Louisa's Baptism

03 Feb 08, Sunday

Louisa's baptism was held at the Church of the Sacred Heart at 4pm. It was a small group with only 5 kids (3 toddlers and 2 babies) having their baptism.

Small groups have its advantages. It's cosy, more informal and definitely less chaotic (no crying siblings running around screaming for their parent's attention...)

Other than the "loud" interior of the church (some find it cosy), the whole baptism setting was pretty serene. It was over in half and hour.

True to a girl's nature, Louisa was quiet throughout the whole baptism. The other baby cried, and the toddlers couldn't sit still. Hahaha... Louisa slept right though her baptism. She only flinched a little (but no crying) when the priest poured the baptism water over her head (it was cold, you see). But her eyes remained closed. I think she must have been talking to her guardian angel during the whole baptism.

Louisa's Diary

Weight to date: 5.15kg (getting a tad bit too heavy for Mummy...going by the way Mummy drops Louisa in her cot while trying to get her out for night feeds. As a result, Mummy has sprained both wrists); Intervals between feeds today: 3 hours (Mummy is very happy! This means more time to blog...); Number of diaper changes today: erm...3 (ok. Mummy's been lazy. Haven't checked Louisa's diaper yet. Went through 2 Huggies S size and 1 Drypers S size. Just found out that we still have 3 pieces of Drypers S!! Gosh! Hate those Drypers S size. Louisa has chubby thighs. Drypers S size leaves "lines" on those 'pig trotters'- she's born in the Year of the Pig).

Basically, life's been great. Louisa just eats, plays, coos, pee & poo and sleep. When hungry, all she does is whine (with eyes still closed) and a teat is pushed into her mouth. All she needs to do is suckle (with eyes still closed). Basically, a feeding session can begin and complete with Louisa remaining in dreamland throughout.

Other times, she will be awake after the feed and it's play time! At 6 weeks, Louisa has displayed signs of being a keen communicator. A typical gal, I must say...I mean, we females just love to catch up with one another, don't we? She moves her mouth (as though making a speech when we look at her); she coos and "talks" to us (engaging a baby dialogue). She will be a good speaker...I think.

Take Time To Smell The Flowers

Mummy's thoughts:-

Although it's been tiring looking after Baby Louisa (waking up every few hours just to feed her, carry her and play with her...I hardly do my own stuff now), I think it is God's way of telling me something.

Before Baby Louisa, life has been all about zipping here and there, getting reports out on a timely fashion and basically rushing through stuff. I used to do a few things at one time - be it the Internet, my reports, reading, eating etc... With Baby Louisa, I can only do one thing during her feeding time - be a cow (just feed her). Ok, maybe 2 things - feeding her and watching TV. When it's Louisa's feeding time, one hand would be holding her and the other hand would be holding the bottle (if feeding EBM). How to do anything else? I can't even switch TV channels! hahaha. Well, I can switch channels if I'm breastfeeding her direct. :-)

But that's not my point. I regard myself as a very efficient person. I do and complete things rather quickly...which has also resulted in my sometimes-impatient nature. With Louisa, I am learning (still learning) to be more patient and not to expect things to be completed quickly. As a baby, in her initial weeks, she would take at least 30 to 40 minutes to suckle. At first, I wasn't used to it. Whenever she took a breather or dozed off, I would assume (or rather, prefer to assume) that she has finished drinking, and quickly remove her and place her back in her cot. She may not even have had her fill! This led to frequent night feeds as she kept waking up every hour or so to feed. So I started to let her really suckle until she's happy and detaches herself. At first, it was like cold turkey for me. I got irritated that she was drinking so slowly. Then I made use of the time to admire her profile, talk to her, stroke her, pray. Slowly, I began to slow down my pace of life...I didn't feel so impatient with her anymore...

On reflection, I think God's telling me (through Louisa) to take time off to smell the flowers. Life is about so much more than being efficient, chasing after things...I used to pray that God will help me be a more patient person. I know now, that this is His way of helping me. Praise the Lord.

Baby Louisa's 1st Month Celebrations

Mummy's thoughts:-

In the twinkling of an eye, Baby Louisa is 5 weeks old. Thank God for a smooth (albeit mostly sleepless) 5 weeks. We celebrated her 1st month last weekend. It was a major gathering of relatives and some friends at the function room of the condo we're staying at.

It was great fun planning her first major party (duh, this is so characteristic of me. I just enjoy planning such events - limited by $ only...). The best part? Daddy actually felt very happy at how the whole thing turned out. Well, he is not one who enjoys planning parties and entertaining...not that he is a A-social...he just doesn't take too well to socialising. But that was then. Now, he's beginning to enjoy socialising - ala Daddy's style.

Daddy told me that when he went to hand the function room back to the security guards, he actually felt a tinge of sadness...Sad that the whole event is over. It touched my heart that Daddy actually enjoyed the celebrations so much. I don't know why, but my heart was warmed. And Daddy was happy with how the gift packs (a goodie box [with 2 red eggs, 2 ang ku kuehs, 2 chocolate bars and a birth announcement card] and chocolate cakes [6 petit fours]) turned out. The gift packs were MY idea (thank you *curtsy*). I searched the internet and sourced them out. I was afraid that Daddy would scold for spending such money...but he was happy with how nicely they turned out. Phew!

I hope everyone who received them loved them too...

It really feels different when you are planning a party or event for your child. I guess it's because it's for someone other than yourself.

YEAH!! Confinement over!

Phew!

I finally have some time to check this blog, log in and post something.

Yeeesss!!! Confinement is over! I can go out of the home now! hahahaha...but will still be continuing with the heaty confinement food...till I know my body cannot take the heatiness anymore.

Next up...Baby Louisa's 1st month celebration and baptism.

Baby Louisa Has Arrived!

Baby Louisa arrived in the early hours (0216 hrs) of 8 December 2007.

(funny....coz that's exactly what we were talking about 1 week ago at Aunty Jenny's poh piah party - That "sekali" Baby Louisa wants 8 Dec).

Mummy pushed Baby Louisa out...after 11 hours of labour (with epidural, of course).

Baby Louisa weighs 3.482kg at birth, and measures 49cm long. Her head circumference is 34.5cm. (Gosh, I'm amazed at how I managed to carry her, esp at the last few weeks of pregnancy - I was still going shopping...remember?. AND how I managed to push her out of me.)

After the delivery, we were finally sent to the ward (Ward 82, Bed 22) at 0400+ hrs. Well, here's Baby Louisa's birth story...

**********

It all started on 5 Dec 2007, Wednesday.

I was on MC that day. Spent the day at home, re-decorating the home and clearing some stuff (strong nesting instinct). Decided to meet up with Daddy for dinner at Causeway Point, despite the VERY VERY heavy rain. Took a bus there (the bus was SUPER crowded, but the driver was nice. He made other passengers give up seat to me before he drove off.)

we had dinner at Siam Kitchen, and I was planning to finish up the ice cream at home for dessert. After dinner, it was a trip to NTUC to get some stuff. Went home, had some coconut juice (supposed to be good for "cleansing" the baby - and it really works!).

Then....at 3am on 6 Dec, I started vomitting really badly. The rest of the day went by, with both of us down with the runs. It was scary. I mean, Baby Louisa is due the next day only! and this has to happen now??

So Daddy took me to the hospital on the night of 6 Dec. I felt really weak (after the runs). I was strapped to the CTG and Baby Louisa's heartbeat was monitored. Hmmmm, heartbeat still VERY strong. Good! We decided that it was best to admit into KKH for monitoring, in case Baby Louisa decides to come out that night, and especially since I am still feeling weak.

7 Dec came....no strong contractions yet. I am STILL 2 cm dilated (an increase of only 0.5cm overnight). How? My gut feeling was telling me that Baby Louisa does not want to come out yet. Not until the week starting 10 Dec. But, 7 Dec is the full 40 weeks of pregnancy. Any later would pose some risks (albeit low). By then, with the drips and the good hospital food (surprising, eh?), I was feeling much stronger.

To induce or to wait....that is the question.

We decided that since Baby Louisa is exactly 40 weeks already, we might as well induce her out. Many others want to carry a foetus till 40 weeks, but don't have the chance to. So what more can we ask for? We shall not complain.

So here goes...

**********

7 Dec 07

1515 hrs: Made decision to induce labour (there goes my dream for a totally NATURAL labour)

1540 hrs: Pushed into the labour ward (nurses found it amusing that I could still be smiling while being wheeled in)

1600 hrs: Gynae bursts waterbag (oooh...so much water)

In the meantime, still SMS-ing my friends.

After waterbg burst, OMG! Strong contractions!! I have never felt such strong contractions before. It was "oooohhhh......" but not those sharp pains kind (so, bearable, in my opinion).

1615 hrs: Epidural administered (ooh...what sweet relief. Pain? What's that? You can pinch me, tickle me...and I won't feel a thing.). Oxytoxcin drip (to induce labour) and other necessary drips administered.

Now, we wait. In the meantime, Daddy arrives, played soothing music for me to relax, he went for his dinner, I had LOTS of sips of water for my dinner and supper.

About 2000 hrs: Baby Louisa's heartbeat dropped suddenly. It was distressing (for me and Baby Louisa). Cried buckets. Doc stopped the oxytoxcin drip as it was probably the cause for the drop in Baby Louisa's heartbeat.

2200 hrs: Still not fully dilated (in between, had a few VEs done, and dilation was around 7 to 8 cm). 2nd dosage of epidural administered.

2330 hrs: Still 9 cm dilated. Baby Louisa also not engaged.

Finally, at about 0210 hrs: Fully dilated. Baby Louisa engaged. Started pushing. Gynae came back in.

8 Dec 07

0216 hrs: Baby Louisa is out!

I am so tired.....

Gynae says she is one clean baby...guess the coconut juice thing really works!

In between all that time, I was SMS-ing friends, watching TV, joking with the nurses, drifting in and out of sleep and suffering from the side effects of the epidural. The nurses couldn't help but laugh..."still can SMS. Still can smile and laugh."

:-)

Baby Registry

Like wedding registries, a baby registry serves the same purpose...to allow friends of the parents to get them stuff that they would prefer to receive (for the baby, of course). (Well, at least they won't be stuck with 30 new sets of newborn clothings etc...hahaha) Not so much of a practice over in this part of the world...

Should I start one? Initially, I had thought of just listing down the stuff I am considering getting for Baby Louisa. But then another thought struck me. What if Baby Louisa received 2 or 3 of the exact same item? Wouldn't that be worse? Besides, starting a baby registry in a particular store, means people would have to go there to pick out their items. More often than not, we find that in Singapore, it is possible to get the same item, at a much cheaper price elsewhere (compared with the store where the registry is located).

Anyway, I'm not sure how a baby registry would go down with some people. So, chuck that idea.
What we have not gotten for Baby Louisa yet though...are these few items:-

(a) Car seat - Saw one (Aprica brand) that is for newborns up to 4 yrs old (or X kg - I can't remember how heavy). Sounds like a good and worthwhile investment, since it can last that long...
(b) Stroller / Pram - The Combi brand seems really light. Will definitely need to get one, just not sure when. Now, I'm worried Baby Louisa's back and neck are still too soft for a stroller. But without one, it may be tiring to carry her around...
(c) Baby bouncer - Fisher price type? Looks really cute. Think she will enjoy the toys hanging there...
(d) Baby thermometer - Braun brand? It looks good. Should we get one now or wait till those post-Christmas sales? Hmmmm....

Just washed the mosquito net last night. Not sure how useful it will be...hahaha.

Oh, Baby Louisa is now 3.3kg...(have I mentioned that earlier?) What would her weight be when she comes out? Would she look like Daddy or Mummy?