Most Malaysian mums are not familiar with breastfeeding and don’t do it. Worst is, many parents, relatives and grandparents say bad things or discourage breastfeeding. Indeed very sad.

I really hope that breastfeeding is part of the education system here. Breastfeeding brings lots of goodies to the baby. A mum to be must prepare herself even during pregnancy and collect information about breastfeeding. I wish I did.

For my first pregnancy, I know about breastfeeding through friends. I really wanted to give my milk to my child but I do not know how. When I first try to latch my son, I failed. My son scream and yell, it was at the hospital nursery and all the moms look at me. Fail desperately. Resort to expressing my milk for him. I also did not have experience and did not purchase a good pump. About 2 months, breastmilk ran dry. I could not express anymore.

For my second pregnancy, I was more prepared. I told myself that I have to breastfeed for at least 6 months by hook or by crook. I guess all mums have to set a target and 6 months is not very difficult, trust me it is not. I got myself a good pump. I failed to latch my gal again, no help from the nurse or anyone. But I did SUCCESSFULLY breastfeed my gal for MORE THAN 6 months. She is a big drinker, drank so much that I did not have enough for her. I had to supplement it with formula.

My dd (dear daughter) was detected of UTI when she was 3+ months. She came up with a very high fever (38^oC) and no other symptoms. My paed did a urine test on her and found very high amount of bacteria. She was given 3 shots of antibiotic to clear the bacteria.

My paed suggested repeatable urine test. MCU was suggested but we put it on KIV (keep in view) and monitor her situation. I have to repeat the urine test after 2 weeks, 1 month and 2 months thereafter. Her first 2 tests were negative. Recently did the last test and it was positive. It was a recurrence of UTI , I was so sure that it is contamination but it is not.

Now the paed suggested us to bring her for a MCU procedure. MCU is to detect reflux, backflow of urine to the kidney. MCU can only be done when her urine is clear of bacteria. There are different grade of reflux. If the MCU show any grade of reflux, my dd have to take antibiotic until age of 5. Cannot be avoided!! Why? This is to prevent kidney damage. Why 5 years old? That is when the kidney is mature. If no reflux, then no antibiotic is necessary and case close, YEAH!.

Severe case of grade 4 above may require surgical to fix the problem

MCU may sound like a terrifying procedure but it is not. In an MCU, a catheter is passed into the bladder through which dye is injected. It will show what happens when the child passes urine.

The process is mainly done to see whether urine is refluxing back up the urethra towards the kidneys rather than being passed straight down the urethra.

Here are more info on UTI:

http://familydoctor.org/370.xml
http://www.pedisurg.com/PtEduc/Vesicoureteral_Reflux.htm (reflux images)

Finally at 7 months, a MCU is done on her and she have intermittent reflux on right hand side. She has to take the antibiotic, urine test after 6 months. Repeat MCU after 2 years. The paed said that some cases of reflux 1 might be downgraded due to development of the kidney, urethra and bladder.

DMSA scan was also suggested, but we put that on KIV. Reasons, not to put my dd on another traumatic procedure. Now my dd is eating well, putting on weight, good appetite and having fun.

Besides financial contribution, daddy should play a BIG part in other contributions. Here are some from Tim’s and Emily’s dad which I like to recognized.

1. Feed the children milk (of coz not breastfeed… hehehe). Especially middle of the night.
2. Bath the children and put them to sleep.
3. Mop & clean the house, sometimes help to do laundry. Put cloths into washing machine and hang them to dry.
4. Wash & Sterilize baby bottles & breastfeeding pump.
5. Play with the children.
6. Carrying the baby while mum shops.
7. Take children for walk while mum want 10 minutes of peace.
8. Take out the garbage (esp stinky diapers).
9. Wash plates after dinner.
10. Discipline, toilet train and cut off the pacifier’s habit.
11. Marketting.
12. Cook porridge.

… and a whole lot more……

You are a GREAT DAD….muakssss…

The journey of parenthood is filled with a lot of worries…. it all began at the planning stage.

What if I cannot conceived?
What if I am not healthy? Will it affect the baby?

Hooray got 2 lines on pregnancy test….

What if I get a miscarriage? Any spotting? Every day check the underwear…
The horrible morning sickness (MS) comes (for most mom.. luckily I didn’t have any MS at all. ) Is any food going into the baby?

1st Trimester:

Why baby not kicking? Hey no legs yet, how to kick…
Do I need to drink milk?

2nd Trimester:

What if baby has cleft lip?
What if baby is not normal?
What food should I take and what to avoid?
Died, eat so much, later how to lose all those weight.

3rd Trimester:

How come baby kick so often? Is he uncomfortable?
Baby so big, how to have normal delivery? Sure darn painful…
What if during the delivery, there is medical complication?

Baby arrive:

How to get rid of the jaundice? How to do sunbathing? Better let the hospital do it, through phototherapy.
How to latch baby to suck breast milk?
Is the baby having enough breast milk?
How come baby cry all day and night?
How come baby sleep during daytime and play at night?
How come baby’s face got rashes?
How come baby not eating more milk?
How come baby has colic?
How come baby does not pass motion everyday?
How come baby still cannot support her head?
How come baby not rolling over at 3 months?
How come baby not crawling?
How come baby not sitting without support?
How come baby not trying to stand and walk?
How come baby dislikes his porridge?
How come toddler cannot speak?
How come toddler cannot tell when he wants to wee wee or poo poo?
How come toddler always wet the bed?
How come toddler refuses his food?
How come toddler is not putting on weight?

Lets fast forward from here….

Will he be able to pass his exams? UPSR? PMR? SPM? ALevels? Uni?
Is he eating well?
Will he study too much and forget to live?
How come he is been acting strange?

Fast forward to adult life…

It is 1 am and he is not back.. no phone calls? Wonder where he is?
Will he get a good wife?
What if the wife dislikes me?

Anyway, the list goes on until the day you rest (RIP). Reality of a Mother’s Journey.

Despite I haven’t travel that far in the journey, I have God to bring me through.

Why worry when you can pray.
Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made know to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:4-7

Life is more than food, and body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add a cubit to his stature?
Luke 11:23-25

I could not believe what I saw yesterday. My son (going to 3), he actually can sit quietly with other children for more than 1 hour. Bravo to the teachers…

Yesterday, my son’s kindy have a mini celebration on Chap Goh Mei. It was very well done, great job teachers. The kindy actually set up canopy with fans in an open area, with plenty carparks. It started at 7:30pm. All the kindy kids were seated at one area with kindy chairs without the parents. It is amazing, there were more than 100 children (combine kindy with other branch) and all seated quietly in rows, of coz there are a few who cry and a few chatter boxes. My son sat among them and he was just sitting there quietly without moving around. If he is with us, he will be off that chair after 1 min. Another parent comments the same thing.

Beside that, he sang, dance and does actions for the songs. All the parents were there were very excited to see their children perform. As usual, lots of digital camera and video on the kids. Better than Andy Lau’s concert except no flowers.

It was a great experience as a parent, to see your child developing. Until today, I still cannot grasp the fact that I am a parent. Can you?

Hey, I won a 60% school fees waiver for 1 month….Cool right?

My family have to go to KL for CNY. Packing for my 2 children, a toddler and a baby is a real headache. After packing, I am so reluctant to go…