Writing has sort of become a passion lately.
Ever since I realized that being a milk maid and house maid had made me more a hag than a maid.
And like an answered prayer, my lovely friend proposed an an intriguing and very exciting idea - contributing articles to her fabulous website Favluv (www.favluv.com). An ingenious website that offers readers top three selling products in a number of categories. I have been given the task of researching and writing about fashion and baby products for those of you who are interested.
Writing for Favluv is very different from writing my blog in one major area, and that is my word actually count for something other than entertainment. The idea that someone will be reading what I write and possibly making a purchase based upon my research and recommendation is sort of a big deal, well for me anyway.
Like everything else in this world, with great responsibility comes great self satisfaction. A few hours each week perfecting my articles have made some sort of perfectionist again. I read and re-read my writing like a maniac before submissions and ever since I had a rather heart breaking review lately, it has made paranoid on the quality of each piece.
I'm grateful for the opportunity that was given to me because although I love, love, love being a mother, having another job title is also very fulfilling in its own way.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Simple pleasures
Although I was never much of an adventure seeker before I became a human milk bottle, now that I have a bubba permanently attached, I have found that life's little guilty treasures often lay in the things and activities we take most for granted.
For example, today's moment came when I realized how precious it was to be able to enjoy a iced latte at my local Starbucks. Listening to the gentle jazz playing the background, watching the world go by, with the person I love most sitting next to me, is there anything else more beautiful on the earth.
Oops, the person I love most in the world just screamed on the top of his voice in a room full of people. Time to get back to reality.
For example, today's moment came when I realized how precious it was to be able to enjoy a iced latte at my local Starbucks. Listening to the gentle jazz playing the background, watching the world go by, with the person I love most sitting next to me, is there anything else more beautiful on the earth.
Oops, the person I love most in the world just screamed on the top of his voice in a room full of people. Time to get back to reality.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Ch-ch-ch-changes
I was asked today by a friend whether I think I have changed since I became a mother and it really made me think. I guess my initial response was yes, my ass is bigger and I'm leaking fluid out of my boobs every few hours, but beyond the physical stuff, deep down, was I still the same girl (woman?) I was before bebe?
I guess a part of me wanted to hang onto my old self, the careless, selfish and ignorant me whose sole purpose in life was do things that made me happy. I remember my all time favorite motto was that 'my happiness trumps the happiness of everyone else, because if I am not happy, how can I make others happy?'. This suited me so well because it gave me an excuse to be completely and utterly devoted to me, myself and I. Everything I did revolved around this one principle.
Today however, is a different story, because that motto I held onto so defiantly no longer truly and completely reflected who I was. It simply wasn't enough.
It is inevitable that the arrival of an procreation will impact even the most slightest part of anyone's life. My priorities have been reorganized dramatically, my interests have made a shift towards new grounds and my perspectives in life and on life have also evolved.
But does this mean that I have changed? Or was I always this person, but simply have not been given the opportunity to be her? Do we really change as a person or do circumstances and situations bring out different aspects of ourselves that we never knew we had?
Perhaps whenever we reach a different stage in life, whether it's the big things like moving out, getting married, or having kids, or smaller things like making a new friend or visiting a new country, they all accumulate and nourish our inner being so that ourselves become like a tree branching out into the infinite sky. In this way, we never truly change, but become a more dynamic, evolved version of our previous self?
Or maybe Bowie had it right all along, time may change me, but I can't trace time...
I guess a part of me wanted to hang onto my old self, the careless, selfish and ignorant me whose sole purpose in life was do things that made me happy. I remember my all time favorite motto was that 'my happiness trumps the happiness of everyone else, because if I am not happy, how can I make others happy?'. This suited me so well because it gave me an excuse to be completely and utterly devoted to me, myself and I. Everything I did revolved around this one principle.
Today however, is a different story, because that motto I held onto so defiantly no longer truly and completely reflected who I was. It simply wasn't enough.
It is inevitable that the arrival of an procreation will impact even the most slightest part of anyone's life. My priorities have been reorganized dramatically, my interests have made a shift towards new grounds and my perspectives in life and on life have also evolved.
But does this mean that I have changed? Or was I always this person, but simply have not been given the opportunity to be her? Do we really change as a person or do circumstances and situations bring out different aspects of ourselves that we never knew we had?
Perhaps whenever we reach a different stage in life, whether it's the big things like moving out, getting married, or having kids, or smaller things like making a new friend or visiting a new country, they all accumulate and nourish our inner being so that ourselves become like a tree branching out into the infinite sky. In this way, we never truly change, but become a more dynamic, evolved version of our previous self?
Or maybe Bowie had it right all along, time may change me, but I can't trace time...
Monday, July 2, 2012
Roseo-what?
Roseola is a common viral infection that affection children from 6 months to 2 years old. Its most common symptom is the sudden onset of a high-grade fever (38-40 degrees celcius or 101-104 fareheiht) followed by little pink spots on the body (usually a sign the fever has disappeared). The child may not display any other symptoms except mild cases of diarrhea, lack of appetite, nose or throat congestion, lethargy.
I, of course knew nothing of this until this morning when I suddenly found little R heating up (38.7 C) and took him to the pediatricians office. It was so sudden that it nearly knocked me off my feet, one moment he seemed to be happy playing, next moment when I gave him a kiss his forehead was like an hot pan. Luckily he seemed to be in good spirits apart from the fact that he was a little fussy and was fighting sleep.
At the Peds office, I was told that the initial diagnosis was that he is displaying signs of Roseola, as he seemed completely healthy in other respects, no signs of stomach upsets, respiratory organs seems normal and no ear infections. Although, the doc warned, with Roseola, you never really know that you have it until the little spot appear, so I still have to keep an eye out for him, there is a mean case of stomach flu going around in Taiwan lately.
So back at home I gave him some doctor prescribed Ibuprofen to reduce his fever - worked pretty well within 30 minutes his fever came down to 37.6 C although his appetite seems completely gone. Unhappy to even drink a sip of water, I decided to run to the supermarket and buy some organic carrots and cook it in water and see if he will take the carrot water ( a nice tip from my dear friend and fellow mama).
Back at home tiredness has set in again and the fussiness seems prolonged compared to usual but at last, little R is asleep, will check his temperature again and see how he goes.
Update 1
R's temperature remained around the high 37s to low 38s and by 5pm I decided to give him another dose of Ibuprofen to make him feel better as he was starting to heat up again, the medicine works really fast within about 30-40 minutes he was at the lower 37 degrees and starting to laugh and yell like his old self again. His appetite was still none existent, an attempt to feed him breast milk by bottle or carrot water was met with an unhappy baby. Luckily his hunger strike ended at around 6:45 when I nursed him directly and the hungry baby drank for a good 5 minutes. I have read on other mothering forums that have commented on how babies prefer to be nursed directly when down with Roseola, so that could be the case. Another interesting find was that mothers found babies to be more sleepy than usual, which also seem to be the case with R. Although tempted by an extra sleepy baby to sleep more, I doubt I would be getting much snooze time tonight as I will be checking R's temperature feverishly (bittersweet use of my pun).
Update 2
Wow last night was a night I will never forget. I set the alarm for 12 and then every 2 hour intervals so that I can get up and take R's temperature. Apparently when a child's body temperature gets too high it caused them to have seizures, and while these seizures are not dangerous, I am not keen on witnessing my little darling convulse and then blank out for 2-3 minutes without any sign of life.
At 12 midnight I woke up to my vibrating alarm to find that R's temperature has reached a whopping 40.1 degrees Celsius, panicking I read the notice I got from my docs office which advised me to give him his rectal medication, but only 2/3s. I roughly cut the waxy tablet into the right dose with my fingers and wondered how I would now proceed with the insertion part of the medicinal administration. Hesitantly I removed R's diaper and realized that perhaps my best chance of getting this done right was to do it quickly while he is still drifting in and out of sleep. So off with his diaper and in the waxy tablet went up his little bottom. Except that that waxy tablet would somehow glide back out again according to his breathing, in and out and in... By this time R has woken from his sleep and has now turned and looked at his mummy with a quizzical 'what are you doing down there' look on his face. Unfazed I pushed the tablet in one last time, deep enough that it did not make an appearance again. I then quickly wrapped up his diaper and attempted to hydrate my little man by nursing him with the hope that he will be asleep by the end if the feed. No such luck. Awake and happy, completely unscathed by the enormous fever he's having, R is now completely aware and ready to play. I decided that perhaps I could use a cool wet towel to lower his temperature at least externally and found that although he was not a fan of the cold wetness, we was calmed by its presence against his hot skin.
The rest of the night followed with high fever temperatures of 39.7, 39.3 and finally back down to an acceptable rate of 38.6 degrees.
The morning came and brought with it a bout of runny poo, I was relieved at least some of the toxins are finding its way out if his system and tried to feed R carrot water with a bulb syringe, which he took happily once he realized its quite delicious.
It is now 2pm and temperatures are back down to 36.7 after another dose of ibuprofen at 9am. I have a sneaking feeling this is not the last I will see of the virus, but am glad at least it is controlled somewhat, for now.
Update 3
It's been 6 days from the initial onset of the illness and it seems little R has made at least a 95% recovery, his fever subsided on the third day, rather suddenly and almost immediately his rash appeared. We first noticed it in his back and bottom, but by the second day it had spread to parts of his face, neck and trunk. On the third day of his rash his face was covered by the little red spots, his neck, parts of his arm and his trunk was the worst affect areas, but I could already see that his back and bottom were no longer spot ridden. Today (the forth day) his face cleared up almost completely as well as his neck, there are still a few small red spots on his belly and trunk but otherwise R looks as good as he did before the virus.
His appetite is still not completely back to normal, refusing to have more than 100 ml of breast milk whereas he used to have 120-150 per feed but I am not too worried as he really didn't have much to eat the last few days so I wouldn't be surprised if his stomach has shrunk somewhat.
His energy level and jolly temperament is back, which is a relief, there is nothing worse than seeing your baby look all sick and sad - it's a feeling of helplessness that exhausts the mind and body ( I have 4 new pimples as war trophies from this ordeal).
So, 6 days, 5 restless nights and 700 grams of body weight lost later, we finally kicked Roseola's butt, and are glad to have this virus behind us. I know that one day, hopefully not too soon ahead, we will have to face another demon virus and go through this all over again, but for now, lets just enjoy the wonderful day ahead! cheers!
I, of course knew nothing of this until this morning when I suddenly found little R heating up (38.7 C) and took him to the pediatricians office. It was so sudden that it nearly knocked me off my feet, one moment he seemed to be happy playing, next moment when I gave him a kiss his forehead was like an hot pan. Luckily he seemed to be in good spirits apart from the fact that he was a little fussy and was fighting sleep.
At the Peds office, I was told that the initial diagnosis was that he is displaying signs of Roseola, as he seemed completely healthy in other respects, no signs of stomach upsets, respiratory organs seems normal and no ear infections. Although, the doc warned, with Roseola, you never really know that you have it until the little spot appear, so I still have to keep an eye out for him, there is a mean case of stomach flu going around in Taiwan lately.
So back at home I gave him some doctor prescribed Ibuprofen to reduce his fever - worked pretty well within 30 minutes his fever came down to 37.6 C although his appetite seems completely gone. Unhappy to even drink a sip of water, I decided to run to the supermarket and buy some organic carrots and cook it in water and see if he will take the carrot water ( a nice tip from my dear friend and fellow mama).
Back at home tiredness has set in again and the fussiness seems prolonged compared to usual but at last, little R is asleep, will check his temperature again and see how he goes.
Update 1
R's temperature remained around the high 37s to low 38s and by 5pm I decided to give him another dose of Ibuprofen to make him feel better as he was starting to heat up again, the medicine works really fast within about 30-40 minutes he was at the lower 37 degrees and starting to laugh and yell like his old self again. His appetite was still none existent, an attempt to feed him breast milk by bottle or carrot water was met with an unhappy baby. Luckily his hunger strike ended at around 6:45 when I nursed him directly and the hungry baby drank for a good 5 minutes. I have read on other mothering forums that have commented on how babies prefer to be nursed directly when down with Roseola, so that could be the case. Another interesting find was that mothers found babies to be more sleepy than usual, which also seem to be the case with R. Although tempted by an extra sleepy baby to sleep more, I doubt I would be getting much snooze time tonight as I will be checking R's temperature feverishly (bittersweet use of my pun).
Update 2
Wow last night was a night I will never forget. I set the alarm for 12 and then every 2 hour intervals so that I can get up and take R's temperature. Apparently when a child's body temperature gets too high it caused them to have seizures, and while these seizures are not dangerous, I am not keen on witnessing my little darling convulse and then blank out for 2-3 minutes without any sign of life.
At 12 midnight I woke up to my vibrating alarm to find that R's temperature has reached a whopping 40.1 degrees Celsius, panicking I read the notice I got from my docs office which advised me to give him his rectal medication, but only 2/3s. I roughly cut the waxy tablet into the right dose with my fingers and wondered how I would now proceed with the insertion part of the medicinal administration. Hesitantly I removed R's diaper and realized that perhaps my best chance of getting this done right was to do it quickly while he is still drifting in and out of sleep. So off with his diaper and in the waxy tablet went up his little bottom. Except that that waxy tablet would somehow glide back out again according to his breathing, in and out and in... By this time R has woken from his sleep and has now turned and looked at his mummy with a quizzical 'what are you doing down there' look on his face. Unfazed I pushed the tablet in one last time, deep enough that it did not make an appearance again. I then quickly wrapped up his diaper and attempted to hydrate my little man by nursing him with the hope that he will be asleep by the end if the feed. No such luck. Awake and happy, completely unscathed by the enormous fever he's having, R is now completely aware and ready to play. I decided that perhaps I could use a cool wet towel to lower his temperature at least externally and found that although he was not a fan of the cold wetness, we was calmed by its presence against his hot skin.
The rest of the night followed with high fever temperatures of 39.7, 39.3 and finally back down to an acceptable rate of 38.6 degrees.
The morning came and brought with it a bout of runny poo, I was relieved at least some of the toxins are finding its way out if his system and tried to feed R carrot water with a bulb syringe, which he took happily once he realized its quite delicious.
It is now 2pm and temperatures are back down to 36.7 after another dose of ibuprofen at 9am. I have a sneaking feeling this is not the last I will see of the virus, but am glad at least it is controlled somewhat, for now.
Update 3
It's been 6 days from the initial onset of the illness and it seems little R has made at least a 95% recovery, his fever subsided on the third day, rather suddenly and almost immediately his rash appeared. We first noticed it in his back and bottom, but by the second day it had spread to parts of his face, neck and trunk. On the third day of his rash his face was covered by the little red spots, his neck, parts of his arm and his trunk was the worst affect areas, but I could already see that his back and bottom were no longer spot ridden. Today (the forth day) his face cleared up almost completely as well as his neck, there are still a few small red spots on his belly and trunk but otherwise R looks as good as he did before the virus.
His appetite is still not completely back to normal, refusing to have more than 100 ml of breast milk whereas he used to have 120-150 per feed but I am not too worried as he really didn't have much to eat the last few days so I wouldn't be surprised if his stomach has shrunk somewhat.
His energy level and jolly temperament is back, which is a relief, there is nothing worse than seeing your baby look all sick and sad - it's a feeling of helplessness that exhausts the mind and body ( I have 4 new pimples as war trophies from this ordeal).
So, 6 days, 5 restless nights and 700 grams of body weight lost later, we finally kicked Roseola's butt, and are glad to have this virus behind us. I know that one day, hopefully not too soon ahead, we will have to face another demon virus and go through this all over again, but for now, lets just enjoy the wonderful day ahead! cheers!
Monday, June 25, 2012
29, 30 next
Turned 29 today.
Never thought I'd be facing the big 3-0 so soon.
Looking back the last decade what have I accomplished?
A university degree
Moving to a foreign country
Getting married
Having a baby
On paper it looks like I did all I set out to do when I turned 19.
Do I have any regrets? Sure! Plenty! Most are forgettable.
One I never will forgive myself is pursuing my career with more heart.
I guess I never really knew what I wanted to do. I skipped from retail to HR, to translating, and finally advertising.
Perhaps I should have pursued my love of fashion like I wanted to when I was 19.
I recently had an opportunity to start writing for an up and coming website commenting on top three wardrobe fixes.
Stay tuned...
Never thought I'd be facing the big 3-0 so soon.
Looking back the last decade what have I accomplished?
A university degree
Moving to a foreign country
Getting married
Having a baby
On paper it looks like I did all I set out to do when I turned 19.
Do I have any regrets? Sure! Plenty! Most are forgettable.
One I never will forgive myself is pursuing my career with more heart.
I guess I never really knew what I wanted to do. I skipped from retail to HR, to translating, and finally advertising.
Perhaps I should have pursued my love of fashion like I wanted to when I was 19.
I recently had an opportunity to start writing for an up and coming website commenting on top three wardrobe fixes.
Stay tuned...
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Itchy, much?
Since early this week I have been having progressively itchier nights caused by what I now believe to be hives. At first I thought it could be mosquito bites on my neck and arm but it's been reoccurring every night in different places and have definitely been getting worse and worse.
Just when I've started to get more sleep now this.
I googled online and came across something interesting, but unfortunate. There is apparently something called postpartum hives that occur due to the oxytocin that is released every time a let down happens during breastfeeding.
Could this be what I am going through?
Going to the dermatologist tomorrow to find out, stay tuned for updates...
6/25
Went to the doctors, he said my hives are not caused by breastfeeding n asked me to change my bed sheets.
Slightly insulted from his accusation that my bed is somehow the cause of my hives, I returned home and changed my bed sheets and in my cleaning frenzy discovered that my summer blanket was...becoming fluffy?
I washed it and found that the fluff would not come off!
Could it really be a simple case of fluffy blankets causing my itchy skin?
I decided to use another blanket for the time being and see if it made any difference...
Another bout of the hives have driven me back to the dermatologist and this time I have decided to be a good girl n listen to the good doctor and take my medicine, he assured me that the medicine will have no effect if breastfeeding... Fingers crossed...
Just when I've started to get more sleep now this.
I googled online and came across something interesting, but unfortunate. There is apparently something called postpartum hives that occur due to the oxytocin that is released every time a let down happens during breastfeeding.
Could this be what I am going through?
Going to the dermatologist tomorrow to find out, stay tuned for updates...
6/25
Went to the doctors, he said my hives are not caused by breastfeeding n asked me to change my bed sheets.
Slightly insulted from his accusation that my bed is somehow the cause of my hives, I returned home and changed my bed sheets and in my cleaning frenzy discovered that my summer blanket was...becoming fluffy?
I washed it and found that the fluff would not come off!
Could it really be a simple case of fluffy blankets causing my itchy skin?
I decided to use another blanket for the time being and see if it made any difference...
Another bout of the hives have driven me back to the dermatologist and this time I have decided to be a good girl n listen to the good doctor and take my medicine, he assured me that the medicine will have no effect if breastfeeding... Fingers crossed...
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
You're so photogenic, Baby!
Since having my baby 6 months ago, I have unearthed a few hidden talents, and one of these talents is photography. Obviously this is a completely subjective analysis of course, but I believe my ability to capture little R in his best moments on par with Annie Lebovitz and Mario Testino (cue to laugh hysterically). Despite my total ignorance and big headedness, I do, however think that I have a few tips and tricks up my sleeve for capturing babies in their best.
Now, all babies are cute, full stop, but sometimes its just a matter of angle and lighting that makes a cute baby into an 'oh my god I want to bite his chubby cheeks off' baby.
1) When babies are only able to lay on their backs, sometimes their face is so chubby and cherub like that they somehow resemble a big pizza, round, flat and lacking much dimension. That's fine because most of the baby's feature are not fully developed yet, so if you are noticing this for the first time, chillax. So in this case, why not try shooting from the top of his head, the angle will make his face more dimensional and if your baby looks up at mummy (or daddy) you get the added bonus of the big eye effect!
2) Ever want to take a photo with your baby but somehow always manage to look like how you feel i.e. struggling on 2 hours of sleep and last meal was 6 hours ago and consisted of half a bagel. The best way to look good (and healthy) is to have your baby lay next to you on the bed with the camera (I like to use my iPhone) facing down, the gravity will naturally pull your face and skin back making you look fresher and younger instantly!
3) Never take a picture with bad lighting or no lighting, I always turn on the lights to make sure that pictures come out clearer and that way any edits you may want to make to the pictures can be done without too much work, which leads me to my next tip...
4) Having good, easy to use - this is the key here, EASY to use editing programs are essential for a busy mother. I use my iPhone here again and my favorite apps right now are Line Camera, Instagram and Photolr PS. All of these apps are easy to use and have great editing options not to mention create cute pictures and instantly uploads to my Facebook.
So, next time you catch your baby do something adorable, don't forget to get your camera or iPhone to capture these precious moments, and give my tips a try!
Now, all babies are cute, full stop, but sometimes its just a matter of angle and lighting that makes a cute baby into an 'oh my god I want to bite his chubby cheeks off' baby.
1) When babies are only able to lay on their backs, sometimes their face is so chubby and cherub like that they somehow resemble a big pizza, round, flat and lacking much dimension. That's fine because most of the baby's feature are not fully developed yet, so if you are noticing this for the first time, chillax. So in this case, why not try shooting from the top of his head, the angle will make his face more dimensional and if your baby looks up at mummy (or daddy) you get the added bonus of the big eye effect!
4) Having good, easy to use - this is the key here, EASY to use editing programs are essential for a busy mother. I use my iPhone here again and my favorite apps right now are Line Camera, Instagram and Photolr PS. All of these apps are easy to use and have great editing options not to mention create cute pictures and instantly uploads to my Facebook.
So, next time you catch your baby do something adorable, don't forget to get your camera or iPhone to capture these precious moments, and give my tips a try!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Ferber method - review
After 6 days of implementing the Ferber method I have come to a sort of stand still as to what I should do next.
One the one had, R's sleeping has improved dramatically, he only really wakes up once in the night now and sleeps average from 8pm-7am with a night feeding at around 9:30. When he wakes up at other times he is able to sooth himself back to sleep within 2 minutes. This has made a dramatic improvement on my quality of sleep as well as my temperament.
On the other hand the amount of time spent listening to him cry at the initial stage of sleep has not changed much from 15 - 20 minutes. This is the part I'm most frustrated and unable to deal with. I cannot imagine having to listen to such desperate cries night after night, especially when my maternal instincts tell me I should do something about it. Its distressing for any mother to have to listen to this every night and this is the main reason I have decided to call halt on this Ferber operation.
At this point I am certain of three things, the Ferber method works, on some level; it might not be suitable for all babies; and I am not sure if this is the right choice for me and R.
I will try and adopt a more gentler method from tonight, I think the thing to keep in mind when implementing any type of sleep training, as with anything in life, is to stay flexible. No one will benefit from a stubborn decision least of all your baby.
One the one had, R's sleeping has improved dramatically, he only really wakes up once in the night now and sleeps average from 8pm-7am with a night feeding at around 9:30. When he wakes up at other times he is able to sooth himself back to sleep within 2 minutes. This has made a dramatic improvement on my quality of sleep as well as my temperament.
On the other hand the amount of time spent listening to him cry at the initial stage of sleep has not changed much from 15 - 20 minutes. This is the part I'm most frustrated and unable to deal with. I cannot imagine having to listen to such desperate cries night after night, especially when my maternal instincts tell me I should do something about it. Its distressing for any mother to have to listen to this every night and this is the main reason I have decided to call halt on this Ferber operation.
At this point I am certain of three things, the Ferber method works, on some level; it might not be suitable for all babies; and I am not sure if this is the right choice for me and R.
I will try and adopt a more gentler method from tonight, I think the thing to keep in mind when implementing any type of sleep training, as with anything in life, is to stay flexible. No one will benefit from a stubborn decision least of all your baby.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Ferber method - Day 6
7:13 the crying is unbearable even after 6 days of this you'd think I'd be trained to get used to it but sadly I'm not and I'm starting to wonder if this is the right thing for me to do. On the one hand R's night waking have reduced drastically, however the time it takes for him to fall asleep as well as the process itself has not eased much at all. Tonight after 10 minutes of crying I gave up and comforted my poor baby, I gave him a lot of kisses and distracted him from the crying by letting watch his musical mobile. He was better fit 15 minutes but then started to cry again and after another 10 minutes of crying he finally fell asleep. I really don't know if it's he's learnt to fall asleep or that he's simply exhausted from crying. This is definitely not fun. Time of sleep 7:55 pm.
9:10 - 180 ml of formula with rice cereal down and back to sleep at 9:20. It's time to sleep for sleepy mummy too...
3:03 - A drowsy/hungry R woke up upset and I nursed him which I kind of regret. I think I should just reinforce the method but I'm usually too sleepy myself to reason that and just do the easy thing. I think I myself am to blame for the method not completely adopted by R, it's just hard to find a balance. When should the crying be stopped and when is it ok? No one is there to draw the line or call a foul and the books always say you will know when the cries are more serious, but at the end of the day there is only you who will have to make the hard decision.
5:14 - a short burst of crying followed by lazy yelps with silence... A total of 4 minutes, if my sleepy eyes did not trick me... Back to sleep!
6:13 - I think R woke up there's a lot of commotion in his cot but no sounds I decided to close my eyes for a few more moments before he actually complained.
6:34 - ok it's official, R's awake! And thus begins another day :)
9:10 - 180 ml of formula with rice cereal down and back to sleep at 9:20. It's time to sleep for sleepy mummy too...
3:03 - A drowsy/hungry R woke up upset and I nursed him which I kind of regret. I think I should just reinforce the method but I'm usually too sleepy myself to reason that and just do the easy thing. I think I myself am to blame for the method not completely adopted by R, it's just hard to find a balance. When should the crying be stopped and when is it ok? No one is there to draw the line or call a foul and the books always say you will know when the cries are more serious, but at the end of the day there is only you who will have to make the hard decision.
5:14 - a short burst of crying followed by lazy yelps with silence... A total of 4 minutes, if my sleepy eyes did not trick me... Back to sleep!
6:13 - I think R woke up there's a lot of commotion in his cot but no sounds I decided to close my eyes for a few more moments before he actually complained.
6:34 - ok it's official, R's awake! And thus begins another day :)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
My ultimate must have baby list for new mums!
1) Ergobaby carrier - yes it's expensive but in my opinion it's really worth the cash to purchase an item than you will use often that's both good for your baby and you! If you like to snuggle up with your baby often then I highly recommend getting this baby carrier, it's functional and comfortable while allowing for bonding time for you and your baby!
2)Sophie - its an all natural rubber chewy squeaky toy that all babies will enjoy playing with. The fact that even the coloring is naturally derived makes it comforting for even the most jittery of mothers.
3)Parklon play mat - these are non toxic play mats that are colorful, thick cushioned and safe for babies to play, eat or sleep on. I prefer these one piece play mats to the puzzle types that tends to be harder to clean between the cracks and safer in that kids can't rip them out of the floor which might pose a potential fall accident.
4) Bumbo baby seat - this is an award winning baby seat that teaches babies the correct posture to sit. It comes in a variety of cute colors and accessories such a play table, or high chair option. I find the table very useful for meal time to avoid dribbles and it prevents over active kids from tipping the seat over. Bumbo users should be aware that it must NEVER be placed on an elevated surface to prevent falls.
5) Pigeon nail scissors, or any type of round, short tipped scissors will do. I find scissors so much easier to use than clippers because you can see where you're cutting easily and the round tip ensures that you don't poke the delicate baby fingers by accident.
6) Avent 5 in one sterilizer - what you want for these type of products is simply that it's easy to use and it works! Both apply to this dishwasher safe, no brainer sterilizer. The fact that it's roomy and fits a lot of stuff is also a plus.
7) DHC cotton buds & Pigeon double tipped cotton buds. The DHC cotton buds have a little bit of olive oil in them so they are great for cleaning around the outside of the ears or the belly button which can get dried dirty gook in them. The oil lubricates the skin and brings out the gunk, no fuss no muss. The Pigeon double tipped cotton buds have one side which has a natural sticky jelly like substance derived from plants that can attach itself onto larger pieces of snot in babies noses helping to clear clogged sinuses and relieved blocked noses, very common amongst babies.
8) Summer swaddle wraps - they come in a variety of colors and available in fleece or cotton for changes in weather as well as two sizes so if you have a big baby like me then you can still swaddle your baby with ease. I found that when R was a little older and not requiring the full swaddle anymore I could use the swaddle and just wrap it around his belly and that way he's still warm from the chest down but he's not restricted as he would be fully swaddled.
9) iPhone - I know this is technically not a baby item but my iPhone has become one of the most used items since I've had my baby. I use it to take photos, videos, send messages to my husband who is in Japan, my family and friends, edit pictures, chat with my other mummy friends, search online for child care techniques, record baby's schedule with apps and play music to a fussy baby ... And write my blog without the need of my computer! Talk about a multi-tasker!
10) Patience - haha, ok I admit I still don't have this one down to a tee but I'm trying my darnedest to make sure no matter what I am always patient, I've had moments where I've lost it and I totally regret it later and to make sure I don't do it again I try to take a few breaths or even just step out of the room for a few seconds so that my impatience won't cause me to do something I will be ashamed of later. While everything else on the list can be bought, this is something that every mother needs to learn and reinforce everyday, but it will go towards the happiness of you and your child so much further and no matter what, a necessary skill in your life.
4) Bumbo baby seat - this is an award winning baby seat that teaches babies the correct posture to sit. It comes in a variety of cute colors and accessories such a play table, or high chair option. I find the table very useful for meal time to avoid dribbles and it prevents over active kids from tipping the seat over. Bumbo users should be aware that it must NEVER be placed on an elevated surface to prevent falls.
6) Avent 5 in one sterilizer - what you want for these type of products is simply that it's easy to use and it works! Both apply to this dishwasher safe, no brainer sterilizer. The fact that it's roomy and fits a lot of stuff is also a plus.
7) DHC cotton buds & Pigeon double tipped cotton buds. The DHC cotton buds have a little bit of olive oil in them so they are great for cleaning around the outside of the ears or the belly button which can get dried dirty gook in them. The oil lubricates the skin and brings out the gunk, no fuss no muss. The Pigeon double tipped cotton buds have one side which has a natural sticky jelly like substance derived from plants that can attach itself onto larger pieces of snot in babies noses helping to clear clogged sinuses and relieved blocked noses, very common amongst babies.
8) Summer swaddle wraps - they come in a variety of colors and available in fleece or cotton for changes in weather as well as two sizes so if you have a big baby like me then you can still swaddle your baby with ease. I found that when R was a little older and not requiring the full swaddle anymore I could use the swaddle and just wrap it around his belly and that way he's still warm from the chest down but he's not restricted as he would be fully swaddled.
10) Patience - haha, ok I admit I still don't have this one down to a tee but I'm trying my darnedest to make sure no matter what I am always patient, I've had moments where I've lost it and I totally regret it later and to make sure I don't do it again I try to take a few breaths or even just step out of the room for a few seconds so that my impatience won't cause me to do something I will be ashamed of later. While everything else on the list can be bought, this is something that every mother needs to learn and reinforce everyday, but it will go towards the happiness of you and your child so much further and no matter what, a necessary skill in your life.
Ferber method - Day 5
I'm not sure if it's the Ferber method or just the fact that R doesn't like sleep time, he always puts up a fight right before bed, and today was no different. After his bath at 7 he was put into his cot at 7:10 and as soon as he was in his cot he started to protest , and thus began the crying.
7:15 I checked up on little R and upon sensing my presence he got a bit more upset and cried harder. I rubbed his belly and tried to comfort him and left after a bit. The crying continued but I could tell he was giving up as his cried became fainted and long moments would pass before he gave a yelp.
7:22 - after 5 minutes of silence then yelp, it finally became just silence, although again his sleeping position is all weird, but too afraid to repeat last nights episode, I let him be, after all if he wasn't comfortable he's at the age where he can completely move to any position he desired.
9:15 supper time for R, the little guy fell asleep straight after his meal without a peek.
3:34 little R woke up and cried lethargically and I wondered if I should leave him or feed him but decided to feed him as he was making his hunger calls. He fed quickly and went back to sleep.
6:47 wake up time!
7:15 I checked up on little R and upon sensing my presence he got a bit more upset and cried harder. I rubbed his belly and tried to comfort him and left after a bit. The crying continued but I could tell he was giving up as his cried became fainted and long moments would pass before he gave a yelp.
7:22 - after 5 minutes of silence then yelp, it finally became just silence, although again his sleeping position is all weird, but too afraid to repeat last nights episode, I let him be, after all if he wasn't comfortable he's at the age where he can completely move to any position he desired.
9:15 supper time for R, the little guy fell asleep straight after his meal without a peek.
3:34 little R woke up and cried lethargically and I wondered if I should leave him or feed him but decided to feed him as he was making his hunger calls. He fed quickly and went back to sleep.
6:47 wake up time!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Ferber method - Day 4
Argh, I almost don't want to write today's blog because it had been so exhausting and stressful, but I decided that since I dug my own grave u might as well lay in it, sorry about being do melodramatic but I also don't want anyone else to make the same mistakes as I did, so here's what went on tonight...
7:15 - after R's bath I put him in his bed and gave him a kiss good night, he started to cry profusely for the next 5 minutes, and I went to comfort and sooth him for a minute after that. I find that every time I leave him he always cries the hardest but managed to calm himself after a few minutes and tonight was no different, he managed to fall asleep at 7:28 pm.
Now what happened the next hour I cannot recall exactly the timing but basically I went to check up in my baby as I always did after he falls asleep to find him sleeping faced down, or at least what appeared to be faced down, I panicked immediately I turned him face up, this action must have startled and scared him and thus caused him to cry in an in controllable manner, I didn't know if I should hold him or not so I decided to just sooth him from the side of the bed, after about approximately 20 minutes his cries have resorted to a lazy whimper, I decided to check on him again and this time I found him in the most awkward position with his neck turned almost 90 degrees against the cot railing, and again I freaked out moving his body to a more natural position. This again caused him so much distress that this time his fries were inconsolable, no matter what I did he cried and cried. I felt so guilty!! I finally said screw it to the training, I need to hold my baby and kissed him and told him I loved him and apologized to him for waking him up, TWICE! It was close to 8:30 then and I decided to give him his last feed a little earlier since he'd probably be very worn out from the crying.
9:10 back in his cot, happy, full and a little energetic, I let him play and do his business while I procrastinated on my bed, half expecting him to act up again but to my surprise and delight he quickly began his 'I'm lazy' call rituals or mmms and ahhhs and by 9:27 he was asleep, no crying involved at all!! Oh my baby~~~
Update
0:57: little R woke up and complained with a soft cough like cry and a few ahs. I suspect he was woken up by thr pouring rain and lightening thunders outside... Anyway at 1:02 he was back asleep again.
3:27 hungry little dude woke up wanting a feed and after his feed when back to sleep
6:30 early morning wake up today fed and happy boy :)
7:15 - after R's bath I put him in his bed and gave him a kiss good night, he started to cry profusely for the next 5 minutes, and I went to comfort and sooth him for a minute after that. I find that every time I leave him he always cries the hardest but managed to calm himself after a few minutes and tonight was no different, he managed to fall asleep at 7:28 pm.
Now what happened the next hour I cannot recall exactly the timing but basically I went to check up in my baby as I always did after he falls asleep to find him sleeping faced down, or at least what appeared to be faced down, I panicked immediately I turned him face up, this action must have startled and scared him and thus caused him to cry in an in controllable manner, I didn't know if I should hold him or not so I decided to just sooth him from the side of the bed, after about approximately 20 minutes his cries have resorted to a lazy whimper, I decided to check on him again and this time I found him in the most awkward position with his neck turned almost 90 degrees against the cot railing, and again I freaked out moving his body to a more natural position. This again caused him so much distress that this time his fries were inconsolable, no matter what I did he cried and cried. I felt so guilty!! I finally said screw it to the training, I need to hold my baby and kissed him and told him I loved him and apologized to him for waking him up, TWICE! It was close to 8:30 then and I decided to give him his last feed a little earlier since he'd probably be very worn out from the crying.
9:10 back in his cot, happy, full and a little energetic, I let him play and do his business while I procrastinated on my bed, half expecting him to act up again but to my surprise and delight he quickly began his 'I'm lazy' call rituals or mmms and ahhhs and by 9:27 he was asleep, no crying involved at all!! Oh my baby~~~
Update
0:57: little R woke up and complained with a soft cough like cry and a few ahs. I suspect he was woken up by thr pouring rain and lightening thunders outside... Anyway at 1:02 he was back asleep again.
3:27 hungry little dude woke up wanting a feed and after his feed when back to sleep
6:30 early morning wake up today fed and happy boy :)
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Breastfeeding - a love/hate story
Loves...
- the fact that it's the best thing for babies, studies have shown that breastfed babies are less likely to get sick, become constipated, lower chances of SIDS, not to mention it is mother natures own cocktail of nutrient for the baby.
- bonding time, I have to admit the idea of a baby sucking on my breasts was not exactly high on my to do list in life BEFORE I gave birth. Even before R popped out I thought it was...icky, but the first time my little baby latched on it was as if an invisible line was drawn that would forever connect us as mother and son. It's an incredible feeling to know that for just those few moments, I, myself am enough to provide everything that this little precious baby need. It's not often in life that we get to feel this way, so my advice is, if you can, do it, as much and as often as you can because these moments are short and passes quickly.
- it's cheap! No doubt that feeding breast milk which costs you nothing is a refreshing welcome to the depleting effects a baby will have on you savings account.
- it's quick! While a baby may take a few weeks to get on completely acquainted with your breast, once he/she does they become very good at nursing. There's no need to wash and sterilize bottles and not to mention calculating how much a baby drank or should drink because breast feeding is baby led, they will let you know when they've had enough.
Hates...
- the beginning of breastfeeding is truly a time to test your patience, endurance and pain threshold. Your body just went through a battle to get the baby out, regardless of whether it's a natural or cesarean birth you are still reviving from a pretty traumatic event and unlike what movies or television shows have suggested, breastfeeding DOESN'T come natural to everyone. The baby doesn't know how to suck efficiently, you have no idea whether he's drinking or not and in the mean time your nipples are cracked and bruised and bleeding. It's no wonder so many women give u breastfeeding in the beginning because it's. So. Darn. Hard! For me personally it took a good month and a half to start not hating it and I know it differs for every person but I would say at least a month of hating it would be expected at the very least.
- the restrictions that comes with breastfeeding is something that people might have different opinion over. Personally I'm distraught every time I am reminded that I cannot have a coffee for the remainder of my breastfeeding time, but others might feel indifferent towards their daily caffein shots. To explain caffein and alcohol are not recommended for breastfeeding mums for fears that it
Conclusion
As with most things in life there are pros and cons with doing or not doing them, but at the end of the day, it's important to realize there is no right fit for anyone.
There might be days when you are so sick of nursing that you just want to give up and switch to formula, and other days when you are so happy that you stuck by it, but whatever happens give yourself a round of applause for hanging on till now.
Breastfeeding is a wonderful experience for those who are blessed with a good supply to begin with, but I know that it can also be very stressful an unpleasant for those who have a short supply. If you find that you are with a low supply, there is no need to feel guilty about feeding formula, most formula available commercially have superb nutritional value and meet the needs of your baby. It is important to know that a happy baby must have a happy mother!
- the fact that it's the best thing for babies, studies have shown that breastfed babies are less likely to get sick, become constipated, lower chances of SIDS, not to mention it is mother natures own cocktail of nutrient for the baby.
- bonding time, I have to admit the idea of a baby sucking on my breasts was not exactly high on my to do list in life BEFORE I gave birth. Even before R popped out I thought it was...icky, but the first time my little baby latched on it was as if an invisible line was drawn that would forever connect us as mother and son. It's an incredible feeling to know that for just those few moments, I, myself am enough to provide everything that this little precious baby need. It's not often in life that we get to feel this way, so my advice is, if you can, do it, as much and as often as you can because these moments are short and passes quickly.
- it's cheap! No doubt that feeding breast milk which costs you nothing is a refreshing welcome to the depleting effects a baby will have on you savings account.
- it's quick! While a baby may take a few weeks to get on completely acquainted with your breast, once he/she does they become very good at nursing. There's no need to wash and sterilize bottles and not to mention calculating how much a baby drank or should drink because breast feeding is baby led, they will let you know when they've had enough.
Hates...
- the beginning of breastfeeding is truly a time to test your patience, endurance and pain threshold. Your body just went through a battle to get the baby out, regardless of whether it's a natural or cesarean birth you are still reviving from a pretty traumatic event and unlike what movies or television shows have suggested, breastfeeding DOESN'T come natural to everyone. The baby doesn't know how to suck efficiently, you have no idea whether he's drinking or not and in the mean time your nipples are cracked and bruised and bleeding. It's no wonder so many women give u breastfeeding in the beginning because it's. So. Darn. Hard! For me personally it took a good month and a half to start not hating it and I know it differs for every person but I would say at least a month of hating it would be expected at the very least.
- the restrictions that comes with breastfeeding is something that people might have different opinion over. Personally I'm distraught every time I am reminded that I cannot have a coffee for the remainder of my breastfeeding time, but others might feel indifferent towards their daily caffein shots. To explain caffein and alcohol are not recommended for breastfeeding mums for fears that it
Conclusion
As with most things in life there are pros and cons with doing or not doing them, but at the end of the day, it's important to realize there is no right fit for anyone.
There might be days when you are so sick of nursing that you just want to give up and switch to formula, and other days when you are so happy that you stuck by it, but whatever happens give yourself a round of applause for hanging on till now.
Breastfeeding is a wonderful experience for those who are blessed with a good supply to begin with, but I know that it can also be very stressful an unpleasant for those who have a short supply. If you find that you are with a low supply, there is no need to feel guilty about feeding formula, most formula available commercially have superb nutritional value and meet the needs of your baby. It is important to know that a happy baby must have a happy mother!
Ferber method - Day 3
7:20 following his daily ritual of bath then bed, little R was put into his cot awake and crying :(
7:25 I went to console the now hysterically crying R and rubbed his little belly and whispered in his ears I love him and left, to his distress and mine he cried harder and screamed a little in protest
7:34 after much tantrums and fits, little R finally settled and fell asleep, I have to admit it's really hard to hear him cry so defiantly and it's almost heartbreaking to know that he's that upset, but I honestly believe that I am not doing this only for my own sake but also to help him learn to sleep better in the night.
Let's see how tonight will fare.
Update
9:28 little R's final meal of the day , 180 ml of formula with two spoonful of rice cereal... Thick! He wasn't too pleased with being woken up but still managed to take his full meal and was out cold by the end of his feed.
Update
1:50 R woke up with a lethargic cry and a few ahs, but almost immediately fell back asleep at 1:53... Bliss...
Update
5:10 I don't believe it!! It's a Ferber miracle! After 'almost' 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep minus the 1:50 am episode and R woke up for his morning feed!! After which he fell back asleep again!! I'm so stunned and pleased with myself that I almost have difficulty falling back asleep myself!
Little R woke at 7 as usual and I haven't had a dose of good sleep in ages!!! I hope this continues :)
7:25 I went to console the now hysterically crying R and rubbed his little belly and whispered in his ears I love him and left, to his distress and mine he cried harder and screamed a little in protest
7:34 after much tantrums and fits, little R finally settled and fell asleep, I have to admit it's really hard to hear him cry so defiantly and it's almost heartbreaking to know that he's that upset, but I honestly believe that I am not doing this only for my own sake but also to help him learn to sleep better in the night.
Let's see how tonight will fare.
Update
9:28 little R's final meal of the day , 180 ml of formula with two spoonful of rice cereal... Thick! He wasn't too pleased with being woken up but still managed to take his full meal and was out cold by the end of his feed.
Update
1:50 R woke up with a lethargic cry and a few ahs, but almost immediately fell back asleep at 1:53... Bliss...
Update
5:10 I don't believe it!! It's a Ferber miracle! After 'almost' 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep minus the 1:50 am episode and R woke up for his morning feed!! After which he fell back asleep again!! I'm so stunned and pleased with myself that I almost have difficulty falling back asleep myself!
Little R woke at 7 as usual and I haven't had a dose of good sleep in ages!!! I hope this continues :)
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Ferber method - Day 2
Following yesterday's somewhat success today continues on with little R's sleep training
7:20 after R's bath and a few sips of water he was put down in his cot awake, and immediately as I left, he started to cry somewhat profusely with screams on and off
7:26 the cries started to die down at around 7:25 and it's just a few ahs and mmms here and there now, I wasn't sure if I should have tended to him knowing upon seeing me he would get more upset so I kept an eye on him in case he did start to cry harder but it seems that he's now...asleep! At 7:28pm! Wow!!
I'm not getting my hopes up too high though because I know tonight might still be full of wakings and tantrums... Fingers crossed!
Update
9:18 fed R 180ml with one spoon of rice cereal for supper and he was out by the end of the feed.
Update
1:48 R is up, he's not upset just making some noise n turning around in his cot...
1:54 after a few farts n scratches on his mattress... Silence
Update
2:13 little R woke up Again and screeched went to rub his belly at 2:12 and now the waiting game begins again...
2:47 after what seemed like eternity little R is back asleep, during the past half an hour or so he basically talked to himself, complained a little and played with his mattress... Ok back to sleep mummy...
Update
4:31 Another bout of crying, I resisted going to him as his cries were murmured and soft, and after a few minutes he fell back asleep
5:07 Earthquake!!! Shook mama awake but baby R slept right through it, he must have liked the slight swinging effect...
Ok so day two didn't go as well as anticipated R woke up at 7 as usual and seemed his usual pleasant self, I just hope I can stomach another day of this sleeplessness...
7:20 after R's bath and a few sips of water he was put down in his cot awake, and immediately as I left, he started to cry somewhat profusely with screams on and off
7:26 the cries started to die down at around 7:25 and it's just a few ahs and mmms here and there now, I wasn't sure if I should have tended to him knowing upon seeing me he would get more upset so I kept an eye on him in case he did start to cry harder but it seems that he's now...asleep! At 7:28pm! Wow!!
I'm not getting my hopes up too high though because I know tonight might still be full of wakings and tantrums... Fingers crossed!
Update
9:18 fed R 180ml with one spoon of rice cereal for supper and he was out by the end of the feed.
Update
1:48 R is up, he's not upset just making some noise n turning around in his cot...
1:54 after a few farts n scratches on his mattress... Silence
Update
2:13 little R woke up Again and screeched went to rub his belly at 2:12 and now the waiting game begins again...
2:47 after what seemed like eternity little R is back asleep, during the past half an hour or so he basically talked to himself, complained a little and played with his mattress... Ok back to sleep mummy...
Update
4:31 Another bout of crying, I resisted going to him as his cries were murmured and soft, and after a few minutes he fell back asleep
5:07 Earthquake!!! Shook mama awake but baby R slept right through it, he must have liked the slight swinging effect...
Ok so day two didn't go as well as anticipated R woke up at 7 as usual and seemed his usual pleasant self, I just hope I can stomach another day of this sleeplessness...
Friday, June 8, 2012
Ferber method - Day 1
After weeks of sleep deprivation I have finally decided to ferberize my little R. I've been nursing him to sleep the last few weeks and have really seen the backlash of my actions with little R waking up more and more frequently throughout the night demanding to be nursed back to sleep.
So firstly for anyone who is not familiar with the Ferber method - it is NOT the cry it out method where one just leaves their child to cry until they are so exhausted they fall asleep. Instead it is an assisting method that allows the child to learn to fall asleep on their own, without letting them feel like they have been completely abandoned.
Basically the method asks that the baby to be put through a familiar n comforting sleep routine and be put into their cot while still awake. The parent says a few words such as good night, I Love you and rubs the baby's belly before leaving the room. A few minutes or even seconds later the child is bound to start crying as they realize no one will 'put' them to sleep and start to protest, the parent should wait 3 minutes before going back into the room and repeating the comforting words and rub the baby's belly for no more than 2-3 minutes before leaving again. This process is to be repeated with the time waited each interval extended from 3 to 5, 10 and 15 minutes. A baby should never be left to cry for more than 15 minutes without the parents comfort.
Sounds ... Straight forward enough I guess and I'm very excited about the prospect of sleeping through the night again as this method will help the baby go back to sleep if they wake up in the middle of e night, not to mention effective within 7 days! I was tempted!
Here's how the first day went down...
6:50 bath time
7:00 put down into cot lots of kisses and whisper good night - immediately after that Riley started whinging.
7:03 went into cot to comfort R for 3 minutes, during which R cried on and off.
7:06 left the room and R started crying again, seemed more upset but I resisted going into the room.
7:12 went back into room to comfort R he cried harder at the sight if me but I left him after 2 minutes again with a kiss
7:15 his cries stopped suddenly and I thought maybe he'd hurt himself but started again, this time in whimpers
7:17 silence...
I went back into the room to check on his and voila! Asleep! Although his position is now horizontal in the crib I was too nervous to move him in case I would wake him up, so I put a little blanket on him n left him to sleep.
Wow I'm a bit surprised how quickly that was, I was expecting 2 hours of this but let's not jinx this and just wait and see... Stay tuned!
Update
8:47 little R woke up for his 9pm feeding and was very hungry he had 180ml with 1.5 spoonful of rice cereal after that we put him down on the bed at around 9:07
9:13 I waited 5 minutes to tend to little R and found him on his tummy, he wasn't crying mostly just whined a little n sniffled a bit. I turned him over n gave him a rub on his belly and told him I loved him so much and left. He immediately started to cry harder but for only 1 minute and slowly calmed down to whimpers.
9:18 silence ... (well almost except for little R's yawns) I'm not sure if he's asleep or just calmed down.
9:19 ok he's not asleep but he's not upset either...
9:25 after a few minutes of quiet movement little R is asleep! No fuss no muss! Although his sleeping position is again a little disturbing...
Update
1:30 R woke up and 'screeched'? But gently, and whimpered for several minutes, debated with myself whether to tend to him but held off since he didn't sound 'urgent'.
1:37 silence after one less sleepy yelp...
I'm getting more n more impressed! Yesterday's crying episode lasted an hour!
Update
4:07 little R woke up again this time with a strong cry that scared me a little I went to check on him to see if he was hurt in any way but luckily he was fine and just seemed upset that he was awake, so I rubbed his belly and left.
4:10 after a few minutes of crying that reminisced of yesterday's hour long tortured he suddenly fell silent and shockingly asleep! Yub! That's right folks, asleep!! Which means back to sleep for this tired mummy~!
Update
5:21 oh no little R is awake again n crying his cries are also combined with a few hungry ah-ahs...decided to feed him since his cries sound very different this time...
5:25 fed the little guy and he's happily back to sleep, considering last feed was at 9 it's a pretty good stretch!
Like clockwork little R always wakes up about 7am and today was no different! He seemed happy and content, and while I'm still a bit fog headed right now, I am still determined to see this through.
One day down, six more days to go!
So firstly for anyone who is not familiar with the Ferber method - it is NOT the cry it out method where one just leaves their child to cry until they are so exhausted they fall asleep. Instead it is an assisting method that allows the child to learn to fall asleep on their own, without letting them feel like they have been completely abandoned.
Basically the method asks that the baby to be put through a familiar n comforting sleep routine and be put into their cot while still awake. The parent says a few words such as good night, I Love you and rubs the baby's belly before leaving the room. A few minutes or even seconds later the child is bound to start crying as they realize no one will 'put' them to sleep and start to protest, the parent should wait 3 minutes before going back into the room and repeating the comforting words and rub the baby's belly for no more than 2-3 minutes before leaving again. This process is to be repeated with the time waited each interval extended from 3 to 5, 10 and 15 minutes. A baby should never be left to cry for more than 15 minutes without the parents comfort.
Sounds ... Straight forward enough I guess and I'm very excited about the prospect of sleeping through the night again as this method will help the baby go back to sleep if they wake up in the middle of e night, not to mention effective within 7 days! I was tempted!
Here's how the first day went down...
6:50 bath time
7:00 put down into cot lots of kisses and whisper good night - immediately after that Riley started whinging.
7:03 went into cot to comfort R for 3 minutes, during which R cried on and off.
7:06 left the room and R started crying again, seemed more upset but I resisted going into the room.
7:12 went back into room to comfort R he cried harder at the sight if me but I left him after 2 minutes again with a kiss
7:15 his cries stopped suddenly and I thought maybe he'd hurt himself but started again, this time in whimpers
7:17 silence...
I went back into the room to check on his and voila! Asleep! Although his position is now horizontal in the crib I was too nervous to move him in case I would wake him up, so I put a little blanket on him n left him to sleep.
Wow I'm a bit surprised how quickly that was, I was expecting 2 hours of this but let's not jinx this and just wait and see... Stay tuned!
Update
8:47 little R woke up for his 9pm feeding and was very hungry he had 180ml with 1.5 spoonful of rice cereal after that we put him down on the bed at around 9:07
9:13 I waited 5 minutes to tend to little R and found him on his tummy, he wasn't crying mostly just whined a little n sniffled a bit. I turned him over n gave him a rub on his belly and told him I loved him so much and left. He immediately started to cry harder but for only 1 minute and slowly calmed down to whimpers.
9:18 silence ... (well almost except for little R's yawns) I'm not sure if he's asleep or just calmed down.
9:19 ok he's not asleep but he's not upset either...
9:25 after a few minutes of quiet movement little R is asleep! No fuss no muss! Although his sleeping position is again a little disturbing...
Update
1:30 R woke up and 'screeched'? But gently, and whimpered for several minutes, debated with myself whether to tend to him but held off since he didn't sound 'urgent'.
1:37 silence after one less sleepy yelp...
I'm getting more n more impressed! Yesterday's crying episode lasted an hour!
Update
4:07 little R woke up again this time with a strong cry that scared me a little I went to check on him to see if he was hurt in any way but luckily he was fine and just seemed upset that he was awake, so I rubbed his belly and left.
4:10 after a few minutes of crying that reminisced of yesterday's hour long tortured he suddenly fell silent and shockingly asleep! Yub! That's right folks, asleep!! Which means back to sleep for this tired mummy~!
Update
5:21 oh no little R is awake again n crying his cries are also combined with a few hungry ah-ahs...decided to feed him since his cries sound very different this time...
5:25 fed the little guy and he's happily back to sleep, considering last feed was at 9 it's a pretty good stretch!
Like clockwork little R always wakes up about 7am and today was no different! He seemed happy and content, and while I'm still a bit fog headed right now, I am still determined to see this through.
One day down, six more days to go!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Scar tissue
It's a battlefield when it comes to looking after a baby.
Hickey on shoulder by an over eager sucker
Clawed by an unhappy baby
A competitive game
Once the baby pops, a novice mum will be tempted to show him/her off to her baby-less friends, however she will definitely be more eager to compare notes with her plus-baby friends.
Breastfeeding or bottle-feeding?
Disposable or reusable diapers?
Dummy or no dummy?
The competition usually come in the form of innocent question but quickly leading to opinions and eventually, accusations.
Isn't breastfeeding better for the baby?
Reusable diapers are much better for the environment.
How can you give your baby something that might ruin their teeth in the future?
...
Times like these all I can do take a deep breath, calm and make sure that whatever is coming out of my mouth or onto my iPhone appears knowledgable, researched and logical.
Key emphasis on the 'Appear'.
=)
Breastfeeding or bottle-feeding?
Disposable or reusable diapers?
Dummy or no dummy?
The competition usually come in the form of innocent question but quickly leading to opinions and eventually, accusations.
Isn't breastfeeding better for the baby?
Reusable diapers are much better for the environment.
How can you give your baby something that might ruin their teeth in the future?
...
Times like these all I can do take a deep breath, calm and make sure that whatever is coming out of my mouth or onto my iPhone appears knowledgable, researched and logical.
Key emphasis on the 'Appear'.
=)
Monday, June 4, 2012
Weight. Wait.
Since the happy arrival of my beautiful son, I have been counting the days when I can fit into my old skinny jeans again. Days, weeks and months have gone by while I watched my son's weight steadily climb up and patiently waited for my waist size to drop just a few more centimeters. Everyone from next door neighbors, to shoe sales ladies and even my mother started telling me I looked slimmer, that my belly is flatter and my thighs were trimmer, but no matter what I did, every time I squeezed myself back into my skinnies, something just did not look right.
Maybe it was the newly formed muffin top across my waist, or the piece of my thigh oozing out of the destroyed part of the jean or the fact that I could no longer bend my legs as I walked, suffice to say that I did not look "slimmer", 'flatter" or 'trimmer".
I went back to my mother to question her false compliment - I mean why set me up just to see me fall so far down? My mother laughed at my weight gain, sure, but even she wouldn't be so cruel as to destroy my confidence completely.
Her answer was this - you're a mother now, your body just went through 10 months of hell in preparation for your baby, and for good cause too, ever wonder why you can always usually spot a mother against someone who has never given birth?
Now that I think about it, the thick arms, broad back, strong thighs, they were not the characteristics of a woman who had one too many chocolate overdoses, they were the tell tale signs of a woman who bore child, who woke up 10 times a night to nurse her baby, who fought between holding her crying baby sweeping the floor, who hunched over on the sofa and stared into nothing when her child finally went to sleep.
The weight put on during pregnancy might be easily shed - I myself lost over 15 Kilos in the first few months after giving birth, but what I'm left with is a newly armored body, a body that will outlast, endure and persevere, a mother's body.
Maybe it was the newly formed muffin top across my waist, or the piece of my thigh oozing out of the destroyed part of the jean or the fact that I could no longer bend my legs as I walked, suffice to say that I did not look "slimmer", 'flatter" or 'trimmer".
I went back to my mother to question her false compliment - I mean why set me up just to see me fall so far down? My mother laughed at my weight gain, sure, but even she wouldn't be so cruel as to destroy my confidence completely.
Her answer was this - you're a mother now, your body just went through 10 months of hell in preparation for your baby, and for good cause too, ever wonder why you can always usually spot a mother against someone who has never given birth?
Now that I think about it, the thick arms, broad back, strong thighs, they were not the characteristics of a woman who had one too many chocolate overdoses, they were the tell tale signs of a woman who bore child, who woke up 10 times a night to nurse her baby, who fought between holding her crying baby sweeping the floor, who hunched over on the sofa and stared into nothing when her child finally went to sleep.
The weight put on during pregnancy might be easily shed - I myself lost over 15 Kilos in the first few months after giving birth, but what I'm left with is a newly armored body, a body that will outlast, endure and persevere, a mother's body.
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