(Christiana's journey to new moon)
Hi, I'm Christiana Yong Min Xuan and I just finished my first bath.
Christiana Yong Min Xuan was brought into this world after nearly 7 hours of labour. Her birth weight was 3.4kg which was at 50th centile and her length 56cm which is actually above average.. She did look rather lengthy for her age with nice long legs just like her daddy.
Ahh..its so nice and cosy to be wrapped up but its nothing compared to mummy's womb.
She was brought into my room after her first bath and was all nicely bundled up. Ivan and I held her close and looked at her adoringly. She was so tiny and cute and is really such a beauty. Her skin so fair, soft and smooth. Her cheeks chubby and she only opens one eye, her left eye. Her eyes are like mine,small and narrow; lips like her daddy, pink and plump; ears like me and hair like her dad,wavy. Features of Ivan and i could be seen all over her.
I can still see you eventhough my eyes are small k and dont my lips look kissable??
My parents were overjoyed to see their first granddaughter and my siblings happy that they were going to be uncle/aunties...:-p They were a bit scared to carry Christiana though because she looked so fragile. At about 7.30pm, Christiana's paternal grandma arrived from Kota Bharu, Kelantan. She was also excited seeing her first granddaughter. By then Christiana had quietened down and was sleeping peacefully; her chest moving up and down to her breathing rhythm.
After my parents and mother in law left for dinner, it was my turn to take more of Christiana's pictures. First child ma so don't want to miss out on anything.Ivan came back about 12.30am all tired and exhausted. Both of us collapsed on the bed after a while. Christiana started crying at 1am but both of us were so tired that we could not drag ourself out from the bed to see her. The nurses must have heard her cry because shortly after that, 1 of them came in and offered to bring Christiana to the nursery. Both Ivan and I unanimously agreed.
Ivan started working when Christiana was 2 days old (Being a houseman, we are not entitiled to paternity leave). Ivan's mom took care of Christiana and me. Being in confinement, i was like the 'queen' of the house. I was only allowed to get out of bed to feed Christiana, eat and go toilet. Christiana had her first bath that morning by her grandmama. She cried quite a lot during bathtime. I took the opportunity to call the health clinic to inform them that i have delivered so that they can come and do home visit.
Christiana started to become a little jaundiced (yellow) by 3 days old. The nurses visited the house and told that everything was well. They advised us to sun Christiana and to feed her more. As the day passes, Christiana's jaundice continue to deepen but she was still waking up regularly to feed. We gave her an early morning 8am-9am sunbath as advised. She passes motion very frequently but her stools were still greenish in colour (meconium stained). She also started developing heat rash due to the extremely hot weather.
On the 5th day, the nurses came to visit again and this time, the jaundiced had progressed to the lower chest. Christiana was also getting more lethargic and sleeping longer hours and not waking up to feed. We brought her to the A&E in Seremban Hospital and took a TSB (total serum bilirubin) to check the level of jaundice. Christiana did not even cry when she was pricked. She merely opened her eyes and then went back to sleep. After waiting for 1 and 1/2 hrs, the results came back and her TSB was on the higher side 208mmol/L (normal is <230). We were advised to wake her up to feed her as frequently as 2 hourly even if she's asleep. We were also told to repeat her TSB the day after.
After 1 week old, we brought Christiana to KPJ as she had an appointment with her paediatrician. She was more active but still looked very jaundiced. A TSB was repeated and her TSB increased even further to 231mmol/L. At that point of time, i was in a dilemma. I did not know whether to admit Nana to the hospital for phototherapy or to repeat TSB the coming morning. In the end, we decided the latter. Christiana fed often that day and she was awake most of the time. We played with her and talked to her. That night, i set my alarm and woke up every 2 hours to feed her. It was the least i could do to ensure that her jaundice does not worsen.
Over the next few days, Nana's jaundice continue to improve. By now, i was getting used to her cries and could roughly guess what she wanted. Nana started to enjoy her bath time and was feeding well. But she still sleeps quite a lot. I guess that's the lifestyle of all neonates (from birth until 1 month old).
After 11 days (6/2/10), Ivan's mom went back to Kota Bharu as she had to work. It was my mother's turn to come and take care of me and Christiana. She brought my sister Mei Ling along as she was worried she couldn't handle us..;-p But things turned out to be manageable and Mei Ling was just sleeping most of the time..hehe..
My mom would bath Christiana with Guinness Stout. It is supposedly believed that it would give the baby beautiful skin and provide warmth. I did not agree but didn't want to fight with my mom. Ivan was busy working (medical posting) and by the time he came home everyday, he was already drained. He would gather the remaining strength left in him to play and talk to Nana for awhile then he would drop dead on the bed. Nana started having abdominal colics when she was 2 weeks old and she would be very irritable and cry for few hours every night. I on the other hand would look like a zombie every morning..;-p
After 1 week, my mom went home and Ivan's mom came back down to take care of us. It was Chinese New Year then. I was still in confinement and therefore could not leave the house. Ivan and his family went out for CNY eve's dinner while i stayed at home to take care of Nana. I was sad that i couldn't follow but glad because Ivan would be on holiday for a few days.
It was a quiet CNY for us as it was just Ivan's family and us. I remember waking up extra early to get Nana ready. She wore her Mini mouse clothes and pants given by her paternal grandma and also had her pink mushroom hat on. She looked so cute. It was our first CNY together as a family and Nana received many red packets from Ivan's relatives (given by Ivan's dad). Ivan's family left for Melaka after that while Ivan stayed back to accompany me and Nana. It was the first time when we were together alone since Nana was born.
On the 4th week of my confinement (Finally!), my mom came back to take care of me and Christiana. By then, i was already comfortable with Christiana's lifestyle and was used to her 'habits' already. She was growing well and feeding well. I was also recuperating well..;-p
We celebrated her achieving 1 month old on the 26th of February 2010. I also celebrated my independance from confinement on that day..hehe..;-P We had chinese buffet for my relatives and few church friends, the max we could accommodate 1 time in our little single storey terrace rented home. To top it up we ordered 3 large Domino pizzas which finished in 5 mins..Ivan who ordered it was like, "Ney,where did u all put the pizzas ah?"
My 2 grandmas. Dont they look young?
After my parents and mother in law left for dinner, it was my turn to take more of Christiana's pictures. First child ma so don't want to miss out on anything.Ivan came back about 12.30am all tired and exhausted. Both of us collapsed on the bed after a while. Christiana started crying at 1am but both of us were so tired that we could not drag ourself out from the bed to see her. The nurses must have heard her cry because shortly after that, 1 of them came in and offered to bring Christiana to the nursery. Both Ivan and I unanimously agreed.
Mummy stop taking my picture,i'm trying to sleep ere.
Our little bundle of joy so peacefully asleep.
Christiana came in as early as 7am the next day. She had just been fed at the nursery and was therefore sleeping soundly. We packed our things and after meeting with our obstetrician and pediatrician as well as settling the hospital bills, we headed home.
Quickly change my clothes so that i can go home.
Me with my mummy, daddy and grandma.
Bye bye KPJ!
Christiana was sleeping most of the time and only woke up when she was hungry. I breastfed her but as my lactation still hasn't fully commenced, we had to top up with formula milk. Ivan spoon fed her the milk to avoid nipple confusion (can happen if we feed Christiana with bottle and artificial nipple. She might even reject me after that). Being the new parents that we are, quite a lot of milk ended up on her shirt instead..=)
Wah..the nappy wipes is so cold.
My very first visitor ~ Aunty Lee Shien
Daddy's feeding me with a cup but i think my shirt is getting more nutrients than i am..:-p
Ivan started working when Christiana was 2 days old (Being a houseman, we are not entitiled to paternity leave). Ivan's mom took care of Christiana and me. Being in confinement, i was like the 'queen' of the house. I was only allowed to get out of bed to feed Christiana, eat and go toilet. Christiana had her first bath that morning by her grandmama. She cried quite a lot during bathtime. I took the opportunity to call the health clinic to inform them that i have delivered so that they can come and do home visit.
Peek ~ now,who's that trying to take a picture of me sleeping?
My daddy's trying to wake me up.
Sorry la pa, I'm just too tired to play with you.
Day 3 of life.
Oohh..Its so bright and hot. Mummy, what ru trying to do? Roast me?
Day 4 of life.
Hmm..im starting to enjoy this natural phototherapy process.
Day 5 of life.
Mummy seems to be stripping me more and more each day for this sun-bathing process.
I'm becoming yellower aren't i?
After 1 week old, we brought Christiana to KPJ as she had an appointment with her paediatrician. She was more active but still looked very jaundiced. A TSB was repeated and her TSB increased even further to 231mmol/L. At that point of time, i was in a dilemma. I did not know whether to admit Nana to the hospital for phototherapy or to repeat TSB the coming morning. In the end, we decided the latter. Christiana fed often that day and she was awake most of the time. We played with her and talked to her. That night, i set my alarm and woke up every 2 hours to feed her. It was the least i could do to ensure that her jaundice does not worsen.
Arms away..Lets go check my bilirubin level..=)
Hmm..y does mummy, daddy and poh poh look so worried?
The next day, we repeated the TSB. As it would be a long wait, i decided to go get Christiana's birth certificate done while Ivan's mom brought Nana to take her TSB. After dropping them off, i set off to Wisma Negeri to get her birth cert done. Even though there were only 3 people ahead of me, it still took an hour before it was my turn (ahem..u know la). By then, it was close to 12pm and i was afraid that Christiana might already be hungry. I rushed back to KPJ just in time to see the pediatrician. Her TSB came down miraculously to 197mmol/L. Praise God!! I was so relieved that Nana did not need admission and that her jaundice was improving. I called Ivan immediately after seeing the pediatrician and he too was relieved.
Wink*wink* Told you i will be just fine.
Weee....higher poh poh, higher...
After 11 days (6/2/10), Ivan's mom went back to Kota Bharu as she had to work. It was my mother's turn to come and take care of me and Christiana. She brought my sister Mei Ling along as she was worried she couldn't handle us..;-p But things turned out to be manageable and Mei Ling was just sleeping most of the time..hehe..
Enjoying a mummy-daughter time..=)
Wwaaa...papa, i dont like the way ur carrying me.
Dont look so happy, change my position first la.
Father and daughter both comatosed.
Aaww..mummy,i like the way you feel.
Having really sweet dreams...;-p
After 1 week, my mom went home and Ivan's mom came back down to take care of us. It was Chinese New Year then. I was still in confinement and therefore could not leave the house. Ivan and his family went out for CNY eve's dinner while i stayed at home to take care of Nana. I was sad that i couldn't follow but glad because Ivan would be on holiday for a few days.
Ivan's family having a Chinese New Year eve's dinner.
"Lou ar...Lou ar.."
While they were busy, so was i...
I'm trying to sleep mummy,dont disturb me la.
My CNY clothes. Cute leh?? I look like the mushrooms in Super Mario Bros:-p
ZZzzz..just give my ang pows to daddy or mummy la.
All together now..Not fair, my eyes are closed..ZZzz
Daddy,ur so full of my drool. Go change first la before you kiss me.
Mummy, clean me first only take my picture ma.
Mummy, its always so nice sleeping on you.
Dont i look bigger compared to the first picture of me?
Yippie...more visitors to see me..=)
We celebrated her achieving 1 month old on the 26th of February 2010. I also celebrated my independance from confinement on that day..hehe..;-P We had chinese buffet for my relatives and few church friends, the max we could accommodate 1 time in our little single storey terrace rented home. To top it up we ordered 3 large Domino pizzas which finished in 5 mins..Ivan who ordered it was like, "Ney,where did u all put the pizzas ah?"
My guests who came to celebrate me turning one month old.
Hhmm, my bed is so so cozy and comfy..
ZZzzz...Good night everyone, it's been an exhausting first month of life.
Check out what my mom has to say when i become 2 months old..=)
