Tuesday 29 December 2009

Aku yang pemaleh (pemalas)..

aku cam maleh nak update 'ummy's pumping journey' tu.. boleh ker? hehe..

mulanya dari last week ler.. dah ler siap tambah malas jadi terkurang pumping session jadi 2 kali jer mase office hour.. kire skip sesi awal pagi pas sampai ofis la.. and petang sebelum balik keje.. memang dasar pemalassss..

additional pemalas nye, boleh pulak EBM aku malas nak label..sudahnya bile nak store dlm freezer..dok ler pikir hari/tarikh/masa ape yer EBM tu.. campur ngan tak tulis dlm buku nota aku pulak.. sudahnye aku agak2 je tarikh nyer mase tulis kat milk storage bag utk simpan dlm freezer..

apesallah aku malas niiiii...

semasa aku seorang yg rajin....aku akan..
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1) labelkan setiap botol yg berisi EBM dgn masking tape selepas sesi mengepam di office
2) catat dlm buku nota semua aktiviti aku seharian termasuk ape yg aku makan & minum.. tujuannya untuk mengetahui which foods yg dpt banyakkan/kurangkan production
3) catat dlm buku nota tarikh, waktu dan hasil sesi pam
4) pastikan dapat 4 sesi mengepam. kalau waktu kerja dpt 3 kali (means petang tak sempat pam kat ofis), aku akan stop kereta tepi jalan untuk pam sekali. kire 4 kali jugak sebelum sampai umah..
5) slalu2 update kat blog ni..

ermm... adakah aku terlalu busy & penat..
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ataupun aku sememangnya pemalas..

p/s:kalau tanye en.suami, die akan kate yg 2nd tu..hihihi...


ciannn Aliff....

Monday 28 December 2009

Ten ways to build your 2-year-old's self-esteem

I've been searching for this.. thanks to Babycenter.

Husna dari mata ummi memang seorang yang low self-esteem. Husna selalu tak berani nak buat atau cakap ape2 ayat kalau dia tak yakin benda tu betul. . ummi harap dapat bantu Husna jadi lebih yakin pada diri sendiri, insyaAllah..

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Ten ways to build your 2-year-old's self-esteem

by Sarah Henry
Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board

Nurturing your child's self-esteem may seem like a hefty responsibility. After all, a feeling of self-worth lays the foundation for your child's future, as she sets out to try new things on her own. "Self-esteem comes from having a sense of belonging, believing that we're capable, and knowing our contributions are valued and worthwhile," says California family therapist Jane Nelsen, co-author of the Positive Discipline series.

"As any parent knows, self-esteem is a fleeting experience," says Nelsen. "Sometimes we feel good about ourselves and sometimes we don't. What we are really trying to teach our kids are life skills like resiliency." Your goal as a parent is to ensure that your child develops pride and self-respect — in herself and in her cultural roots — as well as faith in her ability to handle life's challenges. (For a 2-year-old that may mean building a block castle that doesn't topple or rebuilding it when it does). Here are ten simple strategies to help boost your child's self-esteem:

Give unconditional love.
A child's self-esteem flourishes with the kind of no-strings-attached devotion that says, "I love you, no matter who you are or what you do." Your child benefits the most when you accept her for who she is regardless of her strengths, difficulties, temperament, or abilities. So lavish her with love. Give her plenty of cuddles and kisses. And don't forget to tell her how much you love her. When you do have to correct your child, make it clear that it's her behavior — not her — that's unacceptable. Instead of saying, "You're a naughty girl! Why can't you be good?" say, "Pushing Olivia isn't nice. It can hurt. Please don't push."

Pay attention.
Carve out time to give your child your undivided attention. That does wonders for your child's self-worth because it sends the message that you think she's important and valuable. It doesn't have to take a lot of time; it just means taking a moment to stop flicking through the mail if she's trying to talk with you or turning off the TV long enough to answer a question. Make eye contact, so it's clear that you're really listening to what she's saying. When you're strapped for time, let your child know it without ignoring her needs. Say, "Tell me all about the picture you drew, and then when you're finished, I'll need to make our dinner."

Teach limits.
Establish a few reasonable rules. For instance, if you tell your child she has to eat her snack in the kitchen, don't let her wander around the family room with her crackers and fruit the next day. Knowing that certain family rules are set in stone will help her feel more secure. It may take constant repetition on your part, but she'll start to live by your expectations soon enough. Just be clear and consistent and show her that you trust her and expect her to do the right thing.

Offer choices.
A good rule of thumb: Let your child choose between two possibilities, since at this age too many options can be overwhelming. For instance, ask her whether she wants to wear her polka-dot dress or the striped one, or if she wants to paint or draw, or whether she wants oatmeal or cold cereal for breakfast. She'll gain confidence with each opportunity to make a decision. Letting her know that you have faith in her judgment increases your child's sense of self-worth.

Support healthy risks.
Encourage your child to explore something new, such as trying a different food, finding a best pal, or going down the slide. Though there's always the possibility of failure, without risk there's little opportunity for success. So let your child experiment safely, and resist the urge to intervene. For instance, try not to "rescue" her if she's showing mild frustration at figuring out a new toy. Even jumping in to say, "I'll do it" can foster dependence and diminish your child's confidence. You'll build her self-esteem by balancing your need to protect her with her need to tackle new tasks.

Let mistakes happen.
The flip side, of course, of having choices and taking risks is that sometimes your child is bound to make mistakes. These are valuable lessons for your child's confidence. So go ahead and let her wear the snowsuit she insists on wearing even if it's balmy outside (just stash more appropriate clothing in your backpack). When she starts complaining that she's too hot, stifle your urge to say, "I told you so." Just whip out her favorite shorts and T-shirt and say something like, "How about wearing this since it's so warm?" That way her self-esteem won't sag and she'll understand that it's okay to make mistakes sometimes. When you goof up yourself, admit it, says Daniel Meier, assistant professor of elementary education at San Francisco State University. Acknowledging and recovering from your mistakes sends a powerful message to your child — it makes it easier for your child to accept her own shortcomings.

Make success a snap.
Buy clothes that are a cinch to put on and pull off, get a stool so she can wash her own hands and brush her teeth at the sink, and find a place for her toys and books that is within her reach. By giving your 2-year-old the resources to take care of her own needs, you'll help foster independence and pride in her ability to do things for herself.

Celebrate the positive.
It's sometimes too easy to tally up all the things a child does wrong, but everyone responds well to encouragement, so make an effort to acknowledge the good things your child does every day within her earshot. For instance, tell her dad, "Nina picked up all her toys today." She'll bask in the glow of your praise and her dad's heartening response. And be specific. Instead of saying "Good job," say, "Thank you for waiting so patiently in line." This will enhance her sense of accomplishment and self-worth and let her know exactly what she did right.

Listen well.
If your child needs to talk, stop and listen to what she has to say. She needs to know that her thoughts, feelings, desires, and opinions matter. Help her get comfortable with her emotions by labeling them. Say, "I know you're sad because we have to say bye-bye to the carousel." By accepting her emotions without judgment, you validate her feelings and show that you value what she has to say. If you share your own feelings ("I'm excited about going to the zoo"), she'll gain confidence in expressing her own.

Provide encouragement.
Every child needs the kind of support from her loved ones that signals, "I believe in you. I see you trying. Keep going!" Encouragement means acknowledging progress — not just rewarding achievement. It means thanking your child for putting her books away, even if she missed some under her bed. It means smiling in support as she struggles to use her fork, in spite of the trail of food under her chair. And it means giving a hug for an attempt at singing the "ABC" song, even though she skipped a few letters.

There's a difference between praise and encouragement. One rewards the task while the other rewards the person ("You did it!" rather than "I'm proud of you!"). Praise can make a child feel that she's only "good" if she does something perfectly. Encouragement, on the other hand, acknowledges the effort. "Tell me about your drawing. I see that you like purple" is more helpful than saying, "That's the most beautiful picture I've ever seen." Too much praise can sap self-esteem because it can create pressure to perform and set up a continual need for approval from others. So dole out the praise judiciously and offer encouragement liberally; it will help your child grow up to feel good about herself.

Monday 21 December 2009

husna & aliff

layan gambar aje..
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aliff rayyan
berat pada 4/10 (mase lahir) = 3.9kg
berat pada 14/11 (1mth 1wk) = 5.4kg
berat pada 28/11 (1mth 3wks) = 6.0kg
berat pada 19/12 (2mth 2wks) = 6.8kg
aliff skarang lebih suka kepalanya dok luar sling..
suka jugak main air liur sampai meleleh2..comot toll
husna & aliff..tidurlah sayang..
husna & aliff

1001 malam

jumaat lepas bersamaan 18 Dis 09.. majlis kecil-kecilan sambutan hari lahir makcikku (adik mak) yang bongsu iaitu Usu Lili. yang keberapa? sila tengok kek.....di bawah nun...

temanya 1001 malam.. errkkk.. aku baru tau mase tengah2 sibuk siap nak ke umahnya.. hampess..mane lak aku nak carik menatang2 1001 malam ni.. ape yang ade je le.. husna dah siap2 pakai gaun kene tukar jadi baju kurung jer.. cam nak gi kenduri jer.. =D.. Aliff lagi le takde kostum..nasib la yer.. kitorang ala-ala 1001 malam..ala kadar jer..info lambat bebenau..

the cake

the cake~ top view

kek tu 2 flavour.. yg nombor '3' tu choc moist, yang '0' tu marble mocha (but cam lebih rase choc dari coffee :D).

posing duluuu!!..ya habibi ya maulanaaa!!

majlis dimulakan dengan bacaan doa selamat oleh my grandma sambil syahdu syahdan.. (ermm i think my grandma mase tu teringat kat my late grandpa kot..). pastu alunan biola oleh Jeehan, mengalunkan lagu happy birthday..(tu pun selepas berkali2 practise dalam bilik..hehe..).


doa time..tingginye tangan tu, Ijat..

jeehan

potong jangan tak potong :D (tisya yg kiriii skali.)


Aliff.. lenanya..

en.suami & husna

en.suami & aliff

Kategori pakaian terbaik antara cucu2 ajer..yg perempuan dimenangi oleh Tisya (tupun selepas adegan menagis2 sbb taknak pakai kostum yg dibuat mama-nye sebelum tu..) & yg lelaki dimenangi Ijat (ni menang tanpa bertanding niiihh..). cucu menantu takleh bertanding so en.suami tak dapat ler..

owhh..btw sambut birthday my youngest sis gak that day..

Selamat hari lahir untuk korang ehh..semoga panjang umor murah rejki..

Usu ~ 17/12/1979
Hada ~ 18/12/1995

Tuesday 15 December 2009

Dunia kita kecikk ajer..

Semalam gi seminar on Hot Dip Galvanizing Coating for Iron & Steel kat Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Club. Penceramahnya Dr. Michael Ainsley dari Internation Zinc Association.
Well, tengah duduk2 tunggu..

tetiba jumpe dia..

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tadaaaa!!!....

: : aku & najmah : :

najmaaah!! banyak2 tempat, leh pulak jumpe ko kat sini yer..betullah orang kate construction industry ni kecik jer..

lom sampai beberapa minit ceramah..penyakit ngantuk dah hinggap kat najmah..haha!! pastu aku pulak terkena jangkitan.. tapi aku masih boleh bertahan..uishhh..

owhhh..btw, seminar ni nak memberitahu kebaikan, proses2 & aplikasi hot dip galvanizing utk steel & iron untuk industri pembinaan bangunan/jalan etc..

sekiann...
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layan gambar Aliff ngan anak kucing yang sangat berminat ngan ALiff.. dah dialihkan, datang balik dok gesel2 Aliff..mase ni kat umah Andak & Usu kat Bkt Subang sabtu lepas..saje jenjalan ziarah Atok..

ermmm...kucing tu ingat Aliff tu kawan2 die kot..same2 sebaya =D...



Aliff kucayang..

Friday 11 December 2009

Hari Ini Hari Jumaat

harini selangor cuti..(tapi kl tak cuti, so aku kerje lah sbb aku kerja di kl =D)
en.suami cuti tapi kunun2nyer nak gi opis wat obertime..
tu alasan2 ngengade takmo jage anak2 tuu..*wink wink*.. nasib ler anto anak2 kat umah mak, kalau nursery konpem takde alasan nak lari yer.. to en.suami, tolong jangan buat slaluu ok..

lambat puler aku terjage pagi tadi. 6.15am..hadoii!! jauh beza tu dari sepatutnye (kol 5.30am).. kelam kabut dibuatnya..berlari kesana sini.. tak sempat nak feed Aliff. B pulak dah full..adeii tak selesanya.. biase bangun kol 5.30am tu sebab nak spare time untuk Aliff direct feed or pam kalau Aliff takmo feed..nasib ade pam sket dekat kol 3am, so en.suami dengan tak disuruh2 feed Aliff guna botol & tukarkan diaper..
nasib baik faham yer.. istri anda sangat2 tak sempat.. kalau tak faham gak, tak tau nak kate ape ler..

kol 6.52am dah pecut gi umah mak anta Aliff & Husna.. (motor en.suami pancit lak,so aku kene anta Husna skali..). dah hantar, pecut sehabis boleh nak sampai opis cepat2 sebab B dah over full..berdoa banyak2 tak 'banjir' dalam kereta..
sampai opis kol 7.25am, dengan segeranya berkurung dalam bilik untuk wat projek mengepam

fuuhh legaaa...
dan hasilnya tadaaa...

dalam rekod, ni kire 1st time sekali pam dapat banyak ni..15oz.. alhamdulillah..

Thursday 10 December 2009

cerita K.A.M.I di KLIA

awaaaaaallll pagi tadi parents en.suami (my PIL laa..) telah selamat sampai di KLIA setelah mengerjakan haji musim ni.. jadual asal ketibaan kol 8.40mlm semalam..tunda pulak jadi kol 11mlm.. kitorang dah on the way ke airport, abg en.suami call dari kg cakap tabung haji called bgtau penerbangan delayed..akan sampai 12.30tgh malam pulak..

tengok ajer lar ramainye manusiaaa..

so lamaaa lah kitorang menunggu..lebih 3 jam lah..yang gi adalah en.suami, aku, adik en.suami, husna, aliff, mak aku & ayah aku..

mak aku, aik en,suami (tersorok), en.suami, husna, ayah aku (dok dkt stoller merah tuuu). aku+aliff=tukang amek gambo

aku dah sampai nantok giler..rase nak 'main pengsan2' (ayat dak kayak =D) kat airport tu...aliff dah selamat tido dalam sling nye.. husna pun dah start buat perangai (tanda2 dia nak tido lah..).

aku yg ngantok, husna & aliff yg dah tidoo

Flight dah landed kol 12.30 gitew..tunggu punya tunggu..PIL aku hanya berjaya me'muncul'kan diri pada kol 1.50pagi..hadoii patah pinggang aku berdiri lame2.. pas jumpe + borak2 ngan PIL aku, parents aku nak balik lah..aku decide nak ikut balik pasal en.suami & adiknya nak bermastautin kat airport sampai PIL aku naik flight ke kota bharu pulak kol 7.50pagi (pagi tadi lah..)

my PIL..selamat sampai & alhamdulillah sihat..

perjumpaan besAn-besEn..heheh

kesudahannya aku sampai kat umah kol 3.30pagi tadi bersama aliff sahaja..husna, parents aku bawak balik umah derang jer pasal dah tidoo..dan aku telah terpacak kat pejabat kol 7.24pagi tadi dengan setianyaaa dan mengantok tahap gabann!!!

Wednesday 9 December 2009

How Do I Choose a Breast Pump?

artikel ni diambil dari web La Leche League International

How Do I Choose a Breast Pump?

When deciding what kind of pump to use or if one is even necessary, it is helpful to consider what your needs will be for expressed milk. Some women find that they never need to use a pump after seeing how easy it is to take a breastfed baby along. Others who will be away from the baby for specific times will need some way to express milk. Many women find it easy to hand express milk when needed. LLLI offers an information sheet Manual Expression Of Breast Milk which is available in the LLLI Online Store or from your local LLL Leader.

If you find you do need a pump, there are many different kinds of pumps available. Selecting the best pump can be likened to choosing ahandbag--there are many options, and what works for one woman is not necessarily the best option for another. Some considerations when thinking about pumps are cost, portability, noise level, ease of use and efficiency. There are manual (hand operated) pumps ($14-$50) which often are helpful for those who want to pump on an occasional basis to leave milk for baby. Most are easy to operate, are small, and easy to transport. Some require two hands and others operate with only one hand. The "bicycle horn" style manual pump is NOT recommended. There are also small electric pumps ($30-$150) available from different manufacturers. These use batteries or AC adapters to supply the power and are still quite small and portable. Some are quiet and some are not.

When pumping time is limited and larger milk volumes are needed, some women rely on full-size, automatic electric pumps, which have a suck-release cycle that is closer to the pattern of a baby than the continuous suction of the smaller pumps. Many women report they are quite efficient and quiet,although not quite as portable. These are usually rented (although the equipment that attaches the mother to the pump must be purchased) and cost varies. The newer automatic electric pumps designed for mothers who need to regularly pump their milk represent another option. These are quiet to operate, cost over $200 and are listed as single-user pumps by the manufacturers.

These come with an attractive carrying case and all the accessories needed to pump both breasts at the same time, and work well for mothers who work outside the home. However, if a mother needs to pump to increase her milk supply, provide milk for a premature baby or other situations where the baby is not breastfeeding to provide stimulation for the mother’s breasts, the hospital-grade rental pumps are the preferred option.

It can be helpful to ask friends whether or not they needed a pump and if they did what kind they used. Inquire what features were found helpful and what could have been better. Please note that most breast pumps are considered "single-user" products, and because of the risk of contamination (there is a chance that milk can be aspirated into the pump mechanism, which cannot be sterilized), should not be borrowed or shared. Manual pumps that can be autoclaved are an exception.

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Apa kriteria yang aku pertimbangkan semasa memilih pam?

(untuk semua jenis pam yang aku pernah guna sahaja ye..)

1. "bicycle horn" style manual pump

owwhh..ini bukan pam yang dipilih aku.. tetapi en.suami yg pegi beli tanpa tanya aku ponn..

tapi ade jugak sahabat di SI yang berjaya dlm penyusuan susuibu secara xklusif walaupun dgn hanya gunakan pam ni.. tapi kene carik yg bila pam, susu terus masuk dlm botol bukan jenis yang kumpul dlm bahagian getah bulat kaler merah tu.. kalau jenis yg simpan dlm getah tu tak sesuai digunakan sebab dikhuatiri susu akan tercemar. sebabnya bhgn getah tu susah nak dicuci kan..so tak selamat.. lagipun dulu2 pam tu di'design' utk halang B engorged sahaja iaitu method 'pump and dump'.. sila lah baca label kat kotak pam dulu yer..sebab memang ade tulis..

2. spectra 3

ni pam letrik pertama yg aku beli (tahun 2007 yer..).. nape aku beli ni? ntah ler.. selepas membuat 'survey', ramai mommies yg bg feedback bagus dgn spectra 3 ni. aku beli kat MLO set extravaganza terus.. tak agak2..mase tu rege die rm5**.**.

pam ni bagus, bunyi pun cam tak bunyi..means agak senyap gak.. even kat opis aku leh pam kat tpt aku je walaupun opismate aku dok belakang aku jer..(lelaki ye r..).. cuma masalah die ni kene ade plug point.. dulu takde jual adapter bagai.. so agak susah aku nak pam kalau kene dok site seharian pasal takde plug point lah..

3. medela harmony

aku paling suka pam manual ni.. ni pam manual yer.. cuma agak penat nak mengepam lah =D. kalau jari jemari anda malas nak mengepam..sila guna letrik sahaja yer =D.. aku beli ni sebab senang nak bawak kemane2.. dengan parts yg sikit, aku leh letak dalam tupperware jer. (tak letak dalam tupperware pon takpe).. masuk dalam handbag jer gi keje..

pam ni parts die pon tak banyak..sangat sikit dan mudah nak pasang.. dan pam pun takde bunyi2 yang kuat/ menimbulkan prasangka orang sekeliling.. die ade 2-phase expression iaitu untuk merangsang let-down reflex & pam secara biase..

aku beli pon tahun 2008 kat. mase tu rege die rm259.**.

4. pump in style (PISA)

pam ni boleh guna letrik, bateri, manual & boleh 'cucuk' kat kereta (but kene beli asing car adapter ni). aku beli bende ni sebab ia bersesuaian ngan keadaan aku dulu sebagai exclusive pumpers.. kire PISA ni tahan lasak la..dan sesuai utk kegunaan jangka panjang.. rege die rm1799, mase tu lah.. sekarang dah murah aku tengok..

pam ni pun ade 2-phase expression dan jenis double pumping... berat leh tahan gak lah..cuma lagi ringan dari spectra3. die skali ngan backpack nye.. bunyi leh tahan bising gak tapi lagi senyap dari mini-E.

so kesimpulannya, nak beli pam..ikutlah atas tujuan ape nak beli tu..

kalau pam skali skala, memadai beli pam manual saje.. kalau bekerja sepenuh masa & nak wat double pumping (boleh jimatkan masa) boleh beli pam letrik & ade fungsi double pumping.. tengok jugak kawasan /tempat kite nak pam tu sesuai tak ngan pam tu nanti.. check kalau perlu ade plug point ke..

sekiannn..

nota: catatan berdasarkan pengalaman penulis sahaja.. tak dapat ape2 faedah dari mane2 pihak pon yer.. saya juga tiada menyokong /tidak menyokong mane2 pengeluar pam.. mekasehhh..


Tuesday 8 December 2009

: : Lactogenic Foods and Herbs : :

Lactogenic Foods and Herbs

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(1).
  • 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.

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

Garlic

Garlic is famous for its medical benefits, and has a long history as a galactagogue.

In one study, babies were seen to latch on better, suckle more actively, and drink more milk when the mother had garlic prior to nursing(2). If you do not wish to eat garlic, try adding a capsule of garlic extract to a meal eaten about an hour before breastfeeding.

If you would like to introduce garlic to your diet, and are not used to eating garlic, introduce it very slowly and observe your baby’s reaction. Take only 1 – 2 cloves per day. These can be chopped or pressed through a garlic press into any food after it has finished cooking. Try it in vegetables, rice, grains, pulses, salad sauce, spaghetti sauce, or other sauce.

Our culture does not encourage eating garlic, and many people do not tolerate garlic well (or onions, another food which is traditionally lactogenic). For this reason, garlic is not recommended by the American Herbal Product’s Association while breastfeeding except under the guidance of a qualified herbalist. However, if you do tolerate garlic there is no reason that you should not benefit from it. Take garlic in moderation as do mothers all over the world.

Caution: Do not combine with anticoagulants, as garlic has blood-thinning actions.

Danger: Babies and small children should never be given garlic in any form, whether fresh, dry, powdered or in capsules, to chew, swallow, eat or suck on. Garlic is highly caustic to delicate body tissues, and rubbing it in one’s nose or eyes could be painful and dangerous. Babies will benefit from the garlic a mother eats, and that reaches him through her milk.

Ginger

Ginger is helpful for the letdown and milk flow. Some mothers benefit from drinking ginger ale. Even commercial ginger ale is flavored with “natural flavoring” that is real ginger.

Warning: Do not use ginger or ginger ale in the early postpartum if there was significant blood loss during birth. Do not take ginger immediately after birth due to danger of hemorrhaging.

Caution: Ginger tends to compound and increase the effects of medication being taken. Talk to your doctor if you are taking medication, especially diabetic, blood-thinning, or heart medicine.

Sources: You can find ginger at your local grocery store. Check out stores that sell Asian foods, health food stores, and on line.

Spices

Spices in your kitchen can be used to support milk production. Try adding marjoram and basil to your meals, and anise, dill or caraway. Black pepper, taken in moderation, is helpful.

Turmeric

This powdered yellow root gives curry its yellow color and basic flavor. A potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, turmeric is being studied in connection with the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatism, and cancer. Turmeric has lactogenic properties and can also be taken to help prevent inflammatory conditions. One half teaspoon of turmeric a day may help prevent inflammation in the breasts.
Caution: Some herbalists warn that pregnant women should not use turmeric if they are at risk for miscarriage.

SPECIAL FOODS

Oats (Avena Sativa)

The humble oat is one of our most nutritious foods, and contains proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements that nourish the nerves, support the metabolism of fats, and uplift the spirit. In traditional medicine, both the seed and the leaf—called oat-straw—are taken. Oats are prescribed as a nervine tonic in the treatment of nervous exhaustion. In Europe, women traditionally take oats after birth. Oats are taken today in the US to increase milk production, both as food and as a supplement. Like other galactagogues, oats are antidepressant, antispasmodic, and they increase perspiration.

Allergy: Occasional. Persons sensitive to gluten in wheat are frequently able to tolerate oats.

Dosage and Preparation:

Taking large dosages of oats is helpful in kick-starting milk production.

Oatmeal can be taken for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

Oat-straw is especially rich in minerals. It is available as capsules or as an ingredient in so-called “green-drinks.” Take as indicated on the package.

Fluid extract: 3 – 5 ml (15 – 35 drops), three times a day.

Nutritional and Brewer's Yeast

Nutritional or brewer’s yeast frequently leads to a significant boosts in a mothers’ milk supply. Mothers sometimes say that they feel much more energetic and emotionally balanced while taking yeast. This may signal a lack of essential nutrients in their diet, in particular, chromium, vitamin B complex, and especially vitamin B12, found in some brands of fortified nutritional yeast. Brewer’s and nutritional yeast also contain protein and good levels of phytoestrogen.

Allergy: Persons who are allergic to yeast should avoid these products.

Side-effects: Occasionally, mothers or babies become gassy, more so with brewer’s yeast than nutritional yeast. To be on the safe side, start with a small dosage and slowly increase.

Sources: Vegetarian stores and health food stores.

Green Drinks

Green foods are reputed to increase the fat content of breastmilk. Some mothers supplement with chlorophyll. So-called "green drinks" can be very helpful. Their ingredients include barley-grass, alfalfa leaf, spirulina, corellas, kelp, oat-straw and other herbs with lactogenic and medicinal properties.

Caution: Chlorella, a common ingredient in commercial green-drinks, is used by medical specialists to chelate (remove) heavy metals from the body, especially mercury. If not taken at the correct dosage, chlorella can lead to an increase of mercury in the bloodstream and probably in a mother’s milk as well. It is wise to choose green-drinks that only contain a low percent of chlorella.

Sources: Super markets, health food stores, online.

Green Papaya

Green papaya is taken as a galactagogue across Asia. It is a superb source of enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, including vitamins C, A, B, and E. Green papaya is the unripe fruit, and it needs to be simmered until soft. Green papaya can also be taken in supplement form.

Allergy: Persons allergic to latex may be allergic to papaya and other fruit.

Caution: Persons taking Warfarin should consult with their doctor before taking papaya supplements.

Sesame Seed

Large, black sesame seeds are used to increase milk production across Asia. Husked, light-colored sesame seeds are also effective and easier to digest. Sesame seed "butter" known as Tahini can be found in health food stores. Sesame is our most potent vegetable source of calcium!

Allergy: Allergy to sesame is becoming more common.

Spirulina

Spirulina is a non-toxic variety of blue-green algae. It has been farmed in lakes and ponds as a food source for thousands of years. It is valued for its proteins, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, chlorophyll, and essential fatty acids. Spirulina's nutrients are easily absorbed, even when a person’s digestion is not up to par.

It is important that spirulina be cultivated on a farm that is not located in waters that are contaminated, in particular with heavy metals. It is also advisable not to use spirulina that has been genetically ‘improved.’ Spirulina and other “green foods” may increase the fat-content of breastmilk.

Note: It is not wise to rely on spirulina as a source of B12.

Barley Water

Barley-water is used medicinally to treat colds, intestinal problems (both constipation and diarrhea) and liver disorders. It was recorded in Greek medicine two thousand years ago as a galactagogue. Taken for a week or two, it often helps mothers with chronic low milk supply. Make a pot in the morning and drink it throughout the day, warming each cup and sweetening it with a natural sweetener as desired.

Barley-water can be made with whole grain or pearl barley. Barley flakes can also be used, though these have been processed and are possibly less potent than the whole or pearled grain.

Preparation:

  • Quick-and-easy: 1/2 cup of flakes or pearled barley can be simmered in 1 quart of water for twenty minutes.
  • Long-and-intensive: 1 cup of whole or pearled barley is simmered in 3 quarts of water for up to 2 hours. About half the liquid should cook off. Some recipes call for only 1/2 hour cooking time. However, the longer the barley simmers and the more pinkish (and slimier) the water becomes, the more of the ‘cream’ will enter the water and the stronger the medicinal effect will be.
  • If the barley water becomes too thick to drink comfortably, add in more water.
  • When finished, remove from the stove and sieve off the water. The grain is now tasteless and can be thrown out.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of fennel powder or steep 2 – 3 teaspoons of fennel seeds for ten minutes in the barley-water before drinking.
  • The traditional recipe calls for fennel seed. I personally find that powdered fenugreek seed is tastier than fennel in barley-water.

Endnotes

1. While studies on focusing on probiotics and allergy during pregnancy and in childhood continue and are controversial, a series of studies on the anthroposophic community in Europe convincingly shows results of a different composition of bacteria and lactobacteria in the stool of the lifestyle of these children: breastfed, eating naturally fermented vegetables, fewer treatments with antibiotics and vaccines. Therefore in this author’s opinion, it is fair to assume that each of these factors, and all of them combined, serve to protect the child against allergy. See:

Alm JS, Swartz J, et al., An anthroposophic lifestyle and intestinal microflora in infancy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2002 Dec;13(6):402-11.

Alm JS, Swartz J, et al., Atopy in children of families with an anthroposophic lifestyle. Lancet. 1999 May 1;353(9163):1485-8.

2. Menella J, Beauchamp G. The effects of repeated exposure to garlic-flavored milk on the nursling's behavior. Pediatr Res 1993;34:805-808.

Mennella J. Mother's milk: A medium for early flavor experiences. J Hum Lact 1995;11(1):39-45.

Monday 7 December 2009

Fara & Azlan : Tahniah!!!

salam..

sabtu lepas, wedding fara & azlan.. aku nak ucapkan tahniah untuk kawan aku ni..
fara ni merupakan kawan mase kat mrsm Jasin batch 98/99 pastu same fakulti kat UTM dari 2000-2005. mase kat jasin takdela rapat pon.. cume bile masuk UTM baru geng.. same2 join kayak jugak..tapi fara ni bintang kayak lah..siap wakil kebangsaan lagi ehh (aku yg bangga lebih ni..=D) tak cam aku..setakat taik bintang jerrr..haha!!!

bukti kitorg gi majlis fara..husna posing kat pelamin =D

but fara sori ehh aku datang pon dah lambat sangat lah.. kol 3.30pm baru sampai umah nyer.. dah abis majlis pon.. tapi aku datang sebab nak jumpe ko ler..bukan takat makan2 jer.. datang lambat leh sembang ngan pengantin lame skett..hehe.. pengantin pon dah tukar baju kepada pakaian biase nak gi training kayak dolu2.. silalah lihat gambar tue..

fara main nyorok2?? =D..taknak tunjuk baju tuu..

Disebabkan lambat, tak dapat lah aku jumpe kengkawan lain.. Aliff pon tak dapat jumpe kawan2 nyer.. ermm tak pe lar..

Actually aku lambat sebab nak hantar bende alah kat bawah ni kat umah bestfren adik aku (pengantin nyer..), yang mana ibunye adalah kawan mak bapak aku merangkap jugak cikgu Cairy (adik aku) mase skolah dulu.. banyak tol kaitan kannn.. dahle lambat hantor, ditambah pulak traffic jam kat jalan nak masuk Kesas tu.. setengah jam dibazirkan begitu ajer..

en.suami mengendong Aliff dlm mama patch ringsling..btw, tu bukan baju yg dipakai ke majlis fara, singgah dulu umah mak tukar baju =D..

Tapi puan fara, aku bengang jugak sebab rupe2nye majlis belah lelaki dibuat pada hari Ahad (esoknya) dan hanya di Titiwangsa.. ko niiiii..memang nak kene ehhhh.. kalau tau, aku gi majlis kat KL ni ajer..amat dekat dan berpatutan..hihihi...

Sori jugak lah fara, aku tak sempat beli hadiah untuk ko.. huh tak sempat manjang.. takpe nanti aku antor kat umah ko kat taman medan tu nanti ehh.. dekat aje ngan umah aku..balik keje pon leh singgah.. =D..kalau aku lupe, sila tuntut yer.. haha!!

nota:
entry ni cam conversation satu hala aku kepada fara ehh..=D

Friday 4 December 2009

Sorry Aliff..ummi bersalah!!

Sorry yer Aliff..ummi telah melanggar pantang BF iaitu dengan meminum nescafe..
nak buat camne ye sebab ummi teramat lah mengantuknye hari ni dan beberapa hari lepas.. malah, ummi boleh terlelap semasa mengepam susu dipejabat pagi tadi. hmm.. malam tadi je ummi hanya dapat merehatkan diri selama 3 jam sebelum menjalankan rutin harian ummi yang bermula jam 5.30pagi tu.. sorry ye Aliff

Tapi kan..ummi buat cair-cair aje tauu.. ummi tak sanggup pun nak minum nescafe pekat2.. pastuuu ummi minum air masak baaaanyak2.. kunun2nye nak bagi clear nescafe tu.. tak pe kan Aliff ummi wat cantu..

Ummi ni lately rase teramat2 letih la.. kadang2 balik umah dah melepek dah.. beberapa hari ni pun cam tak sihat jer.. rase seram sejuk cam nak demam, 2 hari ni pun selsema pulak.. kepala pun kengkadang pening.. adakah kerana ummi kurang rehat?? kesian kat Aliff nak manja2 tapi ummi tak larat je..

hmmm.. ummi rase kene amek supplement untuk bagi lebih bertenaga..

Thursday 3 December 2009

Gadjet baru : Mama Patch Ring Sling =D

salam sumerr...

ni aku nak memperkenalkan gadjet baru aku iaitu ring sling produk keluaran mama patch =D..
bende alah ni aku beli kat Fabulous Mom TTDI ari Isnin baru ni tapi baru je sempat posing depan kamera semalam..
"barnsling red ditte" (gambar dari mamapatch)

setelah mencari2, surf sana sini.. akhirnya dapat jugak aku rembat sling ni.. mule2 aku dah survey kat Babyland SS2 tapi ade satu jenis brand ni (tak ingat ape..), tak berapa menarik tapi leh tahan gak rege die.. kupikir2 baik aku carik lain..

so aku dah jenguk2 kat tenet ni jumpe macam2..

slingmemama
snuggbaby
mamapatch
peekaroobaby
ezmama shoppe

1st choice aku mase tu adalah ring sling dari snuggbaby sebab cun2 jer rupe sling die..tapi diorang tgh stop amek order pulak.. 2nd choice adalah sleepy wrap dr ezmama shoppe tapi takut tak reti nak gune pulak..

disebabkan aku cam memerlukan sling ni dengan segera.. nak purchase online amek masa gak.. so tengok2 fabulous mom reseller untuk mama patch, so balik keje terus je gi sana..

nape aku perlukan bende ni?
1) Aliff takmo dok dalam stroller..
dahle kakak Husna kedekut bagi pinjam, kalau letak Aliff pun sekejap je diam pastu start berbunyi daaa.. takmo tido die dalam tu. kalau letak dalam carrier sweet cherry (aku namakan disini as CSC) die mau tido tapi kesian dok terlentok pale die.. so dengan ringsling, aku leh buat cradle hold
Aliff in CSC.. CSC ni dari zaman Husna lagi yer..

2) senang nak kuar masuk baby (banding dgn CSC)
awal2 masuk keje dulu aku memang bawak Aliff dgn CSC. bentang CSC atas katil, letak baby, klip sana sini.. pakai.. selalunye perlu en.suami tolong pasangkan klipkan CSC kat aku. boleh je nak pakai sendiri tapi leceh sikit dan kene pro sket hehe =D
dengan sling, senang nak pakai kat badan dan baby senang masuk/kuar.. but still kene master teknik die.. aku still practise lagi..

3) senang nak breastfeed baby
kalau pakai CSC aku kene bukak semua klip pastu baru leh BF Aliff, dengan sling tak payah kuarkan baby dari sling, terus aje BF. (ni pun aku tengah practise lagi..). dan tak perlu carik kerusi/ baby room utk BF Aliff.. tengah berjalan2 pun boleh =D

btw, tujuan utama aku beli adalah utk nombor 3 tu..

aku tengok kat tenet ni, ade org pro-babywearing ni tapi age gak yang tak suke.. well, ikut pendirian masing2 yer.. kalau aku suke, aku punyer suker lah ehh.. =D


Balik-balik keje terus posing hehe..
Aliff tengah BF dalam sling tuu..

Wednesday 2 December 2009

~Selamat Hari Lahir~


"Selamat hari lahir.."

hari ni merupakan hari lahir dua orang penting dalam hidup aku..
so nak wish mereka,
"selamat hari lahir.. semoga dipanjangkan umur, dimurahkan rezeki dan dalam redha Allah sepanjang masa..".. untuk permintaan2 lain, sila doa sendiri hehe..=D

siapakah mereka?
02/12/1956 -> ayah, Hj Othman bin Abdul Aziz
02/12/1979 -> en.suami, Abdullah bin Mat Nor..

suratan atau kebetulannn..ahaks =D

Tuesday 1 December 2009

Ummy's pumping journey : Nov09

note: 1st day masuk keje lepas pantang 17/11
17/11=7+7+7=21oz
18/11=8+3.5+6+5=22.5oz
19/11=5+5+4+4.5+5.5=24oz
20/11=4+6+4.5+5.5+4=24oz
21/11=8+5=13oz
23/11=9+7.5+6.5=23oz
24/11=4.5+5.5+9.5=19.5oz
25/11=5.5+7+5.5+6+5.5=28.5oz
26/11=8+9+8=25oz
30/11=6.5+9.5+5.3=21.3oz