Dylan having URTI

My little prince was having this nose blocked thingy ...

Poor thing...

Send him for a check on Friday (26.02.10) with Dr Wong Chin Khoon ...

Turned out to be URTI - Upper Respiratory Tract Infection!

He was given or prescribed with Iladin nose drop 0.01% - one drop / 3 times per day for 5 days, and Mucosolvon liquid 0.5mls/ 2 times per day for 5 days.

1 month 3 days old

Time flies...

Dylan is already 1 month 3 days old.
He is still having his full blown infant pimples and heat rashes all over his face and body.
He is able to smile spontaneous.
He is able to visually follow movements including turning his head from side to side.
He is drinking or taking 90 mls every 2 - 3 hrly of either EBM or Formula Milk Similac.
He is now fully bottle feed.

Day 20

This is day 20. He looked so matured already!

EBM =expressed breast milk

Its been almost twenty days of direct breast feeding to my son. What's my view?

Advantage:
Building the bond between your child and you.
Cheap
Convenience
Nutritious and its better than formula milk

Disadvantage:
Your child gets addicted to your breast, suckle despite had his empty stomach filled
Engorgement
Lopsided breast
Sore nipples
Countless deprived sleep hours in late nights
Have no idea of much mls was administered to the baby

Anyways, my usual expressed milk from medela electric pump is about 30 -45ml/3h. Amazingly, after a hot herbal soup my mum brewed... it turned out to be 70ml.

Day 13 When you are asleep...

My little prince when he is asleep in my arms... he is 13 day old.

Deliveried my prince Dylan on the 07.01.10

Recap...

I was discharged from the hospital on 06.01.10 due to persistent undilated cervix and seems to have a false labour.

Therefore I was scheduled for a elective caesarean delivery on 07.01.10. Since I am already 2-3cm dilate at the cervix and my edd is on 07.01.10.

On 07.01.10, I was accompanied by my hubby to the Day Surgery Ward for the elective caesarean. We reached there at about before 7am. Got myself registered and checked-in for the scheduled operative arranged as a second case in main operating theatre.

Before the decision made for caesarean, wanted epidural as source of pain relief. But after speaking to the anethestist, decided for general anethesia which was a very wrong decision for my case...

Why?
- I have no control over the situation that's about to happen
- My hubby have to wittness my unconsciousness state and my opened abdominal cavity
- My baby APGAR score was not excellent initially, bluish over the two lower limbs

If given me a second chance, I would prefer epidural...

Thank God and blessings, I had given birth to a healthy boy Prince Dylan at birth weight 3.165kg witnessed by his dad Roy.

Finally home on 06th Jan 2010!

After all the advise, checks, assessments, and stay over at the ward 96/13, nothing happened!

I did not deliver my baby, my cervix did not further dilate!

Throughout the night in ward... I kept having irregular painful contraction over my abdominal and cervix region. Almost every hour I was awaken by the pain, but seems that it was not good enough for delivery yet.

My hubby is always supportive and always around when needed him. I was too afraid he might tired out sooner than me before our baby arrival. I wanna to go home badly, for hubby's sake and our proper rest sake. We did not rest well as nurses, healthcare workers and doctors is always popping in and out of our room! We are always disturbed! Now I finally understood why my patient always complaining not having enough rest during their hospital stay. And hospital's food sucks big time! despite having a A class stay! So my sweet hubby went out to get some real food for me MAC DONALD's!!!!! hahahaha... have not missed Mac so much in my life before!

Anyway, on 6th Jan 2010 morning, Prof Biswas popped by and assessed me and still my cervix dilation was not progressing. He advised that c-section could be possible tomorrow, if I choose to do it. I choose it! I want my baby out!

SO it will be done! Tomorrow first thing in the morning I will be scheduled for the C-section!

It all started on the 05th Jan 2010

I had contractions over my lower abdominal on 5th of Jan 2010... at 2100hrs.

Till about 0130hrs on 06th Jan 2010, I could no longer tolerate the frequency of the pain and the thought of my baby is popping out soon. Called the labour ward, and they advised me to come down if the pain wasnt tolerable...

Chatted with Janet on the phone regards about going down into the labour ward, she suspect I could be in my early labour and it would be safe if I could pop by and get strapped down with the ctg to monitor my baby.

Took her advise... zoomed down to the hospital.

At the labour ward, assessment done by the doctor had showed that my cervix was about about 2 -3 cm dilated, however it was still thick. I was strapped down on the ctg for monitoring.

My baby's heart rate was doing well about at the range of 115 to 130 bpm, for my contractions it can go from minimum of 60 to 125 threshold.

Nurses kept asking me if I needed any form of anesthesia... I option for epidural, however I didnt want it now as I am still able to tolerate the pain. So my contractions come and go irregularly! throughout the stay in the labour ward, we didnt get to sleep... we were so tired! The doc came by at 5am in morning and checked me out and I am still 2 -3 cm dilated!

Prof Biswas came by at 830 am in morning and checked, I am still only 2 -3cm dilated. He advised that as this is my first baby, I am still in early labour and my baby was still not engaged. And there is a possibly that my labour might dragged for more than 10 hours and beyond! He sounded me out that there is a possibly that I might need a c-section if baby's head is still high, or I have to wait for another one week with all these contractions! As he didnt want to me suffer, he suggested that I should think about having the c-section.

Prof Tan who is the consultant in-charge for the labour ward, came by at 1030am in morning and checked, I am only 3 cm dilated! And asked me if I needed any form of pain relieve, and I said no. So he transferred me up to ward 96/13 for further monitoring.

Prof Biswas came by again at 1130am and checked. He was agreeable with Prof Tan that I stayed on for monitoring, despite that I wanted to go home.

So I stayed...

Week 38 + 7 days & still counting down

This is my longest wait in my life...

When is my son popping out? Everyday staying at home and wait, is no laughing matter! It almost drived me nutz. At least, if he pops out I have tons of things to do, will have sleepless nights, countless breast feeding to do, tons of cloth diaper to wash... confine at home for the longest time of my life for a month.

Cannot wait to go for my obs. review next monday. NO! Wanna my prince to pop out on his own anytime now!

Anyways ... my life have to go on rite? So decided to do something today:

1. I have booked a movie on INVICTUS by Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon today at 1050pm in Vivocity GV.

2. Will do more laundry washing today after hubby is back from work.

3. Will wash the carpet in the living area.

4. Will read up the instruction manual on the breast pump by Avent.

5. Will set up the electronic stream sterilizer for the milk bottles.

That's all folks. Happy New Year!

Week 38 + 4 days & we are still waiting patiently...

Had my obs. outpatient review today by Prof Biswas at 11 am.

Assessment:
1. Baby still in Left Occiput Transverse (LOT)
2. Baby head still NOT engaged!
3. Did a abdominal scan and showed that my baby indeed still not into the birth canal!

Outcome:
1. Will give my baby another week to engage himself into the birth canal
2. Will need to review again next week on monday 04/01/10 by Prof Biswas if by then I am still not gone into labour
3. KIV C-section on Tuesday 05/01/10.


When the baby is facing out the mother's right thigh, the baby is said to be Left Occiput Transverse (LOT). This position is half way between a posterior and anterior position. It can indicate positive movements towards an anterior position if the baby has previously been known to be posterior (in either direction).

However, with a baby in the Left Occiput Transverse (LOT) position in the pelvis labor may be a bit more painful and slower. To alleviate pain and encourage the baby to continue its rotation towards the anterior positions, you can use several positions in labor:

• Lunging
• Pelvic Tilts
• Standing and Swaying

These positions encourage the baby to move into a more favorable position by opening the pelvis more and providing a bit of help in moving. Ask your doula, labor nurse, midwife or doctor for more suggestions.

Week 38 + 0 days & still waiting

The "COUNT-TO-TEN" Fetal movement chart

This chart was given to me by the Hospital staff.

So far my prince had a kicking-good time in my womb! =P

Instructions:
This is a simple method by which the mother herself plays an important part in checking the health of her own baby. It involves counting the number of movements made by the baby during the day.

Starting at 9 o'clock in the morning, count the number of movements until the total equals to 10. Then tick the time taken to count-to-ten in the appropriate box on the graph.

For example, beginning tomorrow, start counting at 9am. If at 2.15pm the tenth count is reached, tick the square between 2pm to 2.30pm. If at 2.50pm tick the square between 2.30pm to 3pm.

If by 9pm your total is less than 10, indicate the actual number in the box below the thick black line. If you feel less than 10 movements by 6pm for the day contact your physician.

Week 37 + 6 days

Little prince's Wishlist

My little prince has almost everything... coz' both his king and queen have gotten most of the stuffs except for a few... like item no. 1 to 6. The rest of stuffs is optional...

If well-wishers would still want to get something for the little prince, would appreciate that one should look through queen's wishlist... =}

If there isnt anything thats in your mind that listed down on the wishlist... you can explore gifts for age 12 months and above... that would be something challenging to think about...

Wishlist:
1. Grobag - (something like a sleeping bag for infant)
Design: Green car blue, Humphrey's corner, Grand day out
Size: 6-18 or 18-36 months
Togs: 1 tog bag
Place to buy: Mothercare

2. Highchair - (for baby / toddler to sit comfortably at table during meals)
Brand: Strokke
Design: Trap Trapp
Acessories needed: cushion and baby set
Colour: Walnut or Cherry
Place to buy: Mothercare, Spring, Mother Works

3. Bumbo (for infant to sit in during meal time)
Brand: Bumbo
Acessories needed: tray
Colour: Aqua, green, yellow, or purple
Place to buy: Mothercare, Mother Works, Baby Kingdom, Baby Hypermart

4. Safety gate (to prevent child from escaping from one place to another)
Brand: no preference
Others: Must be a pressure fix gates, NOT wall fix gates. Wooden preferred. Walk through safety swing gate with triple locking system
Colour: Walnut or cherry
Place to buy: Mothercare, Mother Works, Baby Kingdom, Baby Hypermart

5. Cash

6. Vouchers
Store: Ikea, Mothercare, NTUC, Coldstorage, Toys'r us

7. Humidifer
Brand: no preference
Size: Small (estimate size forearm length height)
Others: Remote control, timer, humidistat (the status of the humidification level in the room or output)
Place to buy: Home-fix, Best Denki, Courts

8. Air Purifiers
Brand: no preference
Size: small (estimate sie abt. forarm length height)
Others: Plasma + UV + HEPA filter, must be QUIET
Place to buy: Mothercare, Home-fix, Best Denki, Courts

9. Digital dual purpose bath and room temperature monitor
Brand: no preference
Size: small
Place to buy: Mothercare, Spring

10. Bath toys (the ones that baby play during bathing time)
Brand: no preference
Others: prefer to have the toys and a drying bag that can be hang to come along with it

11. Toys (the ones that child loves)
Brand: no preference
Others: prefer to have toys from 12 months onwards

Week 36 + 5 days & still counting down

Week 35 + 5 days still counting down...

No signs ...

Still waiting ...

All stuffs washed and dried ...

Delivery bag & diaper bag all ready to go ...

Going on leave soon, starting from 10.12.09 ...

So when? Prof Biswas asked me to be patient and wait till 38 week ...

So I will wait after 38 week ... feeling moody now maybe its hormonal .... sighhh

Wishlist Bumbo baby sitter

The Bumbo Baby Sitter is a revolutionary new concept with world wide patent rights, uniquely designed according to the baby’s posture to seat babies independently in an upright sitting position, from as young as 3 months up to an age of approximately 14 months depending on the individual development of the child, thereby providing a snug and cozy environment for your baby.

Bumbo Baby Chair Interesting Facts:

Endorsed by Pediatric and Orthopedic Facilities

The Bumbo Baby Seat's key feature is that the seat is at a lower level than the leg openings.

This provides correct support for the lumber area of the vertebral column.

The Bumbo has a favorable orthopedic effect that is important to assist in the correct spinal development of an infant.

The Bumbo's raised leg spaces result in an increased flexibility of the baby's hip and knee joints, which has the benefit of decreasing stress on the baby's spine.

The Bumbo's front support won't push against baby's groin but prevents baby from sliding forward

Hoping to have either Aqua, Blue or Mint color with tray.

Diaper ointment & cream

The most essential part of baby's skin care investment... I am thinking of the various brands...

1. Avent - With allantoin, camomile and milk proteins. A rapidly absorbed, non-sticky, water resistant barrier cream to soothe, moisturise and protect delicate skin at nappy changing time.

Got it from John Little SGD$14.80 (UP$18.50)




2. Desitin - Helps provide overnight relief * Goes on smoothly & wipes off easily * Helps heal, soothe & prevent diaper rash Desitin Creamy with Aloe and Vitamin E is specially formulated to provide the effective diaper rash care you expect...
Got it from USA USD$3.50 for a tube of 4 oz. Locally at least $12.00.




3. Califorina Baby - Nature's First-Aid! California Baby® Calendula Cream is excellent for use on general diaper area, cradle cap, on cuts and scrapes, and may be used on face and body for extra-dry or sensitive skin. Botanically based, our light and fluffy Calendula Cream contains the active ingredient of Calendula, which has been used to heal the skin for centuries. California Baby® Calendula Cream offers deep hydration, absorbs completely, and leaves skin feeling satiny smooth. Use daily for everyday protection and especially when the air is dry and baby's skin needs relief. Our customers have reported excellent results with California Baby®'s Calendula Cream in their fight against eczema, perioral dermatitis, and other skin sensitivities. The entire family can benefit from this soothing, multipurpose cream. We suggest that you try California Baby® Calendula Cream and/or California Baby® Botanical Moisturizing Cream in combination with any of our Shampoos & Bodywashes. Also add California Baby® Calming™ Soothing & Healing Spray, and any of our non-chemical sunscreens to your skin care regime.

Coconut Juice

Some advise from experienced friends with jaundiced infant...

They advised me to start consuming coconut juice during third trimester... 1-3 times per week to prevent jaundiced infant.

Started drinking since 32nd week of my pregnancy. Hope it will really help.

Today just had one in a thai rest. near my place... it was sooOOOOooo sweet and nice.

First Sign Part 2

Here are some things to watch for in the weeks and days surrounding your due date.

1. More frequent Braxton-Hicks contractions
2. Lingering back pain
3. Noticing the baby's weight has shifted downward (or the baby dropping into your pelvis)
4. Nesting urges - energy spurts or a restless feeling at any hour of the day
5. Some increased cervical discharge
6. Frequent and/or loose bowel movements
7. Possible queasy or mild flu-like symptoms

Read more: http://childbirth---labour-delivery.suite101.com/article.cfm/possible_signs_of_labor#ixzz0XhAMTuHb