5th Metatarsal fracture- journey of healing

How I googled to scare myself and help myself

Two weeks ago, I missed two step at the staircase back at home while back carrying my  19months old toddler and fractured my 5th metatarsal. The snap was very painful leaving me hugging my foot for the next 30 min while applying ice immediately. My foot started to swell later in the evening (I fell in the afternoon) and I thought I was having a sprain or injury to the tendons or tissues tearing... It was Sunday on the following day. I found the clinic offering x-ray in Bukit Serdang and headed there. Unfortunately, x-ray service was not available on that day and the doctor assured me that it is normally not a fracture if I can still move like this as a fracture is very painful according to her. After getting some medicine for reducing swelling (papain) and pain from there, I headed to Cheras to find the Chinese tukang urut (铁打) thinking of getting it fixed. The sifu suspected that I was suffering from tissue tearing as I did not have any sprain detected. He bandaged my foot with some herbal medication and asked me to go back on Tuesday for follow up.

It was Monday (3 days after the fracture) where my foot started to swell so much (inside the roller bandage) and I felt like it is going to burst out! After removing the bandage in the afternoon, it really swell severely! I loosely bandaged it and decided to get it x-rayed after googling about my signs. I suspected myself getting the 5th metatarsal fracture as my signs and symptoms are very alike with another guy who showed how his foot bruised and swelled in the internet. I requested for an X-ray on my foot in another clinic at Bukit Serdang. The doctor was surprised by how I mentioned to him that I suspected myself to be suffering from 5th metatarsal fracture. Finally, the X-ray result was released and it was confirmed that my 5th metatarsal was fractured in the middle shaft.

How my feet looks 48 hours after fracture

Side view- 48 hours after fracture (Bruise at the toes and base of ankle was obvious, bruise also at the base of my feet) 

X-ray of the fracture feet

With the reference letter written by the doctor and x-ray photo, I referred to Putrajaya Hospital (This time I have chosen Putrajaya Hospital instead of Serdang Hospital after googling its information on orthopedic). As usual, there is a long queue and I was lucky that the doctor decided to see me on that day after knowing my condition. Otherwise, I will be given another appointment to consult on other day. . The nurse and doctor were surprised that I could still walk with a fracture foot.  Dr. Vijay (a young orthopedic) who sees me confirmed that it was a snap and advised me to get an aircast instead of getting my foot cemented. He commented that since I can walk, it is better to use aircast as I can still walk without "tongkat" and taking care of my children at home. He also told me that I could took it out before going to bed. I was charged RM30 for the visit as it was not a fully subsidized hospital (like Serdang hospital who would only charge RM5 to consult a specialist) which I thought was very reasonable.

With Dr. Vijay's recommendation, I called up Wellchem Sdn. Bhd. (a medical supply store from PJ) to order an aircast. Two days later, I got my long aircast sent to me at RM583 including GST. It looks very stylish and easy to wear and taking off! I felt so thankful to people who invented this. I thought that he or she is such a genius to invent an aircast as cement replacer.

Aircast could be obtained from Wellchem Sdn Bhd at PJ. It was sold at around USD70 online

I then started to google about 5th metatarsal fracture and found a lot of information. A study conducted by a hospital in UK on "Aircast walking boot and below-knee walking cast for avulsion fractures of the base of the fifth metatarsal: a comparative cohort study" concluded that a walking boot was a better treatment compared to a short leg cast. Although mine was not an avulsion fracture, it gave me confident that an aircast would be a better choice than cement. I started to feel depressed when I found out that many people out there took very long time or even have to undergo a surgery to eventually heal their 5th metatarsal fracture. Some took 6 weeks to heal while others took more than half year!!  It was well known that the blood circulation to the 5th metatarsal was limited and this somehow makes it heal slower. Some says we should take supplement while some doctors said it is not advisable as we need a balance of nutrient (not just certain vitamins or mineral) to make it work and if we take supplement, we might end up consuming too much of certain minerals/vitamins alone which doesn't do any good to promote healing. Some says we should start to walk when we can to promote healing too!

I decided to share my experience as well to contribute to the pool of information google on 5th metatarsal fracture healing. I have wore the aircast for 10 days fourth day after the incident and starts to feel much better now. Every day I put on the aircast in the morning and took it out in the evening.  I apply hot water bottle on my fractured foot for about 20-30 min each night while doing some massage with ointment.  After that, I bandaged it (with a triangle bandage), walk around in it before going to bed. I took Calcium Magnesium, EPA and vitamin C daily which I thought would be beneficial. I also drink a cup of ginger tea or sea weed tea (sea bird nest which was plant based) before going to bed thinking of it will help to promote healing.  It was 15 days after I have fractured my metatarsal and now it was left with a little swelling (not obvious but dissimilar with uninjured foot) and a little pain when walking. My next orthopaedic  appointment is 11 days ahead (by the time my injury will be 26 days old).

7 days after fracture (wore aircast for 3 days)

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My second appointment with the ortho had went through smoothly. It was a long queue at Putrajaya Hospital that day with 160 patients ahead of me queuing for payment! It took me 2 hours to make payment and another 2 hours (altogether 4 hours) to complete the whole process of consultation and x-ray which from my point of view is still acceptable. Charges for the service at Putrajaya Hospital as following (for citizen who are non-government servant):

Registration   RM30
First time consultation RM5
Subsequent specialist consultation RM89
X-ray RM100

Unfortunately, they did not print out the X-ray and just saved the soft copy in their system (good thing is that this is much environmental friendly). Hence, I could not share the X-ray progress here. From the X-ray photo, the doctor pointed out to me the new bone cells which started to grow around my fractured part. I have found online that this is called callus. It looked not solid (blur) in the x-ray. Dr. Idris asked me if I really do not want to take the surgery for faster recovery. I answered that I would prefer natural recovery if it is possible. He then gave me another appointment after 6 weeks time (by the time my fracture is 68 days or around 10 weeks old). I was warned that I must wear the aircast at all time except when taking bath and going to bed. I told Dr. Idris that I am having very serious back ache these three days. He just shared with me a copy of physio therapy methods and asked me to do exercise.

I kept on wondering why am I having this lower back ache. At last, I figured that it was due to the aircast. At home in Malaysia, we do not wear a shoe when walking around in our house. Hence, the single aircast which makes me 2 inches higher resulted in poor posture when walking. This had resulted in my bad back ache! After searching around the internet, I saw some ortho suggested just normal elastic bandage and supporting shoes for treating non-displaced mid shaft metatarsal fracture. I decided to wear aircast only when I go out with my shoes. Other time, I will just bandage my feet to walk around to reduce my bad back ache. By the way, my feet  is not feeling any pain beside some discomfort when walking. It feels like tingling around the injured part. However, I knew that bone growing takes time and protecting the injured part is still crucial to prevent the newly grew bone from being damaged.

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It was 10 weeks after I got my 5th metatarsal fracture. I have been wearing my air cast on and off (normally only wear it when I go out of the house, where I walk a lot or when I feel dis-comfortable walking on my shoes). This has solved my back ache problem completely :P. Besides, I have went to The Mines Wellness Centre (Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre) in Seri Kembangan twice to get acupuncture treatment for my feet and bought a herbal mix to boil at home for soaking my feet). The treatment was very effective on me as I no longer feel very painful when water dripping on my fractured feet during shower 2 days after one acupuncture session. If you are interested to find out more about the acupuncture treatment there, you may refer here: http://ghhs.com.my/v1/index.php/traditional-chinese-medicine/


That day (68 days after fracture), I went to see my ortho again in Putrajaya Hospital without my aircast. My appointment was 9am and I have arrived there at 8.40am. The whole process of paying the bill, taking x-ray and seeing the ortho was only completed at 12pm. The doctor checked if I was still having pain on my feet by pressing different part of my feet. At last, he told me that he is going to discharge me since it seems like I have recovered from my fracture :). the ortho also told me that I was lucky that my healing process was considered rapid as it took in average 3 months for a fracture to heal. I was glad to see callus forming around my fracture as shown by my ortho on the X-ray below. Although it does not grow as nice as my original metatarsal, I am grateful that it only took 10 weeks to heal without surgery.

A naturally healed 5th metatarsal fracture (10 weeks following fracture)

5 Waldorf activities at home for 1-4 years old

Although we knew the benefits of Waldorf pedagogy, the school fees for these nurseries or kindergartens are rather expensive here in Malaysia and their availability is scarce (especially in Serdang and Seri Kembangan, Selangor). It costs us around RM600-800 to send a kid to a Waldorf nursery (from 9am to 1 pm) while it only cost us RM200-RM400 to send a kid to an ordinary nursery (7.30am to 12.30pm).

After quitting my elder girl, JY from QDees for 6 months due to her sinus development after attending the nursery for 3 months (she started with flu and nose allergy and eventually developed into sinus), I resent her to another nursery (Tadika Kristal Cahaya in Seri Kembangan) nearby our house which was less crowded. It was an 'ordinary' nursery applying 'ordinary' teaching pedagogy which including learning ABC the traditional way.

I thought we may be able to conduct Waldorf activities at home aside from sending the kids to an ordinary school. Hence, I let the kids play with these so called Waldorf related activities whenever it is possible at home.

1. Water Play

Water play at backyard

As usual, children love water play. I just filled some pails with water at our backyard and leave them to play. My kids will normally play by themselves for 1/2 hour to 1 hour before they get wet and ready to take a bath. Water play was one of the sensory play which improve touching senses development. There is no limitation on how to play but rather let the children play creatively while enjoying the water. 

2. Sand play 

Sand play at back yard 

My aunt had bought my kids a bag of kinetic sand with some molds and I have put them into a tray and let them play with it whenever they like. I know I should not be using plastic materials or toys for Waldorf pedagogy but I don't want to waste those old toys that the children already have. They have used the sand to make ice creams (mold them with a milk powder scoop and put into a cup). They have also made birthday cake and we lid candle and poked it into the cake, singing birthday song, blowing the candles off before they cut the cakes and dividing them. It was another open ended games/ toys that is cheap and beneficial to the kids.   

My kids enjoyed making birthday cakes with kinetic sand

3. Scooping 

Scooping exercise

I place a tray at one corner in the kitchen and put some containers and scoops (changing the containers and type of spoons/ scoops from time to time) with rice or beans and leave it to the children. They enjoyed scooping the rice or bean from one container to another. Sometimes my elder kid who was 3 years old, would make a shaker by filling a bottle with some rice or beans. Sometimes she just enjoyed filling up a bottle (narrow opening) with the bean by pouring, using a tong or her little fingers. Recently, my 1.5 years old JL also starts pretending that she is making her milk by scooping rice in a bottles and shaking it. I think this is an easy way to train your child's motor skills. There are so many benefits of sensory play that Waldorf had associated with. It says that it will lead to proper touching senses development which eventually improving the brain synapses (making your child smarter?).  

4. Painting and palm printing 

Water color painting on a wet paper

Palm printing. I think young kids prefer palm printing than painting as they haven't master the skill of painting.

I am not an artist but I believe that children should be exposed to producing some art work from small to sharpen their senses on art as well as giving them experience in producing some art works. I learned about "wet painting" (I am not sure of the right terminology to use) which most Waldorf school like to do when I attended the Kolisko Conference in Serdang earlier this year.

How to draw wet painting (easy painting for young children)

Materials:
1. Some thick drawing paper (here I am using 80 lbs paper as a thin paper will break easily in creating wet painting)
2. Drawing board (here I am using a box cover made with plastic)
3. Water color (I use Buncho red, yellow and blue color poster color as they are cheap and widely available) with containers to keep them (I am using the chicken essence containers)
4. Brush (preferable a thick brush) but I just use whatever I have at home here
5. Sponge
6. Cloth (for drying the brush and cleaning the mess)
7. Water container to clean the brush

Method:

1. On a piece of thick drawing paper, use sponge to wet both side and put it on a drawing board.

2. Squeeze some water color (blue, red, yellow for a start) in a jar (here I am using Buncho, a cheap poster color material widely available in Malaysia). I diluted some color materials in a chicken essence containers with cover and put it in the chiller. I normally keep the remaining colors in the refrigerator and use them whenever the children wants to paint.

3. By using a thick brush, let the child expose on how color spread when applied on paper. Teach the child to wash and dry the brush before using another color.

Remember that the key is not to produce a master piece but to experience drawing and have fun with it. You may start teaching about color and how color changes when mixing when the child is ready.

wet painting

wet painting outcome

Showing one of the outcome of wet painting . Easy to create and yet beautiful looking. The workshop in Kolisko Conference had taught me how painting could bring in the inner peace and releasing your tension (art therapy). Adults could paint together with children for self benefits too. 

5. Baking

My previous job taught me about baking science which benefits me for life. I have bought a book entitled "500 Baby & Toddler Foods" written by Beverley Glock and found the recipes were simple to follow and the outcome were very good. So far, I have tried making sweet buns, thumbprint cookies (which I think was a good one to start with young kids), apple crumbles and banana muffins.

How to make thumbprint cookies - adapted and modified from "500 Baby & Toddler Foods"
(Like what the recipe booked mentioned, I think this is a good recipe for older toddlers to help with).

Materials: 
225g self raising flour
100 g cold butter (cut into small cubes)
75 g sugar
1 egg (beat it)
2 table spoon milk (I think you can make milk using the children milk powder too)
 raspberry jam (I am using black current jam which I have)
1 teaspoon lemon zest (I have added this when I made this second times)
handfull of dried cranberry(I have added this when I made this second times)

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 200 degree C. Grease a baking tray (or lay baking tray with parchment/ baking paper)
2. Place flour and butter in a bowl and rub in the butter (add more flour if necessary) until the mixture resembles breadcrumb
3. Stir in the sugar. (Add the lemon zest and dried cranberry if you want to). Add in the egg, adding milk slowly while mixing with your hands until you have a soft dough. Add milk if the dough is too dry.
4. Put teaspoonfls of the mixture on the tray (you will get around 12 biscuits). Flatten the top gently and make an indentation with your finger in the centre.
5. Place a little jam into the indentation. Bake 15-20 min until golden brown.

The cookies is crispy outside and soft inside. I think the lemon zest gave it a kick which I love! It is very similar to a scone.

So what else can we do with the young children as easy Waldorf activities at home besides these? I would love to hear from mothers and teachers out there!

Easy healthy home cook meal - for busy mum

As a Malaysian, I have to admit that although I own an oven, I could hardly use it for cooking meal. From my point of view, baking was still not a usual procedure for most Malaysian mum to prepare meal although some modern mum did bake every week. To prepare a healthy light meal, I normally will go for rice with steam fish and stir fry vegetables or stir fry noodles. One of my favourite easy healthy meal which I cook frequently is stir fry noodles with lots of vegetables and miso paste. If you use organic leafy vegetables, you don't even have to soak it, which save me some times. If not, make sure you soak them before cooking to get rid of the pesticides (which causes bitter taste).

The ingredients varied depending on what I have in my fridge but miso paste is the main character in the dish. You can either choose an organic miso paste from organic store or a much cheaper version from AEON. I love both of them. Just remember to add miso lastly just before you remove your noodles from the hot wok to avoid heating up and destroying the nutrients.

Buy yourself some dried noodles (any brand will do). They only contains wheat flour, salt and water (absolutely healthier than instant noodles) 

For miso, I have tried those from AEON (Top Value brand) and I personally think they taste as good as this organic miso paste (O'Forest brand). Organic version cost more than 2 x of the non-organic miso paste. I have also bought this miso paste from AEON with Bonito which I can't wait to try.

After cooking the dried noodles in boiling water until almost fully cooked (around 4 min), the noodles is ready to be stir-fried. Heat some oil in the hot wok, add in garlic, and stir-fry until fragrant. Add other ingredient following this sequence: prawns (seasoned with salt), fresh mushroom, tomato, bell pepper, leafy vegetables and noodles. Lastly add a teaspoon of miso paste and off the fire. Stir the miso paste until well mix.

If you prefer to add pinch of salt (in most cases you don't have to since the miso paste is already salty), you can consider Himalaya salt which is more nutritious (contains micronutrients) and unbleached. A bag of 500g will cost you around RM2.90 from the grocery store here. 

Viola, after a few minutes of stir frying, a healthy plate of noodles is ready for the whole family! My toddlers love them and I hope you like it too :). 

2015 Kolisko Conference Malaysia

It was not common for a Malaysian to fork out their own pocket money of RM850 to attend a conference for our own benefits. But I was attracted to this 3.5days conference when I came across it. Hence, I have registered myself despite the objection of my hubby (He said why don't you just get the information needed by buying more books :)?) 3.5 days passed with the blink of an eye and I was very glad that I have made a right choice.

This was the first time a Kolisko Conference was held in Malaysia (28th -31st May 2015). Many speakers from all over the world came to share their knowledge for the sake of community health. We were so lucky to be able to attend it here in Malaysia.

I have chosen the workshop "Magical age of 0-7 and adult consciousness towards children and our life". It was conducted by Junko sensei who operated Waldorf kindergarten in Penang (Nania kindergarten) for 19 years. Junko sensei was very fun person and she shared her experience of interpreting a child's drawing in this picture (the child jumped from 3rd floor if not mistaken, a few days after drawing that picture! Luckily she was alright). Besides, she had also shared with us her experiences of applying Waldorf education in kindergarten and how enjoyable the life of 0-7 should be. Parents and teachers' creativity could make a different in children's early child hood. 

The workshop entitled "Art therapy as self care activity and as a tool to initiate constructive social processes". It was conducted by Prof. Hildrun from Germany. She told us that we could register for the 3 years course to be qualified as an art therapist. Hence, in this 3 days workshop, we could only get a glimpse of how art could work as a therapeutic tools (clay work, water colour, pastels, oil pastel painting). 

Combining 8 person's clay work by remaining their individual center piece (most favorite piece) is an exercise portraying giving in certain things to maintain community health while not losing one's individualism. Doing clay work itself is relaxing and hence therapeutic. 

When we were given the title "hot and cold meeting each other", the outcomes from 40 participants were very different. By arranging them from those with significant shapes and lines to those without, Prof. Hildrun explained how we could use the outcome to interpret a person's characters. People who drew significant lines and shapes were people of thinking oriented while people who drew slashes of colors were people of action/doers. People who combine both (in between) were the "feeling" type of people. Can you spot my drawing which looks like water melon (according to my classmates)? Prof. Hildrun said I was the person with great feelings (I interpret as people who make decision based on feelings in most cases :D...Oh no! I am an EMO scientist in this case...).   

One of the origami that we learned to make during the workshop. I remember we enjoyed making many different origami when we were small. 

We have 4 organic vegetarian meals per day during the conference! It help us to detox! 

Have you ever try soft pastel before? It was not common in Malaysia. 

Drawing with oil pastel, followed by applying oil with essential oil on the drawing. The drawing looks nice when we hang it on the glass as it was a translucent paper that we used. 

As a mother of two, I felt totally refreshed after attending this conference and workshops. It helps me to understand myself and our kids better and remind me of raising child creatively is what we should do. Singing, musics, arts...these are all the things I am lacking-off being a researcher. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to attend this workshop and I will continue looking for workshop that could help us improve ourselves as an individual as well as a mother :)

Surveying kindergarten for a toddler

I was keen to send my children to a Montessori or Waldorf school but staying in this part of the world make it almost impossible unless we were willing to make her travel everyday. Reluctantly, I send JY to a very academic kindergarten nearby after her babysitter suggesting her to go. The baby sitter was occupied with one baby and one ill mother in law aside from her busy house chores and hence could not cope with taking care of 2 years plus JY anymore.

I only realized I was unintentionally being brought up by a nearly Waldorf way until I became a parent and read about Waldorf. I  went to kindergarten at the age of 6. Before that, I grew up on the hill with my grandmother and my uncle's family. The first time I learned ABC was in kindergarten as my grandmother was illiterate. And I do think that the first 6 years of playing on the hill was one of the best memories of my life.

After comparing a few famous kindergarten nearby namely Q-dees, Smart Reader and MRC, at first I wanted to choose MRC as the school principle has the same view with me that children need sunlight and thereby let all the students playing under the sun before school program formally started each day.Unfortunately, it was fully booked when I found the school. Finally, we selected Q-dees as it was located in semi-D rather than shop lot, hoping that she will still get some sunlight from the window. Q-dees at BPP became JY's first school of her life.

JY cried for 2 weeks after going to school. She refused to wear her uniform everyday. I followed the principle's suggestion of letting her there for a full day program as a start (instead of a half day program before converting into full day) but regret after that. JY was not being well taken cared of at school (I guess the teachers are expecting her to take care of herself). At the age of 2 years 5 months, she still wear a pampers and do not clean herself up properly. Two weeks later, I withdrew her from full day program and found her another baby sitter. She went to kindergarten from 8am -12pm and went to her new baby sitter after that.

It has been almost 2 months since JY went to Qdees. Unfortunately, she still has not begin to like going to school. When I asked her if she likes school, her answer is still no. :( I guess I still have to look for a Waldorf school for her. Any recommendation on Waldorf school near Serdang or Seri Kembangan, Selangor? I will really appreciate your suggestion.

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I have finally withdrawed JY from Q-Dees after 2 months. She had developed sinus due to unknown reason. Her nose blocked seriously with bloody mucus excreted when she sneezed. After consulting the pediatrician, Dr. Lee from Kids Specialist Clinic several times to treat it, doctor advised that I tentatively withdrawed her from school. Due to this circumstance, the principal of Q-Dees at Seri Kembangan agreed with my decision.

At the age of 2 years 7 months, JY was sent back to a baby sitter (full day from 8am to 7pm) again. Her new baby sitter was very stern and successfully potty-trained her in 4 days! I was amazed with the result as the former baby sitter always told me that it wasn't time to start training her yet. I only re-sent JY to nursery when she approached the age of 3 this time. I found that she was really ready to go to school again this time. Sadly, JY's sensitive nose was not able to be cured completely. She often sneezes and developed runny nose especially in the morning and at night. I felt sorry to her that I have challenged her immune system at a young age by sending her to a crowded school. I wish that I could turned back the clock and redo what have been done.

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I was introduced to this nursery namely Tadika Kristal Cahaya by a neighbor who was a full time mother of 4. After meeting the principal, Ms. Jenny Beh, I decided to send JY to the nursery last August, 2015. This time JY happily attended school everyday. There are only 3 students of 3 years old in the class. Hence, the nursery had arranged to teach them together with those of 4 years old. The school fees was very much cheaper compared to Q-Dees and the school was not crowded. It was located in a corner lot of a double-storey house, which allowed children to run and play around everyday before school starts. School starts formerly at 8.30am but there was a one to one ready session, teaching the children to read "Key Words" book namely Peter and Jane series from 8 to 8.30am. JY learned to read the first book by herself after 3 months in the nursery and this was not something I expect her to do, but rather a bonus. I think the nursery suits her as it was not too academic driven and less crowded.

When selecting a nursery for your young child (3-4 years old), I would suggest that at least these considerations being made:

1. Distance of school from home (young children get tired of travelling to and fro if the journey was very long. Transportation can be a problem too.)
2. Teachers' quality (for example, I prefer teacher who speak non-broken English in my context. Teachers who look friendly, loving and patient would attract kids to like going to school).
3. Curriculum or program (Some people who prefer those academic oriented school should really consider Q-Dees from my opinion. I personally prefer school with simple syllabus for the kids at such a young age. I believe what Waldorf taught about how too early intellectual development would hinder growth forces on physical body.)
4. Cost (might be a concern if you have many kids)
5. Environment ( I prefer school with space for children to run around and get some sunshine before school started.
6. Numbers of students ( Consider teacher to students ratio and also how big is the space to occupied how many students. A small room cramped with too many students and teachers is definitely not comfortable making the kids get sick easily)

What else do you think that is important which I have missed out? Please enlighten me :).
   

Breast Feeding Guide- What do you need as a start (for working mums)

Accessories that You May Need

After selecting and buying a pump, don't forget to get yourself some milk bottles to store milk, ice pack to keep the milk chill, cooler bag as well as back pack to keep all these together with your breast pump. If you don't have much time left to shop and are looking for option which are safe and value for money, try this shop: One Baby World. There are many franchises available and you can even purchase their products online conveniently at http://www.onebabyworld.com/. Among all brands available, I found Autumnz as one of the brand that value for money. 

1. Breast milk storage bottles 

I recommended getting a BPA free milk bottle of 5oz size so that you can use it for a longer period of time without transferring to feeding bottle. Besides, I also find it more convenient to stick to one brand so that you will not have to waste time finding the cover that fits later. I recommended Autumnz brand milk storage bottles. It come in a pack of 10 pieces in less than RM35. 

Picture showing Autumnz brand milk storage bottles (adapted from www.onebabyworld.com)

2. Breast milk storage bags  

You may also buy some milk storage bags to spare in case you have insufficient storage bottles. Buy those with good plastic material (with certain thickness) and BPA free. Again, I found Autumnz a great choice as it is good value for money. 

Autumnz brand milk storage bag, less than RM0.40 per piece (picture from Internet)

3. Ice pack

Don't forget that you will need some ice pack to keep your milk chilled while travelling back from work. The cheapest option like Autumnz (around RM20 for 3 pieces) will do the job just as great. 

Ice Pack from Autumnz, picture from internet

4. Cooler bag and bag pack to carry your breast pump 

Last but not the least, a cooler bag that could fit the numbers of bottles that you pump at work (minimum 6 bottles for example); and a bag that could fit in all your pump together with milk bottles with cooler bag. 

Showing here cooler bag from Autumnz which is currently selling at around RM16 per piece (picture from internet). I have two of these so that I could give one to baby sitter while bringing one to work on the same day

Happy pumping mother! Your baby will enjoy better health, sleep better and stays happier with all your hard work after this.

Making Time Saving Nutritious Baby Food

DIY anchovy powder to be added into baby porridge

Recently I have tried to make dried anchovy powder using oven instead of "dry frying" (frying in the wok without oil while continuously stirring it- it was tiring and time consuming when making it this way). I found out that the result was amazing and much simpler which enable me to make it more frequently or making bigger batches!

Materials:
1. Anchovy (ikan bilis)- I have bought those de-boned with internal organs removed
 

Methods:
1. Wash the anchovy to remove salt, pat dry on kitchen towel and spread it on a baking pan
2. preheat oven at 100 degree C
3. Bake for 20 min or until it become crispy
4. Blend into powder using a blender and store it in an air tight bottle.

Suggestion 
It is so nutritious and tasty when sprinkled on top of the porridge or cereals made for baby to eat!