10th MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE
BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS' SUPPORT GROUP (SINGAPORE)
FOR TERM MARCH 2009 – MARCH 2011
Last Updated On 2nd April 2009
POSITION
NAME
PRESIDENT
MRS ANGELINE WEE-YEW
VICE PRESIDENT
DR LENA GOH
SECRETARY
MDM IVY LOW
TREASURER
MDM CELINE LOW
COUNSELLING COORDINATOR
MDM ELAINE YEOH
PUBLICATIONS EDITOR
MRS RUTH LI
LIBRARIAN
MDM TAN JOO HYMN
TALK COORDINATOR
MDM ELAINE CHAN
EX-OFFICIO
MDM REBECCA CHIN
Read on other pages for details on the committee members.
Angeline Wee-Yew, President
I'm a mature mum at 42 years of age with a 3-1/2 year old son, Lucas. Call me selfish but breastfeeding him gives me the extra edge over the spouse as Lucas and I share a special bond no one else can enjoy with him! There was never a doubt that I would breastfeed him. I had lost a baby at 22 weeks gestation, just 5 months prior to conceiving Lucas, and developed severe engorgement the day after delivery. The tremendous irony of having milk then but no baby to feed left a heavy weight in my heart. I also knew then with a strong conviction, that size did not matter! I prepared myself by spending many hours reading books and scouring the internet for articles about breastfeeding. Yet, nothing quite prepares you for the real deal.
We are still a breastfeeding pair simply because I chose to adopt a “WILL DO” attitude and knew where to turn to for support. Now the biggest challenge is to manage the raised eyebrows of family and friends when I tell them I'm still breastfeeding!
Lena Goh, Vice-President
I’m a 30-year old, happily married mother of one lovely thirty-one month old son, Kah Weng. I’ve been working from home as a Business Development Manager for Biosystemes (France), a sensory software company, since 2004 so that I can enjoy the flexibility of the hours. My interests are in sensory science, nutraceuticals and traditional Chinese medicine.
My breastfeeding journey was not an easy one with many a challenge facing me at different points in time. I remember when I was training to be a BMSG(S) counsellor, one of the last challenges I faced was a bad gash on the breast, thanks to my biting son. Thankfully, it was there that I also learned the solution to my problem. I am glad that I persevered with breastfeeding till today because there is no greater joy than to have a healthy and happy child! I joined BMSG(S) because I want to help other mothers offer the best to their children. There is no better food than breast milk.
Celine Low, Treasurer
I’m a 32 year old working mum in an oil major. The most difficult part about motherhood was not the conception, pregnancy or even the delivery, it was breastfeeding! Breastfeeding was difficult during the first 3 weeks because my son Cedric had a habit of sticking his tongue to the top of his mouth so latching was really a matter of luck. As a result of his inappropriate latch, I developed a bleeding nipple which pain is quite honestly worse than labour, because it is continuous and something I had to routinely endure every two hours! Finally I called a lactation consultant for help and that was probably the best decision for the both of us because latching creates a special bond between us.
Being of an analytical and scientific bent, I read all I could about breastfeeding versus formula feeding and was convinced that breast milk is the best for baby. My husband's support remains critical and a lot of credit goes to him for fending off the disparaging remarks from well meaning relatives.
Ivy Low, Secretary
I’m 42 and have 3 boys, Caleb, Joshua and Jacob, aged 12, 10 and 8 years old respectively. All my boys were breastfed, each for an increasingly longer period of time. Caleb was weaned off prematurely by me due to family pressures, so when Joshua came along, I was determined to breastfed him as long as possible. He weaned off when I was pregnant with Jacob at 23 months of age. I guess Jacob got the best deal because he went up to 37 months before being weaned by me because I had to undergo a surgery. We both missed the bonding. For a long time after, he would lay his head on my chest and place his hands on my breast for comfort, especially when he saw other kids breastfeeding.
I love breastfeeding because I believe it creates a closer bond between me and my kids. I also feel that it makes me a better mother and I know it is the best decision I’ve made in my life. Breastfeeding also led me to BMSG(S) and I’ve made many wonderful friends over the years. I hope it will be the same for you too!
Ruth Li, Publications Editor
I’m a 23 year old housewife from USA and residing in Singapore now. I am a new mother with one son Jasper, who is now nearly 7 months old. When I arrived in Singapore, I immediately looked for a support group because back home, my mother was active in the La Leche League, so I knew quite a bit about breastfeeding before I even had Jasper. I wanted to be actively involved in the local breastfeeding support scene and before I knew it, I was roped in to join the Exco. Talk about getting my feet wet!
Jasper’s currently still breastfeeding and I plan to go as long as he wants. I really love breastfeeding because while I'm frequently conflicted over what exactly is the "right choice" for my baby, I definitely know that breastfeeding him is right for us. I love the bond that I have with him and the intimacy of nursing. I feel that it is very natural and a sort of sacred and ancient part of being a woman that modern technology simply cannot improve. I also admit that it makes me feel like a bit of a superwoman to be able to completely nutritionally support a second human life after it's exited the womb!
Elaine Yeoh, Counselling Coordinator
I’m 34 years old and mother of two children, a 7 year-old boy Ee Zen and 30 month-old girl Shan Ee. I partially breastfed my first child for 8 months and with the help of BMSG(S) counsellors, was better informed about breastfeeding and am currently still breastfeeding my second child. I resigned from fulltime work as an arts administrator in 2007 and opted to work part-time assisting my husband with his office telecommunications business. Interested in the arts, in particular, I am active in volunteering in productions by professional and non-profit theatre groups. As a passion, I also enjoy song-writing.
Elaine Chan, Workshop Coordinator
I'm a 30 year old full-time working mum to 40 month-old Javier. Right from day one, I breastfed Javier and still enjoy nursing him. I was lucky because I did not encounter difficulties. Probably the only issue I had was sore nipples for a few days from having someone constantly sucking on them! The bigger challenge I faced was not from breastfeeding itself but from the endless inappropriate remarks from my parents-in-law! As a result of my blissful experience with breastfeeding, I knew that I could help share with new mothers that breastfeeding is not necessarily difficult and even if they faced challenges, they always have an avenue to turn to for support.
I expressed at work for more than 30 mths before I "retired" but still nurse on demand.