i'll be there... insya-Allah!

thank god that i will be going to kl tomorrow for a nephew's engagement on saturday night. we will reach there not too early though as both puteri and megat have to attend schools replacement for chinese new year.

we will take the chance to give some moral supports for my uncle on the last day of his 6th solo exhibition~ rhythm of the 21st century; before going back home the day after. he is exhibiting his latest artworks, featuring his 20 major sculptures, 45 drawings and 15 paintings. the exhibition that has been officiated by our former pm is held in petronas gallery, klcc since 29 october 2009.

so if you people do not have any plans for sunday yet, head on down to klcc occay? make sure to say hi if you see me... ;)

the truth about infant formula...

I remember that I wrote about the ever great benefits of breast milk depending with infant formula sometime this month (read my October 2009 archives). I am so lucky to be one of the many mothers in the globe who breastfed their children, even though I am petite *big grin*

I believe that no infant formula can substitute breast milk. Infant formula is a safe alternative to breast milk, but more people need to know the truth behind this breast milk substitute, especially when coping with guilt.

I don't condone those mothers that opt to use infant formula. They have different reasons for doing so. Most mothers that tend to use formula buy the more expensive brands thinking that they're giving their babies most of the benefits of breast milk. Infant formulas are all actually the same whether it is the most expensive brand or the store brand formula.

According to Dr. Barbara Levine from Weill Cornell Medical College, buying a heavily marketed, expensive, brand-name infant formula from a big pharmaceutical company does not get your baby any closer to human breast milk than a store brand formula. She also said that mothers can choose to supplement their breast milk with any formula because all formulas are regulated by FDA and nutritionally equivalent.

This message is set to become even more important for many mothers in the United States because of changes in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program with effective 1 October 2009. For those who don't know WIC is a food and nutrition program to help pregnant women and families with young children. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC provides nutrition education, nutritious foods, breastfeeding support and information. The foods provided through WIC are a good source of essential nutrients. WIC improves the health of it's participants and promotes lifestyle changes. WIC participants have longer healthier pregnancies and fewer premature births. WIC is a short-term program designed to help families in the US build healthy eating and living habits that will last a lifetime!

A new WIC initiative aimed at increasing breastfeeding rates among families reallocates funding for all currently provided foods, including infant formula, baby foods, juices, and fresh fruits and vegetables. This program could mean a reduction of up to 20 percent in infant formula subsidies; parents who previously had most of their formula paid for by WIC may now have to purchase formula on their own.

*this is a sponsored post