mellomouse* » It Sucks

Postnatal 09: Hair Loss.

mellomouse — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 06:40:40 +0000

Friends had warned me about the 3 months marker. At the beginning your skin goes Sahara — mine turned waxy, no kidding! — then your hair begins to drop like nobody’s business. It’s goodbye to luscious hair days and hello to omfg-hair-all-over-the-floor horror! *shrieks*

Hair Loss After Delivery

The most common period of hair loss occurs approximately 3 months after delivery.

The rise in hormones during pregnancy keeps you from losing your hair. After delivery, the hormones return to normal levels, which allows the hair to fall out and return to the normal cycle.

The normal hair loss that was delayed during pregnancy may fall out all at once.

Be it long or bob, my hair used to drop quite a lot before the pregnancy. After not seeing more than a few strains of dead hair — on the pillow, toilet floor, clothes and everywhere — for the past year, seeing them again now feels like a hair loss mayday

Therefore, I am officially statistic now. No point complaining right? I just hope I won’t go bare on the rooftop like some unfortunate Mommies out there *fingers crossed*

As noted before, this hair loss is temporary and hair loss returns to normal within 6 to 12 months.

Will I still have hair then? *faints*

Postnatal 08: Sick.

mellomouse — Fri, 28 May 2010 05:10:57 +0000

When you’re a Mommy — speaking for myself, and possibly you too — falling sick is the last thing you would want happening. Whether it is you or your baby, Sick is a Four letter word more alarming than any foul languages. It is simply a nightmare *shrieks*

On Wednesday, Sick came to visit. Thankfully it was for Me! *sigh of relief* I was aching all over and a head too heavy for my neck to support. I couldn’t even carry Natey without worrying that I’ll drop him. In a nutshell, I was falling apart. It was the worst kind of experience *sobs*

Sparingly, I had 7 Panadol Solubles. If you are wondering, it is Yes to both doubts: 1) Panadol is safe for babies and 2) It is safe to breastfeed during fever as our milk have the antibodies to keep baby protected. Doubts aside, I’m still a pack of weak jelly…

I’m thankful to have my Mother staying nearby and comes to help me during the day. By just cooking for us is already 1 big chore off the list. And Natey enjoys cooing up a storm with his beloved Popo! I wouldn’t know what to do if without her help. So a big Thank You to my beloved Mama *hugs*

Finally today I feel a little bit stronger. I’ve missed bubble time with my son for the past 2 days. Hopefully by tomorrow, I am well and strong to “play water” with Natey again

Postnatal 05: Engorgement & Blocked Milk Ducts.

mellomouse — Sun, 09 May 2010 09:21:38 +0000

In the beginning I was worried that I didn’t produce enough. So now my body is giving me what I wanted by overflowing the *ahem* Twins and at the same time punishing me for doubting its efficiency by blocking the passage way (-__-||)

What is Engorgement?

Engorgement is due to milk excessively filling the breast together with blood and fluid retention in the same area.

Usually the breast feels full, hard, tight, tender, painful, hot to the touch and a fever may develop.

What are Plugged Ducts ?

This is a problem that occurs when the baby does not empty the breast completely on each feeding, the milk remaining in the duct hardens and blocks the duct eventually plugging it.

10 steps for treating Blocked Duct

Instead of feeling grateful for Natey’s river of white goodness, I am beyond tears by the cruel pain they are causing me day in day out.

At this point, even Lactaline is not helping but my good ole Harmony is. When will this torment ends? *bite lips in agony*

A not so Happy Mother’s Day to me

Added 10/5/10, 12.21am:
I forgot where I read this from but it helps:

Pressure Massage Technique
Use the heel of your palm to apply pressure where the swelling is. Then massage each breast at a time by firmly pushing towards the areola. That would force the remaining milk inside the blocked ducts to ooze out.

I just spent almost 30mins doing that to both sides and I do feel some relieve.

Although this might not be a permanent cure, but at least it helps reduce the swelling. And you have to do it daily and whenever!

Added 17/5/10, 4.13pm
I tried a new bra by Carriwell and it has reduced the blocked ducts significantly. I would say almost non existence!

If you are also having this problem, you could try this bra out. Most of the time, the culprit of blocked ducts could be our bra getting too tight when our breast becomes full.

Postnatal 03: Hot Mama.

mellomouse — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:46:06 +0000

Oh how I wished! If only I was referring to physically looking hot, Hot. And not physically sweaty yucky hot, Hot (-__-||)

I’ve been complaining and whining that “I am Hot” way back in December. Back then, it made sense because I was growing my little man and he emitted heat through me. Then there was the confinement period.

So what is causing the crazy hot spells I’m STILL having now? The craziest of all crazy is the immediate heatwave that I would feel the moment Nathaniel latches on. It’s like he switched on an imaginary heater and we’re both boiled in my sweats *ugh*

I wonder how long would this feverish attack last. It’s a good thing that I can bath now — even if it’s hot water on a hot day *humph*

Pregnancy & Soya Beans.

mellomouse — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:10:36 +0000

A chilled glass of Soya Bean Milk is simply heavenly on a warm day, or whenever. Don’t you agree? That’s exactly what I’ve been having almost daily for the past 2 months. Whenever possible, we would buy a large bottle and that could last us for a day or 2.

This is not uncommon among us Asians to include soy into our daily staple. Often Expecting Mothers would go out of their way to consume more because we were told that soy will give our babies fair and beautiful complexion. I did it simply because I enjoy the drink

So you could imagine my shock when I found out last night that all this health talk is really just pure garbage. Soy is probably one of the most misconceived myth that it is some sort of miracle food that prevents and cures diseases. Soya Bean is not a Health Food!

My immediate reaction was: OMG, what have I done!?! And you would too after reading what I have excerpted below. Especially if you are expecting a baby boy!

BBC NEWS Reported in 2004

The humble soya bean may play a role in the problem of male infertility, a team of researchers in Belfast has found.

If boys eat a lot of soya when they are growing up, it can damage their reproductive capability. The key time for that is when a male foetus is developing and in the early toddler years and up to puberty.

Too much soya affects the development of the male’s reproductive tract. It increases the structural abnormalities like undescended testes and testicular cancer.

Continue Reading

The Truth About Soy
Another interesting Article

There’s still a half bottle of Soya Bean Milk in the fridge. After that is finished, I don’t think I’ll be drinking anymore until after LBJ is born or longer.

Even though I am making an informed choice now to not drink it, there are still a multitude of food products in the market that I would not be able to escape from, that are made from soy

2 weekends ago, we stocked up a carton of Soya Bean Milk to serve our guest during CNY. Will you drink it if/when you visit us after reading this post?

Pregnancy Updates 40: Cinderella No More.

mellomouse — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:53:55 +0000

These may not be Glass Slippers
But they could well be since I can’t fit them no more

The swelling almost always goes down a little during morning time. They are at worst in the evening due to the burden of carrying me — 16kg of excess baggage — the whole day long, and also because of water retention.

But since yesterday morning, the swelling didn’t go anywhere and now I do feel like walking on puffy buns. They hurt a little, and my toes can’t curled as they used too

Besides my feet, both of my hands are swelled up too. I know I’ve whined about this 2 weeks ago, but as they are getting worst, I am getting worried as well. Simply because a sudden increase of swelling is a sign of something very serious! *yikes*

As I am typing this, I’m downing gulps and gulps of water. Hopefully by keeping myself extra hydrated would help my body to retain less water so my hands and feet could look more human again *fingers crossed*

Pregnancy Updates 38: Fat Mama!

mellomouse — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:06:22 +0000

Unfortunately, I suspect that’s exactly what you’ll be calling me because I will simply become one. Though I don’t mind being called Phat Mama, but reality is often bitterly cold *humph*

Since September last year (16 weeks into my pregnancy), my weight has been going up, up and up *blaming it on the milk!* @#$%& (-__-||)

At first I didn’t worry much because I lost a few in the early months. But now after looking at other expecting friends — why are they so tiny?!? — I am fearing! I am gaining way too much for my small frame and the weight has been taking a toll on my tiny swollen feet *sobs*

This is what I ought to be
I’ve now exceeded it by 2.5kg and I’m not even due yet!

Want to know what’s yours? Calculate it >here<

I’m looking at another few kilos of weight gain in the next few weeks. Once I hit full term this weekend, I might be sky rocketing at 1kg per week. So if I were to deliver on my EDD at 40 weeks, I’ll possibly gain another 4kg. Making that a whooping Two-Zero-Kilo-Grams! *faints*

Btw, 29.96lbs is equaled to 13.59kg. So that means I’ll exceed by 6kg! How am I going to loose 15kg? That’s if the Fetal weight is 5kg. Else I might be looking at more *numbed*

I promise that I’ve not been eating for Two, if that’s what you’re wondering

Pregnancy Updates 36: Stretch Marks!

mellomouse — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:01:04 +0000

Or should I call them Glory Marks? Else the pregnancy would not be complete without them *console self*

Although some women are lucky to avoid them completely, I am not that fortunate because genetics plays a role in this peeving aftermath. If your mother or sister had them during pregnancy, you will certainly do too

What are stretch marks?

Stretch marks are small, depressed streaks in the skin when the belly is rapidly expanding to accommodate a growing baby.

They are caused by changes in the elastic supportive tissue that lies just beneath the skin.

I actually thought I’d escape them. I didn’t realise that they have been hiding right below my baby bump — where I could not see — all these while *pouts*

In late September last year (4 months into my pregnancy), I actually started using Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula with idle hopes to prevent developing stretch marks.

Within 2 weeks, I was almost done with the 1st bottle and went to buy a spare. That’s when my belly and both of my breasts began to sprout nasty PUPPP pregnancy rash. Immediately I had to stop on Dr Tan’s orders, or literally die itching *sobs*

What can I do to prevent stretch marks?

Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do.

There’s no proof that any of the creams, salves, and oils that claim to prevent stretch marks actually work.

Do stretch marks ever go away?

They become considerably less noticeable about 6-12 months after childbirth.

Although the marks fade later, but they will never totally disappear.

So now the new bottle is kept wasted in my drawer. I dare not use the lotion again since the PUPPPs have not fully gone away. I’ll just have to wait for my marks to fade away naturally *fingers crossed*

If you’re currently using other stretch mark products, by any chance you’d be interested to buy this off my hands? Or better, I can give it to you as a gift! I’d rather the latter than to waste. The husband has been complaining that I’m spending on things I cannot use *humph*

It comes in a boxset of: 1) 250ml Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks, 2) 50ml Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks and 3) 20g Cocoa Butter with Vitamin E for Dry Skins.

I got it from Guardian Pharmacy, so you can pop by any of their outlets and have a look. Do let me know if you’re interested!

Pregnancy Updates 35: Water Retention.

mellomouse — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:14:45 +0000

The 1st time I wrote about my swollen feet was back in November. In actual fact, my feet has been slowly increasing in size since late September (17 weeks pregnant) when I had to borrow my Mom’s sandals. Now my once skinny tiny feet has grown snuggly into the generous size 6 Mary Jane!

Swelling During Pregnancy

This is quite common and some women tend to swell more than others.

Hormone fluctuations can also contribute to edema, which involves swelling of the hands, face, ankles, neck and other extremities.

Besides the swelling feet, my hands have also filled out. And thus, I have not been able to wear my wedding band for months now. I was not born with long slender fingers, so now my hands look even squarer because of the water retention.

The swelling is not really that obvious. But once I curled them into a fist, I can immediately feel the puffiness. Or if I clasped my hands together, my fingers can no longer fit in between each other comfortably.

What annoys me most is my chubby cheeks. And that pesky double chin! I didn’t realise how much they had puffed up until I compared some recent photos of myself. I am Fat!

I know I shouldn’t be whining, but vanity is a woman’s 2nd nature. Not to mention that my once clear complexion has also gone haywire *sobs*

Why it “has to” Happen?

During pregnancy the body produces roughly 50% more blood and fluids than normal to accommodate your growing baby. It can contribute up to 25% of weight gain.

Water retention helps keep the body flexible and allowing ample room for expansion during pregnancy.

The extra fluid contained in the tissues and muscles of the body also help our joints prepare for labor and delivery.

Parentcraft – 1 of 3.

mellomouse — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:23:36 +0000

Besides having a gastronomical fulfillment yesterday morning, we attended the 1st session of Parentcraft at Gleneagles in the afternoon. I don’t want to be too quick to judge, but that session was a big disappointment.

The session was divided into 4 parts, with a 20 minute tea break in between. Don’t be surprised when you’re made to wait — Malaysia Boleh! — it started 15 minutes late and finished 10 minutes early. So in total adds up the 2 hours *wth*

Topics Covered

#1 – Optimum Nutrition in Pregnancy & Lactation (30 mins)
Our primary school’s Science Textbook have more facts than what the Dietitian presented! *shakes head with utter disappointment*

#2 – Labour & Delivery Process (40 mins)
Jargons, jargons and jargons. Why didn’t I raise my hand? I rather Google it myself *sigh*

#3 – Breastfeeding (0 mins)
We need to make separate appointment for this. The Lactation Consultant will check our breasts and show us how to breastfeed.

#4 – Cord Blood Banking (4 mins)
Why was she here? The girl is clearly inexperience and bullet trained her way by skipping slides *dizzy*

Why are we paying RM180 to be recited to? The class was said to be 2.5hours on the leaflet, but then short changed to 2 hours on our programme sheet. The materials presented was so pathetically watered down, I can find more information by a single Google.

All the speakers did a very poor presentation. With their experience and expertise, we would expect to hear at least some case studies with real life examples. Besides reading directly from their slides, that was it. There were no further explanations or quote of examples.

I hope in our next session, covering fully on Pre & Postnatal Exercises and Breathing Exercises, the speaker would not further disappoint