Coffee is one of the things I missed the most while I was pregnant. Now that baby is here and that meant sleepless nights, I had the perfect and practical reason to indulge myself with caffeine everyday!
During the first couple of months, the longest sleep I could get was probably an hour and a half. Now that Baby is five months old, feeds every four to five hours, I try to sleep at least three hours at a time.
Most people will tell you "sleep while baby's asleep! That's the solution." Easy for you to say! But every mom will agree with me that that is not at all possible. There must be a mother-switch inside our brains that gets triggered by giving birth because as soon as I had a child, I have forgotten how to be idle.
When Baby sleeps and I have some time for myself, I don't sleep, I take advantage of that time to do stuff I can't do while he's awake. Like chores: laundry, cleaning up, etc. or stuff like BLOGGING! Even if I do try to relax, my mind starts to make a To Do List as soon as my head touches the bed.
I have been sleep deprived for a year now (starting from mid-pregnancy) and I amaze myself how I have coped with it.
All I am saying is, I could drink as much caffeine as I want and it might give me palpitations enough to keep me up; but in reality, caffeine doesn't really work for me and it is Baby's laughter, his smiles and his silly faces that keeps all parents up and running every day! :)
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Sometimes I still have extra time to sleep but I end up just watching baby sleep instead. Looking at him recharges me already. 😍😍😍
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Motherhood: Monologue
It is only me and Baby at home during the day.
I didn't realize it will be such a challenge to have too much quiet time on your hands. They say Baby will develop faster if you talk to them...which means I have to get used to doing monologues!
Yes, Baby will smile or laugh or make faces or make noise while you talk to him. But imagine spending at least 8 hours a day talking... And not having a conversation.
I catch myself smiling at the thought that I must look really silly but I have to remind myself that Baby probably understand what I was saying, he just couldn't talk back yet (yeah, just like the movie). Haha!
I try to do video chats with my relatives as much as I can, the main reason is so that they can see Baby more often. The second reason is to have someone to talk to. Haha!
I didn't realize it will be such a challenge to have too much quiet time on your hands. They say Baby will develop faster if you talk to them...which means I have to get used to doing monologues!
Yes, Baby will smile or laugh or make faces or make noise while you talk to him. But imagine spending at least 8 hours a day talking... And not having a conversation.
I catch myself smiling at the thought that I must look really silly but I have to remind myself that Baby probably understand what I was saying, he just couldn't talk back yet (yeah, just like the movie). Haha!
I try to do video chats with my relatives as much as I can, the main reason is so that they can see Baby more often. The second reason is to have someone to talk to. Haha!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Motherhood: Ninja Mom
You are a NINJA!
You are able to move from point A to point B without making any sound. Able to move baby from the couch to his crib, without him knowing. Having the extra sensitive hearing for baby's faintest sound, knowing that it is time to prepare his milk. You have extra three pairs of hands when you need to prepare milk, set the boppy pillow, get the burp cloth, throw dirty clothes into the hamper, etc... all while dancing baby to sleep. A 6-hour sleep seems too silly for you, 2 hours is enough to energize you and start up your 'ninja-ness.'
It is a skill that will be harnessed as your baby progresses. My baby is now 7 weeks old; I am now at the stage where in the middle of the night, feel the need to wake up automatically just because I sense his diaper needs changing, so I take my baby off his swaddle wrap, remove his diaper, put on a new one, feed him, burp him, then put him back in his swaddle wrap... all accomplished without disturbing his peaceful slumber.
Yes, you are a ninja mom, and you should be darn proud of it! :)
You are able to move from point A to point B without making any sound. Able to move baby from the couch to his crib, without him knowing. Having the extra sensitive hearing for baby's faintest sound, knowing that it is time to prepare his milk. You have extra three pairs of hands when you need to prepare milk, set the boppy pillow, get the burp cloth, throw dirty clothes into the hamper, etc... all while dancing baby to sleep. A 6-hour sleep seems too silly for you, 2 hours is enough to energize you and start up your 'ninja-ness.'
It is a skill that will be harnessed as your baby progresses. My baby is now 7 weeks old; I am now at the stage where in the middle of the night, feel the need to wake up automatically just because I sense his diaper needs changing, so I take my baby off his swaddle wrap, remove his diaper, put on a new one, feed him, burp him, then put him back in his swaddle wrap... all accomplished without disturbing his peaceful slumber.
Yes, you are a ninja mom, and you should be darn proud of it! :)
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Motherhood: Epidural
"You can get the epidural anytime you want."
That was what my doctor told me.
My birthing/lamaze class, all other websites, forums, and articles I have read told me otherwise. They said you need to wait 'til you are 4 or 5 cm dilated before you can ask for the epidural. I was mentally prepared to wait 'til the right dilated size to get it but since my doctor told me I can get it AS SOON AS I want it, then, of course, I took it.
Especially since they will give me an inducing medicine Pitocin which will give me frequent and stronger contractions (to help progress the active labor quicker).
Another important information about epidurals: it is a very small tube/needle that is inserted in between your spine. I primarily thought an epidural is something they inject on your spine once, and then it's done. NOPE. It's a tube that will be attached (and properly secured by your Anesthesiologist) on your back the WHOLE TIME.
The process of putting it in, as for my experience, is PAINLESS. You are supposed to sit on the side of the bed, hunch your back as much as you can to show the spine, then stay very still. Relax. It will only take a couple of minutes to do it if your Anesthesiologist knows what he is doing. He will put a numbing ointment on the part where he will stick the needle. The nurse told me it was a big needle but I didn't look at all, I was just anticipating the 'little pinch' that the Anesthesiologist told me to expect... but I didn't feel a thing. In about 15 to 30 minutes, it made me feel numb from the stomach down to my toes. It felt so weird to see your lower half and not have control over it. I kept on poking my leg but it only felt like I was touching a very soft pillow. So weird!
During your labor, you yourself has the button that will control the amount of epidural you want in. If you feel pain, then click on the button and it will increase the dosage of the epidural.
To those who gave birth ALL NATURAL, with no pain medication whatsoever... YOU ARE THE SHIZNIT! I don't know how you do it, but I am extremely grateful for choosing to get an epidural.
That was what my doctor told me.
My birthing/lamaze class, all other websites, forums, and articles I have read told me otherwise. They said you need to wait 'til you are 4 or 5 cm dilated before you can ask for the epidural. I was mentally prepared to wait 'til the right dilated size to get it but since my doctor told me I can get it AS SOON AS I want it, then, of course, I took it.
Especially since they will give me an inducing medicine Pitocin which will give me frequent and stronger contractions (to help progress the active labor quicker).
Another important information about epidurals: it is a very small tube/needle that is inserted in between your spine. I primarily thought an epidural is something they inject on your spine once, and then it's done. NOPE. It's a tube that will be attached (and properly secured by your Anesthesiologist) on your back the WHOLE TIME.
The process of putting it in, as for my experience, is PAINLESS. You are supposed to sit on the side of the bed, hunch your back as much as you can to show the spine, then stay very still. Relax. It will only take a couple of minutes to do it if your Anesthesiologist knows what he is doing. He will put a numbing ointment on the part where he will stick the needle. The nurse told me it was a big needle but I didn't look at all, I was just anticipating the 'little pinch' that the Anesthesiologist told me to expect... but I didn't feel a thing. In about 15 to 30 minutes, it made me feel numb from the stomach down to my toes. It felt so weird to see your lower half and not have control over it. I kept on poking my leg but it only felt like I was touching a very soft pillow. So weird!
During your labor, you yourself has the button that will control the amount of epidural you want in. If you feel pain, then click on the button and it will increase the dosage of the epidural.
To those who gave birth ALL NATURAL, with no pain medication whatsoever... YOU ARE THE SHIZNIT! I don't know how you do it, but I am extremely grateful for choosing to get an epidural.
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