The Mummy Chronicles

Image by New Africa Studio from Canva In the early days of breastfeeding, I was a low supply mama. It took about 2 weeks for me to produce sufficient milk to support bub's needs for an entire day and build up a freezer stash. Having trawled the internet and turning to fellow mamas for advice, here are the things that helped to boost my breastmilk supply: 1. Pump/ nurse regularly This is by far the single most important and effective thing, trumping any diet or supplement you can take. Pumping or nursing regularly helped to increase and maintain my breastmilk supply. I usually did it every 3-4 hourly while I was on maternity leave. However, this schedule was not sustainable after returning to work, where I could only pump 4-5 hourly. As a result, my breastmilk supply took a hit and we had to increase the number of formula feeds per day.  2. Drink lots of water Since the body is producing milk, it is key to keep ourselves well hydrated! I made a habit of drinking a glass of wate...

Image by oksanahufrych from Canva All breastfeeding mothers I have spoken to have at some point experienced engorgement. I intermittently develop engorgement, with the worst bout lasting for nearly 5 days! After trying all sorts of remedies, here are the 4 best things that worked for me: 1. Nurse or pump ASAP Nothing beats the baby at emptying the breast. If you are engorged, nurse as soon as you can! I also found that varying the position of nursing depending on where the clogged duct was to be helpful.  Pumping ASAP is the next best thing to do. Combining it with heat and a lactation massage (see below) bolsters the chances of clearing the engorgement. 2. Use heat Don’t underestimate the power of heat at opening up a clogged duct. Whenever I warmed my breast, engorgements could be cleared much more effectively.  One method I’ve tried is taking a hot shower or bath and manually expressing. Sometimes, I also use a warm towel to cover the breast and nipple for a few minutes p...

  Image credit: Photo by Jaspe from Canva When a baby turns three months old, It marks the beginning of a precious and fun time where they learn to master control of their little bodies and interact with the world around them. Here are some activities I did with bub that you can try: 1.  Read to baby It’s never too early to start reading. At this age, comprehension is not the main point. Using books with big pictures, high-contrast colours, and interactive elements captures baby’s attention and develops the brain. Cuddling with baby and letting him/her listen to your voice helps them bond with you. Bub’s favourite book is a book from NLB’s free Early Read program called “My Little Fish” by Lucy Cousins. It has beautiful, colourful pictures and a finger puppet which makes her giggle. Sign up your baby as a library member and collect your baby gift pack! More deets  here . 2.  Talk and sing to baby Talking and singing to babies exposes them to language, rhythm, and...

In the last weeks of my pregnancy, I researched many websites and online resources and spoke to other mummies about how much to feed a newborn baby. There are many well-written online articles on this topic, and I have listed here some of my favourite ones: https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/baby-feeding/how-much-should-baby-eat/ https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-much-should-a-newborn-eat-when-they-re-0-3-months-5186148   Some of the key recommendations are: 1. Breastfeeding:  - Feed every 2-3h (based on baby’s hunger cues),  - Nurse for 20-30mins each time.  - E.g. 15 minutes per breast, 8 to 12 times a day.  - You can’t know the total volume baby drinks a day, but babies will take what they need. 2. Formula feeding:  - Total volume baby requires a day: 2 to 2.5 ounces per pound of weight (roughly 150ml per kg as advised by my paediatrician).  - Divide the total volume per day across 8-12 feeds for the amount of formula you should give per feed....

I was late to the Haakaa game and only purchased it when I battled a bad bout of engorgement. (That story deserves its own post). After I started using the Haakaa pump, I found myself wishing i discovered it earlier. While other mamas I know didn't seem to have much use for their haakaa, It’s been a great addition to my armoury of essential breastfeeding products.  What is the Haakaa silicone breast pump? It is a 100% silicone cup that can be applied to the breast easily and draws out milk out through continuous suction. The breast pump comes in 2 sizes (100ml/150ml) and has a silicone lid you can purchase separately. The newer generation has a suction base to help prevent pesky spills. Image credit: haakaa.co.nz How to use the Haakaa silicone breast pump? Follow the instructions in the pictorial below, or watch this YouTube tutorial video on how to apply it to your breast. Image credit: amazon.sg Why I love the Haakaa and what I use it for: Collect milk that would otherw...

Image by Becris from Canva  Bub’s bum has not been a problem for me. It is baby smooth and I am always pleased when the paediatrician gives a nod of approval during routine checkups #proudmama.   What is diaper rash? Diaper rash, also known as diaper dermatitis, are patches of red, inflamed skin occurring on the bottom or genital areas of babies (or adults) and are related to prolonged contact of the skin against a wet diaper, chafing, or skin sensitivity. Although commonly due to infrequently changed diapers, it may also occur in babies with sensitive skin despite frequent changing. See: pictures of mild, moderate, and severe diaper rash here from the Desitin website. Sometimes diaper rashes may become secondarily infected by fungi or bacteria. Bring your baby to a doctor if you notice open wounds, pustules, blisters, or of the rashes look oozy and crusty. How I've prevented diaper rash 1. Change diapers often.  The key is to keep the skin dry and not let the baby ...

Bub developed neonatal acne at 3 weeks. They were red, rough patches of skin that were worst around the cheeks and looked so angry! The patches would disappear and reappear on different parts of bub’s face, and sometimes affect the entire face! It lingered on for five weeks and only went away when she was 8 weeks old. I don't have a photo of bub's acne, but here's a picture most similar to what bub had  from healthline.com: Image credit:  https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/baby-acne Bub had a rash that appeared similar. I scoured many websites that basically all said the same thing- neonatal acne is a reaction of the baby’s skin to maternal hormones and usually go away on their own. Read: basically, there was nothing much you can do.  In online forums, I read about the experiences of other mummies and found that they were very varied. Some    cases of neonatal acne cleared within days, while others took weeks. Here’s what I learnt when dealing wi...

I had read online that colostrum may kick in the last weeks of the third trimester, but it didn't happen for me. Well, guess it'll start coming right after I deliver, right? Wrong. After I was induced at 40 weeks and delivered, I had no breastmilk for the baby. No amount of nipple or boob massaging while I was still in the hospital stimulated any milk production. The nurses could only shrug and reassure me it'll come soon. They taught me how to massage my boob and get into the right position for a good latch. I'd dutifully let my newborn latch me for 15 mins per boob in the hospital, but it did feel quite silly letting her suck when no milk was coming out. I felt bad that she was doing all that work for nothing! After 30 mins of trying, I'd buzz the nurse and request for formula to feed the baby. (We did cup feeding in the first two weeks, that deserves another post of its own haha). After we got home from the hospital, we continued cup feeding the baby formula beca...

"Did you sun the baby?", my husband asked me one morning, about a week after my child was born. Immediately I felt my pulse quicken, my body flushed, and tears welling in my eyes. No, I hadn't. I completely forgot. A crushing sense of guilt and dismay washed over me. I made a beeline for my bedroom, and my husband obviously alarmed, rushed after me. My child had mild physiological jaundice and besides feeding her sufficiently, we were supposed to put her by the window in the morning for a healthy dose of sunlight. However, that morning I was exceptionally tired. I had very little sleep from a night of great difficulty feeding the baby, settling her to sleep, and expressing breast milk. The fatigue from a lack of sleep, coupled with brain fog and how ill-adapt I was at feeding the baby had left me feeling at my wit's end that morning. The realisation that I forgot  to sun her was my breaking point. The case of the baby blues In the first 2-3 weeks postpartum, I battled...

Let’s face it. We mummies are such selfless creatures. We load up on prenatal vitamins when trying to conceive. We go to great lengths to craft the right diet, prepare the nursery, and scour books on parenting during our pregnancy. Our focus is almost entirely on preparing our body for the baby and how to be the perfect parent when the baby comes. As a first-time mummy, what escaped my attention was the focus on self-care and healing, especially in the immediate post partum period, when we are the most tired and vulnerable, physically and mentally. I had many surprises in my own experience with the post partum period, the biggest of which was the harder-than-expected recovery from my episiotomy. What I wish I knew about episiotomies I had an episiotomy performed during my normal vaginal delivery. Because I was on epidural, I only had a vague awareness that my obstetrician was stitching me up after I had delivered. While busking in the glow of being a new parent, silly me thought- meh, ...