding | 4 CommentsCouple of days back, I was texting with Adam’s Mum on which formula is the best when we decide to wean off our sons.
Everytime I go grocery shopping, I will pass the formula aisle and try to see what formulas they are selling- they are plenty and you don’t really know where to start. From past conversations with family and friends (please correct me if I am wrong as I have only managed to pick up bits & pieces):
- Nan (or Nan 2?) if you are supplementing a breastfeeding child and that your child is lactose intolerant
- Enfalac if you feed more formula than breastmilk
- Progress & Pediasure if your child refuse to take other milk
- Isomil for the more ’sensitive’ babies
That’s all I know when it comes to formula though. I don’t even know if it is right or wrong. How do you decide? I have heard of babies constipated from drinking formula, which I am assuming either it’s to difficult to digest or the mixture is wrong. Again, I don’t know. Those are all my assumptions.
Most of my breastfeeding friends have now started or are thinking of weaning off their babies. AH is 16 months and I have been thinking of supplementing him with formula when he turns 18 months. But I have also come across some readings saying that in some countries, mothers just give their kids fresh milk from a glass instead of formula. Some are also saying that for as long as that your kid is eating enough nutritious food at this age, formula is not needed. Can you tell I’m baffled?
The way things are going, I may have to start weaning AH much, much earlier than I plan to. The past 2 days, AH had cried and demanded his milk from the bottle instead of a direct feed when we were in the car. Yesterday, he had no choice though as we did not have any EBM with us. However, in the evening, when he is ready to go to bed, he is more than happy to feed directly.
So, now, I have to decide whether I want to continue expressing and give him bottled EBMs only or is this a sign that he is ready to wean off? I know, for the next 2 weeks, I am going to just direct feed him during our holiday. I will most likely continue to give him water, fresh milk, soya bean or non-sweet drinks to quench his thirst in between too.
What about you? How did you wean your baby off? Did he/ she show an indication he/ she is ready? Did you have to, say maybe because you’re pregnant (although I read that tandem nursing is safe)? Are you giving fresh milk or fomula? From a bottle or a glass? How did you decide which brand/ type to give?
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April 11, 2009 at 11:15 pm | In Uncategorized | Enter your password to view commentsBaby Changing Room?
April 9, 2009 at 11:20 pm | In breastfeeding, changing room, reviews | 3 CommentsI’m not sure if I have set my standards too high or I am feeling a bit hormonal or the changing room was just plain disgusting!
AH needed a change as soon as we arrived at Hua Ho Tanjung Bunut Mall and as I wasn’t sure where the toilets were, let alone if they had a changing room, I told the husband that AH has just to wait till we get home. When we stepped out of the elevator on Level 1, we saw a changing room sign! Elated, the husband said he would get the diaper bag and when he did, we found out that the changing room was locked!! Asked one of the booth operators and she said to ask the security guard. When we found him, he said ‘oh yang tingkat satu ani berkunci, kita pakai yang di ground floor’.
I remember using the changing room at Hua Ho Manggis Mall (there’s a post complete with photos somewhere here) and I was impressed. It had a small plastic mattress to change your babies, it has posters, a chair if you want to breastfeed your baby and a sink. Although it smelled like those industrial cleaning thing, which I always thought to smell a little bit like vomit, it was clean!! Oh, there were soap too! It was good enough for our standard and I was truly impressed.
Hua Ho Tanjung Bunut was something else! At the door, a man and a women were casually chatting, or more like flirting, blocking my way to the the changing room. I thought it was occupied but it wasn’t, I guess they just like to chat dipisuk-pisuk. Har har har. When I went in, I was shocked and disgusted!! They only had a sink (with a reasonable amount of tabletop to go with) and an open dustbin!! There were NOTHING ELSE in the changing room! Nothing! No changing mat, no posters, no chairs, no soaps. Nothing! Nada. Zilch! I automatically blocked my sense of smell, so I don’t really remember how the changing room smelled.
As I was already with AH in there, I thought- ‘Sod it! I’ll just change him.’ I’ve changed him in a small toilet with wet floors that I had to ’silat’ my way through all the changing process. After washing him off, I noticed that the sink was clogged!! ARGH!! Plus, the room had a LOT of ants! Galiiii! If I had my phone or camera, I would gladly take photos of the room and post it up! God, I don’t even want to imagine how their toilets are! When putting on his diapers (I use pull-up diapers when we go out) I held him with one hand and try to put the diapers on with the other hand- yes, I, too, am amazed of the things I can do simultaneously with limited resources now! I refused to let his little feet touch the tabletop. Put on his pants and quickly put back his shoes. I told him to behave whilst I furiously wash my hands.
Ewww! Ewww! Ewww! If I had a choice, I wouldn’t use it but I didn’t. Sigh. I do hope, one day, the authorities realise the importance of having buildings which are breastfeeding-friendly, babies/ kids- friendly and of course, disabled-friendly too. Imagine if they claim that they have a breastfeeding/ changing room and to find a room of such! Argh! You would not want to eat in that room, so why would you want to feed your kids in that room!
If they are pushing for ‘green-buildings’, maybe about time they try to introduce more breastfeeding-friendly and babies-friendly buildings. Do you guys realise that if you go to the Mall and you’re at Basement 1 (supermarket level), the only right way for a parent with a stroller to get to the Ground Floor (concourse/ entrance to Rizqun) is to go back out the parking lot and get an elevator up? Do tell me if there is an elevator inside the supermarket, we couldn’t find it. We always end up just pushing the stroller up the escalator, despite the warning sign. Shrugs. Jauh kali ah kan ke parking lot lagi :p
Natural Factor’s Fenugreek
April 8, 2009 at 4:38 pm | In breastfeeding | 6 CommentsThis is a quick post. My friend has brought to our attention that Natural Factor’s Fenugreek that I have been recommending is not suitable for Muslims!
Emails from the manufacturer have confirmed that the gelatin capsules are made of animal gelatin! I have not purchased it for awhile, i think the last time I purchased it was during puasa to help increase my supply! I still have a few capsules left in my last bottle, which I took couple of weeks back to help boost my detriorating supply!
The local distributor is being a little bit dodgy and vague about it. Yesterday when called, the lady at their Soon Lee branch confirmed that it is, in fact, halal and they have a halal certificate for it. Today, I popped by their Mall’s branch and this is what they said- ‘Unless the manufacturer confirms that it is not suitable for Muslims, then we will inform our customers. ‘ In MY interpretation, if we are not sure whether it is made of animal or vegetable gelatin then we will not inform. This brings keraguan, right? I tried to explain to her that there is no such thing as if it is not confirmed. It is either halal or not. So, I called the Soon Lee branch again earlier and told them that since they claim they have the halal certificate, can they please fax it to me. 10 mins later they called and said that the halal certificate is on its way and that the manufacturer is working on it. Okay, not convinced anymore!!
Anyhoos, to re-confirm please find excerpts from Natural Factors when queried (source: N’s blog ).
Exhibition 1
Dear N***
Thank you for your inquiry regarding Natural Factors Fenugreek Seed product, we appreciate you taking the time to contact us.
Each Capsule Contains:
Fenugreek Powder (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) (seed)….. 500 mg
Non-medicinal ingredients: Gelatin capsule (animal gelatin (beef/pork), purified water),
croscarmellose sodium, vegetable grade magnesium stearate (lubricant).
Recommended Adult Dose: 2 capsules, 3 times daily or as directed
by a health care practitioner.
We hope this information is helpful. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Customer Service
Natural Factors
Exhibition 2
Thank you for your inquiry regarding Natural Factors products; we appreciate you taking the time to contact us.
Natural Factors labels include the description “vegetarian capsule” where vegetarian are used, otherwise our hard gelatin capsules may be sourced from bovine (beef), porcine (pork) or a mixture of bovine/porcine. Natural Factors softgels are sourced from bovine gelatin. Our latest information on file states that the gelatin used for product code 2200 (Fenugreek) is sourced from bovine.
We hope this information is helpful. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Customer Service
Natural Factors
I’m still kicking myself trying to think why I was convinced Natural Factor’s Fenugreek was Halal. I saw a comment I made saying that GNC’s fenugreek was not (although I just saw in a forum that it claimed to be using vegetable gelatin capsules). I even remember comparing both and even asked for the husband’s opinion as he is quite particular in what i eat and drink, especially since I am still breastfeeding (okay, fine spatutnya all the time mesti check pulang :p ). I have not eaten pringles for sooooo long that everytime I go Singapore, I will make sure I get at least 1 tube! (Pringles have some enhancements yang mencurigakan but the ones being sold in Singapore ada cap halal and is from Malaysia, if I’m not mistaken)
Degressing. Anyways, I hope this blog post makes up for my lack of substantial posts. I apologise for recommending Natural factor’s Fenugreek (apparently they are always sold out now!!) and not did extensive research on it (although I thought I did!! Uwaaaa!). As an economist I met recently said that we are always allowed to change our opinions with new information received ;p
p.s. one of my bf-ing friends has recommended ‘Motherlove More Milk Plus Capsules – More Milk Plus is a liquid concentrate in vegetarian capsules that are easy to swallow without any noticeable taste. This product does not contain any milk, dairy, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, or gluten. It is not for use during pregnancy.
Ingredients: fenugreek seed, blessed thistle, nettle leaf, fennel seed, non-GMO soy lecithin, coconut oil, vegetable cellulose. All herbs are certified organic.
No Courtesy!!
April 3, 2009 at 8:31 pm | In rant | 3 CommentsI am going to rant and I am going to rant good!
The three of us went to a local bank this afternoon to close an account. The first person to serve the husband was great (although it did take them a good 20 mins as they couldn’t find some docs) but all that was put to waste when we were made to wait for a further 25 – 30 mins just for the cashiers to provide the cash. HORRIBLE I TELL YOU!!! All the customers who came after we had close the account had left and the bank was quick to fill with more and more people, when AH started to get restless.
I took him outside in his stroller and showed him the ice-cream billboard, showed him ATM machines, went outside the building to get kebab, showed him the pc fair that was going on and yet, the husband was not yet served- I, TOO, WAS GETTING RESTLESS!!! This was when I decided, enough was enough, I was going back to the bank to check out how things are going.
The bank’s door had 2 sides, which you have to open manually (not the automatic sliding door thing). As I was pushing AH in his stroller with one hand, I opened the right side of the door with my right hand by pulling towards me (the bank was full, so I couldn’t push) and to my horrow, TWO ***ing GIRLS sashay-ed in with MY OPENED SIDE, being lazy a$$es and couldn’t even bothered to open the other side of the door!!
Just as I was about to push the stroller, ANOTHER LADY STEPPED OVER AH in the stroller trying to get out of the bank!! STUPIDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD WOMANNNNNN! She could’ve opened the other side of the door and walked out nicely without having to langkahi my anak!! I only managed to sheesh-ed her and walked into the bank. Not only you’re a f***-ing stupid and lazy lady, you are also without any manners and courtesy!!! I seriously wished you had tripped when you were stepping over AH in the stroller and broke your nose or all you front teeth or something. I would like to see you sue us and I would gladly call you lazy and ill-mannered in court.
Both me and AH were in a bad mood!! I was so pissed I purposely ran over one of the lazy ladies’ kain with the stroller. Oh, I also let AH cried for attention in the bank because they were so slow!!! They sure did try to serve us as quickly as possible after that. If I knew earlier, I would made AH cry much earlier. Haha. But seriously, no wonder we decide not to bank with them.
If you have taken offense with my post, I don’t care. Just because my son is barely 2 and sitting in a stroller, it does not give ANYONE the right to step over him just because he/ she has any matter, life or death, to attend to! SHOW SOME COURTESY!!
Brunei is already a difficult place to take your babies/ kids in strollers around, don’t make it anymore difficult!! Argh, don’t even make me start with shops with narrow rows for us to push our strollers, especially shops selling kids’ stuff!! To top it off, a certain kids’ shop in Kiulap even had steps to go to the first floor, where they sell their BABIES’ clothes, toys, strollers and cots!!!! Oh, and the banks in town- they don’t even have ramps to push up your strollers!!
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