Just to share my experience for #1 in 2015. I got a CL that my sister has engaged before and she was superb. I never stay in with stranger before so I didn't know what to expect also. My mom and mil both will be tired out so I did not consider asking them to help me do confinement.
I had an unexpected emergency c sec and the day she came, she started making red dates tea for me. Asked my hubby where are the required kitchen utensils and bottle sterilizer & laundry machine usage instructions.
Everyday for breakfast, I told her no need to cook as I dun have appetite to eat noodles or rice. I usually have oatmeal/cereal. She will bring baby downstairs for sunning in early mornings for jaundice. She will cook a full rice and three dishes for both lunch and dinner. I love her cooking.
Every 3 hours baby would cry for milk. I didn't even know how to properly carry baby to be honest, so I left it to her and watch how she bathe and feed the baby. Basics like how much warm/cool water should I use to make 60ml milk I also have to ask (not kidding). I learnt how she wiped down baby, put on diapers, wear romper for newborn, how to wipe genitals properly, care for the umbilical cord and BCG jab etc.
precious lessons like how to bathe baby were taught by her patiently to my hubby, coz I had a c sec and couldn't bend or sit on stool. Our mothers both said all babies cry and scream during shower time coz they hate it. Just quickly bathe and bring them out wipe dry can alrdy. But CL auntie was different. She told us baby love showers. We have to do it gently and the way they like it so they enjoy and won't cry. True enough my girl love shower and don't cry during shower if we follow her steps.
Looking back, I contemplated saving some money and dun want to book CL initially but I am really grateful I did it. It was really a life saver for me. I didn't realize there were so much I didn't know and thought mother instincts will kick in after I deliver. To be honest, this is half true. You will get by no matter with or without CL coz that's your precious baby, basic things like you pick her up when she cry, sayang her, feed her when she's hungry - every mummy will be able to do it. Tingkat confinement meals can also get you by. Just drink up loads and cook red dates tea yourself is not difficult.
Having CL helps me in sanity (I strongly recommend if you think u are prone to post natal blues), and I feel it's a pampered experience to have confinement auntie taking care of me and also baby.
The difference is initial days, hormones were all over the place and I feel quite fragile emotionally (not post natal blues) I focused on getting well, binding my flabby tummy, relieve horrid engorgement, eat and enjoy confinement food, sayang baby, etc. hubby ran all the errands and buy all confinement ingredients. End of the mth, I cried when CL left coz she took so good care of me and baby, she's like a loving grandma to us.
For 1st time mummies I recommend getting CL if financial allows. Next best option is to have parents agree to help you out. Family support works too.
lol. But must make sure to know what I want to buy before going cos I heard from other people there's too many things, reach there already will blur blur one haha!
lol. But must make sure to know what I want to buy before going cos I heard from other people there's too many things, reach there already will blur blur one haha!
Yea am aiming to buy all these esp strollers I feel can get quite exp!
Will def go do some homework and checkout e layout before heading down..!
The rates are like scary. If it's gonna gonna cos like 6k / 7k den it's definitely a no for us. I can foresee us being very very shag lol
Will have some calculations to do tonight.
haha
