First Visit to the Paediatrician

Nathan went for his first paed visit today. He looked rather yellow so Uncle Eng Keow ordered a jaundice test. He cried when the nurse pricked his heel to get blood. I was worried that the result will be > 15.

As it turns out, his jaundice level is 16.1 My heart sank. Nurse says that because it is borderline, we have 2 options: 1) admit Nathan for 3 days 2 nights where he'll undergo phototherapy treatment at the hospital ($600+), or 2) rent a phototherapy machine so he can undergo treatment at home. I chose the latter as I could not bear leaving Nathan in the hospital. Had to hold back my tears. I just want him to be well.

Uncle Eng Keow also recommended that we went to see the lactation consultant. Insufficient milk intake could be the reason why Nathan's still jaundiced. We spent a good hour or two at Thomson's ParentCraft Centre. The LC was patient and helpful. She showed me the different positions and helped me with getting Nathan to latch on correctly. She also taught Dean how to feed Nathan using a cup. To prevent nipple confusion, we were not supposed to bottlefeed or use pacifiers in the first month. Hence, if we wanted to give Nathan expressed breast milk or formula milk, we were advised to use the cup. I'm praying that my milk supply will increase and that Nathan will be able to feed well from the breast.

Dear God, You saw me thru my pregnancy and delivery. Help me to trust that You will continue to watch over our little family of 3. Heal Nathan from jaundice and help me as I struggle with breastfeeding. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

More Sleepless NIghts...

Again, the night was difficult. Even though Nathan took a full feed, he was not able to settle after the second night feed. After the 4am feed, he refused to settle until 6.30am. Gosh! That was tiring.

The rest of the day seemed to go well. He'd wake every 2 to 3 hours for a feed, and settle well after he's fed. I suppose he's still on a reverse day-night cycle. Let's hope he recovers from 'jet lag' soon.

Dear God, please give me wisdom and strength as I learn how to be a good mommy. Give me the patience and strength I need to care for Nathan. I pray that Nathan will be able to settle well at night, like how he does in the day, and that we'd be able to train him to sleep thru the night by the time he's 8 weeks old. Then daddy will be well rested for work the next day. We are so thankful that you've given us Nathan and pray that You'll continue to guide us a we seek to bring him up to be a man of honour and grace.

First Day Home

Mom and babe were discharged in the afternoon after two nights in hospital.

We're so thankful that God has brought Nathan into our lives. Praise God the delivery was smooth even though I was close to giving up. Dean has been a really sweet husband and doting father. He has been most supportive. Have never seen this side of him - the fatherly side. He's taken on the role so naturally.

Felt rather emotional when it was time to be discharged. While Dean was settling the hospital bills, I was tearing in the ward. When in hospital, help was just a button away. Nathan cries, we can't figure out why; press the button and the nurse appears. Had difficulty breast feeding; press the button and the nurse appears. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to manage when we got home. I teared in the car on the way home too. Prayed that God will give me the strength and wisdom that I'd need to handle this responsibility.

The first night was rather difficult. After the second night feed, Nathan refused to settle. We tried soothing him, coaxing him to go back to sleep. He just wouldn't. Dean was real sweet. After we failed miserably at pacifying Nathan, he carried Nathan out of the room and asked me to get some sleep. Of course I couldn't get to sleep knowing that Nathan's crying. We weren't sure if he was crying cos he was hungry, uncomfortable or ??? He's been fed, diaper has been changed and everything seems to be right (at least to us). Dean managed to pacify him after awhile, and he slept for a bit, and woke up again. Figuring that he might be hungry because my milk hasn't come in, we decided to feed him the last bottle of Friso formula milk that we got from the hospital. I was feeling kinda disappointed about not being able to satisfy him with my milk. Dear God, I pray my milk will come in real soon, and that they'd always be enough milk for Nathan.

Nathan's Birth Story

Here goes Nathan’s birth story…

4+am

Felt like my water bag was leaking.
Went to the toilet to clean up, and noticed that my mucous plug has dislodged.
Washed up, thinking that I can wait till a more sane hour like 6am, before going to the hospital.
Another gush of water. Guess not.

5am

Took a shower.
Did some last minute packing.
Woke Dean up.
Dean showered.

5.45am

Left the house.
Popped by the post office to post some letters.

6.15am

Reached the hospital (called hospital on the way there so they can be on standby).
Midwife asked about my history etc.
Midwife did a virginal examination and was surprised to find that I was already 5cm dilated as I told her I felt no pain/contractions.
Dean was asked to see to the admission procedures (I/Cs of dad n mum needed).

6.45am

Enema given.

Poo-ed twice

9.23am

I was asked if I wanted any pain killers. Prior to this, I had already started using the laughing gas.
Another VE done. 7cm dilated. Had to decide on painkillers immediately as they can’t be administered any later else might have side effects.
Thinking that I hadn’t reached the peak of pain, I decided to take the pethidine jab.

9.27am

Pethidine administered by midwife. If I had opted for epidural, an anaesthetist will need to be called.
Pethidine takes ½ hour to take effect.

10.30am

Another VE. 9cm dilated.

Midwife got me to practice pushing. Her instructions – “push as if you are trying to pass motion”. ??? I had no idea what I was expected to do, and according to her, I wasn’t making much progress. Basically, the contractions come, and I’m supposed to push, hold for 10 seconds, and repeat till the contractions are gone. Typically that would be about 3 cycles of pushing. I was getting tired, and on the verge of giving up. Asked her if there were any alternatives.

11+am

Dr Thong appears. Broke my water bag. The pushing continues…

1.54pm

Nathan’s born

Dean and I are so thankful that God has given us Nathan. His hand is clearly visibly through my pregnancy and delivery, and we trust that He’ll continue to guide us as we seek to bring Nathan up in His ways.

First family photo with Nathan

Maclaren Stroller Liner

I've been looking for a Maclaren stroller liner for Nathan's Maclaren Techno XT. For some reason, I can't find it in any of the shops in Singapore, and had to resort to getting it online. It is a universal liner that can be used on all Maclaren strollers. Hope Nathan likes his stroller liner. Recently, I learnt that we got to get them used to sitting in their stollers / car seats from the start, and not wait till we decide to venture out after confinement's over before they get to ride in their new "toy" for the first time. So I suppose taking him for walks in his stroller shall be one of the wake time activities in his first month at home.