Monthly Archives: August 2009

Ramblings on some NUH talk

Leave a reply

Anya started on solids a couple of days ago! I attended a ‘Baby’s First Food’ talk at NUH today with my mum thinking that it would offer me some information that I wouldn’t be able to get from parenting books/ websites. It did not. Ok, we were secretly hoping that there would be some free samples but there weren’t. Heh. The presentation was fairly simple and the dietician was going through her slides quite quickly. One lady asked her to slow down because she wanted to copy down some info so another lady asked if they could email the slides to those interested or put the presentation up on the website to be downloaded. Let’s just say that the reply was something to the effect of ‘this talk is free so we are not obligated to do you any favours’.

I get vaguely annoyed when people ask irrelevant questions. I mean, this was a talk about weaning and starting solids, not about breastfeeding! One woman (a grandmother) wanted to know if she could give a breastfed baby water. The dietician told her that she shouldn’t because breastmilk provides sufficient fluid and giving water may result in the baby nursing less and getting fewer calories, etc. She was clearly not happy with the answer and kept shaking her head with a disgusted look on her face. Obviously, she’s had some disagreement with her daughter/ daughter-in-law over this issue. I don’t know why the older generation is so obsessed about giving water to a baby!!! I’m glad my mum got over it quite early on.

Another woman wanted to know what she should do if she doesn’t have breastmilk because she’s not the natural mother of the baby. Surely it’s obvious that she should give the baby formula then?? But the lactation consultant told her that in some cases, it’s possible to induce the production of breastmilk in a woman who has not given birth. I find that slightly disturbing but since I have not gone through an adoption process, I may not be able to imagine and/or appreciate the extent some women are willing to go to in order to bond with the adopted baby.

Anyway, will post pictures of Anya’s first encounter with solids soon!

Reflections for Anya’s Fifth Month

1 Reply

This month, you are quite a drool factory! Your hands are constantly in your mouth and you also put anything you can get your hands on into your mouth! You are also blowing bubbles more frequently especially when you’re happy or excited. You like to touch our faces when we talk to you. It’s much easier to make you smile or laugh and you’re simply a delight to be with!


You enjoy bath time and like to spend the entire time kicking your little rubber duckie off the edge of your tub or crushing it with your legs. You splash like mad during your baths and you love to splash around in the pool as well. We like to bring you swimming because you have so much fun and you’re all tired out afterwards and sleep like a log.


You are less grouchy now because we understand you better and know when you are hungry or sleepy and can meet your needs accordingly. This month, you have been flipping from your back to your front and now sleep on your stomach. You do a lot more tummy time now and have been pulling your legs up to your tummy. Although you’re not crawling yet, you can move quite a bit by squirming and kicking around. It’s now easier to put you down for a nap or for the night and you sleep better too.

You had fun on a cruise and went for your first wedding. You were amazingly well-behaved during the church service and the reception. You also celebrated National Day and met up with many different groups of people.


I look forward to the rest of the time with you but I already miss these five months that have passed. Just know this: you are loved!

Anya celebrates National Day

Leave a reply

Anya celebrated National Day by going all over Singapore! 7 Aug – Went over to BLSS to celebrate National Day and then out with the grandparents. 8 Aug – Breakfast at Spruce, a stroll and lunch at Ion Orchard, dinner at Vivocity. 9 Aug – Breakfast at Jurong Point, lunch back home, dinner at Auntie Deb’s. 10 Aug – Breakfast at Jones the Grocer, lunch at Auntie Juan’s and dinner back home.

Anya in her various red and white outfits: