Monday, May 14, 2007

Projectile poop

I didn't realise that changing nappies can be so hazardous! Lately, Zach has been pooping while we change his nappy...and on one late sleepless night while we were changing him, he farted and a whole stream of poop flew across the room and splattered on the floor...GROSS!! Fortunately, none of us had our face near his bottom...I must say...he is really a mega farter! His farts are so powerful!Now whenever i have to change his nappy, i make sure my mouth and face is no where near his "exit point"! The things we do for love...

Where oh where did my sleep go?

The most terrifying thing to hear in the middle of the night is...Zachary's "cough-cough cry"! After that few warning cries, if we don't attend to him or pick him up...he would scream his head off. Eugene would go soothe him while i prepare to breastfeed him yet again. At 3am, that's the last thing i want to do...but when he's got to eat, he has got to eat! Breastfeeding can be the most lonely thing to do sometimes...its just me and him...but most of the time, he's half asleep and busy suckling anyway..so its just me. Yesterday, while i was feeding him...i fell asleep, fortunately i didn't drop him!Last night was BAD...after i fed him, he would sleep for about an hour or so and cry to be picked up and attended to...and even when we did attend to him he took some time to quieten down. After the 5am feed, he refused to be soothed and cried till he fell asleep for awhile. URGH! When is it going to get a bit better? Fortunately he tends to sleep alot better during the day...and seems calmer.Eugene and i were both reminising the days when we could just go out when we felt like...carefree...just fulfilling our own needs and desires, now...we have to put this little boy's needs ahead of ours...such is the sacrificial love of a parent!Lord give me strength!

Seems like months...

It does seem like months have lapsed...but as most of you know by now...Zachary is out!He came 2 weeks early on the 10th May, weighing 2.92kg. He really did kind of caught us off guard...i even went shopping with my sister the day before and we were joking about what she should do if i went into labour while i was out with her! So here is an account of what i could remember of that day...I experienced mild contractions at around 3.30am on the 10th May...thought nothing much of it...went to the toilet and realised i had some pinkish discharge...contractions started coming more often by 5...it was then that i woke Eugene up and he started timing them. It became more and more intense and frequent...and at 7am my water bag burst...that was quite something to experience as it really was a gush of water. Called our doula, Ginny and we decided that its time to go to the hospital. Eugene had to throw some more stuff into our bags (that was how unprepared we were!)Trying to get to the hospital was quite a feat as i was having contractions every few minutes and i basically had to stop and cringe in pain every time it came...so we took about half and hour just to get to the car! The car ride was the worst! All i felt like doing was screaming out in pain! But my FIL was driving so i didn't want to startle him too much! By the time we got to the hospital, all i wanted to do was move my bowels!! REally felt like i had to urgently sit on the toilet bowl and push something out. By 8.30, the midwives informed me that i was already fully dilated and i should started pushing him out. Pushing was torturous! With every push...the pain became more intense...had to grin and bear and grunt...after an hour he came gushing out...It was a surreal moment for me as i held him and he faced me...we looked at each other while everybody around us busied themselves...time literally stood still for me...(mabye it was the lack of oxygen going into my head and the lost of blood!)So this is the little man whom i have been carrying for 9 months...who kicked me every time i laid on my side to sleep...this is Zachary...Lost quite a bit of blood and am still healing from the wounds...still feeling very sore and trying to heal quickly!All i can say about parenthood/motherhood at the moment...it is indeed a very humbling experience...you learn things about yourself that you never knew you had and had to search for...am still learning...and at the moment it is quite overwhelming!

What i did yesterday

Guess what i did most of yesterday...Breastfeed!! I think i now spend almost 80% of my time breastfeeding him...confined to my breastfeeding chair! The other percentage of my time is spent soothing him when he cries...and i almost have no alone time...except maybe the time spent in the toilet bathing and doing what one usually does in the toilet. I better start making myself more comfortable in my breastfeeding chair...

What i did yesterday

Guess what i did most of yesterday...Breastfeed!! I think i now spend almost 80% of my time breastfeeding him...confined to my breastfeeding chair! The other percentage of my time is spent soothing him when he cries...and i almost have no alone time...except maybe the time spent in the toilet bathing and doing what one usually does in the toilet. I better start making myself more comfortable in my breastfeeding chair...

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

He has been seen!

Just when i complained about not being able to catch a glimpse of baby Ho...in our following visit..he finally allowed us this "priviledge"! Wasn't a very clear picture, but at least now we know that he has a nose, mouth and 2 eyes! But seriously speaking, it was wonderful to be able to have this image to keep in my mind, while i labour for him to come out. Wanted to scan the picture in, but i think its too blur to make out clearly...so shan't bother unless i do get an even clearer one on my next visit (which will be my 2nd last one!)
We finally packed our hospital bags...while packing them i felt a sudden calm about this whole impending experience...and bringing baby Ho's coming home clothes made the whole thing so REAL...imagining a tiny body in those clothes was very heart-warming!
Have started to do some things that are supposed to bring on labour...walking alot...walking up stairs...drinking raspberry leaf tea...and praying hard that he comes on time!!

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

He doesn't want to be seen...

Went for a check-up during the weekend...and attempted to take a glimpse of baby Ho's face again. But yet again...we failed to as he was very determined to keep us in suspense...so all we have is a detailed scan of his fist! Well, at least i know that has has 5 fingers on one hand! Sigh...getting very eager to see how he looks like and to get acquainted with him!!
Am 37 weeks now...3 more weeks to go. Everybody has been asking me how i feel...and all i can say is...big and uncomfortable...but i still feel like the impending delivery is such a surreal experience to anticipate. Can't exactly picture myself going through labour yet...although i was encouraged by my doula to picture myself going through the whole process and baby Ho coming out of under there seamlessly...
Well, we have been "coaching" baby Ho on how to cooperate on that fateful day and come out through the way of the least possible resistance...and come out on time too. Hope he took note of our instructions carefully! Ha!