Studio Shot

These are taken just 3 days before baby Yu Xiang was born. Phew! JIT.

My Birth Story

As for my birth story, nothing much leh. Super fast! 1 hour?!

9.30am:
Big breaskfast before going for CTG
10.00am:
On CTG for half an hour.
10.30am:
Gynae checked the chart with a worried look and there's a dip in baby's heartbeat for 3 min when there's a contraction (I din even realise I had one lei) Gynae said baby destress inside, must carry him out immediately. He then asked me to call hubby and he informed him what happened. I then ask hubby to meet me direct at TMC.
10.40am:
Issued a admission letter and wants me to admit myself directly to the labour ward.
10.50am:
Reached TMC and hubby just reached from office. I was sent to the labour ward while he did the admission work.
11.00am:
Changed into hospital gown and put on CTG again. Was administered antibiotics becos of Strep B positive. I was then shaved and given enema to go loo followed by insertion of a super long tube into the bladder? It hurts, man!
11.30am:
Pushed into delivery ward.
11.40am:
Was administered GA when gynae arrives and conked out after hearing a "Hello" from him.
12pm:
Baby boy was delivered!!

Baby 宇翔

Photo of Baby Yu Xiang taken on day 2, day 8 and day 10.

Hospital Bill

My TMC hospital bill:

Mother's Bill
Caesarean Section (Mother) 2 bedded 4 days: $2197
Use of Labour Ward Services (<=2 hrs): $70
Operating Theatre Charges: $80
Drugs/Medicine: $285.40
Medical Supplies: $105.30
Medical Laboratory Fee (blood test Haemoglobin): $16
Procedure (includes Fleet enema, I/V setup, urine test and shaving): $75
Use of Equipment (foetal monitoring 1st hr etc): $73
Total Hospital Charge: $2901.70
Less FBI Membership Discount: - $80
Total Hospital Charge inclusive of GST: $2962.83
Doctor Charges - GA (non-medisave claimable): $430
Doctor Charges - GA Gynae (medisave claimable): $1125
Grand Total: $4517.83
After Medisave and Medishield Deduction: -$3450
Balance after Deduction: $1067.85

Baby's Bill
Baby Package 3 days: $358
Accomodation (nursery cot bed): $100
Medical Supplies (ID band and baby admission package): $34.60
Medical Laboratory Fee: $241
Resident Doctor Services: $25
Procedure (newborn hearing test $60 & daily treatment fee): $130
Use of Equipment (phototherapy per day): $125
Total Hospital Charge: $1013.60
Less FBI Membership Discount: - $32.78
Total Hospital Charge inclusive of GST: $1029.86
Doctor Charges - PD (medisave claimable): $200
Doctor Charges - PD (non-medisave claimable): $304
Less FBI Membership Discount: - $50.40
Grand Total: $1483.46
After Medisave and Medishield Deduction: -$1170.01
Balance after Deduction: $313.45

Grand Total Bill: $6001.29

Total payment in cash: $1381.30

Ah boy's cousin Lin Lin at 22 months

False Alarm

I had a fright this morning at 3am, I woke up having some stomach pain thinking maybe got to poo but went 3 times to no avail. The pain made me so scared and worried and I can't tell if it's contractions or not. Luckily, it lasted 3 hours and subsided at 5 plus. I'm so at a loss. Funny thing is I woke up to search for the topic Labour Pain in "What to expect when you are expecting?" yet still can't figure it out. Woke Ken up at 4.15am and told him I've been having stomachache for an hour plus now, he too went to search for the book and read to me what contractions feel like. I even read the contents to him before he reads out to me. Ha ha. We are so funny. Two silly parents. Late afternoon till evening, I've been feeling braxton hicks a few times. But I told baby to bear another 3 weeks if he really wants to pop out lor. Mummy wants him to pump more fats first.

Reading up

What have I been doing these few weeks? I'm reading some books I borrowed from the library that I would like to recommend. New Pregnancy and Birth Book by Dr. Miriam Stoppard and Your Pregnancy Week by Week by by Hamlyn

Week 33

Ah Boy's head was engaged already at Week 31. During the gynae appointment at Week 33 Fri, Dr Teo conducted a Group B Streptococci test (GBS) swap test for me, a common bacteria screening. This is a bacteria naturally found in the digestive tract and birth canal of 1 in 4 pregnant women. If not diagnosed and treated properly, the little one is more susceptible to serious health complications (including meningitis, pneumonia and blood infection). I got my result on Wed and was tested positive for this bacteria and had to take antibiotics for 5 consecutive days.

Here's more to read up on:

Group B Strep International
Group B Strep Infections

Birth Plan

Birth Plan Checklist

Environment:
Soft music
Wear my own clothes
Videotape labor and birth
Take pictures during labor and birth

Support People Present at Birth:
Partner

Pain Relief:
Massage
Hot/cold packs
Breathing techniques
NO epidural!

Induction:
Medically induced or Self induced

Episiotomy:
No

Delivery Positions for Labor:
Still can choose meh?

Extraction Devices:
None unless baby's health at risk

Cesarean:
Partner present at all times during the operation
I'd like to be conscious
Immediate contact with the baby

Placenta:
I'd like to see/keep it?

Cord-cutting:
Partner cuts cord

Newborn Procedures:
Done in my/partner's presence

Feeding baby:
Breastfeeding

Separation:
No separation

Hospital Stay:
As short as possible

Gathering during Baby Fair 2007

Some of the May 2007 mums to be during the BabyCare Festival 2007 at Suntec on 2nd Mar (From left) Me, Serene, Xinyi, Kris, Cynthia and Stephie. Would love to have all our babies' own gathering too, right?

BabyCare Festival 2007

What: BabyCare Festival 2007
Where: Suntec Singapore Hall 401
When: 2-4 March 2007
Time: Friday & Saturday, 11am – 9pm; Sunday, 11am – 8pm

Antenatal Class 5

Week 30

Today's lesson touches on the breastfeeding and bottlefeeding. Very useful breastfeeding tips from KK Hospital.

Tummy has expanded by 1.5 inch in a week! I've been feeling Braxton Hicks these few days. The whole abdomen will harden for less than 30 seconds. I'm a bit worried so keep telling ah boy to be patient and put on more fats, daddy and mummy will only want to see him in 8 to 10 weeks time.

3D Scan

Our handsome little prince at Week 28 + 5 days

The cot

Thank you, Anson_papa&mama for passing me your baby's cot and bumpers. Look what else I've attached to the crib. What did you do to your baby nursery room?

Ken's attempts on self studio shots

Happy Valentine's Day

Week 28

Antenatal Class 4

Week 27

Today's topic is practical hands-on baby care. We are taught how to carry our baby, bathe him, change him, soothe him, interact with him. I love best the session where you play games with him to create a bond. Remember to take more action pictures that we can talk about when baby grows up. We are also taught some interesting rhymes. Here's one (in Hokkien/Teo Chew dialect):

This little Piggy Rhyme and more

A good old favourite which can be great fun if played when drying a small child after it's bath. As you are saying it, you "tweak" each toe in turn, starting with the largest:

Biggest toe: This little piggy went to market.

Next toe: This little piggy stayed at home.

Next toe: This little piggy had roast beef.

Next toe: This little piggy had none.

Small toe: And this little piggy cried "wheee wheeee wheee" all the way home.

Whilst saying "wheee, whee, whee all the way home" you run your fingers up their chest and tickle them under the chin.

More interesting rhymes to play with your baby:
Rhymes for Counting and Number Themes
Finger play and action rhymes for babies
Songs and Poems

Baby's library collection

Total investments: $218.52
More books on the way ...

Baby Development at Week 26

Week 26

Your baby weighs almost 2 pounds; measures about 14 inches from head to heel; and hears noises, responds to light, and is generally more aware of its surroundings. In the same way that you can see a flashlight if you hold it against your palm, your baby can see the light coming through your belly. You may notice increased activity when in brighter light and decreased activity in darkened rooms. Its hearing is fully developed, and as he or she reacts to sounds, its pulse increases. Your baby will even move in rhythm to music! (Adapted from PregnancyWeekly)

Its lungs are developing now, too, as it continues to take small breaths of amniotic fluid — good practice for when it's born and takes that first breath of air. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days. (Adapted from BabyCentre)