The Stranger in Bangkok becomes the world's best Pediatrician!

Updated 6th March 2014

These couple of days, I have been reading many posts related to breastfeeding in a blog train started by Madeline of www.madpsychmum.com. Being the husband to a mummy who is valiantly still breastfeeding our little Noah at 25 months (even though the weaning process has slowly but surely started), many thoughts went through my mind while going through each and every heart-felt post.

I wanted to write something, but the topic is too delicate for me to write anything in full that will be both representative of what I feel and also sensitive enough for everyone to read, because even though I would like to see myself a supportive husband, I will probably never be able to fully understand the mental, emotional and physical strains my wife had to go through to make it happen. 

Then, I tried to recall what happened when this journey started. I remembered my wife struggling between recovering from her C-section operation and trying to produce sufficient milk for Noah, culminating in Noah having to be hospitalised due to jaundice believed to be partially due to insufficient milk intake.

It eventually got better, very much due to my wife's persistence and the encouragements of a new pediatrician and a BF consultant at the hospital, and Noah was soon growing big and strong from his full supply of BM.

All of a sudden, I remembered writing a post dedicated to our pediatrician, which managed to amuse my wife a little when she read it. Some of you might find such doctors slightly inept, but no matter what you think, we are extremely pleased with the positive energy he generates and he will continue to be Noah's doctor for the foreseeable future.

I hope this post adds some light-hearted humour to the blog-train, and serves as a form of encouragement to every couple who is fighting this lifelong battle of parenthood, especially if your child is still a little baby. I would love to hear your comments on whether you feel that my model answers are what I consider, world's best! So here goes:


Noah promoted me from Eddie to Daddy just 2 months ago. In all fairness, I am still a greenhorn, inexperienced and imperfect. However, having changed a Pediatrician and being absolutely amused by our new one, I have completely understood how to become the perfect Pediatrician. Using this standard parents' Q & A, I will show you how....

As parents of tiny babies are usually overworked, tired, depressed and the mother still recovering from the physical trauma of the delivery process, it is absolutely important to begin with a burst of positive energy. I consider this half the battle won, so I greet every parent with my million-dollar smile!

Hello, how are you, oh your baby is so cute!!!!!!!!!!

1. My baby cries a lot, is there any problem?

Looking serious for a while...

Ans. The baby cannot speak, its only form of communication is to cry, so there is no problem!

2. I am having difficulty breastfeeding, can you help me?

Ans. Really? From your baby's weight gain, you are doing a great job! I am not a breastfeeding consultant, I will help you make an appointment with her later. But remember, formula is NOT POISON.

3. I only give my baby milk now, do I need to feed him water?

Ans. Does your baby pee well? Is his pee deep yellow or brown, if no, it's ok! Milk is 80-90% water, if you feed him water, you might as well feed him milk, right?

4. Are there any side-effects with vaccinations?

*forgotten most of the side-effects already

Ans. Of course there are, but PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE! Go back and do your research, ask your friends about the side-effects, you can make your decision the next time.

5. How many time should my baby poop per day?

*forgotten the number already

Ans. When taking care of the baby, look at the baby, don't look at the number. If the baby never poop for 2 days but looks healthy and happy, it's ok! 

6. Is my baby gaining enough weight? How much should he be gaining per month?

*forgotten the number already

Ans. As I said, look at the baby! If he pee ok, poo ok, happy everyday, don't worry! Most important is to have a happy and healthy baby.

7. How many ounces of milk should my baby drink everyday?

Ans. Again, number number number. When taking care of baby, look at the baby, don't look at the number!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that the bombardment of questions have been taken care of, I usually do a very routine check on the baby before sending them off in my usual up-lifting way: 

You are doing a WONDERFUL job, KEEP IT UP!!

No wonder I am the best and most popular Pediatrician in the world.

I dedicate this post for Madeline's initiative to collate stories from heart-felt mums in their BF journeys to encourage others who are facing similar challenges. Click here to read all their excellent stories.