Iggy Bottle Weaning Adventure

Bottle weaning had been on my mind for as long as I can remember.  There are a lot of questions about bottle weaning pop into my mind from time to time, such as:

• When is the right age to wean from bottle?
• What are the methods use?
• How would I know if Iggy is ready or not?
• etc, etc, etc.

Oh, I don't have a particular age/time frame that I would like Iggy to wean from bottle.  That is where the headache comes from.  I have no idea when or how I want to start the process.  I just had idea that I don't want Iggy still drinking from bottle when he is 5 year old.  The sooner he weans from bottle the better.  I also don't want to force Iggy discards his bottle before he is ready.

Another reason is Iggy wants to comfort sucking when he wants to fall asleep.  He used to be quite already when I gave him water to suck on, unfortunately not anymore.  He wants milk instead.  As Iggy falls asleep with a bottle of milk in his mouth more and more often, the urge to wean him from bottle is getting stronger.  I want to prevent him to develop a bottle mouth syndrome before it is too late

Every cloud has a silver lining.  It is so true. Last month is a hectic month for my family, with traveling back to back to the south and to the north to attend friend's wedding and grandmother's birthday celebration.  Long hours of traveling on the roads exhausted all.  With lack of sleep and rest couple with hot and humid weather, all of us felt unwell, especially Iggy.

Iggy had developed a low-grade fever on and off for two days.  At the same times, mouth ulcers began to appear insides in his mouth, especially on his tongue.  As a results, he had a hard time eating.  At first, he was still able take his milk from his milk bottle, however as the ulcers developed, it became harder and harder for him to take his milk without screaming.  It is really heartbreaking to him refused his food because of the pain.  If you know Iggy, you would know that refusing food is very unusual for him.  In the end, we found out that taking milk from cup will lessen his pain.  So for a few days while he was recovering, he is taking milk from cup.

Before I realized it, Iggy do not want to use milk bottle to take milk anymore, even after he recovered.  I even asked him whether he wants to drink his milk from the bottle or from the cup, and he clearly expressed that he wants it in a cup.  He even threw tantrum if I give him milk in milk bottle.  So from that day onwards Iggy has being drinking milk from a cup.  I am very thankful with how the thing turns out.

Iggy Achieved New Milestone!!

He uses potty!!

 

psss .. he just sit on a potty without bear out his bottom .. :D

Well, this kinda old news already as this post is late for almost a month!! Busy lately and my seldom update blog becomes like a death blog .. huhuhu..

Anyway, back to the topic.  I guess I had the give my babysitter the credit for this milestone.  We have a new babysitter for the past 2 months as my original babysitter desired to have a break.  The new sitter is an older lady with many years of baby-sitting experiences, and of course with the traditional views of how to take care of baby.  So naturally she is shocked when she found out Iggy is haven't potty-trained yet at 16-month.

Now, after almost two months at the new babysitter, Iggy begins to use potty more and more often.  Actually, I am leaning towards let him decides when he wants to start using potty.  However, since the babysitter will teach him to use potty whenever he is at her place, I better teach Iggy to use potty whenever he is at home too.  I do not want to confuse him anymore than necessary.

So what is the progress now?  Currently, Iggy is not fully potty trained yet.  Sometimes, he will go in the potty, sometimes in his diaper.  He cannot tell whether he wants to poo or pee... or maybe it is just Mommy and Daddy don't understand him .. :D  Whenever, he had an urge to use the potty he will get cranky or when he is in good mood, he will point to his diaper and say "um umh".   Then we will take him to potty.  Sometimes he peed, sometimes he does not and sometimes he poo.

In conclusion, he got a lot of room for improvement cause currently, it still depends on how diligent Mommy is .. :p

What is Iggy Eating Lately?

Friends have being curious with what I feed Iggy with...

 

This is the latest!

PASTA!  Spirals vegeroni to be exact.

"Huh?  Pasta?"
"Pasta?  Why not rice porridge?"
"Should give him rice porridge lah"
etc..

That's the usual responses I get.  Ok, ok pasta might not be a typical food for a Chinese baby, but why not?!  Pasta is healthier compare to noodle in the market.  Besides, I looove pasta and most of all Iggy seems to love it too, hahaha.

The recipe:

1 or 2 handful of spirals vegeroni (cooked until soft)
some cauliflower, potatoes, pumpkin (cooked until mushy)
1 teaspoon of olive oil
bits of kraft cheese

Mixed everything together and you are done! Super easy!

The Day Iggy Was Born

Prologue

With previous case of ectopic pregnancy experience and with my petite build, I was always been told that I might not being able to deliver naturally.  However, I kept praying and hoping that I would be able delivered naturally.  And I also prayed that when the time comes, the doctors will know what is best for me and for my baby, be it naturally or Cesarean.

The Countdown

June 08, 2009		Having on of my regular checkup at the clinic. Everything is good.  (Baby: 33 weeks + 5 days)
June 09, 2009		Just finishing my lunch with my colleague when suddenly I felt water trickle down my legs. I'm thinking, "... I think my water broke ...". Returning to office, told HR I'm taking EL, packed, drove about 40 mins back to my home. While driving, made a few phone calls and informed hubby to get back immediately and drove me to hospital. Reached home, packed hospital bag. Hubby reached home while I'm packing. Drove to GH around 2 pm plus.  After waiting and checkup, I finally get admitted at around 4 pm plus.  Diagnosis was my water did not actually broke but it was leaking and continued to leak. After strapping me to a machine to monitor baby's heartbeat and found out that baby is ok. They decided to try to delay the delivery. In the mean time, I was given injections of corticosteroid, which accelerates the maturity of my baby's lungs. Thus, I stayed at the hospital until "further" notice.  (Baby: 33 weeks + 6 days)
June 10, 2009		The day passed uneventfully. Check for baby's heart beat, my temperature and blood pressure, routinely 6 times a day, round the clock even in 4 am in the morning. Ultrasound in the morning. Looking good, amniotic level still ok, despite the leaking. By the way, I was still leaking on and off.  Been warning to monitor carefully for my raise of temperature and the changes in the color and odor of amniotic fluid, which are indications for infection. (Baby: 34 weeks)
June 11, 2009		Another uneventfully day. More routine checkup. Still leaking on and off. My backbone started to complain for laying too long on the uncomfortable hospital bed. (Baby: 34 weeks + 1 day)
June 14, 2009		Routine checkup. Ultrasound. Amniotic fluid level dropped. Still leaking on and off. Doctor considered induced labor. Extremely bored. (Baby: 34 weeks + 4 days)
June 15, 2009		Routine checkup. Will be induced tomorrow. Back pain was killing me, getting worse. Really hope to get it over with as soon as possible. 9 pm plus, I am having a fever. Not good, sign of infection. Can't wait until tomorrow to be induced, had to perform Cesarean immediately!! (Baby: 34 weeks + 5 days)

The Moment

They prepared to wheel me to the delivery room. The doctor in charged discussed my situation with her head through the phone. For some reason, she quite reluctant to perform Cesarean on me. Cesarean will be the last resort

She checked me. Then she exclaimed excitedly to the nurses. "She is 5 cm dilated! Yes! No need Cesarean!". Should I didn't have the intense lower back pain, I would have joked with her, "How come you are more excited than me??". By that time, I'm feverish and the back pain intensify. Then it just hits me, what I thought of as back pain from uncomfortable bed was actually sign of labor, back labor. The nurse confirmed my thought by telling me that I having contractions.

They wheeled me to the delivery room. It was 10:02 pm. On the way, I called my hubby.  I hooked up on the IV and got a jab on the butt.  I don't know what it is.  Should be some kind of painkiller and also a gas mask should I need it.  I asked hubby to rub my lower back and it really help to lessen the discomfort with each intensify contractions.  To cut it short, Iggy entered the world at 1:58 am :).  He was whisked to NICU before I even got a chance to take a look at him :(

Epilogue

I was discharged the following day, without Ig.  He had to stay at NICU for about a week and 2 more weeks at GH Pediatric Institute.  By the time he came home, he was 3 weeks old.

 

Ignatius @ 1 day old ; Weight @ 1.92 kg ; Length @44 cm

Ignatius @ 10 mths+ ; Weight @ 7 kg+ ; Height @ 68 cm

Looking at Iggy, looking back, I still got a lot of things to be thankful for.  Those are the tiny little pieces of life that may looks like nothing at all but added those tiny pieces up, it's really mounted up.  Most of all I am thankful that God sent us Ignatius as He promised!

Iggy Tested Out His Pool

Iggy's pool came in the post last week.  We got the chance to try it out in the weekend  :D

Filling up the pool	I can't wait	Why took so long...

Actually, Iggy didn't got the chance to try it out until the next day. It was getting late in the evening and it really took quite some times to fill up the pool. *Shhh, will let you in on a secret later.

So there they are, Iggy enjoyed the pool very much





There is the secret. Ta da!



Noticed where we placed the pool? In our living room!!  That's only place we can place the pool as we live in an apartment .. :p

Iggy Got A New Toy

This arrived today.. haha

 

What is it?

 

Iggy can't wait to open it

 

Ta ta!

 

Content of the box

 

Yup yup. It's a pool!

 

Iggy can't wait to try it out

 

Daddy daddy, are you done yet...

Can't wait for this weekend to try it out... :D

Iggy's Cheeky Day

What.. playing with wire?!

OMG!! Biting it some more...

給小Joseph的信

Thanks for stopping by. For those of you who don't understand Chinese, I'm sorry. It's not my intention to make life difficult for you nor try to be secretive. When I brooding over something, I prefer to write in Mandarin, which is my preferred spoken language, whereas, in fact, I have better command in English in written form than Mandarin.

Originally written on September 26, 2008 4:37 PM

親愛的小Joseph，
你好嗎？
天堂好不好玩啊
有沒有乖啊

要乖哦
不要給耶穌還有天父惹麻煩哦
祂們為爸爸媽媽，叔叔姨姨的事
已經夠煩了

你知道嗎
你靜悄悄的來
又靜悄悄的走了
我還來不及意識到你的存在
卻要被附著失去你的痛

邏輯告訴我
我還不認識你就失去你
那個痛應該沒那麽深
可能罷。。。
但是我想到你的時候
還是忍不住會心痛，傷心，流淚

我問爸爸
我爲什麽那麽傷心
爸爸說
可能這就是作爲一個媽媽的心吧

我想我可能一輩子都忘不了你
但我希望那個痛會隨著時間而淡化

小Joseph，
請原諒媽媽無法把你帶到這世界
我一直很自責是否事情發生是因我的疏忽。。。

你要為爸爸媽媽加油哦！

愛你的媽媽

ps. 爸爸也很愛你哦

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

後記：

離上一篇的經歷已經一年多了
這一年多來，對所發生的我沒有多想
只是偶爾感到傷心可惜心痛

最近又為這事流淚了
其實我不知道我到底爲什麽流淚
可能爲著小Joseph無法來到這世上，感到可惜
可能爲著我和老公失去爲人父母的機會，感到可惜
可能這事所到來的影響比我想象中還大
不過值得安慰的是書上所建議的醫治步驟
在我未意識到是時候老公已經幫我做了

雖讓我們不知道他的性別
但老公得到的感動是男的
所以我們給他取名Joseph
我們也請求耶穌親自帶領Joseph回天家 。。。

Breast Pump Review: Spectra 3

After reading lots of reviews and comments about breast pump, finally I decided to get myself a Spectra 3 as my first ever breast pump!

The following product descriptions, I shamelessly copied from here ^^

Description

• The most special feature about Spectra 3 is that it is smaller size than Spectra 2 therefore more ideal for traveling.
• The kit is very easy to use as it is automatic.
• Accessories (breast shield,tubing) are separable so it's easy to wash and sterilize.
• Its light weight and compact design make it extremely portable and good to use in a small space.
• It contains 1 set of breast shield.
• It has a very simple and neat design with a built-in cylinder.
• Users can feel comfortable by pumping in a rhythm that is just like an actual nursing infant's sucking rhythm.
• It has controllable suction levels.
• Its high suction strength makes it possible to express milk out of both breasts.

Special features

• Can be converted into a double pump.
• Minimum noise during breast pumping session ( more privacy ).

This set contains:

• Pump
• 1 Bottle with wide neck teat and bottle cap
• 1 conversion kit for wide neck bottles
• 1 Breast shield set and tubing only.

---

Now for some personal usage experiences

• Economical. Spectra 3 cost around RM400.  Sometimes, you are able to get the pump plus extra breast shield set for about the same price.  Equivalent breast pump of a branded name could easily be double the price of Spectra 3.
• Can be converted into a double pump.  I get myself an extra breast shield set to convert it into a double pump.  With double pump, it will reduce by pumping by half.

• AC power source only.  Spectra 3 only be able to operate from AC power source.  Thus, it could be quite bulky and inconvenient for those who think of traveling or pump at office with it
• Backflow (milk getting into the tubing or motor). Spectra 3 doesn't come with filter to prevent backflow.  Although I haven't ever experience a backflow yet (touch wood!), I had known of my friend who experience this.  It is troublesome, especially if the milk backflow into the motor.  You can't clean it yourself.  You have to send it for service.  However, there is Spectra filter available, which you can buy to prevent backflow.

Overall I have a great satisfy with my Spectra 3.  It is really worth the money! :D

Breast Pump: Things To Consider

It is really a tough job to get a right pump to suit your needs. Well, at least, that's exactly what I felt like when I went for breast pump shopping. Consider the amount of brands available and differences in each brand and each model, I am quite proud of myself of the pumps that I got for myself. :D

Do you really need a breast pump?
It depends, but in general, it's good to has one standby in case you needed it.

What kind of breast pumps/ brands there are available?
Basically, all breast pumps can be categorized as manual or electric. As for brands, there are countless and almost all baby products brand have their own breast pumps. And of course there are "branded" breast pumps.

So which breast pump should I get?
Good question! This is where confusing and indecision starts! I would provides some guidelines for you to consider, to help you choose the right pump for you. Please bear in mind that, the guidelines/suggestions are strictly based on my personal experiences.

So there goes ...
Are you a working mum?
If you are a working mum and plan to continue breastfeeding or giving your baby expressed breast milk (EBM) after going back to work, I suggested you to get an portable electric breast pumps with AC and battery powered option. Electric pump as it's more efficient, in term of time, compared to manual pump. Battery powered as you might not have the luxury of having a breastfeeding room in your office. You might ended up pumping in the restroom/toilet.

Furthermore, it's not easy to pump before the milk comes in, which usually takes 3 - 5 days after delivery. So if you're financially capable, you can also invest an electric beast pump even if you are full time housewife. Having said so, that do not mean that it's not advisable to get a manual breast pump for a working mum. In fact, my latest breast pump is a manual pump and I am full time working mum .. :D

Are you price or brand conscious?
A general rule of thumb, manual pump is cheaper than electric pump. Non-branded pump is cheaper than branded pump. As mentioned before, there are countless brand for breast pump. What I called a "branded" one are namely Philips Avent, Medela, and Ameda, in no particular order


If you want a more affordable breast pump you could consider Spectra, Safety Plus, Snow Bear, Pigeon to name a few or even some local brands like Pureen and Anakku.

Other features
Some electric breast pumps come with twin/double/dual pump feature. As the name implied, they are able to pump both breast at the same time. Theoretically, they are able to reduce pumping time by 50%. This might be a deciding factor for working mom. Also some claimed that they are also able to increase the milk production.

Personally, I feel at the pumps have their own pros and cons. At the end of the day, it is really up to the users to choose which one they are more comfortable with. I will review the breast pumps that I own/use in the up coming posts.

Roseola, anyone?

Last week, Ig got sicked, maintaining temperature of 39 - 40C for a few days.  It is a scary experience, when you don't know what's wrong with him and especially for a new mum like me.

It turned out he had a Roseola.  Roseola is common viral disease that affects infants and toddles, especially those aged between 6 months and  2 years old (exactly Ig's age range!).  It is usually marked by several days of high fever - temperatures may reach as high as 104-105 F (40-40.5 C), followed by a distinctive rash just as the fever breaks.

Now that's where the worries come in.  With temperatures as high as that, any decent parent will freak out, let alone those who never heard of Roseola.  Furthermore, Roseola also on of those disease that you can't diagnose or prevent from the early onset of the sickness.  Not until the distinctive rash appears, that the possibilities of having Roseola might not being considered.  Roseola also often misdiagnosed as common flu or cold.

How do I know all these??  That's why I loove Internet.  When I wasn't able take Ig to see doctor at the first occurrence of the rashes, I called my mum to ask her opinion on what the rashes might be.  Since she didn't see the rashes personally, it's hard for she to conclude.  But she did reassured that since Ig don't looked uncomfortable or sick, it might not as serious as it looks.  Reassured a bit, I did some research on the rashes.  Voila! Roseola! never heard of it until now!  That explained a lot of what Ig went thru these few days! His symptoms matched Roseola's symptoms perfectly.

That's the end of all those unexplained high fever and rashes!. Wheewps.

Too bad, I didn't manage to capture him with a cool pad on his forehead.  Despite been sick, he managed to look really cute.  :D

“玫瑰疹是一種病毒感染，主要為皰疹病毒第6型及第7型最常見。這是一種常見的幼兒良性感染疾病，很少有併發症或後遺症,發生的年齡雖然以六個月到一歲半最常見，但是小至兩、三個月，大至兩、三歲的小朋友也都仍有可能會得到玫瑰疹。

玫瑰疹是常見的一種幼兒良性感染疾病，主要要的症狀就是發高燒，溫度可高至攝氏３９至４０度，通常持續3.或4天。當高燒的時候,除 了兩個小臉頰會燒得紅紅的以外，小寶寶的胃口、活動力也都還好，也可能有輕微的咳嗽、流鼻涕之類的上呼吸道感染症狀，檢查起來沒有明顯的特徵，這種病最大 的特性就是當出現玫瑰紅似的細小斑丘疹時，往往也就是發燒漸退時，該病快到尾聲的預告，有時有於個人體質的關係而因高燒發生抽筋，但不必驚慌，因為這是良 性的抽筋。”