Back from wonderful HK trip

We just came back from an extremely good family trip to Hong Kong. It was especially special for us, as this was the first time little Ella met her great grandmother. And to make it even extra special, my brother and sister-in-law were there too. At least for a few days, we had extra hands to help carry or entertain Ella. Really good, since this was also the first time Charles and I brought her on a holiday.

Wah.. packing for a holiday with a baby is no mean feat! From diapers to winter clothes, from food to toys, everything for Ella must be planned out in advance. Good thing we were in Hong Kong; at least if we forget anything, we can still buy. But it is still a lot of things to bring! Another worrying part of the trip was the plane ride. I was worried about how Ella would react to the air pressure differences during take-off and landing. We were fortunate. We made sure she had something to drink or munch on during those times, so it wasn’t too difficult. And yes, breastfeeding helped too – I ended up doing so most of the trip to Hong Kong, as Ella was sleepy and cranky and needed soothing. She was more awake on the plane ride back, but we had her occupied with toys and food. Oh, and she kept me occupied by making me change her pampers at least twice.

It was a really great trip. Everyone loved Ella, and can’t wait to see her again.

Happy family trip

Our trip to Hong Kong was a success! Daddy, mommy and baby were in close proximity for nine straight days, and we spent great quality time together as a family. On certain days, we would visit relatives and on others, we became tourists and did our fair share of sightseeing. Places we went included the Peak, Ngo Ping 360 and Tai O. And of course, we went shopping. That is definitely something on the itinerary not to be missed.

This trip was significant to us in other ways. EV met her great grandmother for the first time, an occasion I hold dear to my heart. At first, EV was frightened of her great grandmother, as she was at a stage where she recognises people. With time, she warmed up, and by the end of the trip, she was enjoying her great grandmother’s company. Other grand uncles and grand aunts also saw her for the first time, and EV was definitely showered with love.

So as a mother, what was it like bringing a nine month old baby for a trip? Firstly, one’s mind set is definitely important. A relaxed mind with a ‘take it as it comes’ attitude is crucial. After all, I’ve done whatever preparations I could, and was fully equipped with every baby necessity I could think of. One of the major worry I had was the flight to and from Hong Kong. How would EV react to the changes in air pressure? Would she cry and brawl? I had her water, snacks, toys and nursing cover all prepared. And I must say, the last item cam in really handy - I ended up breastfeeding her most of the plane trip to Hong Kong. EV was tired (we took a 6am morning flight), and she wanted to sleep, and she was slightly frustrated because she was in a strange place without her bed. Breastfeeding, to me, was the best way to soothe her while ensuring that she experienced as little discomfort as possible. It also helped her to sleep. But the moment we landed in Hong Kong, she was joyfully enjoying the cool weather and all that happened on the plane was but forgotten.

When it came to feeding EV, Daddy and mommy also adopted a ‘take it as it comes’ attitude. Direct breastfeeding was the main staple, which meant we always had to go to places where I could breastfeed her, and where the trusty Hooter Hiders came in handy. She also had her breast milk by the bottle and cereal with chopped fruits in the mornings. As for bottled food, besides the ones we brought along with us, we also bought different varieties and brands in Hong Kong, including Japanese ones, which EV loved. We also let eat some of the food we ate, like beancurd, fish and soft vegetables. Oh yes, EV also tried steamed milk for the first time, from popular Yee Shun Milk Company in Causeway Bay. She absolutely loved it!!!

The weather too, was something we loved. EV too adored it. She found it extremely easy to nap even when we’re out sightseeing. The Pupsik Studio Baby Pouch Sling was useful in situations like these, as it allowed me to carry EV snugly to me, without straining myself.

EV’s friendly demeanor started to emerge during this trip, when she waved hi to people near us on the MTR train. I must say, we do have a very happy and cheerful baby, which lowers the stress levels, and makes it easier to look after her. Perhaps, it’s because we were in a ‘holiday’ mood. Perhaps, EV felt that and subsequently got into a ‘holiday’ mood herself too. Whatever it was, it was really a good memorable trip.

My 9-month-old baby is a ‘koala bear’!

EV is suffering from separation anxiety, or commonly known as ‘koala bear’ syndrome. Not that we mind her clinging on to us like one. Just that it can be quite trying, especially at night when we desire a good night’s sleep after a long day at work. As she is trying to figure out whether we will return or not when we leave the room, EV has been frightened of us leaving her alone recently. Even if we’re in the same room, she doesn’t want to be more than an arm’s length from either of us, and doesn’t like to be left alone in her cot. It used to be fine, and I would usually put her in her cot after breastfeeding. Until one day suddenly, she started crying every time I try to put her down. She would cling on to me and wouldn’t stop crying until I carry her again. Sometimes, even if I am successful in putting her in her cot, she will wake up soon after brawling.

We have read that in cases like these, it’s best to ignore her, and let her cry while monitoring her, otherwise she will get used to us running to her every time she cries. We have tried that. I must say our little EV is quite patient. She cried for almost 3 hours non-stop when we did that, and we continued for about two days. As working parents, it is hard for us to maintain that for more than a weekend, unless we want to content with sleepless nights that leave us extremely exhausted for work. Then we discovered about the ‘koala bear’ syndrome. We then decided that to help EV, and to help ourselves, we’ll let her sleep with us on the bed. Yes, many early childhood specialists advise again that, but it works for us. We both agreed that we will let her sleep with us for the time being, and then eventually, when she’s out of her ‘koala bear’ syndrome, we will ease her back to her cot.

So for now, the three of us are enjoying a peaceful sleep every night.

EV's first Halloween

It's Halloween! While we don't have things like pumpkin lanterns or activities like trick or treat, we thought it would be fun to dress to the occasion and let our little EV become a... bee! Buzzzzzzzz.......


Oh.. EV also has a black and white patch dress, so she looked like a cow yesterday.

Our first family trip

In two weeks’ time, we will be taking our first family holiday to Hong Kong and EV will be meeting her great grandmother for the first time. EV will turn nine months when we’re there and the task of preparing her for the trip is still a mammoth one, if not daunting.

As early as two months ago, I started preparing for EV’s first overseas trip. Yes, it is rather early, but I would rather be prepared than scramble at the last minute. As it would be rather cold in Hong Kong, I needed to get enough clothing to keep EV warm, even though I know she would like the ‘natural aircon’. Definitely don’t want her to get a chill. Fortunately, relatives from Shanghai and Melbourne had bought her some thicker clothes and a jacket that would be suitable for her at nine months, and our neighbour had also passed us some preloved clothes. We just needed to buy some long pants from Mothercare.

I’ve also put together a running list of things to pack, and adding on to it as I think of them. Currently, my list contains the following:

1.       Clothes - at least one set per day, two or three sets on standby. Include socks and shoes

2.       Diapers - one full pack, diaper rash cream, wipes, tissue. If I need extra, I’ll just buy there

3.       Bottles - three sets, with sterilising pills and plastic bags for sterilizing

4.       Baby cereal – 1 full can

5.       Bottled food - Four Heinz bottles, enough for the first two days. The rest, we intend to buy as we needed them in Hong Kong

6.       Toys - about four to six different toys and books. Some of them will have to accompany us on board the plane to keep her occupied

7.       Breast pump and bottles

8.       Feeding necessities – spoon, lunch box, bib

9.       Bathing necessities - shampoo, body wash, comb, towel

10.    Water bottle

11.    Tidbits – Heinz Teething Rusks, Gerber Graduates Fruit Puffs

12.    Pupsik Studio Baby Pouch Sling

13.    Hooter Hiders Nursing Cover – this can also double up as a blanket

14.    First aid kit – prescription medicine in case EV catches a chill, bandages, antiseptic lotion. All to be packed in resealable plastic bags to prevent leaks

15.    Plastic bags – for temporary storage of messy items like dirty diapers and clothes

Yups.. that’s a long list. And it doesn’t include my own stuff! I’ll think about that a few days before we fly off. In the meantime, I wonder if I forgot anything?

Ella's baptised!

Ella just got baptised! And her godmother? My darling sister. Ella was quite cute during the baptism. When the priest was pouring holy water on her forehead, she kept staring at him, as though thinking ‘what are you doing’? And she couldn’t stop pulling at the priest’s robes! Haha..

Oh… Ella’s starting to teeth too. She’s been quite good to us. Other than more drool, more biting on teethers, and more crying at night, she’s coping with this other milestone pretty well. I’m so proud of her!

Ella and her uncle

Ella met her uncle for the first time last weekend. I was worried that she might be cranky, as she’s starting to recognise faces. But surprisingly, she took to him very quickly. She must know that he’s her uncle. Or perhaps, she mistook him for a taller version of her grandfather, my father; or a substitute for another uncle, my cousin. Whatever the reason, she enjoyed playing with him. Here’s a great pic of the two of them together.

Little EV is teething!

EV’s first teeth has appeared! From just little white lumps, her teeth have broken through her gums to make their grand appearance. We must count ourselves lucky that we have such a good natured baby. Other than more drool, more biting on teethers, light change in her defecation, and a mild case of crying in the middle of the night, EV has taken this milestone of her life rather well. She is really treating her parents well. Soon, she will be showing off more of her teeth during the holiday season, while we sing ‘All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth’. She will blow the house down with her sparking toothy grin!

Review: Sophie the Giraffe

The power of the Internet as a tool to influence purchase decisions is not a force to be reckoned with. I must confess: I recently fell victim to it. Photos of ‘endorsements’ by celebrity moms or babies holding on to it, and feedback from mothers who swear by it, were coercing me, convincing me that yes, I must let my darling EV enjoy the wonderful benefits that it brings. My EV must enjoy what these celebrity babies are enjoying – a privileged teether by the name of Sophie the Giraffe.

And why shouldn’t she enjoy a teether made of 100% natural rubber and food paint? And because it has a name, it is easy for EV to establish an emotional connection: ‘EV, do you want to play with Sophie? How about a kiss from Sophie?’ Definitely, this can’t be done with her other ‘hand-shaped’ teether. And it comes from a land of well-established international brands too - France!

But hey, I’m not the true teether connoisseur; EV is. There’s her verdict of Sophie the Giraffe, as interpreted by me.

a) Effectiveness

Sophie’s long legs reach into EV’s mouth to give her sore back gums a good massage. She loves the squeaky sound it makes too, and enjoys having Sophie kiss her on the cheek. Its long neck and legs make it easy for EV to hold with her small hands.

b) Wash

Easily washable with water. No detergent is required.

c) My ultimate rave

Soft with numerous chewable parts such as ears, horns and legs – easy for EV to chew on.

d) My ultimate rant

EV’s mouth smells of rubber after a chewing session with Sophie. This could be due to the natural rubber scent. Sophie is also vulnerable to black dirt marks, which are hard to wash off, even when using baby-safe detergent. 


e) Overall value (3.5/5)

Review: Pupsik Studio Baby Pouch Sling

Another reward I got for myself for hitting the ‘6-months breastfeeding’ benchmark. I’ve been eyeing on a baby pouch for some time now, and finally made the decision to invest in one. I had earlier inherited a preloved baby sling from a good girlfriend. While it was adjustable, this ‘sarong’ had too much cloth, and I had a hard time balancing the baby and fiddling with the wooden rings and excess fabric. So a more snugly fit one is in order – perhaps I’m too small sized.

A quick internet search led me to online baby boutique Pupsik Studio. I had already heard of this boutique when I chanced upon its bean pillows at Mothercare. However, why buy a $25.90 bean pillow when you can make your own for a few dollars, using dried bean sprouts husks that costs just 50 cents from the market and cloth material from Chinatown. But, I’m digressing.

The compactly designed baby pouch slings were more reasonably priced and from $45.90 onwards, are much cheaper than some others in the market. There are different sizes for people of different weights to ensure a snug fit for both baby and mummy. So unless your partner is of the same size and weight as you, you will need to get another one for your better half.

I got the Baby Pouch Sling in Strawberry Caramel design. The first time I opened up the package, the fitted pouch carrier might seem a little confusing to use. This is because there are different ways of putting on the pouch, depending on the age of the child and the method of carrying – cradle carry (0-3 months), kangaroo carry (3-6 months) or front carry (4 months – toddlerhood). There is a downloadable pdf and demonstration video on wearing instructions on the Pupsik Studio website. 

Here's how I tested it:

a) Laundry

The sling is made of slightly stretchable fabric and the elasticity did not waver even after washing. Neither did the colour run. It can be hand or machine washed cold, which is extremely convenient.

b) Effectiveness

I use the pouch by front carrying EV. Initially, I needed my better half to help shift the pouch so EV can sit on it, but after a few tries, I mastered the art of putting it on with EV in my arms. Once it has all been figured out (remember: practice makes perfect!), it is just a simple case of popping EV in the pouch and off we go on our adventures! 

c) My ultimate rave

The pouch takes the strain and aches out of the arms, as EV’s weight is now distributed evenly, rather than just on the arms. My arms are now free to do other stuff. 

d) My ultimate rant

Honestly, I have no complains. It is a worthwhile investment. The real test however, comes when we head to Hong Kong for a family holiday and much shopping and sightseeing is expected on the itinerary.

e) Overall value (4/5)

A good investment that will be tested to the ultimate during our family trip to Hong Kong. More on this after our holiday.

Review: Hooter Hiders nursing cover

Honestly, before this, I never really understand the fuss about nursing covers. Wouldn't a shawl have the same result - cover a mother while breastfeeding? I admit it. I have been a very unglamourous mother. Just look at the way I use my black shawl when feeding EV, and then trying to hold her and flip the shawl across my shoulder to cover her each time it falls. Yes, very unstylish of me. Well, I was not expecting myself to produce enough milk to last more than six months, so why waste the money?

So, EV has turned six months, and guess what? I am still lactating. Yes, it is a significant feat for a mother who tried everything to increase milk production in the early days, and was super stressed out with worry that I was not producing enough. I finally hit the six-month milestone! It was time to reward myself, and so, I bought the Hooter Hiders nursing cover.

Mothers new to Hooter Hiders may confuse it with its sister brand Bebe au Lait. Similar in overall designs, Hooter Hiders differs from Bebe au Lait only in certain embellishments. One can purchase covers featuring ruffle details along the neckline and bottom, or an external pocket with ruffle details.

I purchased my Hooter Hiders in Marseille (pink fabric with floral pattern) from blogshop Bebelove, with 15% discount after joining its Facebook fanpage. My nursing cover arrived promptly and nicely wrapped in about one week, including the period required for payment transfer, and I received it like a little girl opening up her presents with glee. 

Made of 100% cotton, the Hooter Hiders features a rigid neckline with a stiffening capability, so that direct contact with the baby can be established during feeding. This is very important as the eye contact gives the young one a sense of security, and calms baby down during suckling. The adjustable D-ring neck strap makes it easy to personalize for a tighter or looser fit. Plus, I like the fact that it comes with a nice little pouch made of the same material - makes it easier to carry around.

Since EV is more used to my black shawl, I needed to familiarize her with the new nursing cover. I spent a few days slowly introducing her to the cover, allowing her to latch on first before putting on the cover. Surprisingly, she adapted to it really well, and she calmly recognised the nursing cover as 'feeding time', each time I took it out. She understood that even though the cover is new, she was still suckling mommy while looking at me, with her pointer finger in my mouth. Yes, my darling loves to do that while feeding. Perhaps she's imitating and trying to 'feed' me as well? :)

Here's how I tested it:

a) Laundry

The Hooter Hiders is machine-washable in warm water, so it is extremely convenient to keep clean. After the pre-wash, I spent a few minutes figuring out how to fold it back nicely to fit in the pouch, given the rigid neckline, but this is something that is easily solved. 

b) Effectiveness

EV took not more than three days to get used to the Hooter Hiders. It is definitely easier to feed her with this than with my shawl. It drapes nicely over EV while I am feeding her, and the eye contact helps tremendously in keeping her calm and making sure she is suckling properly. Plus, the air ventilation is better and she can breathe!

c) My ultimate rave

I like the ingenious neckline that allows me to look at EV while she suckles, just like when she breastfeeds without the cover. This is calming too, and helps to encourage milk flow. 

d) My ultimate rant

Babies will not always stay under the cover and suckle obediently without misbehaving all the time. When EV gets frigidity during feeding, she tends to kick the nursing cover around, and I am in danger of exposing myself. I used to wish the Hooter Hiders was bigger, but I realised that size will not prevent EV from moving around. I have learnt to shift the cover and strategically cover myself when that happens.

e) Overall value (4/5)

A $60 investment to last through my breastfeeding days - this is value beyond words. Its worth will be put to the ultimate test during our upcoming family trip to Hong Kong. More on this after our holiday.

My breastfeeding journey - first 6 months

Even before I was pregnant, I had decided that I would breastfeed my child and give her the best diet that I can give to build her immunity and health. When EV was growing inside me, I affirmed that decision by making sure I ate healthily and prepared myself mentally for an unknown experience that I just knew would be special. I did some research and attended prenatal classes that touched somewhat on the topic. But I did not borrow or buy every breastfeeding book in the market, nor did I devour all the breastfeeding resources online. No. While I do wonder about breastfeeding and worry about whether I would do a good job, I generally took a laid back approach to it. Why worry about it when the time has not yet come? How could I possibly understand what I was reading, without experiencing it physically? Thinking back, I reckon that was a good attitude to adopt. Trust me. No book or lesson or online resource will prepare you for the confusion of the task. It is better to relax and then tackle it when the time comes.

The very first time EV latched on was easy, as she was just one minute old and the midwife was there to pop her in the right position. But the days and weeks after presented a mammoth task of learning how to carry EV correctly and make her latch on properly. There was also the worry of whether I was producing enough milk and even feeding her at all! During our days in the hospital, I tried to make EV latch on at every opportunity. Obviously, I wasn’t doing a good job, for my fierce little darling would brawl at the top of her voice that eventually, the nurses would recognise her desperate cries and run in to assist helpless me. Never mind that my breast was exposed; I just needed to feed EV! Powdered milk was always on standby, so EV would be fed that if I really couldn’t feed her. Then I tried again during her next feeding.

By the third day, EV was still not latching on properly and my breasts were getting bigger and lumpier. Luckily, we engaged the help of a home care midwife (we didn’t get a confinement lady as it was Chinese New Year period and it would have been expensive to engage one) to come in to teach us how to look after a baby. She was also a certified lactation consultant and not only gave me advice on breastfeeding, but also massaged my engorged breasts and patiently guided me on how to breastfeed and express. She was a godsend!

Image: koratmember / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Now that I got the technique, next was how to increase production. During those first days, we had to supplement EV’s diet with milk formula. But at every opportunity, I would let her latch on. Otherwise, I would express my milk to help increase production.

But by the second month, I was still producing less than what EV needed. I was becoming desperate. I look forward to each breastfeeding session, and the thought of not being able to do so really upset me. Breastfeeding is an experience that is beyond words. As I looked into my dear EV’s eyes as she suckles, looking at her looking up at me, I can’t help but be filled with a warm love, awe and wonder that I really find hard to describe. It is a special bond that only happens at that moment, a closeness between a mother and baby that only they can share. It is truly unforgettable, and like I said, I didn’t like the idea of not being able to feed her anymore. So I did a lot of research online to find ways of increasing production. A lady was selling Sacred Tea, which apparently was a natural way of increasing milk production. I guess at that time, I was game to try anything. I bought the Sacred Tea, and religiously drank the recommended amount, most of the time. I thought, if this tea doesn’t help, I would just accept the fact that perhaps I just can’t produce that much milk, and wean EV from me. As long as I could breastfeed EV until the six months mark, I was happy.

The tea did help, but it wasn’t enough to enable me to completely breastfeed EV at first. But I continued to drink the tea, and also made sure I increased my intake of water. Gradually, however, a strange thing happened. My milk production increased. Perhaps it was the fact that I was consuming more liquids, or perhaps it was because I was more relaxed and no longer stressed about not producing enough milk. Whatever it was, my milk production miraculously increased and very soon, I was able to completely breastfeed EV exclusively. 

I have now passed the six months mark, and I’m still going strong. I will continue to breastfeed EV for as long as I can, to give her the best nutrients, and also to enjoy the special bonding that no words can describe.

Giving a pat on the back

To reward myself for successfully breastfeed Becky for 6 months, I bought myself a Hooter Hiders nursing cover. It might be a bit late in my nursing journey, but what the heck. I didn’t think I’d be able to nurse for so long, that’s why I didn’t buy one in the first place. Plus, I’m thinking forward to my pending trip to HK to bring Becky to see her great grandmother for the first time. So there! It was a great buy. I love it! But of course, I needed to get Becky used to it, since I usually nurse her at home, or run to a nursing room, or use my clumsy yet trust black shawl. It took a few days, but now, whenever I take it out, she knows it’s feeding time!

While I was at it, I got myself a Pupsik Studio pouch sling. Another good buy, as now, I can carry Becky snugly without straining my back.

I was on a roll, why not get something for Becky? I’ve been eyeing it for a while already, and I finally did it. I finally bought Sophie the giraffe. And it was timely too, since Becky is probably teething soon.


Ahh.. the benefits of retail therapy.

A musical investment

Ever since I was pregnant with EV, hubby and I both agreed that one of the best things we can do as parents is to create an environment where EV would be inspired to learn a worthwhile hobby. By worthwhile, we mean one that not only lets her enjoy and relax, but also enables her to be equipped with a skill in her adult years. And it was not just a case of exposing her to Mozart while in my tummy, or just bringing her to lessons in her early years. It is really about immersing her in an environment from the beginning, where she is exposed and inspired from day one. To do that, we as parents need to set an example.

Both of us agreed unanimously that that hobby would be to play the piano or violin. And as I used to play the piano, it would be easy for us to create that learning atmosphere for her. It was also the perfect reason for me to pick up piano again. I hope that by doing, I am a living example for EV to be inspired to learn, and to do so with determination. 

True, piano lessons are not cheap. Neither is buying a piano. But we prefer to think of it as a long time investment to equip EV with a skill she can rely on later in life. I personally also like to think of it as enrichment for myself, as well as a form of relaxation on days of stress. We have only had the piano for a couple of days, but already, we can see that EV enjoys it. Just looking at our little Mozart banging her fingers on the keys is enough to tell us that our investment has been worthwhile.

Review: Philips Avent Pump

I must be one of few mothers who actually have two breast pumps. That’s right. I own breast pumps from Medela and Philips Avent. As a working mother who returned to her 9-to-6 job two months ago, I spent almost two weeks lugging the 4kg Medela double pump to and from work. And my back was killing me! As much as I wanted to save money, I surrendered. I had to give my back a break, and started looking for a portable pump that was lighter and more convenient.

The Philips Avent breast pump wasn’t the natural choice, and I did do a bit of shopping around and price comparisons. After all, breast pumps don’t come cheap. The deciding factor was when the pump was sold at a major discount at the Philips Carnival Sale in May. Like many parents and parents-to-be, I was there on a mission to stock up on baby items. Who could resist such great discounts?

I was initially uncertain about purchasing the Philips pump. Most nursing mothers swear by Medela pumps, but little has been heard about the Philips pump. Nonetheless, I gamely gave it a try. After all, Avent was a trustable baby brand even before it was bought over by Philips, so why should it be different now? The huge discount was also a great deciding factor.

One word describes my experience with the Philips Avent electric breast pump (single) - great! Here's how I tested it:

a) Portability 

Tipping the scales at less than half a kilogram, the Philips pump was a godsend. It comes with both an AC adapter and a battery pack, so I can be mobile and express on-the-go. Portability is not an issue and I am weighed down no longer. 

b) Effectiveness 

Philips calls it the 'Patented Let-down Massage Cushion'. Nice name for what's essentially a silicon diaphragm with raised humps all around to make it look like a flower. Philips calls these humps 'massage petals', which are there to gently flex around the areola to imitate a baby's suckling and reduces nipple trauma. Whatever the name, the key to a good breast pump is to provide an effective, yet comfortable pumping experience.

The Philips pump does this surprisingly well, even though the suction power felt like it was lower than that of the Medela pump. Philips says the suction pressure is variable and controllable from between 0-200mmHg, depending on the user. How that actually translates into layman terms, I’m not quite sure. When I first used it, I thought that the power was relatively weak, and doubted its effectiveness. The instruction manual stated that there are infinitely variable levels of suction, 'determined by the manual compressions of the handle', but somehow, that's not the case. No matter how hard or how fast I compressed the handle, I couldn't get the pump to go faster, or suck harder. Maybe I'm not strong enough to maximise the pump's full potential. 

I finally gave up trying to get a faster or more powerful suction and pressed the only control button to program my pumping rhythm. Yups, another good thing about the Philips pump is that you can program a pumping rhythm so that each time you pump, you just have to switch it on, and it will do the rest. The imbedded microprocessor leans the suction, speed and interval between each handle depression. 

So, the Philips pump has learnt my pumping rhythm, and as I sat there, letting the pump do its job, I realised that despite the seemingly soft suction power, it is quite effectively in stimulating my milk flow. Together with the silicone diaphragm, it provided a very pleasant and comfortable pumping experience, yet highly effectively at the same time. With practise, I was able to complete expressing both breasts in 20 minutes. I find that it is better than the Medela pump in this aspect. 

c) User friendliness & durability

The pump comes in five parts that are simple to assemble - the pump body, the silicon Let-down Massage Cushion, the silicon diaphragm that attaches the pump body to the control unit, the white silicon valve and a 125ml bottle container. It also comes with sterilisable Polypropylene covers for the pump funnel and stem, as well as bottle dome caps, so that the pump body and the bottle can be stored separately - especially useful when traveling. 

There's only one control button and handle, so the pump is designed for one-handed operation. Really, once you are satisfied with the suction level and rhythm that is programmed during the first use, you will only use the control button for switching the pump on and off.

d) My ultimate rave

A gentle suction does not translate to an ineffective pump.

e) My ultimate rant

The detachable silicon diaphragm that attaches the pump body to the control unit via a dumb bell-shaped latch. To detach, you will need to squeeze a finger in to push back the latch, pulling the silicon in the process. While I constantly worry that the silicon might tear as a result, the Philips pump has been very durable, and I do not foresee a need to replace any parts in the near future.

f) Overall value (4.5/5)

A buy that I was uncertain of at first, but turned out to be one of the most worthwhile investment as a breastfeeding mother.

Baby food connoisseur

My darling Becky is a tiny food connoisseur. She loves her brown rice gruel and her pork porridge, and loves licking watermelon, apple and longan, and looks longingly at our food when we eat. Yes, and she still loves her mummy’s milk.

We started little Becky on semi-solids a few weeks ago, when she turned 5 months. At first, I was worried that she will need some getting used to, but amazingly, she took to her brown rice gruel really well. Absolutely loves it! Sometimes during feeding, in fact, most of the time, we’re too slow for her, and she ends up with her mouth open as if to say ‘hurry up and bring that spoon of food to my mouth’. Just the other day, my mom took a cookie and waved it in front of Becky, just to see her reaction. Becky thought for a second, and then reached out her hand to grab the cookie. Well, in the end, my mom popped the cookie into her own mouth.

We also brought her swimming for the second time two weeks ago. This time, Becky was more daring. She allowed me to keep her afloat, with her head & shoulder supported by my chest… and she had a ball slapping the water with her hands and kicking her legs. Of course, it helped that Charles was at the edge of the pool, enticing her by slapping the water. After swimming and bathing, Becky was so tired, she knocked off to sleep straight away.

That same weekend, Becky went to the supermarket for the first time. This mummy here carried her throughout, while daddy went around getting the groceries. She slept half of the time. Haha.. tiring, but at least she wasn’t cranky or struggling.

Becky really loves water. She refuses to come out of her bathtub during bath time. Hope the rainy weather eases soon, so we can bring her swimming again.

Ramblings of a new working mother

It’s been busy these last 13 days. Life as a working mother is not just challenging, things move like clockwork…


630am – Feed Elizabeth. She sometimes does wake up at 530am

7am-9am – Wash up, pump breast milk, change & get ready, then head to office

9am-6pm/630pm – Work work work work, trying my best to do 101 things at one time (including pumping at least twice) so that I can finish and head to mom’s home.

6pm/630pm-9pm/930pm – Dinner at mom’s, feed Elizabeth if she’s hungry, wait for hubby, go home

9pm/930pm-12am/1am – Play with Elizabeth, battle with her when she cries, feed her, and aim to knock her out so she (and we) can sleep all the way to the morning.

And then the whole cycle starts again.

Yes, it’s clockwork, and I don’t deny it’s tiring work, and it’s very frustrating when she cries (read: scream) and you don’t know what she wants. But it’s satisfying. At the end of the day, when I see Elizabeth grow, smile and learn, I get a heartwarming feeling that makes me realise, yes, I’m a mother and it’s all worth it.

Retrospective

Some stuff I wrote a while ago, that has been sitting on my iPhone notes application for the longest time. Time for them to migrate to this blog.

Loneliness in a crowd is like a black hole sucking your sanity

The day I discovered scrapbooking lore,
It became a passion forever more.
People ask me, whatever for?
It’s a housewives’ hobby, they implore.
Their lack of understanding, I choose to ignore.
Little scraps of passion, now I simply explore.

The start of the thumb-in-mouth syndrome

Yes.. the much feared thumb-in-mouth syndrome started over the weekend. And I find myself checking on her more often now to make sure she doesn’t suck her thumb while I’m not looking. I’m sure she loves her thumb, judging by the loud sucking noises she makes. But I’m determined to pull that thumb out, and push the pacifier in.

Must, take, thumb, out; pacifier…… IN!

Brand new look

With the birth of my darling Elizabeth almost 3 months ago, me thinks it’s time for a change to the way this blog looks, if not to welcome this new life challenge. The past few months have been quite hectic, if not tiring, yet, strangely, it’s fun at the same time. They say that a baby can have several moods in a single day. How true it is. She can be cranky one minute, grumpy the next, screaming another minute, and then giggle at something that you don’t understand at all. Yes, motherhood is a whole new world of guesswork, more complicated than charades. Too complicated to even put into words, so I guess ‘fun’ and ‘tiring’ will have to do.

Yups.. I really do need sleep right now. Been awake since 4.30am giving her the pacifier and trying to keep her thumb out of her mouth.

Too early!

It’s quite scary actually, I have people asking me which primary school I want to send Elizabeth to. Wait, hang on! She’s not yet 2 months old. You’ve got to plan early you know, they say. Yes I know, but isn’t this a little too early? All I want now is for her to be healthy, and learn well. Primary school can come later, after kindergarten!

Just the other day, Charles and I did a health check for Elizabeth, based on the guidelines stated in her health booklet. She passed every item in the list – eyes following a moving object, eyes looking at the person speaking to her, making sounds when playing and so on. Next week, she’ll be getting her first vaccination, and we’ll have to be prepared that she may get a fever. She’s eating well, and passing motion well. And I must say, she’s getting quite pampered already. She likes to be sung & rocked to sleep! But overall, she’s not too difficult a baby, waking up only about once a night to feed. She also doesn’t cry that much, only does so when she wants something. Rather, she screams, until her face turns red.

My 52 day old darling

Oh yes.. the wonders of motherhood… wake up, feed baby, burb baby, change baby, feed baby, bath baby, coax baby to sleep…. and the cycle goes on and on. Sounds like I’m complaining. Yes, there are frustrating times, especially when I’ve gone through the whole checklist and did what I can, and the baby is still crying and I have no idea why. Then there are times when I have to multitask, doing 3 things at the same time – feed, burp, coax her to shit, and then change her diaper. Yes… in my baby’s confused state upon waking up, she suddenly realises that she’s hungry, has wind in her stomach, and needs to shit… all at the same time. Amazing isn’t it? But that’s life as a baby. And yes, it’s frustrating because all she knows how to do is to cry, and I’m constantly scratching my head trying to figure out what the hell she wants. It gets so… ARGH!!!!

Baby Elizabeth may be my most difficult client to date, but once she’s calm and soothed, and looks up at me with those puppy dog eyes, and gives a little smile… yes, my heart melts and I know whatever she does, I love my little darling.

I guess at the end of the day, that’s what being a mother is.