I am back.. Birth story #1

Hey guys.. after so many days of proper resting.. I am back again in action .. I try not to use the computer for more than 1 hr at one go though :D oh well here is my labour story..

22 Jan 2007 Mon

8 30 am

called gynae in the morning and told him that I kinda feel baby not moving alot over the weekends. He said go to hospital asap to do a CTG (aka a machine that monitor fetal's heart beat + contractions).

1030 am

ah lao came fetch and send me to KKH. He dropped me off then he went back to work. No choice.. So I went for CTG scan, see gynae, do ultrasound and see gynae again. Gynae this time round said water bag was low from the ultrasound.. He asked if I could be admitted today.. I said ok. But after checking the schedule timing for the delivery suite department, he said I can only be scheduled to be admitted tmr after at 2 pm.

3 pm

Soon I was on the way back home in a cab.

23 Jan 07 Tues

2 pm

I was admitted today due to low water bag.. actually no major contractions so far, only braxtons hick. even gynae was impressed as he said baby was very due then (end of week 39). so in case of danger for the baby, he decided to put proastin in for me at 2 pm. Then I stayed in the delivery suite from 2 pm to 7 pm as they realize baby heartbeat dropped once and thus I was put under observation for 4 hours instead of the normal 2 hours.

7 pm

another proastin was put in. so I remained in the delivery suite.. cervix never dilate..

9 pm

went to ward to slp..

24 Jan 07 Wed

3 am

contractions started comin.. painful till I cant slp.. woke hubby up.. but he still continue to sleep -_-

6 am

anyway I am scheduled to go for another proastin (for the 3rd time!).. 8 am plus, cervix did not dilate.. then I went back to ward.. so I rolled and tossed and turned in the ward bed till 12 pm.. now contractions were so regular.. it lasted for about 1 min within every 3 min.. itz the moment.. I pressed the nurse call bell button.. told her I could not take it anymore.. gynae came and checked cervix.. *hooray* cervix dilated 1.5 cm.. he said, "ok, we go delivery suite, I will burst your water bag"

12.30 pm

In I went into the delivery suite, tears were rolling down my cheeks as the contractions were so unbearable.. jia lat.. I was so ready for epidural as gynae advised me (but I did not take).. then soon I lost count of the time as I was breathing thru with gas.. So I slipped in and out of soberness due to gas inhalation..

5 pm

I told the gynae that I feel like passing motion! gynae said, "ok throw your mask aside. its time for the big push! give u 15 min and baby should come out!". and of cos nearly squeezing my hubby's fingers off (love your baby), Isadore came out 20 min later.. and for a while everyone in the delivery suite was very worried as baby did not cry.. gynae then resusitated the baby for a while and the loudest wail was heard! *phew* then sudd gynae's hp rang.. so our cute Isadore stopped crying for a while that was like the most cutest moment of him.. then gynae explained to me that Isadore was not crying as his neck was twirled by the umbilical cord just before he came out.. Thank God!

6 pm+

so I rested in the delivery ward till dinner was served.. *yicks* at the same time, I started calling everyone close to inform that our little darling was out.. and their reactions were mostly "huh.. you just gave birth and you got the strength to call us?" haha.. anyway soon I left the delivery ward at 7 pm and I was wheeled back to the ward

which one to choose?

Hey guys.. recently I had been in another dilemma again.. as in which rocker to choose for baby's day time nap.. tell me how u feel about these choices

1. traditional or electric cradle ("yao lan")

Price: around $80-$90

Pros:

• net is washable
• well ventilated
• baby's head will be shaped "round" as compared to sleeping on cot or playpen
• can be used up till 18 months (but do we really still need it when baby is 18 months?) *shrugs*

Cons:

• not travel proof i.e. cannot carry to my mom's place
• prone to accidents as cradle might "drop" or not work
• have to manually rock to let baby to sleep
• baby might have a tendency to be pampered i.e. no rock = no sleep
• baby might climb out of net once he starts to learn how to turn

2. Fisher & Price cradle

Price: $69 (for a china brand) to $99 (Fisher Price)

Pros:

• washable cover
• light weight and mobile i.e. can bring to mom's place over weekends
• music to accompany baby to sleep
• toys to stimulate baby's learning even when not sleeping
• little danger of structure falling apart as structure is nearer to floor

Cons:

• can only be used for baby up to 12 kg
• flatten back of baby's head due to structure
• baby might climb out of structure once he starts to learn how to turn

haiz.. which one ah which one.. my mom said one shot all dun buy.. wait for baby come out then decide.. sekali he is going to be an easy baby like me :P put anywhere also can sleep.. she is also worried that baby might be too dependent on either structures then I will definitely be in for some trouble liao haha..

anyway I have not decided yet too but might heed my mom's advice. But any takers to buy these? haha..

till the next post.. counting down.. 7 more days..

p.s. I had since revised my settings for my blog, had arranged them into monthly archives. This new settings will make loading faster since it will only have 20 postings per view. enjoy!

check up at week 37+

17th Jan 2007

Today was another day for check up at TPS. Well I did not gain any weight, in fact lost 0.6kg since the last check up.. weird huh, perhaps too stress as last month I put on 4 kg at one shot :D gynae still ask what happened to me.. haha but the funny thing is that baby put on 500 grams since 2 weeks ago.. Hefty increase! haha cos according to the gynae, he estimated babies just put on an average of 150 gm per week.. so weight gain for both of us

Mummy: 10 kg still from pre-pregnancy weight
Baby: 2.9 kg

baby's clothes for full month

hmm you see.. our ray papa was so excited when he saw this set of clothes.. say if baby can wear this for full month.. *twirl fingers* and who says only mummies are excited about their newborns?
a closer view..

baby in the tummy @ 37 weeks

15th Jan marks the official start of my maternity leave.. but then again to ease my rest further, I had decided to take leave today as well! hee.. quite bored at home facing the walls and do nothing as much, I had decided to post the below info so as to update you what has been going on in my tummy :D so here it is..

Your baby weighs close to 6.5 pounds / 2.8 kilograms and may be about 20 inches / 50 centimetres long from head to toe. Your baby's head is now cradled in your pelvic cavity -- surrounded and protected by your pelvic bones. This position clears some much-needed space for her growing legs and buttocks.

Many babies now have a full head of hair, with locks maybe around one inch / 2.5 centimetres long. But don't be surprised if her hair isn't the same colour as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes taken aback when their children are born with bright red or blond hair, and fair-haired couples likewise can produce babies with dark hair. And then, of course, some babies don't have any hair at all.

new breakthrough.. :D

Hi guys..

just a short blog today as not much info to share.. just some updates about me..

went for my routine check up yesterday and I just realized that I had went thru a huge breakthrough! Just to let you guys that I had put 10 kg!!! perhaps some of us might not even react but then again I am actually quite conscious over this weight gain thingy.. but then again gynae had also mentioned that baby is a healthy weight at 2.5kg.. so he said not much to worry about.. he estimated baby might come out to be around 3 kg.. which is a good weight for easy deilvery.. *pray hard for natural birth*

yup datz about it for today keke.. and oh did I mention that I am currently on two days of MC? hee.. I actually requested from the gynae to let me rest for two days cos I had not been feeling very good.. hmm how to feel good with the extra 10kg on yourself? moreover I literally feel that my back is goin to break.. argh~ help.. haha.. counting down.. 2 more weeks..

baby's receiving shawl..

after searching high and low for a receiving shawl for baby, this was the one that I had finally chosen for baby.. and I would say it was a good purchase as it only cost $16! cute right?

first gift from papa..

baby's first pressie from dear papa.. he said it was "love at first sight" hmm.. :D

washing baby clothes

I had since started washing baby clothes since some weeks ago.. wah.. using baby detergent is one good feeling as it smells good and it just reminds me that bao bei is coming out real soon! well.. here is one interesting picture dear baby's papa had taken..

baby at week 32..

use a little of your imagination.. this ultrasound shows the face of my bao bei tilted at 45 degress, revealing a bit of his front chest.. hoho.. and did I say that I saw him yawning that day?
SO CUTE! bao bei ah bao bei.. pray hard for mummy to give birth to you thru natural birth ok? :D

gift from nic yi yi..

voila~ ah xiu.. here it is.. the ever cutest changing mat Nic yi yi had bought for baby on last monday from Mothercare..

counting down..

Today marks a exact 2 months away from my EDD.. according to http://www.babycenter.com/mybabycenter/131.html
I am suppose to start packing a bag which I will bring to the hospital during delivery period.. Well here are a list of things the webby had suggested me to bring..

1. snacks to keep energy up and gum or mints for bad breath
2. books or magazines
3. nursing nightie or nursing bra
4. a going home suit for baby
5. a camera or camcorder

and on top on this list, I will also pack

1. a pair of mittens and socks for baby
2. a receiving shawl
3. small hand towel for feeding or cleaning baby

hmm.. what else?

the new list of to-buy-items

Haiyo.. me bored at home again cos my dear ah lao got exercise in camp so I come in kpo bloggin again :D oh well I rem I said in my previous blog that I will post a new list of to-buy-items right.. Alrightly.. here it is..

Sleeping items:
1. baby cot
2. baby pillow + bolster
3. blanket
4. waterproof mat
5. receiving shawl (those towel-like blanket used to wrap babies)

Bathing:
1. baby tub
2. non slip mat
3. soft face towels
4. bath towels
5. body shampoo + shower foam
6. baby oil
7. baby powder
8. nail clipper
9. comb / brush set (is this reli necessary? :D)
10. cotton buds

Changing
1. changing mat (ah xiu.. rem to buy the giraffe one we saw in Mothercare keke)
2. nappy liners
3. cloth diapers
4. safety pins for cloth diapers
5. plastic pants
6. disposable diapers
7. wet tissues
8. diaper rash cream
9. baby clothes detergent

Clothing
1. short sleeve T-shirt
2. long sleeve button T-shirt
3. long pants
4. rompers (full body suits)
5. booties and mittens
6. shorts
7. sleep suits

Feeding
1. sterilizer
2. milk bottles
3. bottle teats
4. milk powder
5. milk powder containers
6. thermo flask
7. pacifier with cover
8. bottle and nipple cleaning liquid
9. bottle and nipple cleaning brush

Breast feeding
1. breast pads
2. breast pump
3. breast feed milk bottles
4. cream
5. nursing bras and tops

*phew* this list is extracted then edited by yours truely. The original list can be found from http://www.gothemilkyway.com/pregnancy_whattobuy.asp and it is with compliments from one of my frd called Geraldine.. no doubt I don't see her often but really appreciate that she gave me this link as it really helps me alot..
but of course this list grows non-stop.. but I am quite contended in a way cos my other dear friend (a mother of 2) Christina had given me some of the bulk items such as the baby cot cum playpen, walker, tons of baby clothes and etc.. *salute* which in turns really helps me saves a lot.. so far *count fingers* I think I had already spent close to $700+ (including the hefty $429 pram) for baby liao.. hee.. actually I still have some items which I had short listed from Kiddy palace but waiting for ah lao's bonus to come end of the year :D

Mammoth waistline.. still in the midst of growing..

Yes this is my current waistline.. in case you were wondering.. 42 inches to be exact.. in case you can't see haha.. and it is still growing..

yes this is the right hand view of my tummy.. bigger in person in fact.. with my little darling at 1.2kg + if you missed the previous post.. and yes underneath the t-shirt are tons and tons of stretchmarks.. please dont remind me.. *shake head* :D

First online purchase for baby..

First pair of socks for my little darling.. cuties isnt it? :D

Baby in the tummy @ 30 weeks

Your baby's lungs and digestive tract are almost fully developed. While your baby may soon slow up growing in length, (he measures about 15.7 inches/ 40 centimetres from crown to toe by now), he will continue to gain weight until he's born.

This week your baby continues to open and shut his eyes. He can probably see what's going on in utero, distinguish light from dark and even track a light source. If you shine a light on your stomach, your baby may move his head to follow the light or even reach out to touch the moving glow. Some researchers think baring your stomach to light stimulates visual development. But don't expect 20/20 vision when your baby is born -- newborns can see a distance of only about 8 to 12 inches/ 20 to 30 centimetres. (Children with normal vision don't reach 20/20 vision until about age 7 to 9.) To complete the picture, your baby now has eyebrows and eyelashes.

A pint and a half/around a litre of amniotic fluid now surrounds your baby but that volume decreases as he gets bigger and has less room in your uterus. As you and the baby continue to grow, don't be alarmed if you feel breathless, as if you can't get enough air; it's just your uterus pressing against your diaphragm. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though. At about 34 weeks (or just before delivery, if this is your second or third pregnancy), your baby's head will move down into your pelvis as the baby gets into the right position for birth. That will make breathing and eating a lot easier.

Hey guys.. me again haha.. well I feel moving into week 30 is quite significant to me therefore I wish to share some of my bao bei's information with you.. Ta dah.. (as above). you must be wondering.. wah so fast 30 weeks liao.. yes.. if you should know, a baby will be consider full term at 37 weeks (slightly a bit before 40 weeks). Oops.. think I forgot to update you guys about my latest check up.. so here it is..

07 Nov 06 (Tuesday)

went for my week 29 (approximately 7 months +) check up at gynae and Dr Tham said everything is fine.. I had put on 1.7 kg since the last visit about 4 weeks ago (don't tell you my weight :P). We did an ultrasound of bao bei and I had since ask Dr what is the weight of baby.. He said 1.2kg! I was like "WOAH~! datz a lot!" But surprisingly Dr said it is considered normal, so as long as I do not put on more than 2 kg per month, baby should put on a considerably weight as well.. hehe.. *phew*

Then on the same day, at TPS (short for The Private Suite), I signed up for the delivery package as well. Actually before we went for this appointment, ah lao had I had been discussing about what package we should picked up. Well for my personal thoughts, as this is gonna be my first delivery, I actually "psycho-ed" ah lao to let me take the A1 ward *cunning look* since A1 ward is the only ward that allows our husband to stay overnight with us for 3 days.. so are you considering too? *hiak* anyway the charges are as follows:

A1 ward: average bill size for

Natural birth > $3.5K (2 days stay)

Caesaren> $5.3K (3 days stay)

Hmm sounds ex right.. but after deduction from Medisave (eligible for $1.7K), we actually have to fork out another $1.8K cash.. *finger tremble when I sign Visa for this amount* hehe.. anyway I had signed liao so no more regrets! :D

alright! time for shower, till the next post.. *pat pat stomach.. baby what are you doing? mommy go pompom liao ok?" :D

MC~ again..

This morning I woke up with quite a bit of headache.. "a bout of miagrain again" I reckon.. So I happily sms-ed my boss and senior teacher that I cant go to work.. then I happily plotted my head back to bed... zzzz.. till 11 am plus when I woke up. Oh by the way, did I mention that my ah lao also did not go to work? haha.. oh well.. so the first thing I did after I wash up, I went to the GP at the next block.. *initially wanted to keng mc for one day*

So after a few minutes of talking with the GP, he kindly concluded that I might be at risk for pre-eclampsia.. so he got a little worried and told me to rest for two days.. *yeah* then he gave me this sheet of paper on how to prevent myself from further miagrain attacks.... woo.. if you had read, pre-eclampsia is something that is quite serious esp when I was detected with slight high BP and headaches incidents.. hmm.. anyway I am really taking care of myself.. don't get too worried ya.. *smile*

first gift from kit yi yi..

04 Nov 06 Satuday
went baby shopping with kit last sat and guess what? she bought the first gift for my bao bei.. here it is.. it was love at first sight.. for her.. *hiak*

and this is the photo of our honourable "Eyeore" before I will snip his hair away.. :D but I wun do it so fast yet.. wait for baby to come out first then snip. And I already told baby last sat that this present is from kit yi yi and he was all so excited as I used Eyeore to literally knock on my stomach and he responded by kicking back! So fun right.. haha.. well last sat I also bought nappy and nappy liners for him.. cheap I would say. Waiting for this weekend as it will be another "baby items shopping" for him again..

"Kiddy Palace here I come!"

Baby in the tummy @ 26 weeks

Measuring your baby from top to toe with his legs extended, he is about 14 inches/35.6 centimetres. He weighs a little more than 1.6 pounds/ 760 grams. Your baby's eyes begin to open around now. Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. He also continues to take small breaths and although he's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when he's born.

Since your baby is now growing so fast, and brain development is so intense at this stage, your nutrition is very important. Continue to eat a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of grains and vegetables. Fibre-rich foods, including whole-grain breads and cereals, lentils and brown rice are high in vitamin B and help fend off constipation. Your antenatal classes should start sometime in the next few weeks, if it hasn't already. Classes should provide you with good, clear information about the birth and the early days of parenthood. Keeping informed goes a long way toward calming any concerns you may have about giving birth.

Hi again guys.. that day one of my best friend just commented that I had not been updating my blog *busy busy* hee.. so thought come up with this entry and also to share some thoughts with you guys.. sometimes I still don't believe that I am going to be a mummy.. ya laff at me if you want to but I reckon having baby kicking inside me is such a wonderful feeling, esp when I am not feeling well and I talk to baby about it, then he will kick me to respond. Haha.. guess next time he will only probably dazed at me ba.. :D oh.. and if you were wondering why am I typing this blog in the middle of my working hours? ya I am try to de-stress myself amidst this busiest period of the year.. 180 observations to do, progress report checklist to do, practice concert dance songs with my K1 and K2.. mayb not sounds bad to you but then again I guess being pregnant and to handle all these tasks at the same time is really not an easy job to do.. just wish me the best of luck and hope Nov pass smoothly.. *pray hard* Dec will be a better month.. really looking forwad to Jan when I will start my maternity leave.. *whistle*

cranky mood..

Hmm people said being pregnant will set your mood swings.. It is very true cos today is one of the day I felt really cranky..

For some background information, my centre is currently down by two teachers as one got sent back to china due to work permit problem and another one had quitted. Well boss said to cut cost, he said it was UNNECESSARY to employ another two. Ok .. nvm.. LL work.. I try not to go one MC or take leave. But apparently others beg to differ.

Ok for a start to my cranky day, two teachers went on URGENT leave. One had to send the mother to hospital, another one had to go to the hospital. *blood boiling* nvm.. ok.. i swallow.. then morning first lesson of the day, my K1s had to irritate me so much that I "whack" them upside down. Do worksheets never do probably never mind.. chin cai anyhow do want to pass up. *arghhhhhhhh*

nvm! 11 am came and my K2 darlings came.. they were good and clever enuf to "sense" that something was wrong.. but STILL!! they had to play like monkeys in the class! *blood boiling further* fine.. So I tahan somemore.. ok time for lunch.. so they said they want to play, fine! then this irritating boy (R) had to eat his porridge as if it is poison and he happily cough and spilt on my dress.. so I "jumped' on him.. $%$%&$%#^^ so angry.. lucky he half day if no I sure peng on the spot. Then these K2 children happily played at the block corner. Noise level very high .. nvm.. I tahan somemore.. ask them to pack as they are goin for nap time.. again throw the soft blocks ALL OVER the place.. *messssssssssy* I tahan somemore.. go back to class, they had to climbed onto the shelf in the mattress cupboard to get the mattress and this other boy (JX) had to make some funny noise in the class.. *ok time for me to explode* I cannot tahan anymore.. I immediately made JX stand at a corner of the class.. then he "diao" me ok? Simply pissed me off.. I then told the class that they are goin to get punished for the rest of the week.. no play allowed after lunch for one week!

Finally.. most of them asleep now.. only left this talkative girl (Alt) making monkey faces at another girl (MT).. *roll eyes*.. give you all time to sleep, dun want to sleep then later complain very tired.. what do you all want?

people say being pregnant, we should try to maintain our cool and smile more. But frankly speaking, we are not saint ok? And usually these "people" who said those theories are not the in the teaching line so it is ALWAYS very easy to say. You try to put yourself in my shoes.. or count the number of "I tahan somemore" in my blog, you would really think I am tryin to keep my cool. But sometimes the kids are so irritating that they can make you explode.

ok decided! later not goin to teach.. no point.. if not my yelling wun stop. Tmr got mooncake festival celebration in school somemore, imagine we have to work 12 hours straight! next week I SURE take treat you all MC. *confirmed staff liao entitled to 14 days MC* neh neh.. :D