Starting again...

It has been a while since that last entry of mine. I was quite busy, with the baby, and now resuming work. Sleep deprivation has been a game I master since the day Irdina was born. But now, she’s getting the momentum of living outside the womb. She’s doing great and playing with her is really fun, great fun.

She’s asleep right now. Actually, she has been sleeping since 5pm, ‘woke up’ at 6.55pm to breastfeed and continues on sleeping. She has learned to sleep ‘through’ the night (typical meaning of the word through the night = a series of 2-3 hours of sleeps from night till morning).

As for me, I am still in a recuperating mode, but coping just fine. I have not done any exercise except for carrying a now 5.53kgs baby since I gave birth. I have not even checked my weight. I am waiting for the once in a while pain to subside ultimately. When will this happen? Soon, hopefully.

I have not updated the old wives tales blog down there but will do so soon. I can only do chores while Irdina is sleeping. And to be frank, she seems to only sleep at night, and at night, I’d be sleeping too. So, active blogging would be withheld for a while. I’d be logging in once in a while though, to share things worth sharing.

Last Thursday, I went to work, and it was great to meet everybody again. At last, something fresh, after 2.5 months of staying at home. But I do miss the baby, a lot. That day, I went out at 10.45 to send back pumped breast milk, ended up not wanting to leave the baby till lunch time is over. It’s hard to leave her at home. If I could bring her to work and do (concentrate on) my work as usual, I’d bring her (as if it’s allowed!!!)…

My Contract ends next month. Shukri has not started applying the extension but he has been asking around, especially the TA, Syed. Hopefully everything goes well, or I might have to activate my Plan B. Should I need to start the Plan B, I’d be taking my May leave to move things. It would be great to be near Sepu all the time!

Actually, I start to write again after that hint from Sheridan. Then I realized, I was so obsessed with the baby and forgotten about lots of things. That’s why Sepu keeps complaining that I love Irdina more than him… ahahaha… I love you sayang, more than words can say, even more than before Irdina was born… Irdina needs the most delicate attention right now. We’ll improve soon, don’t worry. I am not only overjoyed, but also in an over-fatigue state right now. Give me some times ok? We’ll again enjoy doing things that has been left forgotten since my pregnancy… Go on vacation for example? GO Korea GO!

Need to stop now… I got something to do before I myself go to sleep. Irdina is in her NREM state, and I could not wait to join her… take care…

OLD WIVES TALES VS. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED!!!

Being a parent is the most important job in the whole wide world. While people expects you to know everything about parenting and parenthood, you will have to struggle gradually to be good at it. There are so many things a new mum and dad have to learn when a new baby comes along.

Sometimes friends and family flock around to give helpful advice, though with the best of intentions, sometimes not realizing their knowledge on certain matters is so veteran and not applicable to today.

I have monitored closely these 44 days, and here, I could list down lots of difference between what I know now and what they have thought all the way then.

A
When you give birth through cesarean section, you will have to wait for 3 years before you can plan to conceive again. The truth is: The scar will take around 6 months to heal, and you can start planning after the 6th month. Allah is great!

B
Don’t pump your breast too regularly or you’ll deplete your milk duct permanently, faster. Actually, the more you pump your milk, the more milk will be produced, as the pumping action will help telling your body that your baby needs more milk. Allah is great!

C
Traditional rocker will help baby sleep faster and deeper. Turn baby upside down to throw away trapped gases. Please Allah, protect my baby from harm. Rocker promotes vigorous shaking to baby’s head (as baby’s brain is not yet attached –floating in- within the skull) and can cause subdural hemorrhage (bleeding to part of baby’s brain). Shaking too strong will harm the baby!

D
Drink tonic (with alcohol or without) to make you more energetic. Really, tonic is good for health. Drinking tonic especially those with alcohol can (might) harm your baby as the alcohol will be absorbed in the breast milk. Your baby could be more alert or vise versa – GROGGY BABY. And for me, I could not take too much medicine in one time; my heart won’t take them good.

E
Some are simply superstitious. Too be continued.