Red Flag is Up

Euen in between red pillows.

I will never forget the last time I had period.  That was way before I got pregnant and was always asked during doctors' check-ups.  It it said that breastfeeding delays fertility, thus delays menstruation.  Well, after one year, three months and five days, the red flag is up.

I was beginning to wonder when will my period come back.  The past few days, I felt sick, I just realized now that it was PMS.  Funny, I wasn't sure at first what was it.  I even got a bit nervous when I saw blood.  I remember getting my period for the first time when I was young.

I have breastfed 100% for six months and eleven days, I just hope that even though I had my period already, my milk supply will still be adequate for the baby.

A Year Older

 About the same time last year, I was on house arrest because of my risky pregnancy.  I was happy and sad at the same time.  Happy because I had long wished for a baby.  Sad because I was very worried for her.  A year has gone by and she's right here, now, beside me. I thank God for everything.  I couldn't wish for anything more. 

A lot has happened: pregnancy, giving birth, going back to work, permanently leaving work, changing my career to motherhood.  Everyday I continue to learn to be a mother.  

My prayer now is for Euen to be safe, healthy and happy always.

Unang Araw

Yesterday was officially, my last day at work. And today, is the first day that my new, and ONLY, career starts: motherhood. I will speak for now. Of course, I do not know the future. But yes, I am very much looking forward to spending the days, months and years with my darling baby.

Happy Three Months

The baby's 13.8lbs. now. Breastfeeding is 3 to 4 hour intervals now. Perhaps because her storage is getting bigger. Also, feeding itself is shorter, from 15-30mins to 5-10mins. I hope it's because my milk supply is bigger now and she's sucking efficiently.

In the morning when she wakes up, all she does is smile at you. She'll talk back and show her dimples. She enjoys playtime in her crib longer in the afternoons.

The last couple of weeks were tough since I went back to work. I know it's difficult for her adjusting from her routine. And there's nothing I look forward to, but to see her as soon as possible.

It is an extra happy monthsary because Shashing is here and will be here for all the next months to come!
Happy three months to our precious angel!

Happy Two Months

Our baby is two months old today!

Our current routine: feeding every two hours during the day but after her last feed at night, she has a five to six hour stretch of sleep. Yey for me! Her current weight is 11.6 lbs. Since it is summer, we give her a bath twice a day. The first one I give her after lunch. But I don't put her in the pail. The second one before she sleeps.

She started giving me the cutest smiles! Especially when she wakes up in the morning. She's also making different cooing sounds, as if answering when we talk to her. She's been enjoying her mobile also, staring at the toys. I can put her in a crib and she'll just play by herself, at most up to thirty minutes.

I am enjoying every single second with our baby. I do not want her to grow up too fast.

Happy two months to our princess.

Growing Baby

Somebody graduated from using mittens! I cut her fingernails to prevent her from scratching her face. Then I tried removing just one mitten. She screamed and cried after a while and I saw her pulling her own hair. Funny. So I put it back. I tried again a few hours a day, one mitten, then two. Then overnight. She seemed okay so I didn't put it back on. I watch her brushing her fingers through her hair but she learned not to pull it. Very good baby! I just have to cut her fingernails regularly.

We also noticed that she couldn't sleep in her bassinet anymore. So we tried the stroller seat and she loved it.

Time flies. Our baby's growing up so fast.

Post Pregnancy Hang-ups

Aside from a slice on my lower abdomen, a wound that needs cleaning, a binder that needs to be worn 24-7, the best part of leaving pregnancy is the baby that came out of my tummy.

But I had one pregnancy symptom that still hasn't left. A few weeks before I gave birth, my wrists started to hurt, especially in the mornings. My OB said it is part of water retention. I didn't have edema, my hands and feet didn't swell. But anyway, the pain was tolerable and I hoped it will go away after I gave birth.

But NO. The pain actually got worse after I gave birth. I consulted my OB and she said, give it a few more weeks and it will go away. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in pregnancy and post pregnancy is common. I read it could extend to months, up to a year, post pregnancy. Sad and scary. I was very cautious and careful everytime I carry Euen. And I didn't want to give her a bath for safety reasons.

Another good part after pregnancy, I was back to being prediabetic. Thus, goodbye insulin! I still need to test my blood sugar once a week and I was prescibed with a once-a-day metformin.

Denden had a business trip and I was left alone with the baby for three days. Good thing Mamacherub came at night to bathe her.

Euen and I survived the three days home alone. It was a challenge but every time she stops crying and I stare at the sleeping baby, I forget that I am tired.

Breastfeeding

They say that the first latch of the baby to the mother, upon birth, is very crucial to breastfeeding. Hopefully for the last time, I will blame diabetes, because when I gave birth, I had hyperglycemia while my baby had hypoglycemia. The pediatrician had to give formula to Euen right away.

A few hours after the delivery, she was brought to my room and we tried breastfeeding. She was able to latch successfully for the first time. She sucked and she sucked real hard. Unfortunately, there was no milk coming out of my breasts. Not even colostrum. This was the second reason why we couldn't have her roomed-in with us. The hospital didn't allow formula feeding on the patient's rooms. The nurse told us that it was okay and we'll just have to keep on trying. Four to five times a day, our baby was brought to us, she'll just sleep beside me and when she wakes up, we try breastfeeding. Then, she was fed formula milk when she's brought to the NICU.

We were sent home after a couple of days and during the first two days at home, there's still no milk so had to give her formula. On the third day, I sat for five straight hours with her just changing from one breast to the other, breastfeeding her. I take an hour or two for breaks, then I breastfeed her again when she cries. I had a feeling that she was still hungry but I held off giving her formula and just offered her my breasts with the hope that there will be a drop or more. Twenty four hours passed, no formula milk. Then forty eight hours passed, she was still satisfied.

My breasts were tender and my nipples were cracked and sore for the first couple of weeks. I tried pumping twice just to know for myself if there's milk coming out. I admit there was one point that I wanted to give up because I fear I might be able to give enough. But she didn't give up on me, she latched and sucked every time. That kept me trying.

Now on Euen's third week, my nipples still hurt a bit when she latches, my breasts sometimes get tender when supply is full. Euen feeds by the hour during the day and every 2-3 hours at night. I have adequate supply of milk for Euen. I'm very proud of my baby, of our achievement.

The Day I Gave Birth

At the beginning of my pregnancy, our doctor already told us the high probability of a Cesarean delivery due to my diabetes. Nearing the end of my term, on the 34th-36th week, she mentioned that she could try inducing labor on the 37th-38th week and perhaps we could go on a normal delivery. But she didn't want to get our hopes up. On the 37th week, I had an IE and she said that inducing labor wasn't possible because my cervix is still too high. Plus, we found out on the ultrasound that there was a cord loop. I was a little disappointed because I somehow wanted to experience labor and hoped for a normal delivery. We had a choice to wait a few more days, on February 16th at the most, to go on inducing labor. But after the 16th, she'll have to cut me. She didn't want the placenta to be too old due to my diabetes. We decided to go for our first date of choice, February 12th, and went ahead with the C-Section.

I have been admitted the night before. Everything was right on schedule. At 8AM, I was all prepped and ready at the operating room. My OB was there and a number of nurses. I remember the anesthesiologist putting the medicine on my back. He asked me if I'm feeling anything, waited a couple of minutes then I fell unconscious. Next thing I know, I woke up hearing the most beautiful cry in the whole world. I saw my baby. Exact time of birth was 08:56 AM. She was 7 pounds and 11 ounces.

After a few seconds, I fell unconscious again then next time I woke up, I was on the recovery room already. That's all there is to tell. I actually have a video of my whole operation but I think it's too much information already. Perhaps, I will let Euen watch it when she's old enough...NOT!

This day marks the end of one chapter of my life--Pregnancy. It was short and bittersweet, but it was worth it.

This day also marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life--Motherhood. Fingers crossed. Goodluck to me!

2-12-12

Finally, you're here.
I will never love anybody else more than I love you.