Yiu-Shern - week 5

Yiu-Shern's 5 weeks Milestone

- Yiu-Shern started smiling. I saw his somewhat rare smile yesterday. It must be a REAL smile because his whole face lighted up when he smiled.

- His focus on an object is getting better. You can see his eyes following the object which is moving

Shern's favourite time of the day is Bath Time. He likes water and he enjoys the cool feeling after bath.

Bathing for the 2nd time in pho-pho's house on a hot afternoon


Being wrapped in his towel after bath


Contented face after bath


Shern favourite toy is the free Anmum sample Musical Cot Mobile (courtesy from Dr. Eric)

Shern's favourite musical cot mobile

How Is Mummy Doing?

- Having more hours of sleep at night, thus feeling more energize the next morning.

- Still feeling very 'stuck' at home - legs itching to go out.

Yiu-Shern - week 4

Yiu-Shern's 4 weeks Millestone

-Yiu-Shern became more vocal starting last week.
Besides crying to get our attention, he started cooing, gurgling and grunting..mostly to himself though.

-His head/neck is is real steady now. He can heave his head up momentarily while lying flat on his stomach.

-His legs are also very strong and he started to use them to kick real hard when he is angry.

-Still having breastmilk jaundice - masih kuning!

-Took his BCG jab at his 1st month visit to the paed on 7 July 2009

Shern's growth measurement:
Age - 1 month @ 7 July 2009
Weight - 4.6 kg
Length/Height - 53 cm
Head Circumference - 37 cm

As the saying goes 'sleeping like a baby'....

Feeling proud wearing this t-shirt - I'm a Tough BOY Like My Dad

Having fun on his Activity Playmat

(This playmat actually kept him quiet for a longer period...phew... )

Mummy & Baby bonding time

Daddy & Baby bonding time

How is Mummy Doing?

- No more nipple crack/sore because they are already hardened and can withstand my vigorous sucker baby.

- Feeling less tensed and getting used to being a mummy by now.

- Am glad that Peter is actually QUITE a GOOD daddy :)

- Proud that I can handle almost everything of Yiu-Shern's - from changing diapers to bathing, etc

- Starting to express out my milk for storage - only can express 4-5oz per 3 hour sitting...little?

- Went to Gurney Plaza for the first time and felt like 'I Juz Got Out of Jail'......ecstatic!!! (ended up buying Yiu-Shern's stuff ;)

Review: The First Years: Breastflow BPA-Free Bottles

I want to write some reviews on the baby products which I bought and am using - in hope to help the mothers out there for some honest feedback reviews.

When I was searching for bottles, I was looking after 1 word only - BPA-free (bisphenol A-free). . I didn't want to expose my baby to harmful chemicals that may leech from non-BPA-free plastics. Yes...I AM kiasu!

I found out that many brands does not have BPA-free bottles...even leading brands like Avent, etc.
BPA-free bottles are indeed more expensive. Almost double the prices of those brands which does not have the BPA-free stickers.

I saw The First Years: Breastflow Bottles with the sticker BPA-free on sale at Toys 'R' Us. I went home to do some research before buying them.
I like what I read online and went back to buy it the next day. I bought 5 oz bottles (3 packs) for RM49.90. (RM10 discount)

Breastflow is the only feeding system that requires both suction and compression, just like breast feeding. The nipple is designed to mimic the breast so baby can latch on and to encourage the same mouth and tongue position as breastfeeding. The double nipple system requires both suction and compression, just like breast feeding and baby controls the flow of milk. It's the bottle most like breastfeeding.

The Breastflow System is ideal for me because I plan to express out my breastmilk and feed to Yiu-Shern via bottle so that he won't be too attched to me. It is also good for nursing mothers who would like to introduce a bottle, are returning to work, or need to supplement while their baby is in day care or with a caregiver.
Because Breastflow bottles so closely mimic the feel and action of breastfeeding, care givers can bottle feed baby while Mom is working and Mom can still continue to breastfeed.

Review:
Pros
- Really works - no trouble transitioning from bottle-sucking to breast-suckling (I dunno if it is really due to this!)
- Comes with a lid for each bottle, so the bottles can be used as Storage Bottles as well.
- Baby's mouth is agape while sucking, which mimic the mouth position while suckling on my breasts.
- Wide-necked bottle which is easy to wash.


Cons
- Need time to put together the different parts of the bottle.
- When the milk flows into the teat, you need to squeeze them back into the bottle if it is too full. (but even if you don't squeeze it, baby can actually finish sucking all the milk inside, just that it takes a longer time)

Rating: 6/10

48 hours of Formula Milk

Yiu-Shern's jaundice level is still sky-rocket high. Reading was at 245 as of yesterday.
I called Dr. Dan and he asked me to bring Yiu-Shern to his clinic along with his pee and poo-poo.

Shu-Min, ah Yee & I waitied for more than half an hour with a small bottle, just waiting for him to pee. And we took Yiu-Shern's early morning poo in his diapers for Dr. Dan.

Dr. Dan reassured me that he is quite sure that it is Breastmilk Jaundice and he asked me not to worry. He checked his pee and poo and said they looked fine.

I am also more assured as I know all the necessary tests had been done (urine, blood, ultrasound) and results show his liver is working fine and everything is normal.

But Dr. Dan said if I want the jaundice to go down more quickly, he asked me to switch to formula milk for Yiu-Shern for 2 days, then only to go back to breastfeeding him.
This is because he said the breastmilk jaundice is caused by the hormones in my breastmilk.

So to put everyone at home at ease, I am feeding him with Enfalac A+ for today and tomorrow. Hopefully, this will pull down his bilirubin level.

Seeing him crying and searching for my breasts is indeed heart-wrenching. All I could do what to tuck his bottle into his mouth....hoping he won't miss my breasts so much. ;)

From Breastmilk to EnfalacA+ for 48 hours

Sex Life & Free Condoms At The Govt Clinic

Yes...it is true.

During Yiu-Shern's 1 month checkup at the Tanjung Bungah Klinik Kesihatan, as part of the Perancang Keluarga, they gave us the options of 'the Pill' or 'Condoms'.

I am never in favour of the pill, so we opted for condoms and they gave us 12. The nurse then told us to come back for more anytime we want! So I guess we will have free condoms for the rest of our lives....unless we are too lazy to go there to collect!

So what about our sex life?

Sex was probably the last thing on my mind during the first few weeks post-pregnancy. My life was in complete chaos with the new member of the family, when two became three.

My life was practically breastfeeding him, changing his diapers and cooing him to sleep. It is still the same now I guess.

However, I realized the importance of rekindling our love and intimacy. Both of us hope that the new baby can bring such joy to our lives that it enhances sexual intimacy.

Anyway, so far...so good :D

Introducting Pacifier

Initially, I was reluctant to introduce pacifier to Yiu-Shern for fear of causing him nipple confusion. I was afraid that he may latch on to my breasts the way he sucks the pacifier...causing me much nipple crack and much pain.

However, I could no longer keep off the pacifier as Yiu-Shern is treating my breasts as his personal pair of pacifiers. He latches on my breasts 24/7 and would not let me go. This makes my breasts very sore.

So...tada...introducing Anakku pacifier to naughty Yiu-Shern. However, he does not seem to like it that much. Sometimes he will sucks on it when his mood is good. When he is in a very bad mood, he doesnt want it. He just wants to suckle at my breasts. Sigh...

Anyway, I hope this will not create nipple confusion to him. If so...there goes breastfeeding....

Yiu-Shern - week 4 - Fullmoon

1st of all, I want to announce that this day also represents the last day of my 1 month confinement period....phew....although I broke many pantang-larang :)

Next, Yiu-Shern is now 1 month old.
We had a small celebration and we took some photos to commemorate this day. (too bad Yiu-Shern did not manage to take any pics with Ah Kong & Ah Ma. Nvm, another time)

Yiu-Shern with Daddy & Mummy, Kong-Kong & Pho-Pho

Yiu-Shern with Tan Family

3 of Us

Like Father, Like Son

 Cuddled in Mummy's Loving Arms                                       He looks like me? Yes? No?    

~~Pics taken by Win Win

Yiu-Shern's 1 month milestone...

- His neck is getting stronger. He can hold his head up briefly, especially when he is searching for my breasts :D
- He seems to be able to focus on an object now...with his eyes following the object for a short distance
- He sucks really well now. His latching improved and he is STILL a vigorous sucker
- He is still a naughty boy who likes to be cuddled to sleep

Mummy's 1 month milestone

- Still not enough sleep at night as I am working as a cow full-time ;P
- Still worried about Yiu-Shern's breastmilk jaundice and moist belly-cord
- C-sec wound has healed