Motherhood – Page 2

INCREASING MY BREASTMILK SUPPLY WITH MARIAN’S LACTATION BOOST

October 10, 2018 by Little Miss Honey 659 Comments

When Baby Zeke reached 4 months and a half, I noted my breastmilk supply significantly dropped. I aimed to breastfeed Zeke, even if it’s mixed feeding with formula milk, up until he turns 1 year old. So I was ecstatic to collaborate with Marian’s Lactation Boost who is one of the lifesavers to my depleting milk supply. Marian is a homebaker who focuses on baking lactation goodies to help mommies in their breastfeeding journey. She bakes yummy lactation boosters brownies, cookies, muffins and ice cream delivered in your doorstep to address mommies’ specific breastfeeding issues. Marian would ask for the mommy’s usual amount of milk pumped and how much the baby is drinking.

I had my lactation boosters delivered in my home one Saturday morning. It includes chocolate chip muffins, Oreo muffins, chocolate chip cookies with walnuts and Australian Milo ice cream. It came with a regimen for me to follow to help boost my milk.

Morning: 1 pc muffin + 200 ml Oats Milk + 400ml water

Cookies: 2-3 pc when hungry

Tea Time (4pm): 1 pc muffin + 400 ml water

2 hrs before bed: 2 pc cookies + 1 full cream milk/ 1 cup water

There are 11 diff types of lactogenic foods in the boosters, and it is safe and healthy for both adults and kids. However, there should be a limit to 1 muffin per day for kids because the ingredient may be too potent for their young digestive systems. But the ice cream can be given a little bit more to kids.

These are the main ingredients for boosting that was used by Marian which are mostly organic:

-Brewer yeast

-wholemeal oats

-steel cut oats

-wheat germ

-ground flaxseed

-flaxseed

-home made oats milk

-virgin coconut oil

-chia seeds

-coconut flakes

-ground fennel seeds

I enjoyed the delicious muffins and cookies. You can taste the healthy goodness of the ingredients that would help in increasing my milk. Eating them in scheduled hours of the day has been my favorite new habit. On weekends, my 2 toddlers, Naj & Fynn, and I indulged in the Australian Milo Ice Cream. Together with Marian’s Lactation Boost, I also upped my water intake and do power pumping on weekends. I make sure I would unli-latch Zeke when I am home and I would pump after breastfeeding Zeke. I also drink a pack of soya milk together with my lunch.

After 2 weeks, I did notice a huge improvement in my milk supply. Previously I would just collect 2 oz per pumping session. Now I can collect 4 to 6 oz per pumping session and Baby Zeke is definitely very happy with my milk output. No need to supplement with formula milk at night. He doesn’t cry at night because his milk is adequate.

For those breastfeeding mommies like me who wants to boost their milk supply or having breastfeeding supply issues, you can check out Marian’s Lactation Boost Facebook or Instagram.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Marian’s Lactation Boost. All opinions are my own. Regardless, I only recommend products which I personally believe will be good for my readers.

TAYO STATION, NEWEST INDOOR PLAYGROUND IN THE EAST

September 19, 2018 by Little Miss Honey 2,515 Comments

During the school holiday, we visited Tayo Station, the newest playground in the East. Tayo Station – the first Tayo character-based indoor playground in Southeast Asia. This marks the opening of the first Tayo Station in Singapore and Southeast Asia outside of South Korea.

My two toddlers were so excited when I told them we are going to Tayo Station because they love Tayo the Little Bus and their friends. They love watching the Tayo cartoons. They keep seeing the Tayo Tayo Song as we headed to Tayo Station. Fynn even said he is giving up his to be Batman, he rather be Tayo the Little Bus.

Tayo Station is revamped playground in Downtown East E!hub where Explorer Kid was previously at. It is conveniently near our place so I can foresee we will have having lots of trips to Tayo Station.

We entered Tayo Station and they checked our temperature first to ensure we are not sick so we would infect other kids. There was an ares to leave our shoes as well rented lockers to leave our stuff in. Make sure to bring your socks when entering the premises. If you forgot yours, they also sell socks for adults and kids.

Tayo Station is a spacious playground for big and small kids to enjoy, with several sections:

1. Tayo’s Road Circuit – This is my kid’s favorite. It is a creative child-sized street scene filled with fun spaces like the Garage, Wash n’ Go and Gas Pump Kiosk for the little ones to cruise around in their chosen vehicles. Kids get to learn various road signs and basic road safety rules. There are benches there for parents to sit and see their kids zoom around.

2. Poco’s Hanoki Play – This is an area that provides a sensory experience that emulate sand play using freshly-imported Hinoki wood cubes from South Korea. These aromatic and clean cubes, besides widely known for their health and skinbenefits, provides an uplifting mood. Also found at Pororo Park.

3. Lani’s and Rogi’s Play Room – They have two spacious rooms perfect for kid’s themed parties. They have birthday packages to choose from Petite Package worth $499 for 10 kids & 20 adults and Power Deal worth $899 for 10 kids & 20 adults.

4. Toddler’s Play – This is a safe and spacious space for young kids to crawl and play with mini-slides and fun murals. My 2 year old, Fynn would sneak to this area several times.

5. Gani’s Playground – This is my 4 year’s old 2nd favorite area. He love climbing in the 3-storey play area with two long slides. This is best for older kids.

Photo Credits: CherryBerry Lifestyle

6. Cliff Ball Pool – This is found behind Gani’s Playground, this 10mm x 2mm ball pool is a place where kids can play and dive. There is a rock climbing wall beside it too. So if you fall, you will fall in pool of balls.

7. Rainbow Lounge – There is a sunken area in the middle of Tayo Station for a little break to catch the latest Tayo Little Bus show.

8. Chill Zone – This is a space for parents and guardian to chill with free Wifi.

10. Tayo’s Toy Store – After a fun day at Tayo Station, going out of the play area, you can buy some Tayo toys bring home. My kids were eyeing several Tayo Buses when were heading home, hehe.

For the admission rates, check out below:

Weekday	Weekend/PH
Babies (<1y)	Free, adults $6/pax
Toddler (<2y)	$16	$20
Child (2y-12y)	$24	$28
Accompanying Adult*	1 Free
Additional Adult	$6/pax
Playtime	Unlimited (2 hours for school holidays)	2 Hours
Additional Playtime	$5 per block of 30 minutes (or part thereof)

You can also get the Savers Pass which is worth $138 valid for 1 year with unlimited weekday play time and 2 hours on weekends/public holidays.

Naj and Fynn had an enjoyable time in Tayo Station. They can wait to go back. Now, I would promise them a trip back to Tayo Station if they keep their best behavior & it works, haha. Parents, do bring your kids to Tayo Station for a fun & wonderful time.

Tayo Station

E!Hub, Downtown East,
1 Pasir Ris Close, Level 3,
S(519599)

info@tayostation.com

Tel:+6562837900

OPENING HOURS:

Mon – Fri:
11.00am – 8.00pm
Sat, Sun, PH & School Holidays:
10.00am – 9.00pm

Website / Facebook / Instagram

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with DreamUs Entertainment. All opinions are my own. Regardless, I only recommend products which I personally believe will be good for my readers.

MY BREASTFEEDING JOURNEY

August 27, 2018 by Little Miss Honey 293 Comments

Before August Breastfeeding Month will be over, I wanted to share my breastfeeding journey as a mom who breastfed all her kids and is still currently breastfeeding my 4-month-old infant. I wanted to document my different experiences breastfeeding my 3 boys.

When I was pregnant with my 1st-born, my goal was to breastfeed him exclusively. I love what I read about the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby plus I wanted to save money. Formula milk can really be heavy on the budget. I was glad that during the time I decided to become a mom, the breastfeeding advocacy is loud and strong. I was glad that I found a community of breastfeeding advocate mommies that would help me in my journey. I was ready. I was really ready. I thought I was…..

Naj

I delivered Naj through emergency caesarean section on the 29 June 2014. I bought a Medela FreeStyle BreastPump, which was a bit on the pricey side for me, to prepare for my breastfeeding journey. Naj had to stay for 1 week in the hospital because of neonatal pneumonia. So I was at home, not being able to provide for him unlimited latching to ensure a good production of milk. So I kept pumping and pumping for half an hour at home but no milk is coming out. It frustrated me. My breasts finally got engorged with milk by Day 3 postpartum. I tried pumping but I felt the pump wasn’t strong enough to remove the milk from my breasts. It was agonising. When Naj finally came home, breastfeeding him was so painful. I feel that I didn’t have enough milk for him to be satiated. He got frustrated. I got frustrated. My breasts would be raw, tender, bruised and bleeding with scabs. I really wanted to exclusively feed him with breastmilk but I seems impossible. I was on my wit’s end. I was devastated. It was partly because I has crushed that my goal to be an exclusively breastfeeding mom seems dim at that point and I get this nagging pressure & guilt from advocates of breastfeeding that I am doing the wrong thing to hand my newborn child a bottle of formula milk.

When it was my time to go back to Singapore, I was heartbroken that I couldn’t bring Naj with us because he hasn’t received his passport yet. I didn’t have enough breastmilk stash so I have no choice but to allow him to be fed with formula milk.

When I was in Singapore, I would diligent pump every 3 hours and create a good stash of frozen breastmilk in our fridge. I would pour on over articles online on articles on how to increase low supply breastmilk. I would join Facebook Breastfeeding Groups and check on techniques & suggestions in how to increase my supply. I would buy galactogogues medications and foods hoping this is the answer to prayers. I learned how to store milk properly and how to thaw them when I freeze them. I even bought another breastpump, Spectra M1, which seems more stronger than the Medela Freestyle. I also added a manual Uminom Breastpump which I hardly use.

Finally, my hubby and I were able to get Naj to bring here in Singapore. I was the happiest being reunited with my son. I was determined that I will exclusively feed him until he turns 1 year old. He would latch on me when I am home and fed him with my expressed milk. I still felt Naj frustation that he wanted more milk and he didn’t feel like he was full with my milk. Stubborn that I was, I carried on exclusively breastfeeding him.

At that point, I enjoyed our bonding moments when I would breastfeed Naj. Breastfeeding wasn’t as painful as before. I managed to sleep through the night because we co-sleep and he would just latch through the night. But I was already supplementing him with formula milk because my milk wasn’t just enough to create an adequate stash when I am at work and I had a hard time at work to pump every 3 hrs.

But at 6 months mark, I noticed that Naj was gaining weight. He was very thin even when I introduced solids. My milk supply got even lower by 7 months. So by that time, I stopped breastfeeding Naj and he was exclusively on formula milk.

Fynn

This time, I told myself that my next baby. I don’t mind mixed feeding my baby because I don’t want to make the same mistakes I did before by pushing breastfeeding to the point that my son was not having adequate milk to nourish him.

Fynn was an excellent latcher. He is an expert at Day 1. He is a voracious milk monster. He can perfectly empty my breasts. The problem is, he doesn’t get satisfied with both full breastmilk. He needed another 4oz of formula milk. And with that, he was such a healthy chubby boy. But I did suffer a week of painful bleeding nipples at the start. It got better after awhile.

I have found medications that would help boost my milk supply. I learned the art of pumping anywhere, in bus stops, MRTs, while doing groceries. Yes, I can! I do it with my trusty breastfeeding apron and one pump on one breast with my hand holding it while I have one hand free.

As always, breastfeeding gave me this bonding moments with my baby and I get to sleep through the night without me leaving the bed because I was breastfeeding.

Fynn was a very easy baby to take care of. By 7 months, I have stopped pumping milk at work but I still got to continue breastfeeding Fynn until he was 1 year old. I stopped breastfeeding when he started biting my nipples. He preferred to play with it rather than drinking milk so breastfeeding him ended as he turned 1 year old.

Zeke

For my 3rd baby, I was armed and ready for my breastfeeding journey. I wanted a steady supply of milk but I wouldn’t be too strict. I don’t mind supplementing with formula milk, if needed. And I must say, this time around, I believe I had enough experience in breastfeeding and it made it so easier. I am so surprised that I have more than adequate supply of breast milk. I didn’t suffer from any crack and bleeding nipples. I feed Zeke 90% breastmilk and 10% formula. He prefers feeding from my breasts rather than my expressed milk or formula milk.

It helped that I had two sessions with a very good lactation nurse when I gave birth to Zeke. She taught me techniques in successful breastfeeding. She even supervised me how I breastfeed Zeke and corrected how I hold him or position him. It was so helpful. I would like to impart to breastfeeding moms out there some things I have learned from my experience to establish good milk supply.

How to Establish a Good Milk Supply

1. Take Malunggay Capsules a week before you deliver and continually take 1-2 tablets 2x or 3x a day.

2. Schedule an appointment with a good lactation consultant

3. Massage breasts while taking a warm shower to unblock ducts

4. Do unlimited latching with baby at home

5. Do skin-to-skin contact with baby

6. Pump both breasts for 15mins every 3 hours

7. Pump breast for 10-15 mins after feeding baby to empty breasts

8. Make sure baby latches correctly

9. Drink lots of water

10. Get a correct size breast pump flanges. (I realised my Medela Freestyle work just fine.

11. Make sure that the breast pump flanges are positioned correctly at your nipples to allow proper flow of milk

12. Lean a little forward when pumping

13. Do power pumping

14. Take galactogogues foods like salmon, oats, almonds, etc.

15. Babywear your baby

I just love breastfeeding my kids. I totally recommend it for all moms but I am not going to force the issue that all moms must exclusively feed their child. I do supplement my kids with formula too. I do love breastfeeding but I believe fed is still the best.

I don’t know if my breastfeeding journey would stop at Zeke. But I am sure when the time comes that I will stop breastfeeding, I will surely miss those days of bonding with my babies.

Share with me your breastfeeding stories too!