I’m not one who likes to take supplements, but this time was different. I felt like I needed something to restore and help my body during my postpartum days (since its baby no 2) and that’s when I came across the Shaklee Postnatal set while I was browsing the web.

So I approached Shaklee and asked if I could do a review of their products and to my delight, they said YES! They were kind enough to give me the full Shaklee Postnatal Set that included 7 products.

Each product has its benefits and ‘job’ for your body, but in short- after taking these supplements, I really do feel a difference in energy, in my mood and the quality of my milk as well. The best part is, these nutritional benefits not just you, but baby as well (if you’re breastfeeding).

Why do I say that? Because now that I ran out and not taking them anymore, I see a huge difference especially in the quality of my milk. I’ll explain more product by product below.. So keep scrolling and keep reading for a more thorough review.

The Shaklee Postnatal set includes:

• Sustained Release Vita-C Plus
• OmegaGuard
• Vita-Lea® Iron Formula
• B-Complex
• OsteMatrix®
• Alfalfa Complex
• ESP Mixed Soy Protein Isolate Powder

OVERALL REVIEW

This is what my daily supplement intake looks like:

According to Shaklee’s nutritionist whom I met prior to giving birth, you can basically take the recommended dosage for each supplement at any time of the day. Some people prefers taking all in the morning to start of their day right, and some like to space it out and divide according to meals.
What I personally did was divide the intakes into two; one to take in the mornings after breakfast and another after dinner. I figured that I can’t be swallowing sooooo many pills all at once, so decided this was best for me. The recommended daily intake for each supplement varies- some only 1 a day, some 2, and some would be 5! So I divided all these different variations into 2 portions, which looks like the photo above.

I also found out based on my experience that I can’t be taking these pills on an empty stomach (because there were days where I would forget and take it at odd times), in particular the B Complex with Folic Acid, which made me a bit nauseas if stomach is empty. But that’s just me, and of course it’ll probably be different for you guys.

Besides that, the ESP Mixed Soy Protein Isolate Powder is not one of my favourites, because you have to drink it and it’s kinda thick. I’m not a fan of these kinda ‘shakes’ in general, but I do know a lot of people who do love them. I was told that you can also add it into your usual juices, into your bakes, maybe in some yogurt? I’m not sure, but I’m not exactly rajin to do all these things- which is BAD! Because I know how good this supplement is based on the many reviews I read online especially for breastfeeding mums.

I also noticed that I have healthier gums too and they don’t bleed as much anymore, which I think it the work of the Sustained Release Vita-C Plus.
I listed down each of the supplements that are included in this Shaklee Postnatal Set, so keep on scrolling for thorough info on each of them.

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Uploading this to make a tile of 3 on my feed.. tu jee.. 😂😂 #truth #sajenaktry Plus im really loving this collection of photos with my boys.. Thank you @izuwa for capturing these moments.. 😘

A post shared by Lily Shah | The Buxom Babe (@lilyeshah) on May 14, 2019 at 7:46pm PDT

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To be honest, I did not hear about Korean brand Haenim till I was approach to do a review on the Haenim 7A Wireless Breast Pump. It’s been 3 months using the pump so far and I’ve not turned back.

First Impression

When I first googled and read about the Haenim 7A Breast Pump before receiving it, I was impressed by how sleek the design is, I loved the fact that it’s wireless charging and it even has an app that you can download and connect to to control the breast pump and even record important data so you can keep track of your expressed milk.

In The Box

In the box you’ll find everything you need to function and use the breast pump. Components include:

• Pump body
• Pump Body (CAP)
• Bottle
• Silicone valve
• Shield cover
• Bottle lid, silicone nipple and bottle disk
• Air hose
• Funnels (24mm, 28mm, 32mm)
• Wireless charging Bluetooth pocket pump
• Connector
• USB charging wire

The Haenim 7A is a double breast pump so all parts are given to accommodate pumping both breast at the same time.

Design and features

• I really like it’s sleek and modern design of the pump. It comes in two colours; black & white.
• The size is compact and can easily fit into your pocket(in my case- handbag), which means that it’s quite light too!(only 215g)
• Controls are designed as touch buttons, which can have pros and cons. I do find myself accidentally touching it which will result in a change of mode while using, but there are also times when you touch a button and it doesn’t react as well.
• I like the fact that there is a connector that enables easy connection between the pump and the tubes.
• The pump itself does not show a countdown or time, which I wish it did. Nonetheless, you can track your time via the app or just keep the pump on till it automatically switches off after 30 mins.

Function

• It has 9 massage settings and 9 expression setting. I’ve only used till 7, and that’s when my breast are really full. Averagely I’m usually on mode 5 for 5 mins of massage then move on to mode 4 on the expression setting.
• Battery Life is quite good. It lasts me the whole day with an average of 4 pumps at about 30 mins each.
• Haenim 7A breast pump is also compatible with Freemie Cups which I use every workday while on the road.

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This was my second time taking FPP (Full Paying Patient) service at Putrajaya Hospital. The first time i took this service was when i was pregnant with my firstborn- Eidrix, which was in 2016. We came about it when we were figuring out if we wanted to go private or just to a government hospital. This service kinda gave the benefits of both worlds.

SO WHAT IS FPP & ITS BENEFITS?

FPP basically enables you have some services and facilities like a private hospital but it is much much more affordable. You can also pick a specialist of your choice.

For me, Taking up FPP also guarantees that i’ll give birth in Putrajaya Hospital and not be sent away if the hospital is full.

You’ll be placed in a special ward where husbands are allowed to stay the night. Although they do have a strict policy on kids where children under 12 are not allowed to enter the wards.

As a Full Paying Patient, this means that every doctor visit or medication that is given will be charged. But the upside is that you’re paying at a much cheaper price compared to a private hospital.

You can check out Putrajaya hospital latest rates and charges for FPP patients here.

My Labour Experience

My experience as a FPP patient at Putrajaya Hospital starts at 7 months of pregnancy. I was going to Klinik Kesihatan prior in order to ensure that i have the ‘buku pink’. Compared to my first pregnancy, i was going to a private clinic up till 7 months and changed to Putrajaya Hospital. Not having the ‘buku pink’ doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be accepted, but the nurses did ask about it when i was there.

I went back to the same doctor i had before, which was Dr Azmi. If you’re interested to take on FPP, you’ll need to do it FAST as more and more people are starting to go there due to the benefits. You’ll just have to call the hospital at 03-83124200 and mention that you’d like to make an appointment as FPP patient for delivery in Putrajaya Hospital. The nurse will tell you which specialist are still available and you have the choice to choose one of them as your doctor.

I was seeing Dr Azmi every two weeks from 7 month onwards. Each appointment costs about RM130-160 for consultation and scan. I have a disc problem in my spine which led me to decide to have another c-sec, so we decided on a date, which made it more predictable for work, for my mum to fly down from Kuching and for myself mentally too.

2nd C-sec experience with Putrajaya Hospital as FPP Patient

We set the surgery to be on the 1st of March 2019. I would be 37 weeks+ on that date. I decided to take him out slightly earlier as my spine was really killing me by then.

We had to check in a day before, but we didn’t get a call from the nurse till the late evening, when a bed was finally available. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming patients, i had to stay in a different ward because the FPP wards were super full.

Since we checked in at night, i had to go to the emergency counter where a deposit of RM3,000 was taken. Husband was not allowed to stay overnight in this ward, so had to spend the night alone- but it was alright. I made friends with the girl nextdoor who just gave birth to a baby boy. Nurses started prepping me for my surgery that night and asked me to start fasting at 9am the next day.

On surgery day, Dr Azmi came to check on me in the afternoon and mentioned that we’ll go into surgery in the evening. Last time i had my c-sec was at about 4 or 5pm, so i expected it to be around the same time, but boy was i wrong! It was a loooonnnngggggg day that day as we waited to be pulled into surgery.

At about 7ish, nurses finally called for me and wheeled me down to the operation theater. No family member were allowed in, so we said our ‘goodbyes’ before going in. You’ll then find yourself in a waiting room where the anaesthetist will explain the type of anaesthetics that’ll be given to you.

I had a horrible experience for my first c-sec where half my body was paralysed and was so groggy. So i was thinking of going under general anaesthesia (GA) this time- but the doctor who was really quite sarcastic warned me that i’ll have 17% higher chances of DYING and asked if i was willing to take the risk. Obviously, i was scared shitwitss and said no.. So epidural it was then!

After one hour in the waiting room and eavesdropping on the nurse who was trying to explain to a father that one of his twin has some problem during surgery, i was finally wheeled in to Operation theater 8.

They injected my back, my legs were straightened, my arms were wide open, they placed the curtain to shield the area of surgery and i was good to go. The theater was seriously freezing, and they had to place some sort of heater thingy on my chest to keep me a bit warm.

I was then greeted by a doctor who was NOT Dr Azmi. He explained that Dr Azmi had an emergency and that he was taking over the surgery- his name was Dr Hazim (which I later found out was the head of department). I didn’t have much of a choice, so just prayed for the best.

To my surprise, my c-sec this time was actually quite okay. The theater room was not dark and scary like the last time. I was even chatting with the anaesthetist and i think the surgery went quite fast. In 15 minutes and a few tugs baby was out and they were stitching me back up.

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As most of you know, I’ve been struggling with severe backpain that hurts all the way down to my left leg. This started even before I was pregnant and just got worst as I was getting heavier and heavier.

So a blogger friend of mine (Thank you Sebrina) recommended a pelvic support belt that might help to ease the pain and support my pregnancy. I’ve been using the belt on and off for a few weeks now and here’s what I think about it.

A little info about the belt that I got

 Love Cradle Maternity Support Belt

• Ergonomic design, suitable for pregnancy & postpartum wear
• Prevents /Provide relief for the symptoms of Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) or Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)
• Relieve lower back, joints, & muscular pains by supporting the extra weight
• Encourages proper posture during & after pregnancy
• Sewn-in steel boning on the back for sturdier support

My first impression

While I was at Bmama’s HQ, I tried on several belts that they have there and found that the Love Cradle Maternity Support Belt made a huge difference compared to the other belts, considering my situation.

No 1 is probably because of the steel boning at the back.

No2. I felt that it was easy to put on and take off, as well as adjust the size as my belly grows.

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I was in Sunway Pyramid recently and found out about this amazing back-to-back blockbuster movie line-up on FOX Movies! FOX Movies’s Nights of Incredible is having chart-topping premieres and must-see films for 61 nights starting 21st December 2018.

Hit first-run films premiering on FOX Movies during Nights of Incredible include Marvel’s mega-colossal superhero showdown Avengers: Infinity War as well as the brand-new Black Panther; heartwarming family film Wonder; and surprise box-office smash-hit musical The Greatest Showman.

I personally can’t wait for A Bad Moms Christmas and Black Panther coz i haven’t had the chance to watch it yet!!

For its big finale, Nights of Incredible ends with an action-packed Marvel Marathon starting from midnight on 1 January 2019. Tune in to see Marvel Universe movies back-to-back, featuring the world’s most famous superheroes battling it out – there’s Avengers: Infinity War, Thor Ragnarok, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Captain America and more!

With a hit movie every single night for 61 nights, Nights of Incredible has something for everyone.

Tune in to Nights of Incredible every night until 31 December at 10:00pm on FOX Movies, available on unifi TV in HD on Ch 401.

You can alsso check out the January 2019 highlights below:

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Let’s face it, going on holiday with an almost 2 year old is hard! Besides all the baby stuff that you have to bring on your trip, it’s also the energy, the tantrums and headaches that makes it even harder and at times stressful.

So here’s the thing, my husband and I decided to celebrate our anniversary on an island off the coast of Terengganu- Redang to be exact. It was our second time there because we loved it the first time we were there. And of course, since there’s three of us now, it’s only natural to bring our boy along so we can spend time with him as well.

Island holidays in Malaysia is cheap in my opinion. We paid RM479 per adult for a full-board package for 3 days and 2 nights- which means all meals are included, plus 3 snorkeling trips as well. For kids below 4 years of age- it’s absolutely FREE!  Here’s a breakdown of what’s included and what’s excluded:

Package Inclusive Of :-

• 2 ways ferry transfer (Syahbandar jetty – Island – Syahbandar jetty)
• 2 nights accommodation (with air-cond + hot shower + safety box 2B, 2L, 1D, 1BBQD and 2Tea Breaks
• 2 snorkeling trip +  1 Marine Park (Excluded equipment & life jacket) 
• marine park ticket  (charged in bill)

Package Excluded:

Snorkelling equipment fees: (rent in island, rental for whole trip)

Life Jacket – RM15 per person

Normal Mask & snorkel: RM15 per person

Power Mask & snorkel: RM 25 per person

We stayed at the Redang Beach Resort this time, which was much more comfortable, compared to Redang Bay Resort- the hotel we stayed previously. Redang Beach cost RM60 more than Redang Bay per person, but it’s much much more worth it (especially if you have kids) because:

• Rooms are clean and bright
• Toilet is wayyy better!
• Beds are bigger
• The buffet for each meal was delicious and the “canteen” as I call it is much bigger, cleaner and more organised.
• Their swimming pool is much cleaner
• Staff are friendly

Only downfall I would say is the beachfront. The area right in front of the hotel is quite rocky, which makes it quite hard to enter the sea and can be a little dangerous too. So you’ll have to walk a little further to the left or right of the hotel to a safe swim zone- no big deal, but it would have been great if we didn’t have to walk so far all the time. (far for me is probably not the same for you coz i have a back problem..)

So Why Wasn’t It A Good Idea?

Maybe it was the scheduled timing of meals and snorkeling trips. Nap time was being compromised- there was little nap time due to all the activities- so he probably didn’t have enough rest which made him grumpy.

The other thing was that, my boy didn’t really want to eat anything else besides his biscuits. Not sure why, but he usually doesn’t have any problem eating rice, or noodles. But this time- he refused all of it!

To top it all off, he was also afraid of the waves and the sounds it made. He was okay once we’re in the water.. but as we walk towards the sea.. it’s constant horror screams!!

Lessons Learnt

I guess the first lesson i learnt was NOT to go on a scheduled holiday. I should have just gone for something free and easy to fit my boy’s nap and meal times.

Secondly, i shouldn’t have compared or expected it to be the same as when my husband and i went just the two of us. Sure we wanted to go snorkeling and experience all the fun we had the last time, but it’s different now and we shouldn’t have expected things to much.

Thirdly, is to bring some of your kid’s familar things- his favourite toy, stuffed animal, book, anything at all to make the hotel room a bit more homey and familiar.

If you guys have tips or experiences to share with this new mummy, please do share it with me in the comment section below. I also need some advice for our next holiday, so if you have any, i’d be more than happy!

Have you ever thought about what makes a great cup of coffee? Is it the type of beans? The country it’s from? Or is it how your barista would make it? Like most of us, i know a good cup of coffee when i get one, but i just can’t seem to point out what makes it great- until recently.

Last week, Nespresso introduced its Master Origin range. It’s an improvement of their Pure Origin range- a collection of selective, premium and high quality coffee. But what could be better than carefully selected, premium, high quality coffee right? Well, let me tell you- it’s the unique harvesting and coffee processing practices that each country has.

The Master Origin range comes from five different origins, each with its own unique processing method: Ethiopia, Indonesia, India, Colombia & Nicaragua.

Here is what makes each of these coffee special in their own way:

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Why take the word of a Kuchingite living in KL? I don’t actually live in Kuching, and I wasn’t exactly born there. BUT i was brought up in Kuching and my family still lives there. I fly from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching every few months just to make sure i get my Sarawakian food fix.

And every time i go back to Kuching, there are always these few number of places that I MUST visit every single time i’m back. I would love to recommend other sights and places to go in Kuching, but honestly the best thing to do in Kuching is eat! So here it is! Here are some of the usual places that i go to whenever i’m back.

TOP SPOT FOOD COURT

This ain’t no ordinary food court. Top Spot is specifically a seafood food court that is almost always full! Not only is the seafood there fresh, prices are really cheap too! Imagine feeding a family of 8 under RM200-  and i mean with crabs, prawns fish and all that!

Tip: Best time to go there would be at 6pm for an early dinner. And try their tebu lemon- it’s the BOMB!

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