Peeping into my....

Just a peep into my hospital bag that I've packed and the things that I've bought recently..

Hospital Bag list (Myself)
1. Cord life Box (to store baby's cord blood, the only once in a lifetime precious gift upon delivery.)
2. Long Sleeve Top (to wear for discharge as confinement starts immediately after delivery!)
3. Long pants
4. Sweater (Is cold in hospital especially if you're excited and scare...)
5. Toothbrush (confinement still need to brush teeth and wash face right...)
6. Toothpaste
7. Facial wash
8. Disposable panties x 1 pack (just bring along, everything in hospital is CHARGEABLE)
9. Hand phone charger (you will be busy sending MMS of your newborn to friends and relatives)
10. Camera (to capture the 1st moment of a newborn)
11. DS Lite (to entertain me IF I'm not in pain...)
12. Hospital Admission Form
13. KKH Pregnancy Record Book

Hospital Bag List (Baby)
1. Receiving blanket
2. Mittens x 1 set
3. Booties x 1 set
4. Cap
5. Hankie x 2
6. Romper / 2 pieces (Top & Bottom)
7. Pacifier
8. Formula Milk (in case couldn't breast feed immediately and hospital doesn't have the formula I prefer)

Things that I've bought for myself... (My needs, not want)
1. Menstruation Pads (Night use) x 2 packs
2. Menstruation Pads (Day use) x 1 pack
3. Pantyliner x 1 pack
4. Disposable panties (cotton type) x 5 packs (confinement can't touch water so can't wash ma)
5. Dry Shampoo 'Powder' for Hair (gosh.. i hate this mann...)
6. Disposable Breast Padding x 1 box of 60 pieces
7. Medela Breast Pump & Accessory wipes
8. Breast Cream (for crack nipple)

Things that I've bought for baby... (Still need to buy some NEW items for a newborn)
1. Receiving blanket (for discharge from hospital, receiving a new baby!)
2. Mittens x 5 sets
3. Booties
4. Cap
5. 2 pieces clothing (Top & Bottom) (Fayth wore new clothing's when discharged from hospital, so must baby!)
6. Bean Sprout Pillow x 2
7. Milk Powder (Dumex Mamax) x 1 tin
8. Baby lotion (small)
9. Diaper Liner (Tollyjoy) x 1 box
10. Huggies Pampers (NB/S size) X 1
11. Safety Bath Mat

Not forgetting my precious Fayth items...
1. Princess Castle / Toy (a present on behalf of new baby)
2. Birthday present (during confinement can't shop for Fayth, so better buy in advance.)

Things that Hubby/I need to do during confinement/after delivery...
1. Call Babies Bellies for post natal massage after 1 week of delivery
2. Call Rustic to collect Baby Hamper upon delivery
3. Order Fayth b'day cake (she has yet to decide Princess or Dora bday cake!)
4. Order Happy Meals for Fayth's classmate on her bday celebration in school
5. Red Packet for MIL for help doing confinement (1st day)
6. Red Packet for MIL for help doing confinement (last day)
7. Choose Baby Chinese name
8. Register Birth Cert at KKH/ICA
9. Open CDA Account at KKH/ICA
10. Marriage Cert to bring when registering for birth cert (within 14 days from DOB)
11. Book venue for Baby Shower once date is confirm
12. Order Baby Shower cakes for relatives
13. Order buffet for Baby shower (Chinese & Muslim)
14. Invite relatives and friends to Baby Shower!

*Lilian and Veron, hope my little list can gives you ideas of what to pack and SHOP!!!

Just a little update...

It's been a week since my last update.

Pretty busy recently....

Busy with:

- Taiwan Drama 'Destiny Mine'. Used to watched it at Channel U 10.00pm but just can't get enough of it as it only show for 1 hour. Lucky a colleague of mine has the DVD.... I'm getting crazy over it now~~

- Shopping. Everyone keeps telling me to walk more, sit less towards my last trimester for easier and smooth delivery. Well, I do listen to people's advise so I go shopping! Still need to do some 'last minute' shopping for stuffs that I need (hubby said this is forever my excuse and the things I need will never end too...haha). Of coz not forgetting to shop presents for little Fayth... Wonderful exercise, isn't it??!!

- Sleeping. Once my new baby is born, expected Mr Zzz will find his new fling and ditch me pretty soon... so I'm trying to 'accompany' him more whenever possible UNLESS I'm watching my drama.

- Talking to my unborn. She is getting very violent now towards the end of my pregnancy.. guess due to the 'lack of space' in her comfort zone, my womb. She used to poked me but now, she uses punch and she's definitely a great gymnastic in the 360 degree turning category.

Till then, counting down 35 days more to my delivery. Will be going for my weekly check up from Monday onwards, time flies... Gonna ask my gynae by any chance will I be delivering early. Hopefully won't need to be induce again this time...

26 yrs old, Young? 28 yrs old, Younger??

Went to pharmacy to buy dry shampoo for confinement use and this is the conversation exchanged between the promoter and me.

Promoter: Preggy with 1st child?
Me: Nope, is 2nd.
Promoter: Wa, you look so young!
Me: *Brush* Thanks...
Promoter: Baby girl or boy?
Me: Baby girl, 1st child also girl (tell her 1st as I know she will ask me back).
Promoter: So when you going to deliver?
Me: 3rd Oct.
Promoter: That's fast, just another 1 month plus!
Me: Yup.
Promoter: Really can't guess that you'r a mother of 2... You must be 28 this year.
Me: *face abit like bitter gourd* I'm only 26 this year, birthday still got few months away (then gave her my very forceful smile).
Promoter: *abit paisei and just smile to me without carry on saying anything*

The 2 weeks leaves at home....

2 weeks of Hospitalization leaves gonna end soon and I'll be back to my work station next Monday but soon, just another 1 more month I will start my maternity leaves on 18 Sept... kind of excited and somehow, relieve...

Will be going for my check up tomorrow, wanted to see how much weight baby have gain. Baby been moving very violently, nearly bursting my bladder and ribcage. Backache and leg tiredness is getting worst too but just got to endure another 1 month plus.

Done alot of things during this 2 weeks of leaves at home. Took out all Fayth's infant clothing's, cloth diaper, baby carrier to wash and packed into the cupboard. Cordlife storage box, long sleeve top, pants, toothbrush, toothpaste, facial wash, disposable panties, baby's cap, mitten, booties, receiving blanket are all packed into my hospital bag. (I'm not kiasu, I'm just too free at home!)

Also bought some of the necessity items that need to be use during confinement. Venue for baby's shower, buffet and baby shower gifts package also been chosen and decided so I can rest well and more during the confinement and not to worry so much.

Fayth's birthday might crash with the baby shower's date and was told by the elderly that both occasions cannot be celebrate together as baby shower is more 'big'. Since most of the baby shower things has been decided, now it's time to crack brain on how to celebrate Fayth's birthday in order not to make her feel jealous and left out.

Current planning for Fayth's birthday will be: Ordering a 3D Barbie doll or Princess castle birthday cake for her to celebrate in school and party packs or MacDonald Happy Meals with balloons (steal Jo's idea) for her classmates. At night will be having a small BBQ with family members (still trying to find location). Will inform all family members to put their attention on Fayth instead of the baby during this celebration as it's Fayth's birthday!!

Hopefully I've done well as a mother of 2, taking care of each child's feeling although baby is still too young to know anything.

My favourite set of Fayth's infant clothings.

The Pooh Bear's family

Rompers on the bamboos

Mittens and booties

Liverpool match with Singapore

Liverpool Training Session Photos

My roller coaster ride in KK

Today, 6 Aug, Thursday I'm at home blogging because I'm on hospitalization leaves till 15 Aug. Yes, this is the 2nd time I'm given HL and this time I'm really admitted into KK hospital.

Let me tell you why and let me share with you my 'roller coaster' ride in the hospital.

On 3rd Aug Monday afternoon, I start to have sore throat then by midnight my temperature raised up to 38 degree. In my heart I was thinking..: 'shit! don't tell me I kana the H1N1 virus!' So once the sun shine in early Tuesday morning, I got Hb to bring me to KK as I do not want to take any risk in passing it to Fayth or other members in the family.

As usual in the hospital Delivery Suite (i need to be in delivery suite as i'm over 24 weeks of pregnancy)...
Nurse: Have you got flu like symptom? eg: cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever?
Me: Yes, i'm now having sore throat and fever. Last took temperature at 8am is 38 degree.
Nurse: Have you been to H1N1 affected countries like: Hong Kong, M'sia....

Before the nurse could continue with ALL the affected countries, I interrupted her with this...
Me: I had in contact with person who is currently a suspected patient of H1N1, and her result will only be out today. (At 9plus, my colleague called me to said she's confirm H1N1 positive.)
Nurse: *Stone* but very quickly asked my Hb to seat at the other side and arranged to bring me into an isolated room for observation and checking of my baby.

I'm actually been brought into a normal delivery room as they had to split up some of the rooms for H1N1 suspected pregnant patient. Inside the room remind me of the birth experience and memories when I was giving birth to Fayth back in year 2005~~~~~~~~

Shoo shoo, come back to the reality!!! Now I'm inside that room not because of giving birth and choy! it's just too too early to deliver now! I'm as a H1N1 suspected status for being inside that room!

Lying on the 'delivery' bed (it's a different kind of bed from those ward), turning on the tv (yeah, there's tv for those daddy to watch while accompany the mummy waiting for delivery), looking at the clock, waiting for the nurses and doctor to check on me or rather to check on baby's well being.

Not long after, a nurse came in to do a CTG test for me. That test is to monitor baby's heartbeat and contractions. During that 30mins of test, I had at least 5 Braxton Hixs contractions (a type false contraction which prepares the womb for real labour) and is not 'normal' as by right, Braxton Hixs should not be more then 4 times in an hour. Was given 1 dosage of womb relaxant med every 15mins up to 1 hour to stop the contractions as it will trigger to preterm labour if my womb continues to contract.

I asked the nurse what if my womb still contracts even after taking the med, her answer was: 'We will need to jab you the steroid med which helps to strengthen baby's lung in case you have to deliver early.' When I heard that 'steroid jab', my face immediately turned green and my mouth become *o* as I remembered I had that jab when I admitted into hospital when I was about 8 months pregnant with Fayth. It was the most painful jab I had taken in my life and 2 jabs is needed within 12 hours. It's not being jab into your arm, but is on your lap. It was the only jab that would make me cry and clung onto my aunt's hands like a small kid. That is a nightmare. But in the end, baby's cooperative enough and the contractions stop.

When I told Lilian and Jo about the contractions and the steroid jab, they both answered me: Huh? Again!! Hahaha~~~ lucky is not 'again' for that jab. Hb wasn't allow to be with me all the while so if I really had to take the jab, I really don't know who's hand can I hold on to... maybe just the metal bar beside the bed..

After the CTG was done, a doctor came in to take the swap from my nose for the H1N1 test and inform me that I have to be warded due to the contractions as they need to monitor closely again. Then, Tamiflu was given to me. I kept asking the nurses is Tamiflu safe for baby and they keep assuring me they wont give med that is unsafe for the unborn.... 1 hour after taken the Tamiflu, I vomited. Don't know is it due to the side effect of the med or just because I haven't been taken any food yet I had to down 8 types of medicines till my stomach couldn't take it.

I was inside the delivery room for almost 5 hours until they finally sent me up to the ward. Is not a normal Class A, B or C ward. It's Ronald MacDonald Family Room. They had transform the rooms inside to become an Isolated Ward for H1N1 cases. No visitors are allow into the rooms. Although the room has TV, mini fridge, telephone and own toilet facilities, its still very boring.

It's nearly impossible to rest in the hospital as the nurses and doctors keep coming into the room every 1 hour or so to do the CTG and different med is taken at different timing, just imagine.... When the 2nd CTG was done at the Isolated Ward, I'm being told that I got contractions (again) yet I don't anything this time!! I need to be wheeled down to the delivery suite (again) and redo the CTG (again) there. WTH!!!

There's a nurse from the delivery suite who was very nice and patience. When she saw me again, she said: 'I make sure there's no more contractions before I sent you up! Come, let me touch your stomach. *then she start pressing my tummy* See?! your tummy is soft! There isn't any sign of contractions. Never mind, let's do the CTG once more and show them ok!

Haha~~ at least she brighton up my mood a little. She turned on for me the tv, asked me to rest awhile the CTG was strapped onto my tummy. Half hour later, the nurse came in with a doctor. They both laugh and shake their head while looking at the CTG slip. The doctor then said to the nurse: 'Go up to the ward and ask them tell me which part of it show she got contractions?' Looking back at me, the doctor asked if I feel any pain or tightening feeling, I told him no. Then he apologised that he had to send me back to the ward as he know it's tiring for being push up and down.

The angry part came when I'm being sent up to the ward (again). One of the nurse asked: 'Why are you back again? Aren't you suppose to be in the delivery suite?' The very tired and piss off me decided to 'open' my mouth this time: 'Can you please do your part, check properly and STOP sending me up and down! Try being already so tired inside the room and get checked every hour yet still need to be push up and down!!' A senior nurse behind her immediately apologised to me and sent me back to my room. See? Tigress never angry thought she is Hello Kitty ar!

Finally night came and all the checks has stopped and I got to sleep a straight few hours before I noticed it's already 6am in the morning. Can't fall back asleep, decide to turned on the tv and watch cartoons.... haha~~~

A doctor came in at 7.30am, told me I'm H1N1 negative! My fever has stabilised, sore throat also better, I'm allow to discharge at 1pm but before that, another CTG has to be done first. Oh ya, forgot to mention that food in hospital SUCX.

A midwife came in at 8.45am to do the CTG for me, came back at 9.15am and said the result not good. From there, I start to suspect problems lies on their machine not me as I don't feel anything wrong, not even a small tightening feel!!!

Hb came at 1pm (he's allow into my room already), I asked the nurse about my discharge then she told me I need to do the CTG test (again). I told her that I had already done it at 8.45am! She then said the test is not satisfy so need to redo (again). I piss off and asked her: 'so, if I never asked you about my discharge, what time will you be doing the CTG for me?!' She apologised and quickly arranged for the machine.

I waited for nearly half hour yet no one came with the machine so I called for the nurse (again), she told me they need to wait for the midwife from another ward to start the machine as they are not train to do it. Kaoz!!! Ok, I waited patiently for the midwife.

CTG starts at 1.45pm, expected to finish at 2.15pm but less then 5 mins into the test, baby keep moving and turning inside till the machine unable to detect her heartbeat. The midwife came to adjust and 'find' her heartbeat yet baby isn't cooperative enough. So ended up the CTG machine was let off to another patient in another room while they let my baby 'rest' first. (By the way, the CTG machine they used on me at 8.45am was in fact an old machine, that's why keep saying I got contractions!)

Getting too boring and impatient with the wait, Hb and I went down for coffee and bread. Expected to have the CTG ready by the time we went back, still have to wait about 1 hour. Finally, CTA starts at 4.20pm and went smoothly till 4.45pm when the machine suddenly auto stop. Thinking it might because they set the timer, I called for the nurse.

They came and checked on the machine, it shouldn't have stop itself and they also said that my test is still not up to the standard. This time, I blow my top. I told them: 'Baby is very active inside, keep turning and moving around, I can't possibly put my hands inside my womb and stop her from moving right?! I had enough of waiting and CTG and I want discharge NOW!'

Before the nurse could say anything, I continue....: 'This morning your doctor told me I can discharge at 1pm, just because you all never let me redo the CTG in time due to the 1st test is not satisfy, now I got wait for 4 hours and I got to pay the hospital another half day bill for the so-called miscommunication you all had among yourselves! And I also came to know that 1st machine I used was actually an old machine that is why it detect that I got contraction yet I didn't feel anything myself! And I'm sure this is also the reason why I'm been sent up and down yesterday!'

Then finally, I decided to listen to the nurse explanation (coz I'm abit tired of saying already). She apologised that they had the miscommunication and for the old CTG machine is because originally this Ronald MacDonald family room is not for women, it's only for children and when the hospital decided to open this ward last month as an isolated ward for H1N1 case, they had to borrow the CTG machine from Women's ward and the nurses there are not train to take care of pregnant patient as they were not from Women's side.

Ok, I reluctantly accepted their apologies and explanations but I insisted I wanted to be discharge then the nurse explained that I need to sign an AOR (at own risk) form as the instruction passed down from the doctor is to let me discharge only if the CTG test is satisfy.

Then again, I had to wait for the MO (medical officer) to come and let me sign the AOR and discharge form. It's already 5.30pm yet the MO still haven't come so Hb went outside to the nurse and asked them: ' Are you all trying to test our patience?' The nurse quickly explain that the MO need to see finish the patients in the clinic 1st. Hb got very angry and asked them: 'Your clinic is 24hrs, so you expect me to wait 24hrs just for that MO to come up and let me wife sign the papers?!'

Very soon after, the MO finally appeared. I heard the MO asked the nurse before she came into my room: 'Who's patient is she?' The nurse reply: 'Doc KT Tan's patient.' The MO came in and greeted me with a big smile of hers and show me her very white tooth. She apologised for being so late and let me sign the forms and asked me what medicine do I need. I can stop Tamiflu as I'm H1N1 negative but got to continue with the womb relaxant med.

That's not all, I still need to wait for my medication. So I finally left the hospital at 6.55pm, just before the 6.30pm news end. While at the car park exit, IU insufficient fund coz the total car park charged is $10.10 while Hb cash card only have $7 inside...

That's my experienced in KK with not experienced nurses.

It's August!

It's 1st August! It's a month I can finally tell people when I will start my leave; Next Month!

When people asked me when I work till or when will I start my maternity leave, my answer is always either; 2 more months or Sept lor. But now, I can answer them 'next month 18 I'll be away already!'

2 more months till my delivery on 3rd Oct and 3 more months till my buddy delivery on 30th Oct! So excited and am counting down day by day... Who knows I give birth on 1st Oct and she give birth on 1st Nov!~~