hello mommies,
Thanks for all your kind words and blessings!
am sneaking in some quick internet time while waiting for BB to wake up.
Some quick useful info to share, imho
(1) bring along your breast pump, just in case
I panicked on day 3 (2 days after c-sec op with epi) as I realised in the middle of the nite that my breasts were suddenly hardening - engorging process. They harden so quickly that a few day old newborn will not be able to suckle fast enough to relieve. Wish so badly that I had my breastpump with me, then at least I didn;t have to feel so anxious and pressured during my last day there.
In my case I had colostrum right from the start, in fact even before I gave birth I already had some leakage when I gently squeezed my nipples.
Was discharged yesterday and today is my first full day of "confinement". Am trying to beat the breast engorgement process by pumping my milk out into bottles, so that I could introduce bottle feed about 6 weeks from now. Already pumped 140ml yesterday alone. Am silently panicking because my breasts keep filling up with milk so quickly I can hardly catch any rest. I have not reached the "true" engorgement stage and I hope I don't ever. Heard from even the hardy women of older generation e.g. my mom, that it is damn freaking painful lor. In fact, my friend who had a c-sec earlier than me said engorgement is more painful than her c-sec wound. :
Slept a grand total of 1 hr last night. Managed to grab another 2-3 hrs today so far only. V v tired.
(2) Jaundice treatment
my bb advised to be admitted for an extra day or two at the hospital 2 hrs before we were about to bring her home. Was so heart broken but then doc gave us other options.
(Option a) admit to hospital
Mt Al has a 2 day jaundice package ... roughly $550+ all in, PD fees seperate. Can claim through medisave (or is it medishield). But this means mommies who are on total BF will have to allow bottle feed for the 2 days.
(Option b) rent the UV equipment from an outside supplier (bb bed on a trolley with UV rays coming from the bottom. PD will arrange for you. Immediate delivery within the day. About $40+ per day, min 3 days. After adding misc fees for delivery etc etc it is about $250. We chose this option an thought it was a fool proof idea, after all, PD had assured us that even an 80- yr old granny can operate the machine. BB had to lie in for total of min 8 hours per day for 2-3 days.
Now true, it is idiot proof to operate. BUT what we neglected to factor in is that our BB might hate to be left on that machine, which is supposed to act as a bb bed. Furthermore, the stupid eye mask doesn;t work at all. It kept slipping off her face, not only were her eyes not protected, there was a real risk of suffocation. We had to resort to using diaper cloth to stuff empty space around head to prevent her from turning her head and therefore expose her eyes to the glare. Took a lot of trial and error and a very exhausted and emotional mom to finall get it right. In hindsight, should hve just left her to the safe hands of the hospital staff.
(3) nursing bras.
I'm the type who don;t give two hoots to propriety. I mean, with the pain and discomfort, plus exhaustion, I really couldn't be bothered to put on a bra for visitors. Having said that I packed two in just becos the item was in my generic list of To-bring things for hospital bag. How wrong I was! Nursing bras are very important to delay the engorgment process, according to the nurses. Because if you let your breasts hang without any bra support, the milk ducts will fill out even faster --> breasts harden even more.
(4) PJs/toiletries/make up
not a chance man. Don;t know about natural delivery moms but for me, with the c-sec wound and binder tightly wound around me, the last I want was to risk aggravating my pain by taking a shower in the hospital, esp since I was in a double bedded ward. No shower meant little need for toiletries beyond the basics. Anyway Mt Al provides a toiletry set which includes tooth paste and brush. Make up? don;t know why I bother to bring. HA!
(5) Mt Al allowed my bb and my neighbour's bb to stay with us in our (double bedded) ward from morning all the way to usually 8-9pm.
(6) Do remind the nurse to be gentle before they stick the enema (bowel removal thingy) up your arse, cos I didn't and the nurse who assisted me pre-op was not at all gentle. She seemed to rush through everything and I actually yelped out loud in pain and shock when she applied it on me.
ok logging off now. will be back again.