Breast milk is the best. But, if your baby’s growth is at risk (too little weight gain) with breastfeeding alone, it’s time to put your ego as a mother aside. And, supplement with formula.

I did and I’m glad that I made the choice. No matter what other pro-breastfeeding moms said, only ME alone knows what is best for my baby.

Yes. I do support breastfeeding. I learned everthing about breastfeeding during my pregnancy. And, I wanted to exclusively-breastfeed my baby until she is 2 years old. But, not all things go out as planned.

Her weight was gaining so slowly, so I was advised by her paed to give a special infant formula for premature babies.

Do you know what I felt when the paed said I didn’t have enough milk for my baby? I was so extremely angry!

Annoyed. Devastated. Mad. Heart broken into pieces.

I thought I have failed as a mother. And, I was so close to having a major post-natal depression.

But, the tiny little princess made me realised. Her well-being is much more important than my stupid ego.

So, she was given Enfalac A+ Premature Special Infant formula and also breastmilk until she was 6 months.

Now, it is time to switch the formula.

We were looking for a formula that is easy to be digested. And, do not cause constipation.

And, we found Nestlé NAN H.A 2 (Hypoallergenic)!

Baby Izzah has been on this new formula for a week. And, she is happily passing stool once in two days.

No more signs of her having pain while trying to empty her bowel. A definitely happier baby!

Nestlé NAN contains probiotics (beneficial bacteria - bifidus) which helps babies to poo easily. And, it is a hypoallergenic formula with easily digestible proteins that help reduce the risk of allergies.

The cliché is true: Babies grow up so fast. And, my little princess is already 6 months old! Happy 6-month old my hunny-bunny baby.

Let’s see what little Izzah has achieved so far.

#1 - Call ‘ma ma‘ at 4 months plus and ‘a bah’ at 6 months (yeay!). I taught her the consonant sounds likes ‘ba be bi bo bu, ca ce ci co cu, ma me mi mo mu” etc everyday during the car ride from the day-care to home. Perhaps, that’s help her to achive this development so fast.

And, you know what… she can call ‘ma ma” and ‘a bah’ to the correct parent. This makes me so proud!

Of course, when she cries for milk or in need of a hug.. she will call ‘ma ma’ - that’s me…ha..ha..ha..

#2 - Rolls from side to side, onto her back or tummy, and back again. She can flipped over her her tummy to her back at 4 months plus. And, can roll over from her back to her tummy at 5 months.

She can also makes a 360-turns on her tummy!

Now, I’m waiting for her to make her first soldier crawl.

#3 - Sits with some support. Actually, she can sit without support but to the count of 10 only.

#4 - Uses raking grasp. She can use her little fingers to pinch me very hard!

#5 - Responds to own name. She knows her name is Izzah Nabihah.

#6 - Babbles chains of consonants @ baby talking. It is so cute!

#7 - Play joyfully and laugh out loud!

#8 - Recognizes familiar faces. She has the stranger anxiety already.

#9 - Shows preferences for specific foods. She hates the jar-food (Heinz)! And, love Nestle rice cereal with soy milk.

You know why she hates the bottled-food? Because it tasted sour (I tried it a few spoons myself then I know, huh!).

The rice cereal has a sweet taste but I’m worried that she could get constipated (rice cereal is fibre-less). So, I mix the cereal with some homemade prune juice. This works well for her bowel movement. Prevention is better than cure, right.

And, I also bought some boxes of the new Nestle Gold cereal - Rice with Apple & Cranberries, Oat with Prunes and Rice with Vegetables.

Homemade rice porridge? Perhaps, later when I get a new blender for the little princess. The existing blender is used to blend chillies, onions etc…thus, not suitable to use that to blend baby food eh?

I’m celebrating Hari Raya here, in KL. Again. The third year in a row! No ‘balik kampung’ because I must be in office on the 3rd raya. This is a setback of being an accountant. It’s month-end closing of accounts. Huwa!

Baby Izzah was given her third dose of Hepatitis B jab yesterday. And, also the first dose of Pneumococcal vaccine.

Imagine how loud the little princess cried when the doctor injected both of her thighs… She must has hate her paed so much…ha..ha

So, what’s Pneumoccocal vaccine?

You see, this vaccine, also called Prevnar, protects against pneumococcal (pronounced new-m’COCKL) infections - which mostly strike children under age 5. The infection can lead to some of the worst childhood diseases.

According to the World Health Organization’s current estimates, one child dies of a pneumococcal disease every minute.

Pneumococcal infection can cause ear infection, sinus infection, pneumonia, blood infection (bacteremia), and meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain). About 1 out of every 20 people who get pneumococcal pneumonia dies from it, as do about 2 out of every 10 who get bacteremia, and 3 out of 10 who get meningitis.

The infection is caused by pneumococcus bacteria, also known as Streptococcus pneumoniae. These bugs live in the mucous lining of the nose and in the back of the throat, and when plentiful enough can cause an infection in the respiratory tract, middle ear, or sinus cavities.

Pneumococcal bacteria are spread by close contact and through coughing and sneezing. Diseases such as meningitis and pneumonia can crop up within days of infection.

Symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia usually include fever and chills with shaking or trembling, as well as chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, fatigue, and weakness.

Babies who are sent to day-care are at the highest risk of getting this terrible disease. So, it is wise to get your baby vaccinated as soon as possible.

Pneumococcal vaccine is not included in the compulsory immunisation schedule. You need to check with your baby’s doctor about the vaccine.

According to baby Izzah’s paed, she will get 3 doses of vaccine. The second dose will be given next month and the third dose will be given when she turns one and half year old.

Pneumococcal vaccine is quite pricey - about RM300+ per dose. So, total for the whole vaccine is around RM1,000.

Expensive eh? Not really. RM1,000 is nothing compared to the life of your baby!

Izzah: Mama, don’t disturb me please!!