Full Moon

Days passed by really fast. It has been a month since I deliver. It was a whole new experience for me and HK (and my family) this whole month.

Besides the confinement, which were alright for me except few rules that I really can’t obey, taking care of newborn is a challenge! Overall, Blair was not too difficult to take care of, she does not cry much. She has been pretty gentle to us, except when she was really hungry, she will scream a little.

Confinement

Well, there were a lot of rules to follow especially chinese. The common one will be no shower, no washing hair, no fan, no plain water, no walking or standing too much (must rest and sleep on bed as much as possible), no go out of the house,  cook food with no salt, only ginger/sesame oil/rice wine, etc etc. Everything for one month or some has follow for 40 days.

How to live with that kinda rules in Singapore when the weather is so hot. I know my mom, MIL, grandma and auntie are basically a bit upset when I insist to on the fan (did not blow directly to me) and aircon in my room, they worry I will be suffering when I am old. They warn me to rest on bed but I was kinda active for whole month. By resting on bed basically to protect the back. I ask for shower because I cant stand my oily hair after not washing for 1 whole week. I’ve tried to hold as long as I can for not showering and washing my hair. But it’s soooooooooo dirty and smelly. Although I did not shower, but I did clean/wipe my body everyday because I am breastfeeding my girl.

Towards the end of confinement, me and HK went for few movies. I know people will question and say I will know the consequences in future. I will take it all at my own risk. At least I am comfortable of what I am doing now. Let’s say I follow everything now, and I am still suffering from backache in future, then how? A lot of man suffering from backache also when they are old, what does that means? They didn’t even go thru confinement what.  That’s what I’ve been thinking la, not to say old folk’s tale not valid, they must have their own reasons. Blah blah blah.

For food/drink wise, I am fine to follow. I don’t mind eating and drinking the same thing everyday. I’ve been eating porridge (lunch) everyday for almost a year when I was trying to go slimmer for wedding day last time. That’s my record. Hence, less worry for my MIL who has been taking care of me. :)

Baby Blair

Almost every newborn has jaundice, Blair’s jaundice level was not too high when discharging from hospital, therefore she was safe to follow me back home. But we gotto monitor the jaundice level by going back to clinic for check up. There were ups and downs, finally doctor announced her jaundice level has dropped to 103 and she no longer needs to go back for check up. I still remember her first jaundice check up that she cried so poorly when doctor poke her tiny foot for blood taking. It breaks my heart to see her crying. But she did well from then onwards, she didn’t even cry during her last check up when doctor poke her foot. According to doctor, babies actually do not feel pain, they cried because they do not like people to hold their feet.

She has been changing everyday since we brought her home. I still remember she moved really slow at the beginning, drinking milk quietly, poo/pee with small expression, eyes did not open fully. And now, she drink milk like she has been starving for long, sometimes choke herself for drinking too fast, she has been ‘cycling’ a lot whenever she is hungry, wanted people to carry her, wanted to sleep. She has this funny expression when she poo, pee or passing gas, it was the same expression for these 3 actions. She can now follow people’s movement by turning head /eyes. It was really interesting to learn about her everyday.

We used to swaddle her, but she refused to be swaddle when she was about 1 week plus old. She wants to move freely. We used to put her on this little bed that’s specially design for newborn. She only slept there for about 2 weeks before she is too big to fit in. She has grow longer and the bed look too cramp for her.

She has water retention on the first week. But the water retention seems to be gone by entering second week. She looks prettier.

I love her look after bath. She looks happier and comfortable. She seems to lose a bit weight on second week, coz her face is sharper. But grew back quite fast. I have not weighted her since day 1. I am not sure how big she is right now. Will have to wait till the next check up.

She loves to sleep facing right. Even we have changed her position facing left, she will turn her head facing right again during the sleep.

How long we took to get to use to her? Erm, I should say we are still learning. Sometimes we still do not know what she wants.

Welcome to parenthood. Thanks.

Till I update again. :)