Back to the Hospital

You had an appointment to see Dr Mary on Thursday after you were discharged on Tuesday. Daddy took the day off to bring us to the hospital. After we arrived, your weight was taken and I was given a little syringe of glucose. It was for you to take which apparently reduces the pain when they take your blood for the jaundice test. We went down to have the blood taken and despite the glucose given to you (half before the blood was taken and the balance for after) you decided to scream at the technician who took your blood. Poor thing.

We went back up to the paediatric floor to wait for the results. You slept happily in daddy's arms. Then we were called. Your bilirubin level had shot up to 295 that day. So, there was no choice but to admit you and I. Yup, I stayed in with you as I was breastfeeding you. You were immediately stripped and a mask put over your eyes and put under phototherapy.

We stayed from Thursday and on Friday, your bilirubin level had dropped to 190 but Dr Mary wanted it to go lower before she'd allow you to go home. So we stayed another night. On those days, you were under phototherapy most of the time and was brought to me in the room opposite the NICU when you awoke and wanted to be fed. During that time, I also expressed my milk for that the nurses can try to feed you (by spoon) so allowing you to remain under the light for longer periods. I'm so glad that my milk started to come and that there was enough for nme to feed as well as express for you.

Nights seemed especially difficult and there was one night when I could hear your crying away and so I went over to have a look. In the end, you just wanted a little cuddle. Maybe you missed me... I managed to take a picture of you with your eyes covered as I carried you

On Saturday morning, you were given a bath a little later as it was an off day in the hospital and the nurse had informed me that your blood would be taken later too.. at around 10a.m.. We waited and then Dr Mary arrived. She gave you the all-clear and we could go home. Yay! Your bilirubin reading was 140.

Daddy came shortly after along with Evan kor-kor as they had gone out for breakfast together. After the bill was settled we headed home.

So as daddy says, at 4 days old you had your first tanning session. You seemed ok from it all. The only effect we noticed was the peeling of your skin, which the nurse said was normal for babies having had the phototheraphy.

The Arrival of Our Little Evelyn

It was a usual Sunday morning and I woke up at 4.30am thinking I needed to go to relief myself (as usual). But when I went to the toilet, I realised that there was blood. I went back to bed and daddy woke up for a while, I told him there was blood, but nothing to be worried about. But despite my nonchalance, I was a little worried. Shortly after that I felt some discomfort and by the time daddy woke up at 7 all ready to go for his golf game, we wondered if it was advisable for him to head to the game or for us to go to the hospital. We could not decide if it would be a false alarm.

In the end, we decided that he'd come with me to the hospital for a check with Dr Low. I called ahead and informed the nurses at the OBGYN reception then headed to have a shower. By then, the contractions seemed to be 4-5 minutes apart. We quickly had breakfast and daddy arranged the NeatSeat and a towel (for fear of my waterbag bursting on the way) and off we headed to the hospital. As for you, you had just come back from a morning walk with Ah Kong and we managed to persuade you to stay at home and only come to the hospital later IF I was really in labour.

Daddy dropped me to quickly register. I informed the nurse again and they quickly informed Dr Low's nurse about me. I was to be the second patient as there was already one patient who was waiting for her turn to see Dr Low. I had given a urine sample and I thought I saw Dr Low's nurse come out to test it and made a quick dash back into the room before it was my turn to see the doctor.

A quick scan (baby was estimated to be 3.5kg) and a check showed I was 5 cm dilated. What?? That sure was a fast one.. as compared to what I went through 6 years ago...

A wheelchair was ordered and I was wheeled straight to the labour room while daddy went to make arrangement for the payments etc. By then it was about 9.40am. It's not very good when you are lying facing the clock and the minutes are ticking very slowly while the pain is coming more and more regularly!!

Daddy came back to me and stayed with me most of the time, making calls to let Nanna and also Ah Kong and Ah Ma know that your little mei-mei was planning to come soon. After drifting in and out from the painkillers, feeling so much pain and fighting a bout of nausea it was finally time for mei-mei to arrive.

I was 8 cm dilated by then (it was around 12pm). She had put in a catheter then burst my waterbag (which did not burst in daddy's car after all..). Then it was discovered that there was meconium in the water.. mei-mei had poo poo-ed already. Dr Mary (whom we had requested) was quickly informed and Dr Low was on his way. 

Finally after a lot of pushing Evelyn finally arrived at 12.38p.m.. I didn't get to carry her like I did with you. She was quickly put on that little place to be cleaned and checked by Dr Mary, while Dr Low stitched me up. It was worrying as I didn't get to carry Evelyn but I could see her. Dr Mary checked and she informed me that all seemed well with her, but there is still a worry about meconuim in her lungs which will show in the next 6 hours. I finally got to carry and cuddle her after a while and tried to feed her. Then she was taken away for a bath and I was resting in the labour room while waiting to be moved to my room.

By then, daddy's WatsApp was busy buzzing with messages from your Kor-kors and Ah Peks. We didn't even know her exact birth weight. I got back to my room to have my lunch and you were already there, happily playing on the iPad but happy to see me too. Then you all went to the nursery to take a look at Evelyn. At long last after I had my lunch, Evelyn was brought to the room for a cuddle with mummy and to be fed by me, now officially known was Evelyn's "moo-mmy"

The Delivery Box

I didn't know it but it looks like it... my mummy must be a delivery box. It was Sunday and I had gone for a morning walk with Ah Kong. When we got back, daddy was telling Ah Kong something about "going to deliver" and "false alarm". I wanted to go along to the hospital to see the picture of mei-mei when Dr Low scanned her tummy. I liked looking at the scan because mei-mei likes to do funny things. But this time, mummy asked me to stay at home as I hadn't taken a bath. Luckily Ah Kong said he'll bring me to the hospital later on.

I waited for mummy to come home but she didn't. And again, I heard Ah Kong and Ah Ma mention the word "deliver". I wonder who is delivering what..

Later on, we left to have lunch. I had my favourite "char kuey tiau" and they even packed lunch for daddy. Then we went to Adventist Hospital. Nanna was also there in the hospital. We waited around and I had the iPad to keep me company. Then suddenly they said it again "She has delivered". Delivered what??

Next thing I know, I was told that I am a big kor-kor and my mei-mei is here already. Waitaminute.. I thought mummy told me she was supposed to come on the 29th? Oh well.. I've been waiting to see her anyway. I was so excited. It was a long while though before mummy came to the room and even later before we got to see mei-mei in the baby bassinet after her bath.

Good thing daddy had his camera. He showed me pictures of my mei-mei. She's so cute.

I already knew her name by then: Evelyn. Mummy says her full name is Evelyn Ban Yen Xin:

Here's a picture of my mei-mei, don't you think she's cute? 

See? Told you my mummy is a delivery box. She delivered my mei-mei.

Fatty Bom Bom

You were not well the night before and I didn't get to have a good sleep as I was worried about you having a fever as we slept as well worried that you'd kick my tummy. So yesterday night, I went to bed at 9pm, earlier that my little sick boy (who seems so active despite having a fever on and off throughout the day). What was the first thing you said when you came to the room and saw me asleep?

Evan : Aiyo.. sleeping already?

Mummy: mmmmm...

Evan: You are piggy.

Mummy: mmmmmm....

Then you gave me a kiss as well as another kiss (and a blow) on my tummy. Then you said this:

Evan: Mummy after baby is born, you won't be fatty bom bom anymore, right?

Mummy (more alert now after being called a fatty): I hope not.

Evan: Ok good!

Took me a while to get back to sleep after bring called a fatty bom bom! Worst of all I cannot imagine what you'll be calling me when my bump gets bigger!