Baby Changing Room @ Citta Mall, Ara Damansara PJ

The baby changing room at Citta Mall, Ara Damansara, is probably one of the cleanest ones I've encountered in a mall. 

The mall itself isn't too congested, ample parking space (free of charge, for now) and an abundance of space for families with strollers.

They've even dedicated parking lots for families right in front of the mall's doorstep.

As I entered the baby changing room, I'm pleased that they've maintained its cleanliness really well in addition to the room being brightly lit. 

If you have potty trained toddlers, they've dedicated a child-friendly bathroom complete with a stool by the sink.

What you'll see once you step through the automatic door (you won't need to worry about your kid(s) running out of the room as you'll need to press the exit button which is at an adult's height) : 

At the entrance 

Opposite this play area is the bathroom for toddlers, which also has an automatic sliding door. 

The drawing on the wall

As you walk further into the room, you'll find this brightly-lit spacious section with changing tables and a sink.

Nursing rooms available:

This baby changing room is located on the 1st floor of Citta Mall. 

Address: No. 1, Jalan PJU 1A/48, PJU 1A, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya

Toddler Milestone at 22-months old

Our is still breastfeeding at 22-months old, however, I would top-up with formula (Sustagen Junior 1+). 

She'd normally consume 150 ml formula after breakfast and another 150 ml after lunch which she won't finish until later in the evening.

One thing I consider as an achievement would be her ability to sleep on her own without clinging onto me!

Even when she wakes up, she won't cry and goes her merry way searching for the iPad to play cartoons or play with her toys. 

She looks forward to having her shower, especially with Daddy, as he'll bring her to the bathtub so she gets to play with the bubble bath. 

She loves to go into the pool too!

After taking her bath, when I lay her down on her changing table, she will extend both arms and hug me, "I love you, Ummi" ... (aaawwwww!!!!!)

Sometimes, without any warning, she'll hug me while she's playing or hug my leg when I'm doing something and say, "I love you, Ummi" ... (aaaaaaawwwwwww!!!!!)

She is still picky with her food (sigh) and I've only started to make my own tortilla wraps (I had NO IDEA it was super easy!) to add on to her menu (who says pleasing toddlers ain't tough?).

She understands basic instructions and she's able to verbalize her needs (well, most of the time) and if her needs aren't met IMMEDIATELY, she tends to cry / repeat her request.

Beloved hubby and I are both waiting to see if she'll hit the "Terrible Two" milestone (which we're hoping and praying she won't!) as a colleague of ours keep telling us, "You wait lar, when she turns two, see how she'll turn your life upside down and throw tantrums!"

*Crossing our fingers...*

Mothers Need Pampering Too!

Lil' Rainbow will turn 17 months old soon am I'm proud to say that I still bf her ... Though she REALLY tends to cling on for hours, especially during afternoon naps and wakes up every 2 hours at night .... Eek! 

Find myself having body aches from lying on one side too long and the fact that she tugs at times when she's dozing off or trying to get comfortable.

I had a super duper headache last weekend and could barely open my eyes. 

I literally had to lie down and sleep it off after downing 2 pills. 

Lil' Rainbow was such a darling as she seemed to understand that I was in pain. 

She visited me in the room from time to time, standing by the bedside and called out for me. 

When I looked at her, she smiled and played with her toy, not once climbing onto the bed and wanting to disturb me. 

I had no energy to even sit and kept apologizing to her. 

She went her merry way to find Daddy to play with.

It was the first time ever I've experienced such pain.

I decided to get a traditional massage. 

I was told that since I lay on one side too long, it affected my womb and true enough, when my tummy was massaged, I could feel a slight pain on the left-side. 

She applied subtle pressures at first and slowly worked her way around my tummy. 

After awhile, walla! No more pain!

She told me to rotate sides when I bf and not stay on one position for too long. 

Moreover, since it has been quite some time that I had actually gone for a massage, she told me to get at least monthly massages so that I feel better since I've already developed a severe headache.

For me, getting a full body massage is my way of being pampered and I'm a happy mother already!

Breastpump: Manual vs Electronic

Lil' princess is 14 months old now and she's still breastfeeding ... yeay!

I also need to top-up with formula as I don't pump enough at work.

I make it up to her as I would bf her in the evenings when I'm home and  when she occasionally wakes up in the night ... 

Yes, she still manages to 'climb' into our bed! :)

I'm thankful that the nursing room at work can accommodate 4 people at any one time. 

They have installed proper curtains in the room for more privacy, comfortable sofas and of course, a small fridge for you to store your milk.

I can go there anytime I want, except during lunchtime, as this would be the peak hour for all moms to rush their pumping session.

I know of one mother who has lunch AND pumps at the same time ... she'll only have biscuits or bread for lunch as it would be easier for her to manage the food and pump.

I know of one or two mothers who use the manual pump. 

I do pity them as they take quite a long time to complete their pumping session. 

They would ask me if it's better to use single or double pump, I proposed to them that double pump is faster.

My Medela Swing is handy for me as I use recyclable battery and it is small but I can only pump one breast at a time so it's not quite efficient. 

I am quite the stubborn one as hubby wanted to buy me the double pump but at that point of time when I was still on maternity leave and bf on demand, I said that it wasn't necessary...

If hubby is reading this entry, he'll surely say, told-you-so. :D

Anyhoo, yes, manual pumps are time consuming and for single pumps, suggest you get the double pump if you are a working mom ...

Engorgement

Engorgement. Engorged.

The feeling where your breasts feel hard as a rock and it's PAINFUL ... 

Even more so when you attempt to feed your baby, the milk will spray onto baby's face! 

Luckily, I always use a small cloth at each feed so that when this happens, I will conveniently use this cloth and apply pressure onto the breast to stop its flow.

My lil' princess seems to understand this routine and will patiently wait for the flow to stop and resume her feed.

I used to pump each time the breast is full and will not time the session (being a newbie). 

I always find myself soaked at 3am, when milk production is active. 

Little did I know that the more you pump, the more milk will be produced (body thinks baby is hungry and will provide more supply). 

I was happily pumping away and emptying my breasts only to have them full again TWO HOURS LATER!

It was tough!

I read online and got tips on how to bluff your breasts not to produce too much milk.

Apply ice packs or cold water onto your breasts to slow down the milk flow if it leaks (they call it a letdown). 

Warm water relieves engorgement but this will also actively produce milk. (explains why every time I take a hot shower, I'll be leaking at the same time).

Feed baby with the same breast at least 2 feedings as this will let your body know that baby doesn't need that much. 

If you feed baby with both breasts during the same feeding, it'll tell your body that baby wants more ...

I had to nurse my baby at 4 feedings with the same breast to notice the changes.

Yup, no longer soaking in milk in the wee hours of the morning!

p/s: The above is based on my own experience and it would be best if you consult your ObGyn for professional advise.

Berpuasa Ketika Menyusu?

Betapa bertuahnya kaum Hawa diberi pilihan untuk berpuasa walaupun sedang menyusu badan ataupun tidak berpuasa (tapi kena jugalah ganti ya :) )

Indahnya agama Islam, TabarakAllah ... :)

Saya pilih untuk berpuasa.

Yalah, cam tak best pulak kalau semua orang tengah berpuasa, kita tak puasa.

Siang hari bolehlah makan & minum kan ... bila kita menyusu baby, memang AMAT dahaga! 

Lapar tak sangat tapi ... HAUS betul! 

Ketika keluarga bukak puasa pulak, meriah betul diaorang kat meja makan ... kita pulak dok sorang2 tak campur ... yerlah, orang tak puasa mana boleh join orang berbuka?

Lain benar suasana bulan Ramadhan tu ... kalau boleh, taknak miss puasa ... nak join jugak!

Hari pertama berpuasa tu ... Ya Allah, Tuhan sahaja yang tahu betapa bergendang gendut tali kecapi perut ni berbunyi ... laparrrr ... 

Boleh pulak masa tu baby macam tahu je Ummi tengah berpuasa .. dia pulak asyik bergayyyuuuutttt memanjang ... lapar pulak dia bulan puasa ni ha.

Menguji keimanan sungguh! 

Sabaaaaarrrr je lah. 

Oklah, berjaya mengharungi pusingan pertama! :D Alhamdulillah!

Iftar selalunya saya makan nasi. 

Disebabkan satu hari tak minum tapi masih lagi menyusukan baby, makanya SETIAP SATU JAM lepas berbuka sampai sahur hari berikutnya saya akan minum air.

Sahur pulak, selalunya buat Milo + oatmeal (minuman wajib), makan dengan kurma atau biskut.

Nampak macam simple sangat pulak menu sahur kan? 

Percayalah, oats tu memang berkesan kalau nak tahan perut dari lapar untuk sehari berbanding makan nasi waktu sahur. 

Hmmm ... lain orang lain pulak caranya kan? 

Tapi itulah menu saya setiap hari ... Alhamdulillah, dapat berpuasa DAN menyusu baby juga!

Baby saya dah 2 bulan+ dan kalau menyusu pulak, adalah dalam 1 jam 45 minit kena dok tunggu dia ... manalah saya tak kehausan ... semua cecair pergi kat baby.

Walaupun cam tu, Alhamdulillah, susu badan memang cukup dan baby dapat breastfeed on demand :)

Jadi kepada sesiapa yang tak berapa yakin susu badan akan mencukupi masa berpuasa tu, Insya Allah, akan cukup ... cuma para ibu2 yang dikasihi sekelian perlu banyak bersabar ya? :)

Soalan ni selalunya daripada first-time moms cam saya ni :D

Jadi terserah kepada kaum ibu sama ada nak teruskan berpuasa atau tidak. 

Anda tahu apa yang terbaik untuk diri anda dan bayi anda ;) 

Eh, cam iklan ler pulak ... :P

Salam Ramadhan! :)