rawakramblings

Alhamdulillah, I smoothly delivered Baby L last Friday. It was a short delivery, but a painful one this time around. Will write about it in another post later.

So, here it is, say hello to confinement!

Things seem to be much easier this time around, more manageable. I guess experience does come in handy.

Breastfeeding.

How latching can be a problem for babies during the first few days. Because while mummy is trying to remember that she needs to guide baby's mouth to the nipple, baby is also learning the whole latching and sucking.

How engorged your breast can be during the confinement period as the body adjusts to the babies needs. Pump out milk if it gets too engorged, or you'll end up getting a fever! Pump and store.

How painful it is when the baby first latches on the nipple, it's so painful but only for a few seconds until the let down period comes. I know that after a month or so, we both become a team and the breastfeeding journey starts becoming beautiful. Patience. Strong will and mind.

Oh and don't forget those crack nipples! Put on those cream when baby's sleeping. It will all go away.

Sleepless nights.

Oh don't even mention. But with the mind all ready for it, I know that when its time to wake up, just do it. Catch up on some sleep during the day. Don't think too much about it. The rule is, "When baby sleeps, you sleep...."

Glad that this time around, I have Mr. assisting me with changing diapers. One of the perks of working on our own.

Confinement. 

What to eat, what not to eat. Socks to be worn at all times. Etc.etc.

I think different people choose to berpantang differently. I would say that there's different levels to it. If you're a Level 10, then you're the type who will sleep with your bengkung and eat all the jamus and pati ikan haruan and only drink half glass of water and don't eat at night (or something like that..) for the next 44 days.

I'm not too sure which level I'm at, but I do wear socks all the time because when I don't I can feel the chills in my body. I drink water, lots of them. Because I breastfeed my baby and water is necessary. I don't understand why people say "Jgn minum banyak air..nanti kembung.."

I enjoy pantang food. I like how simple and tasty it is. Also because when I breastfeed, I'm always hungry so you can give me any food, I will eat them. Just like the previous time, I do not enjoy spicy food during this period because my tummy still feels very sensitive.

How is Aisya adjusting?

Aisya has been quite a lovable sister, actually a little too much haha. She kisses Baby L all the time and it annoys me because she has a slight cold. Telling her every minute "Don't kiss yet until you get better," is really tiring.

"You're so cute baby...you're so cute," she'd say. And she doesn't know how to be gentle with the fragile baby.

Oh well, at least she's not jealous ( I hope! )

Can't wait for confinement to end and a Baby L to be a bit stronger. I remember enjoying Aisya at 2 months plus. Easier to handle. Not too fragile.

Alright, nursing time!

Hello little brother :)

Wikipedia: Braxton Hicks contractions, also known as prodromal labor or practice contractions, or false labor, are sporadic uterine contractions that sometimes start around six weeks into a pregnancy. However, they are not usually felt until the second trimester or third trimester of pregnancy. 

I don't remember feeling any of these during my first pregnancy. The only contraction I felt, was the real one, in which I was already in labour a few hours after that. However, this time around, they are pretty obvious, especially in my third trimester. Feels like that sudden tightening of the uterus/abdomen that lasts for a few minutes and then it goes off.

However lately, the Braxton Hicks can be quite painful! You just gotta breathe in and out a few times and wait for that 30 seconds - 1 minute to pass by and the pain will go away.

The past few weeks, TWICE, I woke up in the middle of the night, thinking that I'm already having the real contractions. I couldn't sleep, my abdomen hurts as contractions came every half and hour and they last for 30 seconds each - just like how a real labour should be. After 5 times, suddenly I realized that I'm already awake for Subuh prayers - false alarm!


Of course, I woke up, and checked my labour bag again, and my baby checklist - just to ensure that I didn't miss anything out. Getting me more organized, huh?

The last pregnancy, I had diarrhea one day before my delivery day and also during contractions. I was confused whether I was having diarrhea or contractions that when I went into labour, I was already 4cm dilated. Over the weekend, I had diarrhea. And then, I was like "Err.... is this it? Is it?" .....and then it turned out to be false alarm again!

It is very very confusing ok!

Anyways, I was talking to my cousin doctor, she said if it's becoming more obvious, then maybe the date is approaching.

Oklah, I will beranak next weekend then! (dengan confidentnya....ngehehhe)

#38weeks

My daughter was down with slight fever last night. (What is it with school and always falling sick?)

Anyways, alhamdulillah, this time around, she can take the medicine straight from the spoon. I remember just about a few months back, we had to force the medicine down her throat through a syringe. I thought that she may have gotten the medicine phobia from Mr. (who still doesn't take pills at 33 years old!) but somehow, deep inside, I knew that its just a matter of what's in your head.

Yesterday, I had to give a little talk to her - telling her that if she wants to get better, she needs to take a spoon of the orange meds. Told her to smell it, "See! Sedap kan bau?" "Yes mummy, like orange!" and then I convinced her that she can straight away drink plain water if she doesn't like the taste. Actually, nothing new, the same things that I've told her before, but it never seem to work. This time around, she said "Ok mummy," and then hesitated again and then said "Ok mummy," again and then opened her mouth.



Of course, there was a little bit of a drama-cough and straight away grabbed for some water - but alhamdulillah, this time around, NO vomitting - thus no need to force the medicine in.
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Last night, at 4 am in the morning, my 3 year old daughter woke me up from sleep. She wanted milk and also water. Took her temperature, as expected, temperature increased during the night sleep. Told her that she needs to take another round of medicine. She didn't say much and just opened her mouth. Took a teaspoon of paracetamol, drank some more water, and then finished off a bottle of milk to sleep.

And then, this mummy could not go back to sleep because she has just woken up Baby L in her tummy. He was suddenly actively moving in my tummy.

Preparing me for what's coming in a few weeks I guess?

#37weeks #ineedmysleep #motherhood

After 2 weeks of trying to turn Baby L around, yesterday was an anxious moment for me. Mr's final advise to me is to make a nazar (nadhr - a vow to Allah) and so during my Zuhur prayers, I made a nadhr, to give out a certain-certain amount of charity over the weekend if Baby L turns.

Alhamdulillah, Baby L turned, and it was such a relief! It was like the greatest news I've heard for quite some time!

It felt like a heavy burden is being carried away from my shoulders.

And now, I'm all set - just waiting for the time. It's time to focus on the right mind set for the labour day. Lots of dua, lots of positivity. Lots of dhizkir and quran. Bismillah! #36weeks

Last weekend, Mr. joined his RootWommers group (Word-of-Mouth Marketing) for a roadshow in Malacca. He told me one morning, "Let's go for a short trip to Melaka!" and I said, "Okay!" rightaway.

I was already in my 34th week of pregnancy then, and the idea of a random getaway just before Baby No.2 pops out sounds pretty good! It was only about 2 hours away, so I guess its okay.

We brought Aisya to the Malacca Zoo when we first arrived. It was a weekday, thus the zoo was pretty quiet. However, there was still a birdshow that Aisya really enjoyed watching! She kept asking for the show again after that. The last time we brought her to the zoo was when she was about 1.5years I think. We could only see reactions from her and also a word or two like, "Bird", "Moo" etc. This time around, it was pretty fun to hear her comments and stories and reactions. She was referring a lot of the animals to the movie Lion King and also Madagascar, saying things like "I want to see more animals mummy!"




After that, we also visited my old high school, Kolej Yayasan Saad. Didn't realize that I didn't bring Mr. here before. I thought I did! Mr. was impressed with the school, saying things like "No wonder budak-budak sekolah korang power," and "I think there's no more excuse for you not to excel in what you do," (pressure! pressure!) but I on the other hand, had a lot of memories coming back. I remembered how much fun high school was, and how I miss being around people who are always motivated and excel in all that they do. I was determined that my children will not only have the same kind of education, but better!

Here's a short video of my trip back to school:

Other than that, we did the usual Malacca touristy- thing; we had asam pedas at Kota Laksamana (which was really good btw) and also had cendol at Jonker Street, bought some nyonya pineapple tarts.

However, things turned sour when Aisya fell down a bench, head first! She was crying and crying and the she stopped and fell asleep. I wasn't that worried initially but when she woke up from sleep, and then vomitted, I became worried. Everyone knows that a head fall, followed by vomitting is an emergency. And we were in Malacca!

After 3 more time of vomitting, we decided to bring her to the nearest private hospital, which was KPJ. Brought her to ER, and then when Dr. examined her, she told us that her worry is not the concussion, but actually internal brain bleeding.

Initially, I was worried. But the word 'internal brain bleeding' really got me. Aisya had to go through a CT scan and while waiting for the results, I tried my best to keep calm. Both me and Mr. But I guess the waiting was a little too long and then suddenly, I just broke down and cried. My mind was going to unexpected places! What if.... What if....

You can imagine how relieved I was when Dr. called us and told us that everything looks okay; no cracks, no bleeding. Alhamdulillah, it was probably only a slight concussion that may have caused dizziness - which may have resulted to her subsequent vomiting.


Oh my. Being a mom, I tell you, can really be a rollercoaster ride of emotions! Always, always testing you. Having to smile and show that I'm strong to my child, when the truth is, inside, I was really really scared.

Things can just happen, randomly, out of nowhere. It was a good reminder for me. It was an incident, that couldn't be avoided. She just fell down! But here's the thing, are you always prepared for the worst consequences?