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| Thursday, 15-May-2008 23:00 |
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Aina Goes Home...
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Morning of May 15, we were discharged.
Waited for hubby, as he had to go to work that morning (unfortunately, his 3 days leave had expired the day before), and he arrived around 11.30am. Settled our bill and got the nurses to prepare Aina.
Hubby recorded most of the journey home, which he will burn into CD -- for record purposes, he says 
Aina's first nap at home 
Breastfeeding Aina
... is impossible 
I have tried every trick in the book, but my supply is sooo limited. Aina just refuses to work hard, so she gives up after a few tries, then screams until we get her formula. I'm left with tiny wet patches on my t-shirt as the milk comes quite slow.
I tried pumping, but too little, so I can't even get an ounce   
I am at wits end now, but still hoping that I will be able to eventually get enough to feed her.
AM
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| Tuesday, 13-May-2008 00:00 |
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How It All Started....
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my last pose with HUGE belly
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the ward.....
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...my room
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wif hubby
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baby's heartbeat and my contractions
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banded!
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The morning of May 12, 2008 arrived.
I waited at home for hubby as he had to go into the office (even though he was officially on leave already!) for something urgent before we headed to the hospital.
From the beginning, he was busy making sure that all batteries were fully charged as he was prepared to video the birth of our firstborn...
Then, he took a pic of me in front of our house, the last pose in my enormous state, so to speak!!
We registered and checked in, then waited for Prof. I think hubby was more nervous as he could not sit still, at all 
Since I did not eat anything since the evening before, I was all prepared to be operated on if it was necessary...
The nurses hooked me to some monitoring device to monitor baby's heartbeat as well as my contractions, and by the time Prof came, he was happy to note that at least I was experiencing some contractions 
However, an internal immediately told him that baby's head was waaayyy off so off to the OT we were headed....
By the time we got into the OT, and got everything sorted, it was almost 1pm. I could not see hubby at first, and thought we'd lost him along the way since he was so busy taking pics. Turned out he had to change to get into the OT with us.
It was kinda weird as I felt everything that was being done on me, including the tugging of baby from inside me... thinking back, it was kinda freaky!!!
The moment baby was out, I felt a huge relief.... no more pressure from within. And, at that moment, I heard the azan for Zohor prayers. Then, a few moments later, I heard baby screaming her lungs out 
Poor baby was crying...and crying...and cryinggg..... maybe protesting the fact that she had to get out from the warm cocoon she's gotten familiar with over the months 
When Prof announced baby could easily weigh in at 4.5kg, he told me it was a good thing we didn't try for a normal delivery as I originally wanted to. Seems everybody agreed!!
Turned out, baby Aina weighed 4.17kg and measured 53cm at birth.
I may have 'missed out' on labour pains and contractions, but I guess c-sections has its own unique experience.
There may be more downsides to a c-sect -- longer time to heal, limited movements for longer time, etc. -- but hey! I get to meet the little person who'd created so much havoc in my life lately, and THAT is SOOOoooo worth it!!! 
AM
p.s. PICS OF AINA, approx. 24 hours after birth
Aliza's ShoutBox:
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RinnChan ~ wa'alaikumsalam kak rin... tks. for now, it's 'mama'. tak tau if later she changes the title herself I wanted to try for normal, but 1. her head was way off, and 2. prof tak advise bcoz ni first baby. dia takut trauma both to mom and baby... so, kita dgr jer la kan... takut jadi apa2 pulak...
MaDiHa ~ kak... saya masa dgr aina nangis first time, cuma terfikir "alhamdulillah....." and bila tgk dia... kussss semangat! tu jer la skrg ni amazed tgk dia seketul2....
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| Monday, 12-May-2008 23:41 |
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Introducing...... Aina Nadira
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Born (C-Section) 12 May, 2008
At 1:10pm
Weighing..... 4.17kg
at HUKM Cheras
The journey to parenthood will be updated later
Aliza's ShoutBox:
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jeff ~ tks bro... mmg the greatest gift
fizashar ~ tenkiu... besar pun mcm mama dia gakksss
apis585 ~ tks... mmg sgt2 gebusss dan montoks.... c-sect tu mmg no choice sbb baby pun menyenget sket position dia... as they say, things always happen for a reason i.e. a blessing in disguise!
saudah ~ terima kasih
MaDiHa ~ tks akak... nak beranak lagi? ok jer kan...  Petua nak anak gebuss mcm ni senang aje, ikutla mcm mama dia ni, melantak aje belasah semua makanan yg ada!! Oh yea... tks sekali lagi, hari ni first mangkuk of sup haruan sudah kena ngaappp!
kuchai ~ tks dear.... abang nasir kiter yg tolong upload kan gambar2 ni last nite. i just supervise jer dari katil spital ni... yuppss masih kat spital for now. bosan la, jadi update sket2 apa yg bole...
Aza[/b[ ~ tenkiu dear....
[b]fiza ~ tks... skrg ni panggil aina aje sbb pendek and ringkas. biasa la kan... kalau letak aina je mcm too short, so tambah la nadira yg bermaksud rare, precious
nash ~ hahahaha... ini la baby nyer yg kiter usung sampai ke mana2 semata2 bergambar... abg nasir pun kata, takde rupa dia langsung... nak tau apa yg sama dgn babah nyer? tgk gambar yg tengah, jari jemari yg melentik tu... itu la sebijik mcm babah dia...... Nanti i dah balik umah i bgtau... lagi senang jumpa kat umah jer...
Auntie Ita ~ thanks! yuppsss, worth all the aches and pains and mild suffering towards the end...
Zira ~ terima kasih..... dia pun asyik dok nangis pasal kena usik pipi kat abah dia.
Gee ~ Bukan ketam je... udang pun pantang jumpa. Thursday ni dah discharge. Jemput la datang.
Ely, Arin and kids ~ Thank you. Sampai jugak berita kat sana ya. Huh... uncle tu entah banyak mana dah ambil gambar. Aunty dok kena ceaser pun dia boleh ambil gambar and video.... siap shaky video tu pasal dia menggigil tengok aunty kena potong.
Diana ~ Salam perkenalan. Terima kasih kerasa sudi singgah kat sini.
Wawa ~ tenkiu.... kalau sempat, kot langkah panjang sket nanti bole la bawak pi jenguk opis dulu before masuk keje... hehehe...
Putter ~ tenkiu... penuh tangan dukung aina ni
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| Thursday, 8-May-2008 17:04 |
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...and STILL waiting
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Actually, I do have a week or so left so it isn't so bad, but since I have these horrible migraine-like headaches everyday, baby's arrival now would really be a great help Not to mention also my elephant-sized ankles now
(just a pic of on foot, I know, but both are the size of tree trunks!!)
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Your pregnancy: 39 weeks
Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.
How your life's changing:
At each of your now-weekly visits, your caregiver will do an abdominal exam to check your baby's growth and position. She might also do an internal exam to see whether your cervix has started ripening: softening, effacing (thinning out), and dilating (opening). But even armed with this information, there's still no way for your caregiver to predict exactly when your baby is coming. If you go past your due date, your caregiver will schedule you for fetal testing (usually a sonogram) after 40 weeks to ensure that it's safe to continue the pregnancy. If you don't go into labor on your own, most practitioners will induce labor when you're between one and two weeks overdue — or sooner if there's an indication that the risk of waiting is greater than the risks of delivering your baby without further delay.
While you're waiting, it's important to continue to pay attention to your baby's movements and let your caregiver know right away if they seem to decrease. Your baby should remain active right up to delivery, and a noticeable slowdown in activity could be a sign of a problem. Also call if you think your water may have broken. Membranes rupture before the beginning of labor in about 8 percent of term pregnancies. Sometimes there's a big gush of fluid, but sometimes there's only a small gush or a slow leak. (Don't try to make the diagnosis yourself. Call even if you only suspect you have a leak.) If you rupture your membranes and don't start contractions on your own, you'll be induced.
Surprising Facts: How your body changes after giving birth
Even if your labor and delivery was fast and easy, it will take some time for you to feel like your old self again. It may be hard, but try to remember that it took nine months to get here, so you won't bounce back — emotionally or physically — overnight.
What to expect from your body:
• You'll start losing weight right away. While you probably won't return to your pre-pregnancy weight for some time, most women are about 12 pounds lighter after delivering one 7- to 9-pound baby and losing another pound or two of placenta and another two pounds or so of blood and amniotic fluid. Although it will take a while for your body to regain its pre-pregnancy shape — that pregnant belly may stick around for longer than you'd like — by the end of the first week, you'll probably have lost about 4 pounds of water weight.
• You'll have lochia discharge. After your baby is born, the cells that form the lining of your uterus will begin to slough off. This results in a discharge called lochia that lasts for weeks. At first, this discharge is mixed with blood, so it appears bright red and menstrual-like, then it gradually gets lighter in color, finally fading to white or yellow before it stops.
• Your emotions will be in flux. Within the first week or two of giving birth, many new moms experience the "baby blues." You may find yourself moody and weepy, exhausted, unable to sleep, or feeling trapped or anxious. Your appetite can change, too — you might want to eat more or less. The good news is this emotional upheaval will generally pass within two to three weeks.
Call your caregiver if:
• You have signs of abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as soaking more than one sanitary pad in an hour, passing blood clots bigger than a golf ball, or bright red bleeding that occurs four days or more after you give birth. You may have what's called a delayed postpartum hemorrhage. (Note: Call 911 if you're bleeding profusely or if you have any signs of shock, including lightheadedness, weakness, rapid heartbeat or palpitations, rapid or shallow breathing, clammy skin, restlessness, or confusion.)
• You have signs of infection, which may include any fever; lower abdominal pain or foul-smelling discharge (signs of endometritis); difficulty urinating, painful urination, cloudy or bloody urine (signs of a urinary tract infection); redness, tenderness, discharge, or swelling around the site of a wound (such as a c-section incision, episiotomy, or laceration); a painful, hard, reddened area, usually only on one breast, and fever, chills, muscle aches or fatigue, and possibly a headache (signs of mastitis, a breast infection).
• You have signs of postpartum depression, such as being unable to sleep even when your baby sleeps, having any thoughts of harming your child, crying all day long for several days in a row, or having panic attacks.
How to recover more quickly:
• Get as much rest as you can, and make an effort to sleep when your baby sleeps. This can be tough advice to follow, especially during the day, but it really helps.
• Limit visitors and the time you spend with them. Consider turning off the phone and posting a "we're napping" message on your door to discourage drop-ins.
• Eat a well-balanced diet.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugared sodas.
• Accept all offers for help with cooking, cleaning, childcare, errands, and the like. If you aren't receiving offers, ask for help. It's hard, but trust us, your friends and family want to help and most will be honored you asked. If you can't get help for free, consider hiring a mother's helper, cleaning lady, or others who can give you a break.
• Don't isolate yourself. Talking to friends, relatives, and other new moms about your birth experience and life with a newborn can help you cope.
This Week's Activity:
If you're planning to breastfeed and haven't bought nursing bras yet, now is the time. Bring them to the hospital — you'll want them for comfort and support. Your breasts are likely much larger now than pre-pregnancy, and they'll probably increase one or two more sizes while you're nursing. While you're shopping, get some breast pads to tuck into your bra to absorb any leaks and some purified or "medical-grade" lanolin ointment for tender nipples. (Avoid lanolin if you're allergic to wool.)
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My appointment with Prof this morning showed a surprising development with the little one. Seems baby have shifted position a bit so now I may or may not be able to have a normal delivery. Baby's head is slightly off-centre, and the shoulder is now where the head's supposed to be
Prof had these options for me:
1) go in NOW for a c-section and not wait anymore (very tempting!!!); or
2) wait till Monday, and if the scan shows no change, we go for a c-section. If the head is sort of in position, we will try and see if a normal delivery (induced labour, of course) would be possible.
I obviously opted for Option 2 as I wanted a few more days to make some final, last-minute preparations, plus I also wanted to inform the lady who's providing the confinement lady service so that she knows that I will be giving birth earlier than expected.
(Lee Lin, looks like I don't get the date - hubby was SO tempted that I have the c-sec TODAY just so we get the date )
Yesterday, I went to collect a parcel...........
Rookaya's email reached me late so I could not make alternative plans to collect the parcel, and I was hoping to meet the kind soul who brought the stuff for me. Wherever he is, Ross Khan..... THANKS A LOT!!!
AM
Aliza's ShoutBox:
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fliffy ~ tks dear.... insya Allah...
MamaFaMi ~ tks Mama... skrg ni tido mengiring, jadi bila put up my feet pun mcm pelik sikit rasanya...  mcm senget sebelah
jeff ~ yup bro... mmg menyiksakan tapi takper la, now that prof has given a definite date, lega sket... bercampur suspense yg amat sgt
MaDiHa ~ wsalam kak... mudah2an gitu la hendaknya... dlm keadaan ni, kita berserah dan bertawakal ajer...
Kuchai ~ hahaha... tks dear... me beli all yg neutral kaler la, tapi org nak kasi jugak pink jadi kita terima ajer la dgn penuh syukur... alhamdulillah.... rezeki baby! kata my GP kan, kaki tu elok put up high, at least sama dgn jantung. tapi bila me imagine2 kan, mcm nak jatuh tergolek mcm bola over-sized aje, tak kuasa la pulak... just put up on pillows aje sambil duduk2....
saudah ~ insya Allah...mudah2an semua ok... sama2 kita berdoa yer
MaDiHa ~ tks kak.... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY buat akak jugak...
auntie ita ~ hellooooo.... hehehe can't believe you actually are here yes, it's been ages and ages since... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to you too and salaams to all up there in the North
rose ~ timakaseh sudi singgah sini.... no, not pre-eclampsia. mula2 mmg ingat tu jugak, but BP is normal, and has been normal thru'out pregnancy jadi it's just one of those things i guess.... insya Allah, mudah2an bila dah bersalin, semua hilang like magic
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| Tuesday, 6-May-2008 07:28 |
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Miscellaneous
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miscellaneous??
TOPICS!
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...ON WOMEN TRAVELLING ABROAD ALONE
why is this such a big deal? all because some women have been 'smart' enough to allow themselves to be used by certain parties (read: MEN) to use them to traffic illegal substances? that's a bit overboard right, to actually suggest that these women get written permission from their families. besides, the written permission doesn't necessarily mean that these vulnerable women will be more alert to the dangers of trusting someone they barely know. what possible relation can the written permission have to the fact that these women allow themselves to be used this way? good thing this suggestion was shot down due to 'human rights issues'
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...ON MEN BEING STAY-AT-HOME DADS
seems there's a series coming out on TV on this issue, and most of our Malaysia men are seen as being unorthodox just because some households actually practice this. to me personally, if i as the wife am earning much more, then i don't mind if my husband becomes a full-time stay-at-home dad who takes care of the house and kids. i guess some things are just culturally difficult to accept, and will take some time to get used to.
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...ON AKADEMI FANTASIA
this time around, i notice there is not much hype about the show (and the students). i am not a hard-core fan of this reality show, but it used to be fun to watch on a saturday night when the movies and other channels offer nothing exciting. BUT, this time around, i've only been disappointed each time it comes on air that i don't even bother channel surfing on saturday nights now, and just stick to AFC (Asian Food Channel)!!! i was all hyped during the 3rd week ('rock kapak' week) as i grew up in that era and was looking forward to see if the kids will do justice to the songs given to them. to say i was disappointed is an understatement i felt like smashing the TV!!! that was how bad most of them were... the recent instalment where the kids sang songs from movies a.k.a. soundtracks, with the backing of an orchestra, did not do any justice at all. maybe AF should take a break for a season or two (or even three!!) and re-look at the way they choose their students, and see what they actually want to achieve from the program
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...ON THE 90-DAY MATERNITY LEAVE
when this was announced by the then-Minister, us ladies in the public service were jumping for joy. but... as we all know, it's only (so far) enforced by one state, and soon another state will follow, making it a grand total of 2 states out of the whole of Malaysia. yes, we have the option of taking unpaid leave for a maximum of 5 years in total throughout our working life, but HELLO! UNPAID LEAVE??!!?! that's just like saying, here's your cake but careful if you decide to eat it most households these days need two incomes just to survive the month (with the escalating day-to-day cost of living), so with the choice between taking care of your young child properly and the option of not being able to provide for it, what choice do you think we actually have? all parents want the best for their child so the choice is of course obvious
in some cases, a 60-day old baby (2 months) is still so fragile that most of my friends relay horror stories when they talk about leaving their babies at home for the first time. some actually sit in the office and cry when they think of their baby left at home or at a the day care!!
when my friends overseas learn that we only get 60 days maternity leave, their reaction is always SHOCK
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...ON CUKUR JAMBUL
just received an email today that the practice is not an Islamic practice and is therefore haram. 'aqiqah' is something that is encouraged, but the elaborate ceremony of 'trimming' of the baby's hair is not acceptable. if one wants to carry out the 'cukur jambul' part of the ceremony, then the whole head of hair must be shaved off, and not just to be trimmed a little bit here and there.
wallahu'alam...
i do remember though that for my youngest sister, dad had a simple kenduri with the aqiqah, and my little sister's head was shaved off. he invited a small group of people from the nearby mosque, together with my aunties and uncles.
i think what people do now i.e. the 'trimming' of the hair, is more for baby girls, but for boys they usually opt to shave the whole head. maybe because they want the baby girls to look like girls
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I think that's enough rambling for today, so... I should stop now
I am sure hubby will have plenty to say about this entry today, but I just feel like ranting and rambling...so... my FP, rite?
NOTE : The kitty in the pic above is our dearly departed CHIP. I think I've mentioned him before, quite a while back. Chip was my little sister's cat and he only managed to live for a short 1 1/2 years He died after suffering from massive internal injuries after being hit by a car one evening on his way back from the house across from ours where he usually goes to tease the dogs there (YES! he would stand close to the gates and just stand there while the huge dogs there bark at him!!!)
Chip was also mom's best friend, although they did have a sort of love-hate relationship as Chip was always so cheeky and breaking her stuff around the house
We miss him so much!!!
AM
Aliza's ShoutBox:
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fiza ~ ehheehehehe..tks dear... insya Allah, hopefully all goes well.
jeff ~ nak wat camner kan... like u said la, giving lawyers a run for their money! nowadays kan, mcm2 weird statements and suggestions yg kuar dlm paper... tak tau la mcm mana bole jadi mcm tu....
M ~ hehehe... ni mesti cik MOON nih.....
fliffy ~ tks dear... nanti kiter gi intai
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| Thursday, 1-May-2008 00:15 |
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Happy Labour Day!
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hehehehe... to me, the word 'labour' now has a much deeper meaning...
* labourous movements due to heavy tummy
* even getting out of bed is too labourous these days
* labour PAINS (which is now very much a HUGE part of the waiting game!
Anyway, woke up a little late today then we decided to go out for brunch. First choice was Restoran Jaring at Dataran Sunway but the shop was closed, so we decided to head to Yati Ayam Percik @ Mydin USJ. After our lunch -- hubby had Nasi Kerabu and I had Nasi Putih with Kerabu Jantung Pisang and we each had a serving of the famous ayam percik -- I asked hubby to stop to get me some cendol
Then hubby had to go into the office for some urgent stuff, while I stayed home and finished off a little project for baby. By afternoon, I received a very special phone call, and since hubby was already home, we went together to meet up with that person
After that, we went to the pasar malam, and as hubby 'supervised' the cleaning of the fish, I went to get these...
These will be my project for the tomorrow and possibly the weekend -- to chop and slice the above in preparation for my confinement. These herbs will then be frozen in batches to save time later on.
Our late dinner (late by my standards, at 9.00pm) was at Lala Chong in Ara Damansara where I had my Sweet & Sour Crabs with the Fried Buns
(no pics as we left the camera at home)
AM
Aliza's ShoutBox:
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MaDiHa ~ boleh tahan la kak, terpaksa! sebab nak siapkan brg2 dan rempah2 yg perlu nanti. nak menyenangkan diri sendiri, hahahaha.... takpe kak, mmg saya paham sgt kalau akak ckp nak dtg umah saya pun, saya rasa terpengsan jap ari tu
zira ~ salam kembali..... terima kasih... nak link bole aje...
imah ~ skrg ni mmg membilang hari, and kalau ikutkan hati nak suruh doktor kuarkan aje sbb dah tak larat nak bawak.... ni baru anak yg first nak buat camner kan, enjin start lambat
fliffy ~ ehehehehe.... cuak yek? blom lagi laa... ni pun dok tunggu...dan tunggu.... dan tunggu.... apa pun, 8hb ni appointment dgn doc, so kita tgk la mcm mana. insya Allah, semoga yg terbaik aje la utk semua kan....
yg pasal link tu, mmg nak buat pun... nanti bila dah kena kurung kat umah, boleh la buatkan sbb ala2 mcm bosan jer, hehehehe
re: akak madiha mmg cool ajer.... nanti kalau fliffy ke sini, bgtau la...kot boleh curi2 time nak jumpa
jeff ~ hehehe... again, great minds thinking alike???
kuchai ~ tu la dear... masih lagi waiting... ada la akak2 kat sini ckp, perut kiter ni still blom abih turun lagi, so...the waiting continues ajer la until then... nak kasi cepat kalu, maybe balik umah ari ni kena buat housework lebih2 sket la... mop lantai, cuci toilet, etc etc....
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| Wednesday, 30-Apr-2008 21:37 |
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The Waiting Game Begins....
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Your pregnancy: 38 weeks
How your baby's growing:
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.
Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)
How your life's changing:
For many women, the next couple of weeks are a waiting game. Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery or to take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born. Take naps, catch up on your reading, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can.
Some swelling in your feet and ankles is normal during these last weeks, but call your practitioner without delay if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have a sudden weight gain. Also let her know immediately if have severe or persistent headaches; visual changes (such as double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or a temporary loss of vision), intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting. These are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia.
3 Questions About... Preparing to breastfeed
Q1. Why is breastfeeding considered the best way to feed a baby?
Breast milk is nature's most perfect food for babies. It has just the right proportion and types of proteins, carbs, and fats, along with almost all of the vitamins and minerals that a baby needs in the first six months of life. Dozens of studies have confirmed the benefits of breastfeeding and new ones are published all the time. Here's a look at some of the highlights. Breastfeeding can:
- help protect your baby from diarrhea, respiratory problems, and ear infections.
- reduce your baby's risk for allergies, leukemia, and possibly obesity.
- reduce your stress level and risk of breast cancer.
Q2. What can I do to prepare for breastfeeding?
You can set yourself up for breastfeeding success by reading about how to breastfeed and learning where to turn for help if the going gets rough. Here are four key things to know:
• Insist that you and your baby have skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth (unless either of you has a medical complication) so you can start breastfeeding as soon as possible. If you have a c-section, ask that your baby join you in the recovery room as soon as your surgery is done.
• Realize that nursing doesn't come naturally to every woman, and if you're feeling discouraged, you're not alone. Get help early while you're still at the hospital or birth center to make sure you and your baby get the hang of breastfeeding before you go home.
• Nurse your newborn frequently — eight to 12 times every 24 hours. And unless medically necessary, your baby shouldn't get anything but breast milk until breastfeeding is well established (for the first few weeks at least).
• For more information, see BabyCenter's comprehensive breastfeeding area.
Q3. Does breastfeeding hurt?
Just because breastfeeding is the most natural way to nourish your baby doesn't mean it's always easy. For many women, breastfeeding can be uncomfortable or even painful at first. Don't suffer in silence. Pain is often an indication that your baby isn't attached to your breast properly. Her mouth should cover a large part of your areola (the pigmented skin around your nipple). Your nipple should be far back in your baby's mouth. If nursing hurts after your baby's first few sucks, break the suction by inserting your little finger between your baby's gums and your nipple — and try again until you find a position that's less painful. Talk to a lactation consultant before you leave the hospital to make sure your baby is latching on to your breast correctly. If your hospital doesn't provide lactation support or you encounter difficulties after leaving the hospital, you can contact La Leche League International for help.
Some women are totally comfortable breastfeeding in public, while others feel self-conscious. If you're worried about it, carry a jacket or extra blanket with you when you go out with your baby. That way, if he needs to nurse before while you're out, you can drape it over your shoulder and your baby's head for privacy.
This Week's Activity:
Start reading up on baby care. If you haven't already, now's the perfect time to switch reading gears from pregnancy to baby. You won't have as much time to read after your baby's born, so learn all you can about the first few weeks now. A good place to start is BabyCenter's Preparing for a Newborn area.
source : www.babycenter.com
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It is now nearing the end of the line, and the waiting begins.... with much suspense!!
Reading the article above, it kind of set of LOUD alarms in my head as my feet have suddenly swelled to almost double its usual size, my headaaches are still as sever and persistent as ever, and last night hubby almost drove me to hospital as I had horrible abdominal pains My face also appears kind of puffy in the morning, which never happened before, not even when I sleep for less than 2 hours!!!
So, to put my mind at rest, went to the clinic and checked my BP. Turned out to be very good (says the doc) so I basically had nothing to worry about. The swelling of my feet can't be helped especially at this late stage of pregnancy, and all that I can do is to make sure I put my feet up ALL THE TIME Not an easy thing to do especially when I imagine myself seated at my chair and heaving my legs up, and consecutively toppling off my chair onto the hard floor Now, THAT would be a totally hillarious, not to mention kind of pathetic, sight to behold!!!
BREASTFEEDING
I guess this is one thing that most, if not all, women expect to want to do exclusively as it is the best source of food for a baby for the first six months of its life.... I would LOVE to have the opportunity to do this but am not sure how it is like with our local hospitals. I have read mixed reviews about this, and how co-operative or unco-operative nurses can be, especially if a new mother had undergone a c-section (which is a huge possibility for me)
* can I expect to breastfeed my baby almost immediately after its birth?
* can I expect the best possible support from the staff?
* how do I ensure that the staff will at least attempt to allow me breastfeed first before giving my baby any kind of formula?
* if I do end up with a c-sec, how soon can I expect to breastfeed, and what is the best possible solution if I can't?
These questions haunt me a lot lately, and I really have to make it a point to discuss this with Prof when I see him at my next appointment.
Here are some pics of more gifts for baby. Before jumping up and down at seeing the pink rompers, I also have a whole set of blue 'boy' ones which were given to me by friends from the office. I have only just let on on baby's sex so some friends know and some don't, and are just taking guesses. To me, it's not a problem Things will always work out, and as long as baby's healthy, I'm more than happy!!
Today, there was a farewell at the office as I will be moving to a new department effective Friday, which in a way is kind of befitting since I am supposed to already be on leave next week (which I have not applied since I don't know who's supposed to approve that leave!). Then I go off on my maternity leave (Insya Allah) and will be back mid or end July to start my new stint in the new department -- fresh start all the way! Great timing, huh??!!
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BEBELAN HARI INI
Ni dah lama tak bebel-bebel so ingat nak la melalak sikit sebab menyampah memikirkan 'prosedur' di dalam kerja.... yang mana sekali sekala sepatutnya ada sedikit BUDI BICARA
Baru-baru ni kita memohon permit untuk pembantu rumah asing, dan dalam borang tu ada senarai check list untuk supporting documents yang perlu ada contohnya salinan surat beranak anak-anak dan laporan doktor (kiranya mengambil pembantu rumah untuk membantu menjaga orang tua yang sakit). Dalam senarai tu, langsung tak disebut "sekiranya mengandung, lampirkan laporan bla bla bla....." jadi berdasarkan pengalaman kawan-kawan, kami pun sertakan 'laporan' berbentuk scan terakhir berserta tarikh jangka melahirkan anak, dan dalam scan report tu mestilah ada maklumat seperti nama dan nombor kad pengenalan patient.
Masa che abang pergi hantar borang tu, tidak pulak pegawai kat kaunter tu cakap tak sah ke apa laporan tu, jadi kami pun ingat semua dah selesai....tinggal tunggu permit lulus untuk dihantar ke indonesia untuk tindakan selanjutnya.
Tup! tup! pagi ni che abang cakap pegawai jabatan berkenaan menghubungi dia untuk meminta 'surat rasmi' yang mengesahkan saya mengandung sekali dengan tarikh dijangka melahirkan anak Saya pun telepon klinik, meminta surat tersebut. Tak lama kemudian, che abang telepon lagi, katanya surat tu mesti daripada pakar sakit puan!!!
Masa ni yang kita terfikir.... piagam pelanggan jabatan-jabatan kerajaan dan kementerian-kementerian kita ni bukan main lagi user atau consumer friendly, tapi bila bab nak menjalankan sesuatu tugas tu, terlalu rigid sampai tak boleh nak guna sedikit pertimbangan dan budi bicara.
Laporan berbentuk scan dah dilampirkan sekali, apa lagi yang tak lengkap? Kalau klinik panel Qualitas tu tak bole dipakai laporannya, kenapa boleh pula diterima medical report yang dibuat untuk tujuan recruitment? Sedangkan doktor di klinik tu memang pakar dalam bidang scanning ni, siap ada sijil pun!
Nasib baik che abang nak kena selesaikan beberapa hal di luar pejabat hari ni jadi sempat dia singgah ke hospital untuk mengambil surat daripada doktor pakar sakit puan di hospital swasta tempat saya pergi sebelum ini.
Lagi satu yang 'seronok' dengan prosedur ni kan, kawan saya ada juga yang buat permohonan permit macam dalam kes saya, dan katanya permit tu akan siap dalam masa tiga hari bekerja. Pegawai yang berurusan dengan che abang saya pulak cakap ia akan mengambil masa tujuh hari hingga dua minggu!! Apa cerita ni??!?!?!  Macam tak ada keseragaman, kan?
Kita ni macam at the mercy of pelbagai prosedur yang adakalanya mengelirukan dan tidak jelas. Ini tak termasuk lagi arahan-arahan dalam cara-cara mengisi borang dan sebagainya. Memang pening bila baca, terasa macam 'tak pergi sekolah' pun ada
Sekarang ni, kita berdoa sangat supaya pembantu yang kita bakal dapat ni OK, dan serasi. Tak perlulah nak pening-pening lagi lepas ni!
OK.... settle bebel-bebel untuk hari ni....
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| Tuesday, 22-Apr-2008 08:37 |
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A Long Long Break...
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Bandar Nusaputra
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Yesterday was my appointment with the Prof.
During the urine and BP check, seems I have an infection (expected in any pregnant woman), as there was a bit of protein in my urine. Then, the nurse asked if I had high blood pressure, and I said "NO". According to her, my BP was slightly high. I was kind of panicking a bit by then because with my headache and suddenly puffy face that morning, I was thinking the worst
Anyway, Prof said it was nothing to be alarmed about as usually what is important is the lower reading, which has not touched 80, so that means my BP is relatively normal. Then we did a scan to see where baby's at...
Head was down, like before, but still not engaged yet. And the funny thing was, Prof was saying that baby's head was in position, and that it'll just be a matter of time before baby's head is engaged, and there it went and turned its head
I had applied leave for a week, but since I am suffering from severe headaches and kind of an erratic BP, doc gave me medical leave for a week anyway and told me to rest. If the headaches get worse, then I should consider getting admitted, just in case
I got back from hospital and decided to cook all the food that's in the freezer and freeze for our consumption the following days to come. Also, I need to start saving space for stuff I'll need when I'm 'quarantined'
This week, I will have to go through my food and shopping list and see what can be done soon and what needs to be really fresh....
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Aliza's ShoutBox:
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MaDiHa ~ tks akak insya Allah....
RinnChan ! a'ah la kak rinn, my feet are like SOOOO swollen now, mcm elephant dah rasanya.... Brg2 mcm dah ok la, beg pun dah pack... mentally, ni yg challenging sikit sbb prof pun mcm ckp 80% chance of a c-sec.... hoping still that it can be a normal delivery.... tks for the prayers kak
MamaFaMi ~ nak buat camner mama.... food pun nak kena fikir jugak. my bags are packed, so i guess mmg dah ready to check in la kalau apa2 dlm masa terdekat ni... tks Mama, for the prayers and kind words...
Jeff ~ tks again, bro....
Acik ~ tks dear... ni pun hari2 monitor pergerakan baby sbb prof ari tu ada mention something yg agak merunsingkan so far, so good... hopefully begini la sampai sudah nanti. insya Allah...
Kuchai ~ kata org, mmg normal kalau dekat2 |
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