Suzette's Parenting and Breastfeeding Blog

Or is it busy birth year/month/day???

When I registered at the labour ward, I was told there is no room for me.  They could only put me on monitoring first.  So good business?

They told me there are 12 labour rooms, only 10 can be used (I think the other 2 are suite).  And all the 10 are occupied!

After Isabel was born, it took them nearly 4 hours to get me a bed in postnatal ward.  I was left in the labour room till very late.  And there was no single room available.  They put me in double bed room.

At first I thought I probably would settle with this arrangement, but there is really no privacy at all.  People walked in and out, checking/peeping through the curtain whether I am their friend or not.  Door opened and shut loudly everytime they opened, and woke Isabel/me up whenever we wanted or almost fall asleep.

First night, I practically had zero sleep at all.  On Saturday, by around 4pm, I couldn’t stand it any more.  I checked with the nurse and they got me a single room!  Immediately after I was transferred to the room, both Isabel and I finally fell asleep – soundly! for 2 hours!!!  I was so glad finally they got me a single room. 

Oh, BTW, the nurses told me, all babies born on the day Isabel arrived, are GIRLS!  Interesting, right?

As planned, when Ian visited me on Saturday, we arranged for him to bring Isabel a gift, and a gift from Isabel to him.

I’m not sure the ‘bribe’ works, or he is naturally a loving boy.  Actually before the gift exchange session, he already came and hugged me.  And he gave Isabel a peck on her cheek, happily called her ‘Baby Isabel!’.

After the gift exchange, Ian focussed so much on his own toy, and ignored everyone.  He was so occupied with his toy!  Well, the toy is actually a medical play toy set, making him like a doctor.  When my gynae came in to check me up, he laughed at the sight and said ‘I thought I entered a paediatric ward!’. 

At home, Ian wants to ‘sayang’ Isabel frequently, by running his little palm over her head or body, and kissing her cheeks.  I was worried at first that he might be harsh, but he has proven to me that he is very gentle with her. 

I’m so happy seeing this.  But I do feel guilty to Ian, on some of the change that he has to adapt to.  For instance, on the first night before sleep, Ian as usual asked for ‘nan-nan’, and it happened when I was half-way breastfeeding Isabel in the living room and I couldn’t move.  I asked him to go inside and have the nan-nan with daddy first, but he insisted that I must go.  Not sure whether he feels the presence of sister makes it different or not.  I hope he is not/less sensitive. 

The more I deal with the two of them, the more I feel I owe Ian for giving him less attention when he is still so young.  But the reason I have a 2nd one so soon, is also to help him on his loneliness at home – to give him a playmate!  Oh, I just want to let him know how much mama loves him…

Thanks to Twinsmom for announcing Isabel’s arrival.  Yes, Isabel arrived on Friday afternoon.  She weights 3.66 kg (8lbs 1oz).

All started after midnight, and true enough I missed the signal until too late (and got scolded by doc and midwives).  When the contractions started, I just ignored it because I had so much of that already and got used to it.  When I realized it was not false alarm, it was 10 min apart.  Doc scolded me before that I should go to hospital when it is 15 min, especially for 2nd child.

We took our time at 7am to pack and send Ian and maid to MIL’s place.  Had breakfast near Pantai at 9am.  Reached hospital at 10am.

The labour ward was fully occupied with patients!  I was put on monitoring, and they realized mine is more urgent (was 5 min apart), I was quickly put to labour room and pain killer was offered at 11am.  I took epidural without hesitation.  Whoo!  It was well worthy.  Immediately after (actually DURING!) the epidural process, I lost the pain completely, and DH said he was very free this time no need to be there holding my hands all the time (like before). 

At 1pm, doc came in and told me that my contraction was very strong, but not frequent enough (still 4min).  So, he ruptured the membrane, and found out Isabel passed motion already!  Some complications!

During labour he had to use forcep to expedite the process coz worried Isabel may eat her own shit and would need special treatment if she does.  When her head came out, doc immediately stopped me from pushing –> her umbilical cord was around her neck!  Luckily it was loosely tied.  Oh ya, I think DH doesn’t know about the umbilical cord incident, coz doc told me only when they were cleaning up Isabel outside, and I made DH follow Isabel all the way.    Must tell him tonight.

OK.  That’s all about Isabel’s birth story.  I will update later on other stuff.  BTW, just a snapshot on other stuff: confinement is easier this time, at my mom’s place.  She is definitely a more modern mom, and she pampers me so much.    Ian accepted Isabel well too.  Will elaborate more later.

Actually, should be considered 39.5 week, coz only 4 days to go as of yesterday.

I visited my gynae yesterday, and doc said everything looks fine, and he sees no reason to induce my baby yet – no diabetic, no high blood pressure, baby’s heart beat is normal, etc.

He didn’t scan baby’s size, only estimated with his touch, and told me that baby’s size is 3.2kg.  And I asked him which is more accurate – his experience or the computer scan, coz computer’s measurement always a lot more than his!

Luckily he said that towards the later stage of pregnancy, clinical experience is more accurate, and computer results can be as far off as 500g.  That comforts me a lot.  My only worry is head diameter, coz he definitely can’t estimate it with his touch only.

Anyway, he said he will only consider induction labour, when I visit him next Wed.  Alamak, another 1 more week to wait.  So tired already. 

Not sure this will be on-the-dot-baby, or overdue-baby leh?

Oh, BTW, doc said my case is very weird, and he has never heard of anyone like me –> having less contractions now!  I had 20-30 contractions a day, in the last few weeks, sometimes 3-4 times in an hour.  But all irregular.  In the last 1 week, suddenly my tummy decided to take a rest.  I only had 3-4 times in a day now!  Strange… but baby’s movement is good, so should be fine, I guess…

A few months ago, when we passed by the guard house of our apartment, I like to ask Ian to say Hi or wave to the guard, just like what we normally do.

At first, Ian just ignored me.  Then, after a while, I noticed that he actually discretely used Barney’s hand to wave at the guard.  I then encouraged him to wave with his own hands so that the guard could see him.

It took him a few weeks to actually wave at the guard.  But he did it in such a hurry manner, and after he raised his hand, he quickly put down and looked elsewhere.  What a shy boy! 

And then, when I drove pass the guard house, I slowed down (some times stopped completely), to encourage him more.  One of the guard was a very friendly nice man.  He actually walked over to Ian’s window and waved at him.  This encouraged my boy so much, and he happily waved his hand high-high, and shouted ‘Hi!’.

At the sight of him raising his hands at the guards, it was very cute!

However, this friendly guard is not there lately.  All other guards just lazily sit there, not even looking at us.  Recently, Ian complaint after he waved at the guard: “Uncle 看不到” (uncle can’t see). I have to console him, coz it really put his motivation down, in trying to make friends or socialize with people.

Then, last night, when we went pass the gate, one of the guard (still sitting lazily), raised his hand (at least!).  And Ian happily said: “Uncle good boy!”

I laughed out loud at his remark, and to my surprise, he quickly corrected it “Uncle good man!”  I am really surprised that he knows he should us ‘man’ instead of ‘boy’.  Hmm… he is learning faster than I know.