My Confinement Days

As of yesterday, my pregnancy confinement days are O.V.E.R.!!!

My Parents went back to Singapore on 27th December after almost 2months stay with me in Bangkok...
My MIL as well as my confinement lady left yesterday (29th December), after more than a month of helping out with the baby and household!

They were all really great help! I can't even begin naming the things they did for us... And I can't imagine them not being here during those days... Although it can be quite noisy for me some days! haha...

In the 1st week, I was still feeling rather weak from the operation... The incisions still hurts and my nipples were so sore! Ligaments were still loose, so I have slight problem with moving about, especially squating and getting up...

Eventually, after the 2nd week, physically, I was much stronger but mentally still very tired due to the lack of sleep. I turn in everyday around 8plus in the evening, right after dinner. But midnight breastfeeds got me up every 2 to 3 hours for more than an hour... So I wasn't able to catch enough sleep. Most days I was in a daze and irritable~

I sort of hid myself in the room most days other than mealtime. I wasn't in the mood to entertain nor chit chat with anyone... I almost practically ignored everyone most of the time... I was really too tired and emotionally I was not ready~ It was really until the last week of my confinement that I started to have some interaction with people in the house. I was pretty much in my own world...

I've been grumbling all my grievances to Tiki everyday. And everyday I have things to say to him... Niam Niam abit... And I'm glad he's here to listen and support all of my decisions... He too helps me alot, with baby Tyler. He's my Pillar to keep me from falling! =) 這種老公哪里找? ♥♥♥

The Grandparents usually does the grocery shopping every couple of days and each time we spent at least 200SGD for 2 or 3 day supply of groceries!! hahaha... Weekends, Tiki will join them but sometimes I prefered him to stay home with me... Karen, stayed at home everyday to help with the baby and me.

Karen would make Dates (Red & Blue) tea for me everyday in a 1.5 litre flask as well as 800ml of brown rice tea... I got accustomed to these drinks that I don't even crave for plain drinking water. And after my confinement days, I find drinking plain water yucky and weird... I try to get back to it tho... Anyway, she made sure I have a bowl of tonic every night before I turn in... Chicken essence, Cordyceps Soup or Ginseng Soup...

Daily meals are prepared for everyone by Karen. Although, sometimes I am forbidden to eat some dishes. Food was really good! I've had home cooked food 3 times a day for more than 30days!! I especially love the western food that she made for me! Chicken Chop, Pork Chop, Salmon, with mash potatoes or potato wedges~ I love the Marmite Pork Ribs too!! The traditional Chinese food were also very good! I enjoyed every single meals (Everyone in the house too!)... I will have a bowl of soup with every meal too! Too many Yummy stuffs to list out! hehe...

Black Pepper Kampong Chicken Chop

I do get to clean myself by sponge bath everyday with Black herbal water... On my 2nd week onwards, I was allowed to bath and wash my hair every 3 days using Black herbal water with ginger and sometimes white wine. Not too bad... I tied my hair up in a bun, so it doesn't irritate me. So I was clean clean everyday! I wasn't allowed to touch tap water at all... Karen prepared a pail of boiled water for me to brush my teeth, wash my face and hands... It was quite inconvenient. But I try to adhere to all the customs to not waste all their effort to bring my health back to normal.

Needless to say, I was prisoner of my own home... I wasn't allowed to step out of the house other than visits to the hospital... Actually, it wasn't so bad, since I was tired most of the time...

I appreciate all the help and tolerance our family had for me during my confinement period.

Tyler's First Month

Tyler's Feedings:
For the first 2 weeks we did Breastfeeding for all 9 to 10 feeds with 1 or 2oz of Soy milk for supplement.
For 3rd week we did Breastfeeding for 4 or 5 feeds and Soy Milk 3oz for 4 or 5 feeds
Next 4th 5th week onwards, we did Bottle feeding of pumped out Breastmilk for 4 or 5 feeds and Soy Milk 4oz for 4 or 5 feeds.

He usually drinks every 3 hourly, and total of about 9 feeds a day...

Tyler's Visits to the Pediatrician (Dr Tidawan Werapiboon):
5th Day, 26th November, 2010. We brought him to see PD for routine follow up. Everything was fine and normal. But during one of the feedings, I discovered a "pimple" with pus on his neck, so I voiced that out to her. She run removed the pimple and run some tests with the pus and the result was some bacteria, so Tyler was prescribed with some 5 days doze of antibiotics and some cream to apply just in case.

10th Day, 1 December, 2010. Tyler had stuffy nose which was affecting his breathing and a bit of dry cough, so we brought him to see PD again to find out what was the problem. She said it was a viral cold. He had mucus only in his nose and not anywhere else which was somehow good news to us. He was prescribed cough medicine for 3 days and sensible use of iliadin 0.025% for nasal drop. PD dripped Saline water into his nose and sucked out mucus. I was to administer same thing everyday with Tiki's help to hold Tyler down. He struggled and cried badly each and everytime Saline was dripped into his nose and the suction process... MAJOR HEARTPAIN!!! Tiki was feeling it too... We just cannot bear to see him cry so horribly...

I cried once when I saw a few "strands" of blood when I sucked out his mucus. Apparently, I had hit the wall of his nose with the suction (nothing serious). It didn't help when all the Grandmas were watching me do it! I was feeling frustrated that he was suffering from discomfort of the procedures and angry that everyone was watching me do the "evil" deed and thinks that it was easy for me! My Heart really goes out for Tyler and yet I cannot help him to ease his comfort... I felt really helpless... So I cried for about 10minutes in my room after that... Then I held him close to me... He's so little and has to take medicine and go through all this...

15th Day, 5th December, 2010. We visited PD again because he wasn't getting better... But PD still did the same thing and told me to do the same... Flushing out the mucus with the saline is the best way to get rid it.

After days of practice, I could drip him by myself carrying him. He doesn't cry nor struggle anymore... He fully recovered after about 2 weeks... Now he's nose is all clear!

1Month 2Days, 23rd December, 2010. Brought Tyler in for his 2nd shot of Hepatitis B Vaccination. I was there to hold his hand while Doctor injected him on his left thigh... He screamed in pain but no sound came out initially for several seconds... Some tears flowed out, then he found his voice... Very 可憐 look on his face. I called out to him and place my face very close to his, then he stopped crying...

Tyler's Growth:
21 November, 2010: 3.47kg :: 49cm
24 November, 2010: 3.220kg (His initial weight loss was at a normal rate.)
26 November, 2010: 3.326kg ::  51.5cm (Nurse said this should be his birth height because the measurement on the day of birth might not be accurate due to different instrument.)
1 December, 2010: 3.55kg
23 December, 2010: 4.52kg :: 55cm (His growth rate is in the 50 percentile for boys)

Tyler's Milestones:

He loves being carried and refuse to sleep/left in any cot, or bed by himself... Being spoilt by all the Grandparents... Once we put him down, he will make alot of noises and screams until someone picks him up... Getting naughty, my boy~

He is able to lift his head up for a few seconds when lying on his stomach after his 1st week.

He is able to lock his eyes with mine after his 4weeks.

He is able to lock his eyes and follow my face after 4weeks.

He is able to follow toys and moving objects with his eyes and head.

Misc Moments:
7th Day, 28 November, 2010. He was sleepy and whiny around 7.30 in the morning, after feeding, so I started to sing Sesame street's opening song, Sunny Day, and gave him a few Swings... My big reward was  I get to see him give me a Big big SMILE... Makes every effort all worth it! =)

10th Day, 1 December, 2010. His Belly Button dried up and dropped off but sadly think it dropped off when the nurse was removing his diapers for weighting him... So we couldn't keep it for him...

He sometimes giggles and laugh out loud and makes me wonder what was so funny and wish I could share that joke with him! hehe~

Tyler loves to pee once his diapers are removed or during any awkward times when you are cleaning him up... Everyone of us in the house had a "taste" of my little one's fountain...

Tiki helps to calm Tyler down in the night while I prepare milk for him... Tyler can be very impatient when he's hungry!!

His favourite "Stay Calm" position in the night is lying against Daddy's Chest. He will wriggle to the left side of Tiki's Chest, near his nipple and position himself there... It doesn't just happen once or twice... It has became his daily habit...

Just like this...

My Baby Tyler & Me

Everyone Who Took Care of Tyler in His First Month

Daddy, Mummy, 奶奶，阿公，阿嬤，表姨。

For Tyler's First Month, we bought lots of cakes and vouchers for our family and friends in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia! For our own celebration at home, we bought a Cheesecake from Four Seasons Hotel. It was very good!! The Grandmas, Tiki and me brought Tyler to K-village for a stroll as a custom. I took the opportunity to get a haircut! haha~ We had a good time out after being stuck at home for awhile... =)

It has been a hectic time adjusting to everything for Tiki and me... But we have come to slowly adapt to the situations. Thanks to our many help from our Family, Tyler's First Month of Life has been smooth sailing... Still a long road ahead for us and our Bundle of Joy~ =)

Postpartum in BNH

After delivery, I was brought to the recovery room for 2hours...

I think I slept for about an hour and spent the other hour talking to the nurse who was looking after me. We talked about her children and some other stuffs which I can't remember... She's really gentle and nice... I could wriggle my right-side toes after about 30mins after surgery. By end of the 2 hours all my sensations are back...

Meantime, Tyler was being observed in the Nursery for 4hours. Apparently, Tiki was with him for a full hour... watching over his precious... hehe!

I was transferred to my ward 1515. There's a family area and a room with one bathroom. I was still feeling rather weak and groggy, so I rested a little while dozing off here and there while my parents and Tiki relax in the living area. Nurses came in and out checking my vital signs every hour or so. I was having high blood pressure... think the highest I had was 160/90 or something like that and also fever. It all went back down to normal as the days go by...

Breastfeeding
Finally, Tyler was brought to me for feeding. And for the First time, I had a good look at him... He's just so Beautiful...

Naturally, I still could not sit up... So Nurse helped me with feeding Tyler in the side-lying hold. It wasn't too painful in the first attempt and Tyler I must say is a real gifted "sucker"! hehe... Eventually, I changed to the cradle position and I suffered from cracked nipples after about 4 or 5 feeds... Every feed was torture to me... I wanted to give up many times but told myself to perservere to at least feed Tyler all the colostrum he needs... But then I also keep looking forward to the next feed... The Feeling of bonding with your child during breastfeeding is just so wonderful. I had to smile to myself so many times eventhough I was in pain... (Up until Day 9, I was still biting my fingers in the middle of the night due to the painful nipples. Thank god, my nipples has finally toughened up...) I was prescribed Motillum to enhance the flow of breast milk. It's actually a type of medication for nausea. At least I've lasted till now~

We missed Tyler everytime he's been taken back to the nursery. He'll only be sent to me every 4 hours for feeding and I missed him so much while he's gone... The reason he's not kept in my room was because I need time and strength to recover from the C-section... sigh~ I found myself waking up way before feeding time and anticipating his arrival and got angry whenever he's late... But once I saw him, all was forgotten... I love cuddling him and smelling his crown of hair...

Side Lying

Tiki spent the whole 3 nights with me in the hospital sleeping on an uncomfortable sofabed. He's been Fabulous in terms of support and TLC... I couldn't have asked for more! =)

Mummy and Papa was running errands for us everyday during my stay in BNH. Mummy brought food for Tiki and Red Date Drink for me. Hanging around for a few hours before heading home to cook and send food to the hospital again. Parent's Love...  =)

Daily Dose of Red Date Tea

Next thing, since I was bedridden for 2 days, I was cleaned up twice a day in bed. I felt so darn useless! Even when I could get off the bed after, I was given sponge baths by Nurses in the bathroom... I don't even want to look myself in the mirror! It's just so embarrassing not because of my nakedness but because of my uselessness... Seriously, bad feeling...

The bed in hospitals are supposed to be hard. But it's just too hard for me that I developed very bad backache especially around my tailbone. I couldn't stay still in one position for too long because it hurt too much~

I was taken off the IV after 48 hours... Without solid food I was feeling very weak... Once I took in some porridge, I felt much better and was able to get out of bed. Incision still hurts and my tummy was jiggling here and there like jelly.

Tiki had the opportunity to give Tyler baths twice... He's more experienced in handling babies than me... He loves to give Tyler baths... Perhaps he will take over this "chore" from me in future! hehe~ He always say he will dip Tyler in the jacuzzi with him! haha... Fulla nonsense~

Tiki Pom Pom Tyler

After 3 Long nights in BNH, it was time to go home!! After Tiki gave Tyler his bath and I fed him, we headed home!! We can't wait to lie in our own bed... while Tyler, his crib~ hehe!

Tyler's First Day Home

We got home on Wednesday, 24th November, 2010, after 3 nights in the hospital.

We received alot of gifts and well wishes from family and friends. I didn't have the energy to open up all the presents to take a picture... Very big thank you to you~! =)

Managed to take a picture of some of the flowers... (this is just SOME of it...)

I was still feeling pretty sore on my incision and has developed bad backache from the hospital bed as well as adapting to feeding positions.

Tyler's is still being nursed directly from my breasts every 2 to 3 hours at about 9 to 10 feeds a day with 1 oz of cup feeding 2 or 3 times for supplement.

Our first night with Tyler was quite challenging. We didn't catch any sleep at all! He wakes up every 2 hours for feeding and by the time I'm done with feeding him, which takes at least an hour, I have to clean or change his diapers and when I almost get ready to go to bed, he's up for the next feed!

Other than the feeding times and our lack of sleep, Tyler has been a sweetheart...

Our confinement lady, Karen and TK's mother arrived on the same afternoon... So we have 7 persons living under one roof... Well, that's the first for me! Of cos, I wasn't in the mood for entertaining and I felt tired all the time, so other than feeding time, I'll be resting in my room...

The Labour

We arrived at BNH Hospital in the wee hours on 21 November, 2010...
Surprisingly, I was able to catch some sleep...
We went to the Gynae & Obs department to confirm our details...
It didn't really hit me that I Bao Bao was leaving me physically until they sat me in the wheelchair... I had a sudden rush of emotions on the verge of tears... Somehow I'm not willing to let him out...

Me: Can we back out now?
Tiki: Yes... Do you want to back out?

But we proceeded to the Labour Room anyway... The Midwife checked my cervix (SUCKS!) , and it was only dilated slightly... Then I was given enema to clear my bowels where I sat in the loo for about 40mins... It was like having bad diarrhea... It just doesn't end and it hurts!

Mummy, Papa and Tiki were with me in the Labour room for about 1hour before my parents left to wait for the good news...

The Midwife set me up with Baby's heartbeat monitor and the contraction monitor then gave me dose the induction through Intravenous. Before she left, she told me I will be feeling contraction pain in 10mins or so and that it's definitely going to be painful. If I am unable to take the pain, I should ask for epidural then. I waited... 10mins... 20mins... 30mins... 1hour... 90mins... 120mins... NO PAIN AT ALL!! I don't understand why. I told Tiki, I have a feeling, I will never experience how real contraction feels like... (I was actually looking forward to how it will feel like) But I was definitely having about 60 to 90% of contraction every 3mins... How come I don't feel the pain? Tightness was all I felt. Tiki said I was blessed not to feel the worse part of labour... I suppose so~

Dr Suvit came and went checking my dilation a few times... Then he said if in another hour and half or so there's insufficient dilation, we will have to go for C-section...

And so we that's our fate...

Everything seemed to be going on so fast yet I feel it was never going to end. I hated it!! The whole process of C-section... I was transferred to the operation theater, then was given the spinal block and had to curl up in foetal position... I felt the cold fluid seeping through my spine, it's not the best sensation. My legs started to feel tingly and eventually I felt nothing while they're sanitizing me. Frankly speaking I was a little afraid... Both my hands were tied up on either sides with my Anaesthetist on my left and Tiki on my right. I was literally in a + position. Tiki reassured me that I'll be fine, holding my hand the whole time... I can see he looked rather worried about me. I wanted to cry because I felt very very claustrophobic with the screen so near to my face and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I wanted to get up and run... But I kept telling myself I must be strong for Bao bao...

Until I heard a cry~ =) His FIRST CRY... =D His first scream right out of my tummy... He was immediately brought to clean up his lungs but I caught a glimpse of him and I finally smiled...

He was brought to me  and we took our first Family Portrait.
Tiki and me are officially Mummy and Daddy!!

Our Family

Our First Kiss

 Baby Tyler

My Pregnancy at 39 Weeks and 3Days

We have decided to induce labour tomorrow~!!

Today, we visited Dr Suvit and he was explaining to us the different options we have. He did a check on my cervix which is currently soft and probably dilated just a little bit.

He also did a Membrane Sweep on me at the same time.
Dr Suvit mentioned about the size of Bao bao's head versus the size of my pelvic. That could be the reason why he is not able to engage yet to trigger contraction. Since Dr says Bao Bao looks big so the chances of C-section is higher than normal. We're still hoping for natural delivery though.

I'm having some spotting right now due to the sweep...

Tonight, I have to stop any consumption of food or drinks at midnight and prepare for our big day tomorrow!! =D

Bao Bao at 39 weeks!

7 days to go~

I'm not sure but I think maybe Bao Bao has Dropped or Lightened because these couple of days I've been running to the loo with much urge but without much output...I also ate like a swine yesterday which made me feel that probably I'm having more space in my tummy to ingest the food...

My Food Itinerary for Yesterday:

• 10:00 WAKEY WAKEY
• 10:30 Glass of Milk & A Bottle of Bird's Nest
• 11:45 A Packet of Chicken Rice with both Crispy Chicken & Broiled Chicken
• 12:15 I made A Soft Bun spread with Kaya & Butter 
• 12:20 I made A Soft Bun with Egg and Cheese & A Glass of Milk
• 13:30 A 2 inch Slice of Sara Lee Marble Cake
• 15:00 A Small Pack of Lays Seaweed Potato Chips & A Glass of Milk
• 16:30 NAP TIME
• 18:00 WAKEY WAKEY
• 19:40 Plate of Rice with Steamed Pork Belly, Broiled Brocolli, Fried Egg Tofu, A Bowl of Mushroom Soup & A Bottle of Orangina
• 21:00 2 Seeds of Durian
• 23:00 5 Rolls of Strawberry Waffles & A Glass of Milk

Am I glutton or what? But I didn't feel FULL at all that's why I kept eating!!

Steamed Pork Belly, Broiled Brocolli, Fried Egg Tofu

I did not touch the Salted Egg :(

I'm counting on Bao Bao to arrive on his own accord/naturally... Hoping and praying hard I won't need to be induced... I'd rather go through C-sec than induce him... I dunno why, but I really hope he can come out when he's ready and give me some sign... 

Just these couple of days, I really feel his weight/ heaviness and probably some short contractions... He's also been squiggling his buttocks alot more... I'm waiting for the discharge of Mucous Plug as a sign... Not yet le!!! Can't sleep past 2 nights due to the anxiety and anticipation... Tiki is getting SO impatient!! He's been talking to Bao Bao every night... 

I never really thought that I could carry Bao Bao to Full term (37weeks onwards)... Because of several factors, but I did!! I'm really happy about it... I keep thinking it's probably because I keep eating nice food and Bao Bao is enjoying inside that's why don't wanna pop! hehe...

My Bump at 39weeks