Daddy's Away For 2 Months

Hubby Chris was away to a faraway land from July to September 2009, and I was a single mum for 2 months!
It was a blessing that I was on maternity leave + no pay leave till he was back, else I don't think I can cope with stressful work and a young baby at home!
I am indeed lucky enough to have my 6-year family maid Laili to move over and help to take care of Raeann, after experiencing the process of sole caregiving to a baby, it's really really not easy!
Kudos to those SAHM without a maid, I think if I am like that I would have gone crazy!
Definitely prefer to work than staying at home 24/7, attending to a baby's every needs.
However, human beings are contradictory.
When I was so busy back at work, I really wish I am a SAHM.
However when I am enjoying my holidays and lazing around, life seems so meaningful and empty that I wish I am back at work!
Work-Life Balance is of utmost importance, however hard to achieve...

During hubby's absence, most of the time we were SKYPE-ing!
He's lucky to have unlimited broadband access, so communication was made real easy!
It was fun to see Raeann looking at the lappy, listening to her daddy talk! =p

Am lazy to post many of Raeann's photos here, check out her Facebook page for more! =)

Confinement Month

Had a wonderful stay at Mt Alvernia Our Lady's Ward, St John's Room 327. We are lucky indeed as it wasn't that crowded during my period of stay. In fact, when I checked into MAH at 1plus in the morning, the stretch of delivery wards were all empty and I was the only one there before another soon-to-be mummy joined me next door.

We were given a double bedder as no single rooms were available, it was very comfortable too as I didn't have a neighbour, plus the room was so nicely furnished. I slept for a couple of hours from 5plus in the morning before I was woken up to feed Raeann and for breakfast. Poor Hubby Chris had some shut eye on the chair and had to go grab a bite downstairs as no food was provided for him hee... The nice nurses there got us a single room from 12noon onwards and it was great! We could watch tv together and Hubby Chris could stay overnight with me too! =)

After Hubby Chris called the confinement agency, we were told that the nanny Muxiang whom I requested for was not available! Heard too many horror stories about confinement nannies, hence Hubby Chris told the boss to get us a good one as there were only two of us, both equally blur over how to take care of a newborn! Luckily our confinement nanny Ya Mei Auntie is very nice! Plus she took good care of Raeann too so I still had enough rest. I miss her pan fried Salmon fillet with shredded ginger and soy sauce! Yummy~ =)

Raeann was admitted to KKH on the 5th day as she was having jaundice! Poor Raeann had to stay there for 4D3N for phototherapy and a few more times of heel pricking sessions at the polyclinic. =(

Confinement during the warm April and May months wasn't easy! I bathed everyday but I managed to tahan and washed my hair only on the 6th day! Afterwhich I had a hairwash every 2-3 days with the herbal bath water hee... My massage lady Lisa is real good too! A pity I am allergic to the jamu, hence I did away with it for the wraps from day 3 onwards. I practically looked 6mths preggie after I've popped Raeann but my tummy flattened on the 5th session of massage and wrap! Real cool! =)

It was indeed boring to stay at home for the whole month, I went jalan jalan with Hubby Chris a few times and I ate Fillet O Fish outside with milo! =D

Baby shower went smoothly on 16 May 2009 (Sat) and many thanks to all the friends and relatives who took time to attend. My deepest apologies to those whom I did not invite as we did not have enough space and we were afraid we didn't have time to chat with everyone of you too. Baby Raeann has gotten lotsa gifts! =) Thank U!

Raeann's Birth Story

Raeann was getting bigger in my tummy, as the 38th and 39th week scans both showed that Raeann was around 3kg.
Dr Lawrence Ang had wanted to induce me on 22 Apr 2009 (EDD 25 April 2009) as baby was getting bigger (more than 3kg from the scans) and he kept reiterating to me that my birth canal is too narrow so the bigger the baby, the harder it is for natural delivery.
O was actually feeling rather sad after the consulation, as I hate the idea of being induced.
On 17 Apr 2009 (Friday), at around 3am, I started to feel some pain at my back but continued to sleep till 6am.
Had this hunch that contractions were coming, and was having a 'show' at 6am.
I still wanted to go to school as it was my last day at work before my maternity leave and I needed to clear some stuffs!
But Hubby Chris advised me not to and my colleagues also asked me to call my gynae immediately.
Went down to see Dr Ang at 10plus in the morning, and he said I was dilated already and will most likely deliver on Friday night or Saturday morning.
Didn't want to admit to Mt Alvenia Hospital so early, as the waiting process can be quite a torture.
Dr Ang called me at 9plus at night to ask how I was doing, and when I told him the contractions were 15minutes apart, he advised me to check in MAH at 8-9am the next morning.
I tried to sleep but the contractions occurred as close as 5 minutes by 12plus midnight.
I was thinking the baby was on the way out already and told hubby we needed to make our way to hospital. Reached MAH slightly over 2am, and after settling down around 2.30am, I was already 3cm dilated.
I immediately asked for epidural as I thought it would be a long labour and wanted to get some sleep.
Who knows, I kept passing out poo with every contraction, even after clearing my bowels with enema already!
I was so embarrassed but really couldn't control myself as my lower body was quite numb already.
Till Hubby Chris told the nurses then they realised I was having quite strong contractions, which I couldn't feel as much hee...
By the time the nurse did a VE at 3plus in the morning, I was already 9cm dilated.
I thought they should have called my gynae already so I just waited and was rather sleepy.
Suddenly I felt something slipping out of me and I really thought it was my baby!
Haha... pardon me cos it was my first baby and in the end it was my water bag slipping out!
The nurses got panicky and quickly closed my legs and shouted to call Dr Ang immediately.
Dr Ang woke up in the middle of the night and rushed down with messy hair haha...
Within 9 minutes of his arrival, baby was out!
 Real fast, and I think I pushed around 7 times, Dr Ang helped me with vacuum too.
I think Dr Ang was relieved that my baby weighed only 2.63kg as he was worried baby couldn't come out and he had to do an emergency C-sect at this unearthly hour hehe...
But the nurses forgot about the Singapore Cord Blood Bank pack, in the end my girl didn't get to donate her cord blood.
Blur nurses indeed!
The stitching part was quite terrible, as my epidural dosage was very low and I could feel the pain of the needle poking into my flesh, going in and out... *faint*
I think I only used up 1/6 of the epidural tube, really a waste of money man.
While stitching me, Dr Ang kept emphasising to me and Hubby Chris that we must let our gynae know when we have our #2 that once the baby's weight is above 3kg, I must go for C sect, better don't try natural birth. So that kinda sums up my 2hours plus of labour.
I don't really know how some mummies can feel so ecstatic and cry when they see their newborn, I was tooo tired to experience any waves of emotions!
My first reaction when I carried my baby was "Wah, so cute!" Hahaha...
I was so happy to see my little girl, she was exactly how I imagined her to be! =)

Date of Birth: 18 April 2009, Saturday (exactly 39 weeks in gestation)
Time of Birth: 0423 hours
Head Circumference: 33cm
Length: 49cm
Weight: 2.63kg

Now, I really think that being a mummy is so wonderful! =)

The 40 Weeks of Pregnancy

Little Raeann was 'manufactured' in the early days of August 2008, and I would say, it's an 'unplanned' pregnancy!
Hubby Chris and I had wanted to enjoy 1 or 2 more years of couplehood, going for holidays, before we settle down to have a baby.
A few days after my menses was late, I told Hubby Chris I needed to do a pregnancy check, and he still brushed it off and said "You think it's so easy to get pregnant huh?".. haha...
Indeed, we have a baby in the making!
Guess what was our first reaction when we realised that the pregnancy test was positive?
OH MY GOD!
Yeah that's the 3 words!

Started to get busy after that, upon advice from my friends, we decided to visit the gynae in my 6th week of pregnancy.
Life is such a miracle, I just cannot describe the ecstasy when we saw the moving sac on the ultrasound and heard the strong heartbeat of the foetus!
Wow… ours is a strong little baby! =)

Morning sickness soon followed, I was literally puking out everything I ate and I started to have a craving for teriyaki chicken!
The monthly checkups went very smoothly, gotten excellent results for all the blood tests, I think we are really lucky parents!

Some little ‘accidents’ during my pregnancy did occur. Slipped and fell on the wet floor at Downtown East when I was there for my Staff Retreat in Nov 2008 and the next month, I fell when I was coming out of the bathroom.
I was really clumsy during my pregnancy!
I am really thankful for a caring hubby at home, as well as my colleagues who have shown a lot of concern and rendered me help, such as helping me to carry stuffs.
I feel blessed during my pregnancy, really.
Very thankful indeed. =)

Welcome!

Welcome to the bloggie of the Limmie Family! =)