Saturday, 1 February 2020
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Twinning with my mini-me today . #alyssacheong #thedesignclosets
Decade Wrap Up
2010 - Entered underground relationship
2011 - Transferred to new department, went on epic road trip in USA
2012 - Made it to peak of Mount Kinabalu, ended toxic underground relationship
2013 - Met le husband, tendered resignation at ex-company, trekked in Nepal. Started writing on Dayre! The year of moving on
2014 - Started new job, got engaged, applied for BTO
2015 - Got baptised, got married, went on 3-week honeymoon
2016 - Moved twice, got pregnant
2017 - Gave birth, struggling to be a mom
2018 - Collected keys to our flat! Moved into our own house
2019 - Went skydiving
The last decade was marked by great personal growth. It was quite a tumultuous and life-changing decade. Lots of adulting to do.
While I miss my youth and carefree days, my days are now marked with stability, family and peace.
2010 - Entered underground relationship
2011 - Transferred to new department, went on epic road trip in USA
2012 - Made it to peak of Mount Kinabalu, ended toxic underground relationship
2013 - Met le husband, tendered resignation at ex-company, trekked in Nepal. Started writing on Dayre! The year of moving on
2014 - Started new job, got engaged, applied for BTO
2015 - Got baptised, got married, went on 3-week honeymoon
2016 - Moved twice, got pregnant
2017 - Gave birth, struggling to be a mom
2018 - Collected keys to our flat! Moved into our own house
2019 - Went skydiving
The last decade was marked by great personal growth. It was quite a tumultuous and life-changing decade. Lots of adulting to do.
While I miss my youth and carefree days, my days are now marked with stability, family and peace.
2017
Momentous year of changes I would say...
Spent the first 5 months being pregnant, and then the next 7 months struggling to learn how to be a mom. Mothering doesn't come naturally to me at all, so it's been a steep learning curve.
So yes 2017 was mostly about welcoming the little one and coming to terms with the fact that life is no longer the same. Battling a bout of blues weeks after delivery... darn those hormones. Confined at home during confinement. Lots of frustrating moments when the baby doesn't cooperate. When the baby falls sick. When the baby cries.
Sometimes I look at Cell and wonder how come we made such a cute baby, hahaha! But I'm pretty sure those are just very biased thoughts that every parent has. She's starting to be her own little human now! She makes everyone so happy when she coos and smiles. Can't believe it's already 7 months since that fateful night of pushing, which eventually resulted in an emergency c-sect.
This year we didn't get to travel much. Bangkok in March for one last baby-free holiday, and then we adventurously (or foolishly? Lol) brought Cell to Perth in November. Perth was a good experience, I did enjoy the time we spent as a family of 3. But it did come with lots of inconveniences too.
I foreseenext year this year we won't get to travel much too. Hopefully we can bring Cell on a cruise or something.
Health wise... I think my health hasn't been great last year. Especially after birth. My hives are back with a vengeance recently (the cooler weather didn't help). Fell sick a couple of times. Definitely ate less healthily than before (breastfeeding gave me a one-way ticket to fatdom) and I can count the number of times I exercised post-partum on one hand. :( For a person who used to pride myself on keeping fit and active... this definitely was something I had to adjust to. My waist is now as thick as a tree trunk. Hope to find more time to exercise this coming year. And erm, drink less bubble tea and eat less sweet stuff!!!
Relationships wise, I've been meeting my friends a lot less frequently too. Especially after the birth of Cell. I guess all my friends are also at that stage where they have to juggle family life and other commitments, so naturally meetups get lesser and lesser. Hope things improve this year!
I appreciate my mom more now too. My MIL... haha well work in progress. I think I think better of her when we were not staying under one roof. But sometimes it's my own perception that I need to manage.
I'm glad that le husband has always been very supportive and hands-on and understanding, for the most part. It's very easy to neglect your partner when there's a baby in the picture. So yeah more appreciation for the husband this year! And try not to get irritated with minor things!
Work wise... not so good. Had a really bad and scathing work review with my boss end Nov. Basically she told me to buck up la and said that my lack of urgency was a major issue for her. I myself know that I haven't been the most diligent worker. But I really don't feel motivated at my job lor. Hopefully this year will open up more opportunities for me, and if the plan for me is not to move, then at least I hope I start to feel more motivated at work? LOL.
And this year, we look forward to receiving the keys to our new house! Finally a place to call our own! I've been waiting for this day for years... please let us collect our keys sooner rather than later!
After all that rambling, I pray for safety and health for all of us and our loved ones. Pray for Cell to grow up to be a happy, healthy girl. Pray for myself to be a good wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. Pray for our finances. Pray for our house. Basically things that I always pray about la haha.
Momentous year of changes I would say...
Spent the first 5 months being pregnant, and then the next 7 months struggling to learn how to be a mom. Mothering doesn't come naturally to me at all, so it's been a steep learning curve.
So yes 2017 was mostly about welcoming the little one and coming to terms with the fact that life is no longer the same. Battling a bout of blues weeks after delivery... darn those hormones. Confined at home during confinement. Lots of frustrating moments when the baby doesn't cooperate. When the baby falls sick. When the baby cries.
Sometimes I look at Cell and wonder how come we made such a cute baby, hahaha! But I'm pretty sure those are just very biased thoughts that every parent has. She's starting to be her own little human now! She makes everyone so happy when she coos and smiles. Can't believe it's already 7 months since that fateful night of pushing, which eventually resulted in an emergency c-sect.
This year we didn't get to travel much. Bangkok in March for one last baby-free holiday, and then we adventurously (or foolishly? Lol) brought Cell to Perth in November. Perth was a good experience, I did enjoy the time we spent as a family of 3. But it did come with lots of inconveniences too.
I foresee
Health wise... I think my health hasn't been great last year. Especially after birth. My hives are back with a vengeance recently (the cooler weather didn't help). Fell sick a couple of times. Definitely ate less healthily than before (breastfeeding gave me a one-way ticket to fatdom) and I can count the number of times I exercised post-partum on one hand. :( For a person who used to pride myself on keeping fit and active... this definitely was something I had to adjust to. My waist is now as thick as a tree trunk. Hope to find more time to exercise this coming year. And erm, drink less bubble tea and eat less sweet stuff!!!
Relationships wise, I've been meeting my friends a lot less frequently too. Especially after the birth of Cell. I guess all my friends are also at that stage where they have to juggle family life and other commitments, so naturally meetups get lesser and lesser. Hope things improve this year!
I appreciate my mom more now too. My MIL... haha well work in progress. I think I think better of her when we were not staying under one roof. But sometimes it's my own perception that I need to manage.
I'm glad that le husband has always been very supportive and hands-on and understanding, for the most part. It's very easy to neglect your partner when there's a baby in the picture. So yeah more appreciation for the husband this year! And try not to get irritated with minor things!
Work wise... not so good. Had a really bad and scathing work review with my boss end Nov. Basically she told me to buck up la and said that my lack of urgency was a major issue for her. I myself know that I haven't been the most diligent worker. But I really don't feel motivated at my job lor. Hopefully this year will open up more opportunities for me, and if the plan for me is not to move, then at least I hope I start to feel more motivated at work? LOL.
And this year, we look forward to receiving the keys to our new house! Finally a place to call our own! I've been waiting for this day for years... please let us collect our keys sooner rather than later!
After all that rambling, I pray for safety and health for all of us and our loved ones. Pray for Cell to grow up to be a happy, healthy girl. Pray for myself to be a good wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. Pray for our finances. Pray for our house. Basically things that I always pray about la haha.
6.43pm: had a small emo moment just now coz Cell kept fussing and crying when I was carrying her and my MIL just took her away to carry 😒
Kena rejected by my own kid zzz.
Kena rejected by my own kid zzz.
Anyway since I've got time now (and should really be taking a nap but I don't have a napping habit)...
@hahaheehee:250517 gonna continue the birth story
@hahaheehee:250517 gonna continue the birth story
9am on 25 May: woke up and saw some blood on underwear - bloody show! Finally a sign than labour is imminent!
1030am: at gynae's clinic for a scheduled checkup, strapped to the CTG for monitoring. Mild contractions spotted!
1030am: at gynae's clinic for a scheduled checkup, strapped to the CTG for monitoring. Mild contractions spotted!
Contractions were still not too bad, I barely felt them! I think they felt like very mild cramps. On a scale of 1 to 10 (most painful), I think they're about a 1.
1115am: saw doc and she told us that I was abt 1-2cm dilated and we could still afford to wait and monitor.
2pm: went home after a good lunch, contractions started to get stronger during lunch!
Mucus plug also dropped after we got home! I think it dropped twice in the afternoon.
2pm: went home after a good lunch, contractions started to get stronger during lunch!
Mucus plug also dropped after we got home! I think it dropped twice in the afternoon.
4pm: contractions getting more intense, was basically timing them and doing some of the stretches that I learned during prenatal yoga to help relieve the pain a little.
6pm: could take it no more, told le husband that we prob need to hospital soon. Haha to think that we initially still wanted to go for Ascension of the Lord mass at 6pm. Had a quick dinner.
6pm: could take it no more, told le husband that we prob need to hospital soon. Haha to think that we initially still wanted to go for Ascension of the Lord mass at 6pm. Had a quick dinner.
I got so many of the "go to the hospital NOW!" alerts hahaha
7pm: we had wanted to book a Grab but my MIL said one of her dancing friends could drive us to hospital since they are otw to dancing class.
BAD CHOICE. First, peak hour traffic zzzzz. Every 6min or so the contractions would hit and I would be wincing in the back seat. The uncle who drove us to the hospital was super blur also la. He missed the Mt A exit from Lornie Rd, went alllll the way to Toa Payoh, then when Paul tried to direct him he also like blur blur.
BAD CHOICE. First, peak hour traffic zzzzz. Every 6min or so the contractions would hit and I would be wincing in the back seat. The uncle who drove us to the hospital was super blur also la. He missed the Mt A exit from Lornie Rd, went alllll the way to Toa Payoh, then when Paul tried to direct him he also like blur blur.
Sorry la Uncle I know u are just 好心 to send us to the hospital but it is painful u know?! A journey that would have taken 20min usually took like 45min in the end.
8pm: FINALLY reached Mt Alvernia and was wheelchaired to the labour ward. Did the admission and was directed to one of the delivery rooms. After changing into the gown and all, settled onto the bed and was strapped to the CTG machine to continue monitoring.
8pm: FINALLY reached Mt Alvernia and was wheelchaired to the labour ward. Did the admission and was directed to one of the delivery rooms. After changing into the gown and all, settled onto the bed and was strapped to the CTG machine to continue monitoring.
The contraction chart was going crazy according to Paul
Still can ✌🏻 haha. This must be in between contractions.
This one is more like it. Was clutching the railing and all curled up coz DAMN PAIN. I think about 7/10 pain.
Unglam. I asked for some pain relief and got the laughing gas and penthidine jab. The laughing gas was totally useless! I find that it only made me very woozy and giddy. I think After the laughing gas I was a bit half gone and can't rmb much already.
Haha we still have time for a selfie. After this things quickly escalated and I think le Husband didn't have time to take any more photos.
I remember the nurse coming in to check for dilation and she said I was about 5cm dilated. I also remember Dr Choo coming in to see how I was and then she broke my water bag. Apparently baby pooped a little while inside but it's not life threatening coz her heart rate was still ok. After that she left the room. I remember I told Paul that I felt giddy after inhaling the laughing gas.
9pm - 10pm+ was spent in a daze~
9pm - 10pm+ was spent in a daze~
Then they brought in this thing for me to place my legs on so that I was kinda like in a squatting position. I was making a lot of noise and moaning and there was this nurse that was damn fierce? She kept telling me to cooperate. Eh i would love to but I am having very x 10000 intense pain surging through my lower body?! I would say like it's like all consuming and u can't focus on anything else except for the pain. Like menses cramps x 10. Very intense squeezing happening inside my body.
There was a lot of activity and movement but I was only vaguely aware of them. And the time came for me to push.
Dr Choo came and checked that I was about 8-9cm dilated already, so I could start pushing once I felt the contractions coming. I was to take a deep breath and then push and hold the push for 10 counts.
Dr Choo came and checked that I was about 8-9cm dilated already, so I could start pushing once I felt the contractions coming. I was to take a deep breath and then push and hold the push for 10 counts.
I made some "ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" sound while pushing and the nurses told me not to do so because I was wasting energy by making noise. Wah very hard leh. Tried to keep my mouth shut and my face was all scrunched up, and my eyes were shut ever since I inhaled the laughing gas.
Felt like this haha 😂 an uphill task requiring great effort.
Dr Choo said that the baby's head was still very high up and not down the birth canal, so she had to use the vacuum to help bring her head down and also to correct the position of her head. So I felt this vacuum thing moving inside of me while she tried to bring baby down.
Dr Choo said that the baby's head was still very high up and not down the birth canal, so she had to use the vacuum to help bring her head down and also to correct the position of her head. So I felt this vacuum thing moving inside of me while she tried to bring baby down.
Pushing takes great effort man and I was so tired and exhausted. It's like trying to gek sai. After pushing for what felt like eternity (Paul said it was about 45 mins), I recall vaguely that Dr Choo told Paul that we might have to go for a c-sect coz the baby's head simply wasn't coming down and her head was facing upwards towards my belly instead of inwards. Otherwise known as the OP (occipital posterior) position.
At this point I was in such great pain, moaning and groaning, and exhausted from all the pushing. If have to c-sect, then so be it!!!
11pm+: While waiting for the OT to be ready, I tried to push some more to see if baby can come down. But alas, baby wasn't cooperative. But I'm thankful that I didn't tear below if not I'll have pain at both my vagina and pain at my c-sect wound now. 😒
11pm+: While waiting for the OT to be ready, I tried to push some more to see if baby can come down. But alas, baby wasn't cooperative. But I'm thankful that I didn't tear below if not I'll have pain at both my vagina and pain at my c-sect wound now. 😒
They made me sign some form in my delirious state to agree to the c-sect and I was told that I could choose to undergo the op under epidural or GA. At first I chose epidural and I was then transferred to another bed and rolled to another room (which i assume is the OT). Over there, somebody (whom I assume is the anaesthetist) asked if I wanted to go for GA instead because I was in such great pain and distress, I might not be able to keep super still for them to insert the needle down my spine.
Very legit reason so even in my semi-conscious/delirious state, I agreed and the last memory I had was passing my left hand to somebody.
The next thing I knew, I woke up with a dull ache at my lower abdomen.
Oh yes and I vaguely recall somebody telling me about baby being delivered when I was knocked out but I wasn't sure if that was a dream or a real thing. I suppose it was a real thing then haha.
The next thing I knew, I woke up with a dull ache at my lower abdomen.
Oh yes and I vaguely recall somebody telling me about baby being delivered when I was knocked out but I wasn't sure if that was a dream or a real thing. I suppose it was a real thing then haha.
1 or 2am on 26 May: It was really like in TV dramas - still rmb thinking, what happened and where am I. There was some cluttering and activity going on around me and I drifted in and out, then I made sense of it and realised that baby is out!
Still very woozy from the GA, but I knew I was being rolled from the OT or observation room or wherever to the ward. Felt very weak and couldn't really move.
Still very woozy from the GA, but I knew I was being rolled from the OT or observation room or wherever to the ward. Felt very weak and couldn't really move.
And the rest of the night passed, with the nurses popping in and out the room throughout the night to check my BP. Paul came in too to update me on what happened. The op was super fast, think within 15min everything was done. Baby was out a few mins before midnight and all was well, but I had to be kept under observation first for about 1hr or so.
Her birth weight was 2965g, about 500g off from the ultrasound estimate!!
Her birth weight was 2965g, about 500g off from the ultrasound estimate!!
Heh check out the poop explosion 💥
Poor baby's head came out looking really long coz of the vacuum. Her scalp also had red marks but thankfully they went off after a while.
All these photos taken by Paul!
All these photos taken by Paul!
Hello 👧🏻👋🏻
Looking very alert!
7am: woke up after a night of slightly interrupted sleep and caught up on my messages.
8am: baby was wheeled into my room and I got to see her for the first time!
8am: baby was wheeled into my room and I got to see her for the first time!
Our first family photo!
Daddy looking over at his daughter
My first hospital meal - fish porridge for breakfast
Heh bears say hi to Alyssa!
Lunch!
Dinner
Overall the hospital confinement food is not too bad
Overall the hospital confinement food is not too bad
Bears kept me company throughout my stay!
Day 2's breakfast was mee tai Mak soup
My catheter and urine bag was also removed. Going to the toilet was painful.
My catheter and urine bag was also removed. Going to the toilet was painful.
MIL made papaya fish soup and brought it over
Looking at you suspiciously 👀
Thanks to all family, friends and colleagues for the gifts and generosity!
For c-sect the usual stay is 4D3N but since Alyssa was born just before midnight, my stay on Friday was considered the first night already.
Spent most of our stay entertaining family and friends actually. And managed to attend a 1-hr parentcraft talk on Friday afternoon. Had to be wheelchaired there coz it hurts to stand up! Muscles inside still v raw.
Luckily by the 2nd day I could manage a very slow walk already.
For c-sect the usual stay is 4D3N but since Alyssa was born just before midnight, my stay on Friday was considered the first night already.
Spent most of our stay entertaining family and friends actually. And managed to attend a 1-hr parentcraft talk on Friday afternoon. Had to be wheelchaired there coz it hurts to stand up! Muscles inside still v raw.
Luckily by the 2nd day I could manage a very slow walk already.
On night 2 of my stay, the nurse taught me how to extract colostrum. Only 0.2ml! And she press so hard that it's damn pain eek
Every morning Dr Choo and Cell's PD Dr Terence Tan would make their rounds and visit us. On the 2nd morning Dr Tan said her jaundice levels are starting to rise so he suggested starting on phototherapy first to bring it down.
So here she is lying on the phototherapy bed! Actually this was taken on the day of discharge heh.
So here she is lying on the phototherapy bed! Actually this was taken on the day of discharge heh.
On the day of discharge Mt Alvernia usually conducts a simple blessing for the baby 👶🏻.
And that concludes my staycation at the hospital and farewell to uninterrupted sleep!
And that concludes my staycation at the hospital and farewell to uninterrupted sleep!
We've got pretty flowers
From fleurishsg
Busy unpacking hampers and we've got a ton of chicken essence now haha
Ok I took super long to finish this birth story heh.
So busy in the first week of her birth that I didn't have time to record everything like:
- how we spent our first night at home at the NUH A&E
- bringing her out for the first time to the Polyclinic for her jaundice check
- review with Dr Choo to check on my wound and stitches
- her newborn photoshoot and the poop projectile
#celljourney #birthstory #dayremoms
So busy in the first week of her birth that I didn't have time to record everything like:
- how we spent our first night at home at the NUH A&E
- bringing her out for the first time to the Polyclinic for her jaundice check
- review with Dr Choo to check on my wound and stitches
- her newborn photoshoot and the poop projectile
#celljourney #birthstory #dayremoms
Conclusion
This one week at home feels even longer than a week at work. Plus the weather is really not helping! I'm hot and sticky every day and I still have to breastfeed her and it makes her hot and sticky too!
I think I'd rather go back to work man!
I think I'd rather go back to work man!
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