Top 6 breastfeeding accessories you'll need

Most people say breastfeeding will save you a lot of money. Not exactly true, since we need to buy quite a number of accessories to support us in our breastfeeding journey. I guess, only exclusive direct latch mummies (meaning no pumping) will save the most $$.

Throughout my breastfeeding journey, I've spent quite a bit on accessories to support my breastfeeding journey. Some hits, some miss. Here, I've compiled my top 6 best buys. I wanted to compile a top 10, but realized there ain't that many things to buy. If you are a new soon-to-be-mummy who wants to embark on the breastfeeding journey, below is a list of things that helped me. Hope they will help you too. :)

1. Spectra S9+

First on the list is of course, my breast pump. It has helped to relieve my engorgement, and has been my best and most important friend especially in the earlier days when Cleo wouldn't latch. Read more about my review about it here. The S9+ has got into my best buys instead of my S1 because it is so compact and portable. I love it!




2. Simple Wishes Hands-Free Breastpump Bra

I remembered the very very first time I used my pump. It was my first day back at home, and I wanted to use the pump to see if it will help the milk to come (cos I read its all about demand and supply. the more you pump, the more supply you'll have). Well, I didn't research enough to know that breast pumping is very awkward. I've no idea why they invented it this way, but I honestly find the design very stupid and not user-friendly. Ok, you need to use some imagination here, but basically, with the default package, you need to hold the pump against your boobs for the whole duration that you're pumping. If you're pumping both side, it means you'll look like a weirdo holding too pumps/bottles in front of your boobs. Not only does it look weird, it's super troublesome as it means you have no hands for anything else. You can't read a book, eat, use your mobile, or even play with your baby! Thank god for the Simple Wishes Hands-Free Breastpump Bra. It's basically this tube-like garment, that have a zip at the front centre, as well as 2 holes on each side of the bra for you to attach your pump to. The back of the bra is velcro so you can adjust how loose or tight you want. After I googled and found this thing that can turn my pump into hands-free, I immediately sent my husband to Kiddy Palace to buy. This, to me, is a must buy. It should have come together as part of the whole breast pump package!


3. Medela Valves

If you're using a spectra, go change your valve into a medela one. you can read more about my review here.


4. Fridge-to-go Cooler Bag

If you're pumping, or always on the go, you'll probably need to have a cooler bag to bring your milk around. For me, I also need it to bring my pump parts around at work (since i didn't put it in the office fridge and I only wash my pump when I'm home). As the name goes, it is like carrying a fridge around, while on the go. It keeps the content inside really cold for a long while. I have the big victoria size, that allows me to put in my air tight container (which contains my pump parts), as well as milk bottles. I also have the smaller one that can fit like 2 milk bottles (or 4 can drinks), which I use when I don't need to bring my pump out. One thing to note though is it can get rather heavy due to the cooling panel, especially for the victoria size, which has lots of cooling panel. But then, ice packs itselves are usually quite heavy so I guess its ok.

5. Air-Tight Container

Before I switched to using an air-tight container, I was using zip-lock bag to keep my pump parts (especially while on the go). I really dislike the idea of changing a zip-lock-bag a day (so eco-unfriendly!), and doesn't like the idea of reusing it. Hence, I decide to get a air-tight container. I found mine in Japan Home for less than S$10, and fits my pump parts perfectly! These days, I don't wash my pumps after every session (takes too much time), so what I do is put them into the air-tight container and keep it in the fridge or (fridge to go if I'm out), and take it out to use again when it's time! I'll only wash it at the end of the day.


6. Breastmilk Storage Bag

If you've excess milk, or are planning to go back to work, or going away without your baby, you'll need to save milk for baby. I call this my emergency stash. I've used quite a variety of breastmilk storage bags. Lansinoh, HoneySuckle, Autumnz, cheap korean ones. Honestly, I think the cheap korean ones does a great job. I really dont see the need to spend so much on expensive storage bags. they all look and function the same to me. I know some mummies swears by the boots ones which are really cheap too. You can stock up on the boots storage bags if you are going to bangkok.

Ok, so here's my list of top 6 breastfeeding accessories. my best buys! hope they will be helpful in your research too, and all the best for your breastfeeding journey!

note: all products here are purchased with my own money. none are sponsored, though there may be affiliate links to help me earn some allowance. :)

Spectra S9 plus

The spectra s9 plus is my very first breast pump. I don't have much encounter with pumps so i didn't really know what to expect. One advice i did get from my friends is to get a double electric pump. More efficient they say. And most recommend the medela,which i find really expensive.

Being me, i start researching online and found many positive reviews on Specta. in fact, i read quite a number of reviews commenting that spectra is more efficient in emptying the breast. What's even better is its alot cheaper than medela. Hence, i zoomed in on a spectra. Who will say no cheap and good?

Decided on a s9 plus as its small and portable. Since i wanted to direct latch from the very beginning, i thought i will get a pump only for when I'm out and traveling, when I'm back to work, and for emergencies. Hence, portability is more important to me than durable hospital grade. I did get another hospital grade (s1) after i failed to latch cleo after 1 week cos i feel the s9 cannot tahan hardcore intensive pumping so i decide to get another one just in case. Review on the s1 in another post.

My S9+ has been my best friend since. It has followed me everywhere I go, and I love that its so compact and portable. One great thing about this pump is it's relatively quiet compared to some other brands. When I was in the nursing room back in my old office (where they have like 5 cubicles for different mummies), you can hear the VERY LOUD machine sound of some other breast pumps that other mummies are using.

Another thing I love about the S9+ is it's very easy to use. There's not much configuration involve (unlike the S1, which took me a while to figure out how to use it efficiently). For the S9+, there's basically 4 buttons: 1) On/Off 2)Massage (to encourage let down) 3 and 4) to increase or reduce the vacuum strength. In terms of efficiency in emptying the breast, i think it does a pretty good job.

2 things about the spectra though. As much as i love my spectra, there's 2 things that you should ditch after you get your package: the milk bottles, and the valves.

The milk bottles feels really low quality and flimsy. It could be me, but i hate it. Replace with any wide-neck bottles from Philips Avent, Pigeon, Autumnz, whatever.

Another one is the valve (this pair of white silicone rubber that looks like a duck's beak. This thing is so fragile it tears easily. If you're abit rough in your washing, it tears. And any tiny tear will affect the effectiveness of the pump. If you feel that your pump feels strange and the pump feels weak, check your valve. One hack i found on the internet, which work great, is to replace it with a Medela Valves. If may look kinda costly at first compared to a Spectra valve, but trust me, its worth the money. It's ALOT more durable, and I've been using mine for more than 6 months now and still working! My previous spectra valve only last for like 3 weeks each!

I bought mine from Qoo10 from a Korean seller at around S$99 after using some coupons so it's really alot cheaper than retail here (the last I check is S$318). The cons of buying from Qoo10 is there won't be any warranty but for me, I'm willing to take the risk and I'm a super happy buyer with this purchase. :)

note: this is not a sponsored post. paid for this with my own $$. I'm just sharing my thoughts and feedback after using it. :)

Baby's Oral Care

Since birth, we've always been using a damp cloth to clean baby cleo's mouth. This is taught by my mum. Well, we thought about using those oral wipes available in stores, but got worried about the ingredients used (despite them saying its 100% purified water), so we stuck with using a wet handkerchief.

Baby Cleo absolutely HATES IT when we try to clean her mouth. She will push our hands away, cry, or do whatever she can to get away from it. When she was younger, we can still try to coax, but as she gets older, she will push our hands away and twist and turn her way out of it.

Recently, i found this really cute finger toothbrush on iherb, and decided to give it a try since its only S$3+. (probably more ex now given the stronger US$)

Cleo LOVES it. The first thing i hold it in front of her, she open her mouth wide with a grin. First time ever she welcomes me brushing her "teeth" (gums and tongue to be exact). She happily lets me brush around her mouth, and bites on my finger. She probably think it is a toy. I thought this could just be a new-toy excitement, but no! every bath time she welcomes this toothbrush with a big wide mouth. She'll also allow me to brush as long as I want. 

so yeap, this has made into the list of one of the best baby things I've bought. :)

note: this is not a sponsored post. I paid for this with my own money. just wanted to share some great finds. 

Review: Delivery at Mt Alvernia Hospital

After our maternity tours at TMC and Mt Alvernia, and talking to friends and reading reviews online, we've decided to go ahead with Mt Alvernia for our delivery of baby C.

My experience there has been really pleasant and I'm glad I made this choice. It's indeed as good as what I've heard and read about. The uncomfortable feeling I had during the maternity tour didn't bothered me. In fact, I did not even feel anything. Maybe there's too much other excitement for me to feel anything.

I checked in at around 5am, and somehow, it's a popular day and there's no delivery suite or bed at the observation ward for me. How lucky! Waited at the sofa area outside the delivery suites till around 8+am. The contractions were still bearable so it's still okay. I can see the nurses are trying their best to get a bed for me, and can see its a very busy/peak day for them so I wasn't angry or anything. They also kept asking me if I need milo and biscuits and if I'm ok.

At about 8+am, the brought me to one of the doctor's resting room to hook me up to the CTG machine to monitor me, as well as to give me the med to clear my bowels. Someone poped and they shifted me to the delivery suite soon after where the fun begins. Will leave my birth story to another post.

The Delivery Suite

I chose to stay in a 4 bedded ward since it's only for 2 nights, and I reckon the husband can rest better in the comfort at home. Was initially told that 4-bedded wards are not available, but dunno why I was still given a bed in a 4 bedded (which is good la!) I heard from another patient 4 bedded ward is more spacious than a 2 bedded.

I'm staying in St. Elizabeth Ward. I've heard horror stories about sub-standard service for 4-bedded at other hospitals, but I'm pleased to say the service at the 4 bedded ward here in Mt Alvernia is very prompt and the nurses are very helpful and attentive. If the level of service I'm enjoying is the lowest level, then I can't imagine how good the service are in those atas suites. One thing that really stood out during my stay there is how dedicated and committed the nurses are in their job. You can feel that they really love what they are doing and it's not just a job to them. I can feel their passion for their job. Almost all the nurses I got in contact with are wonderful. They are also very knowlegable and helpful so don't be shy to ask them all kinds of questions you have about your baby (or yourself), and even questions about breastfeeding! I personally find them more helpful than the lactation consultant since the lactation consultat is only there for a brief 15mins or so, but the nurses are always there. Ask them , get them to help you, guide you. They are all very patient and helpful.

The food from the confinement menu are pretty delicious. I wasn't expecting much from hospital food, but surprisingly, they are really good!

This is pork ribs and mushroom for dinner. Not sure if it's cos I'm starving since my last meal was breakfast (they refused to let me eat when I was starving and in labor. =/ ) but I remembered clearly this is so delicious! Each meal consist of a main course (meat), soup, veggies, fruits and a bottled fruit juice (which I gave the husband since my mum says I can only drink red dates longan water).

Mee Sua soup for breakfast the next morning with milo and a bottled fruit juice

Lunch. Braised Lion Head. This is very very good! Who says confinement food is boring?

Tea Break. Some pie and red dates longan tea.

Dinner. Ginger Spring Onion Pork

My experience at Mt Alvernia has been really pleasant and I'll definitely choose it again for my next delivery. The rooms and service are great, and coming from a fussy person like me, it really means something! :)

Yummy Veggie International Buffet & Steamboat Restaurant

We were craving for some vegetarian food over the weekend and wanted to go to our favourite Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant at Quality hotel. However, they are fully booked as usual (if you want to dine there, I recommend you call them a few days to a week in advance. If you call them the last minute, they are usually fully booked).

Decide to try out Yummy Veggie since we've been seeing their ad popping up on facebook a couple of times but never got down to trying it. 

It's easily located at Kembangan CC. Apparently, I didn't read their website closely, so I was pleasantly surprised when I learnt that we get to enjoy both steamboat and international buffet together (thought it's an either/or thing like Lotus). You get to choose 2 soup base from a list of Tom Yum, Vegetable, Herbal, Korean Miso.

The seats were really small though so the experience wasn't so pleasant since its so squeezy. Especially the tables for 2 pax. It's so amazingly small, and with the mini steamboat pot, and plates from the cooked food. Actually, the bigger tables are equally squeezy. It's common to see people seating "outside" of their space just to make more space. Hubby commented that this place is a fire hazard. 

They do have quite a variety of food, but many doesn't look too appetizing. I was delighted to see topokki (korean hot and spicy rice cake), but was disappointed that it looks really dry and unappetizing that I gave it a miss. I tried to take a piece of each item to give it a try, but I realized most of the items taste rather bland and generally unappetizing. There are a couple of the items that are not too bad like their "fried drumstick", "fried squid ring", "fried wanton" etc, and my favourite must be their eclair. It tasted totally heavenly (compared to all the other food there) and I had quite a number of servings. Their mango sorbet is really nice too!

Let the pictures do the talking:

some of the buffet spread

Ice-Cream! Try their mango sorbet. It's good!

First time seeing cans of soft drinks for people to take at buffets

Steamboat. It has all the usual vegetarian stuffs like corn, mushroom, lotus root, mock prawn/meat etc. 

Eclair! Best food of the day. I've so many servings of it! It contains egg though in case you're vegan.

Singapore laksa. Looks good, but it tasted totally bland and is the worst laksa I've ever eaten. =/

Very nice mango sorbet. No egg! :)

Yummy Veggie

5 Lengkong Tiga 

#01-04 Kampong Kembangan Community Club 

Singapore 417408 

(Beside Kembangan MRT Station) 

Tel: 6441 2688 6636 1683

Mt Alvernia - Maternity Tour

After sharing about my TMC's hospital tour in an earlier entry, let me share my experience at Mt Alvernia.

After reading all the reviews on Mt Alvernia, I was quite determined to choose Mt Alvernia. Almost all the reviews I read are positive and full of praises (unlike the reviews for TMC which are mixed with alot of complaints and rants). One of the most common "negative" comment about Mt A that I read about is its alot more dated, which I'm fine with since its just a 2 nights' stay.

Parking is alot easier compared to TMC. However, I have a very bad feeling once I stepped out of the car. Probably due to my sensitive nature (I'm very sensitive to energy), and energy in hospitals are generally alot more negative. If you want to know what kind of bad feeling I felt, I just felt uncomfortable and scared. =/

The gathering point is at the main lobby, patient liaison center. The guide (can't remember her name again) is really patient in answering our questions. But I feel overall, information shared is alot lacking unless we asked. If I didn't do some research online before hand, and I havent been to TMC's hospital tour the week before, I probably won't have all the questions that I'm asking, and dunno what I dunno.

We were brought to see the different rooms, and like what most people shared, it's pretty dated. Some rooms are more dated than the others (which have been refurbished) though the rates are all the same. We also cannot pre-book the rooms. so it's a matter of luck when you're admitted. :)

The goodie bag they gave is pretty attractive. Lots of samples and stuffs, There Anmum Lacta (for breastfeeding mummy), Huggies wet wipes, Huggies newborn diapers, Kodomo samples, lots of random coupons, and they even give us a drink coupon at the cafe after the tour.

After going on the hospital tour of Mt A and TMC, I can't decide. If only this is as easy as choosing hotels (just read the reviews on tripadvisor and decide!). If I based on reviews, TMC is definitely out, and Mt A is the one. BUT, based on personal feelings, I'm more incline towards TMC. I just feels weird with Mt Alvernia.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.  Maybe I should just let the cost decide.


You can book for Thomson's hospital tour here: https://apps.thomsonmedical.com/hospital-tour/
Book Mt Alvernia's maternity tour here: http://mtalvernia.force.com/MaternityTourRegistration/MaternityTourRegistrationD

Thomson Medical Centre - Maternity Tour

Our gynae delivers in Thomson Medical Centre (TMC) and Mount Alvernia, and we need to decide which hospital we're delivering soon. Before doing any research on the 2 hospitals, I always thought I will deliver in TMC but after reading many mixed reviews about them, I began to have second thoughts, and decide to go on a hospital tour.

You can book for Thomson's hospital tour here: https://apps.thomsonmedical.com/hospital-tour/
Book Mt Alvernia's maternity tour here: http://mtalvernia.force.com/MaternityTourRegistration/MaternityTourRegistrationD

I'll focus on Thomson Medical Centre here.

Parking is a problem (it has always been a problem), so please use their valet service. They will park your car at this big open space public carpark (where all the lorries and buses are), and have a shuttle bus there to let you pick up your car.

Go to the information counter at level one (next to delifrance) to register your attendance, and they will give you a goodie bag, which contains lots of leaflets and some magazines. Here, we will meet with the other couples and the guide will bring us on the tour. I can't remember our guide's name, but she is a very experienced lady (those nurse that looks super senior (doesn't mean old) and experienced) that makes me feel very comfortable as if we know we're in good hands.

The tour is very organized, and the guide walks us through in details what to do, what happen in each stage. From admission, to what goes on in the delivery suite, the different options available etc. The guide was very clear in sharing with us what to do if we're admitted during the day, and what happens (and where to go) if we need to be admitted in the middle of the night. What happens in the delivery suite, what happens after you've delivered (step by step, like after you've delivered, they will bring the baby to clean up and weigh, then send to you for skin to skin, and you can start breastfeeding etc. I'm really thankful for this detailed walkthrough as it's very beneficial for a first time mum.

The rooms, from the delivery suite to the single rooms, to the 2-bedded all looks pretty nice and comfortable. Overall, I have a very good feeling there.

If I'm going to make a decision just based on what I see and feel, TMC is definitely the one. I feel really comfortable there. HOWEVER, all the negative reviews I read online are giving me second thoughts and those are stuffs I can't judge based on the tour since I have no encounter with the nurses, the cashiers etc.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

- Mama J

Ultimate Silver Birdnest

We tried Emperor Brand Ultimate Silver Birdnest. It comes in a box of 300 grams with 25 pieces of Birdnest. The quantity of Birdnests may vary depend on the size. The Ultimate Silver Birdnest are House Nests from Indonesia. They come in cup shape as seen in photos below. After soaking the Birdnest, it will expand to about 2 to 3 times its size. Take note that the colour of real Birdnest will not fade after soaking & the Birdnest strand should look transparent.

Preparations:

Soak and clean in tapwater for about 2 hours. Remove impurities if any.
Use a Double boil pot, boil the water in the outer pot and put Birdnest and boiled water in the inner pot and let in boil for another 45 mins to 60mins.
Add some rock sugar and red dates for better taste.

Benefits of Birdnest

- Better & radiant complexion for the mama and baby
- Strengthen body system and resistance to diseases
- Tissue repair & promote cell growth
- Boost blood circulation system


** We use 300ml of  water and the pot is full of Birdnest and not much water. You may want to add more water.

We opined that this Birdnest is more value for money. The Birdnest has an egg fragrant which indictates that the Birdnest is pure and natural.