New Addition - Baby Ying

The girls just love to take their own sweet time, don't they?

Baby Ying's delivery was a planned one, as contrary to her siblings who both decided to make their way out when they hit 38.5 weeks, she simply refused to make her entry, even when it got really cramped in Mummy's tummy, and Mummy was practically finding it a chore and pain sleeping. Perhaps, being frequently squashed and squeezed, coupled with all the noise even with the insulation, she decided it was safer to stay within. So, it was decided she should be hurried out on 9 Sep 2011, and we should report early at 7am in the morning at the Delivery Suite (just 2 days short of her EDD).

With every delivery, the time taken should be shorten right? At least that was what happened when Kang came along (approximately 6 hrs vs En's >12 hrs). Alas, this theory was totally taken apart, when she proved that she must beat her sister in the competition to resist leaving the comforts of Mummy's womb. And she certainly didn't do too badly. I would say she more or less evened the record.

Schedule of events:-

Slightly before 7am: Reported at Delivery Suite.

Ard 9am: Inexperienced Doc came in, took hell of a long time and a great deal of PAIN, did 2 blotched-up needle insertion on both my hands (which is still bruised after > 1 week), before announcing he would get his senior to do the job - faster, lesser pain and most importantly EFFECTIVE!

937am: Here comes the glucose drip.

1245pm: Dr JT broke the water bag. Oxytoxin followed soon after.

2pm: Started epidural.

Ard 430pm: Doc came in to check. Approximately 4cm dilated. Still not ready. He mentioned it'd be fast once it crossed 5cm.

718pm: Finally, OUT!

Within a span of 2+ years, much has changed at KKH. Now, they encouraged bonding by placing naked baby (san diapers) on Mummy's body right after wiping her clean. Mummy and Baby will then remain together in the Delivery Suite for about an hour before moving to the ward, where Baby will be moved to the Nursery. That was when dear Baby Ying decided to poo, letting Mummy touched her first pot of "gold". Another obvious change was in the renovation. The ward must have been updated recently to the likes of a 5-star hotel. What greeted me was a huge 40" (or 46") LED/ LCD tv. The decor exuded a luxurious and cozy feel. Best of all, for the accompanying Daddy, he didn't have to squeeze into the not-that-big wooden, make-shift "sofa bed" anymore. It had been upgraded to a larger leather-like day bed type of settee.

However, I certainly hope this will be my last stay there......

陈颖康 - 终于看见你的脸

2009年6月2日 - 日盼夜盼，我的小颖康终于决定来报到。

1am： 起床，再无法入眠。

2.30 - 4.30am： 数数数，大概每5分钟就一次阵痛。是时候叫爸爸起床了。

5.30am：到医院报到。这次较麻烦，要在一楼登记，再到二楼的Delivery Suite。回答了一些诸如几时开始阵痛，多频繁等等等问题，终于到产房报到。接下来就是换衣，让护士检查，继上monitor，等待Dr JT的到来......

医生穿着T-shirt来报到，接下来就是刺破羊水袋，吊点滴（包括催生剂Oxytoxin）。Dr JT说如果要注射epidural，最好是8时过后，用一剂就好了；p。心想，没问题啦，结果7.30am左右，阵痛越来越剧烈，终于忍到八点，注射了epidural。

之后，JT 又来检查了一次，大概只dilate了3cm。他说前5cm较慢。果然，11+时许，几分钟内便从5cm扩张到10cm。接下来，就是push,push,push,等医生来接生。终于，护士叫我别在push了。12时后，JT来了，再推几下，Baby终于出来了！这次我真的看到他出来的过程！12.15pm - 你终于来了。

What a feisty fellow! 一出来就发出响亮的啼哭声，一直到做了所有的清理工作，量体重、体积等等，Baby到了我怀了，开始喝nene，才安静下来。

~ 产房里

~ 一天大

~ 父子

~ 四天 - 与姐姐在一起

~ 四天

This Is It....

This is the last time I will see my Baby in 2D B/W.

Had felt my baby really low yesterday afternoon, just above my vaginal... then I felt like peeing every 10 mins or so.... By the time I left home to fetch K for my Gynae check up, the cramps on my lower abdomen became really frequent and it lasted hrs even after the check-up. I had a feeling it couldn't be too far...

True enough, Doc JT "certified" me as 1.5cm dilated. Baby is going to come anytime during the next few days. So he gave me 2 options:-

1. Let nature takes it course - set appointment for next Mon and get ready to go hospital anytime

2. Fix appointment to go hospital on Fri

I'd been experiencing loads of discomfort for the past days n practically having 3 hrs or less sleep each night, so I told him ASAP.

Guess what he said??? Then come in hospital on Wed 7.30am and we'll induce u (so there was a 3rd option).

Ok lor, Baby will come out latest tomorrow......

As I'm typing away, I can already feel the contractions coming n going between 5-10 min interval (not the lower abdomen cramping)... it could be today... and I certainly hope so.. Had been up since 1am... It's a good timing he's coming when En just started School Holidays, so that I can fetch her to school in 1 mth's time... though En will probably have to miss her "promotion" to Pre-Primary Ballet class this afternoon... will wait it out at home today... Guess both my darlings will be out in 38.5 weeks....

Bless us :)

Will this be IT?

As I'm typing away now, I'm wondering if my Baby is going to come out real soon. Had been having the runs since this morning. 4 Times already.... Moreover, last night, I could only sleep ard 2am. Prior to that, I was getting out of bed like every 15 mins to empty my bowels. Was also experiencing more n more pressure beneath, especially when I'm lying down and shifting my body position. Was particularly bad last night.

Could this be it?? Well, I really can't be sure, cos the last time, it was due to leakage of amniotic fluid so I didn't quite get to monitoring my contractions after induction of labour. Though it quite felt like feelings of wanting to pass motion too...

It's 37 weeks n 2 days now.. Baby is safe to come if he wants to. Just hope I don't end up delivering in the house/ car ;p.....

Riding the waves....

It had been a challenging time since we came home, esp for this couple of weeks. I guess the reasons r plenty - K's unhappiness at work, re-adjusting to life beyond our own little family, more hectic lifestyle having to fetch En to-n-fro school everyday, increase in familial commitment etc, physical challenges (we have been falling sick one after the other, consecutively, ever since we return, non-stop, so much so the doc's office had become our regular haunt. We must have visited our GP for at least 7-8 times in total since Dec), discomforts from this pregnancy (made worse by my sickness), hormonal changes, the unbearable heat that's causing me rashes outbreak everywhere...... So much so that situation had gotten somewhat out-of-hand in the last weeks, that I'd wallowed in so much self-pity with feelings of being neglected, uncared for n unloved. It must have been a tough time for K too, for I believe he's also going through a very rough patch at work. Being the sole breadwinner, with another mouth to feed soon, the pressure must be intense. Perhaps that accounts partly for his insensitivity. I tried to understand but sometimes when little things add up, over a period of time, it's just too difficult.....

After that particularly scary incident ( I'm sorry I might have traumatised En), I really felt the need to just offload all that's been bugging me, how unbalanced n disrespected I felt at times. And I'm truly surprised n touched at the outcome of my no-holds-bar confession. Something I truly need in a time like this. I hope that things can really take a turn for the better, esp with Baby coming soon (n Yes, he's still superbly active, esp as my cough is disturbing him. I guess he must be very anxious to come out).

Frankly speaking, I do foresee myself going a little crazy after birth (as with En). My dear Boy, hope that u can be my pillar of strength n give me a little extra love, patience n care. 我比上次老了，体力没那么好，又有两个小瓜要照顾，所以真的需要更多的support.

Baby, Baby

This year is certainly a Baby Boom year, at least for friends and relatives ard me :)

Since I returned from the States, I had already known of 5 new babies, with 1 just delivered over the weekend (all boys haha). And there will be more to receive in 2009 (at least 3 more, including mine, of cos :)).

Frankly speaking, not all the pregnancies were/ are smooth-going. In fact, for one of my close frens, she had pregnancy complications for her past pregnancies. However, looking at the adversities that she faced, be it through her pregnancies, family challenges, relationship issues etc, I truly marvel at her tenacity in the face of problems. Seldom did I hear her complaining, whenever she talked abt the issues she faced, they were usually in a matter-of-fact manner. Rather than lamenting on how "unfortunate" she was, she took everything in her stride, focusing on finding solutions, instead of wallowing in self-pity. It's not for me to share her challenges here, but believe me, many would have given up/ broken down if put in her shoe ( I certainly won't fare as well). For someone with her strength, I certainly hope that she'll be blessed with an easy pregnancy this time round. If God had meant for the previous experiences to be a test, she has proven herself way beyond expectations.

Perhaps due to a difference in life experiences, family background or simply character build-up, there r also some who find it tough to face up to the changes brought about by the new life growing n blossoming in their body. It is understandable that every pregnancy is unique and so is the body of every mum-to-be. Sometimes, it is ez to fall prey to the depressing feelings n discomforts, esp with raging hormones working against us ;p, not withstanding the fact that it may be difficult to get the men ( which by no fault of theirs, that they haven't the opportunity to go through the exhilaration of carrying a new life in their body, to marvel at experiencing the tiny one boxing ard in their tummy) to empathies with what we're going through and the price we have to pay thereafter (the "disfigurement" of our body - flabby tummy/ bumps, drooping b**ps, cellulite, varicose veins, stretch marks etc. They would rather invest in a new set of rims for their tyres than pay for "re-constructive" work to be done on our "abused" wares which need some extreme makeover). However, as mothers (or future mums), we have a life we need to be responsible for, to care n protect, to give the best we can n nurture for, so that he/ she may grow to be a happy n healthy (be it physically or emotionally) individual. Shouldn't we strive to be a living example n try to lead happier lives ourselves?

For me, I'm far from a saint. I have my complaints abt the discomforts of pregnancy, abt wanting more attention from my hubby. Plague by insomnia, back ache, PGP, with a bump n thighs growing way beyond proportion, breathlessness that comes even when I'm sitting, lying down or standing still that causes bolts of faintness n panic attacks and recently Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which causes pain in my right hand, I can be assured of more to come in the following mths. However, I must say, in general, I do enjoy being pregnant! This is a privilege for women. The thought of having a new life in me, someone I can call MY baby, this is enough to carry me through.

I know that when Baby 2 comes along, there will be a period where I may be going through some depressing moments, when I will feel like I'm going crazy, when I will be asking if I'd ever be able to bond with him, when even my mum will be doubting if I'll be able to handle life as a mum all over again..... however, I know one day, as I look back, I will relish at those moments just as I am doing now with my darling En. Being the Stubborn One, somehow, I will manage to raise n nurture my 2 babies, be it through more knocks on the wall, even lesser Me-time whatsoever. Simply because I am a MOTHER.

To: Fathers/ Fathers-to-be

Don't forget to show more support for your wives, pamper them a little if u can. It's never ez to go through the process of child-birth.

And if u're thinking of splurging on that new Tag Heuer, or that new car, or some spectacular sports rim, or a new golf set, or simply u have a little extra to spare, some sponsorships for "reconstructive" work on your IMPORTANT other half will be greatly appreciated, bearing in mind, u get to enjoy the results as well!!

18

Today is K's birthday and baby's 18th week. I had planned for a night at Sentosa's Siloso Beach Resort's Roof Top Garden Jacuzzi Room. The initial plan was a getaway for just the 2 of us. However, with K starting work at his previous company (which demanded that they put in at least 120% of their stipulated working hrs, n 1 of their weekend/ week or 后果自负), and En in the afternoon session (which meant she had to drop her afternoon nap), thus having to sleep early, father and daughter hardly get to see each other. So, he requested to bring her along. Anyway, we didn't get to do much except for lazing in the room, making use of the roof-top jacuzzi and outdoor rain shower, venturing out for meals and just a short shopping trip at Vivocity.

I have been feeling really tired ever since I had Baby No.2. Though I'm into my 2nd trimester, the discomforts that I encountered during first trimester (tiredness, vomiting, insomnia etc) don't seem to be going off, while the symptoms for 3rd trimester like back ache etc are appearing earlier. In fact, this pregnancy is rather different from the first time where my morning sickness lasted only a while and my 2nd trimester was a breeze - no constipation, even my prob of gastric wind etc disappeared and I had a good appetite.

Baby No.2 is also much more active than En. I started feeling his movement while I was in my 16th week. At 18th week now, I can easily feel him moving, esp ard 10pm at night. The movement is usually quite obvious and it will come on and off for the next half hr or so, unlike En who usually just produced some light kicks here n there n would stop after that. Am I more sensitive or is he going to be one rambunctious rascal???

Anyway I'm wishing for a more comfortable pregnancy ahead and for K's company to show more 人性 (which is quite unlikely, with news of further pay cut etc... wonder if he should have just taken the severance and left initially. Well, I guess things will work out in the end. Just have to rough it out through this bad times).