Where To Breastfeed And Change A Baby In Hong Kong

~ from Geobaby HKG (updated 2013 July 27) and other resources

1. The Mandarin Oriental, Central - 2nd Floor powder room/washroom near the coffeeshop. Large mirror and nice attendants.
2. Marriott, Conrad, or Shangri-La, Admiralty - Most have washrooms with a bench and mirror. Also look for the more secluded chairs in lobbies.
3. Peninsula Hotel, T.S.T. - take the lift to the 1st floor where the bathroom is nice.
4. Hong Kong Hotel, Kowloon side near Star Ferry. Try any other large hotels as these usually have comfy chairs in the lobbies and clean washrooms for changing babies.
   
5. Jusco Department Store, Tai Koo - On the 2nd floor near the baby department there is a changing area and a place to breastfeed.
6. Pacific Coffee and Starbuck's shops - Most have large chairs and some even have play areas for older children.
7. Many of the newer Superstore Park N Shops have baby changing/feeding areas with chairs in them. Festival Walk (Kowloon Tong), Paradise Mall (Heng Fa Chuen), Maritime Square (Tsing Yi), Citygate (Tung Chung).
8. All Mothercare stores have changing areas and usually a chair to sit on. The stores are in Prince's Building, Ocean Terminal, Windsor House and New Town Plaza (Shatin).
9. Outside Toys R Us in Ocean Terminal there is a special glassed in area to breastfeed and change babies under the escalator.
10. Eugene Club in Central (next to H&M), TST and in Windsor House (CWB)
11. Try the changing rooms of Marks and Spencer, Mothercare, Wing On, Lane Crawford or UNY.
    
    If they are not too busy they will usually let you use a room. Sometimes there are chairs. If not, the carpets are relatively clean.
12. Ikea in Causeway Bay, Shatin and Prince Edward (not far from Fa Yuen Street market) have changing tables and sometimes a chair. Try the cafeteria for breastfeeding. Usually quiet.
13. Chep Lap Kok Airport - There are baby changing rooms so you can change and feed your baby before getting on the plane. This is great if you need to wait a long time for your departure. Then you can nurse all the way to your destination on the plane!
14. Discovery Bay/Star Ferries - The rocking motion will even help baby fall asleep!
15. Try feeding in McDonald's or a Chinese Dim Sum type restaurant. They are always noisy, so breastfeeding seems less obtrusive.
16. Dan Ryan's are good places to eat with kids and they have changing tables.
17. Jaspa's Restaurant, Sai Kung - A good place to eat with kids, very comfortable with breastfeeding mums in the restaurant.
18. Olympic MTR station/shopping centre - Padded sofas and cubicles with lockable stalls to breastfeed in.
19. Times Square - 9/F nursing lounge OR Lane Crawford Toilet has Chair and Counter, very quiet.
20. Prince's Building - Ladies' toilet on the first floor of Prince's Building. Very nice! One big chair just right for breastfeeding. There is an attendant keeping the place clean and handing you fresh towels. And in the floors above are some baby and maternity shops including Mothercare, Toto, and a toy store (can't remember the name).
21. Immigration Building in Wan Chai - Sitting on the floor of the MTR station at Admiralty (baby began crying from hunger in TST, so I bailed out at Admiralty and just sat down and fed.
22. IFC 2 Building in Central - IFC women's rooms have breastfeeding/changing rooms(the ones across from the cinema) OR 2nd floor , nursing/baby diaper room on the corridor to the bathroom; not in ladies' rm, so daddy can keep u company OR P3 Near Lane Crawford, Baby Changing Room, small room with one chair, sink, wipes and bottle warmer.
23. Annerley's Midwives Centre in Lyndhurst Terrace: Changing table and breastfeeding facilities
    Address: Unit 1801, Car Po Commercial Building, 18-20 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
24. Maritime Square in Tsing Yi has a nursing room at the same level than all the babies shops and Toys'R us. Very nice and comfortable but don't count on it on week-end, people are queuing up to change baby!
25. Lee Garden 1 on the floor with all the baby shops - a nice room with changer and couch to BF
26. Lee Garden 2 outside Habitu, very quiet in the far corner however you are surrounded by tall buildings.
27. Hong Kong Disneyland in - tucked away in a quiet cosy corner next o the First Aide Center is the Baby Care Room where you can breastfeed in private. It is right beside the Corner Cafe at the end of Main Street.

Just So You Know by Mari Koegelenberg

Last week's surely one for the books ~ Toxic Weekend all throughout!
I'm sure Colin can vouch for this since he tried waiting for me for two nights now...he was not successful and was forced to sleep on his own without me beside him. :(
I've definitely been feeling the guilt-trip with him and breastfeeding responsibilities. With the added stress at work, milk supply has been low. Good thing that I'm pretty much open for whatever so basically Colin's been a mix eater.

E's birthday was last Friday. He and my MIL shared a joint birthday lunch dimsum. Pictures to surely follow since it also gave me material to use for scrapbooking.

Want to share with you the advantages of subscribing to a scrapbook designer's newsletter. You get freebees like the one you see below by Mari Koegelenberg ~ a freebee kit exclusive to her subscription newsletter called Just So You Know! Isn't it an absolute cutie of a kit!?!
It's exclusive, versatile, complete and free!!!! What more can one really ask for!
Read more about it here.


Credits: Mari Koegelenberg's Just So You Know (exclusive subscriber newsletter kit), font - Nyala, Photos by Winnie Wong

Baby Checklist & Others

last update: 14 Feb 2011

To help some friends of mine who are going to be new mothers, this blog entry is for you.
It will also be updated as I go along.

You'll need to think about the following things:
1.) Bedding - crib or co-inhabit?
2.) Bath - getting a tub or an inflatable tub, etc
3.) Bottles
- electric steamer/ microwave sterilizer
- what bottles to get, etc
4.) Laundry Detergents/bottle cleansers
5.) Nursing cloths
6.) Nursery items
7.) Cloths - pants, shorts, onsies, receiving blankets/towels, etc
8.) Diapers
9.) Lotions, creams - face, diaper creams, petroleum jelly, etc
10.) Hygiene - nail clippers, nose suction, etc
11.) Breast pumps?

To help you more, below are some Baby Checklists that I used. The numbers are suggested but it would really depend and vary when your baby comes along. It's going to be a lot of random shopping on a need basis.
BabyCity
Baby & Co

Breast pump:
If you'll be working within a month or two and going back to work, I suggest you get a pump but if you'll be on ML for a few months (like in Canada ~ 2 years, I think) you can delay getting a pump and go through direct feeding.
I have a Medela Swing (single breast) but in HK, I borrowed a friend's Spectra 2 Dual Expression electric breast pump. Both are good and useful for me.
Depending on what you want, Medela pumps are a bit noisier (it might be a deal breaker for you but for Colin, it was fine) versus other pumps. Medela and Spectra are about the same. There are other pumps around like Avent, etc. You would have to check and weigh in what you need/want. Most quiet electric pumps do not accommodate batteries at the moment.
I currently use an electric one that accommodates batteries since I sometimes pump in the car going home.
Also, it's nice to have double pump but jfor me, I need to focus and massage each breast whenever I pump to effectively get all the milk out, so single pumps work well with me. About the having the other breast leak, it really depends. For me, leaked amount is not a lot to make a big difference in my output.

MKC & Elise's Pieces' Mad 4 You @TDC

It's that time of the year again...the big V is around the corner, next week to be exact.
This year's different for us (husband & wife) especially since we have a new addition in our lives.
Thus, to commemorate this special time, I scrapped the below to remember those cuddle moments with our little C - computer style using MKC & Elise's Pieces' Mad 4 You available now @TDC. You're going to love every bit like the papers and elements that come with it!
Before we know it...C's going to be breaking girls' hearts left and right.
I'm feeling like this right now...
Here's my take on this lovely kit
Credit: Mad 4 You - Collaboration with MKC and Elise's Piecesa @DigiChick.com; Font: Verdana
Photo Credit: Michelle Garthe Photography

Chinese Confinement Regiment in HK 2010

Is Postpartum Confinement required?

I don't know about it being a requirement but it would help a lot in getting back one's body after going through birth. All I can say is that I fairly enjoyed my confinement since I was fortunate to have a midwife who knew the below to take care of me and my baby.

Please find below some of the items that I ate when I was in HK.

Food to avoid during the first week only

• Ginger - Delays healing of wounds and increase the risk of jaundice in baby. Substitute with peppercorn or garlic.
• Fish - Causes foul-smelling lochia or discharge.
• Alcohols that are recommended for consumption during the confinement month are Brandy, Yomeishu, rice wine and Guinness Malta because they are 'yang'. If you are a non-drinker, this sudden consumption may cause alcohol rash, redness in the face and heart palpitations, so do take it easy.
  
  Alcohol does go to the baby through breast milk, so if you want a good night's sleep, drink the alcohol after your dinner. The alcohol content is reduced during cooking therefore you might consider adding it to your food during cooking instead of drinking it neat. Guinness Malta is non-alcoholic and has high iron content therefore is suitable if you are anemic. Pulut rice is rich in iron, therefore, is used to make rice wine for postnatal nursing mothers. The rice is low in fat and free of cholesterol with high dietary fiber to reduce the risk of heart attack and diabetes.
  It is better known as Shaoxing wine.
• Drinks: is believed that iced or cold drinks may cause severe shock to the system and further weaken the 'cold' body therefore it is strongly recommended that boiled warm teas are consumed throughout the day as they are supposed to help heat up the womb. For those who do not believe in these teas you may try drinking Chamomile tea which is beneficial for the baby as well, because it helps to reduce wind
• Soups: is a nutritious replacement for water. You can use any meat for stock. The meat supplies fat that is essential for the extraction of fat-soluble nutrients. Drinking soup about 1 hour before breastfeeding may help to increase milk flow. Chinese soups are usually clear and easier to drink compared to creamy western soups and it is less fattening.
• 
  

Succeeding Days...

1. Soups:

1. Papaya Fish Soup
2. Corn & Chicken Soup
3. Steamed Fish Maw
4. White Radish Soup (w/ octopus)

2. Food:

5. Pig’s Feet with Ginger
6. Fried Rice--> add bbq pork
7. Steamed Minced Pork --> Canto Style

3. Drink:

8. Longan and Red Date Tea
   Ingredients : 10 pieces of dried longan flesh, 20-40 dried red dates (with the seeds removed), an optional ingredient of 4-5 g of tan kwei(angelica sihensis)

1. Boil and simmer ingredients in 6-8 cups of water for 45 minutes to one hour until the liquid is fragrant and tasty.
2. Drink throughout the day.

9. Another alternative recipe of the above would be : http://www.momsinmind.com.sg/milkrecipes.html / OR http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/confinement-black-bean-rice-and-ginger-water/

4. Do’s & Don’ts

• DO NOT EAT

• Seafood aside from fish and octopus (in soup)
• Congee, only rice rolls, noodles, and fried rice
• Plain water, only barley tea or tea in general
• Softdrinks, though I cheated at times
• Bananas, eggs
• Foods like alcohol and certain vegetables can cause our blood thinner and are diuretic

• DO eat

• Nuts (almonds, peanuts, walnuts, chestnuts, etc) and “wild/hot” foods/veggies
• Drink warm water; ideally consume red dates tea brewed with dried longan or Chinese wolfberry (Gou Qi)
• Eat a nutritious diet comprising confinement foods tailored to dispel "wind", revitalize internal strength and boost blood circulation

• If you must shower, use hot ginger water and take extra care to dry yourself thoroughly before stepping out of the bathroom. Try not to wash your hair for at least one week. Alternatively, use herbal dry shampoos to clean your hair.
• Sleep in a cool and dry room; if you must use air-conditioning, keep it at fan mode, not lower than 26C.

5. Others: The links below might help you more...
   
   The Chinese Soup Lady Healthy Easy Food Recipes - Traditional Chinese Confinement Food Recipes

It's Halloween Again

Halloween season is back and I have to say...it's one of my favorite times of the year. I think it's more of the treats that come with the holidays and playing pretend than anything else in the world. :P

Here's to promote again Monsters in the Closet by Mari Koegelenberg available at TDC. Gotta love those little monsters and papers galore! Preview is below and I recommend you add this to your check-out cart and start prepping for the little monsters that will be coming by your door!
I had to scrap this...totally true for my little Colin! This is one of his many nicknames. :)
Credits: Monsters in the Closet by Mari Koegelenberg available at TDC; font : Arial

This week's going to be interestingly great! Colin's going to be getting his passport, meeting ASM peps & Dr Lee; and also, we can start preparing to go back to Manila real soon!

I'm looking into what needs to be packed and what we can send off at a later time. It seems that Colin's going to getting more of our luggage allowance! I'm still anticipating on what will happen on the day of our departure. Colin would either be good or be bad. :P Keeping our fingers crossed on the former.

Colin's 2011 Calendar ~ done!

Here's something that would brighten anyone's day for the year 2011 ~ a CD calendar! Mari Koegelenberg's 2011 CD Calendar Template is now available now at TDC!

It's a quick and easy-to-use kit. Just pick your favorite photo, place it on the template and embellish accordingly with your favorite pattern paper, with or without any other embellishments to match. Easy as pie! This is a great hybrid gift for anyone since it's used/looked at everyday/month.

Check out what I did with this kit...a potential Christmas gift to Colin's grandparents this year.
Photo Credits: Thanks so much Michelle for the lovely photos that inspired me to create this calendar! :) Credits: Mari Koegelenberg's 2011 CD Calendar Template and various Mari Koegelenberg's kits available at TDC
Photo Credits: Michelle Garthe

Here's the complete calendar covers for Colin's 2011 Calendar...

(click a thumbnail for a larger view of a particular month)

I've been hanging with some wonderful people here in HK atleast once a week and it's so far been a great ride with these awesome ladies! I was introducted to them by Michelle Garthe and it's becoming a great weekly habit for all of us. So far, we have done the following: buffet @ Marriot Lounge, Vero Chocolate lounge, dimsum buffet @Dragon-i, coffee @Holly Brown, lunch @TheOne's RoppongiSabo, coffee @Mira Hotel's Whisk are a few thus far. Can't wait to hang out with these ladies again and explore HK!

L-R: Connie, Michelle, Oxana, Svetlana, Ifat and me

L-R: Dindin, Gladys, me, Michelle, Oxana & Svetlana