5 years anniversary

We’ve been married for 5 years already! And dated for 9 and half years. I can’t believe it has been that long. LOL

So how did we celebrate it? With the girls of course. We had Bubba Gump at the Curve, the only baby-friendly place we like to hang out at. And most of the time, I was standing, mostly to soothe Haye Li and also the table at the booth we were sitting was too close to my body and hence, I can’t put Haye Li in front of me.

Hubby attended to Rye Li who was pretty well behaved (also made me wish Haye Li is at that age so we all can have a decent meal…haha!).

Haye Li did a mega ‘bomb’ and I was too lazy to take her to the baby changing room as it would mean I’ve to walk a fair bit so I changed her at our booth. Luckily, it didn’t smell that bad and that our booth was at the main entrance of the restaurant.

It wasn’t a romantic meal of course (although we had some nice live music from outside) and that I would have preferred Japanese instead of all the fried stuff. What do you expect with 2 young kids?! LOL. But still we have always wanted to try out the place and I must say it is not as bad as I thought it would be. Their Clam Chowder is good but don’t try their Shrimp Heaven though which was a huge disappointment considering the fact that they’re known for serving Shrimps.

I would still go back there to try their non-shrimp stuff and I would want to sink my teeth into their Chocolate Chip Cookie sundae again. Even Rye Li love it….well, she loves anything with ice cream! Yum-yum!

Happy Anniversary Tauke! I wonder when we will get to celebrate without the girls. ;)

Men are really from Mars!

I have yet to read the infamous book but I feel men are really from Mars! I just don’t get it.

I just don’t get it. How can a father sleep soundly through the cries of his child?

I just don’t get it. How can a father sleep peacefully when his toddler roams freely around the house while he’s sleeping?

I just don’t get it. How can a father not be worried when his child is not eating well and doesn’t force her to finish her food?

I just don’t get it. How can a father just let his child do whatever she wants throughout the day and not remember that she needs a bath or to eat at a specific time?

I just don’t get it. How can a father be so insensitive to his wife’s needs especially when she is showing signs of going insane?

I just don’t get it. How can a father feed his kids junk food, thinking that it can replace their proper meals?

I just don’t get it. How can a father think that it is alright for the kids not to wash their hands after they’ve been through playing out of the house or at the playground?

No wonder most kids prefer their father over their mother when it comes to play time! And thank god there is such a thing as mother’s day! Too bad there is also father’s day! :D

Not feeling Christmassy

This is the first time we’re not doing our Christmas tradition and it does feel weird. Christmas to me has always been at Grandma’s house as far back as I can remember. This has been our tradition. Now with both Grandpa and Grandma gone, our Christmas feels ‘dead’ too.

We kept Grandma’s place and my uncle will be staying on there. So we did some renovation and it was suppose to be completed on time for Christmas but it wasn’t and hence, we didn’t get our Christmas.

So everyone celebrated Christmas in the own way. We had dinner on Christmas eve with our immediate family at a restaurant and on Christmas day, we celebrated at home ourselves. Hubby cooked (roasted pork loin and ribs) our dinner. His brother, wife and their friend came over for dinner. My sister and her kids came over early to play with Rye Li and I guess the kids had the most fun.

Now that Christmas has come and gone, I still feel somewhat cheated of it. I’m glad Rye Li at least had her fun. Hopefully next year’s would be back to normal, well, not so normal as it would never be the same anymore without my grandparents. At least we still have the rest of the family and the house. And Haye Li would be able to enjoy Christmas by then too.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

What is it like having 2 kids?

I have been asked many times lately how has been so far with two kids. Well, it is definitely tiring as your energy is spread out over 2 kids now. Before Haye Li came along, I was worried as to how am I going to divide my attention between them two and also would I love Haye Li as much as I love Rye Li. I guess this question is common among us moms who are expecting no. 2.

You just go with the flow when both kids want your attention at the same time and yes, it does drive you up the wall too especially when you’re so tired. I did have these stressful times and I’m glad I could manage it well most of the time. They were a few times that I had to attend to the baby first and later have to explained to an unhappy toddler. And they were also a few times where I let the baby cried it out while I attend to the toddler.

As for loving them both, I have to say I do love Haye Li equally as much but I do feel that the love for them both is kind of different in a way. I mean, Rye Li is my Rye Li and Haye Li is my Haye Li. They’re both different and I would probably learn more about Haye Li in due time – now I’m only learning through what I’ve observed in the last 6 weeks.

Just don’t ask me the question who would I save first if both are in danger – I hate this kind of questions as I do not have the answer and I will never will. I just pray I don’t have to face this kind of situation in real life, ever!

As much as I’m really exhausted with 2 kids now, I have no regrets having no.2. In fact, having her has brought me back to memory lane when I had Rye Li. I’m so thankful that I could go through it all again, those memorable times of course. Like playing and singing to a newborn. Rye Li grew so fast and now, I’m going through it all over again with Haye Li. I get to dress her up again in those cute outfits and shoes (especially since Rye Li had so many!).

I’m not sure if I can get some quality time with Haye Li alone especially when I return to work since I can’t show too much attention to her in front of Rye Li. Perhaps when hubby takes Rye Li out over the weekends which she enjoys so much. *this is also a hint to hubby!* LOL

Confinement’s over – bring out the champagne!

Yippie, it’s over! Or is it?!

Well, the confinement part is but the next challenging one is handling a toddler with a newborn which is on-going till the newborn isn’t newborn anymore, I guess. And then that would be another new challenge altogether.

Anyway, back to the confinement first. I’ve done myself proud with only washing my hair 3 times this round (I washed my hair 5 times during Rye Li’s). Now, I’m only waiting for the right time to chop off my hair – I’ve been dying to cut it real short throughout the pregnancy but only withstand it as I need to tie it up during the confinement.

This time also didn’t feel as bad as the last as I wasn’t really confined, having to send Rye Li to and fro from the daycare and also there were that few times where I had to pick my urut lady up from the commuter station.

I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs as well during this confinement but I won’t go into the details for fear of offending anyone. I’ve already ‘blasted’ what I wanted to say in previous posts and I shall leave it as it is.

So what did we do for the full moon? Well, just like Rye Li’s, we distributed full moon packages (forgot to take pictures of it) to friends and relatives on Friday. On Saturday, we had our family over for some food at home and since we had so much leftovers, we also invited some friends except that only one family could turn up due to the last minute invitation. Hehe.

Ok, now the challenging part. I didn’t really get to do my work throughout this one month, only managing some emails now and then. I still owe a fair bit to my clients. I thought I would have some time during the day time but unfortunately (or maybe fortunate) that Haye Li is a more demanding baby than her sister. She needs to be carried around daytime and weirdly enough, she will sleep on her own evening onwards. And there is no way I will work at nights as I don’t get enough sleep already and I can’t really sleep daytime with a demanding baby.

So where is this leading to? Well, I’m really thankful that I have the daycare to send Rye Li to daytime throughout the weekdays and I only have her at nights and weekends. And this is also enough to send me up the wall handling a toddler and a baby at the same time. It is worst when hubby is not around!

I’m also grateful for having a maid this time. She’s not the perfect maid, she has her own flaws but at least she does the cleaning around the house and that means a lot to me too.

I cannot imagine having to go back to office in 4 weeks time – not sure how will I cope then. I’m more worried as to whether I can keep up with the milk supply for Haye Li. I am determined to also breastfeed her for at least a year just like Rye Li but with me having to see clients out of office will be a challenge for me. I will see where this will lead me to when I return to office.

I’m also worried with the way hubby travels, whether I can cope with two kids or not. I know there’s the maid but the thing is, I don’t let her handle the kids. I do let her with some stuff for Rye Li, if she lets her but definitely not the baby. No thanks to her weak health too (she has been sick 3 times with us so far and this is her 5th month!). And she has this dry cough that has not gone away since day 1 when we picked her up. Not sure if we will still have her after next month or not as I will need to take her for another x-ray checkup. If her x-ray shows negative, I can have the option of changing her with the agent but hubby did remind me that I will have to start all over again with the new maid and we don’t know whether we can trust her also. At least this one, I can trust her to a certain extent. Oh well, we will also see how it goes next month.

Hubby is away this whole week, for 6 nights and this is one of the longest so far with us having two kids. Rye Li took it quite badly as she has grown closer to her papa during my pregnancy with Haye Li and also ever since Haye Li came out. The first night, I really had to attend to her and let’s put it this way, while I was nursing Haye Li, I was also feeding Rye Li her dinner! She was really cranky then and only wanted me and no one else.

So, I am wondering how I will cope handling 2 kids when I go back to work but knowing us women, nothing is impossible when we’re faced with challenges alone. I sure hope so! :D

A breastfeeding moment

I have to blog about this….since Haye Li is still small although she has put on some weight, none of the mittens we have can really fit her so most of the times she go mitten-less.

So when I was nursing her just now on my left boob, I just let her be while I was watching TV. When I looked down on her, her left hand was against her upper cheek and she was showing me the finger! I just burst out in laughter and wished my camera was with me then.

This kinda made my day coz it made me laugh….something I really need these days!

Who is it that has given birth in the house?!!!

Please don't ask me!

Everyone in the house behaves as if they have given birth and they get much more sleep than I do!

There, I just need to get that out! Another 6 days to go and I'm out of the house!

Mastitis updates

Because the lumps are not going away and it still hurts while nursing and breastfeeding, I went to see the infamous Dr. Koe this morning and I was really impressed with her. I’ve heard about her over 3 years ago but never needed to see her till today. All this while, I thought she was only a Lactation Consultant but I found out this morning online that she’s a Pediatrician cum Lactation Consultant. I was thinking of going alone after dropping Rye Li off the daycare but when I found out she was also a Paed, I brought along Haye Li and MIL.

And it was a good thing I brought Haye Li as not only my visitation is under her name but Dr. Koe corrected on how I’ve been breastfeeding Haye Li all this while. She is so patient and really spent her time with us. Think we spent a good 45 minutes with her and she only charged me RM81 (which RM56 was my antibiotics and I also had a eye drop for the girl’s eye discharge which she had since she was born). So much cheaper than SJMC I must say! I’m thinking now of bringing the girls to her for their jabs but if any emergencies of flu and fever, SJMC is still nearer to our place.

I felt good walking out from Dr Koe’s clinic, as if I’ve achieved something. I must recommend for any moms who are not confident in breastfeeding to see her, something I regretted not doing with Rye Li!

I’m going to digress a bit….on the way to my car from the clinic, we passed several coffee shops with many hawker outlets and I had good whiffed of Char Kuey Teow (Fried Flat noodles) and it smelled damn good! I don’t fancy this at all during normal times but I guess this is what 3 weeks of confinement does to you! I know what I will be looking for in a week’s time! :D

Blocked ducts + Fever = Mastitis = Pain!

Breastfeeding, can it get any better?!

Two days ago, I experienced some blocked ducts on my left and it was painful nursing Haye Li or while pumping but I continued anyway as I need to empty it in order to get better. Then at night, I started having fever. This is a first time for me. I've experienced blocked ducts with Rye Li before but never fever.

I didn't dare take Panadol then so I was having fever through the night while suffered in pain when nursing Haye Li. Morning came and my fever was 39.3 degrees and I felt I better do something about the fever. Thanks to my friend, who also experienced Mastitis before, told me that I could take panadol and I did.

I also called my doctor and I remembered that he was away for a seminar this week so I spoke to his senior nurse who advised me if the fever didn't go away after taking panadol in the morning, I should go in and see a doctor. By noon, my fever broke and so I didn't bother going into the hospital. But when the panadol wore off, it came back and so I took panadol again.

At the mean time, I still fed Haye Li with the affected boob (which was excrutiating painful!) and used hot towel on it while massaging it as well (thanks to my friend's advice). Evening came and my fever came back but nursing or pumping wasn't as painful as in the morning. But I had new lumps. In the middle of the night, I was still having low grade fever but I didn't take panadol and decide to only take it in the morning if there is still fever.

My fever is gone for the moment but the lumps are still there. It still hurts to nurse or pump and also while massaging but it wasn't as painful as the first time. I will still take panadol later as I'm having a big headache too, probably from all the sweat from the breakout of the fever. My appetite has worsen and I asked MIL to cook some soup today so I can replenish on the liquids lost. Also, the quantity of milk from the affected boob as totally worsen and takes like forever to have a let-down. I'm wondering when will it get back to normal as I need to resume my stock-keeping.

I'm hoping the fever doesn't return and that the lumps will be gone soon as I would hate to start taking antibiotics for it. Also, going to the doctors now when hubby is not around is really troublesome. But of course if it doesn't get better by tomorrow, I will have to go see a lactation doctor and would probably bring Haye Li and MIL with me.

This experience really questioned me whether I want to continue with breastfeeding or not as I've not experienced such pain before and fever too. But I need to persevere as I need to think of Haye Li's well-being more than anything - I will definitely remind her of this experience when she's old enough to understand.

Breastfeeding

This post is dedicated to both of my daughters. As much as I love you both so much, I need you two to know how much your mummy went through just to breastfeed the both of you! And it’s a good thing too that you two are females as you both will go through it one day too. :D

I have to admit that both my daughters are hopeless when it comes to breastfeeding them. Let’s start with Rye Li first.

Rye Li was immediately brought to me after she was cleaned up when I just delivered her. I was surprised as to how she knows how to latch on immediately and she managed to suckle one side for about 10 minutes before she was brought away.

I only got to attempt at breastfeeding her like 6 hours later after that and it was a struggle already as she prefers sleeping most of the time. The nurse and I had to find ways to wake her up, at times it worked but most times it didn’t. The two nights at the hospital saw me waking her up for feeds most of the time. And it was the same at home too.

Although Rye Li latches on well, my nipples were still sore and soon the engorgement came in and I suffered as this girl only drinks like 2-5 minutes before dozing off. No matter how much effort was made to wake her for more milk, this girl never awoke from slumber land. And this led to the beginning of my pumping journey. After every time she drinks off me, I need to continue with pumping or else I would suffer from the engorgement.

In the beginning, and for several months after that, every time she latched on, I would squeal in silence as it hurt a lot.

For the record, I never knew what it was like to have my breast emptied by a baby as Rye Li never drank more than 10 minutes of me throughout her 1 year breastfeeding journey. At least I’m glad she never treated me like a pacifier (probably due to the fact that she sucks her thumb from 4-5 months old till today).

Oh yes, I was telling everybody then how she treated me like a ‘straw’. Once she latched on, she would drink a little, then let go, and then drink again, and then let go as if she knew the ‘straw’ was there all the time at her convenience. This was why I never breastfed her in public! Also, you can imagine how messy it was when my breasts are full and she let’s go during her feeds. There were times I really wanted to smack her hard for her bad sucking habits (which I’m convinced it also led to her bad eating habits till today!) but since she was a little innocent baby then, I just couldn’t find myself to and suffered in silence!

Because Rye Li doesn’t finish her milk of me, we always brought out the expressed breast milk (EBM) out with us when we go out. And we have to work around my pumping schedule so it took forever for us to get ready to go out as not only we need to feed her before we leave, we have to get her stuff ready and I also have to pump. So our outings were not for very long too, the most 5 – 6 hours or so as I needed to come back home to pump again. Those days, I envied moms who conveniently pull up their bra just to feed their babies in public as they don’t need to bring out so many stuff with them or rush back to pump.

Rye Li also doesn’t like frozen EBM. I guess it was my fault that I didn’t train her early with it and mostly gave her fresh EBM. And I struggled keeping up with the supply as we can’t store fresh EBM for long compared to frozen ones. In the end, I threw away a lot of frozen EBM. I did use them to mix with fresh ones and also to make her cereals but there were a lot in the freezer and I couldn’t use all of them. From this experience, I vowed to train my next baby early on frozen EBM so that I won’t be so stressed out on keeping up with supply.

Now that Haye Li has come along, I was praying hard that her drinking habits are way better than her sister’s. This is somewhat true but still, I also find her hopeless like her sister!

At the delivery room, it took some time for Haye Li to latch on me. She was more keh poh chi (busybody) with her surroundings than to latch on. After coaxing her like several minutes or so, she finally latched on and I got her to suckle off both breasts too for like half hour before she was taken away from me.

When it was time to feed her again at the hospital, this girl didn’t really latch on properly and when I started to correct her, she got so furious and started screaming (she is way louder than her sister!). I guess it is my fault for not correcting her from the start so again, I suffered.

When we got home, my nipples were already sore and cracked and by the 3rd night home, both my nipples were bleeding. My first time as I didn’t get this from Rye Li. So I suffered that few days till it healed by itself and till today, my nipples are still sore. At least it is not cracked anymore.

Haye Li definitely drinks more than Rye Li and at least when she sleeps on them, she is still sucking. At the hospital, I was wondering whether she was actually drinking or treating my like a pacifier as I couldn’t hear the swallowing sounds from her. But now, I can so I know she is still drinking in her sleep until she will totally let it go herself. However, just like her sister, she also doesn’t finish off. Well, she could finish off one breast but when I put her on the other, she is already dead asleep.

So my pumping is more to empty the other breast and also so that I can start storing them up. I’m too lazy now to pump in the middle of the nights (second time breastfeeding doesn’t give you that painful engorgements) but I think I have to start soon as not only I need to keep up with supply, this girl is becoming like her sister in that she is drinking 5-10 minutes before dozing off and hence, she is waking up like every hour or every one and a half hour. After my confinement is over, I will start giving her EBM in the bottle through the nights so she will drink more and sleep longer. Only thing is that I will need to pump after giving her the EBM.

There have been several occasions where she has drank for half an hour and I was able to have her to drink off both breasts, something I didn’t achieve with Rye Li. But lately, she is drinking like 5 minutes and then let go and don’t want anymore. But when I put her down, she cries for milk. This girl is definitely more demanding than her sister.

This girl also has started treating me like a ‘straw’ and I’m wondering are all babies like this or just mine are like this? If mine are like this, I would think it’s from hubby’s genes as I knew I’m a very good eater when I was young while he was a fussy eater! :D

She doesn’t open her mouth big to latch on, just her pouty lips so she’s literally ‘sipping’ of my ‘straws’ and it also hurts each time she latches on and I will still squeal in silence. During Rye Li’s time, I usually went “ow, ow, ow” but now I don’t as Rye Li is mostly around me when I nurse Haye Li and I wouldn’t want her to think that Haye Li is hurting me.

Anyway, I’m praying that Haye Li gets better at drinking off me as I would hate to work around my pumping schedule over the weekends again.

Motherhood, you just have to love it don’t you?! But my stance is still clear, after going through what a woman should go through, I still want to be a boy in my next life! :D

Being confined

It’s been nearly 2 weeks and how has it been so far? Hot, hot and hot! I need a hair wash again only having to wash it on Saturday. I’ve managed to last 10 days this time round. I wanted to try 12 days but I just couldn’t as I felt there was a mini zoo in my hair already! With Rye Li, I only managed 8 days so this is a better attempt. LOL.

During the first week, I was alone with the maid mostly while Rye Li was at the daycare and hubby at work. Yes, he had to work that week as he has a new boss that just came in. Initially, he was supposed to take the week off since his parents couldn’t come till last weekend. They were in Medan for a holiday booked earlier and we didn’t want them to forego it just for me.

My food was well taken care off by my parents as well as hubby over the first weekend. I had packets of frozen vinegar pork leg in the freezer as a standby if hubby couldn’t cook for me.

Hubby had to be away for a night in the first week and I had to send Rye Li to the daycare for one and a half days. He asked me to leave her at home but there was no way I wanted her to as I don’t think I can cope with 2 of them alone at home. The maid? Well, she was with me and she had the flu again so having her to take care of Rye Li was also not an option and has never been. Lucky for me, Haye Li slept all the way to and fro in the car. Even when the in-laws are in town, I will still send Rye Li to the daycare when hubby is travelling except that I won’t be bringing Haye Li with us.

I’ve started pumping (will do a separate post on my 2nd breastfeeding journey when I can) so MIL could feed Haye Li if needed.

I’ve also started my urut (malay: massage) and it hurts like hell! I don’t like the oily stuff and after each session, I really have to wipe myself down. The lady was nice and patient enough to allow me to nurse Haye Li in between the sessions. During Rye Li’s time, my MIL would be feeding Rye Li with my expressed milk then. She will do this with Haye Li next week onwards when I continue my urut.

It does help having a maid as she does the washing, cleaning the house and all. I realize this time that I don’t think I will get to dress Haye Li in all the baby clothes I got (I received more hand-me-downs) as the maid washes them Only thing about my maid is that I don’t allow her to handle Haye Li so it has all been me since Day 1.

Not only I nurse her, I change and bathe her too. It has been manageable so far and now that my in-laws are here, I’m still doing this. At least I can have them to oversee Haye Li when I need to go to the toilet, etc instead of depending on the maid.

This confinement doesn’t feel as bad as the previous one so far (guess coz I’ve been going out but only to send Rye Li to and fro to the daycare) but I’m still counting to the days where I don’t have to follow the confinement stuff anymore. I do so want my ice cream! LOL but I will probably wait till very much later since I’m breastfeeding and I’m not sure whether this girl will be colicky like her sister or not. I sure hope not!

Another 16 days to go!

Haye Li's birth story

And all that planning for nothing. LOL.

So, she did listen to me after all….Initially, I did tell her to come out 23rd onwards and to be in between 2.5 – 3 kgs. And she came out on 23rd October 2008 morning at 2.75kgs.

Ironically, the night before, we had dinner at Rye Li’s Godfather’s parent’s place. The day before Rye Li was born, we had lunch with them too. That day after my last checkup with my doc, we were invited over to their place for dinner and the aunty was saying “you come over for dinner, sure your baby come out tomorrow!” which of course, I didn’t want as I wasn’t ready yet. Who knew then, that it would come out to be true! :)

After dinner, we reached home at 10 plus. I had my shower, washed my hair (I wash my hair everyday!) and went to bed. I couldn’t really sleep so I was playing with a game on my mobile. Finally slept about 12 plus.

I got up at 4am as I was experiencing painful period cramps again. I didn’t really think that it was IT as I have been having this for the last 4 weeks now. Then, Rye Li asked for milk and I made it for her. So happened hubby couldn’t sleep too and he was awake. Told him about my cramps and he went back to bed. About 4-30am, I decided to get up to pee.

I noticed a slight discharge, yellowish greenish type which I didn’t think twice about it as I get a lot of discharge during my pregnancies. After I peed, I realized that there were some more discharge and I looked down to notice it was pinklsh and sensed that this could be IT. Got hubby to wake up and he asked how sure I was, then there was some slight bloodish discharge which I told him it was a “show”. I started to panic (again) as I haven’t finished my work yet and I was really looking forward to my days off! Got the look from hubby and then I changed ‘frequency’ and said I’m not sure where to put Rye Li and the maid!

Anyway, I got the maid up to pack Rye Li’s stuff while I went and shower again (yes, I need to wash my hair even though I washed it like 6 hours previously!). Hubby went and got the car ready and we didn’t wake Rye Li up till it was time to leave the house.

I actually felt like poo-ing when the “show” came but I didn’t dare as I knew this is one of the signs of baby coming out. But I wasn’t having any contractions yet.

We left the house at 5am and I called my mom on the way to the hospital. Usually, she would be awake by this time for her morning walks but she didn’t pick her phone up. Called my sister’s maid (my sister and my parents stay at the same condo) and she was awake, asked her to go wake my mom up as I wanted my mom to come meet us at the hospital to pick the girl and maid up. My parent’s place is nearby the hospital and I was telling hubby since I’m not having any contractions (actually, I wasn’t sure what I was feeling then were contractions, or from the urge to poo or from the period cramps) and it was bearable, we should just drop Rye Li and the maid off my sister’s place.

I got my sister’s maid to come down and get the girl. I was surprised how calm Rye Li was throughout the whole thing – we explained to her what was happening and that once her mei-mei is out, papa will come pick her up to see us. She did show her sulky face but she didn’t cry or anything and willingly went to my sister’s maid (of course, I packed her doll along and some M & M’s and I told her this too!). I was worried about her the whole time till the last half hour of me giving birth that day. I have to say that Rye Li was my focused most of the time of my labour.

By the time we got to the hospital was about 5-45am or so. They checked me first for contractions on the CTG thingy and only when they realized I was having contractions (which wasn’t that obvious to me as it was like light period cramps), that they allow us to register. Usually, they said that they will send people home if there were no contractions. Anyway, they checked me ‘there’ and said I was 4cm dilated already and since it was my second time, it should be fast around 10-11am.

I was contemplating whether to take epidural or not but since it was early morning again like Rye Li’s and I wasn’t sure whether I would also dilate just as fast this time round, I felt that it would be a waste if I took the epidural and there won’t be any effect on me. So I decided not to. Even the midwife was against me taking it since they guarantee that it would be very fast for me and that it would be a waste of money. The midwives were really the old school thinking type, they are older than my mom!

After clearing my bowels and all, I went to the delivery ward. It was around 6-30am now and the contractions were still bearable (every 5 mins or so) but I asked for panthedine. The jab at my bum was really painful (and I still got a bruise from it till now) and several minutes later, I felt really tired and sleepy.

I tried to rest in between the contractions and chatted a little with hubby. I refused to take the gas yet although it was given to me. And all the time I kept looking up at the time. The midwives (second shift by this time) didn’t even check me there again and only told me that if I feel the urge to poo, to inform them.

By 8-20am, the contractions got intense and lasted longer. After the 3rd one or so, I started taking the gas and told hubby to tell the midwives to check me as I also felt the urge to poo. One of them came in and told me that my doctor was on the way and that he would check me. I think she realize that I was really in pain that she said she would check me. She took her own sweet time getting the gloves on and all.

The last half hour, my eyes were shut tight as I was already in pain and I was focusing on my breathing through the gas mask. I wasn’t even talking but there were so many stuff and words going through my head and most of them were cursing at those around me. As she took so long just to check me, I was cursing her for this. I knew it was just several minutes or perhaps seconds but to me then, it felt like hours! When she checked me, I heard her said that I was 7-8cm dilated already and said to wait for my doctor and this was where I started cursing my doctor too especially when the contractions became unbearable!

One of the midwives was guiding me to breathe through the gas mask and I listened to her over 90% of the time (the balance was when I just went with the flow of the pain). All this time, my left hand was holding on to hubby’s hand and I really squeezed his hands when the pain got unbearable. I didn’t really scream this time but grunted (with clenched teeth) quite loudly when it was painful and I felt the effects of the gas and perhaps panthedine through my head. I also heard the midwife said that she could see the membranes already.

I was really drowsy and because the whole scene reminded me of Rye Li’s birth, I became emotional too and was sobbing towards the end. You can call it self pity or whatever, but I was just going on with the flow and cursing my doctor at the same time as there were no signs of him and I already felt like pushing. In the end, I remembered my colleague’s wife who just delivered a week before me didn’t have her doctor in time too when her baby came out and it dawned on me that I could also have my baby without my doctor! Just as I was going to push (while hearing the midwife said to wait for my doctor), I heard my doctor’s voice. I think he came in several minutes before Haye Li came out.

I think he took some time to change too (I’m not sure as my eyes were shut) but whatever it was, I was already pushing which I didn’t know I was and then I heard my doctor said “don’t push” which caught me off guard. I didn’t know Haye Li was out already and I was sobbing still in between. Haye Li’s cries could be heard throughout, definitely much more than her sister’s. The effects of the panthedine were still there and some of the events were a blur to me but I could hear the conversations going on with the midwives, my doctor and hubby. This also I found irritating (I’m guessing due to me being drowsy) and I really wanted to ask them to shut up but of course I didn’t. Only coz I was too groggy already…LOL.

The taking out of the placenta was also painful to me and so was the ‘cleaning’ me part. I didn’t talk at all throughout the whole thing, in fact, I didn’t even talk to my doctor till I saw him later that evening. When he left, the midwives just let me be and brought Haye Li to me for breastfeeding. I managed to be with her for like half hour or so before being transferred to my room. I was still groggy from the whole thing and was not in the mood to talk unlike Rye Li’s when I felt so energetic after she came out. So I’m guessing it’s got to do with the panthedine.

Now, thinking back, everything went very fast although the half hour of pain felt like a lifetime then. I know I’m considered very lucky already and I have been asked by many to have no. 3 since it was so easy for me. Well, I’m still traumatized by the whole thing and not forgetting the aftermath of it which I will blog about it when I can.

So in summary, on 23rd October 2008;

4 plus am – had a show
5 -45am – admitted to hospital
6am – contractions with 4 cm dilation
6-30am – entered delivery ward, had panthedine with contractions about every 5 mins
8-20am – contractions more intense and longer, started using the gas mask, 7-8cm dilated
8-50am – Haye Li is out

This round of labour took me about 4 hours or so since the “show” with real pain of half hour. No epidural which still amazes me that I survived another round of labour pain. No, please don’t ask when is no. 3 coming along. Now is not a good time for that question!

Ok, can't force her out on 28th October 2008

I'm officially on leave as at today but still doing work from home when I can as I'm owing some stuff to my clients.

Saw my doc this morning to obtain my medical leave and since I was there, I thought I might as well see him for a checkup instead of having to wait so long on a Saturday. So was going through with him again whether we can set a date for 28th and he said that he's not free on 28th or 29th as he got 2 surgeries to attend to. Of course, if Baby H comes out naturally on her own before that or around those 2 days, then too bad for him. So he said he won't do a finger check till I see him on 29th morning to see if I can be induced on 30th instead.

So much for a nice number of 28th....unless she comes out naturally on her own. ;)

Interestingly, I lost a kg too since last Saturday. So it was water retention after all...haha. And I'm home now eating ice cream (since the girl is at the daycare), hubby thinks just because I lost a kg doesn't mean I can eat whatever I want to. LOL. Am thinking whether I can do a Baskin Robbin's ice cream fondue before Baby H comes out and while no. 1 is at the daycare. She's been quite sensitive to ice cream lately. Each time I give her some, she will start coughing so I can only indulge in this when she's not around. :)

Anyway, I'm still not convinced that Baby H will be late coz the cramps are getting worst lately. And that I can't walk well without being in pain or discomfort. Hubby brought up just now at the clinic that Rye Li's delivery was so easy and fast that I'm expecting the same too for this round. And then I thought of the fact that I was overdue (and I'm the second child) and hubby was late too (he's also the second child). Maybe it runs in the family...

I think Baby H thinks I'm one confused mummy coz initially I told her don't come out until 23rd onwards and then this moved on to 24th (for a baby scorpio) and now 28th (so that I can go back to work 5th Jan instead of last week of December). She probably just want to remain snugly in there than dealing with a confused mummy. :)

38 weeks - still not out

Ok, i'm not jinxed! Phew!

Baby H has lived a week longer than Rye Li had in my tummy and I made up my mind that if she doesn't come out by 27th October, I will induce her on the 28th itself which I would be exactly 39 weeks then. My doc said he will do the finger check when I see him this coming Saturday to see if my cervix has soften so we can set the date.

One of the reasons for this is that my colleague's wife just delivered at 39 & half weeks normal and her baby is 4.24kgs (over 9 pounds!) and this is really scaring me big time. Although my doc said baby H is about 6 pounds now, I just hope she doesn't get that big!

I also need to watch what I eat coz I put on 2 kgs in 1 week! First thing my doc asked to see when he realized I've gained 2 kgs was my legs - he said, it looks like water retention and I sure hope so! LOL.

My period-cramps like comes and go and now, every time I get a cramp, I will time it just to see if it's a contraction or not. I'm still working and will be going on leave tomorrow onwards as I don't think I want to drive to and fro to work already. Will probably try to relax before she comes out and most likely will be doing some work from home (although I know hubby and some friends will protest to this).

My backaches are still there and I pee like 3-4 times a night. At times, I can go back to sleep easily, probably coz I'm really tired but at times, it takes forever to fall back asleep (like now which is why I was up doing work and also to update this quickly). Because my waterbag burst in the middle of the night the last time round, I do get paranoid now when I wake up to pee at nights. I sure hope she doesn't come out till next week at least as I do want to rest the next few days of my leave.

37 weeks - is it time yet?

Tonight marks the eve of my 37th week…yes, I’m still around. Cramps had been coming and going for the last 2 and a half weeks. Last week itself I had 2 nights of scare and a night of mild fever and a lot of cramps during the daytime (not as painful as nights).

Hubby is back and he won’t be travelling till baby H comes out. I’m hoping she is out after 23rd next week (just so I’ll have a Scorpio baby! Hehe).

Went for my check up on Saturday which was such a disappointment for me as I waited so darn long, had my blood tested for diabetes (they took so much blood and I was expecting them to just prick my finger!) and after all that waiting, my doctor only checked on baby H’s heartbeat. Not even a scan and when I asked him why, he said “Save money mah!”. Geez. I was looking forward to him to see if she’s engaged after all that cramps or whether I was dilating but he said no need as it was still early.

I’ve only put on 15ks so far (6kgs lesser than Rye Li’s at this stage) but wondering if baby H do come out late, how much more would I be adding on. Yes, I am paranoid about this too. J

Anyhow, if history repeats itself, my waterbag should break after midnight tonight and I would have baby H by tomorrow morning. However, I don’t think I would be that lucky this time coz the last 2 and half weeks of cramping hasn’t not been swell for me and I feel that this pregnancy will be a “pain” for me – I think I’d prefer if my waterbag breaks. At least I know she will be out within 24 hours instead of me wondering when will she be out while suffering from the cramps!

The waiting game begins.

Below are pictures I took. Just wanted to compare with Rye Li’s at 36 weeks…Boy! Am I huge!

this is me at 36 weeks with Rye Li

this is me at 36 weeks and 2 days with baby H - tummy looks bigger at the front (could be my fat)

the girls and I

Possibility of an early labour?

I have been having period-like cramps for the past one week. The last I had this was the week before Rye Li came out and hence, I was a little paranoid that Baby H is going to come out early too and I'm only in my 35th week.

I was told by my friend to talk to Baby H and I've been asking her to come out on 23rd October onwards - firstly, to make sure hubby's around. Secondly, for me to finish up or at least clear up most of the stuff at work (if baby h doesn't come out by then, i should be on my leave from 22nd this months onwards already). And thirdly, at least get myself mentally prepared for another baby.

Interestingly, when I started to talk to her, I didn't have the cramps for 2 nights (the cramps comes at night only). Then it started again on Friday evening onwards and when I still had it till Saturday morning, I decided to go see my doctor, a week earlier than scheduled. I just need to get some peace of mind since hubby is travelling this coming week.

My doc said that he could do a 'finger check' to check on baby H but he normally doesn't do this till at least 38th week as it could induce labour (now I know why I didn't get this with Rye Li as I heard from others that some doctors will do this finger thingy). He also said that he could do the CTG thingy (which they will wrap this device round my tummy, the ones that they use while you're in labour to check on the contractions and the baby's condition) but it won't be accurate to say whether baby H will be coming out early or not. I guess it was because I didn't have any other symptoms which indicate that I would have an early labour, so my doc just did the usual scan. He commented that baby H is at a good size already of 5 pounds and thus, he is not worried should she come out now. He said baby H looked fine to him through the scan and said for me to just relax and chill. He also asked that I start to plan for back up in case I do go into labour when hubby is not around.

I will be seeing him again next week on a weekly basis now till baby H comes out. I need to fast before I see him next week so that he can check on my blood to see whether I got diabetes or not (since I got a family history for this).

Before we saw him, we went for a late breakfast but I puked it all out into the drain by the roadside. Till now, I'm not sure what caused me to puke it all out but my doc didn't seem too all concern when I told him this. I just felt such a waste as I had good hearty breakfast! LOL...I was hungry shortly after we saw my doc.

As for my weight, it's pretty much controlled (surprisingly, considered the way I eat these days!) as I've only put on half a kg since last week. So in total so far, I've put on 14.5kgs. :)

My hospital bag is about 90% packed, baby H's clothes are all washed and ready (except for some towels and bibs which can be washed later). Now I only need to get her baby cot, bedsheets and baby bassinet ready and also the backup plans ready in case I do go into early labour.

Pregnancy updates

I remember saying that Baby H only started hiccupping at the beginning of my third trimester unlike Rye Li who started way earlier. But Baby H is exactly like her sister in that she hiccups at least once a day and this can go up to as many as 4 times a day! At times I really wonder what is she really feeling when she hiccups so many times in a day.

She still moves aggressively and at times it’s so ticklish that I will yelped, something I didn’t do with Rye Li. Again, I really wonder what is she doing in there. She seems to be awake during the day and at nights too with all that movements.

I am at 34 and a half weeks now and if she comes out at 37 weeks, this means I got another 2 and half weeks more to go. Wow! So fast and it feels like yesterday that I found out I was pregnant and then the beginning of my morning sickness and all. I can’t believe that we will be a family of four soon.

I went for my check up after my Grandma’s funeral since I had the time and also we don’t have to rush on Saturday. I was pleasantly surprised that I only added 100 grams to my weight. Hehe…but my doctor said it was nothing to worry about since my previous check up was at his other clinic and hence, different weighing machine! Party pooper! Anyway, I’m also guessing that I didn’t eat that much this week especially after finding out about my grandma (just didn’t have an appetite and only ate coz I was thinking about baby H and that I felt weak at times too).

My doc didn’t scan my tummy this time but just checked on baby H’s heartbeat through this device and said all was okay. My next visit in 2 weeks time, he will go back to scanning her like usual. I told him that I didn’t get this with Rye Li and I forgot what his reply was. Anyway, after my next visit which I would be nearly 37 weeks, my check ups will be weekly from then onwards. I also didn’t get to the weekly checkups with Rye Li since she came out so early. Let’s see how it will go this time round.

And again, my doc said that baby H is big and will definitely be bigger than Rye Li. This I know for sure since Rye Li is already so small but I’m just curious how much bigger will she be. Some people said my tummy is small while some say is big. I feel it is definitely bigger than Rye Li’s.
I’ve been asked by several people now, where are my preggy shots?! I have not even taken that many pictures of Rye Li lately, what more of my own?! ;) So, we force ourselves to take some this weekend and the following are the best few of the very few we took. Rye Li was in a good mood that evening so we took the opportunity to have a family one but it didn’t last for long so not that many good shots. I still need to take some more of us especially of Rye Li kissing my tummy.

we did some funny drawings on our tummy, an idea we got from the hospital when we were there for my checkup that day

Grandma has left us

Grandma has left us unexpectedly early Wednesday morning. We were all surprised as we didn’t think she would go so suddenly just like that. She was 76 years old.

Apparently, she collapsed on Tuesday afternoon and was already unconscious when my youngest cousin found her in the toilet. She never woke up and was in a comatose state since then. We got her to the hospital by an ambulance and after several checks and scans, it was found that there was a lot of bleeding at the back of her brains in which the doctors confirmed that it wasn’t caused by the fall but a rupture by one of her veins.

Due to several factors, which also include her age and the fact that she’s taking medication to thin her blood, the doctor doesn’t recommend immediate surgery to stop the bleeding. They added that she would not wake up from her comatose state and told us to expect that her time can be anytime from then on. It is also a matter of time when her lungs give way and the family has to make a decision to keep her on a ventilator or not.

I rushed to the hospital after work that evening and found her breathing quite heavily into the mask they had for her, with her chest heaving up and down aggressively. At first I thought she was on a ventilator but it was all her and I was amazed at such strength she had (you tend to see people so ‘dead’ when they are in a coma state on TV). It broke my heart to see her like that and not responding to me at all – at least during Grandpa’s time, even when he was suffering, he responded to us till the last moments of his life.

I left the hospital about 8-30pm that night saying my last goodbye to her, having to pick Rye Li up from the day care and I didn’t expect Grandma to leave us in 4 hours later as I thought she would wait for one of my uncles who is in Singapore. She passed away at 12-23am.

I am with mixed feelings of her sudden death. In a way, I’m glad she went peacefully and painlessly (I hope!) especially after seeing how Grandpa suffered the last 5 months of his life. And at the same time, I am really sad that she didn’t live long enough to see baby H. Apparently the week before, she asked my sister what to give baby H when she is born.

It’s also ironic that 3 weeks before Rye Li was born, my great grandmother, my grandma’s mom passed away. And I was calculating in 3 weeks time I will be 37 weeks in which Rye Li was born at 37 weeks. And now that Grandma has passed away 3 weeks before I turned 37 weeks with baby H, I can’t help but feel a little superstitious now. I’ve been telling people the next time I plan to have another baby, I would think twice already.

We had her funeral today, with her body cremated after the mass at church. This time we had her wake and mass at a different church to that of Grandpa’s due to unavailability at the previous church.

I only brought Rye Li to the wake yesterday and the funeral today as hubby only got back from India (a day earlier than scheduled) early yesterday morning. I am amaze at her understanding of the whole thing. She knows that “Mummy’s grandma” (as she calls my mom Grandma too and she knows the difference between mummy’s grandma and rye li’s grandma) has gone to heaven to join Dr. Foo (her paediatrician) and she can even reply with “I miss Dr. Foo and Mummy’s grandma”. I initially didn’t want her to see my Grandma’s body till the funeral but she insisted with “see only” and so we let her. She asked many times after that to see her and we let her too. She knows that Grandma is ‘sleeping’ in the coffin and that she cannot wake up already. She did ask many questions after that like “why mummy’s grandma sleeping in the coffin”, “why mummy’s grandma go to heaven already like Dr. Foo” and “why the people (my relatives) don’t want to go home (from the church as we left earlier than the rest)” and she can even tell the caretakers at the day care that she went to church to say bye to mummy’s grandma. When we picked her up from the day care just now, she asked whether are we going to the church again. She was well behaved throughout the mass and I wasn’t sure whether she talked or not as she sat several rows behind me with the maid. She only got upset when it was time to leave the church after the mass to the crematorium and she couldn’t follow me (hubby took her and the maid to the day care). Since I last missed Grandpa’s session at the crematorium, I didn’t want to miss Grandma’s this time.

I am also going to miss my Grandma big time like how I am still missing my Grandpa. Grandma passed away just over a year after my Grandpa did. It’s ironic that I was craving for her bubur cha cha (malay: a dessert dish) lately and now that she is gone, a lot of her recipes are too. This Christmas will be a huge void to all of us who are so used to celebrating Christmas at Grandma’s place with our grandparents. Already last Christmas was our first without Grandpa and we did feel a great sense of loss then. And now, we will feel a bigger lost. I’m not sure even whether we will be celebrating Christmas like how we have always been and it is a shame really as I was so looking forward to this Christmas with Baby H! And I’m not sure whether we will still have the house – it has been our family reunion venue for Christmas and Chinese New Year and other celebrations for over 25 years already!

Grandma, I miss you so much already but like I told you that night, if you have to go, we understand. We will always love you and will remember you. When baby H is born, I know you and Grandpa will be looking down on us smiling. You rest in peace now.

In memory of my grandparents - with Rye Li when she was about 4 months old.

8 months and counting!

Ok, a mental note to myself…to do Baby H’s birth story immediately if I ever plan to have baby no. 3.!

After the previous post, I’ve been scared of the inevitable. Even describing it then, scared me as I was reliving everything again and had to seek comfort from hubby. I really wanted to cry but like I said, whether I like it or not, Baby H has to come out one way or the other!

Saw my Obgyn today and I had loads of questions to ask. But firstly, I told him I want to scan that part again as I need to make sure Baby H is Baby H since we have only scanned there once. I told him that a lot of people have been asking me how sure am I that I’m getting another girl and this week itself, a few of my clients said my tummy’s shape looks like I’m carrying a boy. Told him, I already have a name for her and a blog for her too so she better be a girl! He said hopefully, she’ll show herself which she did and yep, it’s definitely a girl! So that’s settled.

I questioned him about my high blood pressure the last time while delivering Rye Li and he said it’s not a concern as some women tend to have high bp while delivering. If it was a concern, he would have raised this issue up earlier. He said of course I will be monitored for this throughout the labour but he don’t foresee that it will impose a danger to me or to baby H.

I asked him a lot on epidural and my fear on pain and said the epidural doctor came too late the last time and he suggested if Baby H doesn’t come out by the time I reach 38 weeks, I can chose a date to induce and have the epidural upfront and wait. But if I have labour pains before that then we will just have to see my luck again. He said usually, second time round, the baby tends to come out faster but he guarantees if it were the third one onwards, it would be very fast already. I was telling him, let’s focus on this second one first as we may not see a third!

I also asked about panthedine whether got any difference and he said it helps with 50% of the pain and of course, it’s much cheaper than epidural. He said if money is not a concern, then I should opt for epidural (RM1k plus vs RM40!). I told him money would be a concern but for me, my body and how I would take the pain at this point in time are more important. He did stress that I should relax and don’t think so much about delivering as I’m creating unnecessary fear which I also agree (I do worry too much!)

Thus, I’ve come to a conclusion that I will play by ear too like how I will play by ear on where I will deliver, either at the same place which is TDMC or Sunway Medical Centre (since Sunway is nearer to my house and office) but my Obgyn is the house doctor at TDMC. I don’t want to take the risk of having another doctor if I dilate too fast again this time, so if I’m not stuck in traffic by the time I go into labour, I will head to TDMC. If it’s too late again to take epidural, then I will just get the jab to ease 50% of the pain.

Oh, I’m adding on weight like nobody’s business again. Put on 2 kgs in 2 weeks which is not good as I should be putting on about half a kg a week. So hubby asked me whether half of it went to Baby H and I just gave him the stare! Men! I will worry about the excess weight after Baby H is out.

I’ve been getting faintish spells and fast heartbeats. Doc said that I’m not getting enough rest which is true as it is getting difficult to have a peaceful sleep lately and Rye Li is getting sick often too (flu) which she has passed to me several times. And work is crazy as usual which I’m trying to clear as much as I can before I pop. As for the heartbeats, doc said it’s normal in my condition.

I’m at the stage where I cannot wait to have Baby H out and at the same time, scared of the after birth events too like how am I going to deal with 2 kids then. Can I equally divide my attention and love for them? I know I’ve been reading other mummies’ blogs as well as listening to experienced moms and that they all managed to overcome this. You just grow and learn along with it and you will find that you love them all as much. I guess I will encounter the ‘culture shock’ initially and will just learn to deal with it.

Rye Li's Birth Story

Finally I'm done.....enjoy the details! If you're not into this kind of story, please don't read further, it's a darn long one.

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I feel with another baby on the way, I better penned this down in case I ever forget about how I delivered Rye Li. Prior to this, a lot of ladies told me that I will forget the pain after I’ve given birth. Well, Rye Li is over 2 and a half years old and till today, I can remember vividly the details. I’m not sure after my second one, will I still remember this clearly though.

The day before Rye Li came out, I walked a whole lot although I was in pain in terms of my right leg! I was limping for over a month as I think my right leg just couldn’t handle my sudden increase in weight. It was a Friday and I took medical leave that day and went to see my Obgyn. I was only a day short to 37 weeks then and didn’t expect to see the girl for another 2 weeks or so.

My Obgyn also checked me “there” as I was complaining it has been hurting lately and he said it looked alright to him. He also added that Rye Li will be 6-7 pounds when she comes out (I’m guessing he was indicating this from my huge size).

After the checkup, we went to One Utama for a stroll and to get some stuff for our friend’s New Year eve’s party the next day. We spent nearly half the day there and by the time night came, I couldn’t really walk anymore with a limping leg.

After One Utama, we even went to get some DVDs, thinking that we could catch up with some movies over the long weekend then (till today, we haven’t seen all of the DVDs we got that night!).

That night, we went to bed as usual. About 2 plus in the morning or so, I got up as I felt some cramps (like menstrual cramps) and I went to pee. Came back to bed, and started doing the pelvic exercise to see whether the cramps will go away but of course it didn’t. So happened, hubby got up to pee as well and I told him that I was having some cramps. At the same time, I felt a discharge came out and I asked him to help me out of bed as I wanted to check on the discharge. As I got up from bed, a sudden gush of water came out and I quickly went to the toilet. Told hubby that I think my water bag broke and he asked how sure was I. Told him when I sat down on the toilet, another gush of water came out again and also I managed to pee. The water stain on my panty had some little trace of blood too except that I couldn’t tell what colour was the water as I was wearing a green colour panty then.

I started to panic and the first thing I said was “I’m not ready! My work!” – I had a lot of outstanding stuff then which I thought I would clear them in the next week or so since it’s 3 weeks away to my due date. Hubby knocked some sense into me and then I said “My hospital bag! It’s only half packed!” I only started packing it the week before during Christmas as I started having cramps then and it panicked me big time. Trying to calm myself down, I told him I’m going to shower and wash my hair while instructing him on what else to pack into my hospital bag.

By the time we’re ready with me putting a maternity pad on (I was leaking a little bit by bit after that), we headed to the hospital. It was about 3 plus in the morning when we arrived there and we checked in. They put me in a room and the nurse checked me there and said I was only 1cm dilated and my cervix was still hard. She also added that my baby would only come out in the evening. By this time I have yet to experience any contractions. She said that hubby can go home first to rest and come back later. I asked if I can go back (thinking that to wait till evening was such a long time more) and she said cannot as my water bag had broken and I couldn’t risk any infection. Anyway, hubby didn’t want to go home and said that he would sleep in the car downstairs first and to call him if anything. We brought a nail clipper along and I cut all my finger nails – something we were told to do from many people as we don’t want to risk hubby getting cut from me! :)

The nurse inserted some stuff up my bum to clear my bowels and then asked me to rest. About 4 plus in the morning, the contractions started and it was about every 5 minutes. Although it was bearable, I couldn’t sleep with the contractions. I was thinking how was I going to last till evening not getting any sleep at all. Anyway, about 6am, the contractions became more intense and I tried to stand it as long as I could. Towards 6-30am, I called for the nurse and told her that the contractions are getting more intense. She checked me there and said I’m only 2cm dilated and that my cervix was still hard. She gave me several options for the pain but I told her if I’m going to take the jab, I might as well take epidural (since I read that the jab only eases the pain a little). She said I can only take the epidural when I’m 3cm dilated. Told her I will think about it and let her know, thinking that I may be able to stand the pain. She added that my baby is still facing upwards and needs to turn around (towards my bum) so that I will dilate faster. And she left the room.

When she left, I spoke to Rye Li and said “please turn the other way” and the next thing I knew, a contraction came and it was so darn painful that I immediately call for the nurse again. At that time, I was also thinking that I won’t be able to bear the pain till evening and I told the nurse that I want epidural there and then. She asked me whether I was sure and whether I want to discuss with hubby (who was sleeping in the car then) and I said yes. She asked me to go clear my bowels again as she would transfer me to the delivery ward and that I had to wait for the epidural doctor who would be coming all the way from Ampang (I delivered at Taman Desa Medical Centre).

So I called hubby to come up while I went to clear my bowels again. When he came, it was about 7am already and we were transferred to the delivery ward. It was tough to walk with contractions. Every time a contraction came, I had to stop, suffered and then walk again.

I was put on a chair in the delivery room and was given a milo to drink. I felt like vomiting at the same time (probably due to the pain) and was given a plastic container as a standby. By this time, I was already doing the breathing exercise and hubby tried to do it with me. He was next to my face and I found this irritating and told him to stop. I was trying to fight with the contractions in that, every time a contraction came, I would hold my breath and go against it which the midwives told me later that I shouldn’t as it would be more painful. They asked me to relax as much as I could with the breathing exercise. Easy for them to say!

The next hour was hell while waiting for the darn epidural doctor to arrive and finally he came around 8am. This time I was asked again to clear my bowels before I go up to the ‘delivery bed’ as once the epidural is administered, I won’t be able to get out of the bed. It was extremely tough to walk to the toilet this time round and had to stop in between when the contractions came. Hubby had to assist me since I was limping.

It was tougher to get up on the ‘delivery bed’ with a limping leg and contractions. The midwives and hubby had to help me, literary carried me up. When I was finally settled down, the midwife checked me and said “You can’t have the epidural already as you’re 9cm dilated!”. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at this statement at that time. I dilated from 2cm to 9cm in 1 and a half hour! She added “You want me to help you, I can make it 10cm”. I didn’t care what she meant by help but I just nodded my head.

With all the pain that I was going through, I just couldn’t talk anymore but in my head I was cursing at everyone, the midwives, the epidural doctor, my Obgyn and hubby included. In the last 2 hours till Rye Li came out, I didn’t talk at all and my eyes were mostly shut tight then.

Anyway, I think the midwife put a whole fist in “there” and then I heard “Oh, you’re only 8 cm dilated and we have called Dr. Fan already (my Obgyn) and he’s on the way”. And then I was given the gas mask. Hubby tried talking to me to calm me down and told me to do the breathing exercise. Again I found this irritating and I told him “Don’t talk, just stand here!” :) My style is like this, when I’m suffering in pain, don’t tell me what to do, just be there physically. I know he felt helpless then but at that time I was more concern whether I was going to die or not from the pain then those around me.

The midwife inserted the drip inserter thingy into my left hand (or was it the right?!) – mind you, before this, I was terrified about this part as I hate needles. But interestingly, the pain coming from this was nothing compared to the labour pains so I didn’t really recall the pain from this.

My Obgyn came at around 8-30am and I was still only 8cm dilated! He said if Rye Li doesn’t come out by 9-30am, he will do a vacuum and left the room.

I did find some pain relief with the gas mask and I think I inhaled too much and when the midwife realized this, she told me not to inhale too much as I could be high from it. Too late, I was already ‘high’ then and whatever happened after that was as if my soul came out from my body and I was looking at everything like I was watching a movie. The scenes somehow repeated themselves again but what was very real was the pain itself when the contractions came. I was just going with the flow and when the pain came, I actually screamed! I screamed so loud that I was told off by the midwife. She told me when the contractions came, I am to clench my teeth and just breathe through it. She also threatened me that if I were to continue screaming, she will get hubby out of the room. This worked as I dutifully listened to her while cursing her in my head!

The gas also made me very emotional. I felt so cheated there and then. Firstly I was told that my baby would be out in the evening and there was no way I could stand the pain till evening. Then while waiting for an hour for the epidural doctor to arrive, I was told that I could not have it and had to wait for my Obgyn. And when my Obgyn came, he said to wait again for another hour. And then to be threatened by the midwife too. I couldn’t help myself that in between the contractions when it wasn’t painful, I cried like a baby! When the contractions came, I faced up and dealt with the pain, grunting silently. When it went away, I turned left and put my face into hubby’s tummy and cried like a baby!

There was another lady in the next room having her baby at the same time and she was screaming. We could hear her hubby was encouraging her on to push. We all heard it and it frightened me further so I wailed into hubby’s tummy again before the next contraction came. This went on for nearly an hour and next thing I knew, the midwife asked me whether I had the urge to push. To tell you the truth, I was aware that you cannot push until you’re fully dilated but at that time, I really didn’t care whether I was fully dilated or not. So when the midwife asked me, I just nodded my head and I think (my eyes were shut) she checked me there and said that she could see Rye Li’s head already and that she will be calling Dr. Fan now. And I heard hubby saying “I can see baby’s hair!”. Hubby was holding my left hand all this while. During the whole ordeal, I heard the midwife asked him why wasn’t he encouraging me on and he said that I asked him not to.

The midwives prepared me for the delivery and I couldn’t feel hubby’s hand anymore. They strapped my legs to the sides of the bed and while they were doing this, I heard hubby saying ‘Syn, I’m here!” which I was glad he said that so that I know he was still there. Then they made my right hand hold on to the hand bar and wanted my left hand to do the same but hubby said that he will hold on to it. The midwife also asked him was he sure about this and he said it was alright. He later told me that the pain he felt from my nails (even after I cut them off) was nothing compared to what he was seeing me going through. He also told me later that at that time, he didn’t care anymore about the baby as he was so worried seeing me in that condition. All I know was during the whole ordeal I was talking/cussing in my head – I read a pregnancy book “A girlfriend’s guide to pregnancy, what your doctor will not tell you” (or something like that) and one of the things it mentioned was that during delivery, there is no way you can say that you do not want to have the baby anymore. So this was practically going through my head that whether I like it or not, my baby is coming out! Thus, I was thinking in my head that I do not want to have any babies anymore after this! Haha – look where I am now! ;)

When my Obgyn arrived, I was all ready to push and when he gave the green light, I pushed all the way! I didn’t even know that he actually cut me. Mind you again, I was also terrified about this cut thingy but in reality, when you’re going through labour pains, whatever needle or knife that goes through your body is nothing at all!

I only gave one hard push and was waiting for the instructions to push again but instead I heard “you see what is in front of you?!” and I opened my eyes. Rye Li was actually on top of my chest but because she was so light, 2.3kgs/5 pounds, I couldn’t even feel her. The darn midwife opened her legs right in front of my face and asked me what it was! I couldn’t even tell as her vagina wasn’t looking like the vaginas I know, it was protruding out (probably it wasn’t fully formed yet) and she answered for me “it’s a girl yea” and I just nodded my head. She then asked me to kiss her which I did with tears in my eyes and they took her away for cleaning up.

Rye Li came out at 9-28am on 31st December 2005. Actually the clock in the delivery room, the longhand was showing somewhere in between 5-6 so hubby decided that it was 9-28.

It was such a relief that she was out but when my Obgyn took out my placenta, it was another round of minor pain too but nothing much compared to the pain before that. He asked me whether I want to see my placenta and I said “No thank you or else you will never see me again!”. He did his stuff and sewed me up. While sewing me up, he was describing to me the kind of stitches he was giving me which will end up looking like just one knot if you were to look at it. And the whole time he was saying that, I was thinking to myself as if I would take a mirror and look there which he told me I could. No thank you! In fact I didn’t touch myself there for more than a month after that! I only touched up to my anus for cleaning and the rest was water while I dabbed with toilet paper after that. See how traumatized I was!

In short, I had a total of 7 hours labour which breaks down to 5 hours of contractions with less than 3 hours of real pain :-

1) 2-30am – water bag broke
2) 3-30am – admitted to hospital, only 1 cm dilated
3) 4-30am – contractions started, mild and bearable
4) 6-30am – intense contractions, getting unbearable, only 2 cm dilated
5) 7am - 8am – in deep pain but couldn’t take epidural as 8 cm dilated by 8am
6) 8am - 9-28am – was in hell waiting to be fully dilated
7) 9-28am – finally baby is out!

Now we shall see how Baby H’s birth would be like…wish me luck!

31 weeks, among other things

31 weeks and I feel I’m ready to give birth already. Of course it’s still too early but the way Baby H has been moving, I kind of half wish she will be out earlier than expected. Seriously, I cannot remember feeling this much of discomfort with Rye Li at such an early stage. I really loved Rye Li’s movements in my tummy as she was gentle, hardly any ‘shocks’, only towards the end. I’m just regretting on what I’ve said earlier on how much I miss the baby movements in my tummy when I found out I was pregnant months back!

The way Baby H moves, I’m very worried that she will be a big baby. I had my check-up on Saturday and my Obgyn said that it’s normal for our tummies to be extra sensitive to Baby’s movements second time onwards. Funny though, I would have thought it should be the other way round since our tummies were stretched the first time and hence, should be less sensitive. Go figure!

Anyway, yours truly has so far put on 12kgs….nice. Stay like this and I should not put on as much as I did before with Rye Li. But still, my bum looks really big and so do my arms. Of course, the tummy too coz I really feel Baby H is big! I still have another 9 weeks or so to go and the way I’ve been eating…tsk tsk tsk!

I’ve bought some baby stuff over the long weekend and I should start doing her laundry in the weeks to come. I only need to clear out Rye Li’s clothes to her new drawers we got her to make space for Baby H’s stuff. My maid is pretty free at times (my condo isn’t that big) and even asked me whether she can start washing Baby H’s stuff 2 weeks back but I said I need to get some baby’s detergent first.

Anyway, my maid should have more work to do soon since she will need to help out more at the day care (the maid there is leaving) in terms of housework and also I would want her to cook for us over weekends once whoever (either hubby/me/Aunty Ng/in-laws) teaches her. A lot of people have been telling me that I’m under utilizing my maid. I’m also slowly letting her handle Rye Li wherever she can like when the girl wants to pee (we still have to keep an eye on her when she goes to her potty although she managed to pee on her own without informing us many times but someone just got to make sure she washes her hand!) or play with her (this is because Rye Li asked for it at times and I let them be, if the maid has done her work) but overall, the girl still prefers me. I will next let her start to pack Rye Li’s stuff for the day care and also when we go out (like preparing her milk powder, bottle and hot water) – I didn’t teach her this initially as I don’t trust her from a hygienic point of view. She still needs to gain my trust in terms of this area (I caught her with several bad habits like picking her teeth with the same toothpick kept in her room and picking at her hair – squatting and face down with fingers picking at her as if she’s got hair lice which I know she doesn’t as all of us would have gotten it by now). This is also one of the reasons why I have not gotten her to cook for us yet. I have loads more to say about the maid but since my time is precious on blogging, I’d rather not waste my time on her – she is overall alright but at times can get on my nerves. J

Back to my pregnancy, my checkups are now every 2 weeks and I have yet to talk to my Obgyn about the delivery plans. I have loads of questions to ask especially about my apparent high blood pressure when I was delivering Rye Li. I only knew this 6 weeks after I’ve delivered Rye Li. Interestingly, during her pregnancy and after she came out, I don’t have any problems with my blood pressure. Even now, during this pregnancy, I also don’t have any problems which I’m jumping to conclusion that my blood pressure could have shot up then due to the pain I was going through or rather, the fear of the pain that I was going through then. This reminds me that I need to finish my birth story with Rye Li – it is kinda funny now thinking back although I know it won’t be funny going through the pain again this time!

Anyway, my Obgyn told me then that if I were to have a high BP second time round delivering means I would need to take caution should I go for my third child. I need to remind him this again in my next visit as I feel if it was really due to my fear of pain, I will tell him in advance this time that by hook or crook, I want the darn epidural! I didn’t get this the first time round as I dilated too fast! I know I can save heaps of money not using the epidural and the fact that if I could last the pain first time round means I can last the pain second time round too but heck, it’s my body and I do whatever pleases me. Too bad there are only 2 ways to get a baby out of you and both ways also scare the jeepers out of me. Sigh!

Funny eh, you would think an experienced mom would think lesser of delivering the baby second time round but not me man! I remember having so many weird dreams in my first trimester about giving birth and I always wake up thinking “That’s it, I know I want epidural upfront this time!” …I am paranoid about the pain. When I tell people about my fear, some asked me to opt of C-sect instead since it’s faster and less hassle. I’m scared of surgery la…and I don’t think I can be awake knowing I’m being cut up and I want to be awake when my baby comes out to this world. Only 2 things now will make me go for a C-sect and that is if she’s breached and the other is if she’s really huge like over 3.5kgs kind of huge! Let’s pray she’s not huge and not breached. :)

Time passes by real fast when you're busy

Time passes by so fast and as much as I want to blog my updates as well as for Rye Li’s, I also don’t have the luxury for this anymore. Work has been busy, no time even for facebook. ;) And time is ticking really quick, I’m about 30 weeks now and another 10 weeks to go, maybe lesser, maybe more. I’m going to briefly summarize what went by in the last several weeks :-

- the day I turned 28 weeks (beginning of my 3rd trimester) nearly 2 weeks ago, baby H (yes, she is now known as baby H) had hiccups for the first time. She’s kinda slow in this compared to Rye Li’s, Rye Li was hiccupping in the 2nd trimester all the way to the end and at times as many as 3 – 4 times a day.

- in my last visit to my Obgyn earlier this month, I’ve put on in total 10kgs so far. Also, I had my ATT (anti tetanus something) jab, which is for the baby and it was darn painful but I had to pretend that it wasn’t painful as Rye Li was watching me the whole time. I had to tell her while in pain that I’m not scared of jabs and that I’m not crying – something she does when she gets jabs. My next visit will be next Saturday and thereafter, it will be every 2 weeks and soon it will be every week till Baby H comes out.

- I still feel good being in my third trimester, at times I feel I have so much energy and that I don’t feel pregnant at all; even skipping and running around. I will get comments from my colleagues reminding me I’m pregnant. I got a feeling that this energy will run out soon.

- taking advantage of this energy, we went up Cameron highlands 2 weeks back for the weekend, only we encountered some bad luck there. Firstly, the maid and the girl had a cold and cough. The maid’s first time ever in a cold place and Rye Li was already sniffling at the daycare when I picked her up. Secondly, Hubby’s car broke down on our third day there and also the electricity in my dad’s apartment was out due to a fuse on the same day. Hubby decided to follow our friend back to KL that day to bring up my car and also the spare part for his car the next day. But I made sure our electricity was up and running before they left. We had to call TNB to come and fix the fuse box and it was a Sunday too. Luckily they did if not, we all have to squeeze into our friend’s car back to KL.

So that night, the girl, the maid and I were left on our own in my dad’s apartment in our last night at Cameron’s. Hubby was worried the whole night thinking all these could be a sign of bad omen for us to leave together. So, he couldn’t sleep well that night when he was in KL. My family was also worried about us and didn’t like the idea of me driving back to KL while hubby will drive his car back the next day. I guess I don’t blame them, I mean a 7 months pregnant woman with a sick child and a sick maid stranded in Cameron’s. But my consolation was that if any emergency were to occur, I got my uncle nearby to call out to. Anyway, all turned out well and we had to wait for hubby’s car to get fixed the next day before leaving for KL late evening the next day. My first time driving back from Cameron’s to KL. I was just dead tired after that, having to go back to work immediately. This would be my last holiday (and we didn’t even do anything in Camerons!) before Baby H comes out.

- Rye Li has been tremendously emotional and demanding lately. Probably part of terrible two’s as well as the fact that Baby H is coming. With hubby travelling a lot for work lately, I’m getting the brunt of this phase she is going through. I guess it is due to the fact that hubby plays a lot with her when he is around that when he is away for work, she really misses him like mad. I can’t exactly tell hubby not to play with her right so I just have to deal with her whines and cries of “I miss my papa” and it does get on my nerves as she can say this a million times in a day as if it is my fault that her papa is not around.

The worst was last weekend where she cried and cried when hubby left. I’m not sure whether she was seeking attention after that or was it for real but she complaint her ‘hoo-haa’ (we call it pot-pot) was painful and the way she acted with real tears and screams while holding on to down there also panicked me big time. Anyway, she didn’t show any symptoms of urinary tract infection nor had there been any rashes in that area but because she acted like this 3 times after that till night time, I was thinking perhaps she may had urinary tract infection. Other than the non-symptoms, why I had my doubts was when I got desperate while she was screaming and crying in pain, I told her that I’m going to take her to the hospital there and then to get her checked out and she replied “so dark outside”. So I really psyched her by cleaning that area with wet cotton balls and applied heaps of nappy rash cream and told her that if it is still painful when she pees, we’re going to see her doctor the next morning. Later on, she had the cheek to tell me that it is not painful when she peed in her diaper. And the same for the next morning too. And till now, she will tell me that her “pot-pot not pain ady (already)”.

Hubby was away for 5 nights and this girl got clingy to me. I’m grateful that the maid is around to do the house stuff while I get the time to be with the girl. But she wants me to sit with her while she watches tv too. She will not let me go and have my shower while she watches tv and when I asked her why, she replied “because I (am) alone”. So my daily weekly routine when hubby is away is:

Once we get home after picking her up from the day care, I’ll switch on her cartoon channel while I grab something to eat and will sit with her throughout. Once she’s done with her Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Art Time, she will switch off the tv and I’ll shower her and get her ready for bed. When she’s done, I will turn on her Barney DVD in my room and she will watch it there while I have my shower. Once I’m done and she’s done with her show, we will call hubby to talk and say good night; depending on her mood, she will be responsive to her papa, if not she will be whiny and sad or she will just ignore her papa as she will be tired already. After that, if she’s not tired, we will either read a book or will sing some songs and then it is slumberland. If I’m lucky, she’s asleep by 10pm, if I’m not, perhaps by 10-30pm or later. She gets up anywhere in between 7-8am daily. And yes, she still gets up for milk at times, perhaps 2-3 times in a week. I don’t mind this as she is still petite (only 11.5kgs) and also I’ll be hit with a newborn soon.

- I’m not prepared for Baby H’s arrival yet and I will only start shopping for some stuff next weekend since it’s a long weekend and also I want to use up some vouchers, which I’ve saved for her. The following weeks after that, I will need to wash all the baby clothes and stuff. So many things I need to do and so little time. I’m wondering when should I pack my hospital bag since I only got to this at 36 weeks with Rye Li and that also was half-packed when she came out a week later at 37 weeks. So learning from this, I will do this also in the next few weeks in case Baby H also comes out early.

And I’ve no idea what to get as a present for Rye Li from Baby H. Hubby wants to get her a bicycle but how in the earth am I going to wrap that and bring along with me to the hospital?!!! I need something smaller and definitely something she will like and want to play with.

I also have no idea what to do with the maid and Rye Li when I go into labour – I’m praying that Baby H comes out day time so I don’t have to be worried about the girl. She still needs me at nights and if I’m giving birth in the middle of the night, I need hubby to be around. I won’t get him to stay with me this time at the hospital at nights as I want him to be with Rye Li.

So many things to think about and I also pray that hubby is around when I go into labour so a message to Baby H; please come out anytime from 38 – 40 weeks ok and during day time too! And oh yea, don’t cause so much pain and come out real fast! I promise you that you will get a nice present after that! :D

About my big tummy again

I never had this thought with Rye Li and I'm not sure why I'm being so obsessed with my tummy now (other than the weight).

Lately, since Baby 2 is moving so aggressively, I like to lift my shirt up and bare my tummy to see if I can catch the movements or not. This is usually done at nights after my shower. I will leave it like that for some time and seriously, I feel nice and comfy baring and airing my tummy like that.

With the hot weather lately, it feels even more comforting to do that and now I'm wondering is this how all the Ah Pek chinaman (Chinese old men) feels like after a heavy meal whereby they will lift their shirt up to bare their big tummies?! I know you still can see this sight at some kopitiams here, okay, maybe in old towns and definitely in some homes now. But the last I saw this sight was in Penang town years back!

I must get hubby to do this with me and see if he feels the same. ;)

60 days maternity leave is NOT a holiday!

While I was pregnant with Rye Li, I used to get comments that my 2 months (not even 2 months, it’s 60 days!) maternity is like a holiday for me whereby I will get to rest and most importantly, I’m away from office and don’t have to work that 2 months. At that time, I didn’t really gave two hoots about those comments as I didn’t know what to expect being it my first time.

However, after I came back from my maternity leave then and still had those comments coming my way, I really gave that person my 2 cents worth, okay, maybe more than 2 cents! Along the way, when I still hear this kind of comments, I will voice out my disagreement.

Now that I’m pregnant the second time and still get this kind of comments, I will get so worked up and that person will also get a piece of my mind on this statement.

So, I’m repeating this….60 days maternity leave is NOT a holiday at all!!!!

And the following are the reasons why:-

1) After tremendous stress and pain of having a baby coming out of you, you’re immediately thrown into the lion’s cage. Okay, not exactly that bad (perhaps worst) but you’re faced with a crying and demanding baby that totally disrupt what you considered a normal like before baby came along.

2) You definitely don’t get enough sleep anymore – those back at the office that still have to work 9-6pm get more sleep that you do in that 60 days!


3) The one month (some will have 40 – 44 days) confinement feels like you’re serving time in a prison as you’re not allowed to get out of the house (although I cheated a few times, I still felt like a prisoner!)

4) I’m suppose to be resting and sleeping most of the time but tell me this, how can I when my breasts get engorged every 2-3 hours or so, have a crying baby that needs to be fed or diapers changed every 2-3 hours or so, have to express my milk after my baby gets direct feeding (as she doesn’t drink much and also I need to make sure the flow gets going for more milk later), have my MIL to remind me that I need to eat my breakfast/lunch/dinner when I finally get to catch up with my 40 winks, and also I still receive calls from office now and then (very minimal though). [I didn’t have a Confinement Lady with Rye Li and although my MIL was helping me, I looked after the girl at nights with some help from hubby when he wasn’t traveling].


5) Due to the lack of sleep and rest, and the after effects of childbirth, your body does not feel the same anymore. In fact, you do get the aches and pains especially in the first week. If you’re lucky, it will go away fast but if you’re unlucky, it will remain for some time. I was unfortunate to have my right leg affected by the huge amount of weight that I put on during my pregnancy with Rye Li and hence, I still suffered for nearly a month after she came out. Even my urut (malay: massage) lady was surprise by this as it was a nerve thingy and not a bone. Whenever she massaged that area, on reflex, my leg will come up and I will be in pain. I’m praying that I don’t get this again this time.

6) During the confinement month, there are a lot of taboos that you need to follow. For me, although my MIL wasn’t strict (and even if she is, knowing me, I won’t be so bothered), I still need to follow certain things accordingly. Of course, I didn’t stand long enough till 30 days to wash my hair. In fact after 8 days of not washing my hair, I had enough and told my MIL that I really have to wash my hair. She wanted me to wait till 12 days but I told her I cannot stand the dirt and itch anymore and she was nice enough to boil the herbs for me to wash my hair with.

Being it my first time, I wished that I washed my hair normally behind her back! That wash and bath was the hottest I ever had in my life! I was sweating profusely throughout the wash and also way after that. I didn’t really feel that cleaned after that although I did wash my hair. After this, I washed my hair weekly with the same routine (I cheated once normally when Rye Li was admitted to the hospital for high fever at 20 days old and I stayed with her there for 2 nights). So all in all, I washed my hair 5 times during that 30 days! But I did shower everyday – mostly without my MIL knowing but she did catch me a few times and told my hubby that I shouldn’t be touching water at all (yea right!).

7) With no intentions to disrespect my in-laws, that 1 month or so was the longest time I have ever stayed with them. Thankfully, the confinement was done in my house so at least I’m familiar with my surroundings. However, it also took me a while to adjust having them over in that 1 month. Before that, they have stayed over at my place whenever they came down from Penang but the most for over a week. I’m grateful and thankful that I had my MIL to look after me during the confinement period. However, with a new baby and a new routine, I have to admit that I did feel like a stranger in my house that month. There were times I wished that I was back home in my own family house – it was also a time where I missed my mom so badly! :) …my mom did come over now and then and I always resisted to shout out to her whether she could stay with me!


Alright, I’ll admit that I did get some relaxation of some sorts before I went back to office because I made myself to. Rye Li went to the day care at 1 and a half months so I also took the opportunity in that 10 days or so to do some errands like opening a bank account for her (she had some ang pow money for her full moon and also CNY after that). I also went for a spa as my body needed some relaxation so badly. But I can tell you, while doing my errands, it wasn’t like I had the whole day to myself. I had to work around my pumping schedule so that the girl gets enough milk as well as I didn’t suffer from the engorgement. Also, I had to do some light housework and made sure all this were done before I had to pick the girl up again from the day care and I remember that I mostly had her to myself as hubby was already traveling for work every week.

Now, with the second maternity leave coming up, one would think that it would be a breeze for me. Nope, I doubt so as I also have a toddler to deal with other than a baby and I’m not looking forward to a demanding toddler and a baby at the same time for my attention while my body is going through so many changes. Wish me luck!

60 days is definitely not enough to recuperate and whoever recommended the 60 days maternity leave here sucks big time. There were plans to have this move up to 90 days 2 years back but it never materialized. I feel even at 90 days, it is not enough but heck, anything more than 60 days is definitely welcome anytime.

So, ladies and gentlemen, if you ever come across my path, please do not mention that I got 2 months holiday soon or ever for that matter! With loads of hormones gushing through my body now, you better make the effort to make me laugh rather than to make me mad. ;)