Final gynae checkup / Laid back breastfeeding

On my last follow up with Dr Poon, he checked my wound, i did the pap smear test, and also we talked about family planning.
My next appointment is in a year's time.
Finally no more visits!!
Just super grateful for Dr Poon's medical advise and help throughout the 11 months (9 months pregnancy and 2 months post partum).

I weight about the same as 2 weeks post partum: 45.4kg.
Not restricting my diet, i take 3 main meals a day and 2 snacks in between.
To produce quality milk, take your supplements and eat a balanced meal.

Where did time go?
Audria is 2 months old this coming Saturday.
Days of butt wiping as come and gone in a flash.
Her facial features are now swallowed in her own baby fats hehe.

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2 days ago, i met Uma, the director of Mother and Child for my lactation session.
I benefited so much within that 90mins session.
She answered all my questions professionally and with patience.

Arriving at 4pm, she took Audria's weight and did some medical checks, asked some routine questions. After that, she guide me on the laid back position and explained why this method works so well. I nailed it within the first 30 secs. WHAT? So easy??? I've been struggling with the stupid cradle, cross-cradle and football hold the last 7 weeks i wanna murder myself.

Uma said Audria is growing well at 7.5 weeks, 3.72kg.
She has almost doubled her birth weight of 2.15kg.
Power of breastmilk (:

Considering the fact i have been struggling with latching issues, she said some babies just drink with more noise than other babies. So long as my nipples are not sore, and she is gaining weight, she is not concerned with the "clicking sound" i have described.

1) i no longer have to strain my arm muscles to breastfeed Audria
2) this position works well in public places with a nursing cover
3) reflux is no longer as terrible as before with cradle, cross-cradle and football hold
4) the clicking sound is gone FOREVER thank God!!!
5) it works well as the baby gets heavier
6) no longer have to burp her for a long time and deal with messy regurgitation problems as she is in the upright posture during feeding

She also taught me how to do the side-lying position properly.
Its good when I'm sleepy at night but yet have to nurse Audria.
We also discussed about comfort latching, milk storage and baby routines.

There is actually a follow up session with Uma next week, but i may just go the following week instead. I am more interested in the "baby cafe" session whereby mothers come together, nurse during that 2 hour session with a lactation expert sitting in, coffee, tea and cakes, discussing about baby or breastfeeding problems (:

Overall, i highly recommend you go see Uma if you are experiencing any sort of breastfeeding issues. And see her early, don't wait till baby is 7.5 weeks old then go fix your problem like me.
Breastfeeding is meant to be enjoyable.
With the problem fixed, I'm looking to breastfeed Audria for as long as i can (:

Below's a photo of me working on the laid-back position:

Post Partum: The Labor & Delivery

As you all might have guessed, i popped last Saturday!
I'm juggling with baby and lack of rest so this entry will be a short and sweet one until i find the time to update.

If there're 2 things you need for post partum, its a nursing cover and a breast pump.
I'm using spectra S1 and currently producing 100ml of breastmilk, every 3 hourly.
Of course what i really need now is more milk for the LO and quality rest. Haha.

Timeline from labor to delivery:

3.43am leakage in the middle of the night during sleep.

6.00am waterbag burst.

7.25am admin Mount A.

8.08am doctor visited me to check dilation. He confirmed my water bag broke through ultrasound. Baby's head wasn't engaged at this point.

9.22am had hospital breakfast.

10.00am more gooey stuff coming out of my you-know-where. Doctor instructed nurse to start me on fleet enema.

10.30am 1cm dilated only.  So he started me on a drip Syntocinon to get contractions started. He said no need to insert pill for induction cause cervix is soft. I was having contractions as per CTG but i couldn't feel it. So this drip is suppose to give me the "oomph" and get things going.

12.32pm 2cm dilated, menses cramp feeling but it was manageable cause i had laughing gas.

2.50pm couldn't take the sudden pain and decided to get Pethidine injection at my buttock.

3.15pm 5cm dilated.

4.00pm started feeling the urge to push. But my pushes were not efficient, doctor asked if i wanted vacuum since i was getting tired. We opted for it.

4ishpm birth of my baby girl. All the discomfort in the world disappeared when i saw how beautifully made she was (:

Weight of baby was rather close to what my gynae told me on the last visit; 2.2kg.

In short, this is an assisted natural delivery with no epidural. Overall a quick and smooth labor.
Afterwhich Dr Poon sew me up and i played with my placenta to kill time (1 cough was all it took for Stage 3).
Very thankful for a good gynae throughout my 37 weeks of pregnancy.
PD Terence Tan was checking on baby and Marcus was taking photos for me.
Rested, got skin to skin and wheeled up to St Michael's Ward.

It was peak period, so we got the last single suite available.
It was the largest room!

First night, i sent my husband home to set up the cot.
Second (final night), he slept over with me.
Food was ok, nurses were nice but lactation consultation didn't benefit me at all.
I found it so hard to latch.
Service was quick, the moment i call for nurse, they appeared in my room.

We had as many as 18 visitors in the suite at one time.
Thats how roomy it was as compared to the other St Michael's ward rooms.
Baby blessing was done after we checked out of the hospital.

All the food i ate/ordered during my stay:

Day 3 morning (Monday) was a hectic one cause husband had to do a lot of admin stuff (run to pharmacy, get birth cert done at business office....)
So if you have a choice, avoid giving birth on Sat.
I had to wait till Monday (for office to open also) for lactation consultant to see me, and PD was with baby so i didn't get any hands-on lesson with her. Sucks.

So during the stay, baby suckles on my breasts but she is fed with 20-25ml of formula milk.

Transition from hospital to home was pretty alright.
Everyone is trying to adapt.
My dog went mad and jealous haha expected.
She sleeps well with the CocoonAbaby.

I'm still working on the latch.
Till then, i just have to keep pumping since i will be engorged.
On the 4th day, i decided to engage Alice for BF home visitation.
She helped us so much, truly God-sent!
"Money well spent" Marcus said.

Day 5 was polyclinic checkup.
Her jaundice level rose to 256 so we admitted her into KKH for photo.
She is back with us now after 24 hours.
Meanwhile, i pumped at home and bring to hospital for her.
KKH supplemented with formula too, which i am ok with.

She is back home today, she latches on (tricky for me and her but we are trying) and we cup-feed her if she is still hungry. This avoids nipple confusion.

My precious little one (:
Please feel free to add us on instagram @bunchoffluff and follow us on our new journey.

We are so blessed to have her, and she is blessed to have Marcus has her Daddy.
He has been incredibly calm, encouraging and supportive.
Thank God for answering all our prayers, to God be the glory!

Will update again after my checkup.
Cant wait to find out my weight hehe (Day 10 post partum weight update: 46kg).