New Member to the Pooh Family

One fine day when Lil Shauna decides to get cranky at 5am in the morning. She was placed on the bed, beside Daddy Lim. Daddy Lim was tasked to look after her while Mummy Lim went to express her milk. This is wat she saw when she was back.

An addition to the Pooh Family... it is Shauna the Mousey.

She's a little bigger than Piglet. I bet she's about the same size as Piglet when she was just born. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

I have finally woke him up

As I have blogged recently, Lil Shauna wakes up for 2 night feeds. I have also switched from breast to bottle feeding during the nights to increase efficiency. Ever since I have switched to bottle feeding, Daddy Lim had been sleeping through the nights with minimal disturbance. But the record was broken last night...

Usually, I will try to wake up a little earlier than Lil Shauna to warm up her milk. After feeding her, I will put her back to bed before expressing my milk and clear up the stuff.

Last night, Lil Shauna woke up for her 1st feed at 11+pm and she fell asleep promptly after that. I aimed to wake up a little earlier for the 2nd feed but failed. I was awoken by her cries at 3+am and I noe that it means trouble. She was crying badly when I tried to warm up her milk. After feeding her, she stared at me and refused to go back to sleep, as if punishing me for delaying her feed. ;p I tried to coax her for the next 30 mins but failed miserably. That is when my patience wears out and I woke Daddy Lim to get him to take over (poor Daddy Lim) while I proceed to express my milk and clear up the stuff. Daddy Lim tried for another 30 mins but Lil Shauna still refused to go back to sleep. I took over from him at 4.45am and continue to coax her for the next 30 mins. She finally fell asleep at 5.15am but wakes up at 5.45am. -.o" Then she finally fell into a deep slumber at 6.20am when we are supposed to go to popo's place. Haiz..

I hope this is only a one-off incident. Sob.. So torturing. Luckily my mum and SIL helped this morning to look after Lil Shauna while I catch an hour of nap. Else, I will be a walking zombie again. Lol!

Mummy Lim

Updates...

Hehe, havent blog for awhile. No choice, Lil Shauna is taking up most of my time. I only have time to do stuff when she's asleep. And when that happens, I try to catch up on my beauty sleep as well. Haiz..

Infant Massage Workshop
Daddy Lim and I went for the workshop last Saturday. It was organised by NUH. When we were there, we realised that all the babies were preemies, like Lil Shauna. The NICU ward actually organised hal-yearly gatherings for preemies and their parents.

Lil Shauna fell asleep on the way to NUH. She only started to stir when the nurse was teaching on hands-on. Lil Shauna refused to cooperates and threathened to cry the moment we put her down. After seevral attempts, she decided that she will distract me by asking for milk. -.o" So I spent the next 30 mins breastfeeding her. When I was about to join the class, she poo poo. The workshop ended when I am finally done with her. Luckily, Daddy Lim was there. Although there's no baby to try hands-on with, he managed to take down some notes. Daddy Lim shall be Lil Shauna's massue from now on. Hehe.

Growing, growing
Lil Shauna is growing, growing... I guess she has put on some weight. My hands get tired when I carry her for too long. But she still have a long way to go to catch up with her peers. She has more "meat" and looks much better when we stripped her for baths. She's developing chubby cheeks and double chin too, hehehe.

She still looks a bit yellow to me. We will noe for sure when she goes for her 2nd month check-up in July 2008. As what the PD said during the last check-up, the jaundice is probably linked to breast milk, which can persist up to 2 months. If she's still yellow during the next check-up, they will have to prick her and do investigation to rule out other causes of jaundice. Meanwhile, we are trying to sun her. Do pray that the jaundice will go away and that it is indeed breast milk jaundice.

We are trying to faithfully feed her the prescibed multi-vitamins and iron drops. The multi-vitamins are mixed with breast milk, given to her via bottle and she has no problem taking it. The iron is supposed to be given on an empty stomach. The moment we put stuff into her mouth, she will start asking for milk. Thus, we have been unsuccessful so far. The iron drop is normally followed by milk. Well, no fish, prawn oso good.

Feeding in the night
Lil Shauna and I go home in the night and spend the day in my mum's place. This is in preparation of me joining the workforce soon. During the initial days, it was really a torture. She can suckle for an hour in the night and refused to go back to sleep. Daddy Lim wasnt of much help and I try not to disturb him as he has to work in the day. As a result, I get very tired in the morning and super cranky.

Recently, I have decided that I will bottle feed her expressed breast milk (EBM) in the night. Thankfully, things seem to work. She will wake up for 2 feeds in the night, around midnight and about 3am. I will try to prepare the milk for her before she gets really angry & hungry. Fortunately, she goes back to sleep soon after the feeds. Hehe. This shall be the arrangement when I go back to work too. :) She can take about 80 to 90ml per feed now. I am trying to stock up on breast milk, so that she can still take EBM when I go back to wor. However, I think my ss is dropping. I hope to let her take EBM exclusively for 6 months, but it doesnt look too optimisstic with the dropping ss. Haiz..

Going back to work
I am taking 10 weeks of maternity leave and staggering the remaining 2 weeks over a period of 6 months, as allowed under the Law. My boss messaged me recently to ask if I wanted to utilise the entire 12 weeks in one go since Lil Shauna spent her 1st 3 weeks in the hospital. After discussing with my mum & Daddy Lim, I am still intending to go back on 21 Jul 08, as per initailly planned. As days go by, I am beginning to believe more and more that I am not cut out to be a full-time mother. Or maybe it is bcos Lil Shauna is still too young to interact and respond. Thus, I am spending my days changing diapers, breastfeeding & expressing milk. -.o"

Anyway, I am looking forward to starting work. I will spread out my 11 days (remaining 2 weeks maternity leave) + 13.5 days (annual leave from last year) + 2 days (childcare leave) over the next 6 months to take care of Lil Shauna. These 26.5 days of leave will come in handy for her jabs and to help my mum when my SIL needs to run errands. Hmm.. I guess I am not that bad a Mummy after all. Boss, if you are reading, pls kindly note that I still have a whole lot of leave hor. ;p

Okie, got to go. The princess is calling. Pardon for the spelling and grammar errors. No time to proof read. ;p

Mummy Lim

Lil Shauna is a cranky baby

I hate it when Lil Shauna gets cranky. This is especially so when it happens in the the night. She did just that last night. I bet it is the weather (again).

We went to bed at 9+pm (after her feed). She was sleeping well in her long pants in the air con room. Before I manage to enter dreamland, she started it. She started wailing despite me carrying her and walking around the room. To prevent her from disturbing Daddy Lim, we went to the living room. Strangely, she stopped crying when I put her on the sofa and she started dozing. As I didnt want to take chance (of waking her up), I spent the next 3 hours with her in the living room, dozing on and off and forgoing the comfort of the aircon room + big bed. She woke up at 1+am for her feed and she was at it for the next 1+ hour! Daddy Lim popped out then. He was shocked to find his wifey and little princess missing. Finding us in the living room, he snuggled back to sleep. How comforting... -.o"

Finally at 2+am, I brought her into the room. The aircon felt heavenly. She was still at my breast and I was playing that "suckle-unlatch-burp-wake up-cry" game with her. She finally fell asleep and I collapsed until I heard her crying for milk again at 4+am. Luckily, it was only a 15mins suckle. However, she was making funny noises at irregular intervals from 4+am to 6+am. I couldnt really entertain her. When she make funny noises (provided that I hear them), I will automatically rock her rocker alittle. Then, the alarm went off. I was zombie-like this morning. Ironically, Lil Shauna was wide awake and cranky. Aiyo.. She finally fell asleep at 11+am.

As I am doing demand feeding, I realised that I am either breastfeeding her or expressing. My mum joked that I am a cow.. I really feel like one. My breasts dun really seem to belong to me anymore. Haiz.. Got to go. The princess is cranky (again). I think she's calling for my breasts..

Mummy Lim

Lil Shauna has grown!

We are back home, back to disturb Daddy Lim's beauty sleep. Lil Shauna has been a little cranky recently. Not too sure if it is bcos of the weather (super hot!). She's awake for longer hours now. But it gets pretty fustrating when she cries when she's awake. -.o"

I think she has grown..

This is her on 19 May 08.

This is her today. I can pinch her cheek liao. Hehe.

She has to continue to put on weight to catch up with her peers.

When we were out at Jurong Point yday, some people commented that she's cute, but oso small. Sob. Shauna jia you!

Mummy Lim

Happy Fathers' Day

Daddy Lim celebrated his 1st official Fathers' Day. Lil Shauna is the greatest present that I can give him. He looks as if he loves his present to bits, haha. Of course I not so cheapo lah, at least I make the effort to get him a pair of Nike slippers wor. Hmmm.. come to think of it, where is my Mothers' Day present huh?

Yday, Lil Shauna went to ye ye and nai nai's house to help ye ye celebrate Fathers' Day. It is the 1st time that Lil Shauna ventured so far out of Jurong. I think I must start bringing her out. Otherwise, she might start spouting mushrooms. Lol!

She slept all the way from Jurong West to Yishun and only woke up upon reaching ye ye's house. She's pretty well-behaved, probably trying to steal the grandparents' heart before showing her cranky side. I bet that was how she made Daddy Lim believes that she is the most adorable and well-behaved baby around. ;p But I have to agree that her big eyes can melt hearts. Haha.

After milk (and right before dinner), she fell asleep on nai nai's bed. I would usually check on her every now and then when she's sleeping. However, there was no need for me to yday. The entire family (from the grandparents to Daddy Lim to his brother and the girlfriend) automatically took turns to peek at her. Then, they will report to me how sweetly and soundly she was sleeping. They went ga-ga over her even when she was merely lying there and sleeping. Haha. I suppose that is the kind of attention that one gets being the 1st grandchild in the family. It had been a long time since a baby comes into the Lim family. :) I give thanks that Lil Shauna is well-loved by the family. I think she will grow up surrounded by love. Hehe.

Henceforth, I foresee that our Sundays will be spent in ye ye & nai nai's house. Afterall, they only get to see Lil Shauna once a week. Oh, we got to find time to visit Daddy Lim's auntie too. Aiyo, there goes our weekends. Maybe when she's a little older, we can sneak out for a movie while Lil Shauna is in the grandparents' care. Hehe. I look forward to her growing up.

Mummy Lim

Lil Shauna 1st Doctor Visit

Lil Shauna went to NUH in the morning for her very 1st follow-up visit. She is now 2550g, (increased by 540g), 47cm long (increased by 3cm) and her head circumference is 31cm (increased by 2cm). The doctor said that she is growing nicely. Although she is small as compared to her peers, she is growing well. A newborn baby should put on an average of 250g per week and Lil Shauna has achieved that. Hehe. Praise the Lord.

The doctor assured us that the discharge from the eye is normal due to developing tear ducts. All we have to do is to keep it clean. We tot that her tummy looked abit bloated, but the doctor said that it is normal too. She is alittle yellow, but the doctor suspected that it is linked to breastmilk. She has been given another appointment 4 weeks down the road. Breastmilk jaundice can persist up to 2 months. If she is still yellow during the next visit, they will have to prick her for blood test to rule out other reasons for persistent jaundice (e.g. liver disease).

She is prescribed multi-vitamins and iron drops. That is bcos preemies are less likely to retain the necessary vitamins and iron, so they need supplement. We were given directions on how to feed her the drops. I havent try feeding her yet, but I already start to scratch head liao. She is still so small. Will attempt (1st time) when Daddy Lim is here.

I have also asked the doctor if she is feeding enuff. The weight gain is a good indication. Just like the books say, so long as there are 6 to 8 soiled diapers (poo poo and/ or wee wee), we are on the safe side.

Mummy Lim

Lost of Wisdom

I hate the dentist. My hatred for them started in Primary one, when I was just an innocent and harmless kid. I remembered that I was called to the school dental clinic where an unfriendly female dentist sat waiting. She found 2 badly decayed molar and I had them extracted on 2 different occasions with injections. Since then, I never visit the dentist unless absolutely necessary. My 1st visit after leaving secondary school took 10 years. Who cares about the 6 monthly visit? So long as there is no pain, good!

My memory of dentists are fierce looking females, forever asking me to "open your mouth", "open bigger", "bigger". I was a kid then, how big do you expect my mouth to be? Duh.. But I have to admit that dentists now are much friendlier. The last few visits had been fine.

My 4 wisdom tooth were intact. The 2 bottom ones are growing in the wrong direction and whenever I visit the dentists, they will advise for the removal of all the 4 wisdom tooth. I had been delaying it. I must observe my "no pain" policy mah.

A year ago, during a holiday trip to Taiwan with Daddy Lim, I was happily eating the "you chong bin" when I felt sharp edges rubbing against my inner cheek. It took me a while to accept the fact that part of the upper left wisdom tooth has chipped. The chipped portion was probably swallowed together with the you chong bin. ;p Other than the sharp edges, it doesnt cause much discomfort. I had lived with it for a year!!

During my last visit to the dentist due to bleeding gum (preggy symptoms), the dentist did inform that the same chipped wisdom tooth was decayed. As I was preggy then, it was not advisable to remove it and he hoped that the pain would not come. True enuff, there was no pain until a week ago. It hurts really badly. I could not eat using the left side. Although I was miserable, it was a good excuse to eat less of the confinement food. ;p Finally, I went to the dentist yday when I could no longer bear with the constant misery.

It wasnt my usual dentist. This dentist was super stern. He said that the pain was caused by the decayed wisdom tooth. I have 2 choices - to extract it or to bear with the pain. -.o" Extraction takes merely a few minutes but there is always a risk that the tooth might break. In that case, a surgery is required and it will take up to 30 minutes. He refused to tell me the % of possibility of breakage, just insisting that I have to take breakage into consideration should I decide on extraction. I have always wanted to do a GA and have all 4 wisdom tooth removed at the same time. I tot that should spare me some agony, just sleep, wake up and voila! However, I need to stop breastfeeding in order to do a GA. Should I decide to breastfeed for 6 months, I would have to tahan the pain for 6 months! After doing my maths, I obediently sit on the dentist chair. It wasnt as bad as I expected. There was no pain with the injection. I only felt tugging. The nurse has to hold back my head.

After the extraction, the dentist showed me the tooth and said that a little part of the root broke inside the gum. -.o" However, no point trying to dig it out as digging might drive it further in. He ended by saying that it shouldnt cause much problem.. Errr.. how comforting..

The extracted tooth looks pretty rotten. I am glad that it is over.. I have 3 more to go.. Haiz..

Mummy Lim

Post-natal Massage

Lil Shauna and I are back at my mum's place for the rest of the confinement period. So, no fotos again until I returned home. I tried to argue that confinement = 1 month, which is effectively 4 weeks and therefore = 28 days. With that, I should have cleared my confinement on 8 Jun. However, my mum insisted that it will only end on 12 Jun, exactly 1 month from Lil Shauna's date of birth. Aiyo, should have given birth in February then, only 28 days in February. I will target that for my 2nd pregnancy or at least give birth in a month with only 30 days. -.o" No logic de. My mum couldnt answer me when I cite the February example. Anyway, no point arguing, I still have 2 more days to go, but she is alot more relaxed with me liao. Hehe.

I have finally started on my post-natal massage. For best effect, the massage should start a few days after natural delivery. Some people swear that the massage do wonders to help them regain their pre-preggy figure. The massage lady is usually some malay aunties who come with weird smelling oil. The massage starts with the rubbing of the oil all over the body and end with a tight wrap around the tummy. The massage is rumoured to get rid of wind and water retention and the wrap will shrink flabby tummy. For maximum effect, the massage is done continuously for a few days and the wrap must be kept on for as long as possible.

I only started my massage 4 weeks after my delivery. No choice, was busying running to the hospital earlier on. The warp is super uncomfy. With the wrap on, you can barely take deep breathes, let alone take a full meal. I half suspect that the flabby tummy shrinks bcos of a smaller food intake, haha. I dun really expect any major results. However, I continued with the massage to not regret not doing so should my flabby tummy decides to stick with me in the future (nightmare)!

Hmm.. I think it is humanly impossible to keep the wrap on for 24 hours. Not with the need to breastfeed and the inability to shower (with the wrap on). I gave up after 9hours yday. Today, I felt like giving up after 15mins. Haha. I am going to the dentist at 2pm. That give me a perfect reason to take off the wrap. I cant possibly walk into the clinic smelling like some herbs mah. Hehehe.. Counting the hours..

Mummy Lim

Lil Shauna's Full-Month Bash

First Night Home

Lil Shauna and I came home to spend our 1st night on Friday. I tot Daddy Lim will have a sleepless night (not to worry cos he is on leave on Saturday). Amazingly, he managed to sleep quite soundly despite Lil Shauna's cries for milk in the middle of the night. When I asked him about it, he claimed that it is bcos he noes that I am in charge and he's confident that I can handle her. -.o" Wat an excuse. However, I do admit that he has been a great help (when he's awake). I also realised that I tend to ask him for help (bottle feeding, carrying, diaper changing) as compared to asking my mum for help (when I am at my mum's place).

Lil Shauna had been pretty cooperative so far. Though she still wakes up for her night feed, it is quite infrequent, averaging of 2x per night. I do hope that it is bcos she has grown bigger and is starting to grow out of night feeds. ;p Several family members have commented that she has grown quite a fair bit, hehehe. We will noe for sure when she goes for her review next Friday. I hope my feeding efforts are paying off. :)

Lil Shauna's Bash

Her bash had gone smoothly as planned. It was pretty small scale. We only invited immediate family, close friends and colleagues. Still it is the 1st time that I see so many people gathered in our humble 5-room flat. All of the sudden, the flat look so small and crowded. Haha.

The little princess slept soundly throughout her celebration. She didnt even cry for milk until the guests have almost left. We even have to bottle feed her in the middle of the celebration cos she was too sleepy to suckle. Aiyo. Wanted to take fotos de, but was too busy. Only managed to take fotos before the guests arrived. ;p

Her pretty and delicious birthday cake from Da Jiu and Ah Kim (my bro & SIL). A pity that she's too small to enjoy the cake. Cousin Fione seems to enjoy it better.

We bought her some new clothes before she was born. As she was too small, most of the clothes ended up looking too big on her. Popo especially got her a tiny romper so that she has new and pretty clothes to wear on her bash. We bought her the booties during the Taka Baby Fair. They are a little too big too. Daddy Lim call them "Level 21 Boots" cos they looked like some level 21 boots for his WOW character. LOL!

The baby soundly asleep after a busy day, even when she had been sleeping the entire day. ;p

We have received a lot of gifts and blessings as well. Thank you all the uncles and aunties, gorgors and jie jies.

Ok, random pix of Lil Shauna making funny faces. ;p

Cheonging

Mummy L told me that she went Powerhouse with Mummy P 2 weeks ago and they had a whole hell of fun. They stayed until 4am in the morning and were dancing like little gers on the platform. My eyes went green with envy. I told them to wait for me, dun quit on cheonging yet. Mummy P reminded that it will take a while before I can enjoy that freedom again. It took her 6 months!! Oh ya, I have to wait until Daddy Lim is comfortable in taking care of Lil Shauna alone and I stop breastfeeding. Oh gosh, I missed those days.

Talking about it, we have all grown up. Was just talking to S yday that our plans for yearly gers' overseas trips seem next to impossible. So are the overnight stays and pillow talks. Oh gosh, I wonder when will we be able to do those stuff again? When we are in our 40s and the kids have grown up? Gers, I jio you all when we are in our 40s ya. For those who wants to get married and give birth, pls quickly do so. ;p

Mummy Lim