Birth of Baby No.8

29.09.14. The birth of my angel number 8. The story of her birth was super fast. I had severe back pain on the 28.09.14 starting from around 6pm. I brought my husband to Miri City Medical Centre to have a check up, just in case I was in labor. The nurses checked me and I was 2-3 cm dilated so I went back home. i woke up at 4.50am to make breakfast and after Subuh prayer with hubby and the kids, at around 5.50am, i felt the steady contraction, coming at every 10 minutes. I quickly fold a basket of clothes, swept the floor and took a shower. I told my husband that it's time for the baby to come (I was 37 weeks pregnant on that day) and we went to the medical centre.
 I checked in at the medical centre and they did the Fetal ECG and waited for my ob/gyn to come. Dr Lee came at around 8.30am and he looked at the chart. He told me that he need to do amniotomy and when he did, he told me that the baby had defecated in the womb and we need to get the baby out in an hour or the baby will drown. I was 6 cm dilated at that moment and he asked the nurses to push me to the labor room and induce me. FYI, I was induced in all of my labor and I can tell you that the pain was super high but you can control the pain by relaxing and as a Muslim, I recite the zikir Al-Fatah and ate kurma / dates whenever the contraction came. Alhamdulillah, after doing these practice during labor no.7 and no.8, the pain was not that bad!
At 8.45am, they started to induce me and I started to feel the pain 10 minutes later and to my surprise, I was holding the urge to push the baby and I was grabbing the nurse's arm (she was the wife of my brother's friend) and she told me to wait for the doctor who was on his way. At that time,  I was pushing the baby, and she was half way through and the doctor managed to catch her torso and bottom. Alhamdulillah, at 9.03am, Daisha Bazriqa was born at 37 weeks, 2.8kg, and her father azan and iqamat her.

My husband and doctor were amazed by the labor process and the doctor even joked that he is looking forward for baby no.9! Masya Allah!
I was discharged the next day and so, our journey continues with baby no.8 on board. May Allah bless my family. Aamiin.

Post Birthday Celebration

Assalamualaikum and a very good day to all readers. I've celebrated my 32nd birthday last 17th October. It was my 19th day of confinement on that day but I still wanted to celebrate my birthday with my children. My sister in law bought me a Chanel's handbag cake and she made mac and cheese, while I made Chocolate Coated Oreo, Cheesy French Loaves and Savory Muffins and Butter cookies. My aunt brought Nasi Daging and Mixed Veges.
Enjoy the photos!

Tadika Pujut Miri Graduation Day 2012

Assalamualaikum w.b.t! Wow! It's been such a looooooooong time since my last post. Super busy, super tired, super lazy of typing. Hooked with the newest Lee Min Ho's Faith : The Great Doctor K-drama (only 2 episodes left). Anyway, yesterday was my 9th wedding anniversary. Will blog about it these few days. I just want to share the videos that I took during my 2nd and 3rd child's graduation day where they performed with their class on 2 Chinese songs (they studied in a Chinese kindy); Xing Fu De Lian and Wo Bu Shang Ni De Dang. These 2 songs are very cheerful and such a happy song that you couldn't help but to join in dancing. Hehehe.. Enjoy!

Danish Bisyari's performance : Xing Fu De Lian

Darwisyah Bahirah's performance: Wo Bu Shang Ni De Dang

Bully in the making

Look at the first picture. That is my Dayana's drawing for her art class. But if you look again very carefully, you'll notice that someone wrote improper and rude words. In case you can't read it, let me tell you what the words are; Pepe* and Kamu makan bab* bab*. The girl who wrote these is an Iban girl sitting in front of Dayana. She even wrote the P word on Dayana's desk. I was waiting for that girl named Julia in her class this morning when I noticed a book with writings which you can see on the second photo. This really pissed me off when I read it! I was so angry and when I saw the girl (everybody in the class knows that I'm waiting for Julia and they pointed Julia to me when she entered the class) I asked her to read what she wrote on Dayana's drawing book. She just kept silence at first and when I demanded her to read it out loud, she read it with a whisper. I asked her why she wrote those words and she just kept silence again. I asked her whether Dayana had done something wrong to her, she shook her head. I asked whether Dayana had ever say any of the words to her, she shook her head again. Then, I show her the second book that she wrote. She bit her lips. I asked her, what is that? She kept silence. AGAIN. I asked her if she have any problem with Dayana being a Muslim and not eating 'the b thing', she shook her head. I told her that this is the kind of thing that will make you turn out to be a racist and a bully. I told her that she can't continuosly saying that to Dayana and she have to respect Dayana and other Muslim students who doesn't eat that thing. I even asked her if she wants to eat that right now, I'll go and buy for her! She shook her head. I also scolded her for writing the P word on Dayana's book and desk and told her that the P thing is a discreet thing and should just be keep inside her panty and not on other people's book or desk. I even talk to her in Iban to make sure she understands everything that I say. I told her, if she keeps on doing this, she'll be a very big bully and will always be in trouble. I told her that I will talk to her parents and the teacher and she shook her head. I asked her to rub those nasty words and she did. I can see that she was raised in an improper surroundings because of her shabby appearance. She maybe neglected by her parents because some of the other parents told me that the girl is naughty and when she arrived at the class, she just throws her back and roaming around til the bell rings, then she'll come back to class. They also told me that the girl doesn't perform very well in her studies and also get scolded by the teachers.
My point in this case is I don't want my daughter to learn bad words from her friends because at home, we never say those words. If any adult at my home accidently cursing or swearing the bad words, I'll tell my children that those words are bad and rude and I'll chilli the person's lips (this is to show them how bad those words are). My second point is, I want my daughter to see that these kind of attitude will grow even worse and make the person becomes a bad person in the future. I told her that we need to respect other people's religion and their beliefs and never argue with them about their religion's teaching because religion is a sensitive issue. My third point is I don't want my daughter to be a bully victim and makes her scared to go to school. I want her to know that I will do anything to protect her. This also goes the same with all of my children. I believe that if every parents do their best in bringing up their children, there will never be a problem of racism or other negative things (yes, we can see the best example from the viral video about the KFC at iCity).
On my way back to my car, I stumbled with Dayana's teacher. I tried to look for her the first thing when I reached school but she haven't arrived yet. I told her about the incident and show her the proof and she promised to take action. I hope that this incident will be a very good lesson for these students. PEACE NO WAR!

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Danish Bisyari's Kindergarten's Graduation Day Performance

Yesterday, 16th October 2011, was Danish's kindergarten Graduation Day. He is still in level 1 so he didn't get anything but he was to performed a group dance of Doraemon's theme song (Chinese version). I'm so proud of him. If you notice the video, there's a part when his Doraemon's face fell down from his shirt and his friends gather around him to help him to put the face back on the shirt. That part makes tears streaming from my eyes because it shows that even though they are 5 years olds, but they have a very high spirit of friendship. Anyway, enjoy the video.

2 years old : The toughest age of a toddler!

Having to raise 5 kids (and no.6 on tow) by ourselves (hubby and me), I found out that 2 years old are the most toughest age to conquer! Why do I say that? Just try my no.4, Delisha. She is 2 1/2 years old. She can be the sweetest girl you've ever met and yet she can be such a monster when she's temper! I have to remind myself that she's an innocent little girl every now and then, especially when she's in a bad mood. She'll cry, screaming non stop until her tears dried when she quarreled with her siblings. When she's bored, she will disturbs her other siblings especially my no.3 child, Darwisyah who is 4 years old. They constantly fight with each other and they end up crying together, louder and louder til even the my baby Darwish (1 year old) can fall asleep watching them fight!

Every time Delisha saw her father (my hubby of course), she will bully him by non stop nagging and crying saying that she wants this and that or she's hurt here and there or simply by saying that she wants to be pick up! She's 13 kg and you can imagine how tiring it is to bring her here and there! But, when she's with me, without my hubby's presence, she's definitely OK and doesn't give any problem at all! I can't leave her playing with her siblings without my presence around or I will have to hear her screaming and shouting and crying and every time I asked her siblings about what's the problem, they will answer that Delisha herself are creating the problem.

She will stop if I scold her but she doesn't care at all if her father says anything! So, my hubby always have to ask me to stop her from doing anything that's improper. This really stresses me but she only gives problem when I'm not around. It's not that I leave her to go somewhere, it's just that sometimes they play together in the living room or playroom while I'm doing some other chores like having to dry the clothes or cooking.

The funny thing is, she always offer herself to help me when I'm folding the clothes. When she's doing it, I always look at her and wonder to myself, is she the same person who always give tantrum? I don't know where to turn to for advices about a 2 years old, so, I'm so glad to come across www.babycenter.com because this website has been helping me understand much much better about raising kids along with their stages of age.

Source: http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-2-year-old-big-emotions_5934.bc

Your 2-year-old now

A child this age wears her heart on her sleeve — and in her voice, her fists, her stamping feet, and her crocodile tears. You seldom have to guess about a 2-year-old's emotional state. Expressing emotions is healthy, even when they aren't happy ones. So don't feel you have to rush in to placate your child at the first pout or sad sniffle.

Let your child know that it's okay to be unhappy sometimes — it's simply part of life. Swooping in to vanquish the unhappiness sends the wrong message — that it's not okay to feel sad or mad. Solving every problem for your child also robs her of the opportunity to work through her feelings on her own.

What you can do: Label her feelings for her. "You're so mad at Mommy because she said no park today!" Let her know you have the same feelings, too, sometimes: "It makes you feel sad when we say bye-bye to Grandma. It makes me feel sad, too." If your child screams or hits when she's angry or upset, show her acceptable ways to vent her emotion, like punching a pillow or stamping her feet.

Two-year-olds do test limits and disagree with parents, of course, but they're also developing more of a desire to please you. They want to be good! They want to help! Routines and consistency in your responses help your child learn the ropes and keep everyday life running smoothly.

How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need?

During the school holidays, I let the kids to sleep late, the latest was at 11.30 pm because they were so excited playing with each other that they couldn't waste any time just to sleep. Hahahaha... So, of course that made them woke up late in the morning, the latest was at 9 am. So, late this evening, while watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey, I was wondering to myself, how many hours does Dayana (7 years old this June) needs to sleep so that she'll have enough rest for school. She needs to wake up at 5.30 am to get ready for school and do the Subuh prayer  (I've vowed to myself to train her do the Subuh prayer everyday without fail starting tomorrow) and needs to start her journey from home at 6.15am because school starts at 6.50 on the dot. The teacher told me that by 6.45, the students have to be in the class and my neighbor (ex-student of the school for 6 years), told me that if you arrived at the school at 6.40am, it's considered late.
I quickly grabbed my Blackberry and googled about sleeping hours for children and being a member of babycenter.com, I found out that this information is very useful for a mum like me, who doesn't have anyone (own mother and mother-in-law) to refer to, regarding this matters. I really thanked the existence of INTERNET for being such an IMPORTANT thing to have in our life! :)

Sleeping angel, baby Darwish

SOURCE: www.babycenter.com

Age	Nighttime sleep	Daytime sleep	Average total sleep
2 years	10.5 to 12.5 hours	1 to 3 hours (1 nap)	11.5 to 15.5 hours
3 years	10.5 to 12.5 hours	1 to 3 hours (1 nap)	11 to 14 hours
4 years	10 to 12 hours	0 to 2.5 hours (1 or no nap)	10 to 13 hours
5 years	10 to 12 hours	0 to 2.5 hours (1 or no nap)	10 to 12.5 hours
6 years	10 to 11.5 hours	none	10 to 11.5 hours
7 years	9.5 to 11.5 hours	none	9.5 to 11.5 hours
8 years	9.5 to 11.5 hours	none	9.5 to 11.5 hours
*Note: The two sets of numbers don't always add up because children who take longer naps tend to sleep fewer hours at night, and vice versa.

Keep in mind that most kids need a lot of sleep — usually more than parents allow for. Often, says BabyCenter sleep expert Jodi Mindell, author of Sleeping Through the Night, if a child has poor sleep habits or refuses to nap or go to bed before 10 at night, his parents will assume that he just doesn't need much sleep. That's probably not the case — in fact, it's likely that such a child is actually sleep-deprived, hence his hyper, overtired behavior at bedtime. To see whether your child falls into this camp, ask yourself:

• Does my child frequently fall asleep while riding in the car?
• Do I have to wake him almost every morning?
• Does he seem cranky, irritable, or overtired during the day?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your child may be getting less sleep than his body craves. To change this pattern, you'll need to help him develop good sleep habits, and set an appropriate bedtime and then stick to it. A preschooler or young grade-schooler who's outgrown napping needs a solid 11 to 12 hours of sleep a night, and that amount will gradually decrease as he gets older. Even so, by the time he's a teenager, your child will still need nine to ten hours of shut-eye a night.

After reading this, I decided to ask both Dayana and Danish to sleep at 8pm, the latest is at 8.30pm and they agree without any drama involved. So, mums and dads out there, please take extra care for our kids's sleeping hour and patterns because well rested children will be more alert and ready to learn at school. 

Top 7 mommy guilt trips – and how to handle them

As a mom to 5 kids and still counting, I couldn't avoid of thinking whether I've done a great job of being their main caretaker. I always think hard about it, every day, usually at the end of the day, when all of them were sleeping. I've tried so hard of giving my all in order to teach them to be smart, good, kind and well behaved children. I also tried to instill Islamic teaching in them although not to say that I am very religious, I wanted them to be successful here in this world and after life. 
Here, I listed 7 top mommy guilts and how to handle them and this was taken from my subscription from babycenter.com. All that are listed are very true to my experience and I couldn't help on feeling relieved that it's not just me who always felt guilty when doing those things. Read it, and give yourself a break, once in a while. These was written by Devra Renner and Aviva Pflock, co-authors of the book Mommy Guilt.

5 angels

Top 7 mommy guilt trips – and how to handle them

1. Feeding your baby formula

This usually happens to me when I have to wean my children, especially when I was pregnant with the a new baby, and my milk supply was reducing month after month. But life has to move on. I always cried when this happen andI always blame myself for getting pregnant too quickly but this doesn't mean that I hate the baby that's inside me.

If you're grieving the loss of nursing, allow yourself your sadness. But then accept that you did your best, and move on. Breast milk is best for your baby, but formula-fed babies are also thriving, nourished, and nurtured. As one BabyCenter mom says, "The best thing you can do for your baby is to be a happy mom — and if that means no breastfeeding, then that's the best choice for your family."

2. Using TV as a babysitter

This usually happens to me when the baby is sleeping and I need them to be quiet. I open their favorite channel of cartoon and minimized the volume and asked them to keep quiet and they'll listen to me happily. This also happens when I need some 'US TIME' with my hubby. Hahahha... BUT, I never turn on the TV when they are having their meal, one of them are studying or when they behaved badly. TV for me is a reward and a break for them.

Is television really so evil? No, say Renner and Pflock: "Using television entertainment as a form of quiet time is perfectly appropriate." The key is moderation. If your child is under 2, keep viewing time to a minimum, and break it into 15-minute chunks. Watch with your child, and pick programs that are appropriate. If your child is older, see our TV guidelines for preschoolers and big kids. Then relax and send your guilt on its way.

3. Being environmentally unfriendly

Having lots of kids means lots of diapers, lots of shampoo, powder and bath foam bottles, toothpaste tubes (children's toothpaste are small and with 5 kids using it, you can imagine how much tubes are being disposed), formula milk's packet or tins, papers etc. Every time I threw the trash from our bin, it's like lifting a trash from a small restaurant. Just imagine how much trash I'm throwing. Not to count thrown leftover food that they refused!

This push and pull can lead to a nasty case of green guilt. Let this be a wake-up call — but know that letting guilt devour you won't do you or the earth any good. You may not be able to take public transportation to work, switch to cloth diapers, hang your laundry on the line, or toss out all your environmentally unfriendly cleaners right now.
Instead, focus on the dozens of achievable changes you can make. Try unplugging appliances when they're not in use, doing your laundry in cold water when possible, lighting your home with fluorescent bulbs, and other easy, earth-friendly tricks. Don't worry too much about the Greens next door — maybe someday soon you'll be giving them tips.

4. Feeding your kids junk food

I've mentioned this in one of my posts. It usually happens when I'm so tired to make healthier snacks or when I'm desperately need to calm them down. 

Sometimes we forget that fast food and junk food — while not usually the best nutritional option — isn't poisonous. As with television, the key is moderation and smart choices.

5. Leaving your child with another caregiver

I've not yet done this but the longest time I've left them with my brother and sister was a few hours, to do some groceries shopping. But this only happens once in w hile. Normally, I always tagged them along. But next week, my husband and I along with our 2 small children are going for a short trip to Kuala Lumpur. This is going to be my first time leaving my children to go somewhere far. Only God knows how guilty I feel, but we just couldn't bring all of them along because nobody can help me to attend them when we go there. It's safer for them to be at home.

But for those who have to send their children to a caregiver because they are working, remember that your work serves a crucial purpose. You know you're doing what's best for your family, whether you're working for financial reasons or because it makes you happy.

6. Yelling at your kids

Ahh.. This is a common scene at my home because it's so hard to be sane in a home with 5 kids! There's shouting, quarreling, nagging and crying. Sometimes, when talking slowly and sweetly doesn't help, I took a deep breath. But if this doesn't help either, yelling is a way to grab their attention PRONTO!

No one feels good about yelling at their kids. In fact, Pflock and Renner's survey of mothers found that yelling is the number one cause of mommy guilt.
When this happens, take a careful look at your own behavior. Was the yelling out of the ordinary? Are you usually calm with your child? If yes, then let yourself off the hook and take this as a learning opportunity for both of you. As Elizabeth Pantley says in The No-Cry Discipline Solution, "Even the most peaceful easy-going parent loses patience and yells from time to time."
Reassure your child that everything is okay, and explain what happened: "Sometimes people yell when they're upset. But that can hurt people's feelings. I'm sorry. It would have been better if I had said 'Please be quiet. The baby is sleeping.'"
But if screaming is becoming a habit, you may need to take action to manage your anger and reduce your stress levels.

7. Not being able to afford all the extras

When my children ask me to buy expensive toys or clothing, I felt guilty to watch their disappointment and crestfallen faces when I say NO. I just can't simply splurge on anything because having 5 kids, you need to make sure every body have enough. Besides, Islam teach us to live in moderation; WASATIAH. I don't w ant to spoil them and teach them to buy things because of their brand and high tag price. I want them to differentiate between NEEDS and WANTS. Every time they said that how they wish that we are very rich and can just buy anything off the rack, I'll tell them that being rich doesn't promised happiness. Maybe they are too small to understand it but somewhere, sometime, they'll get it.

But many of the things that we think of as "necessary" aren't. What kids really need is love — not the next expensive activity or "It toy." In fact, too much stuff can be a problem. "If you're constantly overindulging your children, they'll never learn the value of money," explains psychotherapist Kate Levinson, who leads workshops for women to explore their emotional relationship to money. "You also want to teach them how to enjoy life and solve problems in ways that don't have to do with buying things or using money."
Instead of focusing on what you can't give your child, focus on what he can have. For example, instead of the high-end music class, try a free class or library story time. If he loves to "cook" but you can't afford a play kitchen, help him make one out of a cardboard box. You'll probably feel your guilt drain away as you watch him happily banging on his new stove.

Just enjoy your children and be a happy mom because happy moms means happy child and this will make them grow to be a happy, responsible person.

42 things that change when you have a baby

I subscribed babycenter.com articles and it was very informative especially things about children. Here's a very good one to be shared with all mommies AND daddies out there.

Delisha and Darwish

Source: www.babycenter.com

What changes when you have a baby? A better question may be: What doesn't change? Here, writer and mom Rebecca Woolf lists her most notable post-baby observations. Then scroll down to read our favorite comments from readers about how their babies changed their lives.

1. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.

2. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid. [See a reader's perspective in #22, below.]

3. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.

4. You respect your body ... finally.

5. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.

6. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.

7. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.

8. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago.

9. Your heart breaks much more easily.

10. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.

11. Every day is a surprise.

12. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)

13. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.

14. You become a morning person.

15. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

And from our readers...
1. "You discover how much there is to say about one tooth." — Ashley's mom

2. "You finally realize that true joy doesn't come from material wealth." — Anonymous

3. "You now know where the sun comes from." — Charlotte

4. "You'd rather buy a plastic tricycle than those shoes that you've been dying to have." — Sophie's mom

5. "You realize that although sticky, lollipops have magical powers." — Roxanne

6. "You don't mind going to bed at 9 p.m. on Friday night." — Kellye

7. "Silence? What's that?" — Anonymous

8. "You realize that the 15 pounds you can't seem to get rid of are totally worth having." — Brenda

9. "You discover an inner strength you never thought you had." — Ronin and Brookie's mom

10. "You no longer rely on a clock — your baby now sets your schedule." — Thomas' mom

11. "You give parents with a screaming child an 'I-know-the-feeling' look instead of a 'Can't-they-shut-him-up?' one." — Jaidyn's mom

12. "Your dog — who used to be your 'baby' — becomes just a dog." — Kara

[Many readers begged to differ, saying things like, " I disagree with number 12. My dogs are my additional children," "Nothing about previous babies, whether two- or four-legged, changes when a new miracle comes along," "My dog will never be 'just a dog," and "This is sad to me. My dog is still my baby too."]

13. "You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you'll be late." — Tracey

14. "You learn that taking a shower is a luxury." — Jayden's mom

15. "You realize that you can love a complete stranger." — Dezarae's mom

16. You find yourself wanting to make this world a better place. — Arizona

17. If you didn’t believe in love at first sight before, now you do! — Ciara

18. You start to appreciate Sesame Street for its intellectual contribution. — Anon.

19. You have to quit watching the news because you see every story from a mother's perspective and it breaks your heart. — Brooke&Boys

20. You just plain love life more - everything comes together and becomes better because of one tiny person and your love for them. — Anon.

21. You finally find out the real reason you have those breasts. — Anon.

22. In response to #2 [above], I'd say that where you were once afraid, you're now fearless. I was always very timid and shy and let myself get walked all over … but now where my kid's concerned, I'll speak my mind and really connect with my inner "b"! — gummismom

23. The support you get from other people surprises you, because the people giving it are not always the ones you'd expect. — japanese_macaque

24. Nothing is just yours any longer. You share EVERYTHING! — DylanLsMom

25. No matter what you've accomplished in life, you look at your child and think, "I've done a GREAT job!" — Anon.

26. You want to take better care of yourself for your child. — Treasor

27. You can have the most wonderful conversation using only vowel sounds like "ahhh" and "oooo." — littlehulk2008

Breastfeeding 101

I've promised my dear friend, Sarah, who is currently pregnant with baby no.2 about breastfeeding. She didn't managed to breastfeed her first child and she is determine to breastfeed her new baby. She even bought Spectra Breast Pump (I'm not sure which version), to help her when she's back at work.

This 101 (The definition of 101 is "Basic introduction") is based on my own experience with 5 children and trust me, if I can do it,  same goes to you! When I was pregnant with my first child, I don't have any idea about feeding baby, with my own breasts and all I can think was I need to buy high quality bottle and milk for my baby. My mum was a nurse (she passed away 4 years ago due to cervical cancer) and she always brought back many kinds of pamphlets, brochures, booklets and other types of reading materials regarding babies, healths and stuffs. A small booklet on breastfeeding caught my eye and after reading it, I held on the book religiously like it's some kind of a live saving book. Hahahaha.. My mum never talks about breastfeeding although she worked at Miri General Hospital where they swore on breastfeeding policy and baby friendly and I was kind of intrigued with this knowledge that I've discovered. After reading it from cover to cover, I promised myself to breastfeed exclusively (exclusive breastfeeding means that an infant receives only breastmilk with no additional foods or liquids, not even water).

I always listen to the most common reason of not breastfeeding their children by lots of woman: NOT ENOUGH MILK IS BEING PRODUCE by their breasts. This is a total bullshit for me because, regardless your shape and size of breasts, it produces milk when enough stimulation is being made i.e; from baby sucking or breast pump sucking. When you breastfeed on demand (every time baby cries or giving the cue of being hungry, you MUST feed him with your breasts), milk is constantly being produced and the cycles always run through the same process. If you only breastfeed WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO, then, that is the main cause of shortage of milk supply! And the next main reason of not enough milk supply is, women tend to jump into a diet regime as soon as they delivered the baby, for fearing getting stuck with all the fats that had been accumulated through their pregnancy. STRICTLY NO DIET when you breastfeed, just enjoy the bonding between you and your baby through breastfeeding and when he's older, then, you can think about diet and getting back to shape. Don't be selfish, think about the life insurance (breastmilk) that you are giving to your baby. They deserve the best from you and besides, it's free!

My mum didn't gave me much information because she told me that she only breastfed all 4 of us siblings when she was on her confinement days due to lack of milk. And, nobody told me about breastfeeding is not an easy task, especially when it's your first baby and you have no support around you. Let me tell you about my first baby delivery experience. I was 21 years old when I gave birth to my first born and my hubby was 31 years old. My mum went to Kuching for radiotherapy for her cervical cancer treatment (Stage IIA) and she wasn't around during my labor. My younger sister (she was 18 years old at that time) had just came back for a short break from her college at Kuala Lumpur. On 7th June 2004 at 4 am, I noticed a brown spot on my pantiliners when I went to the toilet and after calling my mum, I told my husband that it was time for the baby to come out. We went to the late Dr Chin's clinic and after checking me, he asked me to checked in Miri City Medical Centre and wait for him there because I was already 3 cm dilated. 

After making ourselves comfortable at the ward, Dr Chin induced me and he told me that being the first time delivery, it'll take time and I have to be patient plus the pain will be more intense because of the inducement. True to his word, the contraction started and it felt like I was ripped on the stomach! Every 4 hours, they'll inject me with some kind of drug to let me relax because the dilation is taking such a long time to open up to 10 cm. I was constantly dozed to sleep and talks in my sleep about hitting by a bus, asking my sister to stab me with a knife. What a nightmare! Every time I cried, my hubby and my sister also cried and even my hubby promised me that this is the only time he'll burdened me with this pain of baby delivery (but he broke the promise by sending me 4 times more to the labor room!).  I couldn't walk properly because of the drugs and finally the next day, on 7 am, Dr Chin broke my water sac to make the dilation process faster. Around 11.24am, 8th June 2004, I delivered Dayana Badriyah at 3.3kg. 

Before the delivery, I've told the nurses that I want to breastfeed the baby, so they asked me to start right away after the baby was born. There was a good sister (head of the nurses) who taught me how to breastfeed and latch the baby properly and at that time, everything seems very easy and in place. As soon as we're back home, everything was out of place. The baby was constantly crying, my breasts were sore, chapped on the nipples, I was having high fever because of breast mastitis and the funniest of all was because of my chapped nipples, I have to express my milk and spoon fed my baby, so, I asked my sister to pump it for me while I held the suction cup. I was using the cheap, manual breast pump with Camera brand and it had a weird looking illustration of a woman pumping out her milk. Both of us were laughing and crying at the same time. Hahahahahahah.. and she told me that that was going to be her last time to be sprayed by my milk and she was totally disgusted by it! So hilarious!

My mum's family, being a traditional chinese family, didn't give me moral supports and every time my baby cried, they said that that was because she was not full enough after each feeding. But, when I went to my baby's pediatrician for her monthly jab and check ups, her weight was very good and doctor was satisfied and even encouraged me to not to stop breastfeeding. Due to lack of experience, I always hid inside any changing rooms if I need to breastfeed my baby while going shopping. I was always stress while doing it for fear of taking too much time in the changing room. Luckily, with enough determination, I successfully breastfeed her for such a long time and even when I gave birth to her brother, Danish, 2 years later, she still shared the milk with him. Even now, if I express my milk into a cup, she'll happily gulps it like it's the best milk in the world! I'm so proud of her. I can see the effects of the breast milk on her especially on her studies where she got number 1 in her class for two times and she is studying in a Chinese kindergarten!

While pregnant with my second baby on the year of 2006, I equipped myself with more knowledge that I gather from the internet. I bought my few first breastfeeding clothes from www.blessedmums.com and bought Triumph's nursing bra (I don't like it because it's not sexy and unattractive but serves the purpose very well). At that time, I can easily breastfeed Danish while I'm shopping and no more rushing to the changing rooms. I just breastfed him straightaway while he was in the carrier bag and I cover him with a cloth so that no censored views were exposed.

With 3rd, 4th and current baby, every thing is done with a snap. Although it's 2010 now, breastfeeding in the public still raises some eyebrows and even the nurses at my gynae clinic (Dr Lee at MCMC) offered me lots of lactation milk supplies enough for 1 year because they told me that they are not many women who breastfeed their baby longer than 3 months. OMG! What an eye opener!

So, here are some tips that I can conclude about breastfeeding based on my own experience with 5 children:

1. Don't listen to any negative remarks from anybody even it's from your own mum!

2. Determination is important. Never give up no matter how hard it looks like.

3. Drink lots of water and if you can, drink proper lactating milk and add in some supplements like fish oil, spirulina, calciums.

4. Don't simply take any medication whether from your doctor or pharmacist. Never fail to inform your medical practitioner that you are breastfeeding so that they can give you proper medication that is safe for your child.

5. Try to find proper nursing bras or clothes to make feeding easier and if you can't afford, try using double clothes. I always use a singlet or sleeveless shirt underneath my blouse or shirt when I'm going out so that there's no flesh exposed. 

6. Putting your baby inside a baby carrier or a baby sling is the easiest way to breast feeding in style and with an ease.

7. If anybody's looking at you while you're breastfeeding like you are doing something weird or guilty, just smile with your sweetest smile and just walk away from them.

8. Just remember this: In Islam, a woman gets one merit / reward (pahala) for every single drop of milk that she gives to her baby.

I'll update more information in future. Time to cook dinner!

Colon Cleansing while nursing baby?

I am thinking about doing colon cleansing because nowadays, every time I went to the toilet to do 'the business' I always felt not satisfied and it seems like 'it' won't go out any further and still stucked in my tummy. So, I googled in the internet about the safety of colon cleansing wile nursing baby Darwish but most answers don't approve of doing it because our body are releasing the toxins stuck in our colon back into our system by doing this cleansing. The toxins might get into our milk and harm our baby. Here's something to ponder and guide us about colon cleansing while nursing. As for me, I'll stay away from the thoughts about doing colon cleanse for the time being and might reconsider it maybe next year when Darwish weans fron the breasts.

Source:http://www.ehow.com/way_5318128_body-cleansing-nursing.html


Breastfeeding women are often interested in body cleansing programs, since many fear that unidentified toxins will contaminate breast milk. While it is important for nursing mothers to live a healthy lifestyle, many of the body-cleansing programs sold in health food stores are inappropriate for breastfeeding moms. The harsh laxatives and diuretics in these products can harm the mother and baby by drawing precious water and nutrients out of the body-- and nursing moms need as much nutrition as they can get. Fortunately, there are safe alternatives.

Liver Detox

1. Most body-cleansing programs include "liver detox" formulas, which contain liver-supporting herbs like andrographis and milk thistle. Lactation experts like Dr. Jack Newman note that herbs are very unlikely to have any effect on the baby, since only trace amounts can find their way into breast milk. Still, because these herbs have not been studied for use in breastfeeding mothers, it is wise to avoid them except under special circumstances. Breastfeeding women with diagnosed liver disease may choose to use these compounds under the guidance of a physician, but the potential benefits are not worth the risks for the majority of patients.
   
   A safer liver detox may also be the simplest (and cheapest). Consume a diet containing few foods that tax the liver. Eliminate organ meats and alcohol, which can severely tax the liver, and increase your intake of raw fruits and vegetables. Salads made with dandelion greens-- traditional liver-support herbs-- may also be useful.

Colon Cleansing

1. Colon cleansing is one of the most popular forms of body-cleansing, and it can also be one of the most dangerous. Most colon-cleanse programs use strong stimulant laxatives like cascara sagrada and senna, which can cause cramping, fluid loss, nutrient loss and diarrhea. The loss of nutrients and fluid can be dangerous for a nursing mother.
   
   While there is little evidence to support the routine use of laxatives for cleansing, there is no doubt that a high-fiber diet can help to detoxify the colon and support general well-being. Nursing moms can use fiber sources, like psyllium supplements and fresh vegetables, to provide cramp-free colon cleansing. Aloe vera, which lubricates bowel movements, can also be useful and is safe for nursing moms.

Urinary Health

2. Body cleansers often utilize strong herbal diuretics to flush fluid from the body. While this can enable temporary weight loss through dehydration, it does little to support the overall health of the kidneys-- and it may actually damage them in the long run. Because breastfeeding women have a high need for fluids, diuretic herbs are especially dangerous.
   
   Cranberries are a lactation-friendly supplement that actually will support the health of the urinary tract. Nursing mothers can safely consume cranberry extract in the form of a capsule or tablet, or they can enjoy a tall glasses of cranberry juice each day. Healthy food choices are the safest, most effective detox program for everyone-- especially nursing mothers.

Dayana's Group Performance

This was her first performance with her group with the song entitled Wa Wa Zhi Ge.

Dayana solo performance They Don't Care About Us

Today is Dayana's kindergarten Graduation Day at Tadika Pujut Miri. She performed Michael Jackson's They Don't Care About Us for solo performance and she was the only one who had done solo. I choreographed her the moves based on Travis Payne's version for CPDRC Inmates. I'm so proud of her because she doesn't have no stage fright at all! You go girl!