Kaylee is keeping me real busy

Been really busy after Kaylee's born.. so i shall from now update my blog in point form:

1) She's now more managable... lesser crying and throwing tantrums
2) She now yearns for attention. She loves it when we talk to her
3) She makes alot of noise nowadays and smile alot more. i especially like to see her when she just woke up in the morning.. absolutely angelic



Things seem to be improving... Everytime i think back to confinement days, i wonder how i went through it... 1st 2 weeks with the urine bag, i was taking care of Kaylee singlehandedly at night... and during the first 2 weeks, she could cry and fuss for 6 hours continuosly, wanting to be carried and walk her ard the house.. i wonder how i could feed, pump, cajole her for 2 whole months at night !!!! now that i think back, it seems like mission impossible.... so i'm thankful for things now... kaylee's usually a happy girl... n i'm getting back my rest and sleep now that my MIL is here to help.... I cannot say i'm physically all ready to start work, but í know i'm slowy recovering and thank god for it :)

The SLEEPING bladder n the SLEEPING nurse

I was transferred to the normal ward around 330pm..

Was damn hungry n had a chicken sandwich..

At around 5 plus, i felt like peeing.. requested to go toilet but the nurse said that due to the epidural, my blood pressure can plummet anytime, and suggest that i use the bedpan.. the prob is, i still cannot pee using the bedpan....

The nurse told me that i have to pee within 4-5 hrs... if not, they will have to fixed up the catheter to drain my urine.. soooooo frighten was i to imagine inserting the catheter without epidural... so i tried very very hard to pee.. when i still couldnt pee at around 8, the nurse said i could try drinking more water... so stupidly, i drank n drank...

Imagine that after i gave birth, with the stitches, the blood, the low blood pressure, i was walking to the toilet every 30 mins to try to pee... the pee didnt come out smoothly, and it dripped dripped instead.. when the nurse came and asked if i pee-ed (this Filippino nurse), i told her "i pee-ed but it drip drip... and i'm still urgent".. n u know what???? the nurse wrote on my record that i pee-ed, and therefore, no one bothered about my bursting but sleeping bladder anymore..

With soo much pee in my, i was feeling damn miserable.. i couldnt focus on anything else but my bursting bladder.. i didnt even want to carry and look at Kaylee... i was breaking out in cold sweat, i was bitter.. i was grouchy....

At 11pm, i couldnt take it anymore.. i was in tears.. Hubby was damn angry.. he marched out to the nurse counter n demand that they take a look at me and insert the catheter if necessary... there wasn't alot of night shift nurse on duty... n after complaining, they took another 30 mins to attend to me...

This time, this indian nurse was suppose to help me insert the catheter... she poke and poke... i felt the pain and saw the catheter stained with blood... but she still couldnt get the catheter in... she then left and came back with a 2nd set of catheter... finally, she managed to get it in...

I immediately felt RELIEVED... my urine was drained into the urine bag...
And guess what, i had 1.2 litres of urine in me !!!!! The indian nurse told me that i should have been cathetered much much earlier, and she will lodge a complain with the nurse manager tomorrow morning...

The next morning, Dr Tham came with the nurse manager... Dr Tham wanted the catheter to be in for another day and will do a check on me before i can be discharged.. The nurse manager apologised for the error the Filippino nurse made... and said that it was a communication breakdown... A few moments later, the Filippino nurse came and told me she kena scolded upside down... and that i did told her i pee-ed... (*#$&@*#^% still wanna push the blame on me..

Before i was due to be discharged, i went to Dr Tham's clinic to review my bladder.. i was supposed to empty my bladder... but when Dr Tham scanned my tummy, i still had alot of urine in me... he mentioned that my bladder was extended for toooooo long, and it has temporary lost its muscle tone... therefore, i had to be discharged with a catheter !!!!!!!!!

Having a catheter was so inconvenient.. i have to carry it wherever i go... and i had blood dripping everywhere after me cos the blood, supposedly to flow onto the sanitary napkin, flowed out through the catheter tubing... I was a bad mess... I had blood dripping when i walk, and i had to carry a catheter... and I had to takecare of Kaylee at night !! imagine, to feed her, change her, nurse her, carry her... Now that i think back, i didnt know how i survived... i had to hang my urine bag at her cot when i change her, hang the urine bag at the kitchen cabinet when i make milk, carry the urine bag and Kaylee when i want to pat her to sleep.... it was borrible !!!

I was discharged on Thursday, 2 days later on saturday, i was suppose to go for review to see if the urine bag can be removed for good.. After removing the urine bag on saturday, i was suppose to empty my bladder and go for ultrasound scanning... ALAS, i still could not empty my bladder fully... so, Dr Tham inserted the catheter AGAIN and this time, for another week...

It was bad.. becos i had the urine bag for too long, i could see streaks of blood in the urine bag, with cloudy white residue... Dr Tham mentioned that this was a reaction to the tubings... after 1 week, i went back for review again... and thank god, my bladder had resumed its function and muscle tone.. and i was urine bag free !!!!!

It was such a horrible experience.. the birth and delivery wasn't bad at all, but its the aftermath that is most scary....

The delivery..

I am trying my best to write this entry with as many details as possible.. cos this happened 6 weeks ago.. and please pardon my poor memory (i understand this is due to the act of hormones returning to pre-pregnant level)

On 17 Jan, went for a review with Dr Tham, I was dilated 3cm and i told Dr that i want her OUT asap..
So Dr Tham gave the all clear to get induced the next day on Jan 18 :)

when we reached home, we started to pack our hospital bag.. we were sooo excited... too excited that we were unable to fall asleep !!!!

Finally it was morning.. head to Mum's house for breakfast and set off to TMC.. we reached around 630am.


After the admission paperwork was done, i was whisked into the observation ward for the following:

1) Clear my bowels
2) Observe baby's heartbeat n movements
3) after 1) and 2) were ok, i was given epidural
4) Dr tham arrived to burst my waterbag (Ard 8am)

1) Clear Bowels
The feeling is so horrible.. a bottle of liquid was forced through my anus... i was told that within 5-10 mins, i will have a sensation to poo.. but within 2 mins, my stomach was churning and churning.. quickly rushed to the toilet and lucky i managed to pull off my pants just in time before the poo squirt out... (burst out more like it)

2) Observe baby's heartbeat and movements
They have to ensure that the bb is doing well before i was given epidural...

3) Was given epidural.. well, it wasn't really painful but i could feel the needle prick into my spine.. i heard that the needle is freaking long but lucky i din see it or i would have fainted i guess... The anestician was smart to ask me not to turn around... During the insertion, i was suppose to be on my side and curled up into a C-shape... a nurse was there to hold me in place to ensure that i don't move..

4) Dr tham arrived and using a glove with a small hook at the index finger, he burst my waterbag. He commented that i had alot of amniotic acid and that my its good that the water is clear..

At around 1030am, i was dilated 6cm and was whisked into the birthroom (birthroom 5) to prepare for the delivery.

I was quite taken aback to know that there's only 1 nurse to assist in the delivery, and that Dr Tham will only be coming after crowning takes place.. During the wait, i had bouts of shivering due to the effect of epidural

Hubby was very excited and all ready to be BRAVE.. !!
He started taking pictures around the Birthroom... there was also a couch for him beside my bed...

At around 1230pm, the nurse checked that i was 10cm dilated, and instructed me to start pushing..

Holy cow... I didn't know that pushing can be soooooo difficult.. initially, i was told that i used the wrong muscle.. as such, the bb was not being pushed down eventhough i was pushing damn hard.. and with the epidural, i really couldn't "Feel" my muscles... anyway, i tried my best to "locate" those muscles and finally got the hang of it..

I was told to push in sets of 3s.. i had such bad stamina that i could only manage decent push for 1 and 2.. by the 3rd push, i was totally out of breath and had no energy left... In between pushes, i was given oxygen.. Hubby was incharge of giving me the oxygen mask..

I pushed for around 1 hr and after so much hard work, i was dismayed to be told that only a small part of bb's head could be seen

After a particular round of pushing, i realised that hubby didn't hand me the oxygen mask, turned around n found hubby head slumped on my bed.. when he looked up, i've never seen a more pale face.. his eyes were out of focus and his lips were white... the nurse saw that things wasn't looking good and immediately called another nurse to attend to him. They pulled off my BP measure to measure his BP.. it was shocking low at 70-30 (a normal BP is 120-60)..

The nurses decided that he needed medical help and wheeled him out in a wheelchair to the outpatient clinic..

After he was wheeled out, the nurse assisting me with the delivery comforted me and said that its ok even if he cannot be back in time, cos she will be with me.. Just when hubby is not ard, bb's heartbeat began to fall and the nurse decide to call Dr Tham. They need to get the bb out fast cos the bb is in distress..

Just before Dr Tham arrive, Hubby was back !! (heng ah!!) he said that after lying down for awhile, he felt much better and he quickly came back... a few moments after he was back, Dr Tham arrived and decided to vacuum the bb out.. after attaching the vacuum (a smaller than palm size round suction cup), the bb was out in a few minutes !!

I'm so glad that hubby managed to come back in time. If he was a few minutes later, he would have missed the birth of Kaylee..

Kaylee was quickly put on my chest.. she was sooo cute.. with one eye (the other eye was stuck shut), she was looking at me and around the room in curiousity.. she didn't cry... but me and hubby were shedding tears of joy !!!!

Thereafter, Kaylee was brought to clean up, weighed and measured, while i was being "sewn up" by Dr Tham. I was totally exhausted n i couldnt believe that after a long 9 months wait, this day has finally arrived !!!

Dr Tham took quite some time to stitch and "clear" my uterus.. he was pressing and pressing on my tummy and when he press, i could feel blood clots being purged out... *EEEEKKKKSSSS*
He was also using his finger to dig out all the remaining blood and blood clots...
When he sew, i could even feel the thread go in and out of me... but of cos there was no pain...
I've read from the forum that Dr Tham's skill in "sewing" is damn power... and i think its true.. cos i didnt feel much pain down there even after the epidural wore off.. the nurses even forgot to give me 2 doses of painkillers and i could actually still bear with the pain.. (so proud of myself).

After i was being sewn up, i was transferred to a normal ward.. Mum and QF were so "punctual". As i was pushed out of the lift on 6th floor, they just arrived and caught a sight of a dishevelled new mummy and a scaly white Kaylee... :)

Kaylee was brought to the nursery for cleaning up, while i was pushed into the ward.. As i lie on the bed, i felt damn nauseaus and puked.. This i understand is also one of the side effects of epidural.

I was exhausted... still shaking... and my mind was in a whirl... i felt so tired but i couldn't sleep.. i felt so excited as a new mummy !!

This was all before the horror began...
Please watch out for part II - THE SLEEPING BLADDER n the SLEEPING NURSE...

Finally out.. and the nightmare begins

As u can see from the lack of updates, Baby Kaylee has arrived... and is keeping me and everyone real BUSY !!!

Natural ways of inducing birth

Visited Dr Tham yesterday....
Told him that i want my baby OUT naturally as soon as possible. So asked for natural ways to induce baby out.

He mentioned that walking is useless... Walking is useful to build up stamina during labour, but useless in inducing labour...

These are the 2 natural ways he mentioned:

1) Nipple Stimulation
But he doesnt recommend this as nipple stimulation results in contractions which may put the baby in distress. Unless the baby's condition is monitored via CTG, he does not recommend this to be done at home.

2) Having sex.
Sperm is suppose to help mature the cervix and thus start the labour process.
However, as the amount of sperm produced per session is small, he recommend sex 3 times a day for this to be effective.

To me.. option 1 is not recommended.
Option 2 is mission impossible.

Conclusion: Wait Wait and Wait......

Memories !!!

Its so near yet so far..
I’m so near to having Kaylee in my arms, but yet these few weeks is like the longest wait in my life !!!
Below are things that I will not want to forget:

First Trimester

• The exhilaration when we saw a positive on the pregnancy test kit (found out when I was 3 weeks)
• Freaked out during our Week 5 visit to obstetrician – suppose to hear baby’s heartbeat but we couldn’t. Luckily we finally heard heartbeat at week 6-7.
• The numerous downs when I had spotting and ups when things are ok after Doc’s review
• The horrible side effects of duphaston (medicine to strengthen the uterus) - Makes me faintish, gives me headache.. it was hell...
• Puking from week 6-12
• Lack of appetite – milo, crackers, bread were my staple food for many weeks
• Fatigue, lethargic, giddy, hungry all the time
• Prefer to be alone – Sulk Sulk Sulk
• Think I didn’t smile for more than 3 times a day during my 1st trime – Life was gloomy n dark
• Will always remember the lack of understanding from – my boss, my hubby. They always think that my nausea feeling was psychological
  
  Second Trimester
• Puking suddenly stopped from week 13
• Appetite and Energy levels crept back… feel damn high everyday and pestered Hubby to go shopping w me every weekend !! (mostly for maternity stuffs and baby stuffs)
• Acid Reflux – can’t seem to keep my food down – Milo seem to defy gravity and float upwards back into my throat – Very very eeky
• Dry and bitter taste in the mouth – had to keep chewing gum..
• Delighted to feel the first movement of Kaylee..
• Proud that my bulge managed to get me seats on the crowded MTR
  
  Third Trimester
  
• Didn’t have a good start – Had contractions and spotting and was hospitalized at Week 28
• Had the most painful injections at both sides of my buttock – to mature baby’s lungs
• PILLS – Had to be on medication from Week 28-35 and woke up in the middle of the night of swallow pills. The pills also made me giddy, gives me headache. Medicated oil is my savior !
• ACHES – ribcage, hips, pelvic, back, knees, legs
• PAIN – From Kaylee’s strong kicks and punches. The pain was more horrible if she face inwards and kick inwards. Feel like I was elbowed. The pain is enough to make me breathless for a few moments !!
• Contractions - My tummy will bunch up and go out of shape. Towards the end of 3rd trime, contractions will cause my pelvic bone to hurt. Feels like my pelvic is being split open
• Frequent urination – had to wake up at least 3-4 times at night
• Was ordered to rest at home and it was more rest rest and rest till the end of the pregnancy
• Think it was too much rest. My stamina went downhill – a flight of steps is enuff to make my knees go weak and get me panting

@ 36 Weeks

YIPPEE !!!
Just back from review..

Daddy is busy with Year End closing today, so got Grandma to go with me..
After the long weekend, the queue was horrible at the registration counter. I was like 7th or 8th in the queue.. It was the first time that there was such a long queue.. but luckily as always, Dr Tham is quite fast and so I didnt have to wait long..

Dr Tham gave me the all clear !!
I can stop all medications !! Been taking medications for 7 week s and finally !!
Tested for Strep B bacteria and result is negative.. so all looks good..

Baby is now 2.6kg, a little bit small but good enough..
So now, its really waiting time !!

A pity that we're unable to take 3D scans as baby is sucking her thumb.. despite the effort that Dr Tham tried to push her wrist away (by pressing and shaking my tummy), our stubborn girl refuse to budge even an inch !!

Head Circumference - 32.6cm

Abdominal circumference - 30.9cm
Thighbone - 6.6cm
Estimated weight - 2.6kg

Heartbeat - 141 bpm

Skeletal face..

Mummy n Daddy @ 35 weeks

@ 31 weeks

Just came back from review.
Hmmm... on another 2 weeks MC

Dr Tham mentioned that:
1) My baby is low
2) the cervix is abit short from the scan
3) the cervis is abit open and soft (from the finger examination)
And since i'm still experiencing contractions even with medication, he thinks that I should be rested at home, minimise any walking, have someone with me all the time in case i go into labour, and call for an ambulance if i'm in labour as my baby will be premature.

All these sounded pretty scary and serious....

What's more.. Dr Tham will be on leave from tomorrow onwards and returning only on Dec 13. I pray pray pray very hard that i will not go into labour when he's not around....

So it looks like rest rest and more REST is what i need to keep baby within me...

Head Circumference - 29.5cm

Abdominal Circumference - 27.3cm

Thigh bone length - 6.2cm
Estimated weight is therefore 1.95kg

Heartbeat - 150bpm

3D pictures of baby:

This one look like she's crying...

This is a nicer picture of her

Oh my... she has daddy's nose

and mummy's mouth

I pray she has daddy's eyes :)

Mummy @ 31 weeks

Some pictures of me at 31 weeks

My tummy's not considered huge...

but i wonder howcome i have such difficulty walking normally

Little Tigger... Bday pressie from QF

Can't help taking this picture

Daddy tends to talk thru my belly button treat it like a microphone

I "heart" my baby :)